Royal Arch.

A . S ., Purnell Jan ., Harrison , T . D . Atken , P . H . Emannel , G . Attroll , Tris ? £ r , and Pine . Visitors—Companions P . J . Turney , J . Willmott , T . Weite , P . Arnold , C . Travess , G . E . Strick , and others . The very impressive ceremony of installation of the three Principals , Compa . nions Dart , Elverston , nnd Street , was performed bv Cmopanion

Turney , after which the following were appointed Officers for the ensninsr year . —Companions Askew P . S ., Arlidge S . E ., J . W . Hillman Treasnrer , Price N ., P . H . Emannel 1 st Asst . S ., Hill 2 nd Asst . S ., and Comp . Blaokmore Janitor . Several rbethren were proposed for exaltation , and after the Chapter wns closed the Companions adjonrned to a banquet afc the Dolphin Hotel .

Paumure Chapter of Improvement . —The nsual weekly meeting of this Chapter of Improvement was held afc the Stirling Castle , Churoh-street , Camberwell , on Friday evening , 22 nd Feb " with Comp T . Poore as Preceptor . J . S . Terry Z ., G . Allen H ., B . Fnlwood J ., J . W . Watts P . S . The ceremony of exaltation was rendered in a most impressive manner and reflected great credit on

the Preceptor as well as the Companions for the care each had taken to render the whole effective . There was a good attendance of Companions , and Comp . Neville of the Macdonald Chapter , No . 1216 , was elected a member . Ifc is pleasing to add that this Chapter is steadily growing in members and importance , proving how much it is appreciated for the facilities ifc gives to all R . A . Masons in the

South of London to perfect themselves in the ritual , to take office in this snpreme degree , and they are cordially invited to attend its meetings , which are held every Friday evening , afc half pasfc 7 , when the ceremony of exaltation is always rehearsed . In addition it is proposed by tbe Preceptor shortly to work some of the sections of this degree , whioh , since the days of Dr . Ladd and Comp . Boyd ,

are rarely heard , and cannot fail to be of great interest , even to many advanced Royal Aroh Masons . If any of the Companions having the knowledge are willing to assist Comp . Poore in the work , they will confer a favour by communicating with the Scribe E „ Comp . J . S . Terry , 22 Bramah Eoad , Brixton . The Chapter was closed in dne and ancient form , aud adjourned to Friday evening 29 th February .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

THE Annual Festival of the Eoyal Masonio Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons was held ou Tuesday last , at the Freemasons' Tavern . In consequence of the illness of Brother J . Derby Allcroft , Grand Treasurer , who it had been arranged should be the President of the evening , tbe chair was taken by Bro . Sir John B . Monckton P . G . D ., President of the Board of General Purposes . Amongst those who attended we may mpntion

Bros . T . H . Devonshire Q . J . D ., Colonel Shadwell Gierke G . Secretary , Col . Peters G . S . B ., Edgar Bowyer G . Standard Bearer , H . G . Buss Assistant Grand Secretary , W . Stephens Assistant G . Pursuivant , R . C . Else P . G . D . D . P . G . M . Somerset , Sir C . T . Bright P . D . P . G . M . Middlesex , Horace Brooks Marshall , Lfc .-Col . Hnldane P . D . D . G . M . Malta , Bond P . P . G . W . Somerset , H . E . Cooper Smith , M . A ., Past

Prov . G . S . W . Oxon , W . Clarke P . G . P ., R . Percy Midrllemist . Dr . H . J . Strong , E . Letchwortb , Rymer , J . R . Boor , W . Hnrrop , Huzh E . Diamond , R . J . Emmerson , R . V . Vassar-Smith , G . P . Brockbank , C . S . Lane , D . P . Cama , Lionel Monckton , G . Kenning , Thos . Cubitt P . G . P ., F . Binckes Secretary R . M . I . Boys , F . R . W . Hedges Secretary R . M . I . Girls .

The Institution was founded at a Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge of England , held on the 2 nd March 1842 ( during the Grand Mastership of his late Royal Highness the Duke of Snssex ) , when the sum of £ 400 a year was voted towards its object—the granting Annuities to aged or distressed Freemasons . The first election took place in May of the following year , when fifteen bretb

ren were chosen to receive annuities , varying , according to age , from ten to thirty pounds annually . The Institution enlarged its sphere of usefulness by establishing , in 1849 , a Fund for tbe Widows of Freemasons . In the same year it effected amalgamation with the Asylum for Aged Freemasons at Croydon , and by this means afforded a home for thirty-three inmates . Since the formation of the

Institntion 617 brethren and 351 Widows of Freemasons have been elected annuitants . At the last election 165 brethren were in receipt of £ 6 , 720 ; 170 Widows , £ 5 , 440 ; and 22 Widows — at half their deceased husband ' s annuities— £ 440 , or , in round numbers , brethren and the widows of brethren derived £ 12 , 600 for the year from the sympathies and exertions of the Craft . At the next election there

will be 38 male candidates , from which list 14 vacancies are to be supplied , and 82 female candidates with 18 vacancies . Having placed these few facts before our readers , we will now proeeed with our report of the proceedings after the banquet , which we may state was served in a very creditable manner by Messrs . Spiers and Pond ( Limited ) , under the superintendence of Bro . Edward Dawkins .

On rising to propose tho toasfc of Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen , Sir John Monckton said , Loyalty ancl charity were the watchwords of English Freemasons ; they were met to give effect to the sentiments conveyed by thoso simple but eloquent words . After the National Anthem , the Chairman called on the brethren to give expression to their loyalty to tho head—the Eoyal chief of their Graf t—one who had done more for English Freemasonry in its

truest and best sense than any living man . He called on them to drink the health of his Eoyal Highness the Prince of Wales , the Patron of the Institution ; Her Royal Highness fche Princess of Wales and the other Members of the Royal Family . " Iu proposing the health of the Most Wor . Pro Grand Master the Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , Sir John said ho conld not forget . nor could they fail to remember , tho services rendered by that most

estimable nobleman . None who had the privilege of sitting in Grand Lodge could fail to bear in mind the manner in which the proceed , insrs of Grand Lodge were conducted by the Pro Grand Master . In speaking of the Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom , the Right Worshipfnl Deputy Grand Master , and the other Grand Officers , Present and Past , tho Chairman remarked of those who had been placed over

them by the Most Worshipful Grand Master , no one was more esteemed and appreciated than Lord Lathom . A more courteous , a more popular , a more true exponent of all belonging to Freemasonry was not to be found in this country . For the other Grand Officers , among whom he personally had for many years been enrolled , he must not say much , but he was sure that those present would accord

a cordial reception to the toast . Bro . Devonshire , Grand Deacon , was sorry that on that occasion there was nofc some senior Grand Officer present who could respond for the toast ; he was told it was his duty to do ifc , and he had very great pleasure in complying . He was very sure that all the Grand Officers , past as well as present , were delighted to see or hear of suoh

a gathering as this . It was part of the greatness of their Order to see the ontcome of other folks' work reproduced at suoh meetings as the present . It was not only among themselves that these things did good , bufc such gatherings as these proved something very important to the outer world . These were facts desirable to be known by those who were not Masons , and showed the work of Freemasonry

was a good thing . On the part of fche Present and Pasfc Grand Officers he begged leave to thank the company most heartily for the way in which they had received the toast . The Chairman on again rising said : Brethren , before I approach that which the toastmaster has told you , and told you truly , is the toasfc of the evening , the main object of onr coming together , I will

disburden my mind of thafc which has been upon ifc for the last fonr and twenty hours . I had desired , like yourselves , to be present afc the Chairmanship of one who has looked forward to ifc with great hopefulness . I do not know any one who would have filled the position with greater geniality . Bro . Allcroft is now upon a bed , not of sickness I am glad to say , but of physical inability . However , I may

state that until the very last moment came he so clung to the possibility of being present thafc it was not until within the last four and twenty hours he began to think of a substitute . I , brethren , am that very unworthy substitute , and iu Bro . Allcroft ' s name , as well as in my own , I ask you to give a cordial reception to tbe toast now before yon—Success to the Royal Masonio Benevolent Institution

for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons . I do not know that either of the other Institutions can appear more interesting than this ; can appeal to our feelings more thoroughly than thafc whioh we affectionately call the Poor Old Folks' . It is tbe youngest of the Institutions , but ifc is one which requires as much loving care as either . Bro . Terry has placed in my hands a number of figures and

details which I do nofc propose to read to you in full . It is sufficient to say that for forty-two years now the Old Men's Institntion has existed , and some six or eig ht years later that for the widows of Freemnsons , the Old Ladies , was started to run concurrently with it . I need nofc say thafc there are a very large number who cannot possibly receive the benefits of such an Institntion as this , but it is a

peculiar coincidence—or rather it is a matter of interest—that those who have received the benefits , added to the number to be elected at the next election , will amount to the exact- number of one thousand . That is to say , those Freemasons who have been unfortunate , and the widows of those who are dead , to that number , have been made easy and happy for the rest of their lives from the moment when £ 40 a-year

in the one case , and £ 32 a year in the other , was voted to them . There used to be many—when I was a young Freemason , now thirty vears ago—who said what is the use of Freemasonry ? I say . that the facts and figures I have just referred to supply an answer . If people who have been well-to-do have set in motion for them an Institution which keeps these people happy and comfortable for the

rest of their lives , that is sufficient justification for Freemasonry , if nothing else is offered . None of us who to-night are inclined to support fche claims of the old ignore in so doing the claims of the young ; but with the young everything is elastic and hopeful , while with the old who are unfortunate there is nothing bnt penury to look forward to unless the benevolent step forward with aid . I hope

in a few moments Bro . Terry , the indefatigable Secretary , will be able to announce such a list of benefactions as will offer an ample response to this toast . I do not propose to take up yonr time further here , you will be better and happier elsewhere if yon go from this room feeling that you have done your duty here . I ask you to drink to the toasfc , coupling with ifc the name of Bro . Terry .

The several Provincial Lists were then called over by Bro . Terry , who reported the amount received from this source , as the result of the exertions of 140 Stewards , reached £ 6097 18 s ; while London , represented by 159 Stewards , contributed £ 8245 lis 6 d ; making a grand total of £ 14 , 313 9 s 6 d , ancl still leaving 15 lists to be reported on later on . In the course of his remarks Bro . Terry stated that the

V . W . Bro . the Grand Treasurer , having no Province afc his back , and his own Lodge having sent up Bro . G . Kenning as its Steward , with £ 126 , had desired him to say that as the amount given by previous chairmen presiding ever these Festivals had been 100 guineas , he also gave that amount ; he wished it to be mentioned that as he was unable to be present , and as he has nofc had the gout for fouryears ,

he had fined himself another 100 guineas for being absent . The donation of Bro . Allcroft , will therefore be 200 guineas . Bro . Terry concluded by stating that this was the highest total he had ever had the honour to announce afc any of the Festivals . Col . Shadwell H . Gierke rose to offer the next toast ; it was his privilege to be permitted to propose one which he might say was

second only in importance to that which had just been so well received . When he stated he was about to propose the health of the Chairman of the meeting ho was sure all would most thoroughly and coulially agree with him . The brethren would sympathise with Bro . Al'croft in his illness . Personally he ( Bro . Gierke ) knew how ardently he had looked forward to being present on this occasion , and