New Tear's Entertainment At The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

toast the names of Bros . Raynham Stewart , T . Cnbitt , C . J . Perceval , and Farnfield . The Chairman , acknowledging the toast , said that tho work which had been accomplished during the year was a source of the greatest gratification to himself and his colleagues . Starting from the proposition of their excellent Treasnrer Colonel Creaton , they had

carried tho building back to the last inch of their ground , and by enlarging the Hall , and providing all tho requisite accessories , they had done all they could for the comfort and convenience of everybody connected with the Institution . If tho brethren were satisfied , and sanctioned what had been done , the Committee were amply rewarded .

Tho toasts having been purposely cut short , the visitors were afforded ample timo to pay their customary complimentary visits to the residents in their quarters , which are fitted up in tho most comfortable—not to say , in m my instances , artistic—fashion . Relics of bygone and better days adorn tho walls of many of tho apartments , and family heirlooms appear amongst the darkling holly and

overgreen , which have been set up in honour of the festive season . With graceful courtesy the "Old Folks" invito their visitors to inspect their cosy domiciles , and allude , with just pride and gratitude , to tho happiness which has been se ' eured to them iu their declining years through tho agency of this beneficent Institution . Thus an hour or so was wiled pleasantly away , until tho bell

sounded for the re-assembling of tho company in the great Hail , where a pleasing entertainment had been provided . The Royal Criterion Handbell Ringers and Glee Singers , under the direction of Bro . Tipper , gave a capital selection of pieces , which were much admired , and in the intervals volunteers were not needed to maintain the interest of the proceedings . Notable amongst these wero Miss

Constable , who gave an excellent pianoforte solo ; Miss Strong , a neatly executed solo on the violin ; Bro . C . J . Perceval a humorous reading in broken Dutch ; and Bro . Frederick Binckes , who recited the " Apology " from " Othello . " In the course of the evening Bro . Terry announced he had

received a telegram from Manchester , to the effect that the Old Folks of East Lancashire were at that moment enjoying a similar treat , and had just drank to tbe health of their " Fellow-annnitant 3 at tho Croydon Institution . " This intimation , which was in response to a telegram sent by Bro . Terry , recording tho meeting at Croydon , was received with groat acclamation .

The Lifeboat Service In 1881.

THE LIFEBOAT SERVICE IN 1881

THE frequency , determination , and gallantry of the Lifeboat Service during tho storms of tho year that has just closed have been unparalleled in the annals of the National Lifeboat Institution ; and no one , surely , can peruse the record of rescues without instinctively experiencing feelings of gratitude and of satisfaction at tho great amount of success which continues to accompany , day and night , tbe operations of the Lifeboat Institution . The nnmber of

services rendered by tho boats of tho Institution are more in number than in any previons year , while each one of them has a history of its own , the Lifeboat-men having , on more than one occasion , sacrificed their own lives in tho performance of their duty . Tho actual result of the year shews a total of 9 G (> lives and 33 vessels saved by the Lifeboats . Besides these services , the Institution granted rewards

last year for saving 155 shipwrecked persons by fishing boats and other means , making a grand total of One thousand one hundred and twenty-one lives saved daring the year . Since its establishment in 1824 , the Lifeboat Institution has contribnted to the saving of 28 , 72-1 lives from various shipwrecks , a number equal to one-half of what is required to man the British fleet . It i 3 therefore manifest that a Society like tho Lifeboat Institution , possessing so national a

character , and dependent entirely on the support of tho public for the maintenance of its'Iife-saving fleet of 270 boats , must necessarily have a large annual income , if its beneficent work is to be carried out with the same amount of success which has hitherto fortunately characterised the services of its Lifeboats . We will only add that contributions are received for the Lifeboat Institution by all the London and Country Bankers , and by the Secretary , Richard Lewis , Esq ., 14 John Street , Adclphi , London .

The Prince of Wales presided on Tuesday at the meeting of the Genera ] Committee of the Dean Stanley Memorial Fund , jvhen it was announced that a sum of £ 3 , 350 had already been subscribed . Wo understand that Messrs . Mcitzler and Co ., of Great

Marlborough Street , are , by command of Her Majesty , preparing for publication a complete collection of the Musical Compositions , Sacred and Secular , of H . R . H . the Prince Consort , the whole being produced under the able supervision of Mr . W . G . Cusins , Her Majesty ' s "Master of

Musicke . " The first idea was that tin ' s collection should be printed for private circulation only , but on its having been represented to Her Majesty that such n work , if

publicly issued , would command universal interest , both at home and abroad , assent to such publication was at once accorded , and the collection will shortly bo issued , at ( he moderate price of Ono Guinea .

Ar00603

DEATH . HITCH . —On tho : l ' . ! = t tilt ., ; it Swiss Cott-. igc . r , i > nahti > n , Bro . ALEXA . NDEB HI .: ; : Y HIICII , aged II , of the St . llicha ' .-l ' s Irjck'e , Xo . ill .

Notices Of Meetings.

NOTICES OF MEETINGS .

— : o : — PRIORY LODGE , No . 1000 .

CONTINUING his visits to tho Esses Lodges , Bro . F . A . Phil , brick , Q . C ., attended at Southend , on Thursday , 29 th ult ., for the purpose of installing Bro . J . F . Barrett W . M . elect of the Priory Lodgo , No . 1000 . Lodge was opened at 2 . 30 by tho retiring W . M . Bro . Berry . Bros . J . Barrett and Merrett occupying the Wardens' chairs . The \ V . D . G # . M . was escorted into tho Lodge room by a goodly array of present and past Prov . G . Officers , and on

assuming tho gavel , Bros . F . Wood P . M . P . P . G . S . W . and G . F . Jones P . M . P . G . S . W . were Appointed acting Wardens , and Bro . A . Lucking P . M . P . G . D . C . as D . C . The ceremony of installation was then proceeded with , and performed in Bro . Philbrick's usual impressive manner . Tho Officers for tho year were invested as follows : —Bros . George Berry I . P . M ., Merrett S . W ., Grayson J . W .,

Rev . H . Hayes Chaplain , F . Wood P . M . P . P . G . S . W . Treasnrer , J . A . Wardell P . M . P . P . A . D . C . Secretary , Brighten S . D ., Daw . son J . D ., Norman I . G ., Marten Tyler , Brightwell and Beechey Stewards . At the close of tho ceremony a cordial vote of thanks was passed to Bro . Philbrick , for the able manner in which he had performed it , and for his kindness in attending that day ,

which the D . P . G . M . briefly acknowledged . The W . M . then , in tho name of tho Lodge , presented to Bro . Berry a P . M . 's jewel , as a token of esteem on his leaving tho chair , an honour for which the I . P . M . duly thanked tho brethren . About forty brethren afterwards dined together at tho Terminus Hotel , a sumptuous repast being

provided by the host . After dinner the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honoured , that of tho D . P . G . M . and present aud past Prov . G . Officers being especially so . Tho D . P . G . M . responded in his usual genial way , expressing his pleasure at being present on so interesting an occasion , and wishing the W . M . a happy and prosperous New Year .

WINDRUSH LODGE , No . 1703 .

rpHE Anniversary Festival of this Lodgo was held at tho Marl . - * - borough Arms Hotel , Witney , on Wednesday , the 4 th instant . In addition to tho members of the Lodge , who attended iu good numbers , there were present Bros . W . P . Ellis W . M . 599 P . G . S . D ., G . Salter W . M . 1399 P . G . J . D ., R . Pocock W . M . 1770 , G . Tarrant 1770 , J . H . Whadcoat 448 , & c . Bro . W . Whadcoat Past Prov . Grand

Sword Bearer , the Senior Warden of tho Lodge , was installed Worshipfnl Master for the ensuing year , the ceremony being very ably and impressively performed by Bro . J . S . Palmer Past Prov . Grand Pursuivant , Immediate Past Master of tho Marlborough Lodge 1399 , and Senior Warden of the Cherwell Lodge 599 . The

Worshipful Master then invested his Officers as follow : —Bros . Coles Past Prov . Grand Superintendent Works I . P . M ., W . Atkins Past Prov . Grand Superintendent of Works S . W ., A . T . Matthews J . W ., J . M . Clinch Treasurer , H . Robins P . M . Past Prov . Grand Pursuivant Secretary , F . H . Clappen S . D ., Dumbledon J . D ., J . Bartlett D . C ,

G . Owens Organist , J . H . North I . G ., S . Smith Tyler . The Officers aud brethren afterwards sat down to a dinner , which was snpplied in the excellent manner for which the Marlborough Arms is noted . Tho usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed and heartily re . sponded to .

St . John's Lodge , No . 70 . —The annual meeting of this Lodge was holden at the Huyshe Masonic Temple , Plymouth , on Wednesday , 28 th ult . There was a very large attendance to welcome and do honour to tho unanimously-elected Master , Bro . James Griffen , who was installed . The ceremony was very impressively performed bv Bros . E . Tout the retiring Master , E . A . Lean P . M ., S . Jew P . M .

P . P . G . T ., R . Pengelly P . M ., L . D . Westcott P . M . P . P . G . S . Works , and J . B . Gover P . M . P . P . G . A . D . C , in a Board of Installed Masters , amongst whom were upwards of thirty-three other brethren . The officers appointed and invested were Bros . E . Tout I . P . M ., Francis B . Westlake S . W ., John D . Backer J . W ., L . D . Westcott Treasurer , . T . B . Gover Secretary , Thomas King sen . S . D ., Thomas King jun . J . D .,

W . H . Symons T . G ., George Sercombe D . C , W . T . Dennaford A . D . C , Matthias Watts O ., T . W . Hoppin S . S ., T . Cook J . S ., Phillips Tyler The Secretary read letters from many distinguished brethren who were prevented from attending ; also a communication from the P . G . Secretary , asking that tho Lodges would send particulars of their donations to the Huyshe Memorial Fund before tho meeting of

the committee in Exeter on the first Tuesday in January . The meeting of the Committee of Petitions will also bo held in Exeter on the 24 th Jan . Rej . net was expressed that it had not been arranged to have the two meetings on the same day . Bro . J . D . Hacker was unanimously elected as the Charity Steward . Other business , consequent on the close of the year , having beon satisfactorily transacted , tho

brethren adjourned to the Globe Hotel for the annual banquet , this was admirably served , and gave unqualified satisfaction . Bro . J . Griffen W . M . presided , and proposed tho usual toasts . The V . W . Bro . J . Hughan , replying for the Grand Lodge , expressed his satisfaetion at tho progress of Freemasonry under H . R . H . the Prince of Wale 3 . Ho asked tho brethren to remember that , in proportion as they were faithful or f » i li ' e ^ s to the principles of the Order , so they

would reflect honour or dishonour on the Institution . Ho was glad to know that in Lodge 70 , of which ho was proud to be a member , the landmarks of the Order were well preserved . In the name of the Lodgo , and by request , Bro . Gover presented a very handsome gold jewel to the I . P . M ., engraved as follows : — "Presented to Bro . Edwin Tout , on his vacating the chair of St . John's Lodge , No . 70 . December , 1881 . " A very pleasant evening finished an instructive , day .