Grand Mark Lodge.

Board , and the Grand Registrar , be authorised to accept and execute any lease that may be necessary between the Grand Lodge of M . M . M . and the United Grand Lodge of England for carrying this resolution into effect . " Bro . BROADLEY seconded the motion . Carried unanimously .

Bro . C UMBERLAND supposed the lease would be taken under the seal of the Mark Grand Lodge . Canon PORTAL : Quite so . Bro . S CURRAH suggested that it should be taken into consideration whether they should keep up the licence , because there was a great deal in that . Canon PORTAL said the question would be carefully considered . If they had a licence they would be under police supervision .

Canon PORTAL then moved , " That Grand Craft Lodge be asked to let Grand Mark Lodge have these premises at a peppercorn rent until such time as the alterations are completed . "

Bro . SCURRAH asked whether it would not be better to state a time . Canon PORTAL : Six months . A B ROTHER : The General Board would in their discretion take out the magistrate's certificate for a licence . It does not necessarily follow that they take out an excise licence , because that licence is very valuable . Canon PORTAL : Just so . Bro . BROADLEY seconded the motion .

Lord EGERTON of TATTON put the motion in the following words : " That application be made to the United Grand Lodge of England for the usual peppercorn rent for the first six months of the term , to enable the necessary alterations and re-building to be done . " The motion was carried .

Bro . CUMBERLAND , as the suggestion had been thrown out , thought something should be done in the next few days in respect to the licence . To protect their own property and themselves it ought to be done . He was sure that brethren dining on the premises would not have their wine from outside . If they offered one facility they should offer all facilities . The General Board should protect itself in the point of a licence . Canon PORTAL : The licence shall be kept alive .

Bro . BINCKES having read a list of distinguished brethren who had written apologising for their unavoidable absence , the proceedings terminated , and Grand Lodge was closed .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

ANNUAL FESTIVAL . The Annual Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged FYeemasons and Widows of Freemasons was held on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Tavern , Great Queen-street , London . Bro . the Right Hon . the Earl of Euston , Prov . Grand Master of Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire , occupied the chair , and he was supported by

Bros . Sir Lionel K . Darell , Bavt ., S 39 , P . G . S . ; Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , G . Sec ; Sir Reginald Hanson , Bart . ( M . A ., F . S . A . ) , V . P ., P . G . W . ; Col . Sir Francis Burdett , Batt , P . G . M . Middx . ; Asher Barfield , Vice-Patron , G . Treas . ; Baron de Ferrieres , V .-Patron , P . G . D ., P . P . G . W . Gloucester ; John A . Farnfield , V .-Patron , P . A . G . D . C . ( Treasurer ); Major George Lambert , Vice-Patron , P . G . Swd . Br . ; James Terry , Vice-Patron , P . G . Swd . Br . ; Frederick Mead , P . G . Swd . Br .: C . F . Matier ,

Vice-President , P . G . Std . Br . ; Walter Hopekirk , G . P . ; Wm . H . Rylands ( F . S . A . ) , P . G . Stwd . ; HarJy E . Pollard , P . G . Stwd . ; W . J . Parker , P . G . Stwd . ; Kdward Terry , P . G . Stwd . ; H . S . Clutton , G . S . ; Charles Belton , Vice-Patron , P . P . G . W . Surrey ; H . E . Cousans , P . P . G . W . Lincoln ; Rev . Hayman Cummings , P . P . G . W . Kent ; George Dalrymple , P . P . G . W . Cumberland and Westmorland ; R . Joynes Emmerson , Vice-President , P . P . G . W . Kent ; George Ellard , P . P . G . W . Northants and Hunts ;

R . G . Glover , P . D . G . D . C . j C . E . Keyser , Vice-Patron , P . P . G W . Heits , 1549 ; H . Offley Waktman , Vice-Patron , P . P . G . W . Oxford ; Rev . H . R . Cooper Smith , Vice-Patron , P . P . G . W . Oxford ; S . G . Kirchhuffer , P . P . G . W . Surrey ; Geo . F . W . Mortimer , P . P . G . W . Hants and Isle of Wight ; Joseph H . Lawson , P . P . G . W . Derby ; Edward Segar . P . J . G . W . W . Lanes . ; H . D . Stock , P . P . G W . Kent ; W . LascellesSouthwell , P . P . G . W . Salop ; Sir G . David Harris , P . D . G . W . Bahamas ; W . B . Williamson , P . P . G . W . Worcester ; Rev . W . D'A . Crofton , P . P . G . Chap .

Herts ; Rev . P . Deedes , P . P . G . Chap . Herts ; Kev . Edward Mitford-Weigall , P . P . G . Chap . Lincoln ; Rev . Richard Peek , P . P . G . Chap . Suffolk ; William Whitton . P . G . Treas . Northants and Hunts ; V . C . S . Crump , P . G . Treas . Salop ; VV . H . Bailev , P . P . G . Reg . Staffs . ; S . R . Baskett , P . P . G . Reg . Dorset ; E . A . Hicks , P . G . R . Salop , P . G . P . Worcester ; F . Hughes Hallett , P . G . R . Kent ; Chas . Henry Vincent , P . P . G . R . Suffolk ; James Moffatt , P . P . G . R . Warwick ; C . D . Cheetham , jun ., P . P . G . D . E . Lanes . ; Alfred Cuckerill , P . P . G . D . Norths and Hunts ; W . Dixey , P . P . G . D . Noiths and Hunts ; Samuel Green , P . P . G . D . Gloucester ; S . H . Sharman , P-P . G . D . Cambs . ; and others .

After dinner , Bro . the Rev . H . R . Cooper Smith having said grace , the toasts of the evening were proposed . The CHAIRMAN , in proposing "The Queen , " said : The first toast I have to propose to you this evening is one that is always well received by hnglishmen , and much more well received by all Masons . If there is one

thing we Masons pride ourselves on it is our loyalty to the Crown in whatever country we dwell , and our obedience to the laws and ordinances of that country . This toast needs no more words from me , and , therefore , I ask you to drink the health of her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen of England , Empress of India , and President of this Institution . 1 he toast having been duly honoured

, The CHAIRMAN again rose and said : The next toast I present to you is M °£ " His R ° yal Hi S hness the Prince of Wales , Most Worshipful Grand Master , Patron of this Institution . " ( Loud cheers . ) 1 think very few words will be needed from me to bring this toast to your notice from the avourable way you have received it already . We can say this much , that we have the greatest confidence in the Prince of Wales as Grand

Masterve bear that true allegiance to him which we should do to the head of the f ' ^ we know that if we work as hard as he does for Freemasonry shall do more than our duty . M ur CHAIRMAN next proposed "The Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , GM ? r ° G'M , J the Ri = ht Hon * the Earl of Lathom > R-w- Deputy , ' L , and the rest of thp Granrl Ofh * rpr <; . Prespnt and Past" In rlnincr en

we ' i ! * ^ ink there is no brother who doubts me when I say that when heirfj . Granrl Officers to come down to their respective provinces to and th ' r ' '" great worl < s tney find a ready response in the Grand Lodge at " . Grand Officers . They are only too ready to give their assistance j , i time ; and in savinc that I pvnrcss rhp fpplinc *< : nf all rhp hrplVirpn £ ¦ wk * j —w >>^ w v > WblK Wlli

J an , 'O ~""" ~ -- ..... _ , . .. w - u • > - - w 'he c f cou P ' ' tn tms toast the name of one who is well known to up with Wll ° ^ servec * it well for many years , and to whom we all look nil kn ^ spect and affection—I mean the Grand Secretary . ( Cheers . ) We ° " ° ^ hwd he works t and hew ready he is to give his assistance to

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

us on every possible occasion . ( Hear , hear . ) I am certain of one thing—that with him as Grand Secretary ; to give us advice whenever we go to him to help us , we always shall find one ready to help us and to come down and do his work ; and therefore we owe to him a deep debt of gratitude . He is most hardly worked , and none of us would like to go through the labour he does day after day , opening , and reading , and answering hundreds of letters .

Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE , Grand Secretary , in responding to the toast , said : Although I am not the senior Grand Officer in the room , yet I have to obey the command of the noble brother in the chair , and to thank this large company present for the exceedingly kind and flattering way in which they have received this important toast . A very important toast it is , because it comprises the names of so many good and distinguished

Masons who have done good suit and service to our Order , and have been fortunate enough to have their services recognised by the Most Worshipful Grand Master . I will not detain you in responding to this toast . It is an old one , and I have to reply to it briefly , I would simply say that the Grand Officers are thoroughly grateful for the kind way in which this toast is always received . The Grand Officers do try to make themselves deserving

of the praise which is bestowed upon them , and I am quite sure whenever they can do anything to serve the Craft they will only be too happy and too glad to do so . I am exceedingly thankiul to you for the kind way in which you have received the toast , and to our brother President , who has mentioned me personally in such a kind way , and I only hope that I shall be always received with the same kind recognition at the hands of the brethren .

The CHAIRMAN next proposed the toast of the evening , and said : Brethren , the toast I have now to put before you is the toast which we have all assembled here to celebrate and to honour to-night . It is the toast of "Success to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons . " ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) I am quite certain that the Craft in general must be pleased when they see this

grand assemblage of Stewards Irom every province under the United Grand Lodge of England present here this evening . It is a number of Stewards that I may say it does me personally great credit to see here from last year ; whereas there were then 276 , this year there are 358 . ( Cheers . ) I only hope that when the Secretary reads out the lists the increased number of Stewards will show an increased list of subscriptions . ( Cheers . ) I trust

you will pardon me if I go back some 50 years to the foundation of this Institution . It is an Institution which was founded and suggested by the then Most Worshipful Grand Master , H . R . H . the Duke of Sussex , in 1 S 42 , and since that time 730 aged Masons have been relieved with annuities at the rate of £ 40 a year as long at they lived . After the last election there were 180 annuitants on the list

receiving £ 40 a year , and I am sorry to say that there is an enormous number who still want to come on that list . Times have not gone well : what has hit one has hit another , and it has hit some very hard . And when I tell you that there are 64 candidates for the next election , and only 14 vacancies , it will convey to your mind how much we want to do beyond what we are doing now . Our income from Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter

for Aged Masons—I mean men—is £ 900 a year . The dividends on the funded property is £ 1128 a year , making a total of ^ 2028 a year . Our deficiency every year , which has been made up , is £ 5172 . Now , brethren , when you look at that you will feel with me that we ought not every year to depend so entirely upon the subscriptions of the Craft , but that we should go on doing what we are doing to the best of our ability—that we should

use our income only in case of need—that we ought to keep on increasing and increasing the invested funded property , so that if a really bad year comes , which God grant it may not , we may then take the income and say " we can tide over this . " But if we get hard hit and have to dip into our funded property , where are we going to be the next year ? H once you begin to dip into your reserve fund , you will find the next year you will

want to dip again , and the next year again , and in that way capital will soon go . Let us be content , and in spite of having to say with difficult words " No ; let us seek out the most deserving cases that come before us , and give them the annuities we can afford to give , and not try and go beyond our absolute power . " There is another branch of this Institution—the Widows' Fund—and alter

the last election there were 230 widows receiving £ 32 a year each , and some of them are at the home of the Institution . That means £ 7360 a year . The income of the Institution is £ 850 from Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter and £ 882 from their invested iunds , making a total of £ 173 2 , leaving a deficiency of £ 6000 . In plain language , that means that year by year as brethren all come forward as you have all done , those brethren who have

the interest of the Craft at heart , and endeavour to keep up not only the name but the spirit of Charity , that £ , ' 15 , 000 yearly is wanted to keep this Institution going without touching the funds of the Institution . ( Hear , hear . ) I cannot tell you , but I suppose presently the Secretary will tell you , what we have got to-night . I can only say it is a good lift on the road towards that sum . ( Cheers . ) We cannot expect every year such a lift ,

particularly after the Centenary of the Girls' School , when the whole Craft was called upon and answered in a way that no Chanties had ever been answered before , for on that occasion £ 50 , 600 was forthcoming on the day of the celebration of the Centenary of tne Girls' School at the Royal Albert Hall—a sum that we trust may do good to that Institution , that may set it on its legs , and , we hope , may enable it to make additions that they may

want , so that they may not want so much the next two or three years ; ihey cannot expect it . They have raised an immense sum , and you must not forget the old saying that the young are all very well in their way , but there are many men and many widows who are receiving the grants oi £ 40 and ^ 32 a year respectively , some of them living at their own homes , some of them living down at the Institution at Croydon . One old lad y I saw there

myself ; she had been 25 years at the Institution , and I may tell you that before she came there she had every luxury in the world ; but when her husband died he lelt her penniless , after she had been living in ihe greatest affluence and ease , and that old lady whom I saw living there is content and happy in the habitation provided for her by this Benevolent Institution . I do not want to detain you long , but I do want to say one thing . I want you all to

go back to your provinces and to your respective lodges and take back the hanks of the Benevolent Institution for sending you up here this evening , and not only sending you up , but sending you up , as I trust you will hear from the Secretary , with a full hand . I think there is very little more to be said except this , that as we go on , so let us pull together in that harmony and

brotherly love which we always have done , and let us never forget either one Charity or the other . Let us keep the one great object of our Institution before us , and whatever the world may say of Freemasonry , whether they say wc dine too well or we enjoy ourselves too much , let us have that oma consolation in our conscience * shaS we are doing good in svery way vr «