2. Report Of The General Board.

2 . REPORT OF THE GENERAL BOARD .

3 rd September 1901 . During the three months ending 30 th June 1901 , there have been issued : — Mark Certificates , 349 ; total registered , 43 , 39 8 . Since the last Report , three Warrants for new Lodges Have been granted , viz :

No . 548 , Temple , Shillong , Bengal . No . 549 , Prossonno Coomar Dutt , Cooch Behar , Bengal . No . 550 , Manica , Umtali , Rhodesia . Royal Ark Mariner Certificates , 66 ; number registered , 6 , 681 . Warrants for two Royal Ark Mariners Lodges , viz . :

" Dramatic , attached to the Dramatic Lodge , No . 487 , London . " United Service , " attached to the United Service Lodge , No . 489 , London . His Royal Highness the Most Worshipful Grand Master has been graciously pleased to re-appoint for a further term of three

years : R . W . Bro . H . E . the Lord Henniker as Provincial Grand Master for East Anglia . R . W . Bro . the Viscount Valentia as Provincial Grand Master for Berks , and 0 \ -nn .

His Royal Highness the Most Worshipful Grand Master has been graciously pleased to appoint : R . W . Bro . Rev . Frederick William Macdonald , M . A ., to be Provincial Griand Master for Wiltshire , in succession to R . W . Bro . the Earl of Radnor , deceased .

His Royal Highness the Most Worshipful Grand Master having relinquished the Office of Provincial Grand Master for Sussex , has been graciously pleased to appoint as his successor for the next ensuing three years the Very Reverend Bro . Edward Reid Currie , D . D ., Dean of Battle , who has acted as His Royal Highness's Deputy since his installation .

The Board have to officially announce with the most sincere regret the death of the Most Worshipful Brother the Right Honourable W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Past Grand Master and Provincial Grand Master for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight , which took place on the 3 rd August . The late Most Worshipful Brother was a prominent member of Grand Lodge from its earliest days , and

took the greatest interest in its increasing success and prosperity . He served the Offices of Grand Senior Warden in 18 57 ; Provincial Grand Master for Berks , and Hants ., 18 57 till 1 S 73 ; Deputy Grand Master , 1 S 63-1 S 66 ; Grand Master , 1866-186 9 ; Provincial Grand Master for Hants , and Isle of Wight , 188 9 till 1901 ; and his loss will be severely felt , not only in this Degree , which owes so much to him , but by Freemasonry generally .

In answer to a question addressed to them , the Board would desire to point out that in any Province , where through the temporary absence of the Provincial Grand Master , the Deputy Provincial Grand Master is in charge , he must be addressed as " Deputy Provincial Grand Master in Charge , " and not as " Acting Provincial Grand Master . "

The Board have accepted with many thanks the gift by R . W . Bro . Charles Belton P . G . Warden of trophies of Spears , Bows and Arrows from the Zambesi .

FUND OF BENEVOLENCE . The thirty-third Annual Festival was held' at Freemasons ' Tavern , on the 10 th July , under the presidency of the V . W . Bro . Col . Clifford Probyn Past Grand Treasurer . The sum of . £ 2 , 059 was announced as having been paid and promised . The Board have great pleasure in congratulating the Chairman and the Board of Stewards .

The thirty-fourth Annual Festival will be held in July 1902 , under distinguished presidency , and the Grand Secretary will be happy to receive the names of Ladies and Brethren willing to act as Stewards . The Board has elected on the Educational Fund without a Poll : Edgar Cook , son of Bro . John Cook , Portland Lodge , No .

133 , Dorset . The following cases have been relieved : Bro .. H . M . O ., Lodge No . 296 , ^ 15 . Bro . W . H . G ., Lodges Nos . 128 and 162 , ^ 10 . Bro . J . M ., Lodge No . 390 , £ 10 . Mrs . R . T . ( widow of a Brother of Lodge No . 245 ) , ^ 10 . Mrs . E . C . ( widow of a Brother of Lodge No . 266 ) , ; £ io .

The Board recommends to Grand Lodge : ^ 50 to Mrs . E .. S ., widow of a Brother of Lodge No . 281 . R . LOVELAND-LOVELAND , President . FRANK RICHARDSON , Vice-President . C . FITZGERALD MATIER , Grand Secretary . 3 . A motion will be made that the Report be taken as read . 4 . A motion will be made thiat the Report be received and entered on the minutes .

5 . Recommendation arising out of the Report : That the sum of ^ 50 be voted to Mrs . Smith , Widow of Bro . Col . R . G . Smith P . Dep . Prov . G . M . West Yorkshire . 6 . A motion will be proposed that the Report be adopted . 7 . Presentation of Charity Jewels to the Stewards of the last Benevolent Fund Festival ,

Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

We shall be pleased to receive particulars of Masonic meetings tor insertion in our columns , and where desired will endeavour 1 to send a representative , to report Lodge or other proceedings . We do not sanction anyone attending Lodge meetings as our representative without a specific invitation .

METROPOLITAN : INSTRUCTION .

— : o : — Chlswlck Lodge , No . 2012 . ON Saturday , the 24 th ult ., the weekly meeting took place at the Windsor Clastle Hotel , Hammersmith . Although so / many

Lodges in the neighbourhood adjourn during July and August the "faithful few" make ia . point of never missing attending this one ; and , as Bro . Arthur Williams , the Preceptor , is scarcely ever absent the whole year round those who attend are sure of getting into Offic . ; and gaining confidence in earring out their duties .

The chair was occupied by Bro . Frank Evans , with Bros . K . M . Ross P . M . S . W ., J . H . Gumming P . M . J . W ., A . Williams P . M . Preceptor , F . Cnaggs P . M . Treas ., R . Josey P . M . Sec , R . H . Williams P . M . S . D ., M . F . Wilkins J . D ., H . J . Cousens P . M . I . G ., R . N : Larter P , M . Steward . The ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . Larter taking

the place of the candidate . The second section of the lecture was worked by the Brethren , under the direction of the Preceptor . Several Masonic subjects were brought forward for discussion and Bro . Williams asked the Brethren to support the case of Nellie Davidge at the next election of the R . M . I . G . Bro . Ross P . M . of the Paxton Lodge was elected to take the chair at the next meeting .

********** Earl ' s Court Lodge , No . 2765 . ON Thursday , 15 th ult ., we visited this band of Masonic Students ai . their comfortable quarters at the Greyhound Hotel , Kensington SquareW ., when , although the temperature was extremely high ,

, we found a large gathering of Brethren present ; and discovered that the esteemed Preceptor Bro . John Worth had just returned from one of his annual driving tours through Cornwall . Our worthy Brother was congratulated on his restoration to health and strength , after his llate serious accident .

The chair was occupied by Bro . T . Leete , and he was supported by Bros . C . G . Hatt P . M . S . W ., H . G . Cox J . W ., John Worth P . M .. Preceptor , J . H . , Cumming P . M . acting Sec .,.-.. P * Howard S . D ., J . R . R . Spring J . D ., Todd Lewis I . G .

After the usual formalities the initiation ceremony was rehearsed , the candidate being Bro . Seal . The Lodge being advanced to the second degree Bro . Wheatley was examined and entrusted , after which the Lodge was opened in the third , and the raising ceremony was gone through .

Bro . C . G . Hatt was unanimously elected to act as W . M . at the next meeting .

ON the 22 nd ult . Bro . John Worth P . M ., in the unavoidable absence of Bro . C . G . Hatt P . M ., occupied the chair and was supported by Bros . H . G . Cox S . W ., P . Howard J . W ., M . Davis P . M . Preceptor , J . H . Gumming P . M . acting Sec , J . R . R . Spring S . D ., H . Wheatley J . D ., R . R . Young I . G ., H . J . Cousens P . M ., T . Nichols , and others .

Lodge being opened in the three degrees was resumed to the second , when Bro . Stephens was examined and entrusted . Lodge being resumed to the third degree the raising ceremony was rehearsed . Lodge being resumed to the second degree Bro . Cousens was appointed D . C . and presented Bro . Nichols las W . M .-elect . Lodge was resumed in the third and second degrees , then to the

first , the Brethren saluting the W . M . as occasion required . The W . M . rehearsed the investiture of Officers , and the addresses were given to perfection by Bro . John Worth , and as that Brother has to instaj his successor in the . Mother Lodge next month we feel certain that those who have the honour of an invitation will be well pleased .

Bro . Cox was unanimously elected to act as W . M . at the next meeting and Bro . Cousens P . M . of the Old Concord Lodge was congratulated on all hands on his safe return to his native country .

*********** ******* Court . —Bro . H . T . Brickwelf will re-open this Theatre on Thursday evening next when a new play by Mr . Stuart Ogilvie , entitled " John Durnford , M . P ., " will be produced . It will be its first appearance on any stage , and it will be divided into four acts . The following is the complete cast : The Marquis of Northwold ,

Mr . Julius Knight ; Lord Arthur Hone , Mr . Dennis Eadie ; Ely Jubber , M . P ., Mr . G . W . Anson ; Charlie Gabbett , Mr . C . Troode ; Pollydor Plasden , Mr . Stanley Cooke ; Edward Barron , Mr . H . Nye Chart ; Thomas Billing , ' Mr . R . C . Herz ; Mr . Coe , Mr . W . H . Quinton ; Merrydew , Mr . V . Turner ; Major O'Callaghan , Mr . Herbert Standing ; Garcon , Mr . R . C . Herz ; Lady St . Cyr , Miss May Harvey ; Lady Arthur Hone ( nee Durnford ) , Miss Sarah

Brooke ; Miss Grisekla Carew , Miss Majorie Griffiths ; Mrs . Pollydor Plasden , Miss Nancy Price ; Mrs . Wells , Miss Alice Denvill ; Mrs . Fairweather , Miss R . Moodie ; Jennie O'Callaghan , Miss Ellis Jeffreys ; John Durnford , M . P ., Mr . Frederick Kerr . Act 1 , The Casino at Chapelle-les-Bains ; Act 11 , An Ante-room in the Work Girls Institute at Blackburgh ; Act m , Parlour at "The Case is Altered" ; Act iv , The Assembly Rooms at Blackburgh ,