Masons And The Jubilee.

MASONS AND THE JUBILEE .

A PROPOSITION will be submitted to Grand Lodge , at the Quarterly Communication on the 2 nd June next , to vote a total of 8 , 000 guineas in commemoration of the completion of the sixtieth year of Her Majesty ' s reign , the amount to be equally divided , in sums of 2 , 000 guineas each ,

between the Prince of Wales Hospital Fund and the three Masonic Institutions . We can anticipate nothing but a hearty and unanimous response to the suggested vote , which will not only be the means of marking the gratification of the Graft ,

but will also be of material service to most deserving funds , and , in conjunction with the amounts to be disbributed as the result of the Albert Hall meeting will make no meagre contribution from the Craftsmen of England on this auspicious occasion .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

SELDOM has an election given stronger evidence of the almost universal practice that now exists of combination among voters in different parts of the country , than was the case yesterday , when Annuitants were elected on to the two

Funds of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . No less than twenty-nine out of the forty-four of the vacancies then filled were secured by first application cases , while if we go a step further we find that nineteen out of the

twentythree elected men , and twenty of the twenty-one elected Widows were new to this or last year ' s list of candidates . Thus we find that of the seventeen older candidates among

the men only four were successful , while of the nineteen Widows who now made their third ( or more ) application , only one was elected .

Not only were the older candidates unsuccessful , but m many cases the few votes recorded on their behalf showed they were virtually neglected , no less than twenty-eight of the " brought forward" cases having less than a hundred votes

each recorded on their behalf . This seems to be particularly hard , as it is really unkind to raise the hopes of these old people by putting them forward as candidates for the Institution , and afterwards leaving them to shift for themselves , although

there may be a satisfactory answer to the charge of indifference that seems to be justifiable here . There is , however , one ray of hope for these old people in this year of general rejoicing and large-hearted benevolence , the Committee of the Institution

having decided to present a sum of five pounds to each of the unsuccessful candidates , to mark the completion of the 60 th year of Her Majesty ' s reign ; while the fact that £ 2 , 000 may be expected from Grand Lodge , as the Craft ' s official mark of

gratification and a further £ 1 , 500 or so , as the share of the result of the Albert Hall meeting will so far enrich the funds of this Institution as to lead to a probable extension in the

number of annuities at no very distant date . After the declaration of the poll Bro ,. Terry , Secretary of the Institution , stated that the sum of £ 7 was available

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

for Bro . Thomas Lord , £ 6 7 s for Bro . Richard Day , and £ 5 for Bro . Henry Wilson , as the three highest unsuccessful cases among the Brethren , and similiarly £ 7 was given to

Mrs . Harriet Hester , £ 6 7 s to Mrs . Sarah Matilda Hodges , and £ 5 to Mrs . Matilda Nottelle , they heading the unsuccessful list on the Widows' side . The first two of these amounts

for each branch are given from the John Hervey Benefaction Fund , the two five pound notes coming from the Emulation Lodge of Improvement . That all are appreciated by the recipients goes without saying ; we imagine these grants are

among the most acceptable of the many given year by year through the medium of the Craft , as they go a certain distance towards lightening the disappointment that follows the failure to secure a place among the Annuitants .

It is perhaps early yet to talk of what is best for the Benevolent Institution to do in recognition of the special sums it will this year receive , as mentioned above , but we think there is a pretty general feeling that an extension

of the number of Annuitants will be possible , and will be proposed in due course . There is much fco be said in favour of an addition on the lines of the annuities now

in force , that is to say , £ 40 each for fche Male Annuitants and £ 32 each for the Widows , but as a counter proposition may be urged the desirability of creating twice fche number of new pensions , at half those amounts .

It is proverbial that half a loaf is better than no bread , and when there are so many candidates ( approved as worthy of the assistance of the Institution , after complying with what must be described as very stringent regulations ) sent back year

after year it seems thafc some arrangement thafc would allow of a wider distribution of the benefits would meet with approval . Besides this , we may point to the different local funds started in the Provinces , where smaller pensions are provided and fully

appreciated , and ask if it would not be wise to take them as an expression of public opinion and base any extension of the Benevolent Institution on the lines which appear to give so much satisfaction locally ?

The Boys School Festival.

THE BOYS SCHOOL FESTIVAL .

WE are very pleased to hear that the Province of Cumberland and Westmorland is taking active steps to worthily support its chief as Chairman for the Anniversary Festival of the Boys School . At the annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge last week , the handsome

sum of five hundred guineas was voted in support of the Provincial Grand Master's presidency , while a further grant of fifty guineas from the Provincial Grand Chapter was made the same day for the like purpose . Such liberality has

only once been equalled—by West Lancashire , in 1891 , but in that case the Province comprised 104 Lodges , whereas Cumberland and Westmorland has but 21 . This augurs well for the total to be looked for from the north of England at the coming celebration .