Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

npHE annual meeting of the supporters of the Royal JL Masonic Benevolent Institution was held on Friday , the 18 th instant , in the Large Hali of Freemasons' Tavern . Brother Colonel Creaton , Past Grand Treasurer , presided . The following report , which was read by Brother James

Terry , Secretary , was , on the motion of Brother W . Clarke P . G . P ., seconded by Brother F . Adlard P . M . No . 7 , adopted , and ordered to be received and entered on the minntes : —

REPORT . " In submitting to the notice of the Governors and Subscribers the position of the Institntion , the Committee consider that it will be eminently satisfactory to all interested ! in its welfare . His Boyal Highness the Prince of Wales , K . G ., & o ., & c , the Patron and President , appointed the Annnal Festival to take place upon the

28 th February last , and the Committes were fortunate in securing as its President General Brownrigg , O . B ., the R . W . Provincial Grand Master for Surrey ; a numerous and influential Board of Stewards was formed—276 in number—who , with united and untiring energy , raised a sum of £ 13 , 250 , and to them the Committee tender their thanks for their able and zealous services in realizing so large an amount .

At the last election there were upon the funds 315 Annuitants , since reduced by the decease of 12 men and 5 widows . The Committee , appreciating the efforts made at the recent Festival , have determined , in view of the large list of candidates ( 120 ) , not only to

fill up the vacancies thus created , bnt also to place upon the list of Annuitants 8 men and 7 widows in addition to those previously elected , so that the total number of recipients will now be 330 , exclusive of the 19 widows in receipt of half their late husband ' s annuity .

The alteration effected in the Laws , whereby six Annuitants were placed upon a deferred list , to fill vacancies occurring during the year has been of the most beneficial character , and only to be appreciated

to its fullest extent by those who have been enabled to derive the benefit accruing from having the annuity paid them so soon ns a vacancy occurred , instead of having to wait until this Election , with the attendant anxiety of the ballot .

The amount required annually to meet these demands will be £ 12 , 236 , without making any allowance for the usual and necessary working expenses . The liberality of Grand Lodge in having increased its Annual

Grant to £ 1 , 600 , the Committee gracefully acknowledge , as it materially assists them in endeavouring to cope with the daily needs of the Institution . They also tender their thanks for tbe grant of £ 70 for providing the residents of the Institution with coals during the winter season .

To the honorary surgeons they again tender their fraternal thanks ; to Henry John Strong , Esq ., M . D ., for tho more than solicitous interest displayed by him for the comfort of the residents at Croydon , and to E . Percy Middlemist , Esq ., for his kindness in administering to the wants and ailments of those resident in London .

The Committee are pleased to say that the repairs and alterations of the building at Croydon are nearly completed , and that the various dwellings are in a thorough and sound condition . "Whilst thanking and congratulating those brethren who , by their donations and subscriptions , have so materially assisted fche

Committee from time to time in the heavy responsibility under which thev labour in carrying on the Institution , they would desire to

impress upon those who have not yet accorded it their support tbe great desirability of their so doing , as it is only by combined efforts that the work which has been carried on for over forty years can be gradually extended , so that the fullest advantages may be conferred upon the ever increasing list of applicants of both sexes .

Subjoined is a statement of the receipts and expenditure during the year ending the 31 st March 1883 , together with the particulars of the permanent income of fche Institution .

MALE FUND . Balance 31 st March 1882 .... 3 , 077 16 1

RECEIPTS . Donation from Grand Lodge - 725 0 0 Do Grand Chapter - 100 0 0 Do Lodges , Chapters and individuals - 4978 11 0

Annnal Subscriptions - . 1138 8 6 Dividends on Stock in the Government funds - - - 1094 19 6

Rent of field - - - 9 0 0 Cash withdrawn from call - - 1250 0 0 Interest on cash at call - - 14 11 3 9 , 310 10 3 £ 12 , 388 6 4

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

DlSBUKSEMENTS . Annuitants .... 6120 0 0 Salaries—Office - - . 417 10 0 Collector—Commission - - 213 9 0

Messenger - - . . 5 0 0 Provincial , & o . Expenses - - 64 14 5 Medicine for residents at Institntion 12 10 0 Warden - . . 20 0 0 Pension to late Gardener , and Gardener ' s

Salary - . . 54 12 0 Rates and Taxes - - - 47 2 4 Repairs , Painting , & o ., and goods supplied - . - 155 13 11 Stationery , Printing , & c . . - 168 14 0 Advertisements - . . 16 2 7 Postages , & c , including expenses of

election . - . 181 13 2 Petty expenses - - - 16 1 2 Entertainment of Stewards and Annuitants - - . 50 6 5

Hire of Hall on day of election - 2 12 6 Rent , & c—Office - - . 45 0 0 Do Field - . - 16 18 9 Placed at Call . . . 1500 0 0 Premium on Collector ' s Guarantee

Policy . . . 3 15 0 Bankers' Charges - - - 114 Gratuities . . . . 12 10 0 Law Charges - - - 1 19 0 Architect ' s Commission - - 6 18 6 Assistance in Office - - 7 7 0

9 , 141 11 1 Balance on this Fund - £ 3 , 246 15 3 WIDOWS' FUND . Balance 31 sfc March 1882 .... l 651 17 3

RECEIPTS . Donation from Grand Lodge - 675 0 0 Do Grand Chapter - 50 0 0 Do Lodges , Chapters , and

Individuals - 5636 18 6 Annual Subscriptions . - 1134 10 6 Dividends on Stock in the Government Funds - - 703 19 11

Rent of Field - - - 9 0 0 Cash withdrawn from Call - - 1250 0 0 Interest on cash at Call - - 14 11 2 9 , 474 0 1

£ 11 , 126 17 4 DISBURSEMENTS . Annuitants .... 5407 0 0 Salaries—Office - - 417 10 0 Collector—Commission - . 260 19 6

Messenger - . . 5 0 0 Provincial Expenses - - 64 14 5 Medicine for residents at Institution 12 10 0 Matron - - - 62 0 0 Pension to late Gardener , and

Gardener ' s Salary - - 28 12 0 Rates and Taxes - - - 47 2 4 Repairs , Painting , & c , and goods supplied - - - 155 13 9 Stationery , Printing , & c . - - 170 16 h Advertisements - - - 16 2 8 Postages , & c , including expenses of

election - . - 180 1 6 Petty expenses - - . 14 0 5 Entertainment of Stewards and Annuitants - - - 50 6 4

Hire of Hall on day of election - 2 12 6 Rent , Ac—Office . - - 45 0 0 Do Field . . . 16 18 8 Placed at call - - - 1000 0 0 Premium on Collector ' s Guarantee

Policy - - - 3 15 0 Bankers' charges - . . Ill Gratuities - - - 37 10 0 Law charges - - - 1 19 0 Architect ' s Commission - . 6 18 6 Assistance in Office - - 7 7 0

8 , 015 11 1 Balance on this Fund . - £ 3 , 110 6 3 SUSTENTATION OF BUILDING .

Balance 31 st March 1882 - 59 13 7 Dividends on Stock in Government Funds ... 29 3 9 88 17 4

DlSBUKSEMENTS . Repairs - - - . . . . 29 1 ° Balance on this Fund - £ 59 16 4 Total Balance as per Auditors' Report £ 6 , 416 17 10