The Election Of Friday Next, The R.M.B.I.

THE ELECTION OF FRIDAY NEXT , THE R . M . B . I .

FRIDAY next , the 20 th instant , is tho day fixed for the Annual Special Meeting of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . The number of candidates is a formidable one , especially in the case of the old ladies , while the number of vacancies is unfortunately smaller than we have had for some time past . For the Male Fund there are

thirty-seven candidates for thirteen vacancies , while for the Female Fund there aro but seven vacancies and as many as sixty-one candidates . As will be seen , however , from the Report we publish elsewhere of the meeting of the Committee , it has been resolved that the number to be elected

shall be increased , so that , thongh there will be several disappointed at the result of Friday ' s poll , there will be , at all events , fewer than otherwise would have been the case had the Committee not found it possible to enlarge the list of

the annuitants . So satisfactory a measnre must , of course , be traced to the brilliant result of the Festival in February last , and "West Yorkshire in particular , and all who take an interest in the Institution cannot be otherwise than

intensely gratified at finding their efforts have been so immediately productive of good . For the Male Fundthere are , as wehave said , thirty-seven candidates and thirteen vacancies ; eight of them hailing from the Metropolitan district , and twenty-nine from the

Provinces . Taking the London first , we find that No . 9 , H . Hart Spratt , was initiated in September 1860 , in the New Concord , No . 813 , ancl remained a subscribing member for eighteen years . He is a Life Governor of the Benevolent and Girls' School , bnt , owing to almost total

Joss of sight , he is unable to follow any occupation , and is wholly dependent for support on his friends . The case would seem to be a strong one , and will doubtless receive the support it merits . No . 10 , Solomon Marks , sixty-one years of agewas initiated in the Joppa Lod ,

, ge No . 188 , as far back as the 2 nd February 1852 , and has continued a subscribing member for eleven years and a quarter . Through disasters in business , he became very much reduced in circumstances , and not having capital enough to make a fresh start in life , he now finds it

necessary to seek the assistance of the Benevolent Fund . Charles James Woods , who stands sixteenth on the list , was initiated in Albion Lodge , No . 9 , on the 1 st October 1850 , ancl has subscribed for twenty-one ancl a half years . " v is in the sixty-second year of bis age , and , " owing to tlie total decay and destruction of his businessis incapable

, of obtaining employment in any other occupation . " No . ^* , Robert Armstrong , was initiated in October 1865 , and continued a subscribing member till March of last year , ¦ ae is imbecile and totally incapable of earning a livelihood , Ijnd as he has served the office of Steward for , and is a

Life Governor of , the Institution , no doubt he Avill secure a liberal share of support in his extremity . No . 26 , ¦ Matthew Cooke , aged fifty-nine years , has been a member oi several Lodges , having been initiated in Lodge No . 657 , ° D 18 th June 1857 and having subscribed to one or more

, ° i them during a period of thirty-five and a half years . ¦ ^ is permanently incapacitated from work , and has no yisible means of support . No . 29 , Thomas Riley , who is 3 - ? tho eighty-fourth year of his age , having been born in -p ~ o—~ j - » . » J * . UM ¦ UUIJ . v * . -uiu Lt n v , 'J - * - * * Lb y iitt ; u-jvu , luwi n . IJU

l £ r 1798 ' ™ t « ated in Lodge No . 193 , in December ( Rt anc ^ ^^ scribed f ° seven years . He enjoys a pension oi fifteen pence per day from the War Office , but ho is Suable to add anything to his scanty means as he is

The Election Of Friday Next, The R.M.B.I.

afflicted with chronic rheumatism and gout , and also with severe ulcerations of both legs . No . 32 , Thomas Maxwell , who will be sixty-two on Monday , was initiated in September 185 G , in Lodgo No . 488 , St . Helena , joined No . 508 , Singapore , in 1858 , and No . 206 , London , in 1860 ,

remaining a subscriber for over six years , ai \ d having been an active member of somo Lodgo for ten years altogether . His age and ill-health have incapacitated him from following any occupation , and consequently he has been obliged to seek the assistance of our Benevolent Fund . No . 36 ,

Charles James Hogg , was born on 28 th Jnno 1805 , and isj therefore , only a few weeks short of completing his sevent y sixth year . He was initiated in the Felicity , No . 58 , in June 1857 , and continued a subscribing member till the 9 th March 1880 . He had also been a subscribing member of

No . 1275 , New Cross , for eight years and a half . He is a Past Grand Steward , and has served the office of Steward for , and is a Life Governor of , the Benevolent Fund . He has no means of obtaining a livelihood , and even if he had he would be unable to follow it owing to his age and bodily infirmities .

Of the twenty-nine Provincial candidates , West Lancashire and West Yorkshire each sends up five . Three hail from Durham ; Cheshire , Cornwall , Northumberland , and Kent contribute each two candidates ; while Berks and Bucks , Suffolk , Sussex , Essex , Monmouthshire , N . and E .

Yorkshire , Warwickshire and Jersey send up one each . First on the list , Joseph Crisp , was a candidate for the first time last year , but only succeeded in scoring 35 votes . He belongs to Durham , having been initiated in 1861 , in a Sunderland Lodge , No . 97 , and remained a subscribing

member for eighteen years . He is in his sixty-sixth year , is unable to follow any occupation , throtigh sunstroke , and has no one to assist him . No . 2 , George Ensell , from Warwickshire , has nine votes to his credit from last May . He first saw light in Locige No . 43 , Birmingham , and was

a joining member of Lodge No . 739 of the same town , having paid his subscriptions for ten years and three quarters . He is in very indigent circumstances . Some years ago " he was in trade at Birmingham , but his mind becoming affected , " he " was compelled to give up , and at

present is permanently incapacitated , and without means of support . " The third in order , a West Yorkshire candidate , who brings forward 157 votes , is in his sixty-fifth year , was initiated in No . 204 , of Manchester , but resides at Leeds . For the last ten years he has been paralysed in

his lower extremities , and thus permanently incapacitated for work , as he cannot move without assistance . John Docchar , who stands next , and obtained seven votes in 1880 , is in his seventy-seventh year . He was initiated in No . 240 , South Shields , in December 1856 , and continued a subscribing

member for twenty years . Failing health and infirmities compelled him to relinquish his trade , and he has no means of subsistence . No . 5 , Thomas William Beale is a few months short of seventy-six . He was initiated on 1 st May 1865 , in Lodge No . 977 , Fowey , Cornwall , ancl subscribed

for over thirteen years , but is now incapacitated by age and infirmity , and though he has children , they are not in a position to render him any assistance in this the period of his adversity . This is his first attempt at obtaining the benefits of the Institution , as indeed is the case with all

but the four candidates at the head of the list . No . 6 , William Ford , of Slough , in Bucks , was formerly a farmer ancl innkeeper , and was initiated in No . 77 , Windsor , on 9 th February . 1864 , and subscribed for fifteen years . He has just completed his seventy-first year , ancl " in consequence of physical inability and infirmity is totally desti-