The Robert Burns' Volume.

Grand Lodge ] amended . It was presented to the Grand Lodge in 1 S 62 by the family of the late Sir James Burnes , M . D ., LL . D ., & c , long Grand Master of Scottish Freemasonry in India . In the absence of a minute of the proceedings of the lodge as respscts the appointment and investiture of the Poet ( the records bsing silent as to the matter on the date mentioned ) , it is impossible to actually prove that

Robert Burns was invested as Poet Laureate in 178 7 by the R . W . M . of the lodge . All , however , that could bs fairly expected under the circumstances has been done for and on behalf of No . 2 in corroboration of the event by its able advocates ; and , on the other hand , those who have taken the opposite view have had the best of advice and advocacy in Bros . D . Murray Lyon , G . Sec , and William Officer , S . S . C . ( P . G . D . Scotland ) , two gifted Craftsmen , known and respected far and wide .

After a careful perusal of all the evidence submitted , as reproduced in the volume , and especially as to the correspondence thereon in the Freemason , I believe that Burns was so appointed and invested in 1787 , though I am bound to admit that the extremely able advocacy against such a view makes one hold such an opinion with " fear and trembling ! "

Bro . Allan Mackenzie , as the Historian of the lodge , has no reason to regret the investigation , neither have the members , for the Grand Lodge on 7 th November , 1895 , confirmed the minutes of Grand Committee , in which was the refusal " to recommend any alteration on said inscription , " and subsequently in the handsomest manner agreed to pay half the expense of the printing of the evidence pro and con . in relation to the celebrated picture , so that , as Bro . Robert Bathgate , R . W . M ., and the Sac-ela-y state , " all is now satisfactorily settled . " I congratulate the lodge accordingly . W . J . HUGHAN .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

A Quarterly Court of Subscribers to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys was held on the Sth instant , at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . Richard Eve , P . G . Treas ., Trustee of the Institution , Chairman of the Board of Management , presiding . There were also present Bros . James W . Burgess , George Read , C H . Webb , H . Massey , George E . Fairchild , C . E . Keyser , W . Radcliffe , John Strachan , W . H . Saunders , C . W . Hudson , Robert S . Cummings , Dr . Kempster , and J . M . McLeod ( Secretary ) .

After the minutes of the Quarterly Court of October , 1896 , had been read and confirmed , the minutes of subsequent Councils were read . In the course of the reading , it transpired that the honorary solicitor had reported the receipt of the conveyance of the Bushey Grove Park estate , and that the purchase had been completed .

The SECRETARY also reported that the total receipts for 1896 amounted to £ 23 , 603 as ., and that this was the third largest amount obtained in one year by the Institution since its foundation .

The Court then settled the list of candidates for the April election at 60 , and declared vacancies for 21 . The SECRETARY reported the sale of £ 8175 2 s . of invested capital and the payment of £ 13 , 000 for the purchase of the Bushey estate . Bro . W . H . SAUNDERS wished to know whether something could be done to relieve the list of candidates for the School of some of the names by granting £ 20

a year for the education of some out of the Institution . Years ago there was no free education . Many cases came before the Council of children who had been taken out of the social position of themselves and their brothers and sisters to be educated in this Institution , while they would have been much better left with their friends and relations . They had one boy from Manchester who was educated in this Institution as a gentleman , and when he went back he looked down on his brothers and sisters . There was another from Devonshire .

Bro . EVE said Bro . Saunders could give notice of motion to alter the rule , and _ his statements—which were now out of order—could be made when the motion came on at the Quarterly Court . The law could not be altered unles s by the Court , a motion for the alteration having been previously given . Law 8 7 only applied to such boys as were elected on the Institution who could be educated out

of it . Bro . STRACHAN enquired whether the rule could not be altered ? Bro . EVE said yes , and the remarks to be made on a motion for alteration could then come on . They could not enter into the matter now , Notice co uld be given to repeal the rule . A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings .

Treat To The Aged.

TREAT TO THE AGED .

The annual treat to the aged of the town by the brethren of the Friendship and Zetland Lodges took place at the Town Hall , Cleckheaton , on the 18 th ult . One hundred and twenty-four old folks were liberally entertained , and there were about 26 others on the list , who , from infirmity or other causes , could not be present , and to whom a parcel of good things would be sent out next day . The provisions

for the tea were supplied by Mrs . Hodgson , and the ladies who presided at the tables—most of them widows of deceased brethren—were Mrs . George Roberts , Mrs . Robert Tetlow , Mrs . Douthwaite , Mrs . J . R Sampson , Mrs . S . Birkett , Mrs . Arthur Crossley , Mrs . Walder { nee Miss Bull ) , and Mrs . Castle . Mrs . Ineson and Mortimer , the caretakers of the respective lodges , also assisted , together with various members of the Fraternity—the gentlemen , more especially after tea . when

some time was devoted to the pleasures of the weed or the social glass , and during the entertainment , when fruit was placed upon the tables . Among those present were Mr . W . Isherwood ( who presided ) , Mr . Geo . Crossley , Mr . S . H . Stocks , Mr . S . Mortimer , Mr . R . Castle , Mr . Geo . Blackburn , Mr . John Birkby , Mr . Wm . Armitage , Mr . Robert Thornton , Mr . R . Naylor , Mr . G . H , Niven , Mr . H . Waddington , Mr . S . Halliday , Mr . W . H . Howarth , Mr . A . S . Roberts , Mr . A . Heaton , Mr . R . B . Hartley , Mr . C . H . Greaves , and Mr . John Holden .

In commencing the proceedings after tea , Mr . ISHERWOOD gave the old folks a very hearty welcome , and stated that that was the 21 st annual gathering , and that he had been present at all of them . During the evening songs were given by Mrs , Robert Thornton , Mr . James Robinson , Mr . Varley ( Wyke ) , and Mr . Harry Thornton ( Bradford ) ; Messrs . Waddington and Clough sang the "Excelsior" duet , and Mr . Niven recited The Curfew , " each being illustrated by lantern slides shown by Mr . J . Goldsbrough ; recitations were also given by Messrs . Greaves and Hallas ( Bradford ) ;

Treat To The Aged.

and Mr . A . Whitley gave a ventnloquial entertainment with his dummy figures It was announced during the evening that Mr . Alfred Law would double his usual gift , and that each guest would , therefore , receive on his behalf a new florin ; also that Mr . Crossley would present each with a shilling in commemoration of his golden wedding anniversary . In respect of these gifts and other matters , votes of thanks were spoken to by the CHAIRMAN , and Messrs . S . HALLIDAY , H . WADDINGTON , S . H . STOCKS , and R . CASTLE .

In addition to the gift of money , each guest received a parcel containing a Christmas loaf , tea , and sugar ; and those who were absent would receive a similar gift on the following day . After the old folks had left the company present , which was unusually large , spent several hours in social enjoyment .

Masonic Service At St. Peter's, Barnsley, Yorks.

MASONIC SERVICE AT ST . PETER'S , BARNSLEY , YORKS .

A Masonic service was held in the above church , on Sunday , December 27 th 1 the Feast of St . John the Evangelist , by the lodge Friendly , No . 1513 . It had occurred to some of the members of the lodge , that , as the Feast of St . John fell on a Sunday , and as Bro . the Rev . John L . Brereton , the Chaplain , was also at present Prov . G . Chap , of West Yorks , it would be fitting to hold a Masonic service on St . John ' s Day in the church in which their Chaplain is the incumbent . The suggestion was very warmly taken up by the lodge , a dispensation applied for , and

obtained . All the officers of the lodge were present , viz ., Bros . J . Spence Ingall , W . M . ; W . W . Hutchinson , S . W . ; H . B . Nash , J . W . ; Rev . John L . Brereton , Chap . ; I . Longley , Treas . ; T . Webster , Sec . ; C . Sugden , S . D . ; F . Atkinson , J . D . ; A . Lockwood , I . G . ; A . Walker , Org . ; ** F . C . Browne , D . C ; S . Krakauer , C . Titton , C . Hutchinson , and E . Rideal , Stewards ; and T . Rogers , Tyler . The W . M . was supported by Past Masters Bros . J . Wood , I . P . M . ; C . Lingard , W . Senior ,

A . W . Gration , S . Alderson , and J . H . Gration , P . P . G , Treas . ; also by Bros . J . J . Normansell , I . P . M . 1462 ; E . Billington , P . M . 1462 , P . P . G . P . ; W . T . Beanland , P . M . 1462 , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; W . S . Smithies , P . M ., P . P . G . D . ; T . M . Lawson , P . M . 600 ; T . Chester , P . G . T . ; Revs . Dr . Lawson , Canon Kirby , Canon Bullock , P . P . G . Chap ., P . G . Chap . ; and 31 other brethren including 14 visitors from other lodges .

After clothing in the schoolroom adjoining the church , a procession was formed , headed by the Tyler bearing the banner , and entered the church singing the old 100 th . The chancel was reserved for Masons only , the Past Masters occupying the stalls , while the W . M . surrounded by hisofficers was seated onaraised dais on the south side between the stalls and the altar . The nave of the church was crowded by a large congregation . All being in their places the office was begun by the Chaplain , Bro . the Rev . J . L . BRERETON .

The lesson , I . Cor ., xiii ., was read by Canon KIRBY , and a most impressive sermon was preached by the Rev . Canon BULLOCK , from Gen . iii ., 17 , 18 , 19 . The alms taken amounted to £ 17 15 s . 3 d ., which sum was handed over to the churchwardens towards clearing off the church debt . After the collection Gounod ' s " Nazareth " was sung by Mr . James Mason , of Barnsley , whose fine baritone voice was heard to great advantage . The procession , and placing of officers and brethren was excellently well-managed by the D . C , and the unison singing of the brethren , especially in the hymn , was remarkably fine .

Freemasonry In Anglesey.

FREEMASONRY IN ANGLESEY .

OPENING OF A NEW HALL AT AMLWCH . A gathering of special interest to Freemasons took place at Amlwch , on Tuesday , the 5 th inst ., in connection with the S * - . Eleth Lodge , NJ . 1483 , to commemorate the opening of a new Masonic Hill , situated on the Bull Bay-road . The lodge room measures 34 feet long by 24 feef wide , and is surrounded by the necessary ante-rooms , kitchen , dressing rooms , & c . The hall is properly constructed and well-built , and all the rooms well-lighted and ventilated , and reflects great credit on those brethren who supervised the work . At 2 . 15 p . m . the lodge

was opened by the Worshipful Master , Bro . John Hughes . There was a good attendance , the visiting brethren being numerous , representing nearly every lodge in the province ( this was undoubtedly due in a great measure to the popularity of Bro . John Hughes , the W . M ., who is esteemed as a man and beloved as a Mason ) . All the Provincial Grand Oilbers , Past and Present , retired to the ante-room in order to escort the D . P . Grand Master , Bro . Col . H . Piatt , P . G ; D . Eng ., into the lodge , who was received with Masonic honours .

Before proceeding with the general work the D . P . G . MASTER delivered the inaugural address , stating that it gave him great pleasure to compliment the brethren of St . Eleth upon the acquirement of such a suitable ' and complete lodge room and appurtenances , which , in his opinion , were very well arranged . He closed a most interesting and instructive address by an earnest appeal to the brethren to renew their determination to abide by . the first three grand principles of Masonry—Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth—dwelling specially on Charity , without which Masonry was a vague term .

Afterwards the W . M ., Bro . John Hughes , went through the ceremony of initiating a new brother in a very efficient manner , on the completion of which he was highly complimented . The work of the lodge was then suspended for about ten minutes while a photogiaph of the officers of the lodge , Prov . Grand Officers , and all the brethren present , was taken by Bro . Thos . Mills , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B ., to commemorate the event , an enlargement of which will be presented to the lodge by Bro . Mills .

Returning to work Bro . T . Williams , P . P . G . D . C , raised three candidates in his usual effective manner . Before the close of the lodge Bro . SMITH RHOSYDOL , P . P . G . Chap ., in eulogistic terms complimented the two brethren most actively employed in the creation of the new hall , viz ., Bro . John Hughes , W . M . and Bro . Wm .

Jones , P . M ., P . P . G . P ., whose efforts were most energetic and untiring until the completion of the building . A vote of thanks to these worthy brethren was proposed , seconded , and carried with acclamation with a request that it should be recorded in the minutes , there to be handed down to generations to come . In the figurative language of the late Mynyddog these two gentleman might be termed ' •y cidau ccffyl blacn " in every good work .

The W . M . having proposed a vote of thanks to Bro . R . G . Thomas , P . P . G . S . of W ., for the assistance he rendered in supplying the plans for the hall , the lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to a sumptuous banquat ( laid for 60 ) prepared by Mrs . Lemin , who is always ready and willing to do all she can for the Fraternity . During the evening the usual loyal toasts were proposed and duly honour ed . As a brother from an adjoining county we should like to state that our brethren of St . Eleth have given a good example to our sister lodge in thesams county ( Anglesey ) and wish them God speed .