The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

IT is a fortunate thing for those who value the reputation in -whioh English Freemasonry is held by the outer world that the Charity which its members boast of as one of their grandest principles should occasionally present itself in a practical form , and that some of the good the

brethren take credit for accomplishing should be carried out in such a way as to be apparent to other than members of the Mystic Tie . Were this not the case the brethren might run the risk of being considered as black as their opponents paint them , and in some cases this is black

indeed . As it is , however , we feel that , in England at least , Freemasonry is hardly looked upon as being a source of trouble , either to the Church or the State . We recently read the letter which the Pope has thought fit to pnblish against Freemasons , and we were almost inclined

to regret that we ever had associated ourselves with so vile a body as Freemasons are there made out to be , when our thoughts were diverted into another channel by a reminder as to what Freemasonry really is . This change was brought about by the fact that at this season of the year a duty

devolves upon us;—to direct attention to the Institution which we name at the head of this article , the Annual Meeting , and Election for the benefits of which takes place on Friday next , the 16 th insfc . Although we may be accused

of taking things somewhat out of their prescribed order , we have decided first to consider the Election , notwithstanding the fact that it is secondary to the Annual Meeting , some of the business of wbicb we shall refer to later on .

The task which presents itself when we attempt to review the claims of the several candidates seeking a participation in the benefits of the Male and Female Funds of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution is one of the heaviest which falls to us in the execution of our duties , and look

at it from whatever point of view we may we can find no satisfactory method of treating the subject , or of drawing comparisons , for the simple reason that all the candidates appear worthy , while all are of an age which entitles them to the respect of the younger brethren or the sympathy of

the older ones . We know that , in the case of the annuitants , none aro in a position to provide for themselves , while the same can hardly be said with any certainty as regards either the Boys or the Girls who come forward as candidates . The

rules of the Benevolent Institution stipulate that any brother in receipt of £ 40 a year , or any widow in receipt of £ 30 , is ineligible . There is no such limit , or indeed any limit , attached to the candidates for the Schools , the friends of whom naturally feel that no matter what the position of

the applicants may be , they are entitled to a place in the oehools , provided they can secure a sufficient number of votes . As is well known to our readers , this want of a limit has led to troubles in the past , and will , no doubt , lead to more in the future , but all this is avoided in the

case of the Benevolent Institution , the aspirants for which Biust really belong to a necessitous class , or else put forward their claims backed up with false pretences , a line of action which , considering the searching inquiry to which each application is subjected , seldom proves anything but a tailure . We think this limitation a feature of great importance , and shall never feel satisfied until something of

The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

a similar character is imposed on the candidates for the Schools , but this is only one of many arguments which might be urged in favour of the Benevolent Institution .

We are often asked to give an opinion as to which is the most deserving of the three Institutions ? In reply we adopt for ourselves the line taken up by the " Vicar of Bray "—each is best , in turn , —

"Until the times do alter . " At present it is the turn of tbe Benevolent Institution , and it is our duty to demonstrate that it has greater claims than the other two . This we can hardly do better than by following the arguments of the respective Secretaries .

The Girls deserve first consideration , because they are the weaker sex , and are less fitted to struggle through life without assistance , than are their brothers . But , says Bro . Binckes , the Boys should have our first care ; if we look after them while young , they will , in the ordinary course

of things , look after the girls later on . Both these arguments are overruled by Bro . Terry , who , while appealing for the Benevolent Institution , truly points out that if it had not been for the Old People we should not have had either boys or girls , and not only should we be without

boys and girls but we should likewise have had neither a Boys' School nor a Girls' School , while without the contributions of brethren in years gone by tho very Fund to which these aged Masons and their Widows are now appealing would have had no existence . It may be true

that some of those who now appear as applicants for Annuities have never contributed , directly , to the funds of the Benevolent Institution , but there is certainly not one among them but has done so indirectly , and they are therefore appealing for the benefits of a Fund for which

they have each done something . Surely then they are deserving of especial consideration . Another feature in favour of support being given to the Old People is that their election on the Annuity Fund is often the last act of Masonic kindness which can be performed for them . There

is especial satisfaction in knowing that the last years of a brother or his widow were rendered comfortable by the exercise of Masonic benevolence , and it generally happens that far greater appreciation is shewn by them for the

assistance they receive than is the case iu that of the girls and boys cared for in the other Institutions , not a few of whom never appear to give their benefactors a thought when once they are relieved from the restraint of school life .

Now a word as to the actual applications which are being made for the benefits of the Benevolent Institution . The ballot papers for Friday next give a list of thirty-eight male and eighty-two female candidates . The former , however , has been reduced to thirty-seven by the death of

F . A . Chaplin , No . 24 , on the list . These thirty-seven old Masons will have to compete for fourteen vacancies ( three of which will be deferred ) , while for the eighty-two widows there are eighteen vacancies ( three of these also deferred ) , so that we have a total of one hundred and

nineteen candidates , of whom thirty-two only can be elected , unless the number of declared vacancies is increased previous to the opening of the poll ; the course usually adopted , to compensate for the deaths which occur

between the issue of the ballot papers and the day of election . This gives us upwards of seven candidates for every two vacancies ; not divided equally , however , but strongly in favour of the Male Fund , for the benefits of