Further Charity Work.

FURTHER CHARITY WORK .

AFTEB having devoted so much of our space as we did last week to the question of Masonic Benevolence , it may be thought we are harping too much on the one theme when we again take this subject for the very brief remarks

•we are able to offer to our readers in our present issue , but a perusal of our pages will convince anyone that it is the subject first in the minds of the English Brotherhood , no matter in what direction we may turn .

Kent—as it has often done before—may be said to take the lead just at the moment , but it is closely followed by Staffordshire , details of whose work is , unfortunately , crowded

out this week , Essex , and other Provinces , even our private Lodge reports giving evidence of the great activity and splendid organisation existing on all sides in furtherance of the good

cause . There is sufficient in the remarks of the Deputy Grand Master to his Brethren of Kent to form food for reflection , and

afford evidence of much work being done in the future , and we hope to refer at no very distant date to some of the projects he and his followers have in hand .

We were aware some weeks back Earl Amherst was likely to preside at a Festival on behalf of the Girls School , but until the matter was definitely settled felt it best to maintain

silence . We hope the Deputy Grand Master will be able to undertake this task at no very distant date , as delays are so dangerous . We feel assured he would have the support of the whole English Craft in the work .

Even if Lord Amherst devoted himself to the Girls School

next year , he would not seriously imperil the prospects of his royal chief for the Boys School Centenary of the year following , but probably consideration of such a possibility has much weight with his lordship in regard to this most important

question . While we all wish to see the Centenary of the Boys School supported as it deserves to be we must not allow it to imperil the chances of the other Eunds , although

such a result may be regarded as all but inevitable , in view of the exceptional circumstances of the case , and the support it is receiving from the Grand Master himself .

Board Of Benevolence.

BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE .

THE monthly meeting of the Board of Benevolence was held on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall , London , Bro . Eobert Grey President in the chair . The Senior Vice-President Bro . D . D . Mercer occupied his usual position , and Bro . T . W . Whitmarsh P . G . P . acted for the Junior Vice-President , Bro . C . A . Cottebrune , who was unavoidably absent .

There was a numerous attendance of Brethren for the Board of Masters , who had the business paper for Grand Lodge of 3 rd June read to them .

The Board of Benevolence confirmed the recommendations to the Grand Master at the April meeting to the extent of £ 395 , and afterwards voted a total of £ 570 to twenty-eight cases out of a list of thirty-five . The Grand Master was recommended to approve of votes of £ 40 each in three instances , and £ 30 each to five petitioners . The remaining votes were £ 20 each to eleven petitioners , £ 10 each to seven , and £ 5 each to two .

Kent.

KENT .

THE preparatory meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Kent was held , by permission of the Mayor , at the Town Hall , Gravesend , on Wednesday . The Provincial Grand Master Earl Amherst Deputy Grand Master of England presided , and was supported by the following Provincial Officers : James S .

Eastes Deputy , F . S . W . Gornwalhs S . W ., Eev . Augustus Jackson Chaplain , William Bussell Treasurer , Alfred Spencer Secretary , Albert H . Pitcher D . C , William Brown S . Br ., and several others , together with many of the Masters of Lodges in the Province .

The first business was the audit of the Grand Treasurer ' s accounts , which were received and adopted . It was decided that the Provincial Grand Festival should be

held at Folkestone , on the 17 th June next , under the banner of the recently consecrated Badnor Lodge , No . 2587 , the Wardens of which attended with an invitation from the W . M . the Earl of Eadnor . The sum of fifty guineas was voted from the Funds in aid of the Scholarship Fund for the Boys School .

Bro . William Eussell also proposed , as Bro . Geo . Adamson was desirous that the money now being raised in the Province to present him with a testimonial should be devoted to the Masonic Charities , that the sum subscribed should be used as a nucleus for

the purpose of purchasing a perpetual presentation to a Widow s Annuity of the Eoyal Masonic Benevolent Institution , that the Provincial Grand Lodge should contribute the balance necessary for such purchase , and that it be called the " George Adamson " presentation . This was carried unanimously .

Bro . Eussell next proposed that a perpetual presentation to the Male Annuity be purchased , payable in 1899 , to be called the " Amherst" presentation , in recognition of their appreciation of the services rendered by the Provincial Grand Master during the past thirty-six years he had presided over them . This was

seconded by Bro . J . S . Eastes , but before the proposition was put to the meeting Earl Amherst suggested its postponement , as he did not like the idea of anticipating their income . He had also some announcements to make to them . The Dean of Canterbury had asked his assistance at the celebration proposed

for next year at the Cathedral , in aid of the Eestoration Fund , and as they had on two occasions accepted the hospitality of the Dean in the Chapter House , he thought they ought to do something . He would certainly prefer to assist in the restoration of the Chapter House , because he considered there was a no more perfect place for hold the Masonic ceremonies to be found in the

Province , and if the Brethren would help him he would be glad to head the list with £ 100 . Then there was the Centenary of the Boys School , to be held in 1898 , and he would have to ask their assistance on that occasion . The authorities of the Girls School were anxious to have his services at their next Festival , but bearing in mind the several objects the Grand Lodge had in view , he was afraid they would have to wait for a few years .

Bro . Eussell 'explained that the financial part of the transaction had all been arranged and was easy enough . Their income for charitable purposes was about £ 700 per annum , so the advance could readily be repaid by 1899 , and he considered the purchase would be a very good investment for their money .

Observations having been made by other Brethren , Earl Amherst said that he had re-considered the matter , and as it was very probable that in a few years it would not be possible to purchase these presentations he therefore , in accordance with the desire of the meeting , withdrew his objection . The proposition was then put to the meeting and carried with applause .

Several grants recommended by the Charities Committee were approved , a vote of thanks was accorded to the Mayor of Gravesend for the use of the Town Hall , and the meeting adjourned . His lordship and a numerous company subsequently dined together at the New Falcon Hotel .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Chapter . of Kent will be held at Ashford , on 17 th July .