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

tude and incapable of following any occupation . " No . 7 , Jesse Banning , of Cheshire , in his seventy-fourth year , was initiated in No . 343 , Preston , in 1865 , and remained a subscriber for five years and a half . He joined a Carlisle Lodge in 186 ° , and continued subscribing to it for nine

years , and for three years belonged to a Liverpool Lodge , No . 823 . Ho is a Past Provincial Grand Organist oi Cumberland and Westmoreland , but owing to railway accidents , decline of business , and bad health , his general means of livelihood are very precarious . No . 8 , Edward

Reed , of Morpeth , in Northumberland , was initiated in No . 431 , North Shields , in June 1842 , and continued a subscribing member for two years and a quarter . In 1859 he joined the Lodge No . 636 , Morpeth , and remained a subscribing member till 1879 . Though formerly in good

circumstances , he is now entirely destitute , besides being very feeble , and suffering from long-continued illness . He is in his seventieth year . No . 11 , Alexander Douglas Ross , of Gravesend , was initiated in Lodge No . 77 , in that town , in 1854 , and the year following joined No . 483 , the

period during which he subscribed to these two Lodges being altogether forty-seven and a half years . Ho has been a subscriber to the Benevolent for many years , and is a Life-Governor of the Boys' School . Ho is now so enfeebled by paralysis as to be unable to follow bis

occupation . No . 12 , Charles Lomax , Cheshire , was initiated in No . 322 , Stockport , in 1864 , and continued a subscribing member for eleven years and three quarters . He has been a journalist , but is now a complete invalid , nnable to maintain himself , and wholly dependent for support on his friends . No . 13 hails from the Province of West

Yorkshire , Bro . Abraham Roberts , who is in the eighty-first year of his age . He was initiated in August 1860 , and subscribed to his Lodge for nineteen years and a half . He has no means of support , and is quite dependent on charity . Thomas Lampen , No . 14 , from Cornwall , was initiated in

No . 450 , Hayle , in 1859 , and remained a subscriber till 31 st December 1879 . " From advanced age and failing sight , " he is unable to follow his occupation , and what makes his circumstances still more painful is , that " his wife is invalided by paralysis . " No . 15 , Thomas Halliday ,

of Sunderland , completes the trio of Durham candidates . He has been a member of No . 97 , in which he was initiated , and No . 94 , of which he became a joining member in 1860 , for over twenty-three years , but his health is such that he cannot follow his occupation of a printer any longer , and

he is compelled to trust for support to the bounty of his friends . No . 17 , William Roberts , a West Yorkshire candidate , is in his seventy . fifth year . He was initiated in 1858 , and has remained a subscribing Mason nearly ever since . He is unable to work , having had a paralytic

stroke , and is dependent on his daughter for support . John Lockwood , formerly an hotel keeper and farmer , belongs to Suffolk , in which Province he was initiated in 1845 . He subscribed for sixteen years and a half , but he cannot procure his own livelihood , owing to failure of sight . Alfred

Smith , of Huddersfield , West Yorkshire , was initiated in 1849 , and remained an active member of his Lodge for thirty years . Owing to failure of business , he is now in very reduced circumstances , occasional watch repairing being his only means of earning money . James Mnnn

Kent , was initiated in Dartford , in 1847 , and subscribed to his Lodge for sixteen years and a half . He is a Past Grand Deacon of Kent , and is described as " utterly destitute , " being unable , from failing health , to maintain himself . John Patterson was initiated in No . 393 ,

Berwickon-Tweed , and remained a member for twenty-eight years . He is very infirm from rheumatism , and his only means of support is a pension of £ Q 16 s from the A-jed Seaman ' s Fund . Joseph Ward , East Lancashire , is a Mason of over two-and-twenty years' standing , having been initiated in

No . 442 , Peterborough , in June , 1857 . In the course of his occupation as a locomotive engine driver , he met with an accident to his leg , and is now permanently incapacitated from work . Thomas Higson , another East Lancashire candidate , in his sixty-seventh year , is incapable of doing

any manual labour , " being afflicted with rheumatism ancl the infirmities of old age . " He was initiated in No . 348 , Bolton , in 1853 , and remained a subscribing member till December 1879 . John Oatley , of St . Heliers , Jersey , was

formerly a ship owner . He was initiated in No . 590 , in 1863 , and a few months later joined No . 958 , his subscriptions , taking the two together , extending over a period of thirty-five years . He has been reduced to a state of great necessity by the severe depression in the shipping trade ,

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

" having had everything taken for the benefit of Creditors . " He is a Past Grand Senior Warden of his Province . Charles Sutcliffe , East Lancashire , formerly a cotton spin , ner , was initiated in No . 126 , Burnley , in 1852 , and joined afterwards Lodge No . 1064 , the years he was a subscribing

member to the two amounting to forty-one and threequarters . By two disastrous fires , and a long period of unprofitable trade , he has been " reduced from a state of affluence to one of urgent need of assistance . " Jas . Hayter , formerly Hotel keeper of Hastings , was initiated in 1858 , and continued a subscriber till December 1879 . He was

formerly in good circumstances , but now has no means of employment , ancl is entirely dependent on Charity . George Worley , described as a gentleman , was initiated in Lod ge No . 360 , Northampton , in 1841 , as a minor , and paid his subscription till December 1863 . He is a Provincial G .

Senior Warden of Norths and Hunts , and a Life Governor of all our Institutions . Through serious losses in house property and shares , he has become much reduced , while gout prevents him from following any occupation . Harry A . Darby , in his eighty-second year , was initiated in 1855 ,

in Lodge No . 643 , and subscribed to it for fifteen years . He " has no means of keeping himself , none of his family are in a position to assist him , and his advanced age renders him helpless . " James Jackson , East Lancashire , was initiated in Lodge No . 816 , Wardle , in 1865 , and paid

fifteen years . He suffers from a paralytic affection , and is permanently incapacitated from earning a livelihood . No . 34 is a West Yorkshire man , William Smith , of Batley , formerly a woollen manufacturer . He was initiated in Lodge No . 380 , Morley , in 1850 , and has been a subscriber

thirty years . He has lost all his money in trade , and his only means of support is by trying to do a little work on commission . He has subscibed annually to the Benevolent Institution ever since he joined the Fraternity . Joseph Burton , Ashton-under-Lyne , who in a few weeks will

complete his sixty-ninth year , was initiated in 1861 , and subscribed for over eighteen years . He is unable to follow any employment through increasing age and infirmity , and his wife is an invalid . John Middleton , who stands last on the list , hails from Newport , Monmouthshire . He was initiated

in No . 297 , Lincoln , in 1842 , and joined No . 147 of Newport , in 1854 , and taking one Lodge with another has beeu a subscribing member for some forty years . He is a Pasfc Prov . G . D . Lincolnshire , and a Past Prov . G . Warden of Monmouthshire . His only resources consist of a sum of

£ 10 per annum from the Isca Lodge , and some assistance from his daughters , who can ill-afford to help him . He is in his seventy-third year , and is not only poor , but in failing health . This completes the list of the candidates for the Male Fund .

On the Female Fund list , there are sixty-one names , of whom one has been before the subscribers as a candidate at

eight previous elections . One is an applicant for the fifth time , six have made three previous attempts , five others have stood twice before , while seven were approved and p laced on the roll for ballot in May 1880 . The other forty-one are new candidates , having had no previous

opportunity . As distributed among the provinces , we find that there are twenty-one from the metropolis , Essex sends five , Devon four , Sussex , Kent , East Lancashire , and Hants and Isle of Wight three each ; Warwickshire , Berks and Bucks , and Surrey , two each ,

and there is one applicant from each of the following : —namely , Durham , North and East Yorkshire , Northumberland , Hereford , Norfolk , Lincolnshire , Somersetshire , Middlesex , Dorsetshire , West Yorkshire , West Lancashire , and Cheshire . No . 1 ou the list is Mrs . Elliott ,

who has standing to her credit from her previous contests , 454 votes . She is in her seventy-eighth year , and has no means of support , being entirely dependent on a son-inlaw . She has been a widow nearly one-and-twenty years , her late husband , an auctioneer , of Darlington , in the

county of Durham , having subscribed to his Lodge for ten years . Mrs . Wakefield , with 70 votes from four previous ballots , will make her fifth attempt on Friday next . She is in her sixty-fifth year , and is entirely dependent on her children . Her husband , who , was initiated in No . 362 ,

Grantham , having been a subscribing Mason for over thirtyfive years . Mrs . Child , who like the preceding app licant , lives in the metropolitan district , is close on sixty-five years

of age , her late husband having been initiated in a London Lodge , No . 179 , on 18 th June 1835 . She is both infirm and destitute , and her family are unable to assist ner . She has 62 votes to the good from previous elections-