The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

willing horse to death , and in these hard times people could nofc dip ao deeply into their pockets as they might feel inclined to do . In proposing success tothe Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , Bro . Keyser said the Institution was first founded in 1842 , during the Grand Mastership of the

Duke of Sussex , for the purpose of granting annuities to aged and distressed Freemasons , and £ 400 was voted by Grand Lodge for that purpose . In 1843 the first election took place and fifteen brethren were chosen . In 1849 the benefits were extended to the widows of Freemasons , and

an amalgamation was effected wifch the Asylum at Croydon , affording a home for thirty-two inmates . Since then there have been 834 brethren and 550 widows elected annuitants , and at the last election 193 brethren were in receipts of sums amonnting to £ 7 , 720 , these

were 240 widows drawing £ 7 , 680 , and 23 widows receiving half their deceased husbands' annuities , which was equal to £ 460 , making a total of £ 15 , 860 for the year . Their only permanent income was £ 4 , 386 j being £ 2 , 262 for the men and £ 2 , 124 for the widows ;

yefc through the exertions of the brethren they were enabled to grant pensions of £ 40 and £ 32 respectively . As an instance of the ups and downs of life the Chairman mentioned that among their annuitants was a lady glad to receive their 14 s per week , tbe widow of a man who was

once worth three-quarters of a million . Another was once a schoolmaster in flourishing circumstances , but who , through ho fault of hia own , was reduced to poverty . There were hundreds of such sad cases , and he made an earnest appeal for assistance to carry on the good work .

They had only £ 50 , 000 invested , aud there were no less than 117 candidates for the next election , but only 25 vacancies , so that 92 of these poor people must in any case be disappointed . He trusted thafc in spite of the many difficulties they had to contend with the amount of

subscriptions would be made up to a respectable figure , so thafc . they would nofc be compelled to draw upon tbe invested funds , for he could assure those present that thoy were doing a great and good work by adding to the comfort and thereby prolonging the lives of their poorer members . Bro . Farnfield Treasurer of the Institution

having briefly replid , Brother James Terry then stepped forward to read the lists of the subscriptions collected by 220 Stewards , of whom 103 were Metropolitan , and 117 Provincial . Bedfordshire , 1 Steward , £ 47 5 s ; Berkshire , 5 Stewards , £ 265 5 s ; Buckinghamshire , 2 Stewards

£ 81 10 s ; Cambridgeshire , 1 Steward , £ 26 ; Devonshire , 1 Steward , £ 21 ; Durham , 1 Steward , £ 115 10 s ; Essex , 4 Stewards , £ 70 6 s 6 d ; Gloucestershire , 2 Stewards , £ 58 3 s 6 d ; Hampshire , 3 Stewards , £ 72 3 s 6 d ; Hereford , 1 Steward , £ 21 Is ; Kent , 8 Stewards , £ 418 4 s ; East

Lancashire , 3 Stewards , £ 42 , but last year this Province came forward with the magnificent sum of £ 3 , 000 ; West Lancashire , 12 Stewards , £ 195 10 s ; Middlesex , 2 Stewards , £ 2415 s 6 d ; Monmouth , 6 Stewards , £ 272 8 s 6 d ; Northampton and Huntingdon , 1 Steward , £ 13 13 s ;

Northumberland , 1 Steward , £ 94 10 s ; Oxford , 6 Stewards , £ 121 13 s 6 d ; Somerset was represented by Lord Dungarvan ' s personal subscription of £ 10 10 s ; Suffolk , 1 Steward , £ 64 ls ; Surrey , 4 Stewards , £ 131 14 s ; Sussex , 6 Stewards , £ 167 7 s ; Warwick , 2 Stewards ; £ 63 ; West

Yorkshire , 12 Stewards , £ 420 ; Guernsey , 1 Steward , £ 47 5 s ; Cyprus , 1 Steward , £ 10 10 s ; and finally the Province of Hertfordshire , £ 1 , 450 18 s , including five hundred guineas from Brother Koyser as previously stated . Brother Terry also mentioned that one lady , Mrs . James

Stephens , who was chosen to represent the Kilburn Lodge , had brought up a contribution of £ 340 , the largest amount ever collected by a lady Steward . The total amount of gubscriptions received waa £ 8 , 293 3 s Od , made up as

follows : —London , 103 Stewards , £ 4 , 041 , and * the Provinces , 117 Stewards , £ 4 , 252 3 s Od . The announcement waa received with loud and long continued cheers , and it was felt that the brethren must have worked hard

to have achieved such a satisfactory result . Bro . Thomas F . Halsey , M . P ., proposed the Chairman , aud remarked that the list of subscriptions just read was better than any words from him , but it gave him great pleasure as a Herts man to be present to welcome a Herts man in the chair .

All things being taken into consideration he thought they might well be proud of the result . He was old enough to remember when a subscription of £ 5 , 000 or £ 6 , 000 was considered quite an event , but they ( the Institutions ) were now so spoiled by prosperity and continued large donations thafc even their present amount was thought small . Bro .

The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

Keyser , in returning thanks , said he was actuated by many considerations in taking the chair that evening- * . In the first place he had been appointed as President of the Board of Stewards . Secondly , there had been a most unjustifiable delay in obtaining an eminent chairman ,

through several brethren not replying at once when applied to fill the post . Thirdly , he had absolute confidence in Bro . Terry , their most energetic Secretary , and the goodness of their cause . Ho heartily thanked the brethren who had supported him and had raised such a welcome

addition to their funds . Lord Ampthill proposed the other Masouic Charities , which waa acknowledged by Bro . F . R . W . Hedges for the Girls' School and by Bro . J . M . McLedd

for the Boys' School . The other toasts were the Stewards , proposed by Bro . Richard Eve and acknowledged by Bro . John Barnett Vice President , and the Ladies , for whom Bro . James Stephens responded .

The company then adjourned to the Masonic Temple , where an admirable entertainment was given , in which Miss Ethel Wilson , Miss Emily Davies , Miss Meredyth Elliott , Miss Emily Foxcroffc , Madame Edna Riga , and Bros . Arthur Strugnell , Herbert Schartau , Edward Dalzell , Jamea Brand , William Bradford , Turle Lee , took part .

The Old Masonians.

THE OLD MASONIANS .

THE sev-rmtb season of the above Association , up to the present has been a marked snecess . On Friday , tbe 17 th instant , was held the Fonrtb concert , which was largely attended , nearly 200 members and friends being present . The programme of the evening , whioh was of an high tone , was provided by the chairman , Mr . H . M .

Hare , one of the junior members , and - many thanks are due to him and the friends who supported him , in giving so much pleasure to tbe company assembled . Mr . David Davies , who kindly arranged the programme , ably presided at the piano , and it was mainly throngh bim that tha concert went off with such snecess . Bro . A . Church

sang " The Abbott" and * ' Fame tbe Fiddler " Bro . Thos . Sweeney " The wreck of the Hesperus " aud " The Toreador . " Mr . A . Slade gave great satisfaction with the cornet by playing " The Chorister " » . nd "Venetian Song . " Mr . W . G . Churcher kept the company in roars of laughter in his humorous sketches— " My Haircutter " and " The tin whistle player . " Brother W . Hiles Smith , in his rich alto

voice , rendered " Serenade " and " Mary' with great satisfaction . Mr . James Horncastle sang in good style " Brindisi" and "Come into the garden Maud ; " whilst Mr . Charles Capper kept the company spell-bound by whistling " I'll follow thee " and " Cleopatra Polka . " Mr . Walter Sweetman , the well known manipulator on the bones , gave much delight by playing "The British Patrol" and

" Stella Mia . " The humorous portion of the programme was well supplied by Mr . Will Edwards , who gave " The Waiter" and "The Grass Widower ; " and the indefatigable Bob Rae , who sang " Monte Carlo" and " The Whistling Coon , " and waslondly cheered on leaving to fulfil another engagement . Ifc was regretted that Mr . John Saunders and Mr . Ernest Richardson were unable to be present

through indisposition , and that time did not permit tha glee quartette taking their turn . The programmes were given by Black and White , and wore very tastefully printed . Having enjoyed a very pleasant evening , and after a vote of thanks to the Chairman and the artistes , the singing of the National Anthem closed the meeting . The third and last " Cinderella " of the season takes place on

Monday , 6 th March , at 7 * 30 . Tickets can bo obtained of tbe Hon . Sees ., Anderton '* - * Hotel ; or of Mr . W . J . Packer , 38 Pyrland Road , Highbury , and Mr . E . A . B . Gough , 30 William Street , W . C . Prices , single 3 s , double 5 s , including light refreshments . Ifc ii to bo hoped that many friends will support tbe Association on this occasion as heretofore .

Lodge of Instruction , No . 581 . —Since onr last notice of this Lodge , we have two meetings to report . The first , which waa held on 31 st January , was under the mastership of Bro . Geo . Parker W . M . Townley Parker Lodge , and he had a good attendance of members . Brother Parker raised Brother Leo Parker into the sublime degree , being assisted in the ceremony by Brother Birkbeck

and Brother Rathbone Fast Master , the first of whom presented the working tools , while the latter rendered tbe traditional history . The names of several brethren were submitted as anxious to become joining members . Tbe second meeting was held on the 9 th inst ., and Brother T . H . Soholfield W . M . Lodge of Integrity , 163 , oconpied the principal ohair , being supported by Brother Lingard as S . W .,

and Brother Alfred Hepworth as J . W . Brother Crone ( Architect Lodge ) , who undertook the part of candidate , was initiated by the acting W . M ., who also presented the working tools , while Brother Hepworth delivered the E . A . charge . A notice of motion , made by Brother Hebden and seconded by Brother Godfrey Higham P . M . P . P . G . D . D . C , " That the sum of five pounds be subscribed from the funds of the Lodge towards tbe East Lancashire Systematic

Masonic Educational and Benevolent Institution , " was carried unanimously . At this meeting Brother Higham , in the absence of Brother Warborton P . M ., acted as Preceptor . There were also present : —Bros . G . T . Lenard Treasm * er , A . Hebien Secretary , T . H . Soholfield , Lingard , A . Hepworth , Fred Hilton , W . D . Fryer , C . H . Beaver , George Parker , Lever , Chalmurs , Crone , Bamford , Dean , Mills , Guymer , Loebell , Brown , Shorrocks , Horsefield , Adshead , Birkbeck , Bamford , and E . Roberts ( FREEMASON ' S CHRONICIE ) .