Ireland.

Beginning in 1873 , in a very humble way , with the determination to assist the widows and orphan children of deceased Freemasons in the Masonic Provinces of Antrim and Down , it was quickly seen by the brethren that in the formation of the Belfast Masonic Widows' Fund was a scheme which would gladden many a sorrowing home , and lig hten the burden of many a struggling , deserving , and lonely woman . From the first report till the last , therefore , it is not surprising to find that the sympathies of the members of the Order went out towards its

support ; and as year after year the applications for help came in increasing numbers , so did the contributions widen and increase ; and during those 2 S years the Committee have always been able to give grants to everyone found suitable . The closing year of the century has been no exception to this experience , and the Committee are grateful to members and lodges alike for the generous support which the fund continues to receive . The following table gives a comparison of the income of iSqp and 1000 : IS QQ—Lodge and personal , Antrim . i , ~ 744 os . 6 d . ;

do ., Down , £ 125 14 s . ; interest , ^ 285 ios . id . ; donations , ^ 120 ; miscellaneous , £ 17 6 s . id . ; total , £ 1292 ios . 8 J . igoo—Lodge and personal , Antrim , £ 755 3 s . 6 d . ; do ., Down , £ 140 is . 6 d . ; interest , £ 2 ^ 6 5 s . 8 d . ; donations , £ 70 ; miscellaneous , £ 18 18 s . 3 d . ; total , £ 1270 8 s . 1 id . One hundred and twenty-one widows and their families were assisted during 1900 ; 98 through lodges meeting in Co . Antrim , and receiving grants amounting to £ 767 ; 23 through lodges meeting in Co . Down , and receiving grants amounting to £ 146 . Donations had amounted to £ 70 .

Speeches , with all the point and effectiveness wh ich brevity alone can give , were delivered in support of the resolutions necessary of adop tion at an annual meeting . In the first place the CHAIRMAN made a graceful reference to the death of Queen Victoria and the accession to the throne of " the Protector of British Freemasons , " the audience rising to sing " God save the King . "

Bro . MONTGOMERY then proposed the adoption of the reports and Treasurer's statements of accounts , congratulating the brethren upon having distributed among necessitous brethren , their widows and orphans , no loss a sum than £ 1367 during the past year . He complimented the brethren who have had charge of the funds upon their zeal and attention , and said they could look forward most hopefully to the future of the two Charities . He supposed every brother present had at some period or other been asked— " What is the good of Freemasonry

generally , and what good has it done yourjelf ? " Looking for an outward and visible sigri , who could say that the brother who had done good to the widow and the orphan and his distressed brother had not at the same time conferred benefit upon himself ? They were now , Bro . Montgomery continued , in a very eventful Masonic era locally , as the Provincial Grand Master had resigned his office , and a new Provincial Grand Master would shortly be installed . All those who had

come in contact with him would , he was sure , say that the Grand Master of Ireland could not have made a wiser or better selection . Long might their Bro . Lord Shaftesbury live to rule over that province ; long might their R . W . Bro . Hilton live to act as his worthy Deputy —( applause ) —and long might the Belfast Masonic Charities flourish more and more in their usefulness to the widow , the orphan , and the distressed brother . ( Applause . )

Bro . J . M . BARBOUR , in seconding , referred to the exceptionally economical administration of the two Charities , remarking that the expenses amounted to only three or four per cent , on the total amount distributed . While noting a slight decrease in the sum contributed during 1900 , he thought it was very gratifying that the special effort made during the past year on behalf of the Masonic

Orphan ' s Centenary Fund had not encroached further on the resources of the branch . Another matter he would especially mention was that everyone could rely with the utmost conviction and certainty that every penny subscribed was distributed only after the most searching investigation , and among the most deserving cases . All that remained for them w as to extend its usefulness as much as possible . ( Applause . )

Bro . the Rev . J . H . MKKVVN moved " That this meeting , recognising the continued usefulness of these funds , feels it to be its duty to urge upon lodges and brtthren the necessity of sustaining them by a liberally increased pecuniary aid , in order to meet their ever-increasing claims , and then : "> y promote the noble virtue of charity , the keystone of the Masonic Order . " It was , he said , sometimes asserted that the Masonic body was rather selfish , and all their Charities

were organised in support either of distressed Masons or the widows and families of Masons . He did not see how the charge of . selfishness could be brought against either of the Societies . If there were not amongsc Masons such funds the case of the distressed would have to be met from other sources outside their circle ; besides which , it was their duty to carry out the old principle underlying the statement , that " Charity begins at home . "

Bro . Sir OTTO J AITE , High Sheriff of Belfast , in seconding , emphasised the fact that 121 widows and nearly 500 individuals in all had been assisted by the funds . It was cause for satisfaction when £ \ , out of . Uio charitably dispensed , went to a deserving object ; but in the case ul the Masonic Funds at least £ <) out of every £ 10 was so applied . The CHAIRMAN , jn putting the vote , said the brethren of the Province of Antrim , had an especially strong answer to any charge of selfishness , for only last year the Masons of Belfast contributed £ 2000 towards the building of the new Royal Hospital .

The motion was unanimously adopted , and on the motion of V . VV . Bro . STIRLING a vote of thanks to the Chairman was carried by acclamation . The CHAIRMAN made the simple , eloquent response : I thank you most heartily for the compliment . If I have done any work for the Masonic Order in the past , I have been amply repaid by the many honours conferred upon me ; but to live in the love and respect of my brethren is the highest privilege 1 or any other man could claim .

The procession returned through the hall to Gounod s Marche Komaine , admirably played , as was the opening march , by Bro . Samel Leighton . Bro . H . J . Hill was the Director of Ceremonies , and the Marshals were : Craft—Bros . H . W . Millar and R . B . Andrews ; Royal * Arch—Comps . E . Agnew and James Frew ; Knights Templar—Sir Knight W . Godfrey Murray , E . P . 51 In

connection with the Charities the office-bearers were : Belfast Masonic Charity Fund—Chairman , Bro . A . Williamson , P . P . S . G . D . ; Vice-Chairman , Bro . J . R . Erskine , P . J . G . W . ; Treasurer , Bro . W . Rankin , Prov . G . Sec ; Secretary , Bro . W . Haffern , P . P . J . G . W . Belfast Masoni ? Widows' Fund—Chairman , Bro . D . Weir , W . M . 97 ; Vice-Chairman , Bro . W . J . Andrews , P . M . ; Treasurer , Bro . W . Wallace , P . P . J . G . W . ; and Secretary , Bro . J . Robinson , P . P . S . G . D .

The concert programme was arranged by Bro . Williamson , and directed by Bro . Samuel Leighton , the principal contributors to it being Miss . Minnie Herdman ( soprano ) , Mr . F . C . Aspinall ( bass ) , Bro . Wm . Thomas ( tenor ) , Bro . S . P . Swauton ( solo violin ) , and Mr . Allan Parker ( accompanist ) . The various items , vocal and instrumental , were not allowed to pass without a warm expression of compliment merited in a high degree , and by no means least , by the Belfast Select Male Choir , conducted oy Bro . Dr . Price .

* THE FUNERAL took p ' ace on Saturday last , at Nunhead Cemetery , amid great Iccal manifestation of sympathy , of Bro . William Baldwin , an old inhabitant of ( laplam , and propn ' tti r of ( he Clnpham Observer . The interment was preceded by a ir . emniial strvce at Clapham parish church . In January last the deceased gentleman was presented with a testimonial , jubsciibed to by numerous residents in recognition of what he had clone to assist local charitable and philanthropic institutions .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Galen Lodge , No . 2394 .

INSTALLATION OF BRO . A . W . GERRARD , P . M ., P . G . D . MIDDX . The annual installation ceremony in connection with the above lodge was held at Freemasons' Hall on the evening of Monliy , the 15 th inst . The ceremony of installation was impressively performed bv Bro . F . Bascombe , I . P . M ., in the unavoidable absence of the W . M ., 0 ro . Clifford Probvn , P . G . Treas . The Installing Master was supported by the following Past Masters : Bros . H . W . Roach , P . C . Maitland , J . B . S . Lancaster , Sec . ; and W . J . Rogerson . Bro . Rogerson officiated as D . C , discharging the onerous duties attached to that office in a most efficient manner .

Apologies , which were received from several of the members and invited guests who were unfortunatelv absent owing to a variety of causes , included the following : Bros . C . Probyn , P . G . Treis ; M . Cartei x he , P . M ., aid Treasurer elsct , who is at present in Naples ; Deputy Surgeon-General T . 3 . Purchas , P . M ., P . G . D . of C . ; F . Richardson , P . G . D . ; R . Clay Sudlow , P . G . D . ; E . Letchworth , F . S . A ., G . Sec ; A . P . Luff , W . M . ; M . Cheote , W . M . ; R . M . Pnoe , D . D ., P . G . Chap . ; Rev . E . R . Parr , P . G . Chap . ; Sir John Monckton , P . G . W . j and H . Brooks Marshall , G . Treasurer elect .

The visitors present included the following : Bros . W . Whittley , P . M . 2534 , P . G . D . ; H . Bidwell , P . M . 2120 , P . P . G . D . C ; G . Gissing , P . M . 1056 ; F . W . Levander , P . M ., P . P . S . G . D . Middlesex ; L . F . Goddard , P . M . 14 S 9 ; H . Medine , P . M . 1925 ; A . Doughty , P . M . 12 S 7 ; T . Dutton , P . M . 2410 ; G . S . Smith , P . M ., P . G . O . ; and J . Holding , P . M . 153 S . The W . M . elect , Bro . A . W . Gerrard , P . M ., P . G . D . Middlesex , having been duly installed in the chair of K . S ., invested the following brethren as his officers for the ensuing year : Bros . Clifford Probyn P . G . Treas ., l . P . M .:

J . Eastes , S . W . ; T . H . W . Idris , J . W . ; Rev . F . Peel Yates , Chap . ; Michael Carteighe , Treas . ; J . B . S . Lancaster , P . P . G . Std . Br . Surrey , Sec . ; C . I . Strother , S . D . ; J . J . Arrow , J . D . ; W . J . Rogerson , P . P . G . D . of C . Notts , D . of C . ; W . Judd , Asst . D . of C . ; R . Lang Sims , Org . ; J . H . Arrow , I . G . ; F . Bascombe and Ralph Dodd , Stwds . ; and Geo . Harrison , Tyler . The Auditors' Report disclosed a satisfactory balance of over £ 50 , and a balance of over £ 20 to the credit of the Benevolent Fund . A proposition , moved in pursuance of notice by the Secretary , that the sum of 10 guineas be voted to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , and that the same be placed upon the Treasurer's list , was unanimously adopted .

The brethren subsequently sat down to the customary installation banquet , which had been laid in the Sussex room . The W . M . proposed as the first toast of the evening " The King , Protector of the Craft , " observing that he had no doubt his Majesty would make as good a king as he had a Grand Master , and as he would a Protector of the Craft . The toast was loyally and enthusiastically received , Miss Gertrude Snow Ieiding the brethren in the singing of the National Anthem .

The next toast proposed was that of "H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught , Grand Master elect . " The W . M . s tated that they were one of the very first lodges to receive notice that the Duke of Connaught would be installed on the 24 th instant , and he was sure he would receive a great reception as the best possible successor of his most worthy brother . He was sure the duties of Grand Master would be carried out in such a manner as to satisfy the Grand Lodge and the whole of the Craft throughout the country and empire .

" The M . W . the Pro G . M ., R . W . the Deputy G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , "_ came next on the list of toasts , and afforded the W . M . the opportunity of expressing his sorrow at the absence of their own Grand Officer , Bro . Col . Clifford Probyn . They all knew what a good friend he had been to the lodge , and were proud to have such a Grand Officer connected with their lodge . He hoped that some of the younger brethren who were coming forward to the chair would master the

ritual so as to satisfy the august assembly of the Grand Lodge . They had a Grand Officer present that evening in the person of Bro . Whittley , P . G . D ., who had been invested by his Majesty the King , and he was sure they would all accord him a hearty welcome , and he thought his example should inspire all Masons there to become aspirants for Grand Lodge honours . He regarded the Grand Lodge as the centre of light and leading in Masonry , and concluded by coupling with the toast the names of Bros . Whittley and G . F . Smith , P . G . O ., Org .

Bro . Rev . W . Whittley prefaced his speech with the remark that he could have wished to be let alone until some one else had got the steam up , but at once proceeded to get the steam up very efficiently on his own account . He first of all expressed the pleasure it had given him to be present and to see a friend of 30 years' standing placed in the chair , and he would also take the opportunity of complimenting the Installing Master and Bro . Rogerson on the excellence of their work . The name of the lodge took them back to many years ago ; it was some 1 S 00 years since Galen flourished . He could not help wondering whether Galen was a Mason or not ; he seemed to have been

a pretty good fellow from all one could hear of him and if he was as good as was made out he thought he must have been a Freemason . ( Laughter . ) Although Galen lived centuries ago they owed a great deal to him . Great advances had b : en made in medical science since then , as Galen , were he present , as perhaps he was in spirit , would be the first to admit . Advances had been made since then in almost every direction in which men helped one another , and that was due , to a large extent , to Freemasonry . In travelling round the world he had met men . of all kinds and classes , and he must make the sad confession that he had found better friends and truer men

among r re cmasons than among professing godly men . Masons , take them all round , were ever ready to assist others all they could and relieve the distressed . He could never forget how once in a far-off land he was stricken with a virulent fever , and taken to the hospital . During one of his lucid intervals , and they were very few , he had asked one of the stall if there was a Masonic lodge in that place , and in less than an hour one ol the lodge officers was at his bedside , and told him he

was to have everything he wanted , and they would be responsible for all that was spent , and on his convalescence 1 special ludge was called to congratulate him on his recovery . He could not help wondering how many Christian churches would have done the same for one of their members . He feared there were very few . Freemasonry was founded on the principles of the grand old Book , and while its members remained true to them it would weather out the storms that could assail it .

Bro . Smith , in responding to the toast , remarked that though he had not been invested by the King , yet he had had the honour of playing before him three times at the Albert Hall . * ' The Health of the W . M . " was proposed by Bro . Roach , P . M ., and enthusiasticany received . The W . M ., in reply , e xpressed his pleasure at being installed in the chair of the Galen Lodge , and urged up on the brethren that the success of the lodge depended in

no small degree on the spi rit of unity which permeates its members , quoting the wellknown text "Behold how good and how pleasant a thing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity . " He hoped that durin g his year of office they would have plenty of work to do , and he was sure that in that case he should have the loyal co-operation of his officers in its performance and in maint aining a spirit of harmony in the lodge . The Secretary proposed " The Health of the late l . P . M . and Installing Master , " which was suitably responded to by Bro . F . Bascombe . The W . M . proposed the next toast—that of " The Visitors . "

Bros . Dutton , Bidwell , Levander , and Reeve ( Grand Lodge of Victoria ) responded . "The Treasurer , Secretary , and Past Masters" was proposed by the W . M ., and responded to by the Secretary and Bro . Maitland , P . M . " Ihe Officers " was proposed by the W . M ., and responded to by Bro . F . P «' Yates , Chap . The proceedings were terminated wiih the customary Tyler's toast .

The various toasts were interspersed with vocal selections , which included " Down the Vale" and "Angus Macdonald , " by Madame Mary Morton ; " The Perfect Flower , " " The Sun and the Shower , " and " Japanese Love Song , " by Miss Gertrude Snow , the vocalist receiving a well-merited encore for the last-named song ; and Bro . R . Triggs , " The Distant bhore " and lilumenthal ' s " Evening Song . " _ The musical portion of Jhe instillation ceremony was under the direction of Bro . G . F . Smith , P . G . O ., Organist , who also acted as accompanist to the various singers at the banquet .