Volume Thirty-Seven.

VOLUME THIRTY-SEVEN .

WHAT can we say to our readers when we fulfil the duty that devolves upon us to-day , that of announcing the start of a fresh volume of the FBEEMASON ' S CHRONICLE ? Nothing that may be

considered fresh . The year that has just closed has not been an uneventful one , and we enter the lists to-day feeling assured we shall find ample material to enable us to continue our mission . We have the

confidence of our supporters , and this we trust we shall retain . In any case it shall not be our fault if the sympathy and help we have hitherto received be not the more firmly cemented and supported .

The Institutions In 1892.

THE INSTITUTIONS IN 1892 .

THE financial returns for the past year have now been made up , and we suppose that general , if not universal satisfaction will he called forth by the magnificent results attained . As was naturally expected the Eoyal Masonic Benevolent Institution has secured the first place , the total amount received

into its cofiers during the year reaching £ 61 , 849 2 s 6 d . The Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys takes second place with a total of £ 15 , 837 18 s , while the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Girls gives credit for having received - £ 12 , 778 2 s Id . This makes a erand total for

the three Charities of £ 90 , 465 2 s 7 d . Then we have the grants made by the Board of Benevolence , which Ior the twelve months total up to £ 8 , 820 , and still it is universally agreed that Freemasonry is not to be regarded in any way in the light of a Benefit Society . Be this as it may , it cannot be said but that the

money thus bounteously supplied cheers the hearts of many of those who participate in its distribution . In dealing with this large sum , ho-vever , we are naturally led to a comparison as to how this exceptional year stands in regard to previous efforts made on behalf of the same Institutions . Let us see what

amount was accredited to the exertions of those who did battle in the year 1891 , when the respective sums received were set clown as under : —

£ s d Boys' School 27 , 333 11 8 Benevolent Institution 22 , 238 14 5 Girls' School 13 , 190 18 2

£ 62 , 763 3 10 This was a grand result , but it was not brought about without a course of that " special pleading " that seems to find so much favour in the present day .

The Institutions In 1892.

The troubles at the Boys' School had but recently been dealt with , and it was desirable the new Secretary should have a " send off " that would give solid evidence that he possessed the confidence of the Craft . This may , therefore , be taken as a fair

explanation of the satisfactory result then secured . Still , while we are making comparisons , let us once more look back , and , hap-hazard , examine the figures of ten years since , that is in the year of grace 1882 .

We find the returns then made recorded ag follows : —

£ s d ; Benevolent Institution 16 , 595 7 7 ¦; Girls'School 15 , 969 15 8 ; Boys'School 14 , 879 15 ; 8 / ¦¦ ¦)

£ 47 , 444 ; is ; it ,.: ; . r Now , when dealing with these figures , we are constrained to remember that something like 400 new Lodges have been warranted during the . ten years , and as it is the fashion now-a-days for a new Lodge to make an early appearance on the Lists issued . by our Secretaries , we must bear this factor in mind

when we estimate the full value of the sums under consideration . Concede us this and we can arrive at but one conclusion . It is that these spasmodic efforts upset the routine laid down at many of our Lodges , and in many cases bring about results that materially injure the cause they are supposed to be working for .

A glance at the return for 1882 will show that the flow of Masonic benevolence ran steadily , the three amounts given bearing no marked disproportion the one to the other . This is as it should be , and must be intensely gratifying to those who have but one desire , that is , that the three recognised Institutions of the

Craft should in turn be assisted by those who have the wherewithal to aid them in the good work they were designed to carry out . On perusing the above remarks some of our readers may jump at the conclusion that we are making a

dead set at the fortunate Institution that has secured the premier place this year . This would be an injustice to us . Bro . Terry had the example set him by Brother Hedges , who utilised the services of his band of " special pleaders" to goodly effect when

they had the Centenary Festival of the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Girls to exercise themselves upon . Bro , McLeod lost no opportunity during his first year of service to bring the claims of the Boys ' Schoo prominently forward , and no one can

withhold from him the full credit due to his exertions . What wonder , then , that so important an event as the Jubilee Festival of the Benevolent Institution should be made the most of . Bro . Terrv . hia

Committee , his staff , and . the large band of Stewards associated , worked with a will ; they achieved a grand result , and we trust that in the next three or four years—the crucial period- ^ we may never be called upon to declare any falling off of the returns needed