The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution Festival.

THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION FESTIVAL .

It is time vve again drew the attention of our readers to the fact that the Anniversary Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution will be held at the Freemasons' Tavern , on Wednesday , the 26 th instant , under the presidency of Bro . the

Lord Mayor , Sir H . A . ISAACS . The outlook has certainly improved since we penned our last article on the subject . At the beginning of last month the Board of Stewards was under 200 strong , as compared with from 230 to 240 at the

corresponding period last year , while it numbers at the present moment 244 brethren , as against about 300 brethren last year . Thus a substantial increase in the strength of the Board has taken place during the last four weeks , and for this addition we cannot

express ourselves too gratefully . But seeing there is still an inferiority as compared with the 188 9 Board of some 60 brethren , it is impossible we can regard the position as it is with perfect equanimity . We are by no means certain that in the case of an

anniversary festival , it is not a very common practice for people to be dissatisfied with the preparations that are being made for its celebration , even when matters are going pretty smoothly

and satisfactorily . But in the present instance , we cannot be charged with drawing too dismal a picture of the prospects which await the Benevolent Institution towards the end of the

current month . There was a falling off in the total in 1888 as compared with 188 7 ; there was a falling off last year as compared with 1888 ; and taking the number of Stewards whose services may possibly be obtained between now and the day

appointed , and the average per list which has been raised on former occasions , it looks very much as if there would be again a falling off in 1890 as compared with 1889 . We all hope for

the best , but though , as we said at the beginning of our remarks , the outlook has improved during the last few weeks , it is very far from being what some of the more sanguine friends of the Institution have been expecting . We realise that the task which is set the Executive of this

Charity every year is by no means an easy one to fulfil . A sum of £ 15 , 000 , representing the interest on more than half a million of Government Stock , is not to be obtained without an enormous amount of exertion on the part of the brethren who act as

Stewards ; but this , or nearly this , is required to pay the number of annuitants as at present authorised . Last year , a very full Board succeeded in raising only £ 13 , 500 , but the average per list was exceptionally low , by reason of the heavy demands made

upon the Craft for the Girls' Centenary . This year , however , we are justified in assuming that the effects of that pressure will have passed away , or nearly so , and in that case we may hope that , if the Board of Stewards is less numerous than in 188 9 ,

the average per Steward ' s list will be more nearly on a level with what it has been in Bro . TERRY ' S most successful years . As far as we have been able to ascertain , the Board is fairly apportioned between London and the Provinces . Among the latter , indeed ,

several of the more regular contributors are extremely well represented , and it is to be hoped that the lodges in London , but more particularly those located in the City or composed mainly of Hebrew brethren will put an additional amount of steam into

their efforts , so that the total raised under the LORD MAYOR ' presidency may compare as favourably as possible with the totals of previous years . If , however , any special incentive is needed

by London and the Provinces generally to support his lordship , it will be found in the excessive number of candidates who are seeking admission into the Institution . In 188 7 and 1888 there

The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution Festival.

were , taking the men ancl women together , about 128 candidates ; last year there were 140 , while the number which has been approved for the election in May next is 158 , of whom 72 are men and 86 widows . The actual vacancies at the present moment are 11 in number—seven male and four female—and if

we assume that as many more will occur between now and election day , and take into account the six deferred , there will even then be only 28 to elect , while the enormous number will remain of 130—all , be it remembered , aged folk as well as

poverty-stricken—for whom , for a further period of 12 months , no provision whatever can be made . Under these circumstances , it is our duty to impress upon our readers , even more earnestly

than we have done in previous articles , how imperatively necessary it is that the utmost possible support should be obtained for our Benevolent Institution . Let there be raised a sum which

will be at least sufficient to provide the annuities already established , and the Executive , being free from all anxiety on this score , will have leisure to consider how best the number of candidates may again be brought within manageable compass .

We are glad to learn that Bro . TERRY has sufficiently recovered to be able to resume his duties , ancl is again exerting himself with his accustomed energy to obtain further recruits for his Board of Stewards .

Masonic Literary Societies.

MASONIC LITERARY SOCIETIES .

There is , perhaps , no healthier or more encouraging sign of the intelligent advance and vigorous progress of Freemasonry than is shown by the apparently spontaneous genesis of Masonic Literary Societies . We say spontaneous , though of course it is

known to those on the spot that it is to the energy , enterprise , and enthusiasm of a few , perhaps in some instances to one only , that these Institutions owe their origin . The formation of societies of inquiry into Masonic history , archaeology , and

philosophy is making rapid progress , and we cannot but rejoice that it is so , convinced as we are of the advantages the Craft will thereby gain ; but we would caution those upon whom the control of such Institutions may rest that there is another side

to the question , and that unless discreetly and conscientiously managed abuses mav easily creep in , and that which was meant to be a source of interest and a means of education , may develope into something which , so far from being a benefit to

the Masonic body , might easily be made to cause a baneful and damaging influence upon its members . We have no such fears in relation to the Societies , reports of whose proceedings appear in our columns this week . The Wakefield Masonic Literary

Society , the name of whose President , Bro . T . W . TEW , Prov . Grand Master West Yorkshire , is a guarantee that its lines are truly Masonic , in conjunction with a similar institution at Bradford , ancl in fraternal communion with literary brethren in York ,

Leeds , and Hull , invited Bro . G . W . SPETH , Secretary of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , to pay them a visit , and read them a paper on some Masonic subject , selection of which was left to the discretion of the lecturer . Bro . SPETH cordially consented , and

commenced his tour at Wakefield on Monday , the 20 th ult ., and visited in turn Bradford , York , Hull , and Leeds . At each place he delivered virtually the same lecture , a resume oi which will be found in to-day's Freemason . The paper was styled " The

degrees of Ancient Freemasonry , and Bro . SPETH ' S object appears to have been , after an introductory dissertation on symbolism , to promulgate an opinion at which , after careful enquiry and research , he has personally arrived , in relation to