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away with any test of seven years . In the second exemption , the word " membership" alone applies to that special exemption , and not to " death , " & c , the paragrap h being an alternative and additional " exemption , " and is separated from the previous context by the disjunctive " or . " It was urged that there was nothing to limit lhe " death " to the seven years but it was

replied , that Masonic membership was intended " ab initio , " and that if a brother left Masonry , not having subscribed seven years , and died out of Masonry , the child was ineligible . This view all but unanimously prevailed , and the petition was rejected , as wc arc told similar petitions have been rejected before . We need hardly point out the importance of this distinct ruling and decision , and think it wall to call attention to the fact , for the information both of metropolitan and provincial readers .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The first meeting of thc Board of Stewards for the forthcoming Festival vas held at Freemasons' Mall on Tnursdav , the 5 th inst . There were present : Bros . XV . Clarke , G . P . ; R . J- Tayler , P . M . 144 ; Joseph Storey , P . P . G . Supt . Kent ; George Kenning , P . G . D . Middx . ; George Mickley , P . M . 4 x 9 : William Lake , P . P . G . Registrar Cornwall ; Ed- 'ar Bowye . - ; Henry Faija , P . M . 1 . 54 ° * Joseph Clever , P . M . 171 j WmGroveW . M . 740 ; W . R . Crozicr , P . M . 433 5 J' W - Baldwin ,

. , P . M ' . 1326 ; ] ainc ; Coo ' pes , W . M . 55 ; H . R . Cooper Smith , P . Prov . G . Warden , Oxon ; F . R . ' Charubcn , P . G . W . Berks and Bucks ; \ V . H . Farnfield , W . M . 1 S 04 ; J . Drew Bear , J . D . 154 S ; R A . Morgan , S . W IOTI ; G . Macdonald , Z . 127- *; . J . H . Sonthwood . P . M . 1260 ; G . P . 1 'Vta , S . W . 1900 ; F . R . Spaull , W . M . 1124 ; C Belton , J . W . 777 5 RLunboiuno ; Wm . VincentP . M . 1194 ; T . R- Dodson , P . M . Soo ;

. , Pcni . Turner , W . M . 132 S ; J . A . Farnfield , P . M . 25 6 ; E . F . Storr , P . M . " - >; Bedford Lemere , W . M . Confidence ; R . Barham , W . M . 144 ; J . F . Van Raalte , P . M . 917 ; R . D , Cummings , J . D . 1677 ; H . Carman ; J . Poulton , S . W . iosG ; Thos . E . Taylor , P . M . 161 ; J . J , Pope , P . M . 1305 ; Geo . R . Walts , P . M . 194 ; Jas . Terry ( Secretary ) . _ __ .

Bro . W . Clark , G . Pursuivant , wa ' s elected President , and Bro . Edgar Bov . vcr , P . G W . licit ? , Treasurer , and the amount to be deposited by each ' Steward to the Festival Fund was fixed at £ 2 2 s . The Secretary announced that H . R . H . thc Grand Master had sanctioned the alteration oi the date of thc festival from Wednesday , thc 2 ? nd , to Tuesdaythe 21 st Februarythe former being Ash Wednesday .

, , The ' Musical Committee was appointed , consisting of Bros . Dr . Meekley , J , W . Baldwin , E . F . Storr , Cleaver Hastings Miller , George Kenning , and Bedford Lemere . The next meeting WM fixed ( ov Friday , February loth , at 4 p . m .

New Year's Entertainment At The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

NEW YEAR'S ENTERTAINMENT AT THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

On Wednesday afternoon , according 10 anvmal custom since : Bvo . James Terry has been Secretary of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons , thc New Year ' s entertainrneiu to the inmates of the Institution at Croydon was g iven in thc hall of

the Institution . For t ome years p . i't it has been the desire of Bro . lcrry to give tjreatcr accommodation to lhe inmates and the visitors , on the occasion of the Ncw Year ' s and summer entertainments . When they were firat projected the visitors , who were really thc subscribers to the entertainment , the fund- ; of the Institution not being inlringrd upon for the puipose—only

amounted to some nine or U-n , but lhe ( . ••• tcrtai . iment proving very success-Jul , the subscribers became more numerous , and . consequently the visitors increased in number . 'fhe hnll of thc Institution was , in fact , thc room ii-aei ! for the purples- of thc (" ommiilee , and when originally built was more than large enou"h for tin . * uses 10 which it was in be applied ; but when a little rejoicing at thc opening of the New Near was provided for the old

people , it wa . ' at once seen that if il grew in proportion-- the dimensions ol thc hall were not large enough for anything hku an extended fcsiiviiy : and alter the visitors had for sou ' ie years endured a good deal of crowding wilh the utmu-t equanimity , seeing ' lhat it was not for their p leasure but lor lhat of the old people thev atioivh *] , liro . Terry laid before his Committee _ . * i proposition for enlarging the room . The = cliemc ripened , and the result is that of the ofhces to the ol

since the last summer entertainment the whole rear iho hall have been thrown into il , so as 10 make onc large room , while thc approaches are a portion of an extra building added to the old structure . The appcai-ai-.--c , on entering the main doorwa * , * , is of a much superior character to thai * :-.-.-med in ' the old building . Facing the entrance is a staircase in the centre , branching off al thc first llighl of stairs to two staircases ri"ht and left , antl , on reaching the first floor , retiring rooms , with

eve : v convenience , are fined up on either oide . Doors -similar to thc old doors of the hall are in thc crntrc , and . at the same lime , there is an entrance to the hall from the retiring rooms on the left , 'fhe accommodation whicli is added by thc alterations will allow of al least fifty or sixty more persons being seated with romfori than in thc old room . The ceiling is divided into squares , and two large fireplace * - afford the means of both warming and ventilating the hall with perl eel comfort to thc occupants of the room .

Thc brethren , ladies , and non-Masons who were present , most of whom went down lo Croydon in special ^ aloon carriages kindly attached by lhe South-Eastern Railway Company to the 1 . 9 p . m . train from Cannon- * -lrect , were : C . Dagoussel , Bro . Edgar Bowyer , Bro . Chares James Perceval , Bro . John G . . Steeens , P . M . 554 ; Bro . Raynham W . Stewart , Bro . W . II . Tatter-hall , Bro . Edward Davie ., Bro . II . W . Alford , Bro . G . Ward Verry ,

P . M . U' / e , . * s * i * . ; Bro . ] o-eph Steele , Bro . W . W . Morgan , jun ., and Mrs . WAV . Morgr n , inn ., I Im . Charles Lacey , P . M . 1421 ; Bro . 10 R . W . Hedges , and Mrs . F . V .. W . 1 ledges , Bro . J . Constable , P . M . iy . 5 ; Miss Kale S . 'l err > and Miss Coir table , Mrs . Terry , Dr . H . J . Strong ( House Surgeon to thc In-•¦ tiimion ) . Bro . W . H . Wallington , I ' . M . Sio : Bro . Charles W . Smyihc , Miss Ellen Webster , Mrs . C . j ! Newton , E . E . Boulter , Jessie E . 'ferry , Mrs . II . M . Mason , I * " . Steward , Miss Constable , Miss E . H . Culmer ,

E . Webster , Bro . Enic-. t IL Davies , Miss M . C . Terry , Mrs . Emma Ptiplett , Bro . James Cntbnsh , and Mrs . Cutbush , Mr . John Puplett , Bro . George Bo ton , Bro . John Henry l . eggoll , Mrs . C . W . Smyth , Mrs . Leggott , Mrs . Bolton , Bro . H . Massey , P M . 619 , W . M . " 1928 ( Freemason ) . Mrs . H . Massey , and Miss A R . Massey , Mrs . E . J . Allen , Mrs . W . Wallington , and Miss M . Wallington , Mr . C . Townsend , Bro . Thos . W . C . Bush and Mrs . Bush , Bro .

New Year's Entertainment At The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

J . R . Gallant and Mrs . Gallant , Mrs . Tattershall and Master Tattershall , Mr . James E . Terry , Mr . A . Faull , Bro . Thomas J . Barnes , P . M . 552 and 933 5 Bro . John J . Berry , P . P . 554 ; Bro . G . H . " Stephens , Bro . Thomas Cubitt , P . G . P . ; Bro . F . Binckes , Bro . C . F . Matier , Bro . Charles Daniel , mid Miss Daniel .

Bro . Terry was in attendance at the arrival of the visitors , and gave them all a hearty welcome . At two o ' clock the Inmates of thc institution were summoned by sound of bell to partake of banquet , ancl on their having taken their seals , Dr . Strong , lhe honorary surgeon lo the Institution , announced that the hall had been enlarged for thc comfort and convenience of the brethren , and he then proclaimed it open , and withdrew a curtain which concealed a tablet placed over thc doors , recording thc fact of thc enlargement of the hall .

Dr . Strong afterwards presided at the banquet , which was most liberall y supplied . The lady visitors sat down with the old people , and Bro . Terry ¦ ind Bro . Cubitt assisted Dr . Strong as carvers of the viands . The other brethren formed themselves into a board of general assistants , and with a strong body of waiters administered to thc wants of the guests .

When the banquet was over , Dr . STRONG gave "The Health of the Oueen , " and next "The Founders of thc Feast , " pointing out that the expenses , with the exception of a small sum , were provided voluntaril y by friends of thc Institution . To the liberality of those friends he passed a " hi <* di eulogium , and congratulated the Institution on having found such a number of warm supporters .

Bro . EDGAR BOWYER responded , but stated that there were many who more deserved than himself to have their names coupled with thc toast . Bro . STRONG then proposed " 'l he Hcahh of the Warden ( Bro . Norris ) , and the Matron ( Miss Norris ) . " He stated that only those who had visited the Institution could have the high estimation which he had of the services of both the Warden and Matron ,. Their services to the Institution had been most advantageous , as they had contributed greatly to the comfort and happiness of

thc annuitants who were resident there . To the Matron , hc must say their great thanks were due for the banquet lhat day , as it was under her superintendence that it was prepared , and with the appliances at her command it was wonderful how perfectly she had succeeded . Bro . NORRIS replied , and speaking especially on behalf of his daughter , said , she deserved every kind thing that could be said of her . Perhaps he

might look at her through a coloured medium , but still ho could not hel p saying she had been a treasure . Respecting himself , it was scarcel y necessary to say he had been a resident at thc Institution for twenty years , and having attained the position of Warden , hc endeavoured all " he could to promoie the welfare and happiness of his co-inhabitant : ; . He believed he

had , in some measure , succeeded ; at least , lhe proposition of his health in such kind words made him believe it . All the residents had but one common feeling of gratitude , and affection , and respect for thc Committee and the kind friends who looked after them so tenderly . They were really like children there , for there was scarcel y a thing thev could ask for that they did not get .

Bro . RAYNHAM W . STEWART proposed "The Health of Dr . Strong , " who he said was rea ly at the beck and call of the old people at thc Institution . He took a great interest in the Institution , and the Committee and all the subscribers of thc Institution were proud of him . His services were invaluable . He received nothing for those services , which were given entirel y for the love of Masonn * and of the Institution .

Dr . STRONI ; said in reply that it was one of the most p leasing clinics hc had 10 perform to look after the inmates of ihis ln < -tiiuiion . I ( e n trusted lie had studied their welfare and happiness . In fan , he knew he had done so , by the kind expressions which had fallen from the luvlhren iu time past and on the present occasion . He only trusted hc mi ght have health and strength

fo loilow 111 the « ame course as hc had hitherto pursued . fho old people and the lady visitors then retired , nnd the lady visitors spent the alternoon in visiting the old folks and taking tea with them , while the brethren , who had devoted their attention lo thc comfort of the annuitants , partook of a repast . As none of these lillie refreshments in Masonry are allowed lo pass without a speech or

two—Bro . RAVNIIVM , W . Steward , P . G . D ., the Chairman of the House Committee , who presided , proposed as a loast , " Success to lhe Roval Masonic Benevolent Institution , to which

Bro . 1 I - . URY responded . He staled lhat at his last festival Wcr , t Yorkshire came forward wilh /^ o Oo , and lhe loial of the subscriptions for the year were f \ . \ . > . They had seen bv the papers that the Institution , in lhe course ol iln * year lbb ' i , had received . 6 * 17 , 738 . Thc announcement at the festival ol i ! i < - subscriptions was £ l . \ , wo ; but ihey had received £ i- \ , < y »< < or ^ i ' -ii > in excess ot the announcement . Bro . Binckes , thc

Secre-, tary ol lhe Boys School , had worked hard , and he obtained lhe second place on lhe list . When the ycar , iSS 2 was ended a very grand result would take place in connection with Bro . Binckes' Institution , 'fhe Institution would then , very probably , shift places , but he ( Bro . 'ferry ) , was looking forward to the results of this year wilh a large amount of misgiving . There must be a drop of £ ^><> cs in " thc announcement the Benevolent Institution

would have to make , as West Yorkshire last year sent up / . ' 3 . 560 . Fortunately at the last meeting of Grand Lodge , an additional ££ on a year would now come into the coffers oi the Institution , which would enable it to enlarge its scope . But then they had 112 applicants for thc next election , and only twenty-one vacancies ; such a list as had not yet been exhibited to thc ' Masonic world .

lhe Boys School ancl the Girls' School massed together could not make such a list , and therefore he thought that there was no Institution so worthy of support . Not disparaging the other Institutions , he ventured lo say , in the presence of its strong supporters , there was not one institution thai was more worth ) 'of support . ' He wished lhe Boys ' and Girls '

Schools every success . Hc wished 10 state that since the institution of this entertainment , the brethren at ^ Manchester had contributed £ 10 a year toits expenses , and had at the same time established a similar dinner to the aged brethren and widows there , and at lhe present time such a dinner was being given to them in lhe Freemasons' Hall , Cooper-street , Manchester .

Bro . BINCKES , who was loudly called lor , said he only wished 10 say one word , as he was reluctant while the brethren were enjoying the hospitality of the friends ol the Institution to say anything in the shape of a competitive speech to that ot Bro . ferry . He wished he could demolish every word of Bro . ferry , and say there was no Institution like the Boys' School . But it

would ill become him on an occasion like lhat to do so . For twenty-five years he had advocated the cause ol the Boys' School and other institutions , and placed them all on a common footing . He did not wish to destroy lhat plallorm . Bro . 'ferry had spoken ol the £ 3560 from West Yorkshire to his Institution . The Institution had been still further benefited by an additional