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Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , ST . JOHN'S HILL , BATTERSEA RISE , S . W . INSTITUTED 1788 . Chief Patroness—HER MAJESTY THB QUEEN . Grand Patron and Presidentr-His EOYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES , K . G ., M . W . GM . Grand Patroness—Km ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCESS OF WALES . The 107 th ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL WILL BE HELD AT THE fiEiEEMASONS' TAVERN , LONDON , W . C , on Wednesday , the Sth MAY 18 *) 5 . The Right Hon . The Earl of Mount-Edgcumbe Bight Worshipful Deputy Grand Master , and Provincial Grand Master Cornwall , in the Chair . Brethren willing fco act as Stewards on this most important occasion are earnestly solicited to send in their names to the Secretary as early as convenient . Stewards are very greatly needed , and their services will be very gratefully received . F . R . W . HEDGES , Secretary . Offices—5 Freemasons' Hall , London , W . O . '

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SATUEDAY , 2 ND MAECH 1895 .

The Benevolent Institution.

THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

THE Anniversary Festival was held on Wednesday , at Freemasons ' . Tavern , under the presidency of the Rt . Hon . the Viscount Dungarvan Provincial Grand Master for Somersetshire . The meeting was well attended , the large Hall of the Tavern being filled , if not to its full capacity , at least as far as comfort allowed . The dinner was admirably served by Messrs . Spiers and Pond , ample provision being made for the numerous company , who were well looked after by the waiters and those in command .

. At the conclusion of the dinner the Chairman proposed tho toast of the Queen , whioh was regularly honoured . The health of the Prince of Wales , the Princess of Wales , and the other members of the Eoyal "Famil y was next submitted . The Chairman said one of the most popular songs in this country was Britannia rules the waves and as the Grand Master was then away on board his yacht , the Britannia , in the

Mediterranean , they could hardly do better than to wish that his Britannia would rule the waves . It had been a source of great regret that during the last few months the Princess of Wales had not bean seen as usual in this country , but this was turned to admiration when they remembered she had been away exercising that special trait of English women , sympathising . with these in trouble .

Speaking to the toast of the Pro Grand Master the Chairman expressed regret that Lord Lathom was among those who were suffering from illness , and in asking the Brethren to drink his health he might add his " better " health . , The toast of the Deputy Grand Master and the other Grand Officers was next on the list . The prevailing epidemic was responsible , said Lord Dungarvan , for the absence from that meeting of many Grand Officers , but they fortunately had some good representatives of the body with them .

Bro . Horace Brooks Marshall P . G . Treasurer responded . He regretted it had fallen to the lot of so unworthy a Brother as himself to acknowledge tho toast of the Grand Officers present and past . It seemed to him that his solo service to the Craft had been the introduction of his son , who with himself . had served the office of Steward to each of the Charities ever since the date of their Initiation . They hoped to continue doing so , as he felt that was the o ' eit cbhrse they could adopt to advance the interest of the three great Masonic Institutions .

The toast of the evening—Success to the Boyal Masonic Benevolen t Institution—was given from the chair in very brief terms . The President said he had consulted the pages of the " Freemason " and also the FREE - MASON ' S CHBONICLE in order to see what others had said in introducing this toast , but he found little that was new in the different speeches .

Fortunately he had something fresh to refer to—the decision of the Committee to create five additional Annuities for Aged Brethren , of £ 40 each . Lord Dungarvan made a forcible appeal for funds with which to carry on the good work , and coupled with the toast the name of Bro . Farnfield tho Treasurer of the Institution .

Bro . Farnfield acknowledged the toast . After the addition just referred to by the Chairman tho Institution would have 240 Widows , 200 Brethren , and 33 Widows receiving half their late husband ' s annuity , on its funds . This result had been achieved by the good work of Stewards in the past , and ne hoped the result of that daj ' s meeting might prove that the Committee had not overrun thc constable when they decided on the latest increase .

The Benevolent Institution.

Fortunately the Institution was not , ' he thought , in need of actual pity oh that occasion , as he believed the subscriptions to be announced would be sufficient to carry through the work of the year . He heartily thanked the Stewards for what they hud done . Bro . Terry next announced the amounts collected by the Stewards , giving particulars regarding the different divisions of the country . The total

from the Provinces , which were represented by 152 Stewards , was £ 6 , 893 , while London , with 171 Stewards ^ contributed £ 7 , 220 6 s , so that the result of the Festival , secured through the exertions of 323 Stewards , was £ 14 , 113 68 ; In announcing the list from Middlesex Bro . Terry said it would not have been unreasonable if that district had been absent on this occasion , as he had

the gratification of announcing that Lord George Hamilton , its respected chief , would occupy the ohair on their behalf next year , when he hoped to have to announce a special list of subscriptions from the Province . The total contributed from Somerset was the largest ever brought up at any Festival from that Province .

Bro . Kichard Eve P . G . Treas ., proposed the next toast . After the splendid result just announced the duty that had fallen upon his shoulders was an important one—to submit the health of the Chairman . They were delighted to see his Lordship present for ihe first time ai President df one of the Institutions , and delighted to notice that the list of Somersetshire was larger than had ever been known from that district . It was patent to fell

that Lord Dungarvan was popular and was beloved in his Province , the loyalty of his Brethren being shown by the result they had achieved in his honour . They could but hope the present would not be the last occasion on which Lord Dungarvan would preside at such assemblies , for having done so well that day they were anxious to see him even excel himself oh future occasions , when ho might preside for the other Institutions .

Lord Dungarvan tendered his thanks to the Brethren who had so ably supported him , especially the members of his own Province , of whom he was particularly proud , seeing that Somerset had done better than it had ever done before . Lord Dungarvan then referred to the action of Bro . Cannon , who had made each of his twelve children a Steward and Life Governor on that occasion , and as he considered a good example was worth following , he should insist on every member of his family being on the list of supportersit was unfortunate , however , that ho was still a single man .

Brother Letchworth Grand Secretary next rose . As a member of the Committee of tho Benevolent Institution it afforded him great pleasure to propose tho next toast , that of success to the other Masonic Institutions . It had been his privilege to be associated for eighteen years with the Institutions

as a member of Committee , and last year the Boys School had done him the honour of electing him as its Treasurer . He thus had special opportunities of seeing how the Institutions were managed , and of judging of the good work they were doing . They were carried oh with one desire—to promote the interest of all , and do everything that was possible for each other .

Bro . Hedges , in reply , trusted he might be allowed , on . behalf of the Boys and Girls Schools to tender to the Benevolent Institution sincere congratulations on the handsome donations announced that evening—a total that must at once have relieved the executive of the Institution Of any anxiety , as to finding funds , for the ensuing twelve months . He did not ask them to believe that either of the other Institutions was doing a better

work than the Benevolent , or was more deserving of support than it , but each was doing its share , and they hoped thatwhen the respective Festivals were held it would be found the Craft had been equally liberal towards them . The only preference he asked for on behalf of the Girls School was , that as its Festival would be the first to be held , the Brethren would give it the first place in their thoughts , and afterwards extend their patronage to the

companion Institution . Having now dono the best they could for the Benevolent he trusted they would look towards the Girls as next in order and do the best possible for them also . His anxiety was great at the present moment , as the Board of Stewards for his approaching Festival was behind the number at the corresponding period of the last two years , but he trusted they might eventually enrol such a Board of Stewards as should bring about as successful a result as they had heard announced that night .

Bro . McLeod followed . He would heartily join in the congratulations tendered to the Benevolent Institution on the success of that evening , and as one of the Stewards of the day compliment his fellow-workers on what they bad been able to achieve . He hoped the result of that day \ --as but an