Royal National Life-Boat Institution

ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION

ON Tuesday , the 13 th inst ., the Annual General Meeting of the friends and supporters of tbe Royal National Life-boat Institution was held at Willis ' s Rooms , St . James's , London , His Grace the Duke of Northumberland P . O . D . C . L ., in the chair . There were present , amongst others , Edward Birkbeck , Esq . M . P ., Sir Edward Perrott , Bart ., Admiral Phillimore , L . T . Cavo Esq ., Tho Rt . Hon .

Earl Percy , M . P ., Colonel Fitzroy Clayton , George Palmer Esq ., Rev . F . L . Moysey , Capt . Herbert Perrott , Colonel Iredell , Eugene F . Noel Esq ., Rev . Theophilus Echalaz , R . M . Ballantyne Esq . Colonel E . H . Parkes , Ion T . Hamilton Esq ., M . P ., Admiral Kennedy C . B ., The Rt . Hon . Earl of Courtown , W . H . Lyall Esq ., M . A ., W . H . Harton Esq ., Yice-Admiral G . S . Hand , C . B ., Colonel Colville ,

Admiral Ward , Capt . The Hon . F . Maude , R . N ., Charles Clayton Esq ., and Admiral Sir Claude Buckle , K . C . B . The President , in opening the proceedings said , that during the past year the Institution had gone on increasing , not only in efficiency , but in publio favour , and he believed the report would rally justify the statement . The Institution was one that required

no advertisement , because every tempest that swept our shores was an advertisement of its operations . The noise of the storm proclaimed the utility of the Institution , and called to mind the efforts it had successfully made to meet the fury of the tempest . The Life-boat services during the year had been most severe , and many lives had been saved in the face of the most fearful danger .

He was sorry to say that Mr Thomas Chapman , the esteemed Chairman of the Institution , had , in consequence of ill-health , been oompelled to resign that office . So great had been the services rendered by that gentleman , that it wonld be a great responsibility for any one who followed him in that position ; yet he believed the choice had fallen on a gentleman who would fully justify the event ,

viz ., Mr . Edward Birkbeck , M . P . In conclusion , he might say that the support received from the publio during the year was in the same proportion as in previous years , and he must express his belief that there was no institution in England which had so deep a root in the hearts of the nation as the Royal National Life-boat Institution . He believed the sentiment would find an echo iu the

bosom of every one present . The annual report which was then read to the meeting , stated that since the last Annual Meeting nine new Life-boats had been placed on the coasts of the British Isles , there now being 273 Lifeboats under the management of the Society . During the past year its Life-boats had saved seven hundred andforty-one persons from wrecked

vessels , nearly the whole of them under perilous circumstances . The storms of the past winter had been very violent and destructive to life and property , but happily the Life-boat men had performed on those occasions most gallant services . The Life-boats had also helped to rescue 23 vessels from destruction . For those services , and for saving 143 lives by fishing boats and other means , 11 Silver

Medals and Clasps , 19 votes of thanks inscribed on vellum , and £ 3 , 134 had been granted . The number of lives saved since the establishment of the Institution , either by its Life-boats or by special exertions for whioh it had granted rewards , was 29 , 608 . The Committee cordially acknowledged the continued co-operation of the Local Branch Committees and their Honorary Secretaries , and

the Coast Guard , boatmen and fishermen . Many very liberal donations and legacies received during the past year were gratefully acknowledged . The total amount of the donations , subscriptions , and dividends received during that period had been .- £ 43 , 117 , and the expenditure had amounted to £ 36 , 746 . The items of receipt and expenditure were fully detailed in the financial statement laid before

the meeting , audited , as usual , by Mr , Lovelock , Public Accountant . The report concluded by stating that the organisation of the Institution was never more complete and active than at the present time ; and thus the Committee were prompted afresh , and with unshaken confidence , to appeal for continued and increasing snpport to an Institution whioh , with God ' s blessing , had been , and is productive

of such manifestly gratifying results in the cause of humanity , and whose work will ever be needed so long as British trade and commerce endure . The Earl of Courtown moved the adoption of the report . He adverted to the fact that on the Continent there were now various Life-boat Societies in existence on the model of the National

Lifeboat Institution of England , which had rendered good service in the preservation of life from shipwreck . Mr . R . M . Ballantyne seconded the resolution , and said that the moral influence of the Institution on the nation was very great , and was proved by the great variety of subscriptions which came in

from all parts . He believed the Society was the means of drawing out the good feelings and philanthropy of the nation in a remarkable degree , and he wished it every success . The resolution was adopted . Mr . Ion T . Hamilton , M . P ., moved the second resolution : —

"That this meeting , appreciating the invaluable services of the National Life-boat Institution in the philanthropic work of saving human lives , congratulates the Managing Committee on the continued prosperity and success which have rewarded their exertions , and which it trusts the Institution may long continue to merit and achieve . "

He sard that the storms on the coast of his native country , Ireland , were severe and dreadful , and many lives were saved there by the Society ' s boats . It was true they wero surrounded by the " melancholy ocean , " but they had as well the Life-boats with their gallant crews ever ready when danger arose , and that fact gave

them a confidence they could never otherwise enjoy . Capt . The Hon . Francis Mande , R . N ., seconded the resolution , and congratulated the Institution on its coutinned success and prosperity . Mr . F . J . Robinson moved , and Colonel Iredell seconded a hearty vote of thanks to the Committees of the Parent and Branch

Royal National Life-Boat Institution

Institutions for their continued earnest and active co-operation , which was responded to by Mr . Birkbeok , M . P ., who paid a tribute of deep respect and esteem to the late Chairman , Mr . Chapman , and said tbat it was a matter for congratulation that everything conneoted with the Life-boat work was in suoh a state of efficiency . The next resolution : —

" That this Meeting testifies afresh to the skill and indomitable spirit that continue to distinguish the Coxswains and Crews of tbe Life-boats , whose noble exertions were the means of saving no less than seven hundred and forty . one lives during the past year . " was moved by Admiral Phillimore , who pointed out that all the contributions of the publio and the appliances of the Institution

would be of no avail without the gallant crews to man the boats . The resolution was seconded by Colonel Fitzroy Clayton , and carried unanimously . On the motion of Mr . Edward Birkbeok , seconded by Sir Edward Perrott , Bart ., a cordial vote of thanks was given to the noble Chairman for presiding , and the proceedings terminated .

Obituary.

Obituary .

YI 7 E regret to announce the death , on Friday last , the ' * 9 th inst ., of R . W . Bro . Lord Sherborne , Past Prov . Grand Master , and Grand Superintendent of Gloucestershire . It is barely three years since his Lordship resigned

these offices , having held the P . G . Mastership for a period of twenty-four years , and that of P . G . Superintendent for twenty years . During the whole of that period he had taken an active part in the concerns of Freemasonry , and

had done all in his power to promote its welfare . Lord Sherborne was in the seventy-ninth year of his age at the time of his decease , and there is no doubt his memory will long be cherished , not only by his Gloucestershire brethren ,

but also by the whole English Fraternity . Our deceased brother was a liberal supporter of our Charities , and it was during his term of office as Prov . Grand Master that the Masonic Benevolent Association of Gloucestershire was

established . Bro . Alderman Sir Thomas White died suddenly on Thursday evening , of apoplexy , having been present at a dinner at the Mansion House , within the twenty-four hours

preceding his decease . Sir Thomas White , though we have not heard of his having taken an active part in Free-Masonry , was so highly respected by his brethren that certain among them founded a Lodge—No . 1826—and

named it after him , as the Sir Thomas White Lodge . He was also highl y respected by his brother magistrates of the City of London , as well as by those of the Counties of Essex and Middlesex . We offer to his family our respectful sympathy in the loss they have sustained .

A most useful pooket companion for members of the Masonio Order in this county has just been published under the authority of the P . G . Master , in the form of a calendar , for the Province of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight . The work has been compiled with great care by Brother G . Felton Lancaster P . M . P . P . G . Deacon , and Bro . J . Ridd Hayman P . M . P . G . Registrar . The calendar

contains the dates of the meetings of every Lodge , Chapter , and other Masonic bodies in the county , and is very neatly arranged . Some elaborate tables are inserted in the work , and will be found most valuable for purposes of reference . These contain lists of the officers of the various Lodges , Royal Arch Chapters , Mark Masters' Lodges , Royal Ark Mariners' Lodges , Rose Croix Chapters , and Knight

Templars Preceptories , with the names and addresses of the Secretaries , and days and places of meeting ; list of the Officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge , from 1833 to the present date , and of the Prov . Grand Chapter and P . G . Mark Masons' Lodge from the date of the establishment . There is also a list of local subscribers to the

Masonic Charities , with the number of votes to which each is entitled , in addition to othor interesting details concerning the Craft . The book is nicely bound in blue cloth , and every Freemason in the county ought to feel himself bound to purchase a copy . The profits on the sale will be handed to the Masonio Charities . —Portsmouth Times .

The Brothers Monico , London Lodge , No . 108 , after a successful career , extending over many years , during which they have catered to the satisfaction of numerous friends and the public , have just had their magnificent room redecorated and embellished . It may now be pronounced one of the finest rooms in the metropolis where luncheons and dinners can be obtained .