Instruction.

ISLINGTON LODGE , No . 1471 . The usual weekly meeting was held on Tuesday , the 12 th inst .. at the Cock Tavern , Highbury , when there were present : Bros . C . Nicole , W . M . ; R . E . Maskall , S . W . ; H . J . May , J . W . ; W . Hancock , P . M ., Preceptor ; A . F . Hardyment , P . M ., Asst . Preceptor ; C . M . Coxon , P . M ., P . P . G . D . Herts , Treas . j I . Duncan , P . M .. Sec ; H . J . Dunaway , S . D . j J . Horstead , J . D . ; E . P . Fischer ,

I . G . ; J . Birks , P . M . j C . J . Field , H . R . Bower , F . H . J & hnson , A . Noel , D . Taylor , D . Meredew , T . E . Newman , H . J . Neal , A . E . Turner , C . Weston , and J . Graves . The lodge was opened , and ; the minutes read and confirmed . The ceremony of passing was then rehearsed , Bro . Weston being the candidate . The ceremony of raising was afterwards rehearsed—including the traditional historjr—Bro . Taylor being the candidate . Bro . Maskall was elected W . M . for the ensuing week , and appointed the officers in rotation . The lodge was then closed .

UNION LODGE . The annual festival of this lodge was-held at Freemasons' Hall , Leicester , on Friday , the Sth instant . There was a large gathering of brethren , amongst whom were many W . Ms , and P . Ms , of the lodges of the province . The acting W . M . for the evening was Bro . W . Brand , 525 , and he was ably assisted by a full complement of officers . v After the usual preliminary business the work of the evening was entered on , the

first part of which was the opening of the lodge in the Second Degree . At this point the President of the evening was received with due ceremony , and he was saluted . For this year ' s Festival the choice of the brethren fell upon Bro . R . B . Starkey , P . M . 1391 , Prov . S . G . W ., & c , and Bro . Starkey occupied the chair during the principal portion of the work of the evening , which was the Sections of the Second Lecture . For the due working of this the thanks of the lodge were afterwards accorded to the brethren who , in a particularly able way , gave a due and proper exposition to the Lecture . The charges and the preface were given by Bro . Starkey . Of the Preceptors of the lodge

there were present : Bros . E . Holmes , 279 , Prov . G . Secj Dr . Blakesley , 1560 j and it also is worthy of note that the President represents 1391 in this capacity . The lodge was opened in the Third Degree , and full y closed in this and the Second . The permanent officers of the lodge , Bros . J . J . W . Knowles , J . Clifton , J . G . Bower , and H . G . Marriott were also in attendance for the performance of their duties as Secretary , Treasurer , Steward , and D . of C . respectively . After one of the most successful festivals , so far as working is concerned of this lodge , which is over 50 years old , about 60 of the brethren partook of supper , and the evening was enlivened by excellent harmony contributed by various of the brethren .

Sonnet For The Month Of March.

SONNET FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH .

Rude Boreas wakes , peevish from winter ' s sleep , Like a huge bear from lethargy arisen Whose slumberous season has been long . " and deep , And now he joys that snow no more imprison . But he is fitful—like a wakened child—He rises , frets and moans with grievous cries : He fiercely shrieks with thunderous tones and wild . * w » v .. «; u .. » . w . w ...... k .. « .. HV . vutf . ~ .. » ., . . . . . . ..

. , Then sinks to rest , and , gently . ' sobbing , dies . 'Tis Goddess Spring that sends him to his death , Her virgin voice stills his despotic sway And soon beneath her buoyant , balmy breath , Bird , bud , and bloom will brighten all the day . Then welcome March , although thy winds are cold , Thou speak ' st of Love and Spring , and they are never old 1 Bradford . CHAS . F . FORSHAW , LL . D .

Wills, And Bequests.

WILLS , AND BEQUESTS .

¦ Bro . the Rev . Brooke Lambert , for six years Vicar of Tamworth , and since 1880 Vicar of St . Alphege and St . Mary , Greenwich , a prominent supporter of the Metropolitan Association for Befriending Young Servants , who died at the Vicarage , Greenwich , on the 26 th January last , aged 66 years , left personal estate of the net value of £ 5926 8 s . 7 d .

Personal estate of the net value of £ sigo 7 s . 6 d . has been left by Bro . Sir John William Maclure , of The Home , Whalley Range , Manchester , first Baronet , f . R . G . S ., F . R . S . S ., M . P . for the Stretford Division of Lancaster , a director of the Great Central Railway , the Cambrian Railways , the Evesham , Redditch , and Stratford Junction Railway , the Oldham , Ashton-under-Lyne Junction Railway ,

the Wigan Junction Railways , the Lombardy Road Railways Company , the London and Northern Assets Corporation , the London and Northern Debenture Corporation , the Neath and Brecon Railway , the Neuchatel Asphalte Company , the Rochdale Canal Company , the Wrexham and Ellesmere Railway , the Wrexham , Mold , and Connahs Quay Railwsy , and Chairman of the Ashbury Railway Carriage and Iron Company , the British Tube Company , the Burnley and District

Wills, And Bequests.

Tramways Company , the Calais Tramways Company , the Earle ' s Shipbuilding and Engineering Company , - the Elephant's Kloof Gold Mining Company , the Globe Accident Insurance Company , the Ontario Lands and Oil Company , and the Tramways and General Works Company , who died on 28 th January last , aged 65 years . The gross value of the late Bro . Sir John Maclure ' s estate is £ 10 , 768 13 s . sd . . .

Recent Festival Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

RECENT FESTIVAL OF THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The following amounts , either as new lists or additions to lists previously acknowledged , have been received since we published our report of the recent Festival :

LONDON . Lodge £ s . d . 15 Bro . A . R . Carpenter , additional ... ... 220 ° 5 J > James Smart , additional ... ... 550 174 „ J . H . Bulmer , additional ... ... 8 18 0 18 S „ J . Hamilton Craig , new list ... ... 15 15 o ' 97 » T . G . Bullen , additional ... ... 5 5 0

507 ,, Wallace Smith , additional ... ... 330 1288 „ G . W . Key , additional ... ... ... 12 18 6 129 S „ H . A . Badman , additional ... ... 220 1306 „ G . W . Dawson , additional ... ... 226 134 S „ C . S . Walker , additional ... ... 550 ¦ 599 1 , W . Callingham , additional ... ... 550 lr * J 3 „ E . Davis , new list ... ... ... 26 5 o

' 769 . „ W . H . Gardner , additional ... ... 10 10 o ' 839 „ J . F . Perrins , additional ... ... 1 1 0 ' 22 4 2 „ Major R . E . Ellis , additional ... ... 10 10 0 2456 „ W . E . M . Tomlinson , additional ... ... 550 2 5 ' 2 „ G . R . Haines , additional ... ... 1 1 o 2687 „ L . Foppoli , additional ... ... ... 10 8 0

2789 „ Daniel Mayer , additional ... ... ' 440 2817 „ C . J . Drummond , additional ... ... 1 1 0 Unattached Bro . J . H . Gerards , additional ... ... 15 15 o „ H . Brown , new list ... ... ... 10 10 o „ R . Jennings , additional ... ... . ... 36 15 o „ W . J . Songhurst , new list ... ... 10 10 0

THE PROVINCES . BUCKINGHAMSHIRE . Lodge 1501 Bro . H . Flint , new list ... ... ... 10 10 o DEVONSHIRE . 351 „ R . W . J . Smart , additional ... ... 1 1 o ESSEX . 2 ° 77 » G . R . Cleaton , additional ... ... 10 10 0

HANTS AND ISLE OF WIGHT . Provincial Grant , additional ... ... ... 26 5 0 HERTFORDSHIRE . Chapter 2372 Comp . James Graham , new list ... ... 36 15 0 MIDDLESEX . ¦ ¦ . . t Lodge 382 Bro . A . J . Hanson , additional ... ... o 10 G

OXFORDSHIRE . 478 > , R . J . Rofe , additional ... ... ... 490 STAFFORDSHIRE . Unattached

Bro . W . H . Bailey , additional ... ... 10 10 0 SUSSEX . 1 S 29 „ E . J . Marston , new list ... ... 10 10 0 WILTSHIRE . 626 „ A . H . Lapham , additional ... ... 1 10 o WORCESTERSHIRE . . 2385 » G . B . Buttery , additional ... ... 0110 YORKSHIRE ( N . E . ) . . The Province Bro . W . H . Cowper , additional ... ... 2 « o 0

" Alice in Wonderland has just reached its century performance at the Vaudeville , where it will be given , with the exception of Saturdays only , as an afternoon entertainment , thereby leaving the stage clear for night rehearsals of Capt . Basil Hood's new comedy .

" Mrs . Dane ' s Defence " has been played at Wyndham ' s Theatre for the 150 th time before a large and appreciative audience . Mr . Chas . Wyndham and Miss Lena Ashwell , happily recovered from her recent attack of influenza , repeated the success they have achieved in their respective parts of Sir Daniel and Mrs . Dane .

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ROYALMASONICINSTITUTIONFORGIRLS, 113TH ANNIVERSARYFESTIVAL Will be held on WEDNESDAY , the Sth MAY , IOOI , TheMOSTWORSHIPFULPROGRANDMASTER, THE RIGHT HON . EARL AMHERST , R . W . Provincial Grand Master of Kent , IN THE CHAIR . Urclhn-n willing lo act as Stewards on this very important occasion are earnestly solicited to send in their names to the Secretary , as early as convenient . Stewards are much needed , and their services will be gratefull y received . , F . R . VV . HEDGES , Secretary . Office—5 , Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C .