The Benevolent Institution Elections.

THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION ELECTIONS .

rilHE annual meeting of the Boyal Masonic Benevo-- * - lent Institution is to be held on Friday next , at Freemasons' Hall , when , in accordance with custom , the usual business of the year will be transacted , and annuitants will be elected for the two branches of the Institution . In the case of the

Male Fund there aro G 9 applicants ; with 31 vacancies declared at the February meeting of the Committee of Management , and 3 vacancies since recorded , 2 through the death of former annuitants , and 1 by the resignation of a Brother who lately inherited some property . On the Widows' side there

are 70 candidates , with 21 vacancies settled at the February meeting , and 5 since reported , these beingcaused by tho death of former annuitants . Altogether then we have a total of 139 candidates for tho benefits of the two funds , for whom , providing the lately created vacancies are filled up as usual , there are GO annuities available , subject to the customary proviso that in each case three of the newly-elected are entitled to " deferred " annuities only , available

on the death of some of those already in receipt of the grants given by the Institution . These figures are very gratifying , and have no doubt caused joy and rejoicing in the heart of many an aged brother or widow , as he or she recognised that the chance of securing one of the coveted prizes was brought so much nearer than would have been the case had tho vacancies only been of the average number .

Our readers will naturally realise that the splendid success of the Jubilee celebration of the Institution is in a great measure answerable for the satisfactory state of affairs now existing , for the totals just given include the twenty new annuities created in February last ( ten for each fund ) , in view of the probable success of the then coming Festival . That Festival is now numbered with the events of the past ; it succeeded far beyond the most sanguine expectations of that time , and there is the possibility that still further annuities may be created as a result . But even if no more additions are made we have shown that a large

proportion of the candidates on the list will succeed next week in securing a life annuity from the Institution , and will have cause to thank the membera of the Craft for the remainder of their days , not only for the support they have given to the Charity during the whole fifty years of its existence , but particularly on the occasion of its Jubilee celebration .

^ Looking ^ at the ballot papers , with a view of reviewing the claims or needs of the several candidates , we cannot help being struck at the outset by the evidences of severe competition and splendid organisation of voting power that exists in connection with this Institution . Heading tho list of male candidates is a brother who now makes his eleventh application ,

The Benevolent Institution Elections.

at an age of 72 years . He was admitted as a candidate as long back as November 1881 , and has probably lived on since that date buoyed up year after year with the hope of obtaining an annuity , yet never managing to get sufficient votes to secure it , although he has succeeded in polling altogether a

total of 958 , which he carries forward to his credit for Friday next . Following him is a brother who was approved nearly ten years back , but who , unfortunately , has only yet secured a total of 82 votes , and will probably remain on the list of candidates year after year until death puts an end to his sufferings , while much the same might be said of several of those immediately following . Although

in one or two cases—notably No . 10 , who has 2388 votes ; No . 12 , who has 2492 ; and No . 20 , who has 2220—there is every prospect of older candidates succeeding in securing an annuity at next week ' s poll . It is safe to say that the majority of the successes will be found among tho later applicants , and this leads us to ask whether brethren who recognise the claims of their fellows to be admitted as candidates for an annuity forget them immediately afterwards , and leave them to take their chance of being elected , by accident as it were , or die unprovided fnv 9

The Widows' list presents much the same appearance in this respect , there being at its head a twelfth application case , followed by others who have waited year after year in the hope of securing an annuity . No . 2 on tho list , Mrs . Timms , is an exception it is true , as she brings forward a record of 2527 votes from the nine previous elections in which she has taken part , and will probably next week secure the reward she has been so long waiting for .

It is very difficult to attempt anything like a review of the merits of the several candidates for the annuities of this Institution . The cases are similar in so far as they all seem to be deserving of the fullest consideration and the greatest amount of help it is possible to accord them . Nearly all can boast long association with Freemasonry , some of them having exceptionally long records of Masonic service , and the chief regret of any one who really

attempts to analyse their particular merits must be that it is not possible to admit all , —without any considerations of votes , elections , or other preliminary troubles and anxieties . This , unfortunately cannot , be done , and all we can hope for is , that the most deserving may receive such support as will eventually make them independent—at least so far as the annuities of the Benevolent Institution can render them .

Without desiring to make any invidious distinctions we take the opportunity of mentioning two cases on the Male list—brethren who have been known to us for very many years , and who are now forced to seek assistance from tho Benevolent Institution , through no fault of their own , but rather as the result of mis-