Annual Meeting Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

fT ^ HE annual meeting of the Subscribers this Institu-JL tion was held on Friday , the 19 th inst ., at Freemasons' Tavern , W . C . Bro . J . A . Farnfield Treasurer to the Institution was voted to the chair . On tho dais he was

supported by Bros . Henry Smith , John Wordsworth , W . F . Smithson , A . C . Spaull , C . E . Keyser , and James Terry ( Secretary ) , and in the body of the hall by a large number of representatives of the Provinces and of the London district .

The Auditors report was adopted on the motion of Bro . C . E . Keyser , seconded by Bro . Henry Smith . The report of the Committee of Management was read by Bro . Terry . It was as follows : —

The Committee of Management has very great pleasure in laying the report of ita proceedings during the past year before the Governors and Subscribers of the Institution . The annual festival was held by direction of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , K . G ., Grand Patron and President , on Wednesday , the 22 nd February last . Considerable difficulty had been experienced in obtaining the

services of a Chairman , bnt a few weeks previously to the day appointed Bro , Charles E . Keyser , H . A ., J . P ., P . G . Deacon of England , very kindly consented to act in that capacity , and the Board of Stewards , consisting of 226 brethren and ladies which supported him had the satisfaction of raising a total of donations and subscriptions amounting to £ 8 , 293 10 s , whioh has since been increased by the receipt of

outstanding lists and additions to lists to £ 8 , 530 12 s Gd Thi 9 result , though falling very far short of the requirements of the Institution , must nevertheless be regarded after tbe amazing succeas of the Jubilee Festival in 1892 as eminently gratifying , and the Committee very gladly avails itself of this opportunity of publicly expressing its very hearty thanks to the distinguished Chairman , the Ladies and

Brethren who supported hitn with so rauoh good will and energy as Stewards , and also to the Lodges , Chapters and individual donors and subscribers who so generously responded to the appealn addressed to them for support , the Province of Hertfordshire , of which the Chairman has been a member for many years , and in which he bas done most of bis work as a Mason , having been

particularly energetic in tbe assistance they rendered on the occasion . At the election in May 1892 , there were upon the two Funds of the Institution 432 annuitants , of whom 192 were men and 240 widows , while the nnmber of approved candidates waB 137 namely 67 men , and 70 widows . To day there are 115 candidates , of whom 60 are men , and 55 widows , so that tbeio is a still further reduction ( as

compared with the lists of 1890 , when the present more stringent regulations concerning candidates were passed ) in the nnmber of those who have been adjudged worthy to receive the benefits of the Institution . The Committee at its meeting iu February , declared tbe number of vacancies to be competed for at thin election to be as follows : —on

the Hale Fund 12 immediate and 3 deferred , and on the Widows Fuud 12 iinrnedinte and 3 deferred . Since then , however , there havo been reported the deaths of 5 men and 2 widows . It therefore recommends that the vacancies thus created should likewise be filled up , so that the total number to be elected this day including in e .. cu case the three deferred will be 20 men and 12 widows . Thus the

numbers on the two Funds will remain os they were after the election in May 1892 , that is to say on the Malo Fund 192 men eaoh in receipt of ; £ 40 per annum , and on the Widows' Fnnd 240 widows eaoh in receipt of £ 32 per annom , the total nnmber of annuitants being as already stated—432 , and the amount distributed amongst them annually £ 15 , 320 . To this must be added the further sum of

± 500—divisible oncler law 9 of tho Male Fund , among 25 widows of recently deceased male annuitants so that the total amount to ba provided iu annuities during the current year will be £ 15 , S 20 . The Committee is desirous of expressing its sincere thanks to United Grand Lodge for the continnance of its annual grant of £ 70 towards providing the annuitants resident in the Asylum at

Croydon with coal during the winter months . The Committee is also desirous of placing publicly on record its unfeigned thanks to the honorary surgeons of the Institution I . Wayte , Esq ., elected since the last annual meeting in succession to H . J . Strong , Esq ., M . D . resigned , and to E . Percy Middlemist , Esq ., for their kind and unremitting attention to those among the

annuitants both resident at Croydon and non-resident , who have been unfortunately compelled during the past year to seek their advice and assistance . Nor can it allow this occasion to pass without expressing its gratitude to Dr . Strong , tbe lato medical adviser at Croydon , for the exceeding cure and kindness with which h 9 ministered to the requirements of the inmates of the Asylum during

a period of 30 years , and it sincerely hope 3 that he may bo long spared in the position of Hon . Consulting Physician , which was conferred upon him by the Committee , to enjoy that respeot and esteem to which , by reason of his long and eminent services to the Institution , he is so justly entitled . The Committee has the satisfaction of announcing that the

premises at Croydon are now in a complete state of repair , both internally and externally , the work referred to in last year ' s report as being necessary in order to preserve tbe stone-work from further decay having beeu effectually carried out during the past year . The audited statement of accounts for the year ended 31 st

December 1892 , is appended . It has been most carefully prepared by the Finance Committee , and undergone a rigorous examination by the Andit Committee before being finally approved and passed , and the Committee has every confidence that when the Governors and Subscribers have carefully examined the several items of expenditure

Annual Meeting Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

thoy will be satisfied tbat the funds of tbe Institution have been administered with scrupulous care and a due regard for economy . In conclusion , the Committee ia anxious to express ita unabated confidence in the generosity of the Craft in London , throughout the Provinces , and in foreign parts . It acknowledges with gratitude the

munificence with which tbe claims of the Institution have been met by the brethren in past years , and it is persuaded that so long as its affairs are conducted on tbe principles by which the Committee bas been actuated heretofore , the funds necessary for its effioient main , teuance will be regularly forthcoming .

On the motion of Bro . Henry Smith , seconded by Bro . Dr . Turtle Pigott , this report was received , adopted , and ordered to be entered on the minutes . !

The following five brethren were elected to fill vacancies in the Committee of Management : —Bros . W . H . Making , W . Vincent P . M . 1194 , John Hattersley P . M . 1604 , A . R . Trew P . M . 2409 , and Robert Gowan P . M . 2029 .

The next business was the election of Treasurer . In moving the re-election of Bro . J . A . Farnfield , Bro . C . E , Keyser said it was unnecessary for him to say much in favour of Bro . Farnfield ' s re-election . They could not improve on their choice of a brother who had exemplified

how capable he was to fill so high and important a position . Bro . Farnfield was no ornamental Treasurer , for he worked very hard , and was present at all tbe meetings of the Committee throughout the year . Bro . Barnett seconded the motion .

Bro . Farnfield having been unanimously elected , thanked the brethren for this renewed mark of their confidence . Bros . Kempton , Attenborough , and Cleghorn were elected Auditors . Bro . W . Maxfield Mead W . M . 1805 moved an alteration

of Rule No . 13 of the Institution . Bro . Mead , in moving his proposal , referred first by name to brethren and widows who appeared on the list of candidates for election , for 11 , 12 , or 13 years , and who seemed as far as ever off being elect ed . It seemed to him rather hard that these brethren , or widows

of brethren , who , in their day had , no doubt , dono much for tho Craft , should not be elected . Tbe object of tho resolution now proposed was to give such brethren and

widows some encouragement . Even if his resolution was not passed , he should consider he had done his duty . If it was passed they would take on the list several brethren and widows .

Bro . Nnding seconded the motion , and Brother Tijoa supported . Bro . J . S . Cumberland opposed . Coming from North and East Yorkshire he knew of cases which Provinces would not support . Tho Provinces know more about their

own local cases than anybody elso conld . When cases came before tbe Provincial organisations , all that the Commit ! co could do was to go carefully through them , aud if a Piovince did not adopt a case , the brethren might rest assured they did not consider it worthy of support . He

considered that if the door was to be opened once in the way proposed by this motion , undeserving cases would got in and keep out deserving ones . If a brother was brought forward and did not get support , it was a proof that it was

not a deserving case . He said advisedly that there were cases which ought never to have been put on the list . Every case should be examined by a local Committee , and its report should be attached to the petition . He sincerely hoped that this motion would not be carried .

Bro . Henry Smith took the same view . Ho did not see why he should give away his privilege to others . The idea was absurd that they should put these people on because they were on the list year after year . T );« i any brother mean to say that if one of these casei was a

deserving case rich Provinces like the two divisions of Yorkshire would not have elected it long ago ? When they went to inquire into cases , and asked why the

Provinces would not elect them , they would find the reply was because they would not have them . He trusted the brethren would Teject this attempted interference with the laws of the Institution .

Bro . E . M . Money also opposed the motion . Bro . Robert W ylie said , on behalf West Lancashire , he also protested against tbiB proposed alteration . From his Province there was a candidate put on the list who had not the support even of his own Lodge . If that

brother were deserving , the Province of West Lancashire would havo elected him on the first occasion . They always supported the cases that were deserving , and it was very rare that a good candidate was carried over two election- ' . Dr . Strong inquired whether there was any provision for removing the names of those who were never likely to be