The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

A SPECIAL APPEAL . FREEMASONS cannot be accused of niggardliness in the dispensation of their benevolence . What they

undertake they strive to do well , and it is almost as much trouble to them if they are compelled to limit the extent of their munificence , even in the most insignificant matter , as it is to have to refuse altogether . We cannot find a better

illustration of this than that presented by the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution ; the precept inculcated has over been to do more , always more , and it has sometimes

required the strongest persuasion of the more cautious subscribers to keep the actions of the over generous within clue bounds ; not that we believe there is one subscriber to

the Institution who would not advocate an increase in its benefits provided the funds permitted it ; but there are some who may perhaps show a too ready reliance on the charitableness of the brethren in days to come . With the Benevolent Institution considerations for the future are

of even greater moment than those of the present ; it is next to impossible accurately to estimate the liability which will be entailed when an annuitant is elected on to the funds of the Charity . In the case of the other two

Masonic Institutions it is an easy matter to decide this ; the committees know exactly how long a child will be eligible to remain in the School , as the rules provide for removal at a certain age , but with the Benevolent

Institution nothing of the sort exists—death being the only determinator of an aged brother ' s or his widow ' s annual pension , and we rejoice to say that during the last

levy months the hand of death has been particularly quiet among the old folks in receipt of the benefits of the Institution . So much so is this the case that

at the time of writing there appears to be a probability of the year closing without a vacancy on the roll of annuitants , even though they number at the present time no less

than three hundred and ninety-five . To form a better idea of this state of affairs we must look back a few years , when various alterations were

suggested , with the object of benefitting those who had occasion to appeal for the help afforded by this Institution . Elections for the Benevolent Institution are held annually ,

while for each of the Educational Funds there are two in the year . It was proposed to adopt this latter system in connection with the Old Folks' Fund , as it appeared particularl y hard that a brother or widow should have to wait

a weary twelve months before it was possible for he or she , with their friends , to make another attempt to secure the coveted prize , more particularly—too often the case—when there were some three or four claimants for either branch

who " all but succeeded . " Cases have been known where a large number of votes have been secured , all but enough to carry the case , and in the interval before another elecion the poor old man or woman has died , —shall we sav

jrom actual want ? It would be hard perhaps to put it in aat light , but there are some very hard facts to be faced ever y day in this world . Let us imagine the feelings of an pged brother or a widow , whose misfortunes had gradually InCI-fiJl-Wl ~ ..: i _•_ . . . , .. 1 , ° . _ . ., ™ u it next to

„ --, u _ . __ u seemea impossible to wara on tne Tl . 7 " ^ eatl 1 V h ^ ger or an appeal to the poor-house , ¦ mey have but one hope to look to , one last straw to clutch

The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

at ; that their friends have striven to secure for them . Unfortunately , however , the best efforts put forward proved unsuccessful , and the only consolation that could be offered them was , —this day twelvemonths your election is all but

certain ; indeed , you may rely on then getting the annuity . Twelve months to wait , when it has been a struggle to keep body and soul together for weeks past ! Is it possible that charity can make such hard terms ? is it

not rather going too far to expect that life will last , under such conditions , for so long a period ? Yet what can be done ? It is no use rushing madly into responsibilities which cannot be met , and we all know it is impossible to

give £ 32 or £ 40 a year to a widow or to a brother so long as they live without money be subscribed for the purpose . Recognising all these arguments , and at the same time desiring to make the benefits as speedy and as numerous as

possible , without entailing the trouble and expense of a half-yearly election , certain brethren proposed a system of deferred annuities , whereby the highest on the list of unsuccessful candidates at any election were eligible to fill a

limited number of vacancies as they occurred , without waiting for another election . This system was adopted , and since then it has been the rule for the three highest unsuccessful candidates on each Fund to step into the places

of those called away by death . This has proved a blessing to all who have been fortunate enough to secure it , but , unfortunately , it has the effect of lessening the number of vacancies to be filled at each recurring election , and , as we

have said above , it may be the means of preventing any vacancies being available at the close of the present year , for we understand there is still one aged brother

entitled to a deferred annuity waiting to be placed on the Funds of the Institution as soon as a vacancy occurs . We have before said it is far from the desire of the subscribers

that the rate of mortality should be greater among the annuitants , and therefore the only way to be in a position to help a larger number of those eligible is to raise increased amounts year by year .

The coming year will doubtless prove a trying one in many ways , especially to those who have the desire to do good but lack the means to accomplish all they wish . The

jubilee of the accession of our beloved sovereign will be offered as the excuse for numerous special appeals , and there is every reason to expect that these appeals will not be made in vain . It is a matter for congratulation

that so much that is good is proposed as the means of marking the pleasure felt by Englishmen afc the long reign of Her Majesty , and we sincerely trust that the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution will come in for a

large share of this special benevolence . That the Institution is deserving is well known to our readers ,, while that it is in need a perusal of the facts enumerated above will

amply demonstrate . Whether it will receive special hel p time alone can prove , although we can hardly imagine an urgent appeal being made to the Freemasons of England without its meeting a satisfactory response .

A special appeal is now before the Craffc , and its immediate object is to provide the means of helping some of the one hundred and thirty candidates who are eligible for fcho nexfc election of fche Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution ,

and for whom there is not at present a single vacancy . Ifc is hoped that this state of affairs , coupled with the desire of the Committee to mark in some special manner the jubilee year of Her Majesty ' s reign , will induce brethren to make the most strenuous efforts to increase the sum avail-