The "Old Folks."

THE " OLD FOLKS . "

THE NewYear ' a Ent ' rtainment , given to the " Old Polks" has now become one of tho Masonic events of the year , nnd if ire may > dge by t' e success which attended the gathering of Wednr * ' av last , one of tho most happily coneeived , as well as thoroughly appreciated meetings it is onr duty to chronicle . The idea originated with onr esteem' d brother James Terry , who , on the promise of some pecuniary support made him by certain prominent members of tha

Crnffe , inaugurated—somo four years back—these assemblages . It may have been noticed by thoso who read the various reports of the proceedings in our Lodges and onr Lodees of Instruction , that small snmi nave , in several cases , been voted from Lodgo Funds in aid of this movement , and wo are gratified in knowing that members nnd friends have in mnnv cases shown a desire to supplement these votes

by individual subscriptions . As a consequence , therefore , there has been no lack of funds to provide all that is required to make these festive occasions pass off pleasantly . Another matter we may mention ;—in a vast Society lite ours , we have in our ranks many who have devoted years of time to the perfection of any talents they may possess for tho amusement of their less gifted brethren . Hence Bro .

Terry , who always takes upon himself the responsibilities of the day , has always a band of workers ready to aid him in completing his " Bill of the Play . " On Wednesday the brethren , > vith their ladies , assembled at Charing Cross , or Cannon-street Stations , and proceeded by train to Croydon , which waa reached at 1 . 45 , and thence thev wero conducted—in very seasonable , though most

unpleasant weather—to the Asylum , where they wore received by onr " old friends , " who bad assembled to greet their entertainers at the summons of the energetic Dr . Strong , who certainly must be congratulated on the condition of health in which he was able to present those who are under his charge . On looking over the attendance book , wo found tho following , amongst many others who

wore present , had inscribed their names : —Bro . John and Mrs . Newton , Bro . C . J . and Mrs . Perceval , with Mr . A . A . Perceval ; Bro . Jas . Terry , Mr , and Miss Terry , with Mr . J . E . Terry ; Bro . G . S . Ricknall , Bro . R . P . Cheeswright , Bro . Dr . Story , Bro . H . Massey , Miss A ., and Master Massey , Bro . George and Mrs . Everett , Bro . W . H ., Mrs . and Miss Wallington , Bro . W . H . Main , Mrs . Watson , Bro .

G . Knill , Bro . A . H . Tattershall , Bro . F . R . W . and Mrs . Hedges , Bro . John and Sirs . Stock , Bro . and Mrs . Daniel , Bro . J . and Mrs . Oborne , Bro . Edgar and Mrs . Bowyer , Bro . T . Cnbitt and Mrs . Culmer , Bro . and Mrs . Halford , Bro . R . and Mrs . Pearcy , Bro . T . Goode , Bro . and Mrs . Legge , Bro . C . H . Webb , Bro . G . J . and Mrs . Hilliard , Bro . J . and Mrs . Tickle , Bro . C . J . Stuart , Bro . W . W . and

Mrs . Morgan , & c . Bros . Terry and Norris and Miss Norris received the visitors on their arrival , and as tbe programme of tbe days ' a proceedings was a lengthy one , no time was lost in sitting down at table and partaking of the substantial banquet which had been provided , thanks to the liberality of the numerous friends of the Institution . Bro . Dr . Strong

Honorary Surgeon presided , having Bro . Morris , the Warden of tbe Institution on his rieht , and Mrs . Terry on his left , while Bro . Terry occupied tbe vice chair . Every one present had a pretty Christmas card , and at the conclusion of the dinner , each female annuitant was presented with a packet of tea , and each male annuitant Avith a packet of tobacco , while Bro . Perceval presented ench of tho latter

with a snuff box , and each of tho former with a scented packet . We do not know how or Avhy it occurred to our Bro . Perceval to think of snuff-boxes as now year ' s gifts , seeing that the practice of snuff-taking has almost died out , nnd to meet with a " snuffer" now-a-days is to como across a ram avis . Indeed , this was well exemplified on tho occasion , as , long before

our aged brethren bad oven dreamt of such gifts tho greatest difficulty was experienced in ( incline any ono who had about him a pinch of the much-neoded stimulant—the stimulant , by the way , which " titillates bnt not inebriato . - " " Nor Avas it till the cry of" Mussoy to tho rescne ! " was heard riuging through the Hall , that it was found possible to gratify the old gentleman ' s wish .

After the distribution of the gifts , Dr . Strong gave tho three customary toasts , "Tho Q . neen , " "The Founders of the Feast , " and " Bro . Norris , the Warden of tho Institution , " of whom it may be remarked that he is , wo believe , the oldest Mason in England , and his claim appears to bo unchallenged . Bro . Norris , in spite of his being within a week or two of completing his

eighty-ninth year , enjoys fair health , and is greatly assisted in his duties in respect of tho Institution by his amiable daughter Miss Norris , who ably discharges the duties of Matron . In tbo interval between the last toast and tho response , Bro . Terry announced the receipt of a telegram from Bro . J . L . Hine of Manchester—who , with other brethren had contributed liberally to the

expenses of tbe entertainment—in which that brother wished them a great success on the evening and a Happy New Year . To this Bro . Terry bad telegraphed a reply , expressing his thanks and reciprocating Bro . Hine's hearty tood wishes . Those among the brethren who had been attending to tho wants of the aged brethren , & c , & c , then sat down and partook of refreshment . Bro . Perceval then

proposed Prosperity to the R . M . B . Institution , and in returning thanks Bro . Terry fixpressed a hope that tho approaching Festival might be a great success . Ho announced thafc he already had 210 Stewards on his list , a number greatly in excess of what ho was able to announce on the same occasion last year , and with the Prov . G . Master of East Lancashire and its eighty-nine Lodges and thirty-seven Chapters ho felt justified in anticipating a groat result .

In due course the company re-assembled in the hall , when a most agreeable entertainment Avas provided , which was received with the heartiest applause from the audience . The honours of the evening ¦ were divided between Mr . G . S . Graham and the Pickwick Histrionic Club , who gave Mr . Tom Taylor ' s comedietta , " Nine Points of the Law , " and Mr . J . B . Buckstone's well-known comic drama , "A Rough Diamond , " In tho former , Mr . E . Johnson played Joseph Ironlid « , Mt » 0 « J » Kioe WM the nUoraey CuoniDganao , Mr , Dowse ,

The "Old Folks."

Rodomont Rollingstono ; Mr . E . Baker , John Britton ; Miss Lizzie Henderson Avaa Mrs . Smylio—and roost admirably did sho enact the part — and Mis « Fanny Perfitt Katio Maplcson , the latter lady singing in excellent style and feeling the well-known ballad , " I lovo my love . " The comedietta , which is an admirable

one , as it affords ample scope to the actors for showing trrir powers of delineation , went excellently well , and so did " A Rough Diamond , " in which the same ladies and gentlemen took part . Mr . Graham ' s portion of tbe entertainment included a . pianoforte selection , which prepared the way for the comedietta , and bis " Mnsical Olio , " which

intervened between the parts of the dramatic entertainment . This Olio consisted of a descriptive song , ' Tho Fisherman ' s Danerhter , " a buffo song , " The British Lion , " an organophonic piccolo song on a thome from " II Trovntore , " with a whistle accompaniment , and a second buffo song , The Adventures of Little Mr . Binks , " —no

relation whatever of " Onr Hercules " of that . Ilk that we are aware of . Mr . Graham ' s performances , to ns-i a familiar oppression , brought the house down . Wo wero , unfortunately , absent for a part of tho time , ancl so missed the organophonio performance , but the fame of it has reached our ears before now , and thoso who mav

havo heard it , must have been struck with astonishment at a performance so truly wonderful . Mr . Graham also sang a laughing song not in the programme— "The Littlo Grey Frit Man "—and it is difficult to say which toughed mosb thoroughly and aafcrirallj , tho andience who were convulsed , or the genial littlo—shall wo be

forgiven if we say?—fat man who was tho cause of their being convulsed . When tho entertainment was over , rotes of thanks wore passed to those who had contributed to tho day ' s enjoyment ; to Bro . Terry , who had promoted it ; and the Pickwicks ancl Mr . Graham , who hacl so generously placed their

services at tho disposal of tho Institution . Bro . E . Johnson , on behalf of tho latter , expressed his thanks in a neat but genial speech of tho right sort , and shortly afterwards the visitors found themselves at the station , comfortably ensconced in a saloon carriage , which had been kindly provided for them by the South Eastern

Railway Company , nnd in which they Avero whirled away London , wards in excellent form . Wo may add here that the Annual Entertainment to the scholars

who remain in the Institution will be given at the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , St . John's Hill , Battersea Rise , on Monday evening , when the members of the Pickwick Histrionic Club will again give their services .

The first Meeting of the Board of Stewards for the approaching festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution—to take place at Freemasons' Hall on the 12 th February—was held on Thursday afternoon . Bro Terry having announced that Grand Master the Prince of Wales

had appointed the 12 th February for the Festival ; that Lieut .-Col . le Gendre N . Starkie , Prov . Grand Master of East Lancashire , had kindly undertaken to preside , and that he had already 209 Stewards on his list ; on the motion of Bro . W . Stephens , seconded by Bro . Thos . Cnbitt , Bro .

Rev . A .. F . A . Woodford , Past Grand Chaplain , was elected Chairman of tho Board , and he took his seat as Chairman accordingly . Bro . T . Cnbitt was elected

Honorary Treasurer , and Bro . James lorry Honorary Secretary . The usual preliminary business was settled , and a Committee having been appointed to make the necessary musical arrangements , the proceedings terminated .

LLOYD ' . —Tho Underwriters' Room at Lloyd ' s to-day is a splendid hall , with Seas I tola columns ancl richly decorated cuiliutr , anrl innhogany tables placed at intervals nil round the room . " What an animated , yet demure , hubbub is here ! " says tho French writer before quoted . " One might fancy that the sea , with the thoughts of Avhich every brain is occupied here , had imparted

some of its agitation and uproar to the bnsiness world . The current of" news , trnnsnetions taking place , and chat go ' iog on . runs from one end of the hall to the other with a kind of deep murmuring roar . " Thoso going to and fro are of two very distinct classes—the insurers of ships aud the insurance brokers , Tho latter have become very necessary , tho reason

being as follows ! — The merchant who Avishes to in . sure a ship , or a certain kind of merchandise that bo is about to export , may by no means always meet the underwriter who is prepared to take that particular risk . While he is trying to insure his ship sho may have already started—may even bo at the bottom of tbe sea . Iu the latter case a delay miahb

be fatal , for tho news once arrived that his ship had been wrecked , he could not , of course , effect any insurance . Ho , therefore , goes to a broker who knows the habits of the place , and probably the very underwriter whoso means or known predilections for certain forms of investment Avill make him desirous of taking tha risk . The business of Lloyd ' s is conducted by a committee of twelve influential

membors , while the working staff includes a secretary , clerks , and a staff of assistants technically known as " waiters , " which would make ifc seem as though tbe odour of the original Lloyd ' s Coffee-house still clung to the body . The funds of Lloyd ' s Association , aa it might be termed , are large , aud are used to great advantage : partly in charity bestowed upon deserving , though unfortunate seamen , and partly in rewards in various forms , to special cases of me-it .

It costs an underwriter £ 50 entrance fee , aud £ 12 annual subscrip . tion to belong to it ; the brokers are let off for about half tl . e above rates ; on ordinary subscriber pays £ 5 per annum for the privilege of entering the rooms of the Association . We have now traced the history of the greatest maritime company of the world , one that conld only belong to a great nation . No other could devise , much lois support it . —From Caisril ' s" STftc Sea . ''