Committee Meeting Of The Benevolent Institution.

COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

THE Committee of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution met ou Wednesday , at Freemasons' Hall . Tho brethren present Avero Colonel Creaton ( in tho Chair ) , Samuel Rawson , Hyde Pullou , A . n . Tattershall , J . A . Famfield , Charles A . Hill , John Newton , James Brett , Benjamin Head , Edgar Bowyer , Charles A . Cottr-brnuo , Capt . Nath . G . Philips , Joseph Smith , W . Hilton , A . J . Duff Filer ,

Thomas W . White , William Stephens , Thomas Cubitt , W . F . Nettleship , and the Secretary , Bro . James Terry . Respecting tho financial position of the Institution and Messrs . Willis , Porcival and Co ., Bro . Terry said that on tho 1 st January the balance at the bankers was £ 1 , 243 Is 7 d . Since that time tho bankers had received dividends for tho Institution amounting to £ 347 10 s lOd ; subscriptions £ 2 ;

from Grand Chapter £ 37 10 s ; donations and subscriptions £ 829 Gs 6 d , or a total of £ 2 ,-101 8 s lid . Against this , expended £ 1 , 478 0 s -id ( less cheques drawn , but now iu the office , £ 7 S 12 s ); interest on £ 3 , 000 to 28 th February £ 10 10 s ; or a total indebtedness to tho Institution of £ 1 , 072 10 s 7 d . An account had now been opened with tho London and Westminster Bank , Bloomsbury Branch , for the

confirmation of which the authority of the Committee would bo required , and also an authority to draw cheques for £ 1 , 010 for tho Widows ' annuities . Authority Avas then given for theso two objects . Tho report of Bro . Norris , tho Warden of tho Asylum at Croydon , and the report of tho House Committeo , wore next road , tho former of which informed the Committeo of the visit of the Committee to the

Institution on the 28 th February , and of tho presentation by Bro . Pratt of a marble bust of the late Earl of Zetland , and a number of books ; and the latter of tho payment of the annuities , tho pensioning of tho lato gardonor , the efficient state of repair of tho Institution , and tho greatly improved appearance of the rooms of tho residents , Avhich Avas attributable iu a great degreo to the increased

payments made to tho inmates and the visits of the Committoo , which inspired the annuitants with a greater amount of pride in their homes . Bro . Terry said ho had paid in £ 3 , 000 to the London and Westminster Bank , and a further sum of £ 1 , 000 would bo paid in noxt day . A suggestion had been mado to appeal to the Craft on behalf of tho Benovolont Institution and the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys ,

to make up tho loss occasioned by the stoppage of Messrs . Willis , Percival and Co ., and a brother had called at his office and given a cheque for £ 100 towards the amount . Also , Bro . Gordon Robins , of tho University Lodge , fearing that tho institution might be inconvenienced , had " given his cheque for £ 100 . The chairman thought the appeal might be postponed for thrco months , and Bro . Farnfiold

intimated that an appeal at the present moment might prejudicially affect tho Festivals of tho two other Institutions . Bro . Terry said there was nothing like appealing to the brethren while their feeling Avas warm on the subject ; and , moreover , that iu three months tho Lodges would not bo meeting again till October . Tho matter was then ordered to stand over for a month , by which timo the

meeting of Messrs . Willis aud Co . ' s creditors would probably be held . It was then resolved to invite the Stewards of the late Festival to visit the Institution , and tho committee then presented Bro . Terry with £ 50 , for his great exertions at tho last two Festivals of the Institution , Avhich had resulted in the raising of £ 24 , 000 . The committee then adjourned .

The Installation Meeting Of The Kent Lodge, No. 15.

THE INSTALLATION MEETING OF THE KENT LODGE , No . 15 .

THE annual festival of this Lodge , upon ivhich occasion tbo installation of the W . M . and appointment of Officers for the year invariibly takes place , was held at Freemasons' Hotel , Great Queenstreet , on the 13 th inst . Bro . S . Wharman W . M ., Avith the

assistance of his Wardens and subordinates , opened the Lodge , aud tho minutes of the last regular meeting wero confirmed . Mr . Wm . Hnrst presented liimself as a candidate seeking tho mysteries of Masonic light , and having been properly vouched for , and the ballot

proving in his favour , was introduced in ancient form and instructed iu tho initiatory step of tho Order . The W . M . thou vacated the chair iu favour of Bro . James Pinder P . M ., Avho , after delivering a prefatory address relative to tho duties to bo observed iu the selection of a chief , and the qnalificitions which aro essential to the acceptance of the office , inquired whether all the requisite

regulations had been duly complied Avith . Upon Avhich Bro . Past Master Dukes presented Bro . John Henry Cambridge S . W ., upon whom the nnanimons suffrages of tho brethren had fallen , as tho W . M . elect , to receive from the presiding Master tho benefit of installation . Bro . Binder at onco proceeded with tho ceremony , which ho performed with much sterling ability , considerable talent beitm-

lnanifested in the delivery of tho several addresses , Avhich ho did iu a manner at once unaffected and yet most impressively . That the high quality of his work was thoroughly appreciated was shown by the spontaneous vote of thanks proposed by Bro . Past Master Barlow , and carried with acclamation . The newly installed Master next invested his Officers as fellow : —Bros . S . Wharman I . P . M ., C .

Ginman S . W ., C . E . Ball J . W ., T . Slceman P . M . Treas ., W . P . Dukes P . M . Sec , W . Levy S . D ., S . P . Lipscombe J . D ., E . A . Wells I . G . " , E . P . Barlow P . M . Steward , A . Posener D . C , Beckett Tyler . The W . M . then placed upon tho breast of Bro . Wharman a " handsome gold P . M . ' s jewel , in recognition of his services during the past vear

for which that Brother expressed his sincere thanks . Some minor unimportant btii-ir-ess having been disposed of , tho brethren repaired to the " Holborn , " where a bauqiif t was served in the hn ^ e room ( whioh might not inaptly be designated as the Hall of Minors ) , foi three sides were completely covered with brilliant relkctors in richly

The Installation Meeting Of The Kent Lodge, No. 15.

gilt frames ) , during tho progress of which thero issued sweet strains of music emanating from a band stationed in an adjacent apartment . Dessert followed , after which tho proceedings wero of tho nsnal character , with tho salutary difference that tho speakers carefully avoided any attempt at highly-flown eloquence , in which so many miserably fail , and in most cases ignominiously break down ,

but contented themselves with few Avords , which wore not only brief , bnt to tho point . Bro . Wharman , in proposing the health of tho W . M ., opined that a moro A \* orthy and ablo man and Mason could not havo been selected to occupy tho chair ; to Avhich Bro . Cambridge responded . He was deeply sensible of tho importance of the position of Master of the Kent Lodgo . Ho had always devoted himself

to the study of tho duties of tho varions offices ho had held , and it would be found that whatever work might come before him , ho wonld perform it to the best of his ability , especially as ho Avas certain to receive tho support of tho Past Masters and brethren . For the Visitors , who received a sincere and hearty welcome , the Rev . Bro . BevkoAvitz replied . He was at a loss to concei \* e Avhy the duty of

responding was cast upon him , seeing that there Avere present so many distinguished brethren who were much further advanced iu the Craft than himself . Ho had visited tho Lodgo solely for tho purpose of instruction and enjoyment , and in that ho had succeeded up to tho present moment , until the W . M . thought fit to mar his pleasure by calling upon him to speak ou behalf of the Visitors . However , it Avas

a wcll-knoAvn maxim in Masonry that tho Worshipful Master could not err , aud since he had dono him the honour to solect him as spokesman , ho would do so in a very few words . Ho must first refer to tho remarkably able manner in Avhich Bro . Pinder had performed tho ceremony of installation . As an old Past Master , ho Avas bound to say that in all his experience ho had never Avitnessed

tho AA-ork done Avith such completeness . Nor could ho omit to mention tho satisfaction ho experienced in listening to the remarkable manner in which Bro . Wharman performed the ceremony of initiation ; it struck him as nearly marvellous that a foreigner , possessing so feAV educational advantages , should successfully undertake so onerous a task . As for the present W . M . he entered upon his novel duties Avith

self-possession , as if he had been used to such positions all his life . Bro . BorkoAvitz concluded by expressing thanks on behalf of the Visitors and himself for their fraternal reception . Bros . Reed , Maidwell , SouthAvood and Gottheil were each loudly called upon to say a few words , a request Avith with they reluctantly complied . The W . M . then announced that between the last and present meeting

application had been made to him to interest himself in carrying out the desire of a number of brethren AA'ho wished to testify in some sub . sfantial manner to the esteem in Avhich they held tho retiring W . M . Ho readily acceded to the request , and it now became hi 3 ' pleasing duty to present a handsome testimonial to Bro . Wharman j may ho live many years , in tho enjoyment of every blessing , and

when summoned from this sublunary abode to the Grand Lodgo above may he hand to posterity this mark of respect , from generation to generation . The testimonial consisted of an elegant silver salver , elaborately chased , weighing nearly eighty ounces , upon which appeared the following inscription : " Presented to Bro . Simon Wharman by n majority of tho brethren of the Kent Lodge , No . 15 , iu

recognition of tho ability and energy displayed during his term of office as W . M ., 13 th March 1878 , J . II . Cambridge W . M . " Up to this timo tho harmony of tho meeting floAved evenly and serenely , but tho presentation Avas tho signal for a P . M ., Avho had not shoAvn himself in tho Lodge for some years , cither from eccoutricit ) , jealousy , or perchance through partaking too freely and incautiously

of an abundance of delicacies abnormal to his constitution , who thought proper to create a disturbance by incessant and pertinacions inter , ruption , evincing a determination not to allow speech to tho W . M . The vehement and A-ociferons cheering of the brethren , Avho one aud all rallied in support of tho W . M ., soon determined the matter , and Bro . Wharman proceeded to thank tho brethren for this most

nnoxpected mark of their kindness , and in the course of his remarks gavo the refractory Past Master a lesson ho Avill not easily forget . The health of the Officers and the Tyler ' s toast ended the proceedings . Bros . Wells , W . Barlow , Rudderforth , and tho neAvly-initiated Bro . Hurst entertained the company Avith some excellent songs . The Visitors were—Bros . Groome W . M . Finsbury 861 , Nelson Reed W . M .

1671 , Maidwell W . M . Egyptian 27 , Southwood W . M . Hervey 1260 , Gottheil P . M . Tranquillity 185 , Rev . Rerkowitz P . M . Joppa 188 , Lyon S . W . Upton , Preston " J . W . Finsbury 861 , Rudderforth J . W . 9 , Eickwood J . W . Lion and Lamb , J . Pigo J . D . 1228 , Kimptou W . S . * 1601 , Rowley 174 , Dorey Royal Alfred , Coleman Industry , W . Barlow 77 , Littlo Gnelph .

The " Record " On Freemasonry

THE " RECORD " ON FREEMASONRY

FROM " THE RECORD " or 8 TII MAK CH . TT is not often that the mysteries of Freemasonry are such as to A attract public attention . There was a time during the middleages when tho members of the Order claimed for it an antiquity amounting to the marvellous . By some it was alleged to have been introduced into Egypt by Mizraim grandson of the patriarch Noah

, ; by others its origin was traced to the building of Solomon ' s Temple ; while the secrecy of its proceedings suggested a Pagan connexion with tho Elcusiiiian mysteries ; and Hales asserted that these were borrowed from the JeAvish Feast of Tabernacles . It is , however , certain that in rather more modern times , Freoinnsonrv Avas

introduced into England tOAvnrds the end of tho seventh century , nnd that the Grand Lodgo of York dated its origin from tho year 926 . Tho members of the fraternity are believed to have contributed materially to tho creation of the bountiful minsters nnd cathedrals which adorn the history of ; he u iddie age « . In the twelfth century these Masons :