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Article FREEMASONRY IN HAMPSHIRE. ← Page 2 of 2 Article LAYING THE MEMORIAL STONE OF THE NEW ASSEMBLY HALL, WOOD GREEN. Page 1 of 1 Article LAYING THE MEMORIAL STONE OF THE NEW ASSEMBLY HALL, WOOD GREEN. Page 1 of 1 Article THE MARK BENEVOLENT FUND FESTIVAL. Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In Hampshire.
There are only four preceptories—the Royal Naval , No . 2 , at Portsmouth ; one at Southampton , No . 52 ; one at Aldershot , No- 76 ; and another at Winchester . The oldest warrant is attached to the Royal Naval , which is a Priory of Malta . The Escurial Council of Allied Degrees dates from July 20 th , 1 S 80 , and meets at Havant . In the Esoteric Orders there are the Segmental Ghousla of the Order of Sikha and the Sat B'hai , which is called by special
summonses in the various grades and according to the rules of the Order ; the names of the officers and members are kept secret . Under the Swedenborg Rite there is the Swedenborg Lodge and Temple , No . 4 , date of warrant 1877 , and these meet at Havant . The No . 3 , Orion Senate of Hermetic Philosophers , 20 , 30 , meets at Havant second Tuesday in May , V . Ills . Bro . T . Francis , 32 ° is the Sup . Grand Com . ; No . 3 , Orion Chapter Rose Croix , II ° , 1 S , meeting second Tuesday in March and November , has
Most Wise Ills . Bro . C . J . Adames , 31 , at its head . The two foregoing charters date from June 3 rd , 1872 . Under the Ancient and Primitive Rite there is the No . 3 , Orion Council of Sublime Masters , G . W . 30 , go ° , with V . Ills . Bro . J . Harrison , 32 , as Sublime Dai . This warrant also dates 3 rd June , 1 S 72 , and the meeting is held on the second Tuesday in September . Under thc heading of Cryptic Degrees Havant has the Carnarvon Council
of Royal and Select Masters , with Bro . R . J . Rastrick as T . I . Master . There is only one conclave under the Red Cross of Constantines and it is held at Portsmouth . It is the Naval and Military , No . 35 ; Sir Knt . C . Knott , P . S ., is Int . General Hants . Under the N . and I . Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre and of St . John the Evangelist , there is the Mount Olivet Sanctuary and Commandery , with Bro . Knt . R . J . Rastrick , P . P . and M . E . C .
With regard to the Charities the province always comes well to the front . The number of votes held by the different lodgee and Royal Arch Chapters in the province for the Masonic Charities are 3470 , viz ., 1201 for the Boys , 946 for the Girls , 730 Aged , and 593 Widows , and these are distributed as under : —
Name of Town . Boys . Girls . Aged . Widows . Total . Portsmouth ... ,., 25 S ... 144 ... 142 ... 162 ... 706 Southampton ... ... 171 ... 139 ... 75 ... 51 ... 436 Aldershot ... ... ... 16 S ... 9 S ... 81 ... 60 ... 407 Basingstoke ... ... S 5 ... 52 ... 72 ... 28 ... 237 Gosport ... ... ... 59 ... 56 ... 32 ... 40 ... 1 S 7 Cowes ... ... ... 61 ... 58 ... 32 ... 27 ... 17 S
Fareham ... ... ... 54 ... 30 ... 42 ... 40 ... 166 Havant ... ... ... 49 ... 34 ... 48 ... 11 ... 142 Ryde ... ... ... 18 ... 33 ... 51 ... 38 ... 140 Winchester ... ... 47 ... 43 ... 24 ... 17 ... 131 Bournemouth ... ... 38 ... 60 ... 11 ... 22 ... 128 Newport ... ... ... 2 7 ... 45 ... 34 ... 22 ... 131
Andover ... ... ... 12 ... 34 ... 11 ... 10 ... 67 Lymington ... ... ... 9 ... S ... 8 ... 16 ... 41 Sandown ! ... ... ... 5 ... 7 ... 6 ... 4 ... 22 Peterslield ... ... ... 4 ... 7 ... 3 ... 3 ... 17 Shirley ... ... ... 10 ... 1 ... 3 ... 1 ... 14 Ringwood ... ... ... 2 ... 2 ... 4 ... 3 ... 11 Ventnor ... ... ... 2 ... . 1 ... A ... 1 ... 10
Woolston ... ... ... 3 ... 1 ... 2 ... 1 ... 7 Shanklin ... ... ... 1 ... o ... 2 ... 1 ... 4 Alton ... ... ... o ... 1 ... 2 ... 1 ... 4 Provincial Grand Lodge ... 115 ... 8 9 ... 40 ... 34 ... 27 S Ditto . in name of D . P . G . M 2 ... o ... o ... o ... 2 Ditto . Grand Chapter ... 1 ... 1 ... 2 ... o ... 4
1201 946 730 593 3470
1 hese figures are approximate only as regards each lodge , as the Royal Arch Chapters are included in the lodges to which they are attached , and brethren are , as a rule , set down under the heading of their mother lodge . The receipts of the Provincial Grand Lodge for the past year amounted to £ 296 6 s . gd ., and together with a balance of j £ 6 o 17 s . from last year makes a total of £ 357 3 s . gd ., whilst the disbursements , which include / 158 15 s . donations , were £ 318 15 s ., thus leaving a balance of £ 13 8 2 s . gd .
The invested funds of the province are £ 800 . In the accounts of Prov . Grand Chapter the receipts are £ 22 18 s . 6 d ., which together with a balance of £ _ 6 14 s . gd . make a total of £ 59 13 s . 3 d . The disbursements are only £ 10 3 s . 6 d ., thus leaving a balance of £ 49 gs . gd . The only Masonic work published in the province is one under the authority of the Right Worshi p ful Grand Master . It is the Masonic Calendar for that province , for which we are indebted for most of the facts and statistics given above .
Laying The Memorial Stone Of The New Assembly Hall, Wood Green.
LAYING THE MEMORIAL STONE OF THE NEW ASSEMBLY HALL , WOOD GREEN .
It is authoritatively announced that the ceremony of laying the memorial stone of the new Assembly Hall at Wood Green will take place on Tuesday , nth August . The function has been kindly undertaken by the Baroness Burdett-Coutts , a lady who has devoted the best years of her life to promoting works of philanthropy , and who , from the fact of her being the daughter of a Freemason and the wife of a Freemason , may be said to possess the
best possible credentials for the fulfilment of so honourable a task . There is , indeed , a special fitness , even above and beyond the fact we have just mentioned , in the performance of this duty by her ladyship . Not only has she shown herself , during her whole career , to be one of the kindest and most generous of women , but she has from time to time exhibited a decided interest in the concerns of Freemasonry . One of our lodges is named after
her , and fortunately numbers among its most cherished possessions , several gifts bestowed by her , ahandsome' . copyof the Volume of the Sacred Law being one of them . She is the only lady of the present day who , with the sanction and approval of his Royal Highness the Grand Master , has seen a lodge of Freemasons , not , of course , engaged in the performance of their duties , for the business of the lodge was suspended during her ladyship ' s presence ,
but assembled to perform those duties . The members of that lodge have , as such , more than once enjoyed her hospitality at Highgate , while , last year , it will be remembered , she very kindly distributed the prizes to the pupils of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls at its annual Fete at St . John ' s Hill . Thus the association of Lady Burdett-Coutts with our Society , which had its origin in the mere accident of her being the daughter of a
former brother , has been strengthened and confirmed by repeated acts of her own , done of pure benevolence aforethought , and in recognition of these kindly acts , as well as owing to the respect in which she is universally held , thc announcement that she will play the principal part in the ceremony of this day month will be received everywhere among us with the heartiest welcome ,
Laying The Memorial Stone Of The New Assembly Hall, Wood Green.
And as the Committee have succeeded in enlisting the sympathetic aid of this distinguished lady on the eventful occasion , we may rely with confidence on their leaving nothing undone in order to give lustre to the ceremony . Our experience of the past successes achieved by them and Bro . Binckes fully justifies this feeling , and as the familiar phrase runs , " weather permitting , " we maybe sure the nth August , 18 S 5 , will
add one more to the long list of red-letter days which already grace the history of our Boys' School . Nor has the question of ways and means been lost sight of . The precedent of the 8 th July , 1 S 65 , when the new School was inaugurated by the then Deputy Grand Master of England , and the proceedings were of the nature of a Festival , will * be strictly followed . There will be a Board of Stewards , whose endeavours will be
directed towards conducting as much treasure as possible into the coffers of the Institution , so that when the Preparatory School is ready furnished and fitted tor the reception of the new pupils , the new pupils , or a goodly proportion of them , may be in readiness to be received . The Committee , too , having in mind the influence successfully exercised in respect of the Preparatory School Building Fund by the grant of double votes to all brethren
and corporate bodies of brethren contributing thereto in sums ranging from five guineas upwards , have wisely resolved on recommending to the Quarterly Court of Monday next that thesame privileges shall be extended towards all individual brethren and lodges , chapters , conclaves , and the like , who , between then and the 31 st December next ensuing , shall contribute towards this special Preparatory School Fund . Whether special privileges are at any time sanctionable or not , there can be no doubt about the justice of
placing all who have had a hand in starting the new School on precisely the same footing as regards votes . At all events , there is reason to believe that a special incentive will be offered , as in 1883 , to assist in the beneficent work which is on the point of being inaugurated by one of the most beneficent of ladies , and we trust the majority of the brethren will be found powerless to resist its attractions . In fine , the special Festival next month has our warmest approval , and we trust the Boys' School receipts for the current year will be appreciably increased by the liberal and very much needed contributions which will be then forthcoming .
The Mark Benevolent Fund Festival.
THE MARK BENEVOLENT FUND FESTIVAL .
The regular Festivals of our central Charities have been held for the current year , and there now remains only that of the Mark Benevolent Fund , which is fixed for the 22 nd inst ., and will take place at the Crystal Palace , under the presidency of Bro . Lord Egerton of Tatton , D . G . M . M . M . of England and Wales , and Prov . G . M . M . M . of Cheshire . A good working Board of Stewards has been constituted , and with so respected and popular
a brother in the chair , there are fair reasons for anticipating that the 17 th Anniversary of this excellent Fund will be successful beyond all former precedent . It is . to the credit of our Mark Grand Lodge authorities that , at so early a period in its history , the Mark Benevolent Fund should have established itself thus firmly in the estimation of members of that Degree ,
and though it is probable the fluctuations in its progress will be similar to those of our other Charitable Funds , it is still more probable that a few years hence it will have secured a position which , if not absolutely independent of casual support , will be only in a very trifling degree affected by the varying influences of Dame Fortune .
The Mark Benevolent Fund already has a very creditable history . It was established some 18 years since , and for a long time was the Mark counterpart of our Craft Fund of Benevolence , being administered , however , not as the latter is , by a Board of Benevolence , but by the General Board of Mark Grand Lodge . A few years since it was determined to enlarge the scope of the Fund by establishing in connection with it an
Educational Branch , and this has proved most successful , there being at present in receipt of its benefits n boys and five girls , or 16 children all told . It is now , we understand , in contemplation to still further extend it by forming a Benevolent Fund for decayed Mark brethren and their widows . Thus , in the event of the new proposal being carried out , the Mark Benevolent Fund will combine within itself the purposes of our Craft Fund of Benevolence .
as well as those of the Masonic Schools and Benevolent Funds . Of the advantages of this arrangement , both economical and otherwise , there can be little doubt ; but whether it will be as practicable when the operations have been materially enlarged is a matter which cannot now be determined . We have said the approaching Festival on the 24 th inst . will be the 17 th , the first having been held in i 86 g under the presidency of Bro . the Rev .
Canon Portal , M . W . G . M . M . M ., at the Mitre Hotel , Hampton Court . The Board of Stewards consisted of only five brethren , Bro . F . Binckes being one of the number , and the amount subscribed was in round figures £ 97 . In 1870 , Earl Percy , M . P ., D . G . M . M . M . wasthe Chairman . andthe Board of Stewards , of whom Bro Binckes is the sole survivor , was again five strong , the receipts being upwards of /* 53 . In 1871 , Bro . J . C . Parkinson ,
G . J . W ., occupied the chair . Eleven brethren acted as Stewards and the result was a total of £ 8 $ and odd shillings . In 1872 Colonel Francis Burdett , Prov . G . M . M . M . Middlesex and Surrey , acting for the Earl of Bective , M . P ., Prov . G . M . M . M . Cumberland and Westmorland , presided , and the 12 brethren acting as Stewards raised amongst them ; £ I 77 J Since then the Festival has been regularly held but with varying
success , the first appreciable advance on the result of 1872 being in 18 77 , when the Earl of Donoughmore , Grand Senior Warden , was in the chair , and the 17 Stewards raised £ 221 . In 1878 Lord Skelmersdale ( now the Earl of Lathom ) , G . M . M . M ., was Chairman , and the result by the hands of 25 Stewards was £ 371 . In 1879 , under the presidency of Lord Arthur Hill , M . P ., there were 30 Stewards and a total
of £ 537- In I ° 8 ° Sir Francis Burdett presided on his own account and the 29 Stewards raised £ 550 . The anniversary of 1881 , under Lord Henniker , showed a falling off to the extent of upwards of £ 200 , but there was an equivalent recovery the following year when under the auspices of the Earl of Kintore , then Deputy G ., now G . M . M . M ., a sum of £ * __ was
announced . In 1883 another great leap in advance was made , Sir Pryse Pryse , Prov . G . M . M . M . South Wales being in the chair , and the total £ 710 . Last year was a still greater triumph . Major J . W . Woodall , P . G . M . M . M . N . and E . Yorkshire , presided ; 47 brethren acted as Stewards and the sum raised was within a fraction of X' 833 .
Such are the principal features of the Festivals already held , but those who need further particulars will find them in the published List of Subscribers to the Educational Branch of the Fund for 1884 to which we are indebted for the above details . It will also be clear from what we have said as to the purposes of the Fund that it is in all respects worthy of the support of our Mark brethren and we sincerely hope that our prognostications of an unprecedented success on the 22 nd inst . will be realised .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In Hampshire.
There are only four preceptories—the Royal Naval , No . 2 , at Portsmouth ; one at Southampton , No . 52 ; one at Aldershot , No- 76 ; and another at Winchester . The oldest warrant is attached to the Royal Naval , which is a Priory of Malta . The Escurial Council of Allied Degrees dates from July 20 th , 1 S 80 , and meets at Havant . In the Esoteric Orders there are the Segmental Ghousla of the Order of Sikha and the Sat B'hai , which is called by special
summonses in the various grades and according to the rules of the Order ; the names of the officers and members are kept secret . Under the Swedenborg Rite there is the Swedenborg Lodge and Temple , No . 4 , date of warrant 1877 , and these meet at Havant . The No . 3 , Orion Senate of Hermetic Philosophers , 20 , 30 , meets at Havant second Tuesday in May , V . Ills . Bro . T . Francis , 32 ° is the Sup . Grand Com . ; No . 3 , Orion Chapter Rose Croix , II ° , 1 S , meeting second Tuesday in March and November , has
Most Wise Ills . Bro . C . J . Adames , 31 , at its head . The two foregoing charters date from June 3 rd , 1872 . Under the Ancient and Primitive Rite there is the No . 3 , Orion Council of Sublime Masters , G . W . 30 , go ° , with V . Ills . Bro . J . Harrison , 32 , as Sublime Dai . This warrant also dates 3 rd June , 1 S 72 , and the meeting is held on the second Tuesday in September . Under thc heading of Cryptic Degrees Havant has the Carnarvon Council
of Royal and Select Masters , with Bro . R . J . Rastrick as T . I . Master . There is only one conclave under the Red Cross of Constantines and it is held at Portsmouth . It is the Naval and Military , No . 35 ; Sir Knt . C . Knott , P . S ., is Int . General Hants . Under the N . and I . Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre and of St . John the Evangelist , there is the Mount Olivet Sanctuary and Commandery , with Bro . Knt . R . J . Rastrick , P . P . and M . E . C .
With regard to the Charities the province always comes well to the front . The number of votes held by the different lodgee and Royal Arch Chapters in the province for the Masonic Charities are 3470 , viz ., 1201 for the Boys , 946 for the Girls , 730 Aged , and 593 Widows , and these are distributed as under : —
Name of Town . Boys . Girls . Aged . Widows . Total . Portsmouth ... ,., 25 S ... 144 ... 142 ... 162 ... 706 Southampton ... ... 171 ... 139 ... 75 ... 51 ... 436 Aldershot ... ... ... 16 S ... 9 S ... 81 ... 60 ... 407 Basingstoke ... ... S 5 ... 52 ... 72 ... 28 ... 237 Gosport ... ... ... 59 ... 56 ... 32 ... 40 ... 1 S 7 Cowes ... ... ... 61 ... 58 ... 32 ... 27 ... 17 S
Fareham ... ... ... 54 ... 30 ... 42 ... 40 ... 166 Havant ... ... ... 49 ... 34 ... 48 ... 11 ... 142 Ryde ... ... ... 18 ... 33 ... 51 ... 38 ... 140 Winchester ... ... 47 ... 43 ... 24 ... 17 ... 131 Bournemouth ... ... 38 ... 60 ... 11 ... 22 ... 128 Newport ... ... ... 2 7 ... 45 ... 34 ... 22 ... 131
Andover ... ... ... 12 ... 34 ... 11 ... 10 ... 67 Lymington ... ... ... 9 ... S ... 8 ... 16 ... 41 Sandown ! ... ... ... 5 ... 7 ... 6 ... 4 ... 22 Peterslield ... ... ... 4 ... 7 ... 3 ... 3 ... 17 Shirley ... ... ... 10 ... 1 ... 3 ... 1 ... 14 Ringwood ... ... ... 2 ... 2 ... 4 ... 3 ... 11 Ventnor ... ... ... 2 ... . 1 ... A ... 1 ... 10
Woolston ... ... ... 3 ... 1 ... 2 ... 1 ... 7 Shanklin ... ... ... 1 ... o ... 2 ... 1 ... 4 Alton ... ... ... o ... 1 ... 2 ... 1 ... 4 Provincial Grand Lodge ... 115 ... 8 9 ... 40 ... 34 ... 27 S Ditto . in name of D . P . G . M 2 ... o ... o ... o ... 2 Ditto . Grand Chapter ... 1 ... 1 ... 2 ... o ... 4
1201 946 730 593 3470
1 hese figures are approximate only as regards each lodge , as the Royal Arch Chapters are included in the lodges to which they are attached , and brethren are , as a rule , set down under the heading of their mother lodge . The receipts of the Provincial Grand Lodge for the past year amounted to £ 296 6 s . gd ., and together with a balance of j £ 6 o 17 s . from last year makes a total of £ 357 3 s . gd ., whilst the disbursements , which include / 158 15 s . donations , were £ 318 15 s ., thus leaving a balance of £ 13 8 2 s . gd .
The invested funds of the province are £ 800 . In the accounts of Prov . Grand Chapter the receipts are £ 22 18 s . 6 d ., which together with a balance of £ _ 6 14 s . gd . make a total of £ 59 13 s . 3 d . The disbursements are only £ 10 3 s . 6 d ., thus leaving a balance of £ 49 gs . gd . The only Masonic work published in the province is one under the authority of the Right Worshi p ful Grand Master . It is the Masonic Calendar for that province , for which we are indebted for most of the facts and statistics given above .
Laying The Memorial Stone Of The New Assembly Hall, Wood Green.
LAYING THE MEMORIAL STONE OF THE NEW ASSEMBLY HALL , WOOD GREEN .
It is authoritatively announced that the ceremony of laying the memorial stone of the new Assembly Hall at Wood Green will take place on Tuesday , nth August . The function has been kindly undertaken by the Baroness Burdett-Coutts , a lady who has devoted the best years of her life to promoting works of philanthropy , and who , from the fact of her being the daughter of a Freemason and the wife of a Freemason , may be said to possess the
best possible credentials for the fulfilment of so honourable a task . There is , indeed , a special fitness , even above and beyond the fact we have just mentioned , in the performance of this duty by her ladyship . Not only has she shown herself , during her whole career , to be one of the kindest and most generous of women , but she has from time to time exhibited a decided interest in the concerns of Freemasonry . One of our lodges is named after
her , and fortunately numbers among its most cherished possessions , several gifts bestowed by her , ahandsome' . copyof the Volume of the Sacred Law being one of them . She is the only lady of the present day who , with the sanction and approval of his Royal Highness the Grand Master , has seen a lodge of Freemasons , not , of course , engaged in the performance of their duties , for the business of the lodge was suspended during her ladyship ' s presence ,
but assembled to perform those duties . The members of that lodge have , as such , more than once enjoyed her hospitality at Highgate , while , last year , it will be remembered , she very kindly distributed the prizes to the pupils of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls at its annual Fete at St . John ' s Hill . Thus the association of Lady Burdett-Coutts with our Society , which had its origin in the mere accident of her being the daughter of a
former brother , has been strengthened and confirmed by repeated acts of her own , done of pure benevolence aforethought , and in recognition of these kindly acts , as well as owing to the respect in which she is universally held , thc announcement that she will play the principal part in the ceremony of this day month will be received everywhere among us with the heartiest welcome ,
Laying The Memorial Stone Of The New Assembly Hall, Wood Green.
And as the Committee have succeeded in enlisting the sympathetic aid of this distinguished lady on the eventful occasion , we may rely with confidence on their leaving nothing undone in order to give lustre to the ceremony . Our experience of the past successes achieved by them and Bro . Binckes fully justifies this feeling , and as the familiar phrase runs , " weather permitting , " we maybe sure the nth August , 18 S 5 , will
add one more to the long list of red-letter days which already grace the history of our Boys' School . Nor has the question of ways and means been lost sight of . The precedent of the 8 th July , 1 S 65 , when the new School was inaugurated by the then Deputy Grand Master of England , and the proceedings were of the nature of a Festival , will * be strictly followed . There will be a Board of Stewards , whose endeavours will be
directed towards conducting as much treasure as possible into the coffers of the Institution , so that when the Preparatory School is ready furnished and fitted tor the reception of the new pupils , the new pupils , or a goodly proportion of them , may be in readiness to be received . The Committee , too , having in mind the influence successfully exercised in respect of the Preparatory School Building Fund by the grant of double votes to all brethren
and corporate bodies of brethren contributing thereto in sums ranging from five guineas upwards , have wisely resolved on recommending to the Quarterly Court of Monday next that thesame privileges shall be extended towards all individual brethren and lodges , chapters , conclaves , and the like , who , between then and the 31 st December next ensuing , shall contribute towards this special Preparatory School Fund . Whether special privileges are at any time sanctionable or not , there can be no doubt about the justice of
placing all who have had a hand in starting the new School on precisely the same footing as regards votes . At all events , there is reason to believe that a special incentive will be offered , as in 1883 , to assist in the beneficent work which is on the point of being inaugurated by one of the most beneficent of ladies , and we trust the majority of the brethren will be found powerless to resist its attractions . In fine , the special Festival next month has our warmest approval , and we trust the Boys' School receipts for the current year will be appreciably increased by the liberal and very much needed contributions which will be then forthcoming .
The Mark Benevolent Fund Festival.
THE MARK BENEVOLENT FUND FESTIVAL .
The regular Festivals of our central Charities have been held for the current year , and there now remains only that of the Mark Benevolent Fund , which is fixed for the 22 nd inst ., and will take place at the Crystal Palace , under the presidency of Bro . Lord Egerton of Tatton , D . G . M . M . M . of England and Wales , and Prov . G . M . M . M . of Cheshire . A good working Board of Stewards has been constituted , and with so respected and popular
a brother in the chair , there are fair reasons for anticipating that the 17 th Anniversary of this excellent Fund will be successful beyond all former precedent . It is . to the credit of our Mark Grand Lodge authorities that , at so early a period in its history , the Mark Benevolent Fund should have established itself thus firmly in the estimation of members of that Degree ,
and though it is probable the fluctuations in its progress will be similar to those of our other Charitable Funds , it is still more probable that a few years hence it will have secured a position which , if not absolutely independent of casual support , will be only in a very trifling degree affected by the varying influences of Dame Fortune .
The Mark Benevolent Fund already has a very creditable history . It was established some 18 years since , and for a long time was the Mark counterpart of our Craft Fund of Benevolence , being administered , however , not as the latter is , by a Board of Benevolence , but by the General Board of Mark Grand Lodge . A few years since it was determined to enlarge the scope of the Fund by establishing in connection with it an
Educational Branch , and this has proved most successful , there being at present in receipt of its benefits n boys and five girls , or 16 children all told . It is now , we understand , in contemplation to still further extend it by forming a Benevolent Fund for decayed Mark brethren and their widows . Thus , in the event of the new proposal being carried out , the Mark Benevolent Fund will combine within itself the purposes of our Craft Fund of Benevolence .
as well as those of the Masonic Schools and Benevolent Funds . Of the advantages of this arrangement , both economical and otherwise , there can be little doubt ; but whether it will be as practicable when the operations have been materially enlarged is a matter which cannot now be determined . We have said the approaching Festival on the 24 th inst . will be the 17 th , the first having been held in i 86 g under the presidency of Bro . the Rev .
Canon Portal , M . W . G . M . M . M ., at the Mitre Hotel , Hampton Court . The Board of Stewards consisted of only five brethren , Bro . F . Binckes being one of the number , and the amount subscribed was in round figures £ 97 . In 1870 , Earl Percy , M . P ., D . G . M . M . M . wasthe Chairman . andthe Board of Stewards , of whom Bro Binckes is the sole survivor , was again five strong , the receipts being upwards of /* 53 . In 1871 , Bro . J . C . Parkinson ,
G . J . W ., occupied the chair . Eleven brethren acted as Stewards and the result was a total of £ 8 $ and odd shillings . In 1872 Colonel Francis Burdett , Prov . G . M . M . M . Middlesex and Surrey , acting for the Earl of Bective , M . P ., Prov . G . M . M . M . Cumberland and Westmorland , presided , and the 12 brethren acting as Stewards raised amongst them ; £ I 77 J Since then the Festival has been regularly held but with varying
success , the first appreciable advance on the result of 1872 being in 18 77 , when the Earl of Donoughmore , Grand Senior Warden , was in the chair , and the 17 Stewards raised £ 221 . In 1878 Lord Skelmersdale ( now the Earl of Lathom ) , G . M . M . M ., was Chairman , and the result by the hands of 25 Stewards was £ 371 . In 1879 , under the presidency of Lord Arthur Hill , M . P ., there were 30 Stewards and a total
of £ 537- In I ° 8 ° Sir Francis Burdett presided on his own account and the 29 Stewards raised £ 550 . The anniversary of 1881 , under Lord Henniker , showed a falling off to the extent of upwards of £ 200 , but there was an equivalent recovery the following year when under the auspices of the Earl of Kintore , then Deputy G ., now G . M . M . M ., a sum of £ * __ was
announced . In 1883 another great leap in advance was made , Sir Pryse Pryse , Prov . G . M . M . M . South Wales being in the chair , and the total £ 710 . Last year was a still greater triumph . Major J . W . Woodall , P . G . M . M . M . N . and E . Yorkshire , presided ; 47 brethren acted as Stewards and the sum raised was within a fraction of X' 833 .
Such are the principal features of the Festivals already held , but those who need further particulars will find them in the published List of Subscribers to the Educational Branch of the Fund for 1884 to which we are indebted for the above details . It will also be clear from what we have said as to the purposes of the Fund that it is in all respects worthy of the support of our Mark brethren and we sincerely hope that our prognostications of an unprecedented success on the 22 nd inst . will be realised .