Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution New Year's Entertainment.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION NEW YEAR'S ENTERTAINMENT .

rpUE annual entertainment given to the residents in the Roy a ' _ L Masonio Benevolent Institution at Croydon by some of Brother Terry ' s co-workera waa held ou Wednesday , aud many brethren and ladies , notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather , journeyed to the old Surrey town by the South Eastern Railway 1 * 4 p . m train . They were received on their arrival at tho Institution by Bro . James

Terry , who greeted eaoh of them with " A Happy New Year . " Bro . Dr . Strong , Hon . Surgeon to the Inatitution , and Bro . J . G . Stevens were also in the reception hall . Among the visitors were the following : Samuel Brooks P . M . 1608 ( Mayor of Reigate ) , and Miss Brooks , Robert Griggs , J . A . Farnfield , Charles Frederick Hogard , Bro . and Mrs . T . Goode , Miss Chevalier , Miss Blanche Chevailer ,

Charlea J . Perceval , Bro . A . Mullord , Master and Miss K . Mullord , Dr . Mickley , T . Burne , John Aldia and Misa Aldia , Bro . George K . Pugh and Mrs . Pugh , Henry Magee and Mia 3 Magee , W . H . Making and Mrs . W . P . Clark , Henry Ealing 1321 , and Mra . Ealing , G . Ward Verry , Mra . and Miaa Verry , nngh Cotter P . M . 554 , H . W . Massey 160 , H . Massey 160 P . M . 609 and 1928 , M . Raiker , L . Raiker , J ^ ssae

E . Terry , Kate Terry , Annie Cotter , Harriet Cotter , E . JameB Auning , W . H . Hubbert , C . H . Cary , C . JLacey , J . Wayte , T . Haatiuga Miller , J . J . Berry , C . Ketnpton , | Mrs . and Misa Kempton , A . Cook , Mra . Terry , F . R . W . Hedgea Sec . R . M . I , for Girls , C . F . Newton , Fanny A . Newton , Aida Crutch , Clara E . Clark , Mr . F . R . Colee , J . Newton , A . J . Berry P . M . 1695 , and W . B . Inder . Many of the Viaitora

brought Christmas presents for the old people , and a novelty was introduced thia year by Bro . Frank Rothschild , who sent handsome briar root pipes for the male annuitants . Dinnor waa served soon after two o'clock , tho Visitors waiting on the annuitants . Brother Dr . Strong presided , supported by Bros . Terry , Farnfield , Perceval , & o . At the conclusion of the meal , tbe three toasts— " The Queen , "

"The Founders of the Feast , " and "The Royal Masonio Benevolent Institution , " —were proposed by Dr . Strong . Bro . Dr . Strong , in giving the second toaat , said ha might tell those who were present for the Jirsfc time , that thia annual entertainment was provided by voluntary contributions , and waa in no way supplied out of the funds of the Institution . The donors were pretty nearly tho samo every

year , and it waa one of the most pleasing parts of the entertainment that the same ladies and brethren met each other in that room year by year . On the present ocoasion ha would associate with the toast the names of two brethren who were exceedingly well known to them—one , perhaps , not so much aa the other , bat he waa well known in Masonry , and waa now occupying the distinguished position

of Mayor of Reigate , —Bro . Brooks . The other was Bro . Mullord . Bro . Brooks replied ; he and those associated with him endeavoured to do all they could for the good of the dear old people who had fought the battle of life , and who , if they had not reaped the success they had hoped to achieve , at any rate , assembled there that day , proved that they had earned the love , esteem , and respect of every one with

whom they had coma in contaot . At the opening of thia New Year nothing could be more gratifying than to come to thia Institution and sea old friends assembled around the social board enjoying themselves . The visitors had been there on other occasions , and they hoped to see their old friends and eaoh other again and again , and to congratulate them , and wish them " A Happy New Year . " Bro .

Mullord said it was very kind to couple his name with the toast . Ho might say it had delighted him to do all ho could for tho old folks . He and others considered it very much liko getting a hot water bottle for themseves ; they might have to come to the Institution themselves some day , and if they did they certainly should not regret anything they bad done to help the old folks .

Anything they could do for them in tho future ho could assure them thoy would do , a 3 they had dono in tho past . Bro . Dr . Strong then proposed " Soccoss to tho Royal Masonio Benevolent Institution , " and said if he were to dilate on the merits of the Inatitution and on its working ho might bo accused by Bro . Terry of taking the words out of his mouth and depriving him of the

power of making a speech . Ho ( Bro . Dr . Strong ) thought that would be a diffioult thing to do , for Bro . Torry would bo sure to find something else to say on behalf of the Institution . All who wore present wished success to it . They were plcasod to know that even now , notwithstanding all the financial troubles of tho past year , tho Masonic Benevolent Institution stood at the head of tho liab of the

three Institutions . Ho said it stood at tho head of the list for a good reason . The Girls' School had by a small amount the largest sum , but that was because it had sold a Bmall piece of land . The Benevolent Institution had not sold any of its land , and tbo amortnt it had received waa iu donations aud subscriptions . Bro . James Torry said the Chairman had remarked that thia Institution was at tho hoad of

the list for the last year . The Girls' School really was ahead by £ 300 , ic having received altogether £ 21 , 700 , and tho Benevolent Inatitution £ 21 , 400 . In that respect it was , for the second time in eleven years , in the second position among tho throa Institutions . But taking subscriptions and donations , the Benevolent had received the highest amount—over £ 15 , 000 ; tho Girls' School over £ 13 , 000 :

and tho Boys'School over £ 11 , 000 . Thorefore , the Benevolent stood No . 1 , although it was beaten in the grand total through the sale of a strip of land , at an enormous price , which tho Girla' School had had the good fortune to receive . He must , however , say that tho Benevolent Institution had received £ 1 , 500 , pert of a legacy left to it , and he believed that before two months bad elapsed it would receive tho balance . Tho Institution was doing very well a 3 far as regarded its h

' « fc of Stewards for next Festival ; tho number was 30 or 35 in advance of the number at this titno last year , when it had no Province behind its back , having only obtained the sanction of tho then Lord Mayor of London to say he woald presida that year . He had , however , the advantage of a rery big and wealthy Province to support him—tho Proviuco of Kent—whoso Grand Master , tho Earl Amherst , was goiDg to preside on the 25 th February next ,

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution New Year's Entertainment.

and he had no doubt that the amount whioh would be then raised would be equal to any . of the announcements made in the last five years . The brethren who were aoting as Stewarda were exerting themselves right well . Ona Brother , who waa present , had already a list of £ 160 or £ 170 , and there wero several Stewards who said they would make up lists larger than that . Therefore , though they might

not exceed tbe number of Stewards , he thought the total the Stewards might bring would be quite aa large , if not larger than before . With regard to the candidates for tho next election , tho Institution had now closed its lists , and despite tha alterations whioh had been made , whioh had restricted the number of persons eligible for tha benefitB of tho Institution , thero were still 156 on tho list . What tha total

number of vacanoies would ba it waa impossible to say until the time for election arrived , but at the present time there waa something like 25 or 26 , and 156 wero seeking to have the advantages of the Institution . The old people afterwards enjoyed a musical entertainment , under the management of Bros . A . Mullord and T . Goode , with Misa Blanoh

Chevalier as pianist , the performers being the Unity Vocal Quartette ; Bro . Millward , Mr . Albert Gorsuch , Bro . Inder , Miss B . Pohler , Mr . E . Pohler , Mr . W . H . Wheeler , the Misses Chevalier , Bro . Walter Syckelmoore , Bro . Arthur Reynolds , Mrs . Arthur Reynolds , Misa 0 . Mullord , Bro . Pooklington , and Mr . F . Lines .

The New Year's entertainment to those of tho pupilB of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls who remain in the School during the Christmas Holidays was given on Saturday night at the School at Battersea Rise , and several visitors , supporters of the School , attended to join in the

amusements provided . The expenses are always borne by the brother who is chairman for the month of tho House Committee , so that the subscriptions or other receipts of the Institution are not in any way infringed upon . On this ocoasion Bro . J . H . Matthews Past Grand Standard

Bearer was chairman , and the entertainment ho provided was most liberal . Among the brethren present were Frank Richardson , E . M . Money , H . W . Hunt , John Toone , E . Letchworth , Peter de L . Long , George W . Garrod , F . R . W . Hedges Secretary , J . Stevens , and H . Massey . Tho

entertainment embraced marionette and shadow performances , twelfth cake , supper , music and dancing , and it was very successful . In the course of the evening the

visitors had an opportunity of inspecting the alterations in the buildings consequent on the enlargement , together with the beautiful new hall , which is to be opened by the Prince of Wales in April or May next .

At the monthly meeting of the Unanimity and Sincority Lodge , No . 261 , held at tho Masonic Hall , Taunton , on Wednesday , 24 th ult ., George C . Strawbridge , M . S . A ., tho Senior Warden , was unanimously elected Master for the ensuing year .

The Grand Master of the Grand Lodge Royal York of Friendship , at Berlin , is endeavouring to establish a central court of reference among the principal Continental Lodges . Negotiations are at present pending with Signor Adriano Lemmi , Grand Master of Italy , on the subject .

At the monthly meeting of the Lodge True Love and Unity , No . 248 , held in the Freemasons' Hall , Brixham , on the 1 th ult ., the Right Hon . Lord Churston was unanimously elected W . M . for the ensningyear . W . 0 . Gregory was re-elected Treasurer , and John Sewell Tyler . The installation ceremony and annual banquet will take place on the 20 th inst .

TREATS TO THE CLECKHEATON POOR . —On Saturday , the 27 th ult ., and on the previous day , tho annual distribution of gifts to tho poor by charitable organisations were made- At Providence Plaoa School , under the auspices of the " Widows' Fund , " 200 persona wero tha recipients of clothing , blankets , and other useful goods . At the George Hotol 100 aged poor were entertained to tea by tho

brethren of the local Masonic Lodges . Afterwards an entertainment waa given . Nearly forty of tho persons who wero invited wero unable to attend , and to these parcels of groceries wero forwarded . The annual distribution of bread under Bolland ' s bequest was made , at the Brown Cow Inn , by the vicar of Whiteohapel and the churchwardens .

On Weauo 3 day , 31 st ult ., the brethren of St . Kew Lodge , No . 1222 , according to annual custom , entertained a numerous party of aged poor to a sumptuous " high tea , " at tho Victoria Hall , Westou-Supor-Mare . About 250 wero present , the majority of whose ages exceeded tho allotted span of three score years and ten j and some fifty others , who wero unablo to attend , through infirraitv and the cold weatbor .

were provided for at their homes . Tho meal was supplied by Mr . Huntley ; tbe brethren undertook tho duties of waiters , and their wives presided at the tea-tables . After tea a capital entertainment was given , consisting of mu 3 ic , singing , recitations , legordemain , and ventriloquism , and a most enjoyable ovcniDg was spent by tha " ancients . "