West Lancashire Educational Institution. Freemasonry In
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CONTENTS. PAGH Grand Chapter was less than in 18 b five LEADERS - * 96 y guineas. The West Lancashire Educational Institution... ... ... ... '^ S children on the several branches of the Institution are, as Freem asonry in Western Australia ... ... ... ¦•• ^5 /-_-,.,„-,,,ilnn nf the Alfred Newton Lodge. No. 2GS6 ... ... ... 126 we have said, 173 in number, of whom 112 are on the Consecratio n of the St. Michael Le Querne Lod ge, No. 2697 .„ ... 127 Education Fund; 48 on the Combined Fund; and 13 Conse cration of the Arca dian Lodge , No. 2696 ... ... ... 12S Grand Imperia l Conclave ... ... ... ... ••¦ >2S on the Advancement Fund ; the nine that have been entered ... 12S Provincia l Grand Chapter of Lower Ward of Lanarkshire ... on presentation at other Institutions raising The Recent Fest ival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution ... ... 129 , the total Craft Maso nry — ¦•¦ — — I29 number benefiting to 182. The worst feature in the Report M ASONIC N OTES — is the statement to the effect that Consecratio n of the St. Michael Le Querne Lodge , No. 2697 ... ... 131 as many as 56 lodges have Consecration of the Alfred Newton Lodge , No. 26S6... ... ... 131 made " no return ," or in other words, have done nothing for the Consecrati on of the Arcadi an Lodge , No. aC yG ... ... ... 131 Centenary Festival of the Friendly Lodge, No. 230, Jamaica ... ... 131 support of the Charity, the number of lodges on the roll of the Meetin g of the Committee of Management of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution ... ... ... ... .. ••• 131 Province being 118. Thus, the duty of maintaining the Insti- Third Ann ual Ball ot the Fellowshi p Lodge , No. 2535 ... ... ... 132 tution—at all events during 1897— aas devolved on 62 or only a Craft Maso nry ... ... ... ... ... ... 132 Royal Arch ... ... ... ... ... ... ... '35 few more than one half of the lodges on the Provincial roll , and Obituary ... ... ... •¦• •¦• ¦•• ¦•¦ '35 what of necessity enhances the feeling of regret Our Portrait Gallery ... .,, ... ... ... ... 135 which the Secre- Lodges and Chapte r of Instruction ... ... ... ... i .v> taries express in their report is that from sundry of these 56 Masonic and General Tidings ... ... ... ... ... 136 lodges which have done nothing during the year, there are as many as 23 children which have been benefited educationally at a WEST LANCASHIRE ED UCATIONAL IN STITUTION. cost of close on £182. Wc have no desire to see anything in the nature of a Dr. and Cr. account, as between an Institution of We gladly avail ourselves of the opportunity of referring at this kind and those who contribute towards its maintenance— length to the work done by the West Lancashire Masonic Educa- that would not be Charity ; but ifc is difficult to imagine that le of tional Institution during the past year. A coup years hence none of these lodges—which we imagine must be composed of the Charity, which was established- in 1850 , will be celebrating the same class of members, that is to say, of men in reputable cir- its Jubilee. During thc period of its existence it has rendered cumstances, as the other 62 lodges in West Lancashire—can have valuable assistance in providing education for thc children of the found themselves in a position to support this Charity . poorer ancl deceased members of the Craft. From a statement As for the falling oif in income to which thc Report calls at page 68 of this Report it appears that fro m 1S50 till thc close attention , it is just possible that the establishment of the Victoria of US97 its receipts have amounted to £60, 134, t'10 principal Jubilee Institution by the Province may have had something to items being, Donations and Subscri ptions amountingto £31,093 ; do with it; and possibly the lodges and brethren may have it in proceeds of Masonic Balls, /I8236 ; interest on Invested Capital , contemp lation to make a great effort in respect of the £20,780. The expenditure during the same period is £35,891, Boys' School Centenary. Be this as it may, we trust of which £33,282 has been expended on the children , and £2109 there will be a greater all-round support during the present for Printing, Postages, and other small incidental Stationery, year than there appears to have been in 1897, for this, if for no expenses ; thc average yearly outlay in the former case being a other, reason that there is no local Institution of its kind that fraction over £708 ; and in the latter somewhat less than £45. we have any knowledge of that docs its work better or I lie balance remaining to the credit of the Institution is more satisfactoril y. ¦£24>743, of which £133 1 represents thc present value of sundry presentations to different scholastic Institutions ; £22,928 the FREEMASONRY IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA. amount ol invested capital ; and £484 the cash in Bank. Thus during the 47 years that have elapsed the Institution has received It is greatl y to be regretted that any differences should have on an average nearly £1280 per annum ; has expended for the arisen between Bro. Sir G ERARD SMITH , Past G. Warden of childre n and expenses of management together £753 per annum ; England , and our brethren of the English Constitution in the '"i d has invested or otherwise standing to its credit over £526 Colony of Western Australia , and still more is it to be regretted per annum. I his is splendid work to have accomplished in this that publicity should have been given in the Colonial press to limited period , and our West Lancashire brethren must be the existence of such differences. It is bad enough to learn \\ ell satisfied , considering the amount of good whir.lt this Educa- through private sources of information that her Majesty 's repre- 'onal Institution has thus been the means of dispensingtoo among; sentative in one of our Colonies, himself holding high rank in 11u 1 " I >c children of their deceased and indi gent members. the Grand Lodge of England , has had some unp leasantness with rro m the Secretaries' Report for 1897, we gather that the the local Craft , but it is far worse when we lind it recorded in ) e 'ir in question compares somewhat unfavourabl y with that of an influential paper such as the Eu ropea n Mail, that a person 'Is predecessor. The total income was less by £513 than in of this exalted position has been " at loggerheads " with the •£• ^ 96 ; the annua] ball having yielded upwards of £200 less ; the brethren , and has " taken the extreme course of making public . 1aUon s and subscri ptious £181 less ; and the interest on his grievance against the brotherhood." While , however, we are ^vested capital about £85 less. On the other hand , there has of op inion that Bro. Sir G. S MITH would have exhibited a wise •-en an excess of expenditure as compared with 18 6, of nearl discretion had he kept his differences private, we feel bound to f 9 y *' 39; the 173 children on thc several Funds of the Institution , state that he had good grounds for dissatisfaction with the course "< the ' nine who have been presented to other Charities , having pursued by the Masonic authorities in the Colony of which he - aeth er rr\ f r • •- cost x. 1573 ; while the working expenses amount to is the Governor at the recent dedication of the new Masonic •/7- In explanation as to a part of this reduction of income. Hall in Perth. When sometime ago the foundation-stone of this p.. , m tliat ;)o grant was received during the year from Hall was laid , the brethren appear to have felt that the proper 1 rovinrii]• . C 1 r 1 dl Lrrand Lodge, and that the Donation from Provincial person to perform the ceremony was Bro, Sir GERARD SMITH. He according ly was invited and undertook thc duty, discharging prise known as Harrod's Stores , and the name chosen is that of the first VVorshipful Master , Bro. Alderman J. Newton. A large and distinguished it , so far as wc know , to the entire satisfaction of our West company of brethren assembled to witness the interesting ceremony, including Under these circumstances, and especially Australian brethren. many influenti al members of the Corporation. Owing to the excellent as the District Grand Master—Bro . the Hon. |OllN A. WRIGHT arrar gements made, the whol e proceedings passed off without a hitch, and —look no part in the proceedings, it would have been no more re flee * e J the highest credit upon all concerned. An interesting novelty was than courteous on the part of the District authorities had they the presentation to each of the Consecrating Officers of a handsome silver requested the Governor—who , as a Past Grand Warden of vase bearing a suitable inscription. The Consecrating Officer , Bro. Edward Letchworth, Grand Secretary, Eno-land, ranks next in order of precedence after thc District was assisted by Bros. Sir John B. Monckton, P.G.W., as S.W. ; Sir R. Grand, Master—to have consecrated a building of which he had Hanson , Bart., M.P., P.G.W., as J.W. ; Thos. Fenn , P.G.W., as Chap, laid the lirst stone. Instead of this being done, the duty of (undertaking the duties at very short notice, in the absence of Bro. Rev. R consecrating thc hall and dedicating it to the purposes of Free- J. Simpson , P.G. Chap.) ; Frank Richardson , P.G.D., as D.C. ,* and J. masonry was entrusted to Bro. the Hon. DANIEL K. CONGUON , Stephens, D.G.D.C, as I.G. The founders of the new lod ge are Bros.