annual meeting of subscribers to the Charity Fund was held yesterday nat the Masonic Hall, Wor, Bro, E. Bois presided, and there was a small attendance.
The Chairman said they would observe that the income from all sources amounted to Tls. 761.93, the amount on fixed deposit had been increased to Tls. 3,000 and the number of members from 34 tu 52, Tt was very satisfactory to see the progress the Fond had made, and he trusted it would continue to make progress in the future. For the present favourable position they had largely to thank Wor. Bro. Gratton, who had so ably and energetically carried out the duties of Hon. Treasurer. There seemed tu be an impression among Mai that the amount expended on relief small that the Fund fulfilled no useful pur po-e. This was, however, not the ense, The Fund had already relieved Masunic bodies and private brethren of many claims which would otherwise come befure them, and he trusted that before very long all the Masonic charity of Shanghai would be expended through the agency of this fund, Every case was carefully investigated by the Council wud no trouble was spared to secure that the relief, while quite adequate, did not encroach more than was desirable on the fands, It was due to this fact that the sum expended hud been sosmnall. During the last few years Masonic bodies had been if anything too generous, and amounts had been given by Masons which were quite wut of proportion to the necessities of the cas With regard to the resolution embodied in the report, the Chairman explained that it had been framed by the Council in the hope that Masonic bodies having direct voice in the expenditure would thereby be induced to take more interest in the Fund and support it more extensively, Tt was also hoped to make the Council of " more permanent nature. It had been a great disxdvautage for the Council to be changed every year; for no sooner had " member of it become acquainted with the work than he went out of office, The Chairman then read the resolution, which was as follows The Council shall consists of two permanent Trustees, one being the District Grand Muster for the time being and the other elected by the Members of the Fund, The Annual Trustees shall consist of a representative from each of the Masonic Bodies holding regular meetings in Shanghai, provided they have qualified as Patrons tothe Fund. Noamendment or alteration to be made in this rule unie Resolution passed at one of th Meetings and confirmed at a subsequent: Special Meeting to be held thereat an interval of not less than three The Representative of the Northern Lodge will continue to be President, und the Treasurer and Secretary will be appointed by the Council.
Rt. Wor. Bro, J. I. Miller, in proposing the adoption of the report and accounts and of the resolution just ecad, suggested the addition, for the sake of clearness, of the words "of Northern China (English Consticution)" after the words "Grand Master." He said that although during the past two or three years they hed been exempt from any large claims, there had been considerable amounts expended in the years before, and it could not be hoped that the Fund could always be as fortunate as of late. They had to look out for a rainy day, and he hoped the brethren generally would not relax their efforts to build up a thoroughly good and substantial fund which would be a source of usefulness to the Masonic fraternity here and a credit to them throughout the Masonic world.
Wor. Bro. Fryer, in seconding the resolution, said the' report was a very satisfactory one, whether they took into
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.