The Minutes of the previous annual meeting having been read by the Hon, Sec., The Chairman said—It is a matter of regret to myself, as I am sure it is to every one here present, that the President of the Fund is not in the Chsir this evening. Sickness alone has prevented his attendance, and I regret to say that that has also induced him to resign the Presidency. The good work that he has done for this Fund we all, who are intimately acquainted with it, can only realise. He was a Secretary of the Fund for some time, he assisted in drafting the original rules, and he has always been a zealous and hard-working member of the Council. It must be x matter of great regret to every one that illness has prevented his still occupying the prominent position in the Council he has hitherto done. The Report of the Council has been before you for considerable time—for some days—and there is but little in it to comment upon, but that little is all of a satisfactory character. The calls upon the Fund have been but few, and those have, as you are informed, been met out of the income without in any way entrenching upon the capital, and that capital has been, as you will see, increased by Tis. '500, making it now the very respectable sum of Tls. 3.500. This you may think, nnd doubtless is, a most satisfactory result for the comparatively short time that our Fund has been in existence; bat we must remember, as I remarked last year, that calls may at any time be made upon us, and serious calls, and therefore it behoves every member of the fraternity to do what in "him lies to strengthen thie Fund. Older Masons here will easily call to mind the times when circulars used to come round to us very frequently for cases more or less deserving of support.
We all have noticed of late the all cases being referred to the duly enquired into, and their merits properly weighed. Justice is done in exch case, and the relief to the Brethren, not only by having less frequent applications made upon them, but also to their private purse, I am sure must be duly appreciated. The work done by our Hon. Sec., and the retiring President, I am sure merits the thanks of all the Brethren, It is due to their unco care that we have arrived at th factory position. I think with these few remarks I will propose: "That the report and the accounts of the Masonic Charity Fund, as presented by the Council, be adopted and confirmed.
Rt. Wor. Bro. B. A. Clarke—I shall have much pleasure in seconding the proposition, and in doing so I can very fully confirm all the District Grand Master has said with regard to the retiring President, the Hon. Treasurer, and the Hon. Secretary. The Hon, Treasurer especially, I think, deserves the thanks of the whole Masonic body in Shanghai for the very able manner in which he haa worked at this Fund, and the amount of time and trouble he has devoted in bringing it to ita present satisfactory state, ding Right Wor. Brother Miller's reposition that the accounts be passed, it is only right that we should remember the work of these three Brothers. (Applause.)
The motion was then put, and carried unanimously.
Wor, Bro. J. H. Osborne—I think we might move a formal vote of thanks to the retiring President, Wor, Brother Bois, and T propose that the Secretary be instructed to write him a letter to that effect.
Wor. Brother J. W. Mielenhausen seconded, and the motion was carried.
The Chairman—This is our first meeting under the newly constituted Council, Formerly, as you are all aware, the Council was more limited, but as our Fund became mure extended and the different bodies took a larger interest in it, it was, as you ate already aware, considered better that everybody subscribing should have a voice in the disposal of our funds and the government of the body. This, during the past year, has worked well, but before conelading the meeting I would ask any new representatives if they have any suggestion or remark to make upon this Fund, so that we may be as much in accord with the general body of our Bretiiren as it is possible to be.
Wor. Bro. L. Moore:—1 may say the Lodge of Assiduity will be able as soon the accounts have been audited to pay their annual subscription of $50, The Chairman thanked Wor, Bro. Moore, and there being no further remarks, the proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the Chairman, We have received a copy of the Fourth Anaual Report of the Council of the Masonic Charity Fund, for the year ending Bist December last, The report: congratulates the members on the steady progress made, such relief as has been applied for having been afforded without drawing on the fund; one annuity, however, of Tls. 100 granted for five years to the widow of respected Brother, and on her death the moiety of it was granted to her invalid daughter for the remainder of the term, The Fund now amounts to Tls. 4,036.15, and it is regretted that the last Masonic Ball did not leave a credit balance. Worshipful Brother W.S, Emens has been appointed permanent Secretary. The followig statement is appended to the report Sratruest or Iscomu axp Exrenvirure from 3ist December, 1891, to 31st December, 1892, To Balance from 1891... 336.87 1992, Te.
Subscriptions and Donations...... 547.28 3 Interest on Current and Capital Accounts at 5% per annum 174.36
Ts. 1,058.51
By Sundries paid for printing, ote, 22.36 1892, Or Tis, Transfer to Capital Account... 500.00 Balance in Hongkong and Shan; (535.55 60
1,058.51
1892.
To Balance from 1891 Transfer from Current By Teed Deposit peer 7 "gnd Shanghai Bank. caeie sit in the Total Amount to credit of Fond Tls. 4,036.15 Note.—The Trustees hold 10 Scrip of the Royal Sussex Lodge of the nominal value of Tls. 250.00, and some decorative material for Faepx. M. Grarrox, P.M.
Hon, Treasurer.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.