Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

THE Annual Meeting of the Subscribers to this Institution was held on Friday , the 17 th inst ., at the Freemasons' HaU , under the presidency of Bro . Capt . S . G . Homfray , Deputy Provincial Grand Master for

Monmouthshire . After preliminaries , the Report of the Auditors was read , agreed to , and ordered to be entered on the minutes . The following is the Annual Report of the Committee of Management : —

The Committee of Management have much pleasure in submitting a Eeport of its proceedings dnring the past year to the Governors and Subscribers of the Institution . The Annual Festival was held by direction of His Eoyal Highness the Prince of Wales , K . G ., Vice-Grand Patron and President , on

Wednesday , the 27 th February last , the Bight Honourable fche Earl of Euston , E . W . Provincial Grand Master of Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire being in the chair . The Board of Stewards which assisted his Lordship consisted of 361 brethren , who voluntarily gave their services on the occasion , and had the satisfaction of

raising amongst them the very considerable total of £ 13 , 508 4 s 6 d . This , though less by between £ 1 , 700 and £ 1 , 800 than was obtained at the Festival of 1888 , and probably also far less than many may have been led to expect from so numerous a Board of Stewards , must nevertheless , it is hoped , be regarded as a satisfactory result

considering how heavy had been the demands made upon the Craft during the previous year , * and , therefore , the Committee is mosfc anxious to record still more prominently than it has yefc had fche opportunity of doing its heartfelt thanks to the noble Chairman who presided with so muoh zeal and ability ; the Stewards , who exerted

themselves so energetically and with what , under the unfavourable conditions just mentioned , must be declared fco be such conspicuous success , as well as fco fche brethren and others who contributed with their accustomed generosity . The Committee has , likewise , to express its thanks to the United

Grand Lodge for the payment of the sum of £ 2 , 000 , whioh was voted in 1887 , in commemoration of the Jubilee Anniversary of the Queen ' s accession to the throne ; but which bad not been paid in consequence of the absence from England of the M . W . the Earl of Carnarvon , Pro Grand Master , and one of the Trustees of Grand Lodge . It

also expresses its gratitude to the same body for the renewal of its annnal [ contribution of £ 70 towards providing the inmates of the Asylum at Croydon with coal during the Winter months . At the election in May 1888 there were upon the funds of the Institution 409 Annuitants , namely , 180 men and 229 widows ; and

to-day there are 140 approved candidates , of whom 61 are men and 80 widows—the numbers as stated in the Voting Papers having been reduced by the death , since their issue , of one male and two female candidates . This is a more formidable nnmber than has ever been known before during the existence of the Institution , and the

Committee is greatly afraid that as matters stand at present there is every likelihood of its being increased - rather than diminished in future years . But the very frequent additions to the number of Annuities on the two Funds that have been made during the last few years have so largely increased the permanent expenditure , while the

falling off in the Festival receipts since 1887 has been so considerable , that with every desire to afford as much relief as possible fco the distressed candidates , the Committee consider it would involve too severe an increase of responsibility , and one for which no adequate justification could be offered , if it recommended any

augment ifcion of the numbers afc present on the Male and Widows' Fands . There will consequently be no additions made to the number of vacancies as declared in February , namely , 17 men ( 14 immediate and 3 deferred ) , and 10 women ( 7 immediate and 3 deferred ) , so far as the creation of any fresh Annuities is concerned ; but during the

period that has elapsed since then there have died 3 men and 3 widows , so that the number to be elected to-day will be 20 men and 17 widows . There will consequently be , as there was after the election of 1888 , 409 Annuitants provided for by the Institution , namely , 180 men each receiving £ 40 per annum , and 229 widows

each receiving £ 32 per annum , the total sum distributable amongst these old people being £ 14 , 526 . To this must be added a further sum of £ 400 , divisible under Law 9 of the Male Fund , among 20 widows of recently-deceased male Annuitants , so that tho expenditure in respect of Annuities will be £ 14 , 926 .

The Committee is desirous of expressing thus publicly its most cordial thanks to fche Honorary Surgeons of the Institution , Henry J . Strong , Esq ., M . D ., and E . Percy Middlemist , Esq ., for their kind and unremitting attention to those of the Annuitants , both resident and non-resident , who have been unfortunately compelled to seek their advice and assistance .

The Committee has much pleasure in announcing that it has purchased the narrow slip of land between the Asylnm grounds and the adjoining railway , over which' Mrs . Morlanrl , owner of the field rented by the Institntion , had retained the right of way—this was rendered imperative , as the field , since her death , has been sold for

building purposes , and the use of the right of way for the cartage of materials , & c , would have been most objectionable . The Committee has caused the necessary fences for the protection of the property thus newly acquired to be erected . The arrangements for fche purchase were entrusted to Bro . Eaynham W . Stewart , who has carried them out satisfactorily .

It has also tbe gratification of being able to state thafc the building at Croydon is in a satisfactory state of repair , and will only need that cleansing and other attention which is necessary to preserve it in that condition . The Audited Statement of Accounts for the year ending the 31 st March 1889 has beeu prepared with the utmost care , audhasnuder .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

gone a rigorous examination by the Audit Committee before being finally approved and passed , and the Committee is confident that the Governors and Subscribers , on inspecting ifc , will find ifc is no idle boasb on its part when ifc asserts that the funds of the Institution have been administered with fche most sornpulons care , and a due

regard to economy . In conclusion , the Committee desires to express its mosfc earnest hope that the general body of English Freemasons will be even more ready in the future than they have been in the past in supporting this valuable Institution , and more particularly as regards the present s

that they will take note of the increase this year in the number of candidates , and the natural tendency which all suoh increases exhibit towards further and still more considerable augmentation . It is greatly to be regretted that nothing can be done or recom .

mended by the Committee which is likely to assist this increase , for the time being at all events ; but the Committee is not without hope that the Craft , when it realises still more fully the difficulties of the situation , will make a more than usually vigorous effort to reduce the list of Candidates to more manageable proportions .

On motion made and duly seconded , this Report was ordered to be received , adopted , and entered on the minutes . The following brethren were elected on the Committee of Management : —Bros . Bennett , C . H . Driver , Alex . Forsyth , Dr . Jabez Hogg , L . Stean , Raynham W . Stewart , E . West ,

0 . L . Astley , and W . H . Makin . Bro . J . S . Cumberland was elected to fill the place of Bro . W . Hilton , whose death was announced at the meeting . Bro . W . Clarke Past Grand Pursuivant moved the re-election of Brother John A . Farnfield as Treasurer of the Institntion . The

motion was seconded and carried unanimously . Bros . A . H . Tattershall , J . J . Berry and Charles Kempton were elected Auditors , Bro . Charles Kempton to fill the place of Bro . John Newton , who retires , he having been elected on the House Committee . The election of 20 male and

13 female candidates was then proceeded with . On another page will be found the names of those successful . We append the list of unsuccessful candidates , and the number of votes each secured : — MALES .

No . on List Forward . Polled . Total . 27 Stevens , Joseph 835 1026 1861 23 Smith , Thomas 13 d 0 428 1768 48 Faucquez , Adolphe 1745

47 Chase , Thomas Hayfcer 1717 54 Truman , John Oabertus 1563 17 Windus , Arthur Edward 711 620 1361 24 Eobinson , Elmit 377 864 1241 31 Warr , James Richard 455 507 962

10 Cooper , George 541 343 881 59 Webb , Charles Gibbs 765 56 Philipe , Edmund Herbert de Khe 736 9 Mole , Alexander 614 62 676 1 Sari , Charles 500 146 616

50 Ware , George Eobert 630 21 Deller , Thomas 35 522 £ 57 33 Middleton , William 411 53 Hatt , Charles William 239 3 Nichol , Eobert 118 108 226

37 Cloves , William 177 32 Stevens , George — 143 143 4 McLean , William John 105 12 117 33 Higgs , Eichard 46 62 108 6 O'Kelly , William 80 13 93

29 Chapman , Thomas 22 64 86 2 Mnsham , John 44 16 60 15 Glover , Eichard 18 29 47 35 Horstead , James 8 39 47 13 Sellar , Alexander 22 16 38

7 Dale , Joseph Barker 23 12 35 12 Fox , George 12 5 17 19 Miller , Henry 3 4 7 51 Pitts , Eobert ( j 41 Winsor , Henry 5

16 Close , John 3 — 3 62 Nicholson , Samuel 2 43 Hall , William D . hown 1 52 Shepherd , William 1 39 Stourton , George William 42 Wright , Jonathan 55 Dickson , James . . 58 Gidley , Thomas

FEMALE . 36 Warren , Frances Elizabeth 1462 981 2443 27 Taylor , Eosetta Harriett 803 1593 2396 34 Cooke , Mary 1247 1100 2317 12 Coles , Emma 1271 829 2100 29 llansby , Alice 873 1087 19 H 0

5 Heppel , Mary 667 803 14 / 0 60 Baab , Jane Hannah 1305 33 Page , Hesse 536 727 1263 11 White , Mary 894 304 1198

79 Hellmore , Jessica Sophia 1132 40 Jones , Caroline Sarah 480 610 1090 64 Clements , Sarah IQ 70 14 Haskins , Emily E . 717 275 992