The Benevolent Institution.

THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

THE opening of the new Masonic season has been taken advantage of by Brother James Terry , the Secretary of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons , to lay before the different Lodges and Chapters which will now be meeting a statement of what the Institution has been doing since it

was established in 1842 , but it is right to say that the circular is . necessary for affording information for those Brethren recently admitted into the Craft , and whose subscriptions

may be asked for , who may not be aware of the claims which the Charitable Institutions of the Masonic Order have on the pecuniary aid which can be afforded them by the Brethren who have the honour to belong to it .

Leaving for the present the Masonic Girls School , the eldest of the three Masonic Charities , and the Boys School , which is ten years younger , and taking the Benevolent . Institution , the youngest of the three by hfty-four years , whose annual Festival is always the first in the New Year , its record

is a remarkable one , judged from the report now presented . It started originally only to assist aged and distressed Freemasons by giving them small annuities , varying , according to the age of the recipient , from £ 10 to £ 30 , but seven years

after its establishment it originated a fund for Widows of Freemasons , and when , the Institution had been in existence a quarter of a century , its principles were established on the present basis of giving annuities of £ 40 to Brethren , and £ 32 to Widows .

Since its formation 1 , 017 Brethren and 706 Widows have become Annuitants , and at the election last May 210 Brethren were in receipt of a total of £ 8 , 400 annually , 253 Widows of £ 8 , 096 , and 26 Widows of late annuitants ( half their deceased husbands' annuities ) £ 520 ; the total amount being £ 17 , 016 for the year .

The Institution had a very small beginning , for in 1842 Grand Lodge voted only £ 400 a year to it , and in 1 847 Grand Chapter voted £ 100 a year . That very year it held its first Festival , and the late Earl of Zetland , who was then Grand Master , presided . A sum of £ 819 16 s was realised .

The Festivals of the Institution then following were but triennial , but in i 860 Annual Festivals were constituted , and the contributions of the Craft yearly since have resulted in sufficient money being invested to produce dividends of £ 1 , 124 IC ) s 5 d for the Male Fund and £ 2 , 012 6 s for the

Widows Fund m the last year . Notwithstanding the large receipts of the Institution , which , after paying annuities , left balances for investment that now yield the dividends above mentioned as income to be relied upon , the Institution has to ask for yearly contributions to pay £ 17 , 000 in annuities ,

leaving out of account altogether the amount required for office expenses . Although eight additional Annuitants were placed on the list last May , thus increasing the payments by £ 300 a year , many candidates for the annuity have , to remain out in the cold , for while there are at present 60 males

and 70 females on the list for the next election , there are but eleven vacancies , and it is on account of such great calls on the Institution that the further benevolence of the Craft is solicited . The Festival will be held on 27 th February 1 9 01 , and the Earl of Warwick Deputy Grand Master will preside . — " Morning Advertiser . "

An exchange states that the Freemasons of Canterbury N . Z ., are forwarding to Lieut-General Baden-Powell a strikingly handsome present in the form of a Masonic keystone made of greenstone and mounted with 18-carat gold . The keystone is three inches in length , has on top the

orthodox " Lewis " in gold , and on the front a gold plate bearing the inscription— " Grande decus colemenque rerum . ( A great glory and prop of our fortunes ) . Presented to Major-General R . S . S . Baden-Powell , the hero and defender of Mafekmg ,

South Africa , by the Freemasons of Canterbury , N . Z , as an expression of their admiration of his Bravery , Energy , and Resourcefulness during the siege , which was relieved May 16 , 1900 . " The keystone is contained in a casket , and rests in a bed of crimson plush .

A fact connected with the history of Mary ' s Chapel long known to me , is recorded by Bro . Lyon in the new edition as a footnote ( page 372 ) . It has been a favourite joke of the historian , and he has startled many friends with the remark , that he had not written a word of that history

The Benevolent Institution.

published in his name ; and then , of course , explanations were forthcoming , as in the footnote , to the effect that he early acquired the habit of dispensing with MS ., having been taught , when apprenticed to the " Ayr Advertiser , " to put into type , first hand , any matter of local interest he had to

report . Filled with the subject of which the history treats , and having a retentive memory , the only MS . used in its production was that of documents from which quotations

are piven ; Bro . Lyon , therefore , composed the work in front of his case , and' handed the publisher of the first edition printed slips as the author ' s " manuscript . "— " The Mallet , " in " Glasgow Evening News . "

An Appropriate Appointment.

AN APPROPRIATE APPOINTMENT .

BY the nomination- of our Yorkshire Representative Dr . Chas . Forshaw , F . R . S . L ., as Honorary Dental Surgeon to the Northern Police Orphanage , Harrogate , and the Police Convalescent Home , a peculiarly appropriate appointment has taken place . For the past twelve years Bro . Forshaw has been an honorary or Special Constable for Bradford , and

surely a Dental Policeman is the proper sort of man to attend to the dental , requirements of his brother officers and their children ! Dr . Forshaw has fifty orphans to look after ,, children who have lost their father either from bpino- KIIPH

while on duty , or who has died while a member of the Constabulary of the northern counties of England . A like number of disabled policemen , are also under his professional care as a Dental Surgeon .

We give a facsimile of our Brother ' s first appointment as a Special Constable , and we may add that Bro . Forshaw is also the honorary Dentist to the Bradford Tradesmen ' s Homes , the Boys Orphanage , the Women ' s Home and Shelter , and the Deaf and Dumb- Institution .

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