Masonic Charity In West Lancashire.

i 5 ° 5 ; J- Keet , P . M . 1356 ; W . F . Neilson , 32 ; R . Martin , P . P . G . Treas . ; W . H . Latham , 2114 ; J . Wylie , 673 ; T . Bush , 249 ; Robert Gladstone , 32 ; H . Harradon , P . M . 1675 ; and Dr . Samuels , P . P . G . D . The SECRETARY read his report regarding the Festival , in which he stated that the total number of tickets sold was 453 , and of Stewards' tickets I iC ; total , 569 . Of these

440 were ordinary ticket holders and ico Stewards , in addition to 28 complimentary ticket holders , makingatotalot 56 S who were present at the ball . The gross receipts amounted to 3 C 415 15 s . 3 d ., and the total expenditure to £ 175 ps ., leaving a balance of £ 240 63 . 3 d . in favour of the Institution . This result had only been exceeded on four previous occasions since the inauguration of the Festival some 40

years ago , so far as he could ascertain . He therefore ventured to congratulate the Committee not only upon the substantial result obtained but upon the renewed interest taken by the Craft in their efforts . They had had this year probably one of the largest arrays of Stewards ever present , viz ., 117 , and their fees , amounting to £ 6 iSd . 6 d ., were nearly sufficient to purchase 12 Life Governorships in the Institution . A strong effort was made this year to

popularise the ball , and to induce lodges to give their active assistance to their cause , and they had been to some extent successful , inasmuch as an increased number of lodges in . the neighbourhood had rendered the Committee their support , and of those lodges six stand remarkable —32 , 1013 , 1299 , 1505 , 1547 , and 1609—having furnished from amongst their numbers exactly 50 Stewards , 1299 heading the list with 14 . It vvas exceedingly gratifying to be able to record the fact that the ball had on all sides

been declared to have been a most enjoyable one , and to have given entire satisfaction . He could not permit the occasion to pass without reference to the late Bro . John Cobham , P . P . G . D ., to whose generosity the Committee are indebted for the handsome donation of £ 10 ios . in aid of the ball funds , given only a very few hours before his lamented decease , and he believed this vvas the last act of his Masonic life . To the liberality of Bro . James De Bels

Adam , S . W . 6 S 0 , they were indebted for a very handsome donation towards providing the Stewards' badges , and to Bro . William Matthews for the gift of that portion of the printing , & c , usually contracted for . Votes of thanks having been voted to the executive officers , and to Bros . J . De Bels Adam and W . Matthews for theirgencrous help , the proceedings closed with a similar compliment to the Chairman .

Devon Masonic Education And Relief Funds.

DEVON MASONIC EDUCATION AND RELIEF FUNDS .

A meeting of the Devon Masonic Educational Fund was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Plymouth , on the gth inst . Bro . F . B . Westlake , 70 , P . P . G . D ., presided , and among the other members of the Committee present were Bros . J . R . Lord , 1247 , P . G . T ., Treas . ; J . B . Gover , 70 , P . P . G . S ., Sec ; S . Jew , 105 , P . P . G . T ., and R . Hambly , 1855 ,

P . P . G . S . of W ., Auditors ; W . S . Hearder , 105 , P . P . G . O . ; A . R . Lethbridge , 159 , P . P . G . S . of W . ; G . Whittley , 156 , P . P . G . O . ; E . Aitken-Davies , 1099 , P . P . G . S . of W . ; F . Hooper , 1212 , P . P . G . S . of W . ; N . Radmore , 159 ; T . Gray , 105 ; W . H . W . Macey , 1 S 47 ; and H . L . Mallet , 18 S 5 , P . P . G . S . B . The Auditors reported that during the past year the

subscriptions and donations amounted to £ 225 . In the previous year it was £ 303 . That should meet the attention of the Charity Stewards of thc lodges . There were several candidates for the benefits of the Fund . The Secretary reported that it , was intended to elect two candidates on the Fund at the coming annual meeting in April . The Committee proceeded to examine the petitions from

candidates , and to place such as vvere eligible on the list for voting . Thc result was two candidates who had been previously voted on were continued on the list , the first a son of a deceased brother of Lodge 39 , who had 221 votes to carry on , the other a son of a deceased brother of Lodge 1247 , who had 50 votes to carry on , and the following new candidates , children of deceased brethren , were placed on the list -.

The daughter of a brother who had been a member of Lodges 1099 and 1247 ; the son of a brother of Lodge 39 ; the daughter of a brother of Lodge 230 , who vvas drowned in H . M . S . Wasp ; the son of a brother of Lodge 1 SS 5 . Bre . GOVER gave notice that he should move at the annual meeting that £ 5 be specially granted towards the advancement in life ot a boy , the son of a deceased brother of Lodge 70 . The boy has become ineligible for continuing on the Fund through his age .

A meeting of the Masonic Casual Relief Society vvas held at the Freemasons' Hall , Plymouth , on Saturday , the yth inst . Bro . F . B . Westlake presided , and among the brethren present were also Bros . J . R . Lord , Almoner and Treasurer ; J . B . Gover , Secretary ; W . Wiggins , W . M . 1212 , and Godfrey Evans , l . G . 1550 , Auditors ; E . Aitken-Davies , N . Radmore , T . Goodall , 1 550 , P . P . G .

Org .,- C . Watson , 954 , P . D . G . D . C ; H . R . Langmead , 262 ; W . Powell , 1205 ; VV . King , 70 ; J . Goad , 70 ; J . H . Evans , 70 ; J . H . Turner , 230 ; and j . Gidley , 2025 . The Almoner and Treasurer ' s accounts showed that £ 22 had been received , and £ 25 5 s . expended . Bros . Lord and Gover were unanimously re-elected as Almoner and Secretary , and thanked for their services . A call of £ 1 each vvas directed to be made on the lodges .

The Alpass Benevolent Institution.

THE ALPASS BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The report for iSSS of the West Lancashire Alpass Benevolent Institution , established for the help of widows of Freemasons , 'has just been prepared . It says : "The number of annuitants on the foundation of the Institution

has been increased from five to seven during the past year , while there are two candidates waiting election as soon as provision can he made for them . Your Committee are aware that the extraordinary effort made by the province last year on behalf of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls has materially affected the income of this as well as

the other Institutions of the province ; and they feel that as the Masons of West Lancashire have shown their willingness to support the Metropolitan Masonic Institutions vvhen occasion calls for it , they will do the same for our local Institutions , and contribute liberally during the coming year , in order that the candidates

The Alpass Benevolent Institution.

now appealing for election may be successful . The festival , which was intended to have been held in June last , vvas postponed in consequence of the Girls ' School Festival being held in the same month , but it is hoped that the Festival to be held in June next at Southport , under the presidency of Bro . Col . Tomlinson , M . P ., P . P . G . W ., will be productive of such results as to justify the Committee in recommending the election of both the candidates . The Committee feel that as this Institution

has been established for a purely Masonic purpose it vvould be a graceful act on the part of the Grand Master or the Grand Lodge to recognise the efforts of those brethren who serve a Stewardship of this and kindred Institutions , by granting them ( as has been more than once suggested

by the Provincial Grand Secretary in his reports to Provincial Grand Lodge ) the privilege of wearing a Charity j evvel in token of the services rendered . " The total income , including balance , vvas £ 8 io 5 s . ud ., of which £ 450 had been invested in dock bonds , raising the total invested capital to X ' 2100 .

The Recent Festival Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

THE RECENT FESTIVAL OF THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The following sums have been received since last week , namely : —

LONDON . Lodge £ s . d . 1601 Bro . A . Thompson , additional 5 5 o 22 4 2 „ E . G . Lewis , additional 13 11 o

PROVINCES . HERTFORDSHIRE . 403 „ Rev . W . d'A . Crofton , additional 5 5 o 404 „ C . E . Keyser , additional 100 NORTHS AND HUNTS . 442 ,, R . Payling , P . M . —a new Steward 5 5 0

Board Of Benevolence.

BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE .

The monthly meeting of the Board of Benevolence vvas held on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall . The President's chair was occupied by Bro . Robert Grey , P . G . D ., President ; the Senior Vice-President's chair by Bro . James Brett , P . G . P ., Senior Vice-President ; and the Junior Vice-President's chair by Bro . C . A . Cottebrune ,

P . G . P . P ., Junior Vice-President ; Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , G . " Sec . ; Bro . Alfred A . Pendlebury , Asst . G . Sec ; Bro . W . Dodd , and Bro . W . H . Lee , represented Grand Secretary ' s office , and the other brethren present vvere Bros . F . R . Spaull , G . P . Britten , Hy . Garrod , Chas . Dairy , David D . Mercer , J . B . Grieve , J . H . Matthews , Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg , A . C . Woodward , W . H .

Ferryman , W . P . Brown , Frederick Binckes , Walter Hopekirk , John L . Mather , T . W . Whitmarsh , Geo . A . Cundy , R . J . Taylor , Eugene Monteuuis , William Eckershall , George B . Chapman , H . Massey , B . Stewart , J . H . Brown , Charles G . Hill , Henry Cox , I . Botibol , J . S . Cumberland , Charles J . R . Tijou , George Yaxley , John Ochse , George Baxter , W . H . Myers , Henry Esling , W . Beavis , S . E .

Anderson , G . Reynolds , Charles H . Freyer , Philip Sharpe , G . H . VV . Grace , John G . Stevens , James P . Allen , W . McNaught , W . Silver Hall , Joseph VVall , G . M . Taylor , C H . Canning , Vincent F . Murche , G . Hakewiil , E . M . Levy , G . H . Goldschmidt , F . W . Koch , James Heaton , Herbert W . Roach , Arthur E . Gladwell , H . E . Frances , A . G . Bedwell , and Henry Sadler , G . Tyler .

After the opening of the Board , the PRESIDENT informed the brethren that several letters had been received from petitioners for assistance , to whom grants had been made at previous meetings of the Board , and among them vvas one from a brother who vvas assisted out to New Zealand , couched in very pretty terms , thanking the Board for their aid , and stating that it had been the means

of saving his life . The brethren then confirmed recommendations to the M . W . G . M ., made at the February meeting , to the extent of £ 380 . The new list contained the names of 44 candidates for relief . Their qualifications were from London lodges , and from lodges at Hull , Crediton , Sunderland , Stockton-on-Tees , Bristol , Yokohama , Wymondham ,

Plymouth , Cheadle , Lowestoft , Cardiff , Twickenham , North Woolwich , Norwich , Leek , Richmond , Cheshunt , Woodbridge , Liverpool , Greenwich , Eccles , Taunton , Barnstaple , and Newport ( Isle of Wight ) . Four of the cases vvere dismissed , and five were deferred , not being complete . The remainder were relieved with a

total of & 10 S 5 . lhis sum was composed of one recommendation to Grand Lodge of £ 100 , and eight recommendations to Grand Lodge of £ 50 each ; three recommendations to the M . W . G . M . of £ 40 each , and seven of £ 30 each ; 10 grants of £ 20 each , five of £ 10 each , and one grant of £$ ¦

Masonic Reception Of The Rev. J. M. Macgonigle.

MASONIC RECEPTION OF THE REV . J . M . MacGONIGLE .

The merits of Petrolia Lodge of Masons of this city , as an entertainer , has become too well established to need special commendation in this section of the Masonic circle . It only needs to be said that in the reception given last evening at their elegant lodge rooms in honour of the

return from his European tour of their beloved Past Master , Rev . John MacGonigle , was in all respects worthy of the well-deserved reputation of the brethren of Petrolia Lodge . Some 200 of the members , their wives , daughters , sweethearts , and friends vvere assembled and enjoyed thc proceedings . The Committee of Arrangements , as usualacquitted

, themselves well , both in their ample provision for the comfort and pleasure of their guests , and also in arranging for the evening an admirable programme . After an artistic solo on the piano by Miss Bessie Williams , and prayer by Rev . E . F . Pember , Senior Warden , Bro . A . Kline , of Petrolia Lodge , in a brief and well-conceived address

welcomed Bro . MacGonigle home again . In his opening remarks the guest of the evening said that Bro . Kline had given him the best topic that could have been selected for his response in the two words , "Home again . " This was the guiding influence , the dearest and best of the wanderer , and the one that his

Masonic Reception Of The Rev. J. M. Macgonigle.

mind and thoughts ever dwelt oftenest and fondest on . And in no part of the world that he had visited was the full sense of the expression more fully realised than here in Oil City , and among the large hearted people that constituted the general Oil Country communities . His tribute to these was fervent and eloquent . Alluding to this remark made by Bro . Kline , who said that their guest had no ' doubt

"kissed the Blarney Stone" during his trip through Ireland , the speaker in response said that while in Dublin he expressed to some of his entertainers a desire to visit Blarney Castle and go through this time honoured performance . His friends assured him very sincerely that he could very well dispense with it , and so the audience decided . Bro . MacGonigle described in brief terms the

hospitalities enjoyed at the hands of the Masonic brethren he met in Ireland and in England . He made special mention of the Anglo-American Lodge , of London , the Secretary of which is one of nature ' s noblemen , Mr . George Reynolds . This Masonic brother made it a special duty to look up the Masonic brethren of America and extend to them the kindest of fraternal courtesies . No mere outline

can do justice lo the excellence of this gentleman ' s remarks . The address vvas listened to with profound attention and elicited hearty applause at its close . Rev . E . F . PEMBER followed in one of his happiest efforts , and which the audience highly appreciated . H . N . ARNOLD responded in his usual style , and his

remarks took a wide range , and his allusions to persons and things were capital . W . J . YOUNG , THOS . R . COWELL , T . B . SIMPSON , Past Master , Plympton ; C H . DUNCAN , Dr . TYLER , of Rouseville , andothers made brief and well-chosen responses . At the close of these remarks Bro . MACGONIGLE was called on , and related a remarkable cat story , or rather one

that had such a conclusion , the same being that it became his pleasant duty , at request of the officers and members of Petrolia Lodge , through Bro . T . B . Simpson , to present to Mr . Geo . Lewis , as was usual at the end of the term of that position , a fine Past Master ' s jewel . The WORSHIPFUL MASTER made fitting response . The programme was well rendered and afforded a very pleasant treat to all present .

A number of visitors were present from Titusville , Rouseville , and Tionesta . At tbe close the company present adjourned to the banqueting rooms adjoining the lodge rooms , and there enjoyed an ample and elegant lunch provided by the ladies . As a suitable and deserving welcome to Rev . MacGonigle and as a very pleasant social event , the affair was in all respects a success . —The Oil City Derrick , Jan . 30 .

Entertainment By The Chough Lodge, No. 2264.

ENTERTAINMENT BY THE CHOUGH LODGE , No . 2264 .

Last Tuesday another entertainment given by Freemasons to ladies and others belonging to the outer world who are not Masons occurred . The entertainment in the present case vvas given by the enterprising young lodge whose name is at the head of .. 'this notice , and was given at the Cannon-street Hotel , where the lodge holds its regular meetings . The entertainment

comprised a capital dinner , to which 114 sat down , and subsequently a dance in the big hall , which has a particularly good floor for dancing purposes . Everything that could be done for the comfort and pleasure of their fair guests was done by the brethren of the Chough Lodge . During the dinner Sargeant ' s band played a programme of music , including Watson's " Silver Wedding "

march ; Reiter's " Bagatelle ; " Clay ' s " Babes in the wood ; " Dunkler's " Au bord de la mer ; " Herman's "Diademe ; " Desorme's "Serenade de mandolines ;" and Stiles' " Doric gavotte . " The lodge is distinctly a musical Iodge , having sprung out of the Chough Musical Society , and consequently itwas not surprising to find that it was from members of the Iodge

itself and one of the lady guests that the musical contributions with which the speeches were interspersed were derived . For instance , the solo in the National Anthem vvas contributed by Bro . E . Piggott , I . G . ; " God bless the Prince of Wales , " by Bro . C Mussared , S . D . ; the duet " Friendship " by Bro . Marcus , S . W ., and Bro . Piggott , I . G . ; "All in a garden fair , " by Miss May Noad , a

daughter of Bro . W . J . Noad , D . C . This young lady won an encore , and on her return excelled her first performance . Bro . Mussared also contributed "My sweetheart when a boy , " Bro . Marcus also sang " Queen of the earth , " and Bro . Piggott the popular "Longshoreman . " The musical arrangements vvere entrusted to Bro . J . Turle Lee , who is the Organist of the Iodge .

After the company had done ample justice to the bountiful hospitality provided at the dinner tables , a certain number ot the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed by the WORSHIPFUL MASTER , and were enthusiastically received and honoured by ' the company . On any future occasion of the kind , however , it might be well to consider ( whether the toast of the

evening—which on this occasion vvas undoubtedly " The Ladies " —should not come immediately after the M . W ., G . M . instead of being placed last but one on the list . Unfortunately , lack of space at this season of the year renders it impossible to afford more space than will suffice for a brief report of a meeting of this description , and therefore the toasts of " The Queen and the Craft , " " The

M . W . G . M . the Prince of Wales , " "The W . M . of thc Lodge , " and " The Officers of the Lodge " must be passed over in silence , and the report confined to the two toasts particularly associated with the proceedings of the evening , namely , " The Ladies " and " The Stewards . " In proposing the toast of the evening , Bro . E . T . EDWARDS , W . M . of the lodge , gave play to his

imagination in a fanciful and humorous speech . Commencing by saying it was obvious that they vvere all anxious for the moment vvhen they should adjourn to the ball room , he said he should limit himself to a very brief speech in proposing the toast of the evening , namely , "The Health of the Ladies . " Hc did not know whether any one present was aware of it , but during the evening a deputation , of ladies

had waited upon him to assure him of their loyalty , and to ask him for a suggestion as to how their sentiments oa that point might be communicated to the lodge . He had pointed out to them that politics were strictly tabooed in Masonic gatherings , but they had urged him very strongly to assure the brethren that they were one and alLfor the union —to a man . The gentlemen , not to be outdone , had also