The Langthorne Masonic Charitable Association.

THE LANGTHORNE MASONIC CHARITABLE ASSOCIATION .

The second annual meeting of this association vvas held on Wednesday evening at the Swan Hotel , Stratford . Bro . Tliotp presided , anel there were present bes des , Bros . F . Binckes , J . Terry , G . Jones , T . S . Taylor , R . W . Biggs , Bright , Medwin , Anning , H . Massey ( Freemason ) , W . W . Morgan , Land , Casslcton , Mole , Dix , Tucker , Doulton ,

Claritlge , Hollington , Proctor , H . W . Taylor , J . Hunt , Hobbs , Triggs , and AUaway . The repott oi t _ e association for the year stated that the amount of subsciiptions , £ 288 ns . 6 el ., had enabled ihe committee to have 26 appropriations of life governorships to the different charities as enumerated in the balance sheet , against 24 of thc previous year , making a total of 50 since the establishment of the association . The following is the balance

sheet : — To balance brought forward from last account ... ... ... ... 1 4 2 o „ Cash received from members 288 11 6

302 13 6 By stationery , printing , postages 118 6 „ Life Governorships paid—Bro . G . Verry Ageel . 10 o o „ J . G . Stevens ... ... „ 10 o o „ G . Dawson ... ... Girls . 10 10 o

„ A . Harcourt ... ... „ 10 10 o „ F . D . Barnes ... ... „ 10 10 o „ C . W . Ashdovvn ... ... Boys . 10 10 o Mrs . Williams „ 10 10 o Bro . J . J . Berry „ 10 10 0 „ F . D . Barnes ... ... „ 10 10 a „ Life Governorships upon ( T . S . Taylor )

Stewaids' List for Festival , 13 th Feb ., 1878—Bro . G . Jones ... ... ... Aged . 10 o o „ , ) . White ... „ 1000 „ E . Walter „ 10 o o „ J . Dorton „ 10 o o ,, J . F . Proctor „ 1000

„ R . J . Tucker „ 10 o o „ J . W . Tait „ 1000 „ H . W . Clark ,, 10 o o ,, T . T . Taylor „ 10 o o Mrs . Taylor ... ... ... „ 10 o o Bro . Cohu „ 10 o o „ J . II . Guernsey , ; 1000 Balance 87 5 o

£ 302 13 ti Bros . R . E . Baugh , \ V . E . Partington , and E . Williamwere thc winners of thc three ballots , and after these hael been declared , the following brethren were elected as officers of the association for thc year : —Bros . J . G . Stevens , P . M . 334 , e 3 , P . Z . 933 , President ; W . A . Sharp , P . M , 49 , 1228 , Z . 33 , Vice-President ; Charles Lacey , P . P . G . D .

Herts ., P . M . 1 74 . 1327 , 1421 , Treasurer ; E . J . Anning , 1464 ; C . Ashdovvn , P . M . 1076 ; J . J . Berry , P . M . 334 ; 11 . VV . Biggs , I . G . 1421 ; J . Boulton , I . G . 1036 ; W . G . Durrant , J . W . 1036 ; J . II . Guernsey , 749 ; li . B . Hollielay , P . M . 1076 ; G . Levick , P . M . 1227 ; J . F . Proctor , J . D 1421 ; H . N . Taylor , J . W . 1421 ; and R . J . Tucker , W . M . 933 , Committee ; and Bro . T . S . Taylor , S . W . 1421 ,

Hon . Sec . Votes of thanks were passed to all these officers , anel a special vote of thanks to Bro . T . S . Taylor . The brethren afterwards sat down to an excellent supper , after which thc customary toasts were proposed . A letter was first read from Bro . J . G . Stevens , who was unable to be present on account of illness , but wishing the Association every success , and the brethren a happy evening .

Bro . W . A . Sharp presided in his absence , and in proposing "Success to the Langthornc Masonic Charitable Association , " said the Association was originally suggested anil brought into due form by Bro . T . S . Taylor for the purpose of enabling brethren to become life governors of the various Masonic Charities . Two of these institutions were , he was happy to say , represented that evening by

Bros . Binckes and Terry , anel he was sorry that the Secretary of the other institution was not also present ; more especially vvas he sorry that illness was the cause of his absence . He ( Bro . Sharp ) remembered that some ten or eleven years ago , when he waa a member of a Lodge of Instruction , under the Charter of the Victoria Lodge , anel meeting at the George ,

Aldermanbury , when he suggested to some few of its members the propriety of forming an association ielentical with the present ; the idea was supported strongly , and his motion to that effect carried at one meeting ; but at a subsequent result , it vvas coughed and laughed down and ridiculed . Some of the brethren desi gnated it a goose club ; but from the success of this association hc was able to say now that those

brethren who opposed his proposition were the geese . After some years the present association was brought forward by Bro . Taylor , and it had met with very great success . To his unwearied exertions that success was due . Hail they not had a man who was not to be put down , ridiculed , anil coughed down , and laughed at , this association might have been treated in . the same way

as the association which he ( Bro , Sharp ) had suggested . In Bro . Taylor they hael had a most inelcfatigable man , who had been able to gather round him a lot of friends , who had assisted him in making this association a success . In two years over £ 300 had been voted ; and he ventured

fo say that but for an association like this not a fifth , perhaps not a tenth of that sum would ever have been given to the Masonic Charities . It was very well for people in the higher walks of life to say they could afford to give their five or ten guineas to this or that Institution ; tney did it sometimes , but by the aid of societies like this ,

The Langthorne Masonic Charitable Association.

members involuntarily parted with their money , and found themselves at the end of four years—sometimes much earlier—life-governors of some of thc Institutions . The Langthornc Alasonic Charitable Association spoke for itself , and saved him the trouble of explaining its objects . Its Secretary was deserving of the brethren ' s utmost thanks , and therefore

he should couple his name with the toast . Bro . T . S . Taylor in reply rejoiced to see so many brethren present . As the chairman hael referred to what he hael done he might inform thc brethren that certainly with 114 or 115 members it would be no light task to do the work of the association . Fortunately he had at his elbow a great many brethren to assist him . He then narrated

how the association was suggested one night as he and some other brethren were coming home from the Doric Lodge , and went on to say that down in thc East End of London such a society as this was very successful . There had been fifty ballots in this association , and they had £ 37 in hand . Next meeting he expected they would have three more ballots . Last month they had six , so that the

association was going on well . 1 he brethren had stuck to the society well , and they deserved hearty thanks . He was very glad to see two of the Secretaries of the Institutions present : the brethren were all pleased to see them , but they knew , these secretaries , brethren , did not come for nothing . For what their institution had benefitted by this association they woulel presently say a few words . They

came to support their respective chanties , and why should they not ? On behalf of himself he begged to thank the -brethren , but for what he had done he took no praise to himself . He was well pleased to elo what he could for the cause of Masonic charity . He had been Steward at the last Festival of the Benevolent Institution . That was his maiden attempt at a stewardship , but hc

took up £ 50 more than any steward at the East End of London ever did ; besides which he was the highest of all the London lists . Bro . Hollington proposeel " The Health of the Chairman . " Bro . Sharp in replying , regretted the absence of Bro . J . G . Stevens , but thanked the brethren for having proposed his health . He then proposed "The Vice-Chairman , " who he said had

been a supporter of the various Masonic Institutions , and was now the W . M . of the Langthorne Lod ge . He had condescended on the present occasion to lake the vice chair : he had worked hard in the different offices he had held in lodge , and now that he had obtained the highest position he graced and adorned it . Bro . Hollington replied , and said that whenever the chairman commandetl his

services they were always at his disposal . He vvas the first life governor elected by this association , anel he selected the Boys' School . He had , however , endeavoured to make it up to the Benevolent Institution by subscriptions . The Chairman then proposed " The Masonic Charitable Institutions . " These Institutions offered the best apology to a man who wanted -an apology for being a Mason ;

The Institutions were represented b y most efficient officers , two of whom , as he had said , were present . Bro . Morgan , however , would reply for Bro . Little . Bro . W . W . Morgan , replying for the Girls ' | School , said , that institution vvas well known , and when he said that it was founded for the

education and support of decayed or deceased Freemasons , he thought that was a sufficient claim on the benevolence of the Craft in its behalf . He hoped that thc brethren would rally round the Girls' School at its next Festival , and not allow it to suffer because Bro . Little vvas afflicted with ill health .

Bro . Binckes replied for the Boys' School , and remarked that for twenty-five years it had been his lot to travel over England to induce brethren to organise themselves to give a more general support 10 the Masonic Institutions . They were now enjoying an enormous amount of success contrasted with what they did when he first took the matter in hand . Associations like

the Langthornc were enjoying great success . The Institution could now justifiably point with pride to 700 or 800 persons whom they were benefitting , and they had to thank the Charitable Associations of Masons for what they were able to do . Though he had endeavoured to bring about these organisations , by some extraordinary twist he was looked upon as an opponent of them . He did not know

by what unfortunate misunderstanding of anything he had said or done that this charge was laid to him , for he had over and over again said that it vvas the best tiling that could be done . These Associations were the means of doing a large amount of good , and he , as one of the Secretaries , was grateful for what they diel . He wished them every success , for Freemasonry was increasing , and

great strains were put on the Institutions . Those who were charged with the executive duties of the Institutions well knew how great the claims on those Institutions were . Speaking of the Girls School , and thanking the brethren who bad so gracefully alluded to the ill-health of Bro . Little , he said that the new wing of the Girls' School would shortly be inaugurated by the Prince and Princess

of Wales , and he had no eloubt it would be a very successful meeting . When the wing was opencel they woulel have 199 girls in thc School . B y August the Boys ' School will have 220 boys in it . This was a great woik , but the brethren were not to think that the Secretaries sought any self aggrandisement when they appealed urgently for support . It was not on behalf of themselves

but for the relief of distress . After allueling to an opinion held by a Past Grand Officer that it should not be considereel part of the Secretaries' duties to go round to lodges and press the claims of their Institutions , he said that if they did not there might be some young members present

who would know nothing about the Institutions . For himself he would be exceedingly pleased if instead of having to go so often to lodge he could have a quiet evening at home ; but he felt it his duty to attenei and to thank the brethren for what these organizations had done . These meetings were always pleasant , and nothing was

The Langthorne Masonic Charitable Association.

more delightful than a mutual interchange of friendly feelings , and the knowledge that at the same time great efforts were being made to relieve distress . Bro . James Terry also responded , and referred to the fact that Bro . Taylor took up over £ 260 at the last Festival of the Benevolent Institution . He would leave it to the brethren to imagine how hard Bro . Taylor must have worked

to produce this result . Tracing the large amounts giveri by this association , according to the balance sheet above set out , he said this showed that the association was a most eleserving one . The Institutions had very much to thank this association for . He knew what the work was , having for eleven years been Secretary of three of them . In four years one of these associations paid in £ 4 , 080 .

In seven years £ 7 , 000 had been paid by these associations to one Institution , and if it had not been for them , not £ 1 , 000 of this amount would have come into the coffers , ofthe Institution . It vvas all very well to say that you could go to a man and say you wanted ten guineas or £ 10 ; they could not afford to pay that sum all at once , but they would not mind giving it in small sums , spread over

a long period . Bro . Terry expressed the great pleasure he hael in coming to these friendly meetings , and believed that if the Secretaries did not do so the very brethren who objected now would be the first to find fault with them for not letting them know how the Institutions were progressing . Referring to the remarks of Bro . Binckes as to his constantly having to visit lodges ,

he ( Bro . Terry ) said that from the ist Oct . last till now , with the exception of Sundays , and the Monday , "Puesday , and Wednesday in Christmas week , he had not had an opportunity of spending an evening at home . He ventured to say that the Secretaries of no other Institutions could say the same thing . The Secretaries of the Masonh Institutions had to travel hundreds and hundreds of miles to their own

inconvenience 111 discharge of their duties . Their attendance at their offices from ten to four every day vvas the minor portion of the time they devoted to the interests of the Institutions . The major part was given after the official duties had ended for the day , but if they had been successful in bringing the Institutions before the brethren they were amply rewarded . He was sure that when they

were invited to lotlges the brethren would very much regret to receive for answer that the Secretaries considered their duties were over at four o'clock in the afternoon , and that they must decline the invitation . He believed that if such a course were adopted the Institutions would suffer , and that the subscriptions would fall off at least one half . It was not their own comfort and convenience the Secretaries

sought in attending these meetings , but the good cause which they supported , and hc hoped and trusted that there were but few membcts of the Craft who thought the presence of thc Secretaries was undesirable at these meetings . When he came to the East-end of London , he cameamong a body of large-hearted men who appreciated the services the Secretaries rendered , and he well knew that when the hour of distress arrived , if it ever did , he would be sure to

find the warmest sympathy at the East-end of London . If there was any objection to the administration of the Institutions , it only required a representation to that effect to be made to the Committee , and it would receive the best consideration . Thc toast of " The Visitors " was responded to by Bros . Alloway , Triggs and Hobbs . Bro . Tucker , W . M . 933 , replied for " The Committee of Management , " and the toast of " The Press" brought the proceedings to a close .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

Tne General Committee of the subscribers to this Institution met on Thursday afternoon at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . Joshua Nunn , in the chair . There were also present Bros . John Boyd , Col . Peters , H . Massey ( -. "cemasem ) , T . W . White , R . B . Webster , Thos . Massa , Griffiths , Smith , Thos . Francis Peacock , J . A . Rucker , H . AJ Dubois . ''

After thc reading and confirmation of the minutes , a motion of Bro . Col . Creaton for raising the salary of the Junior Clerk of the Institution from £ 50 to £ 60 was carried . A letter from Grand Secretary was read , replying to an application for the use of the Temple for the elections to

this school . In it Grand Secretary conveyed the resolution of the Board of General Purposes , in which they stated they were unable to comply with the request of the Committee . Two candielates were placed on the list for the October election , and the Committee then adjourned .

At the weekly meeting of the School Board for London held on Wednesday last , Sir Charles Reed presieling , Mr . Freeman , Chairman of the Finance Committee , presenteel the estimate of expenditure from March 23 th , 1878 , to March 23 th , 1879 , and gave an explanation of the principal items . The estimate for the year to be eneled next month was £ 506 , 353 4 s . Sd ., and the

estimate for next year is £ 506 , 305 18 s . gd ., showing a decrease ° f £ 41 5 - ' id . The rate for next year is something less than it was during thc year just ending . Aftera discussion , recommentlations of the Finance Committee in keeping with Mr . Free-man ' s statement were agreed to nem . con . The Duke of Abereorn and suite waited on the King of Italy on Wednesday . The investiture of the Garter takes place to-day ( Saturday . )

. A proposition is before the Paris Municipal Council to offer a prize of ioo , ooofr . to the inventor of a means of manufacturing better bread at a lower price than that sold in Paris . The Rev . Mr . Barston , whose extraordinary conduct caused some excitement at St . Paul ' s Church , Clapham , last Sunday morning , has been removed to a lunatic asylum .