The Benevolent Institution.

ill health had recently kept him away from many meetings at which ho would otherwise have been present , and the English Craft was sincere in the desire that ho would speedily be restored . The second nobleman included in the toast—the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe—needed no words of commendation from tho chairman , well known and The Brethren doubt

as he was so respected . no all remembered his presiding at tho Anniversary Festival of the Institution two years back , when , on the occasion of the celebration of its Jubilee , the largest sum ever subscribed for a similar cause , in any part of the world , was received . With the toast was coupled the name of the Earl of Euston .

The Earl of Euston tendered thanks for the toast . Whenever the services of the Grand Officers were required they were at the disposal of the Craft , no matter in what part of the country they might be desired , but such meetings as they were then taking part

in should of all others be the most heartily supported , because Charity was really the backbone of the Order , and called for sympathy on every side . Grand as was the attendance that night , he could but wish the Chairman had double the number sitting before him , co-operating in the good cause .

The Chairman next submitted the toast of the evening—Success to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons . What could he say in connection with this toast that had not been said time after timo by past Presidents of their Festivals , or what could he urge that everyone of thoso before him had not already urged in pleading

the cause of the most estimable Institution they were met to support that day ? He would not say they felt a greater interest in the Benevolent Institution as compared with the Boys ancl Girls Schools , but they looked upon it from a different point of view . Thero was the feeling that the Boys and the Girls would , in their later years , be able to look after themselves ; but with the

Old People there was the feeling that they should bo regarded as we should regard our own mother or father , were they left in a state of want . Two years ago they had celebrated the Jubilee of the Institution , and had secured no less than £ 69 , 000 , but he was sure the Brethren who subscribed that sum did not intend their donations to suffice for future years , nor did they even dream that

the subscriptions of future years would fall short of the average of previous ones . He hoped the announcement to be shortly made by the Secretary of the Institution would be sufficient to enable the executive of the Charity to tide over the current year , at least . Bro . C . E . Keyser responded . As one of the Trustees and a Member of the House Committee of the Institution he had much

pleasure m acknowledging the toast in the absence of their much respected Treasurer , Bro . Farnfield , whose namo had been associated with this duty for many years past . It was proverbial that the brethren associated with this Institution wero thoroughly in earnest in advocating its claims and working on behalf of the 450 Aged Masons or their Widows who were receiving benefits from its funds .

They hoped for a result that night that would prove satisfactory to all , and one that would show the Craft was not going back in its enthusiasm on behalf of this Institution . Last year , following tbe most successful celebration of their Jubilee , they had had a somewhat meagre result , . but he felt that- was in a measure due to the fact that the Festival had been held under the humble presidency

of himself . As now they had the advocacy of the popular ruler of one of the most important Provinces he hoped and expected a much more satisfactory result—one , in fact , that would be gratifying to all concerned . He implored the brethren to think of the Charity , and endeavour each year to do something on behalf of an Institution that was doing so much for the Craft at large .

Bro . James Terry , the popular Secretary of the Institution , then rose to announce the subscription lists of the day . His continued popularity was marked by the enthusiasm of his reception , while the totals he was enabled to read out called forth hearty bursts of applause . Having congratulated the Chairman on the result of

the day ' s gathering , which ho was about to recount , Bro . Terry said they had had tho assistance of 296 Stewards , 137 of whom were associated with London , the remaining 159 representing Provincial Lodges . There were eleven lists outstanding ; while those already returned gave the following totals : —

No . of Stewards . Amount . London ... ... ... 137 £ 5 , 421 3 6 Bedfordshire ... ... 1 102 10 0 Berkshire ... ... ... 3 247 13 0 Cambridgeshire ... ... 1 10 10 0

Dorsetshire ... ... 1 157 10 0 Durham ... ... ... 1 154 7 0 E fsex ... ... ... 6 158 2 0 Gloucestershire ... ... 3 73 10 0 Hampshire and Isle of Wight ... 5 298 18 6 Hertfordshire ... ... 6 * 359 9 6 t cot

Ken o n n ic ••• ••• 0 535 3 0 . ftast Lancashire ... ... 13 279 18 4 West Lancashire ... ... 3 36 10 0 Leicestershire ( preliminary ) ... 1 10 10 0

Middlesex ... ... ... 2 160 18 0 . Norths , and Hunts . ... ... 8 202 4 0 Oxfordshire ... ... 5 122 16 6 Suffolk ... ... ... 4 184 18 0

w . , , - " - 9 218 3 0 Warwickshire ... ... 21 264 0 3 Wiltshire ... ... ... ! 175 u &

Worcestershire ... ... 2 130 0 6 -North and East Yorks . ... l 10 10 0 Wes * Yorkshire ... ... 13 1 , 837 10 0 North Wales ... ... 2 36 3 O

bouth Wales ( Western Division ) ... 1 154 12 0 ^ uernse y 1 10 10 0 ^ m \ . ;•• . 1 10 10 0 burrey ( including a personal donation of fi % guineas from the chairman ) 36 1 , 385 7 0

The Benevolent Institution.

a total from the 159 Provincial Stewards of £ 7 , 237 lis , making a grand total for the day of £ 12 , 658 14 s 6 d , which , with the eleven lists outstanding and other amounts likely to be added , would no doubt bring the total above £ 13 , 000 . In making these announcements , Bro . Terry referred to several special features connected with the returns . Cambridgeshire and

Leicestershire amounts were but preliminary , and he had every reason to hope that the total from the latter would ultimately exceed 200 guineas , instead of remaining at the ten guineas already contributed as the Steward ' s personal donation . Herts was well to the front , in view of the fact that in 1892 its contributions exceeded £ 1 , 800 , while last year they were upwards of £ 1 , 400 . The

position of West Lancashire might be explained in view of the fact that its chief—the Earl of Lathom—would preside at the approaching Festival of the Girls School . Of the twenty-one Warwickshire Stewards , thirteen came from one Lodge , and as that waa but a repetition of what had occurred on previous occasions , it was evidence of a desire to regularly support the Institution . The

total from West Yorkshire included a personal donation of twelve hundred guineas from one of the Stewards . In response to loud and continued cries of " name , " Bro . Terry , with the permission of tho donor , announced that it was Bro . George Heaton , of the Amphibious Lodge , No . 258 , Heckmondwike , who had made this princely addition to the funds of the Institution . The Chairman ' s

own Province of Surrey was left until last by the Secretary , and in speaking of that , Bro . Terry said that its thirty-nine Lodges were represented by thirty-six Stewards , not the least active of whom had been the Chairman himself , who brought up a listwhich included his personal donation of fifty guineas—amounting to £ 158 lis . Bro . Terry also referred to several of thie leading

London totals , especially mentioning those of the Royal Athelstan , La Tolerance , Southwark , Constitutional , Highgate ( which had regularly sent a Steward for the past twenty-four years ) , Leopold , Creaton , and Clerkenwell Lodges , while through his own humble efforts he had been enabled to collect a personal list oi £ 187 . As may be imagined the announcement of the total , and Bro . Terry's remarks on the special lists , elicited hearty applause ^;

The Earl of Euston proposed the next toast—the Chairmanwhich he felt should be drunk with the heartiest enthusiasm , as expressive of congratulation to the president of the day on ; the great success that had attended his efforts on behalf of the Benevolent Institution . They might certainly rely on a total of £ 13 , 000 before the lists were closed , and they would surely be most ungrateful if they did not drink to the health of Col . Money , to whom so much of the day's success was attributable .

The Chairman replied . The result was commensurate with hia gratitude and his thanks to those who had worked ' to secure it . The feeling of himself and their esteemed Secretary had been that thoy would be exceedingly satisfied if £ 12 , 000 was secured , but they had exceeded that , and £ 13 , 000 would doubtless , be passed before the returns were finally closed . This result was not more gratifying

to anyone than it was to him , for it was with great trepidation he , had undertaken the office of President of the Festival . While ! thanking all for their support he could but say a special word of praise on behalf of the members of his own Province , who had co- ~ t operated so as to place the district in the most enviable of " positions . , . . ,

The Sister Institutions was proposed , and acknowledged by Bro ,. F . R . W . Hedges of the Girls School , who congratulated the " Benevolent on its success and hoped the same good fortune as had attended its Festival was in store for the other two yet to be held . That on behalf of the Girls School would be held in May , underthe presidency of the Most Worshipful the Pro Grand Master , and he

trusted a good result would be achieved . The two Schools , he said , had secured some most satisfactory results as the outcome of the different examinations in which the pupils had competed , and altogether were doing a grand work . Dr . Strong proposed the health of the Stewards , especially

thanking them for their efforts . He felt the result showed that the small Province over which the chairman presided had nobly done its duty . The Stewards were not only deserving of the best thanks of the Craft for their personal donations , but also for the efforts they had made toward securing the especially good results of the day .

Bro . Frederick West Deputy Provincial Grand Master for Surrey responded . On behalf of what he was pleased . to call a very numerous body , he was pleased to acknowledge the result of the Festival was a great success . He was glad to hear the total and to see so many Brethren rally round his Provincial chief in the

good cause . Speaking for the Surrey Masons he felt he might say they would long remember this occasion ; when they had had the special opportunity of showing appreciation ' of their chief , and " should he at any future time decide to act for one of the other Institutions in a similar way , he felt the Brethren of his district might be relied upon for equal support .

The Chairman proposed the Ladies—a toast the last on their list ; but not by any means the least imrrportant . The ladies were supposed to be very jealous of Freemasonry , and to even doubt if there was really any secrecy about it , but they toot great

interest in the Charities of the Order , and did much in their . ' support . Bro . Alderman and Sheriff Dimsdale replied . The toast was one they all loved to honour , and one in regard to . which they were never tired of expressing satisfaction .

The company then adjourned to the Temple of Grand , Lodge , where a splendid entertainment was provided , and thoroughly enjoyed by the large number of Ladies and Brethren who were present . , , The musical arrangements were under the direction qf Bro . George F . Smith , who was assisted by Miss Jessie Hudleston , Miss Emily Foxcroft , Bros . H . Schartau and Part Singers , Vivian Ben- " nets , James Brand , William Bradford , and others . We append full details of the Stewards' lists ;