The Benevolent Festival.

served him the Brethren of his own Province of Essex well supported him on both those occasions . That night he was completely in the dark as to what they had done , but he felt by their presence in such large numbers that they had been doing their best for the Charity , and in support of the Chairmanship of their Provincial Grand Master . Lord Warwick then outlined what the Institution

was doing for the Aged Brethren and Widows who appealed to it for help , specially mentioning that for the Male Fund there were fifty-one candidates and only nine vacancies , and for the Widows Fund fifty-four candidates , with but three vacancies . It was the earnest desire of the Committee of the Institution to not only keep up the large number of annuitants on the list , but to take on

additional annuitants , despite the fact that they haid created sixteen new annuities during the past two years . Lord Warwick mentioned the fact that at one time a large portion of the receipts used to be invested , but that now the Committee considered subscriptions should be devoted to alleviating present wants , and therefore they only invested the surplus income year by year ,

feeling sure the Craft would supply sufficient funds to allow of the good work being continued in the future . He felt this was a very wise way of looking at the matter , for as they all knew , when they appealed to the country for help for the soldiers , one fund was pointed to which was established at the time of the Crimea war , the managers of which had thought it best to invest a large sum

for future possibilities rather than deal with the cases of need which arose at the moment . He was one of those who objected to that principle , his idea being to spend the money they had so long as there was any call upon it , and leave those of the future to deal with any special claims that might then arise . He had heard that some of the Brethren were at times dubious as to what was done

with their contributions , and to such he might say that he had the previous day visited the Institution at Croydon with their worthy Secretary , and he found that although the residents there might be aged they were yet able to enter into Bro . Terry's good natured chaff , especially when he warned the aged widows among them not to flirt too much with the Brethren . He felt quite sure the Aged

Masons and the Widows were worthy the support of the Craft , felt the Stewards had done their best on their behalf , and hoped their Bro . Terry would be able to announce a splendid amount as the harvest of their efforts . Before concluding his remarks he might specially refer to the part the ladies had taken among the Stewards that day . They welcomed the ladle ' s as workers in the

good cause , and recognised that in many places they had taken up positions which were previously denied them . This was well expressed in the words of a recent speaker , who proposed as a toast—Woman , once our superior , now our equal . He considered it was very good of the ladies to place themselves on an equal footing with the Brethren in support of the Charities of the Craft ,

and they might even forgive them if they proved themselves superior to the sterner sex in this respect—at least they would never find fault with them in such a matter . In concluding his remarks the Chairman desired to specially thank his Essex Brethren for the support they had given him , and then submitted the toast , which was most heartily received .

Bro . J . A . Farnfield Treasurer of the Institution replied , tendering thanks on behalf of the Committee and Executive ot the Institution for the way in which the toast had been proposed . They had feared as to the result of the year , in view of the many other calls made upon the Charitable members of the community . In humorous terms Bro . Farnfield referred to the fact that unfortunately

last year had been a most abnormally healthy season among their Widow annuitants with the result that there were only three vacancies at the present time . If they felt disposed they could only hope , with the extraordinary weather they were then enjoying , that there . might be a large number of deaths , so as to give the

Committee an opportunity of taking on a larger number of the applicants than was now possible . He believed they had a bumper in Freemasonry to . announce that night , and he believed that no one would be more delighted to hear it than the worthy Chairman of the Festival .

Bro . James Terry P . G . S . B . Secretary of the Institution then read the lists , expressing the great pleasure it afforded him to announce the result of the exertions of the Stewards , 28 3 of whom represented London Lodges , while 314 were associated with the Provinces . There were twelve lists yet to come in , and among the London totals were twenty-nine which exceeded ; £ ioo . Bro . Terry

referred to sach of these three figure totals in turn , foremost among them being that of Bro . W . J . Carroll W . M . of the Upton Lodge , No . 1227—a Lodge which Bro . Terry said he had the honour of consecrating in 1 S 68—his total being ^ 525 . The list of Bro . Carter , of the fellowship JLodge , was second , and amounted to £ 428 9 s ( since increased to nearl y , £ 500 ); and that of Bro . W .

Scott Miller , from the Old Boys Lodge , third , being £ 350 . Bro . Terry followed on with the totals from the different Provinces , commenting on special features as they presented themselves , and finished the record with the announcement with regard to the Chairman ' s Province of Essex . Every Lodge in the Province , he said , was represented , some of them by four , six , eight or more Stewards , and the result was that a record subscri ption had been

made for an agricultural Province for , including a personal donation of fifty guineas from the Chairman , the total was ^ 3 , 956 6 s . Summarising the two divisions Bro . Terry concluded his remarks by announcing that the 283 London Stewards had collected ^ 12 , 239 5 s , and the 314 from the Provinces ^ 13 , 072 14 s , a total oi £ 5 > 3 9 > which was the second highest total known in the history of the Institution . The results called forth the heartiest applause from the large company .

Bro . E . Letchworth G . Sec . proposed the next toast . He rose with more than ordinary pleasure , as he had to submit the health Of the distinguished Brother who had presided over the meeting

The Benevolent Festival.

that day . He complimented his lordship on the splendid result of his appeal , and also congratulated him that his Province of Essex had responded so magnificently to that appeal . The splendid result achieved was to a great extent due to the love and respect of the Brethren for the Provincial Grand Master of Essex .

The Earl of Warwick , in response , said words failed him to adequately express to the Brethren his thanks for the noble and splendid manner in which they had come forward and supported him on this occasion , especially his Brethren of Essex . He thanked all the Stewards for their efforts , which had led to such

a splendid result , and especially referred to the I'internal action of Bro . Terry , who with kind thought and judgment had given the Brethren a photo of his wife the Countess of Warwick with himself as a- part of the Festival jewel . This would no doubt be regarded as a pleasing memento by the very many of her friends who were sitting around that table .

Bro . C . E . Keyser P . G . D . Trustee of the Institution said it devolved on him to propose the toast of the Sister Charities . As one of the Trustees of the Institution he felt , after the result they had just listened to , that he was not likely to be called upon to make up any deficiency during the present year . In the hour of their successes it had been the custom—and he thought they should do so that night 1 —to wish success to the other Institutions ;

he felt it was hardly necessary for him to point out what those Institutions were doing ; but briefly he might mention that the Girls School was educating 260 children , and required at least , £ 14 , 000 per annum to meet its responsibilities ; while the Boys had 280 pupils—and were preparing to educate a great many more if the Craft would provide the means . By the generosity of the Craft the latter Institution had been enabled to undertake the

building of new Schools , at Bushey , without intrenching upon their invested funds . It also required some , £ 14 , 000 or £ 15 , a year to meet current expenses . He appealed to those present to continue their support to the different funds , and through them he appealed to the Brethren at large . He felt the Masonic Institutions would always command the support of the Brethren . Bro . F . R . W . Hedges Secretary R . M . I . Girls acknowledged

the toast , congratulating Bro . Terry most heartily on the result of the Festival , which would relieve the Executive of the Institution of all financial responsibility for the coming twelve months . He referred to the two previous occasions on which the Earl of Warwick had presided for the Institutions , in 1 S 84 for the Girls , when the—at that time—handsome total of £ 13 , 000 was announced , £ 1 , 000 being contributed by Essex ; and in 1 S 93 , for the Boys , when £ 21 , 000 was subscribed .

Bro . J . M . McLeod Secretary R . M . I . Boys was loudly called for , and in response to the Chairman said he was glad of the opportunity of adding his congnatulations to his lordship and the Province over which he presided . But it was not alone in Essex that loyal support had been accorded to the Chairman ; London

had excelled itself , and so also had the West of England , for even the small Masonic Province of Bristol had contributed a sum of , £ 700—this showed real , true Masonic generosity , and proved that the Deputy Grand Master of England continued to enjoy and receive the hearty support of the English Craft .

Bro . Dr . Lennox Browne proposed the toast of the Stewards , and in coupling the name of Bro . Dr . Strong specially referred to the medical attendance freely given to the inmates of the Institution at Croydon . Bro . Strong had worked among them there for thirty years and not only did all he was called upon to do , but tended the old people with loving care and the best of his professional ability . Bro . Dr . Strong replied .

Admiral St . Clair r . G . D . submitted the toast of the Ladies . He felt it was in great measure due to them that they had been able to record such a success that evening . He was very pleased that the Committee who sat and decided as to the jewel for the Festival had decided on a locket , as it gave them the opportunity of including

not only the portrait of the Chairman but also of his wife . He regretted the Countess of Warwick was not present that evening to respond to the toast on behalf of her sex , but he hoped she might long be spared to support her husband in his many works of benevolence as she had so cheerfully done in the past .

Bro . J . H . Whadcoat , J . P ., responded . They had twenty-three Lady Stewards for that Festival , and regretted the number was not much larger . He felt they were greatly indebted to the ladies for helping them in their canvass on behalf of such Institutions as the one that were then met to support . This concluded the toast list , and the Brethren repaired to the

Temple of Grand Lodge , where an excellent concert was given under the direction of Bro . Herbert L . Cooke , who presided at the piano , the artistes including Miss Edith Serpell , Miss Annie Bartle , Miss Florence Venning , Miss Lizzie Davies , Bros . Frank Tebbutt , Samuel Masters , Arthur Strugnell , Miss Helen Mar ( American Stories ) , Miss Gertrude Collins ( Violin Solo ) , Mr . Owen Clark ( Prestidigitateur ) .

It will indeed be a matter of satisfaction to a large number of Brethren to learn that Bro . William Shurmur Past Grand Standard Bearer of England has so far recovered from his long illness as to once more appear among us . He was present at last month ' s meeting of the Lodee named after him , and well sustained his reputation as one of the warmest supporters

of the Masonic Institutions by proposing a vote from the Lodge funds of one hundred guineas for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . Many of our readers and other Brethren will join us in the sincere wish that Bro . Shurmur may continue to make improvement in health , and that he may be long spared to continue his good work .