Lodge which the Brethren had attended was commenced THE BENEVOLENT FESTIVAL. an hour late, and thus everything was thrown out of gear. draws near for the celebration of the AS the day The Bench took a lenient view of the case, and dismissed Anniversary Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevo- the summonses, but at the same time they—very wisely lent Institution it seems to be more and more apparent we think—expressed the opinion that the police were that the counter attraction of the Boys School Centenary perfectly right and justified in taking the proceedings they will have a very serious effect on the returns for the year, did, and were only doing their duty. will be collected to prevent an but we yet hope sufficient It is a . great pity that a Masonic Lodge, the first actual deficit , despite the fact that the amount required care of whose members should be to conform to the laws for the Annuities of the year is so large as /"i6,384, in of the country, should so carelessly lay themselves open addition to which there are the working expenses to be to such a charge as this—which in the natural course of provided for, with a small sum, in comparison, available in events is widely reported in the general press of the the shape of assured income. country—as it gives the enemies of Freemasonry such In our first issue this year we wrote at some length strong evidence in support of their case against the Craft. as to the needs of this Institution, and the splendid work it is engaged in carrying on. The recipients of its bounty now number close on 500, each of whom receives such The annual ladies' night in connection with the Cator all trouble so far as the Lodge was held at the Holborn Restaurant, on Monday, 31st an amount as to relieve them of ult., when Bro. Dr. F. A. Barton W.M. presided over a actual provision of the necessities of life are concerned, very large gathering of 180 Brethren. In former years the and not a few of. them must look upon the amount Cator Lodge has usually united with the Lewis in arranging regularly sent them from the Offices of the Institution as for its annual ladies' gathering, but this year both have decided to run alone, and, so far as the Cator is concerned, a veritable Godsend . the general success of the evening warrants it doing so in the We have been very pleased to learn that different future.- Soon after six o'clock, the company having members of the Craft have specially taken up. the cause assembled in the reception room of the Holborn Restaurant, recognising a move was made to the magnificent Masonic Temple, where of the Old People during the last few weeks, the Brethren, ladies, and gentlemen, were duly presented to that the alarm expressed in various quarters has a real the W.M. The banquet was held in the Council Chamber, existence, and feeling it would indeed be a calamity if and at the conclusion the W.M. briefly proposed the toast of the Festival turned out as badly as some were apt to the Queen, and announced that speeches were to be extremely " few in number and brief in character. On. such predict it would do, a couple of months back. But there an occasion, of course, the toast of the Ladies was sure to is ample room, nay, almost a necessity, for further workers, be received with the greatest enthusiasm, and was proposed and even at this late hour we .once more appeal to our in very graceful terms by the W.M. readers to see if it is possible for them to do anything to increase the total for the year. The fifth annual banquet, concert, and ball in connection Secretary of the Institution, Bro. with the Surrey Masonic Hall Lodge was held at the Surrey The worthy James Masonic Hall, Camberwell New Road, on Wednesday, Terry, is making strenuous exertions on behalf of the Fund 12th ult., and passed off very successfully. Bro. Wm. Hile he has so zealously served for many years past,, and we W.M. presided at the banquet, and gave the usual toasts. cheerfully add our voice in support of his appeal. The Bro. J. Morgan P.M. proposed the Worshipful Master, and expressed regret at the absence, through illness, of the Festival is to be held on Tuesday week, the 22nd Immediate Past Master Bro. L. F. Side. In Bro. W. Hile instant, so that there is no time to be lost—yet there is they had an excellent W.M. and they all hoped that his year ample in which to achieve much, if the task of office would be attended with much success. The chair- man, in responding, said he believed gatherings of that kind is enthusiastically started upon. There is room for more did much to ' cement friendships and to bring new members names on the roll of Stewards, and if any of our readers into the Lodge. can see their way to fill up one of the blanks yet on the list we are sure they will never regret having acted in The large ball room at the Oatlands Park Hotel, support of so good a cause. Weybridge, presented a very brilliant appearance on Wednesday night, 2nd inst., the occasion being a Masonic ball arranged by the Noel Money Lodge, No. 2521. Although the youngest Lodge in the locality, the Noel UNPUNCTUALITY. Money is one of the strongest, and the success attending the r I 1HE fatal mistake of unpunctuality in commencing the organisation of this gathering afforded gratifying proof of its -*- work of the Craft led several members of a vigour. By a dispensation of the Provincial Grand Lodge, ge into , serious trouble last month and as the Brethren attending the ball were permitted to wear Provincial Lod , Craft clothing. a result thirteen Brethren had to appear at the Farnham Petty Sessions on the 10th inst., to answer the charge of The Brethren 'of Meridian Lodge, No. 893, held their being found on licensed premises during, prohibited hours. annual ball in the Boys Schoolroom, Millbrook , on Monday, It was urged for the defence that the business of the 31st ult., in aid of the Masonic Charities. him by Grand Lodge. As the Grand Master had said, they GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND. knew the works of art he had already presented to the public, Friday afternoon , 4th inst., a deputation from the and he was sure those who saw this bust would feel that he ON Grand Lodge of Scotland, headed by the Grand Master had not fallen behind his previous attainments. This was Lord Saltoun, visited Newhailes House, and presented a bust not an occasion for long speech-making. When a man saw in marble of Sir Charles Dalrymple, Bart., M.P., to his his own bust he must have it suggested to him that silence family. The bust is placed on a marble pillar, to which is was an excellent thing. To look oh a bust was a reproof to affixed a silver plate bearing the following inscription : talkativeness. Therefore, a man who had his bust presented to him should obviously talk less in time to come. On Presented by the Grand Lodge ol Scotland behalf of his famil to the family of Sir Charles Dalrymple, B»rfc., of Newhailes, M.P., y, he thanked Grand Lodge and the in acknowledgment of their father's services as Grand Master Mason representatives thereof. in 1894-95-96. After partaking of the hospitality of Newhailes, and admiring its rich stores of antiquities, literature and art, the Mr. W. Grant Stevenson, R.S.A., Edinburgh, executed deputation returned to Edinburgh. the work, and a duplicate of the bust, in marble, is to be — " Aberdeen Journal." placed in the Freemasons' Hall, Edinburgh. The Grand Master, in presenting the bust, said that Sir Charles had for many years been a Provincial Grand Master, We are pleased to hear there is an immediate prospect and in that capacity, as well as in others, as a Mason, had of a new Lodge being formed in Wandsworth, under the endeared himself to his Province in a most singular manner, title of the " Wandle," with a probable number approaching and from all parts of the district of Argyll and the Isles, over 2699. As this Lodge will hold its meetings in Wandsworth, which he presided, there was nothing but praise as to the and among the founders are such names as Bros. Baker, manner in which he took care of that charge. He had now Tiedeman, Clark, Penman, Kendall, Major Bosworth, Dr. been reappointed to his old office, and his lordship trusted Maitland Coffin, Hudson, Harden, Budge, Stacey, Wharton, that he might long be spared to fill that most dignified and its success is more than assured, says a contemporary. honourable position. His career as Grand Master Mason It is the intention to hold the meetings at the Town Hall for came, of course, very particularly under his eye, because Sir the present, until suitable rooms are provided. Charles did him the honour of appoining him as one of his lieutenants, and during the whole time he had the honour of working under him as Grand Master he knew the excellent The honour of the Grand Treasurership for 1899- way in which he carried on the work of the Grand Lodge, 1900 seems likely to be more keenly fought for than has been and the self-denial which was so very often implied by the the case for some years past, several names being already journeys and distances he had to go in order to carry on mentioned as probable candidates.