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Article THE OLD FOLKS AT HOME. Page 1 of 1 Article THE OLD FOLKS AT HOME. Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Old Folks At Home.
THE OLD FOLKS AT HOME .
OUT of the London fog- < and mist , a «\ ay from th « sdnshy streets aud the bustle and din of City Life , where " beautiful snow " lias been trampled by a myriad of footsteps of man and animals into a perfect quagmire of horrible " sludge , " and on to the qniet countryside borne of tho " dear Old People" who are the objects of snob tender solicitude to tbe friends and supporters of tho Royal Masonio
Benevolent Institution at Croydon . Down to that sequestered aed peaeefnl spot wbpre nge and indigence are relieved and the declining days of onr poor brethren and widows are soothed and comforted by the bounty of the Craft , where in summer time tbe flowers bloom and scent the quiet nir , but where at this trnly " old-fashioned "
Christmas time the trees are shivering with the sheen of frostect crystals and garlands of snow , sncb as have not boen witnessed since the memorable " black Tnesday " of five years ago . Such was the contrast experienced on Wednesday last—Old Christmas Day—by tho little knot of friends and well-wishers who started in saloon
carriages , specially provided for their accommodation , from Cannonstreet , bent on their annual mission of carrying rays of snnsbiue into the homes and hearts of tho poor old people who have been lifted by the benevolence of tho Craft from positions of extreme and unavoidable necessity . In spite of the leaden skies ,
which portended a continuance of tho snmv-storm of unwonted severity that had fallen upon London , Bro . Terry , tho indefatigable Secretary of the Institution , had tho felicity that afternoon of welcomin ? a goodly muster of tho real friends of tho establishment , which has proved so great a blessing to its residents , whilst tho
amiable matron , Miss Norris , had equal pl easure in receiving a large number of ladies who bad braved the virulence of tho storm and the difficulties of travelling fcopiy thoir accnstomrd " complimentsof the season" to the dear old creatures who havo found a happy and contented home at Croydon . Amongst those present wo noticed Bro . C .
J . Perceval ( President of tho House Committee ) , Bro . J . Terry jnn ., Miss Kate S . Terry , Miss Jessie Terry , Mr . A . M . Terry , Bro . W . Raynhnm Stewart , Bro . Edgar Bowyer , Mr . A . P . Bowyer , Bro . T . CnbittjBro . H . J . Strong ( hon . surgeon to the Institution ) , Bro . W . J . Crntch , Miss Ada Crntch , Miss Cissy M . Crutch , Bro . C . F . Hogard
Bro . T . Hastings Miller , Bro . R . Grigcfi , Mr . E . J . Martin , Bro . John Martin , Mrs . and Miss Newton . Bro . IT . Massoy , Mr . II . W . Massey , Miss A . R . Mnssev , Bro . H . J . Amphlott , Bro . E . M . Money , Bvo . J . T . Briggs , Mr . Vernon , Miss F < mny Vernon , Mrs . Culver , Bro . J . Mason , and many others . In cosy and cheerfnl contrast with tbe
white waste outside was the interior of the building , well warmed and lighted , and teeminp . with decorations of holly and mistletoe , the walls being adorned with devices in a hundred designs , and the great hall reverberating with the many voices of the i-esidents who , this day out of the whole three hundred and sixty-five , are made
supremely happy . Many willing and loving hands had contributed to the merry-making on this auspicious occasion . The Committee started with a substantial nncleus of £ 20 townrds the fund , while a donation of five pounds was forwarded by the executive of a kindred Institution in East Lancashire . Thrm tho Board of Grand Stewards
for 1 S 81-5 came forward with a solid addition to tbe fund of £ 13 9 s 3 d , which enabled the Committee to present each of tho residents wi'h a Christmas-box of half-a-sovereign . Many kind friends also testified their interest in tho Old People ' s welfare by presenting gifts in kind , and ifc need hardly be said that these " creature comforts " were
gratefully appreciated by tho recipients . Mrs . Edgar Bowyer generously forwarded hampers of fruit ; Bro . Edgar Bowyer gave two plump turkeys for the Old Folks'dinner ; Bro . T . Hastings Miller added to tho store of fat things two prime hams ; whilst Bros . C . F . Matier and R , Berridge supplied the means of innocent recreation for
many months to enmo by sending each a dozen packs of playing cards . Then there were big packages of tea for the widows , and of tobacco for the old men , and it was a sight to see the luxurious ease and enjoyment with which the ladies sipprd their mild Bohea and the gentlemen puffed their fragrant weed when they had retired from
tbe scene of the general festivities to their snug and comfortable apartments . Is it needfnl to say that tho Christmas dinner was thoroughly enjoyed and " done justice to ? " or that the few toasts which followed , beginning with the Queen and the Craft and leading np to a Happy new year , that the residents found a responsive echo
in each and every hrenst ? The dinner was an nnparalleled success , and enjoyment was paramount , the House Committee and visitors exert , ing their utmost endeavours to render the happiness of their guests complete . After dinner came tho " seasonable " visits of friends to the cosy quarters of tho residents , all of which were suitably
adorned with emblems of Yuletide , while on many a mantel . shelf appeared pretty cuds of terricmbineco and good wishes , both for Christmas and the New Year . Later in tho afternoon tho House Committee and their invited friend : ! rat down to a substantial dinner , under the presidency of Bro . 0 . J . Perceval , after which
several speeches relating f 0 the Institution wero delivered . Bro . W . Eaynham Stewart led off , by proposing the health of tho Chairman , who had done good suit and service for the prosperity of this Institution . Bro . Perceval was proverbial for his kindness to tho poor ; he felt for the wants of others , one ! they wore all delighted that be
bad sufficiently recovered from Ida recent illness to fid tho position he so worthily occupied that day . Pro . Perceval , after suitnbly acknowledging tho cordiality with which the toast had been receiver ] , said , as the Almighty had been pirated to restore him once more to health , ho hoped it would be for renewed exertions on behalf of this
grand Institution , and all the Ir . stitrdior . s in connection with Freemasonry . As they loved and admired Freemasonry , so should they follow its precepts in whatever station of life they " might be placed . He then proposed the toast of the evening—Success ' to tho Royal
Masonio Institution—and observed that they would all have been glad to see by returns published iu the . Vasonic papers the handsome sums which had been subscribed to tho Institnfciotis daring the past year , and to know that one stood at the top of tho tree . Each Iu ? titution had its own separate behests : bat the Benevolent Inst ! -
The Old Folks At Home.
¦ tut ion bad claims more particularly demanding their care than the i others , for this re ison—that onco they got the Old People on their . list of annuitants they seemed to live for ever . He hoped in the ( future , as iu the past , this Iustifcntton would be known as the one tho ' most prominent of the three . In the other Institutions the educa .
' tional requirements were continually passing away , whereas the Old I People passed away very slowly , for they wore taken for their lifetime . Ho associated with the toast the name of their worthy and c * teoined Secretary , Bro . James Terry , to whom ha paid a high and deserved tribute for his splendid exertions in behalf of the
Institution . Bro . Terry , in a speech whtch we deem of sufficient importance to the Craft to give in exlenso in nnr leading columns , responded ; and after that came the toast of tho Visitors , coupled with the namos of Bros . Hogard , Hastings Miller , and John Newton . Bro . Hogard , in responding , said he was very pleased to have witnessed the
entertainment , to the Old People , iu whom they felt so deep an interest . Some of those present wero connected with the Institution officially , as Auditors of accounts , and they had heard with mnoh regret the remarks of Bro . Terry concerning the fnturo of the Institution . They eonld only hope , as was the else last year , that his prophecies would
not bo fulfilled . Still they mnst look the facts broadly in the face . Times bad not looked well during tho past twelve months ; therefore they mn « t not be surprised if results did not quite come up to thoir expectations . It had afforded him intense pleasure to see the old people enjoyiri" the entertainment which Bro . Terry had kindly
provided for thorn , and he hoped as these gatherings took place year by year they might lie able to enhance tho benefits of the Institution , and maintain it as the premier Institution of the Craft . Bro . T . Hastings Miller said it afforded him a vast amount of pleasure to be present on this occasion , and he looked forward with much
gratification to the recurrence of that happy day , which the old people so much enjoyed . It was most refreshing to see tho happiness depicted on every ' countenance , and ho hoped to see it for many years to come . Bro . John Newton also responded . He recollected the second entertainment of this kind ever given to the inmates , and since then he
had been a constant visitor and helper on snch occasions . He reechoed what Bro . Miller had said , it did their hearts good to see the happy enjoyment of the old people . He looked forward to these gatherings with a vast amount of pleasure , as a means of doing good to their fellow creatures . He dearly loved the Institution , and
worked as bard as he could for ifc ; and be hoped this would not bo the Inst time he should be a guest of the House Committee , The President then proposed the health of Bro . Terry's staff , and said they all knew that during their Secretary's recent illness how admirably tho Institution had been carried on . Bro . Mason was a most
energetic , bard-working , useful man , and from hi 8 perseverauce and energy he had largely augmented the annual subscriptions towards the funds . Bro . Mason , in response , said certainly there was one lesson be had learnt , and that was " when time is short , do what you havo to do speedily . " Since he had been connected with the
Institution ho had done his best for it , and he intended to do so , as long as he enjoyed the confidence of tho Committee . He believed these gatherings did a great deal of good , at any rate they brought some of them closer to each other than they were at any other time of tho year , and it was most cheering to see the gladdened faces of the old
people . He belioved their hearts beat for tho time when Old Christmas day came round . When he arrived to-day an old resident said to him , "Ah ! I was afraid the snow would stop you coming . " It showed how anxious they were ; and every time tbe old men took a whiff at their pipes , or tho old ladies brewed
their tea , their blessings went up upon tho donors of the gifts . Ho feared there was much truth in tho statement rmde by Bro . Terry as to tho prospects of the Institution . This year started with 6 ' 0 or 70 Stewards less than last year ; and if they put it at £ -50 each , u > vc was n loss of between £ D , O 0 D and £ 1 , 000 . He could
not see ho % v it was possible to reach anything like the amount of last year , utiles ? , by means of tho Press , a mighty effort be aroused amongst tho Craft . Bro . Terry had mado superhuman efforts , but he could not be in two places at ouce . The Press got to tho hands of those whom tho staff could not roach , and ho hoped whon tho
brethren know tho necessities of tho case , they would come forward and show that where the need was the supply should not bo deficient . Bro . J . Terry jnn . also responded . Mr . T . Hastings Miller than gavo the Houso Committee , for whom Bro . Riynham Stewart replied , and the company then joined tho ladies at tea , under tho superintendence
of Miss Norn ' s and her assistants . Later on the residents were again assembled in the hall to witness an entertainment given by Lieut . Cole , the famous ventriloquist , and Mr . Harry Lancy , whose recitals
were much enjoyed . The entertainment was most sacc-issful , and tho inmates expressed their grateful appreciation of it as they bade good bye to tho visitors on their leaving for the homeward j-mrnoy to town .
Tho firct Annual Ball of tho Chiswiek Lodge , 2012 , will bo held at tho Sttiv and Garter Hotel , Kcw Bridge , on Friday , 29 ch instant , when , under the direction of an efficient
hoard of Stewards , a very enjoyable evening may be anticipated . We are convinced that Bro . Brill , the proprietor of the Star and Garter , will dolus shave towards deservino * success , and with the lxvourcea at his command that will
go far towards securing this desirable result . Tho price of a double ticket ( to admit ; lady and gentleman , or two ladies ) is £ \ hi ; of single tickets , for gentlemen 12 s 6 d ; find for ladies 10 . 5 Od . These will include light refreshments
during ; the evening- and supper during the interval . They may be obtained from the Stewards , Treasurer and Secretary of the Ball . In order to promote comfort the number of tickets is strictl y limited , and early application for same is requested .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Old Folks At Home.
THE OLD FOLKS AT HOME .
OUT of the London fog- < and mist , a «\ ay from th « sdnshy streets aud the bustle and din of City Life , where " beautiful snow " lias been trampled by a myriad of footsteps of man and animals into a perfect quagmire of horrible " sludge , " and on to the qniet countryside borne of tho " dear Old People" who are the objects of snob tender solicitude to tbe friends and supporters of tho Royal Masonio
Benevolent Institution at Croydon . Down to that sequestered aed peaeefnl spot wbpre nge and indigence are relieved and the declining days of onr poor brethren and widows are soothed and comforted by the bounty of the Craft , where in summer time tbe flowers bloom and scent the quiet nir , but where at this trnly " old-fashioned "
Christmas time the trees are shivering with the sheen of frostect crystals and garlands of snow , sncb as have not boen witnessed since the memorable " black Tnesday " of five years ago . Such was the contrast experienced on Wednesday last—Old Christmas Day—by tho little knot of friends and well-wishers who started in saloon
carriages , specially provided for their accommodation , from Cannonstreet , bent on their annual mission of carrying rays of snnsbiue into the homes and hearts of tho poor old people who have been lifted by the benevolence of tho Craft from positions of extreme and unavoidable necessity . In spite of the leaden skies ,
which portended a continuance of tho snmv-storm of unwonted severity that had fallen upon London , Bro . Terry , tho indefatigable Secretary of the Institution , had tho felicity that afternoon of welcomin ? a goodly muster of tho real friends of tho establishment , which has proved so great a blessing to its residents , whilst tho
amiable matron , Miss Norris , had equal pl easure in receiving a large number of ladies who bad braved the virulence of tho storm and the difficulties of travelling fcopiy thoir accnstomrd " complimentsof the season" to the dear old creatures who havo found a happy and contented home at Croydon . Amongst those present wo noticed Bro . C .
J . Perceval ( President of tho House Committee ) , Bro . J . Terry jnn ., Miss Kate S . Terry , Miss Jessie Terry , Mr . A . M . Terry , Bro . W . Raynhnm Stewart , Bro . Edgar Bowyer , Mr . A . P . Bowyer , Bro . T . CnbittjBro . H . J . Strong ( hon . surgeon to the Institution ) , Bro . W . J . Crntch , Miss Ada Crntch , Miss Cissy M . Crutch , Bro . C . F . Hogard
Bro . T . Hastings Miller , Bro . R . Grigcfi , Mr . E . J . Martin , Bro . John Martin , Mrs . and Miss Newton . Bro . IT . Massoy , Mr . II . W . Massey , Miss A . R . Mnssev , Bro . H . J . Amphlott , Bro . E . M . Money , Bvo . J . T . Briggs , Mr . Vernon , Miss F < mny Vernon , Mrs . Culver , Bro . J . Mason , and many others . In cosy and cheerfnl contrast with tbe
white waste outside was the interior of the building , well warmed and lighted , and teeminp . with decorations of holly and mistletoe , the walls being adorned with devices in a hundred designs , and the great hall reverberating with the many voices of the i-esidents who , this day out of the whole three hundred and sixty-five , are made
supremely happy . Many willing and loving hands had contributed to the merry-making on this auspicious occasion . The Committee started with a substantial nncleus of £ 20 townrds the fund , while a donation of five pounds was forwarded by the executive of a kindred Institution in East Lancashire . Thrm tho Board of Grand Stewards
for 1 S 81-5 came forward with a solid addition to tbe fund of £ 13 9 s 3 d , which enabled the Committee to present each of tho residents wi'h a Christmas-box of half-a-sovereign . Many kind friends also testified their interest in tho Old People ' s welfare by presenting gifts in kind , and ifc need hardly be said that these " creature comforts " were
gratefully appreciated by tho recipients . Mrs . Edgar Bowyer generously forwarded hampers of fruit ; Bro . Edgar Bowyer gave two plump turkeys for the Old Folks'dinner ; Bro . T . Hastings Miller added to tho store of fat things two prime hams ; whilst Bros . C . F . Matier and R , Berridge supplied the means of innocent recreation for
many months to enmo by sending each a dozen packs of playing cards . Then there were big packages of tea for the widows , and of tobacco for the old men , and it was a sight to see the luxurious ease and enjoyment with which the ladies sipprd their mild Bohea and the gentlemen puffed their fragrant weed when they had retired from
tbe scene of the general festivities to their snug and comfortable apartments . Is it needfnl to say that tho Christmas dinner was thoroughly enjoyed and " done justice to ? " or that the few toasts which followed , beginning with the Queen and the Craft and leading np to a Happy new year , that the residents found a responsive echo
in each and every hrenst ? The dinner was an nnparalleled success , and enjoyment was paramount , the House Committee and visitors exert , ing their utmost endeavours to render the happiness of their guests complete . After dinner came tho " seasonable " visits of friends to the cosy quarters of tho residents , all of which were suitably
adorned with emblems of Yuletide , while on many a mantel . shelf appeared pretty cuds of terricmbineco and good wishes , both for Christmas and the New Year . Later in tho afternoon tho House Committee and their invited friend : ! rat down to a substantial dinner , under the presidency of Bro . 0 . J . Perceval , after which
several speeches relating f 0 the Institution wero delivered . Bro . W . Eaynham Stewart led off , by proposing the health of tho Chairman , who had done good suit and service for the prosperity of this Institution . Bro . Perceval was proverbial for his kindness to tho poor ; he felt for the wants of others , one ! they wore all delighted that be
bad sufficiently recovered from Ida recent illness to fid tho position he so worthily occupied that day . Pro . Perceval , after suitnbly acknowledging tho cordiality with which the toast had been receiver ] , said , as the Almighty had been pirated to restore him once more to health , ho hoped it would be for renewed exertions on behalf of this
grand Institution , and all the Ir . stitrdior . s in connection with Freemasonry . As they loved and admired Freemasonry , so should they follow its precepts in whatever station of life they " might be placed . He then proposed the toast of the evening—Success ' to tho Royal
Masonio Institution—and observed that they would all have been glad to see by returns published iu the . Vasonic papers the handsome sums which had been subscribed to tho Institnfciotis daring the past year , and to know that one stood at the top of tho tree . Each Iu ? titution had its own separate behests : bat the Benevolent Inst ! -
The Old Folks At Home.
¦ tut ion bad claims more particularly demanding their care than the i others , for this re ison—that onco they got the Old People on their . list of annuitants they seemed to live for ever . He hoped in the ( future , as iu the past , this Iustifcntton would be known as the one tho ' most prominent of the three . In the other Institutions the educa .
' tional requirements were continually passing away , whereas the Old I People passed away very slowly , for they wore taken for their lifetime . Ho associated with the toast the name of their worthy and c * teoined Secretary , Bro . James Terry , to whom ha paid a high and deserved tribute for his splendid exertions in behalf of the
Institution . Bro . Terry , in a speech whtch we deem of sufficient importance to the Craft to give in exlenso in nnr leading columns , responded ; and after that came the toast of tho Visitors , coupled with the namos of Bros . Hogard , Hastings Miller , and John Newton . Bro . Hogard , in responding , said he was very pleased to have witnessed the
entertainment , to the Old People , iu whom they felt so deep an interest . Some of those present wero connected with the Institution officially , as Auditors of accounts , and they had heard with mnoh regret the remarks of Bro . Terry concerning the fnturo of the Institution . They eonld only hope , as was the else last year , that his prophecies would
not bo fulfilled . Still they mnst look the facts broadly in the face . Times bad not looked well during tho past twelve months ; therefore they mn « t not be surprised if results did not quite come up to thoir expectations . It had afforded him intense pleasure to see the old people enjoyiri" the entertainment which Bro . Terry had kindly
provided for thorn , and he hoped as these gatherings took place year by year they might lie able to enhance tho benefits of the Institution , and maintain it as the premier Institution of the Craft . Bro . T . Hastings Miller said it afforded him a vast amount of pleasure to be present on this occasion , and he looked forward with much
gratification to the recurrence of that happy day , which the old people so much enjoyed . It was most refreshing to see tho happiness depicted on every ' countenance , and ho hoped to see it for many years to come . Bro . John Newton also responded . He recollected the second entertainment of this kind ever given to the inmates , and since then he
had been a constant visitor and helper on snch occasions . He reechoed what Bro . Miller had said , it did their hearts good to see the happy enjoyment of the old people . He looked forward to these gatherings with a vast amount of pleasure , as a means of doing good to their fellow creatures . He dearly loved the Institution , and
worked as bard as he could for ifc ; and be hoped this would not bo the Inst time he should be a guest of the House Committee , The President then proposed the health of Bro . Terry's staff , and said they all knew that during their Secretary's recent illness how admirably tho Institution had been carried on . Bro . Mason was a most
energetic , bard-working , useful man , and from hi 8 perseverauce and energy he had largely augmented the annual subscriptions towards the funds . Bro . Mason , in response , said certainly there was one lesson be had learnt , and that was " when time is short , do what you havo to do speedily . " Since he had been connected with the
Institution ho had done his best for it , and he intended to do so , as long as he enjoyed the confidence of tho Committee . He believed these gatherings did a great deal of good , at any rate they brought some of them closer to each other than they were at any other time of tho year , and it was most cheering to see the gladdened faces of the old
people . He belioved their hearts beat for tho time when Old Christmas day came round . When he arrived to-day an old resident said to him , "Ah ! I was afraid the snow would stop you coming . " It showed how anxious they were ; and every time tbe old men took a whiff at their pipes , or tho old ladies brewed
their tea , their blessings went up upon tho donors of the gifts . Ho feared there was much truth in tho statement rmde by Bro . Terry as to tho prospects of the Institution . This year started with 6 ' 0 or 70 Stewards less than last year ; and if they put it at £ -50 each , u > vc was n loss of between £ D , O 0 D and £ 1 , 000 . He could
not see ho % v it was possible to reach anything like the amount of last year , utiles ? , by means of tho Press , a mighty effort be aroused amongst tho Craft . Bro . Terry had mado superhuman efforts , but he could not be in two places at ouce . The Press got to tho hands of those whom tho staff could not roach , and ho hoped whon tho
brethren know tho necessities of tho case , they would come forward and show that where the need was the supply should not bo deficient . Bro . J . Terry jnn . also responded . Mr . T . Hastings Miller than gavo the Houso Committee , for whom Bro . Riynham Stewart replied , and the company then joined tho ladies at tea , under tho superintendence
of Miss Norn ' s and her assistants . Later on the residents were again assembled in the hall to witness an entertainment given by Lieut . Cole , the famous ventriloquist , and Mr . Harry Lancy , whose recitals
were much enjoyed . The entertainment was most sacc-issful , and tho inmates expressed their grateful appreciation of it as they bade good bye to tho visitors on their leaving for the homeward j-mrnoy to town .
Tho firct Annual Ball of tho Chiswiek Lodge , 2012 , will bo held at tho Sttiv and Garter Hotel , Kcw Bridge , on Friday , 29 ch instant , when , under the direction of an efficient
hoard of Stewards , a very enjoyable evening may be anticipated . We are convinced that Bro . Brill , the proprietor of the Star and Garter , will dolus shave towards deservino * success , and with the lxvourcea at his command that will
go far towards securing this desirable result . Tho price of a double ticket ( to admit ; lady and gentleman , or two ladies ) is £ \ hi ; of single tickets , for gentlemen 12 s 6 d ; find for ladies 10 . 5 Od . These will include light refreshments
during ; the evening- and supper during the interval . They may be obtained from the Stewards , Treasurer and Secretary of the Ball . In order to promote comfort the number of tickets is strictl y limited , and early application for same is requested .