Benevolent Institution Lodge Votes.

BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION LODGE VOTES .

IT is somewhat difficult for the ordinary observer to find any good and sufficient reason for the change it is proposed to make in regard to Law 18 of the Eoyal Masonic Benevolent Institution , which provides for votes being given

to each Lodge and Chapter in return for the grants annually made by the governing bodies of the two branches of English Freemasonry , but no doubt different points will be raised and freely discussed at the Special General Meeting of the Institution summoned for Tuesday next , to consider the matter .

The first and most tangible advantage the Institution is likely to derive from the suggested change is a saving of expense , in the form of voting papers and postage , for whereas now two papers have to be sent to each Lodge and Chapter throughout

the Kingdom , by the new rule the number will be reduced to within one hundred , fifty for each branch , but this consideration would hardly be deemed sufficient in itself to call for a Special meeting of the Institution , so we must look elsewhere for a motive .

We are aware that Lodges have been known to give the preference in their Charity grants to the Educational Institutions , because they " already possessed votes for the Old People , " but this , it seems to us , is a point that would soon adjust

itself , as it is well-known that once a Lodge votes money for the Institutions its members do not stop with their first contribution—happily the desire to do good increases with the practice of benevolence . Further , it might even be urged that

the periodical distribution of voting papers among the Lodges and Chapters throughout the country is an annual advertisement of the work of the Institution , that is well bought at the expense it entails , and would be likely to act as an

incentive to Lodges and Chapters to desire to possess more votes than they are primarily entitled to ; so that whatever objection there may be under this head seems possible to be counterbalanced by probable advantages .

Considering the great additions in recent years to the number of English Lodges and Chapters it might be urged that the time has now arrived for a larger grant from Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter for this Institution , but the course

proposed can hardly be adopted for the purpose of bringing this question prominently forward , and seeing that no reduction in the number of votes is proposed , but rather a means created for ensuring the proxies being more generally used , it

cannot be that the law of supply and demand has had any effect in producing the amendment . Taking the other side of the argument we are inclined to agree with the correspondent whose letter we publish this week , and who writes that while

the suggestion seems to offer few objections so far as Provincial Lodges are concerned , it is of very questionable advantage for the London ones , it being perfectly true that a

great majority-of Provincial Lodge and Chapter voting papers find their way into the hands of the county Committees , while the London ones are spread over a wide area and are probably divided between the whole number of local candidates .

Benevolent Institution Lodge Votes.

Considering the proposal as a whole we fail to see any reason for making the suggested change , and we shall await with some interest the arguments that are put forth next week in support of it . It will be a matter for great regret

if this question is carried by those who are now advocating it , only to be upset , or at least cause a considerable show of disagreement , when the new Law comes before Grand Lodge for confirmation . The Benevolent Institution is in a peculiar

position in this respect , having to obtain the sanction of Grand Lodge to any alterations in its Laws , and Brethren should be careful to remember this ere they make any proposal to upset

the existing regulations , although m saying thus much we by no means wish to imply that the Eules are incapable of improvement .

The R.M.B.I. And A Late Annuitant.

THE R . M . B . I . AND A LATE ANNUITANT .

THEEE are very few members of the Craft but must have regretted the particularly un-Masonic display of Masonic Benevolence that took place a few weeks back at one of the London county courts , when our worthy Brother James Terry

Secretary of the Benevolent Institution had to defend an action brought against him for payment of the Institution ' s pension to a deceased annuitant's representatives . We sympathised with Bro . Terry , because it was of course no

personal affair of his , and judgment was rightly given in his favour , although the opinion of the Judge must have been pretty decided , seeing that he entered judgment—without

costs ; but our sympathy , and we believe the sympathy of a very large number of Masons , ceases at this point , it being difficult to imagine on what grounds the payment of the £ 10 is longer delayed .

We have received several letters relating to the question since that printed in our issue of the 4 th inst ., but have refrained from publishing them , as we felt the matter was sure of being put right by the Committee , to whom the Judge

suggested , and Bro . Terry virtually promised , the matter should be referred ; but we believe the money has not yet been paid over , and we regard that as the only satisfactory solution , in view of the work that the Institution is established

to carry out on behalf of the Order , for we cannot believe that any member of the Fraternity would withhold the promised amount simply because the Brother who should receive it was dying at the moment it became due .

Law 38 of the Institution lays it down that the Annuities shall be payable quarterly in advance , on the 1 st September ( among other dates ) , and if the late Brother Woolridge had applied at the office on that day we believe he would have

received the £ 10 without question , even though he might have died a moment after , in the Secretary ' s office . Is it the wish of the Craft to withhold the amount because the annuitant was

too ill to attend , and died at his own house at 8 p . m . on the 1 st September ? We think not , and know there are several of our readers who would like to learn for what reason the annuity has been withheld .