Grown Old In The Service.

GROWN OLD IN THE SERVICE .

WHATEVEK may be said as to the inexperience of our early years , and the drawbacks of youth , there are few among us who can look with equanimity on old age , much less calmly recognise that they are personally becoming too old or infirm for active service .

So long as we are able to keep to our accustomed duties we are apt to lose sight of the rapid progress of time , but once we find it impossible to do so we are brought face to face with the fact that we are growing old , and

that it behoves us to think more of the future than we have deemed it possible to do in the midst of a busy life . Not only have we then to think of the period that is to follow our death , but in a very large number of

cases there is the future of our life to be considered , and , it may be , with little or nothing saved up with which to battle with the world in our closing days . Then it is that one is apt to look back with longing eyes on the

period of youth , and to wish for a return once more to those days with which are usually associated the inexperience and drawbacks to which we alluded in the first part of these remarks . But regrets are useless , and in

many cases serve but to intensify the misery that seems to lay before those who possess no provision for their declining years , either because they were not able to

save during their period of activity ; were worsted in their struggle with the world ; or have been overtaken by adversity late in life—then it is that one recognises the full force of the feeling of having grown old in the

service . Applying these sentiments to Freemasonry , it is not very difficult to recognise many men around us who , having grown old in the service of the Craft , are yet

unable to enjoy the comforts and repose that are supposed to be associated with old age , and although such experiences as these are comparatively common in the outside world , as Freemasons we are none the less

concerned when we see some one or other of our older brethren thus afflicted in their declining years . Happily our sympathy can take a practicable form on such occasions , for although it may not be possible for us to

render sufficient help in a direct manner , we yet have it in our power to assist in securing something through the instrumentality of the Charitable Institution of the Craft that devotes itself bpecially to the needs of the Aged , and

which for fifty years have striven with , manifest success to alleviate some of tbat suffering and distress of which we have already spoken , as coming upon those who have been unable to make adequate provision for the time

when they shall have grown too old for active work . The Eoyal Masonic Benevolent Institution , of which we are speaking , has just passed the fiftieth year of its existence , having celebrated its Jubilee in 1892 , and now

Grown Old In The Service.

stands out prominently as one of the most successful charitable organisations of the world , its income that

year amounting to no less than £ 61 , 849 2 s 6 d . But this very success remains as a permanent source of danger for the future , for having reaped such a splendid harvest an exceptional return was called for , in the shape of creation of fresh annuities , and as these annuities are

a permanency they have to be met year by year , not out of regular income—for that unfortunately only amounts to £ 3 , 600 per annum against the £ 15 , 920 required each twelvemonth for annuities alone , without any

consideration of current expenses—but by the free will offerings of brethren , many of whom have not yet grown old in the service , but are none the less mindful of the needs of those who have .

The Anniversary Festival of the Institution will this year be held under the presidency of the Provincial Grand Master of Surrey , Col . Gerard Noel Money , C . B ., and , as we have already said , it appears to hold out

promises of success ; but on the other hand there are many causes at work which may tend to check such a free flow of subscriptions to its coffers as is absolutely necessary , in view of the heavy payments for which the

Institution is pledged , not the least of the drawbacks being the somewhat reduced roll of Stewards , as compared with what is usual at this season of the year .

We must now remember that there remains but a single month in which to complete the canvass that has been in progress for some time past on behalf of our old

Folks , and that being so we take this opportunity of making a special appeal to our readers , and members of the Craft generally , to personally undertake a

Stewardship or try and induce some one of their friends to do so , even at this late hour , for we may truly say that further assistance with the work is absolutely needed , while if

we bear in mind what has been done by the Institution in years gone by we are forced to believe that there should not be much difficulty in the way of securing it . It is not necessary to enter into lengthy details as to what the Institution is doing , suffice it to say that at

the present time 194 Aged Masons are each in receipt of £ 40 a year , while 268 Widows are also on the list , each drawing £ 32 a year , or , in a few cases , £ 20 a year only , as one-half of their late husband ' s annuity . With such a large number of annuitants—brethren or widows

who have grown too old for active service , and very many of whom in their younger days helped those who

in their time needed assistance—there should be no great difficulty in securing help when it is absolutely necessary , and as that necessity exists at the present time we add

our voice to what has already been urged on behalf of the coming Festival , which will be held at Freemasons ' Tavern , on the 28 th proximo , and most earnestly invite