178 PAST AND PRESENT OF vened an emergent communication of the Grand Lodge at Summerside for the purpose of laying the corner-stone of the new Metho¬ dist church of that town. The ceremony was performed in accordance with ancient cus¬ tom. An oration suitable to the occasion was delivered by Rev. Brother George Fisher . The ceremony of dedicating St. John's and Victoria lodge rooms, at five o'clock P. M., was performed by Most Worshipful Thomas A. MacLean , grand master, on the 2ist of March, 1895, an(^ tne lodge room in the Masonic Temple was dedicated in ancient form, after which an eloquent oration was delivered by Worshipful Brother Rev. G. M. Campbell , acting grand chaplain. In 1895 the then grand master issued the following circular with a view to start a grand lodge benevolent fund for the Grand Lodge of Prince Edward Island , and in his address on the 24th of June, 1896, laid down a basis for a board of trustees, appointed by the.grand master for three years, one to go out in rotation every year. This fund has quietly commended itself and is slowly grow¬ ing. The first trustees appointed were Broth¬ ers Kenneth J. Martin , Donald Darrach , M. D. , and Mr. Neil MacKelvie , the present grand secretary, and the fund shall consist of such donations as may be given toward it, together with such other amounts as may from time to time be received from lodges or members as contributions, donations or bequests. Brethren: The question of Masonic charity and relief for aged and Infirm Masons, their widows and or¬ phans, is forcing itself upon the attention and consideration of Masonic jurisdictions the world over. As a grand lodge we have never done any¬ thing, and in view of the necessity which exists for a commencement, I have thought it advisable to make an appeal to the lodges In this jurisdic¬ tion to provide a nucleus for such relief fund by vote or subscription equivalent, at least, to one dollar per member. This would give us a fund of at least five hundred dollars to meet the Grand Lodge with. The fund would have to be nursed until it attained such maximum as the brethren would deem reasonable. For instance: In view of what other organisations contribute for relief and benefits, it would not be unreasonable for the brethren of this jurisdiction to aspire to raising it equivalent to an average of twenty dollars per member—not by individual assessment, but bj entertainments, subscriptions and donations, without material injury to the weakest brother In the craft. At my official visitation to each lodge I expect to bring this question before you, and will require definite and decided action in order to make a report of the same to the Grand Lodge. In this age concentrated effort is desirable, and unless we make a commencement we will never be able to reach the desired goal. I hope your Masonic principles will give hearty and unani¬ mous support to this measure. Done at the Grand East at Stanley Bridge , this 18th October, A. D. 1895. R. MacNEILL , Grand Master . The board of trustees may appoint a sec¬ retary and treasurer and the fund shall be loaned by the trustees at interest on first mortgages on improved Prince Edward Is ¬ land farms, of at least double the value of the amount loaned or invest the same in dominion, provincial or city bonds leg¬ ally issued, and they shall make an annual report of said fund to the Grand Lodge, which report will appear in the pro¬ ceedings. It is intended to raise the fund to at least twenty thousand dollars, the in¬ terest of which will then be applied for the relief of distressed brethren, their widows and orphans. The centennial of St. John's Lodge, No. 1, was duly celebrated on the 13th of Octo¬ ber, 1897, Worshipful Master Brother Adam Murray in the chair. The following lodges were represented, viz.: Victoria, No. 2, St f George's, No. 4, Zelland, No. 7, True Broth¬ ers, No. 8, St. Andrew's, No. 13, Prince