Consecration Of The Montgomerie Lodge, At Diss.

Suffolk , in an eloquent and humorous speech , convoying tho best of wishes for tho future of tho new Lodge . " Tho Prov . G . M . Lord Snffield , tho D . P . G . M . Major Penrice , and tho now Grand Officers Past and Present , " Avas the next toast proposed by tho W . M ., who complimented the Deputy Provincial Grand Master on tho manner in which tho Consecration ceremony had boon performed . Bro . Peurico

responded . The W . M . next proposed " The Brethren who assisted in tho Consecration , " specially acknowledging the services of Bro . tho Rev . C . Howes and Bro . J . Dunsford tlio acting Chaplain and D . O ., whoso health ho coupled Avith the toast . Bros . Howes and Dunsford responded , expressing their satisfaction at tho establishment of a

Lodgo in this district , and wishing it every prosperity . " 1 ho Visitors was associated with the names of Bro . W . A . Tysson-Amhurst Prov . G . S . W ., Bro . E . Orams Trov . G . J . W ., and Bro . Fanlell P . P . G . S . W . Avho severally responded . Tho health of the newly-installed WM was proposed by tho D . P . G . M . Bro . Major Penrico , and Avas drunk with tho accustomed honors . In responding , tho W . M . stated that ho had accepted tho position of tho First Master of tho Lodge from a

desire to advance Freemasonry , and becanso ho belioved that thero was every probability of the Lodge being a prosperous and happy one . —The W . M ., in proposing " The Lodge Officers , " Avith which ho coupled tho health of Bro . Montgomerie tho S . W ., stated that 110 years ago there was a Masonic Lodge at Diss called tho " Royal Alfred " Lodge , that they possessed the old warrant and the minute-book of tho Lodge , and also a copy of the sermon preached on the occasion . Thero wero some curious entries in the minute-book . On the 8 th of

ApriM 771 , it Avas resolved , "That the celebration of tho anniversary on Thnrsday next be conducted Avith proper spirit and decorum . " A guitica Avas to be given to a gamekeeper for a buck provided for tho Lodge , the host was to provide a good dinner at Is each—[ laughter ] —and the Secretary Avas to charge half-a-guinea for tho day ' s celebration . There were fines for tho Officers not attending

the Lodge in proper time , and among them the Secretary was lined a good turkey , the said turkey to be applied for tho benefit of the Lodge . [ Laughter . ] It appeared from the minute book that ono of the early Masters of that old Lodge Avas the owner of tho estate now the property of Bro . Montgomerie , under Avhose auspices this new Lodge had been established ; and an ancestor of the Secretary , Bro . Vyall , Avas

Deputy-Master . [ Applause . ]—I he toast Avas responded to by Bros . Montgomerie S . W ., Lyus J . W ., and Vyall Secretary . With the toast of " The Masters of Lodges , " the W . M . coupled tho health of Bro . Colonel Boileau W . M . 52 , who returned thanks in Avell-chosen terms . "The Prov . J . S . " and other toasts followed in tho course of a very

pleasant evening . We may add that the Lodgo has made a very promising commencement , sixteen subscribing members and fifteen initiates being proposed At the instance of Bro . Orams , Prov . G . J . W ., a collection Avas made to secure for the new Lodge a Governorship in one of the three great Masonic Charities ( 10 guineas ) , and amounted to £ 12 12 s 9 d .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

THE annual meeting of this Institution Avas held yesterday , at Freemasons' Tavern , Bro . Colonel Creaton in the chair . Bro Terry , Secretary , read the following

EEPOET . In presenting to the Governors and Subscribers a roport of the proceedings , the Committee of Management desire to express their thanks for the support Avhich has been extended to the Institution during the past year , resulting in the largest sum having been contributed to it since its formation .

The Annual Festival was held on the 13 th February last , under the presidency of his Grace the Duke of Manchester , K . P ., R . W . Prov . G . Master for Norths and Hunts , supported by a Board of Stewards 225 in number . The amount announced was £ 11 , 136 13 s Gd , Avith a few lists to come in , the total sum brought in being £ 11 , 333 Is . The Committee earnestly appreciate the kindness of his Grace in presiding , and the services so willingly rendered by the Stewards , and tender them their sincere thanks .

As candidates for election to-day , there are thirty men and forty-one Avitlows , tAvo candidates ( one male and one female ) having died since the A'oting papers Avere issued . The deaths dnring tbe past year have been fifteen men and eleven Avidows . The Committee , considering the large increase made last year iu the number placed as annuitants , did not feel themselves

justified in materially augmenting the number this year , more especially as there was a diminution in tho amount announced at the I ' estival . They have , therefore , determined to fill up the vacancies thus created , and make an addition to the number of Avidows already on tho Fund by electing five extra . There Avill then be on the Fund 115 men receiving £ 10 each , amounting to

£ o , b 00 , and iSo widows receiving £ 32 each , amounting to £ 4 , 322 . There are also 11 Avidows receiving half their late husbands ' annuities , amounting to £ 220 : so that the Institution will , after this Election , stand committed to an annual payment of £ 10 , 342 to annuitants . TheAvorking expenses will bo slightly over £ 2 , 000 . There will therefore have to be raised nearly £ 12 , 500 to maintain the Institution in its present state of usefulness .

The Committee are confident that this has but to be made known and the Craft Avill in the future , as it has in the past , render to the Institution their kind and generous support . They regret that during the past year they havo to report that , through the failure of Messrs . Willis , Percival and Co ., the bankers , there has been incurred a loss of £ 990 19 s lOd . They entertain , hoAvever , the hope that in . tljo end this will be entirely wado good . '

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

To tho Grand Lodgo tho Committee tender thoir thanks for the reneAA'ed donation of £ 70 voted to supply the residents of tho Institntion at Croydon with coals dnring tho winter months , a gift which is highly appreciated by tho recipients . To tho Supremo Grand Chapter they also tender their thanks for the vote of £ 1 , 000 Stock , viz ., £ 500 to the Male Fund , and £ 500

to the Female Fund . The Institution having during tho past year been thoroughly repaired , the Committee have much pleasure in stating it will requiro for somo time to come very little outlay to maintain it in its present condition .

To Henry J . Strong , Esq ., M . D ., the Honorary Surgoon , they tender their warmest thanks for his uuremitting care and attention to tho residents , which ho has continued to give for nearly seventeen years . Subjoined is a statement of tho receipts and expenditure during tho past year ending tho 31 st March 1878 , together with tho particulars of the permanent income of the Institution : —

MALE FUND . Balanco 31 st March 1 S 77 - - 3 , 521 2 10

RECEIWS . Donation from Grand Lodge - •500 0 0 Do . Grand Chapter - 100 0 0 Do . Lodges , Chapters , and Individuals - 4 , 908 10 11

Annnal Subscriptions - - - 1 , 342 16 6 Dividends ou Stock in the Government Funds - - - S 57 13 0 Rent of Field ( Five Quarters ) - 12 10 0 Interest on Cash at Call - - - 35 16 7 Cash withdraAvn from Call - - 2 , 000 0 0

9 , 757 7 o £ 13 , 278 9 10

DlSUfttsmiENTS . Annuitants 5 , 480 0 0 Salary of Secretary and Clerk - 290 0 0 Collector—Commission - . . 93 17 6

Messenger 5 0 0 Assistance in Office - - . 11 8 8 Secretary—Provincial Exponses . 59 16 11 Medicine for Residents at Asylum - 12 10 0 Warden , Gatekeeper , and Gardener ,

at Asylum .... 64 0 0 Taxes at do ... 32 7 6 Repairs and Furniture , & c . do . - 414 6 11 Law Charges , & o . at Asylum - - 6 16 6 Stationery , Printing , & c . - - 129 4 11 Advertisements - - - . 19 18 3 Postages , & c . including Expenses of

Election .... 138 2 0 Petty Expenses . . . . 10 18 7 Eutertainment of Stewards and Annuitants 28 9 2 Votes of thanks to Stewards- - 19 10 6 Gardening , & c , at Asylum - - 29 17 1 Powers of Attorney and Commission

on transferring stock , & o . - - 17 4 9 Gratuity to Secretary and Collector 30 0 0 Pension to late Gardener - - 6 10 0 Repaid Donation ( credited in error ) 5 5 0 Secretary for Petty Cash - . 25 0 0 Rent of Field ( Five Quarters ) - . 23 8 9 Rent , & c , of Office . . . 18 0 0 Deposited at Call .... 2 , 000 0 0

8 , 971 13 0 Purchase of £ 2000 , three per cent . Consols and Commission - . 1 , 920 0 0 10 891 13 o

Balance on this Account - £ 2 , 386 18 10 WIDOWS' FUND . Balance 31 st March 1877 - - 2 574 5 6

RECEIPTS . Donation from Grand Lodge - - 300 0 0 Do . Grand Chapter . 50 0 0 Do . Lodges , Chapters , and Individuals - - 5123 1 ( 5 7

, Annual Subscriptions - . . 1 , 305 4 6 Dividends on Stock in Government Fnnds - frw n 10

Rent of Field ( Five Quarters ) - - 12 10 0 Interest ou Cash at Call - . . 17 18 3 Cash withdrawn from Call - . 1 , 000 0 0 8 , 356 1 2

10 , 930 6 8 DlSUCRSEMENTS . Annuitants 4 ^ 01 0 0 Salary of Secretary and Clerk - 290 0 0

Collector , Commission - . - 104 5 9 Messenger 5 0 0 Assistance in Offico . . . 11 8 8 Secretary ^ Provincial Expends , 59 16 10