The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

THE Yearly Meeting of the Subscribers to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution was held yesterday , tbe 16 th instant , in tbe Large Hal . of Freemasons ' Tavern . Bro . Colonel Creaton Past Grand Treasurer

presided , and there was a very large assemblage of brethren . Bro . James Terry , Secretary , read the following Report , which was unanimously adopted , and ordered to be received and entered on the minutes : —

EEPORT . The Committee of Management have much pleasure in submitting to the Governors and Subscribers a Report of their proceedings daring the past year : — The Annual Festival was held by direction of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , K .. _ ., & o ., the Grand Patron and President , on Tuesday , the 26 th of February last . The Grand Treasurer , John

Derby Allcroft , Esq ., had very kindly undertaken to preside on the occasion , but unfortunately at the last moment he was prevented by illness from carrying ont his intention , and his place waa filled by Sir John B . Monckton P . G . D . and President of the Board of General Purpose ? , who advocated with much ability and earnestness the

claims of the Institution , which , coupled with the staunch exertions of a Board of Stewards composed of three hundred brethren , produced the sum of £ 14 , 665 13 s—this being the largest amount ever contributed on a similar occasion in aid of its funds . To all concerned in bringing about a result so eminently gratifying the Committee respectfully tender their most grateful thanks .

At the election in May 1883 there were npon th © funds of the Institution in all 332 annuitants , namely 165 men and 167 widows , while to-day there are no less than 120 candidates , namely , 38 men and 82 widows , whose claims to be admitted into the Institution have been severally approved . With this lamentable fact before them , and the knowledge that only 22 vacancies—namely fourteen men and

eight widows—had occurred since the lasfc election , the Committee decided at their meeting in February last upon increasing the number of annuitants still further by placing ten additional widows npon the Fund , thus raising the aggregate on the two Funds to 342 . Since then there have died five men and five widows , so that the numbers to be elected to-day on the respective Funds would be nineteen men

and twenty-three widows . But having regard to the unprecedented success which attended the Festival held as already described in February , the Committee recommend to the Governors and Subscribers to elect five more men and five more widows , so that the full number now about to be elected will bo twenty-four men and twenty , eight widows , the aggregate number of annuitants being thus increased to 352 , towards whoso support the large annual sum of

£ 12 , 624 must be provided . There are likewise twenty-three widows to each of whom is assigned during the first three years of her widowhood a moiety of her late husband's annuity , the sum annually required for this further expenditure is £ 460 ; and it is believed that the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution stands almost , if not quite , alone in granting this boon without requiring these poor women to go through the trouble and anxiety of an election .

The Committee in thus announcing their readiness to take npon themselves tho responsibility of providing for this additional number of Annuitants , feel it to be their bounden duty to point out tbat the increased expenditure thus involved can only be met by a continuance on the part of the Craft of that generous support which they have so readily tendered in the past .

The Committee take this opportnnity of expressing their thanks to the Supreme Grand Chapter for its recent liberal donation of £ 500 , and the United Grand Lodge for its renewed vote of £ 70 , wherewith to provide the residents of the Institution at Croydon with coal during the -winter months .

They are also desirous of conveying their most cordial thanks to the ' Honorary Surgeons of the Institution , Henry John Strong , Esq ., M . D ., and R . Percy Middlemist , Esq ., for their great kindness in ministering to the ailments and relieving the sufferings of those Annnitants who have been under the necessity of seeking medical advice and assistance .

The Committee have much pleasure in reporting that the building afc Croydon is in a complete state of repair , nnd they trust thafc fche gas which is now being laid on in every room , will havo fche effect of still further promoting the comfort and convenience of the residents .

The Committee are naturally proud of tho high position held by the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution amongst similar Institutions in this country . They are convinced that the annual statement of accounts , here annexed , will be found to disclose a trnly wise and economical administration of the funds of the Charity , and they

appeal to the influential ana important body of the Governors and Subscribers , as well as to the whole Craffc of English Freemasonry , for a continuance of that full and unreserved confidence by which they have been heretofore sustained in the discharge of their somewhat arduous and most responsible duties .

In conclusion , the Committee express an earnest hope that as their previous appeals for snpport have never yefc been allowed to fall unheeded , so they may be justified in looking forward even to an increased measure of active sympathy from the Brethren , and be thereby enabled to reduce still further tho very large number of nn . successful candidates . They aro fully sensible of the paiu whioh

The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

mnst be generally felt that , in spite of the great increase whioh is being made to-day on the responsibilities of the Institution , there are still so many whose necessities mast continae unrelieved during at least a farther period of twelve months , and they trust the mere mention of their anxiety to effect this object will ensure its realiza . tion at an early period .

Subjoined is a statement of the receipts and expenditure daring the year ending the 31 st March 1884 , together with the particulars of the permanent income of the Institution .

MALE FUND . Balance 31 st March 1883 .... 3 , 34615 3 RECEIPTS . Donation from Graud Lodge - 800 0 0 Do . Grand Chapter - 100 0 0 Do . Lodges , Chapters , and

Individuals •6051 6 0 Annual Subscriptions - - 969 1 5 Dividends on Stock in the Govern .

ment Funds . - - 1117 15 8 Rent of Field ' . - - 9 0 0 Cash withdrawn from Call - •1250 0 0 Interest on Cash at Call ••16 8 6 10 , 313 11 7

£ 13 , 560 6 10 DISBURSEMENTS . Annuitants .... 6440 0 0 Salaries : Office - - 422 10 0 Collector—Commission - - 252 4 9

Messenger - - - •» 5 0 0 Provincial , & o . Expenses - - 67 14 1 Medicine for residents at Institution 12 10 0 Warden . - - 20 0 0 Pension to late Gardener and Gardener's

Salary - - ¦ 54 12 0 Hates and Taxes - - - 47 17 1 Repairs , Paintiug , & o . and goods supplied . - - •141 18 5 Stationery , Printing , & o . - - 185 17 10 Advertisements - - 15 17 1 Postages , i . c . including expenses of

Election - - . 196 15 5 Petty expenses - ••18 2 6 Entertainment of Stewards and Annnitants - - •51 18 1 Hire of Hall on day of Election - 2 12 6

Rent , & o Ofiice - - - 45 0 0 Do . of Field - - 16 8 8 Purchase of Stock - - 1033 15 0 Votes of thanks to Stewards - 19 11 10 Placed at Call - - - 1000 0 0 Premium on Collector ' s Guarantee

Policy - - - 3 15 0 Bankers' Charges - - •2 11 7 Coals for Residents - - 35 O 0 Redemption of Tithes - - 7 10 3 Architect's Commission - - 5 13 0 Assistance in Ofiice - - 9 9 0

10 , 114 14 1 Balance on this Pond - 3445 12 9 ' WIDOWS * FUND .

Balance 31 sfc March 1883 - - •3110 6 3 RECEIPTS . Donation from Grand Lodge . •800 0 0 Do Grand Chapter - 50 0 0 Do LodgesChaptersand

, , Individuals - 6 % 72 1 0 Annual Subscriptions - •1183 11 3 Dividends on Stock in the Govern .

ment Funds - - 725 10 0 Rent of Field . - - 9 0 0 Cash withdrawn from Call - 750 0 0 Interest on cash afc Call - - 9 17 0 10 , 199 19 4

£ 13 , 310 5 7 DISBURSEMENTS . Annuities - ' - - 5629 0 0 Salaries—Office - - - 422 10 0 Collector—Commission - - 256 3 0 Messenger - - - 5 0 0

Provincial Expenses - - 67 14 1 Medicine for Residents afc Institution 12 10 0 Matron - - - 62 0 0 Gardener ' s Salary - - - 28 12 0 Rates and Taxes . - - 47 17 3 ¦ Repairs , Painting ,. & c , and goods

supplied - - - 14118 5 Stationery , Printing , & c . - - 185 17 10 i Advertisements - - - 15 17 1 Postages , & c , including expenses of Election . •. 201 19 5