Candidates For The Benevolent Institution.

CANDIDATES FOR THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

THE annual general meeting of this Institution will be held on Friday , the 21 st May , on which occasion the usual election of brethren and widows as annuitants will take place . The applicants for the benefits of the

Institution are particularly numerous in connection with both branches of the Fund , there being fifty-eight brethren on the list for the Male branch , and seventy-one widows on that for the Female . At the present time the declared

vacancies are very few in comparison with the large number of eligible candidates , the actual figures being fifteen for the Male Fund and nine for the Female : in

both cases three of these vacancies being for deferred annuities , only available on the death of some of those already in receipt of grants from the funds of the Institution . It is all but certain that the number of vacancies to

be filled will be increased on the day of election , as deaths have occurred among the annuitants since the numbers to be elected were fixed , and the vacancies thus caused will

without doubt , be filled up as usual . These will not , however , make the prospects of the candidates very much

better , and under any circumstances we may expect to see about one hundred of the Old People who are at present applying for annuities sent despairingly away after the contest on the 21 st of next month , and then nothing can be done

for that large number of deserving candidates for another year . In that time , perhaps , many of these poor old people may find relief from their sorrows in death , while othersand we hope by far the majority—will be spared to take

part in another election , with , we trust , a much brighter result , so far as they are individually concerned . However , the next election is what concerns us at the present time , and for that contest , as we have said , the ballot

papers show a total of one hundred and twenty-nine candidates , with twenty-four vacancies , that is , nearly one annuity for each five who apply . It is not our intention to devote any considerable space to a seriatim review of the cases : we shall content ourselves with a notice of some

of the special points which strike us . Of the fifty-eight brethren who apply for the benefits of the Male Fund fourteen have taken part in previous elections , thus leaving forty-four who now appear for the

first tim 3 . Of the fourteen , two now make a fifth application , three a fourth , three a third , and six a second . Brother Charles Sari , No . 1 on the list , brings forward 75 votes from his four former attempts . He was initiated

in No . 35 , Cowes , Isle of Wight , in 1863 , and paid thereto until December 1879 . In 1876 he joined No . 551 , Ventnor , and continued a member of that Lodge for five years , making a total of 21 f years' payments to Grand Lodge

funds . He is now entirely without means , but we hope will ere . long receive such help as the Benevolent Institution is enabled to afford to those elected to its benefits . No . 2 , William Harrison , 73 years of age , is in a far better

position , but is still a long way off the coveted annuity . He has a total of 441 votes to his credit , the accumulation of four elections . He was initiated in No . 180 , London , in 1854 , he afterwards joined No . 733 , London , and has

altogether paid to Grand Lodge for fourteen years . He also is entirely without means . We should much like to see the names of these two brethren among the list of successful . We do not advocate any-

Candidates For The Benevolent Institution.

thing like a concession being made on their behalf , but we feel that five years is almost long enough to keep them in that agony of suspense which they must have both felt so long , in not knowing when to expect the annuity for which they have been declared eligible since the close of

lool in the one case , and the beginning or looa m the other . The fourth application cases are Francis Harper ( aged 64 ) , John Musham ( aged 46 , permanently paralyzed \ and Frederick Allies ( aged 81 ) . These threo brethren

have subscribed for 22 § , 5 | and 7 years respectively . Bro . Harper , who was initiated in No . 211 , London , brings forward 241 votes ; Brother Musham , initiated in No . 200 .

Scarborough , 8 votes ; and Brother Allies , initiated in No . 520 , Worcester , 500 votes . We hope it will not be necessary for either of these brethren to make a fifth application . Bros . John Robinson , Charles Leigh , and

Robert Nichol , who each come forward for the third time , have respectively 269 , 20 , and 94 votes to their credit . The former ( Brother Robinson ) was initiated in No . 123 , Richmond , Yorks , and subscribed for twelve years . He is now , at the age of 68 , incapable of following his business ,

having been deprived of the use of his left side through a paralytic stroke . Brother Leigh , an initiate of No . 244 , Jersey , and a joining member of No . 1003 , also meeting at Jersey , is accredited with 24 y years' payments . He is 66

years of age and , being afflicted with rheumatic gout , is unable to gain a livelihood . Brother Nichol , an initiate of No . 481 , Newcastle on Tyne , is permanently incapacitated from following any employment , and is thus compelled , at

the comparatively early age of forty-five , to ask the help of his brother Masons . Will they refuse to grant it ? Brother W . Nixon polled 37 votes at last year ' s election . He was initiated in No . 412 , Longtown , in 1853 , and paid

thereto for thirty years . He is now in his seventy-sixth year , and through age , infirmity , and loss of trade , is reduced to a state of poverty , and quite unable to earn his living . Brother W . J . McLean brings forward 50 votes .

He was initiated in No . 248 , Brixham , in 1852 , and through that Lodge and No . 328 , Torquay , which he subsequently joined , he has subscribed to the funds of Grand Lodge for 31 T years . He is dependent on a sister

for support . Brother H . L . Hogg , aged 74 , was initiated in No . 57 , Hull , in 1849 , and remaiued a member of that Lodge for 29 years . He only secured 9 votes last year , and is at present dependent upon a daughter . Brother R . H . Fry has 15 votes to his credit . He was initiated in 1843

m No . 284 , Warwick ; he afterwards joined No . 502 , Rugby , and in the two Lodges he subscribed to the funds of Masonry for thirteen years . He met with an accident in 1880 , and has been confined to his home ever since .

Brother John Rowe , an initiate of No . 202 , Devonport , appears to be in better circumstances than any of the preceding , so far as income is concerned , for he has a pension of £ 32 per annum . He was a subscriber to his Lodge for

thirty-three years , but is at present unable to do anythinw for his maintenance . Brother Henry Hatchfortb , aged 72 years , was initiated in 395 , Leamington , in 1847 , and con . tinned a member of that Lodge for 13 j years . He is now

without means , except what he earns as a Tyler . He brings forward 257 votes from last year ' s election . The whole of the remaining cases are new to the present list , and are , we

are sure , one and all of them deserving of any help it is possible for the Craft to afford . There is not one but has had to undergo a severe examination ere his application was admitted , and not one but has felt the misery of