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Article ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. ← Page 2 of 3 Article ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. Page 2 of 3 →
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Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
possibly can . ( Applause . ) Brethren , I give you the toast of the evening , and that is " Success to the Benevolent Institution for Aged Masons and Widows of Masons , " and , while asking you to drink it heartily , I call upon Bro . Farnfieid to reply to the toast . Bro . J . A . FARNFIELD , in responding to the toast , said : The large assemblage that we have here to-nij » ht does my heart good , because I fully
believe that when so large a number of Masons are assembled together , the outcome of that assembly will be a very large total of the lists of the Stewards of the money thit has been brought in . It was with lear and trembling the Committee approached this year , because in reviewing our balance sheet at the last General Committee , we found that last year we were something like £ 2000 to the bad ;
and after the bumper Festival that the Girl ' s School had we cannot hope to have as large a sum this year as the last . But everything comes to those that hope and do not despair , and seeing you all assembled round us to support his lordship in the chair , we have every hope that the total to-night will not be less than last year , but that it will be more . ( Cheers . ) In that
hope I am sure you all will agree with me , and , therefore , I will not further trespass upon your time , but thank you all on behalf of the Committee and Exerutivpnf the Institution lor so kindly responding to the toast . ( Applause . ) Bro . TERRY then read the lists of subscriptions , the announcement of which was received with loud applause .
Bro . RICHARD EVE , P . G . Treasurer , then said : Brethren , the pleasing duty of proposing the next toast has devolved upon me , and I can assure you that it is with some diffidence that I approach that duty ; but when I gee the cheerful faces before me I feel fortified in attempting to perform it . The toast is . " The Health of our Right Hon . Chairman . " Our chairman is a Provincial Grand Master , who is well recognised in his province , and , I
may say , he is one of the most popular of the Prov ncial Grand Masters . ( Applause . ) From the splendid reception he had trom the brethren of his province , I am quite sure that he dwells in the hearts ol all Masons of that province ; for by the way in which th-y have presented themselves to-night and supported him , by bringing so large a sum from a comparatively small province ol upwards ot £ 600 , we may conclude it shows their earnestness in supporting this Institution . I am not going to take up your time long , but
I am going to tell you that although our R . W . Chairman is a comparatively young Mason he has made great headway in the Craft . He holds great positions in the Cratt ; but he is not ashamed to hold minor positions , as at the present time he is holding the office ot Junior Deacon in a London lodge . So that , brethren , you will see he is earnest in the cause—that he is determined to support our great Order , and to dignify it to the utmost of his ability . ( Cheers . )
The CHAIRMAN said : Brethren , I have to thank my worshipful brethren for the way in which they have received this toast , and the very worshipful brother for the kind and flattering way in which he has proposed it . I assure jou I do not deserve as much as was t-aid by the very worshi pful brother . ( Yes , yes . ) No ; I mean it . I can only tell you that I try to the utmost of my ability to do whatever duly devolves on me—to me rather .
from the position 1 have been placed in in the Craft ; and I only hope that when I do come and do what 1 am expected to do , I give you satisfaction . That satisfies me . But there is something beyond that . As our very worshipful brother told you , I am not an old Mason ; but as a Mason I can only say this—I wish I had been a Mason when I was 20 years of age , because I do not know , going through all that you and I know about Masonry ,
that there is such an Institution in the world to compare with it—an Institution that , whethet you are rich are poor , can do so much good—an Institution where the smallest mite is received thankfully , and applied faithfully . ( Cheers . ) That is the great and glorious point ot our Institution , I think . We are brethren who stand hand to hand and shoulder to shoulder , and we can face the whole world and defy calumny , because the people who
speak against us know nothing about us . I remember once seeing in the newspapers that a letter was answered . 1 know what my remark was at the time and I had to speak just after at a meeting , and I said that I thought it was a mistake to answer it all , because the person who wrote it did not know what he was writing about . We , brethren , know what we are doing , and all I can say is that , so long as I live , so long as I have health
and strength , when you want me to do any service for the Craft I am at your command . And I want to say to you one word more ; whatever we do , whatever we take into our hands to do , let us do it thoroughly and with our best ability . I thank you very heartily for the way in which you have received the toast and for the way in which it was proposed , and I hope this will not be the last time that we shall meet together . ( Cheers , )
The CHAIRMAN next proposed "Success to the other Masonic Institutions , the dirls' School ( Festival , May ) , the Boys' School ( Festival , June 26 i . h ) . " In giving the toast , his lordship said : I have yet another toast to bung to > our nonce , and on which a is very difficult lor me to say very mucn , because 1 have exhausted almost all my ingenuity in trying to make a spi-tch on the one Chanty . I now find that 1 have to propose success to
the other Institutions , and 1 most heartily wish that the Girls' School and the Boys' School may have great success . I call to your notice that the Girls' School Festival is in May , and the Boys' School Festival is on the 26 ih June . Now , although the Gii Is' School may have had a very fair share of the go-id things of this world , I do not say they do not want help , and I know you will all be ready to give it . And the Boys' School also wants
assistance , and 1 think a great deal of assistance , and I only hope that you will all come forward again from your provinces , and help it so far as you can do it without detriment to yourselves or connections . Every little helps . Do not be afraid of five shillings ; it all goes on , and every little helps . Although we are anxious to take care of our Aged Masons and Widows , who from unforseen ciscumstances of calamity and misfortune have come
to distress and want , we are also anxious that the sons and daughters of Masons who may not be able to give them a fair start in life should have a start given them by us in the shape of a good education , and keeping them for a certain time of their lives till they are able to take care of themselves . And we only hope that the education they receive at the Girls' and Boys '
Schools will help them in earning their livelihood when they come to the age of maturity . I will not praise one Institution more than the other . I ask you to leartily drink success to the Masonic Institutions , the Girls ' be 'ool , and the Boy ^ ' School , and I mu-. t call upon Bro . Hedges , the Secretary of the Girls' School , being the senior one , to reply to this toast .
Bio . HEDGES , in response , said : I rise with great pleasure on this occasion 10 acknowledge the very kind manner in which this toast has been received . It affords me a double pleasure , in that this is the third time within a very short space that I have had the honour of replying to this toast when proposed by your noble Chairman of to-ni ght . The pleasure is also greatly enhanced , in that it affords me an opportunity of tendering the
Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
sister Institution our most sincere congratulations on the great success which has attended the labours of the Stewards on this occasion . I can only express the hope that the same liberality which has been extended to the Benevolent Institution to-day will be extended to the Boys' School in June , as you have already heard from your Chairman , that Institution reall y does need your assistance . The Girls' School naturally is looking forward to
its Festival—the 101 st—in May next , and we shall be very grateful for theassistance to which your noble Chairman referred . But whilesaying that , I would rather plead for the larger amount tor the Boys' School , seeing that last year the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls had that glorious Festival at the Royal Albert Hall , to which reference has already been made to-ni ght . And I would ask to be allowed , my lord , to take this opportunity
to tender , on behalf of that Institution , my most sincere and heartfelt thanks to all those who , by their unremitting energy and unbounded liberality contributed towards that magnificent Festival , which was at once a financial success unparalleled , and a Masonic celebration which has never been surpassed . I will not trespass further upon your time , but will conclude by thanking you once more for the Boys' and Girls' Schools for the very kind manner in which this toast has been received to-night .
Bro . BINCKES , in response to loud calls , which were for some time repeated , said : On behalf of the Boys' School , I rise with extreme reluctance to thank you for the very graceful response you have given to this toast . My good friend , Bro . Hedges , has thanked you on behalf of both the Girls ' and the Boys' School , and I think it a very hard case that the assemblage should be troubled with a double response . But by the almost unanimous
feeling of the brethren assembled here they insist on a word or two from me . I would only say with reference to the Boys' School , which has suffered very severely by the competition with the magnificent celebration of the Girls' School last year , we do place ourselves belore you at the Festival of June , 18 S 9 , as really and truly deserving of all the sympathy and all the support that you can possibly render to us . I do not know that I
am prudent in alluding to the investigation which has been instituted with relerence to the management of our Institution . I know very well I am justified in alluding to it , because I am painfully aware that a large number of breihren who are disposed to come to our relief and to our assistance this year are withholding their support pending the production of the report of that enquiry . I have no hesitation in stating to you that I believe that
I have attended the meetings of that Committee over and over again , and whatever faults may have been found with reference to details as to our management , there is no'justice in your withholding your support from the Institution , as under our care since 179 S 18 38 sons of Freemasons have been provided for , and we have now 260 generously supported by the Craft . If we have been too generous in our administration , who has had the
privilege and benefit of that generosity V ' The boys—the sons of Freemasons—and I do trust and fervently hope that the brethren ? will come forward and help us in this hour of our need and distress , and make , by the success of June , 1889 , something like a compensation for the loss we sustained by the competition with the Girls' School in 1888 . Although wishing every success to the Girls' School , with which Bro . Hedges is coupled ,
I do hope that the Institution with which I have been associated over 30 years ivill attract your sympathy and support , as I know it will justify your sympathy and support , and that you will not withhold from us your help in our distress this year . I can only say to every one here present it is a source of immense gratification that , notwithstanding the rumours floating
about , in every way you deem me worthy of paying me the compliment , under the supervision of your excellent Chairman , to respond on behalf of the Institution with which . I am more immediately connected , which I can assure you is deserving at your hands of all the support that can be given to it . ( Applause . )
Bro . ROBERT GREY , P . G . D ., President of the Board of Benevolence , then said : Brethren , a most attractive concert awaits us in the adjoining hall , and a greater attraction , the society of ladies ; and it would ill become us on this occasion to part without tendering to the Board of Stewards our hearty congratulations and thanks for their individual exertions for the present festival . ( ^ Hear , hear . ) Those who have worked with the Stewards
know how much depends on the personal efforts of the Stewards , and it never was belter exemplified than by the magnificent sum brought up by those Stewards of the Province of Norths and Hunts , over whom our Chairman presides as Prov . G . Master . ( Applause . ) I ask you to join me —I will be brief—in thanking them all heartily for obtaining the magnificent result that we have heard announced by our excellent Bro . Terry . We
know how a Board of Stewards has to work , but we also know how the work is made easy for them it they have a good President ; and I venture to think on this occasion they are lucky enough to have a President who has shown an interest in Masonry from the time he was first initiated as few Masons have done ; I allude to Sir Lionel Darell . Ihe toast having been duly honoured ,
Sir LIONEL DARELL said : I must thank you , Bro . Grey , for the kind terms in which you have proposed the health of the Board of Stewards , and also you , brethren , tor the kind way in which you have received that toast . In an ordinary way , to respond for so representative and influential a body as the present Board of Stewards would be indeed a difficult task ; but to me , on the present occasion , it is a comparatively easy one , for I am
perfectly well aware of the unanimity that has existed on that Board , which is the true characteristic of ail good and true Masons ; and , therefore , in saying for all my brother Stewards , as well as for myself , that if this Festival has equalled those that have preceded it , we , the Stewards , are more than amply repaid for any exertions we may have been put to with regard to this most excellent Institution . ( Hear , hear . ) I cannot call it work ,
brethren , because everything connected with Masonry with us is a labour of love , ( Cheers . ) 1 will not detain you more than a moment , but I feel that my brother Stewards would think 1 had been wanting , not in duty , but in what I ought to do , which is the greatest pleasure for me to do , if I was to sit down without testifying to the excellent work which has been done by our Secretary , Bro . Terry . I am perfectly aware that the body 01
Stewards have done everything they could to insure this Festival ' s success—first of all , financially , and secondly , socially ; but the principal arrangement ot this Festival , you know , devolves upon our Bro . Terry , and , therefore , I , as President of the Board of Stewards , am personally indebted to him tor carrying it out will
in all its details . 1 think also that most of the brethren present regret very much the absence of our good and . worthy Treasurer , Major A . Bott Cook . He is not able to be with us this evening on account of indisposition , and I am sure we hope he will soon be restored to good health-( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) . , The CHAIRMAN ; There is one more toast , brethren , which I do not think
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
possibly can . ( Applause . ) Brethren , I give you the toast of the evening , and that is " Success to the Benevolent Institution for Aged Masons and Widows of Masons , " and , while asking you to drink it heartily , I call upon Bro . Farnfieid to reply to the toast . Bro . J . A . FARNFIELD , in responding to the toast , said : The large assemblage that we have here to-nij » ht does my heart good , because I fully
believe that when so large a number of Masons are assembled together , the outcome of that assembly will be a very large total of the lists of the Stewards of the money thit has been brought in . It was with lear and trembling the Committee approached this year , because in reviewing our balance sheet at the last General Committee , we found that last year we were something like £ 2000 to the bad ;
and after the bumper Festival that the Girl ' s School had we cannot hope to have as large a sum this year as the last . But everything comes to those that hope and do not despair , and seeing you all assembled round us to support his lordship in the chair , we have every hope that the total to-night will not be less than last year , but that it will be more . ( Cheers . ) In that
hope I am sure you all will agree with me , and , therefore , I will not further trespass upon your time , but thank you all on behalf of the Committee and Exerutivpnf the Institution lor so kindly responding to the toast . ( Applause . ) Bro . TERRY then read the lists of subscriptions , the announcement of which was received with loud applause .
Bro . RICHARD EVE , P . G . Treasurer , then said : Brethren , the pleasing duty of proposing the next toast has devolved upon me , and I can assure you that it is with some diffidence that I approach that duty ; but when I gee the cheerful faces before me I feel fortified in attempting to perform it . The toast is . " The Health of our Right Hon . Chairman . " Our chairman is a Provincial Grand Master , who is well recognised in his province , and , I
may say , he is one of the most popular of the Prov ncial Grand Masters . ( Applause . ) From the splendid reception he had trom the brethren of his province , I am quite sure that he dwells in the hearts ol all Masons of that province ; for by the way in which th-y have presented themselves to-night and supported him , by bringing so large a sum from a comparatively small province ol upwards ot £ 600 , we may conclude it shows their earnestness in supporting this Institution . I am not going to take up your time long , but
I am going to tell you that although our R . W . Chairman is a comparatively young Mason he has made great headway in the Craft . He holds great positions in the Cratt ; but he is not ashamed to hold minor positions , as at the present time he is holding the office ot Junior Deacon in a London lodge . So that , brethren , you will see he is earnest in the cause—that he is determined to support our great Order , and to dignify it to the utmost of his ability . ( Cheers . )
The CHAIRMAN said : Brethren , I have to thank my worshipful brethren for the way in which they have received this toast , and the very worshipful brother for the kind and flattering way in which he has proposed it . I assure jou I do not deserve as much as was t-aid by the very worshi pful brother . ( Yes , yes . ) No ; I mean it . I can only tell you that I try to the utmost of my ability to do whatever duly devolves on me—to me rather .
from the position 1 have been placed in in the Craft ; and I only hope that when I do come and do what 1 am expected to do , I give you satisfaction . That satisfies me . But there is something beyond that . As our very worshipful brother told you , I am not an old Mason ; but as a Mason I can only say this—I wish I had been a Mason when I was 20 years of age , because I do not know , going through all that you and I know about Masonry ,
that there is such an Institution in the world to compare with it—an Institution that , whethet you are rich are poor , can do so much good—an Institution where the smallest mite is received thankfully , and applied faithfully . ( Cheers . ) That is the great and glorious point ot our Institution , I think . We are brethren who stand hand to hand and shoulder to shoulder , and we can face the whole world and defy calumny , because the people who
speak against us know nothing about us . I remember once seeing in the newspapers that a letter was answered . 1 know what my remark was at the time and I had to speak just after at a meeting , and I said that I thought it was a mistake to answer it all , because the person who wrote it did not know what he was writing about . We , brethren , know what we are doing , and all I can say is that , so long as I live , so long as I have health
and strength , when you want me to do any service for the Craft I am at your command . And I want to say to you one word more ; whatever we do , whatever we take into our hands to do , let us do it thoroughly and with our best ability . I thank you very heartily for the way in which you have received the toast and for the way in which it was proposed , and I hope this will not be the last time that we shall meet together . ( Cheers , )
The CHAIRMAN next proposed "Success to the other Masonic Institutions , the dirls' School ( Festival , May ) , the Boys' School ( Festival , June 26 i . h ) . " In giving the toast , his lordship said : I have yet another toast to bung to > our nonce , and on which a is very difficult lor me to say very mucn , because 1 have exhausted almost all my ingenuity in trying to make a spi-tch on the one Chanty . I now find that 1 have to propose success to
the other Institutions , and 1 most heartily wish that the Girls' School and the Boys' School may have great success . I call to your notice that the Girls' School Festival is in May , and the Boys' School Festival is on the 26 ih June . Now , although the Gii Is' School may have had a very fair share of the go-id things of this world , I do not say they do not want help , and I know you will all be ready to give it . And the Boys' School also wants
assistance , and 1 think a great deal of assistance , and I only hope that you will all come forward again from your provinces , and help it so far as you can do it without detriment to yourselves or connections . Every little helps . Do not be afraid of five shillings ; it all goes on , and every little helps . Although we are anxious to take care of our Aged Masons and Widows , who from unforseen ciscumstances of calamity and misfortune have come
to distress and want , we are also anxious that the sons and daughters of Masons who may not be able to give them a fair start in life should have a start given them by us in the shape of a good education , and keeping them for a certain time of their lives till they are able to take care of themselves . And we only hope that the education they receive at the Girls' and Boys '
Schools will help them in earning their livelihood when they come to the age of maturity . I will not praise one Institution more than the other . I ask you to leartily drink success to the Masonic Institutions , the Girls ' be 'ool , and the Boy ^ ' School , and I mu-. t call upon Bro . Hedges , the Secretary of the Girls' School , being the senior one , to reply to this toast .
Bio . HEDGES , in response , said : I rise with great pleasure on this occasion 10 acknowledge the very kind manner in which this toast has been received . It affords me a double pleasure , in that this is the third time within a very short space that I have had the honour of replying to this toast when proposed by your noble Chairman of to-ni ght . The pleasure is also greatly enhanced , in that it affords me an opportunity of tendering the
Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
sister Institution our most sincere congratulations on the great success which has attended the labours of the Stewards on this occasion . I can only express the hope that the same liberality which has been extended to the Benevolent Institution to-day will be extended to the Boys' School in June , as you have already heard from your Chairman , that Institution reall y does need your assistance . The Girls' School naturally is looking forward to
its Festival—the 101 st—in May next , and we shall be very grateful for theassistance to which your noble Chairman referred . But whilesaying that , I would rather plead for the larger amount tor the Boys' School , seeing that last year the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls had that glorious Festival at the Royal Albert Hall , to which reference has already been made to-ni ght . And I would ask to be allowed , my lord , to take this opportunity
to tender , on behalf of that Institution , my most sincere and heartfelt thanks to all those who , by their unremitting energy and unbounded liberality contributed towards that magnificent Festival , which was at once a financial success unparalleled , and a Masonic celebration which has never been surpassed . I will not trespass further upon your time , but will conclude by thanking you once more for the Boys' and Girls' Schools for the very kind manner in which this toast has been received to-night .
Bro . BINCKES , in response to loud calls , which were for some time repeated , said : On behalf of the Boys' School , I rise with extreme reluctance to thank you for the very graceful response you have given to this toast . My good friend , Bro . Hedges , has thanked you on behalf of both the Girls ' and the Boys' School , and I think it a very hard case that the assemblage should be troubled with a double response . But by the almost unanimous
feeling of the brethren assembled here they insist on a word or two from me . I would only say with reference to the Boys' School , which has suffered very severely by the competition with the magnificent celebration of the Girls' School last year , we do place ourselves belore you at the Festival of June , 18 S 9 , as really and truly deserving of all the sympathy and all the support that you can possibly render to us . I do not know that I
am prudent in alluding to the investigation which has been instituted with relerence to the management of our Institution . I know very well I am justified in alluding to it , because I am painfully aware that a large number of breihren who are disposed to come to our relief and to our assistance this year are withholding their support pending the production of the report of that enquiry . I have no hesitation in stating to you that I believe that
I have attended the meetings of that Committee over and over again , and whatever faults may have been found with reference to details as to our management , there is no'justice in your withholding your support from the Institution , as under our care since 179 S 18 38 sons of Freemasons have been provided for , and we have now 260 generously supported by the Craft . If we have been too generous in our administration , who has had the
privilege and benefit of that generosity V ' The boys—the sons of Freemasons—and I do trust and fervently hope that the brethren ? will come forward and help us in this hour of our need and distress , and make , by the success of June , 1889 , something like a compensation for the loss we sustained by the competition with the Girls' School in 1888 . Although wishing every success to the Girls' School , with which Bro . Hedges is coupled ,
I do hope that the Institution with which I have been associated over 30 years ivill attract your sympathy and support , as I know it will justify your sympathy and support , and that you will not withhold from us your help in our distress this year . I can only say to every one here present it is a source of immense gratification that , notwithstanding the rumours floating
about , in every way you deem me worthy of paying me the compliment , under the supervision of your excellent Chairman , to respond on behalf of the Institution with which . I am more immediately connected , which I can assure you is deserving at your hands of all the support that can be given to it . ( Applause . )
Bro . ROBERT GREY , P . G . D ., President of the Board of Benevolence , then said : Brethren , a most attractive concert awaits us in the adjoining hall , and a greater attraction , the society of ladies ; and it would ill become us on this occasion to part without tendering to the Board of Stewards our hearty congratulations and thanks for their individual exertions for the present festival . ( ^ Hear , hear . ) Those who have worked with the Stewards
know how much depends on the personal efforts of the Stewards , and it never was belter exemplified than by the magnificent sum brought up by those Stewards of the Province of Norths and Hunts , over whom our Chairman presides as Prov . G . Master . ( Applause . ) I ask you to join me —I will be brief—in thanking them all heartily for obtaining the magnificent result that we have heard announced by our excellent Bro . Terry . We
know how a Board of Stewards has to work , but we also know how the work is made easy for them it they have a good President ; and I venture to think on this occasion they are lucky enough to have a President who has shown an interest in Masonry from the time he was first initiated as few Masons have done ; I allude to Sir Lionel Darell . Ihe toast having been duly honoured ,
Sir LIONEL DARELL said : I must thank you , Bro . Grey , for the kind terms in which you have proposed the health of the Board of Stewards , and also you , brethren , tor the kind way in which you have received that toast . In an ordinary way , to respond for so representative and influential a body as the present Board of Stewards would be indeed a difficult task ; but to me , on the present occasion , it is a comparatively easy one , for I am
perfectly well aware of the unanimity that has existed on that Board , which is the true characteristic of ail good and true Masons ; and , therefore , in saying for all my brother Stewards , as well as for myself , that if this Festival has equalled those that have preceded it , we , the Stewards , are more than amply repaid for any exertions we may have been put to with regard to this most excellent Institution . ( Hear , hear . ) I cannot call it work ,
brethren , because everything connected with Masonry with us is a labour of love , ( Cheers . ) 1 will not detain you more than a moment , but I feel that my brother Stewards would think 1 had been wanting , not in duty , but in what I ought to do , which is the greatest pleasure for me to do , if I was to sit down without testifying to the excellent work which has been done by our Secretary , Bro . Terry . I am perfectly aware that the body 01
Stewards have done everything they could to insure this Festival ' s success—first of all , financially , and secondly , socially ; but the principal arrangement ot this Festival , you know , devolves upon our Bro . Terry , and , therefore , I , as President of the Board of Stewards , am personally indebted to him tor carrying it out will
in all its details . 1 think also that most of the brethren present regret very much the absence of our good and . worthy Treasurer , Major A . Bott Cook . He is not able to be with us this evening on account of indisposition , and I am sure we hope he will soon be restored to good health-( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) . , The CHAIRMAN ; There is one more toast , brethren , which I do not think