Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Annual Entertainment To The Old People At Croydon.
STRONG said that for the information of those ladies and brethren who had not attended these meetings before he might say that the expense uf the entertainment did not come out of the funds subscribed to the Institution , as was the case in some Charitable Institutions , whose funds were thereby diminished materially . This entertainment was due entirely to the voluntary contributions of brethren and ladies who took a deep interest in the Institution . Some of the contributions
were in kind and others in money , and among the contributors were Bros . Hastings Miller and Cooke , and Mrs . Curtis . Mrs . Curtis gave warm stockings and gloves , and among the donors of money was Bro . Sydney Edridge ( Mayor of Croydon ) , who , he was happy to say , was present . Bro . Edridge was a Vice-Patron of the Institution as well as of the other Institutions ; but if Bro . Edridge had a pet among those Institutions he should say decidedly it was the Benevolent Institution . With his name he coupled this toast .
Bro . SYDNEY GEORGE EDRIDGE , Mayor of Croydon , in reply to the toast , said he felt rather under false pretenses because it was not until recently he was able to get Dr . Strong to accept a small mite towards the expenses of this feast . He anxiously wished to take part in this gathering by his presence and his small contribution . Dr . Strong had referred to the fact that the Benevolent Institution was his ( Bro . Edridge's ) pet Institution in Masonry . Well , he might say he thought it was —( hear , hear )—for the reason that the Boys had the great future in
front of them backed by the sympathy of the friends of the Institutions , and they had youth in their favour . The Girls in the same way . But the Old People—what of them ? They still had friendly sympathy and material comfort ; they were in this home erected by the hands of magnificence and munificence ; they could only by recollection look back ; the storm and stress of their lives were over . What wonder , then , that Dr . Strong for the first time , with that incisiveness which was characteristic of his
profession he once adorned , was able to see into his ( Bro . Edridge's ) mind and tell the company what his ( Bro . Edridge's ) feelings were towards the Old People ' s Institution . He was obliged to go away to another function , but he would come back again to see the rest of the entertainment provided for the Old People . He was not so old a Mason as Bro . Terry ; he was young enough to be Bro . Terry ' s Masonic grandson ; but at the same time , although so many years a Mason , he felt Masonry up to the hilt , and when they came to consider
the number of brethren there were who absolutely supported the Order' simply out of the kindness of their own hearts—they had nothing to gain by it except to do good—he thought that all the years he had been a Mason , when each Anniversary came round he looked back to sec where he had failed in the least degree in sympathy with it , or whether hccould have done better than he had done . In the presence of his elders , he said he hoped he had not done wrong . It was quite impossible , according to Masonic tradition , for them to persuade men'to belong to it , but that did not mean you could not recommend it . He believed the
ritual taught that you could not force it , but you could recommend it , and one of the finest recommendations there could be of it was what had been done by it . The proof of what it was , was not its sentiments , not its words , but what it did . If they did the most they could in this world—a world so cold , so insensible , so unsympathetic—there was room for them to show their sympathy for others , and the most practical way he knew of was to belong to that Order to whom he had the honour to belong—the glorious Brotherhood of which they were all so proud . ( Cheers ) .
Bro . J A . FARNFIELD proposed " The Chairman , " Dr . Strong , who was so well-known to all present , that it was unnecessary to enumerate his virtues , or inform them what he had done for the Institution . He had treated the inmates most tenderly , and they could testify to this better than he ( Bro . Farnfield ) could because Dr . Strong had never seen him in bed . Dr . Strong was a jolly good fellow and when he sat at the head of these festive gatherings he was in his
right place . He trusted Dr . Strong might live many many years to enjoy the rest he had so well earned . Dr . STRONG , acknowledging the toast , said it gave him great pleasure to have the privilege accorded him by the Committee to preside over these festivals . He had presided every year since they were first established ; he had not been absent once . As long as the Committee honoured him with the invitation nothing would give hiin greater pleasure than to preside at these pleasant meetings .
Dr . STKOKU gave the third toast " Success to the Institution and the Health of Bro . Terry , the Secretary . " Bro . TERRY , replying to the toast , said he had the same unbroken record as Dr . Strong in attending these annual visits ; he had not been absent from one ol them ; and he trusted it would be his privilege to be present at them for many years . The year had been a very successful year for the Institution . The subscriptions had not been the highest the Institution had had in any
one year , because they must not forget that in 1 S 92 they collected nearly £ 70 , 000 . But last year they turned £ 27 , , the Boys' £ 23 , 000 , and the Girls ' £ 21 , 000 ; and this was despite all the claims on the brethren ' s pockets and the exertions made to support the Craft generally . More than £ 70 , 000 had been got in 1897 for the three Institutions . This year there would be a grand effort for the Boys' Centenary , and therefore the other Institutions would have to suffer . Nevertheless , he hoped the Benevolent Institution would be able to pay its way without selling out any of its investments .
Dr . STRONG next proposed " Miss Norris ( the Matron ) and her sister , Miss Mary Norris , " to whom the preparation of the banquet was due , and who worked very hard to render the residents in the Institution happ / and comfortable . Bro . J , A . FARNFIELD led in Miss Norris , and , replying for her , said he had felt her grasp , and he perfectly understood what she wished him to express to
the company for the very kind manner in which they had received the toast of her health . Dr . Strong had mentioned the great amount of labour she had expended on the Institution , and she bade him say that it was a labour of love ; everything she could do for the Institution and its various inmates she should be happy to do so iong as the Committee felt she was doing her best . She hoped to remain in the Institution with her sister , who so well supported her .
The old folks then retired to their homes until the evening entertainment , and the ladies paid a round of visits to the residents while the brethren who had been attending to the wants of their guests at the Old People ' s dinner , sat down to a repast of their own . Bro . John Newton presided , and Bro . J . Terry took the vice-chair . At the conclusion of the repast "The Queen ' s Health , " was
drunk . Bro . J NEWTON next proposed " Prosperity to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . " Mig ht it go on ard prosper for many years . The brethren had seen the Old People that day and they were all very happy . If they were not it was their own fault , for the Committee and Secretary did the very best they possibly could to smooth the remainder of the days of the annuitants .
In connection with that toast it was usual for the chairman on these occasions to wish continued health to the Institution's esteemed Secretary , Bro . James Terry , but to his mind it was absurd to wish prosperity to the Institution separate from the health of Bro . Terry . Brc . Terry was so bound up with the Institution that its prosperity and his health were concurrent . It was impossible for Bro . Terry to do more work than he did for the Institution ; he worked hard , intensely hard , and how he did it was a marvel . This all the brethren acknowledged .
Bro . J AMES TEKRV , P . G . S . B ., in reply to the toast , said no unc could be more sensible than himself of the words which Bro . Newton had tittered so kindly and so friendly . In the first place lie would get rid of the personal debt he was under to Bro . Newton for his expressions and to the brethren round the table who had so cjrdially received them . It wa 3 not now a small number of years he had
Annual Entertainment To The Old People At Croydon.
been connected with this Institution . Since the year 1864 he had been intimately connected and associated with it and from 1872 he had had the honour of being its Secretary . He need hardly tell the brethren that the growth of the Institution during that lengthened period had been very , very great , consequent , naturally , upon the increased number of lodges in the Craft . But the work he had to do was never looked upon by him as work ; it was his duty to do it , and he did it to the best of his power and ability . One got sometimes , perhaps , a little tired , he
need hardly say , especially when one went into the country . On those occasions the provincial brethren , when they got a Londoner down , they would take him from one club to another , and the only question was whether the doors of the hotel where he was staying would open for him after he had been keeping the night porter up . He was down at Oxford three months ago at the Provincial Grand Lodge meeting there , and was staying at the hotel where the P . G . Lodge banquet was held ; he stayed there in order that no inducement should entice him to go out .
But on that occasion there were so many brethren present who were going to support their Prov . G . Master , the Earl of Jersey , in his Chairmanship of the next Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution that he was compelled to relinquish his resolution , and he was taken to as many as three different clubs , and did not get back to his hotel until 4 . 30 in lhe morning . However , he went to bed , and was up again to breakfast at 8 . 30 and away from Oxford by the 9 . 15 a . m . train to London to discharge his duties . So far as regarded the personal
interest he took in the Institution , he hoped and trusted that as long as he lived and health was spared him he should continue to take that interest . Now , with regard to the Institution , of course , they were going to pass through a very crucial year in 1 S 9 S ; everything was running one way , and that way was on behalf of the second-established Institution of the three ; and he hoped it would have such a bumper as would satisfy the Committee of Management for four or five years , so as to allow the other Institutions to recuperate , if they did not , the
Benevolent Institution would have to make further appeals and have two Festivals a year . At that time last year he had something like 270 or 2 S 0 Stewards for the then forthcoming Festival ; he had only 150 now . Therefore , the brethren would see the Institution's normal Festival strength that year would only be about half what it was last year . Of course , they had not yet got . the £ 2000 which Grand Lodge voted in commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee ; and that would come in that year , and it would assist materially ; therefore , if they
got for their Festival on February 22 nd an amount which he expected to announce — with the aid of the Board of Stewardsthey would not have to sell out any invested capital and pull through 1 S 9 S without trenching on anything which his predecessors and the Committee of Management before and since he had been Secretary had been able to put away . Of course , it was an exceptional event , the Centenary of the Boys' School , and the other Institutions bowed to it ; but in the year of the Centenary of the Girls '
School the Benevolent Institution was able to realise £ 13 , 000 . He did not think he would realise that this year , but the brethren might rely upon it it would be sufficient to justify the Committee in the belief that at the end of the year it would be found they had paid their way . That that thing must come round to all the Institutions was apparent to everyone , but he trusted he might tell those around the table that although the jubilee of 1892 was that of the Male Fund , 18 99 would be the Jubilee of the Widows' Fund . The funds of 1892 were not
divided , and he was perfectly cettain that the gallantry of Masons was such that they would never allow the Jubilee of the Widows to pass over without supporting it as they did the Men ' s Jubilee . The question of a festival being held was carried by a large majority . He knew how the majority was constituted . Health and strength being spared to him , he should endeavour in 1 S 99 to make that Festival a great success . He knew that the brethren now in the room had the interest—their undivided interest—in the support of the
Girls' and the Boys' Schools ; but as Dr . Strong had said that day boys and girls were different to old people ; boys and girls with full vigour in health had a prospect before them ; the ' old people could but look back and they might have bitter distress . He only hoped and trusted that the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution might have a very fair Festival this year and a brighter hope for 1 S 99 —the last Festival the Old People could hold in the 19 th century . Sincerely
and heartily did he hope that the Institution would go on prosperously ; everyone wished it ; but if there was any one who felt for the benefit and interest of the Institution would they allow it to be shared by the Secn-tary of the Institution Long might they have gatherings like this—the union of friends ! They encouraged the executive on their way , and when the day came , as it must , that they went underground , might the good done by them be followed by those who had the honour of succeeding them . ( Cheers ) .
Bro . J . A , FARM iF . t . ti preposcd "The Health of the Chairman , Bro . John Newton . " Bro . Newton had one single purpose in this life , the promotion and the welfare of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . As February came near people avoided him in the street . ( Laughter . ) Bro . Terry had said he believed the Institutions would be solvent at the end of the year . They had been preparing for this centenary of the Boys ; they knew it was coming on , and it would not overwhelm them . He trusted that with the liberality of the Craft they would be able to get on .
Bro . J NEWTON replied , and acknowledged that he did work lor the Institution . He was not going to say how he did it ; but very often other people got the credit for what he had done . He did not care for that j he was satisfied if the Institution benefited . This part of the proceedings of the day was then closed .
An interesting occurrence was brought to the attention of the brethren . One of the annuitants , Bro . Alcock , who died in November , was the possessor of a handsome chair . That chair has since been presented by the widow to the Institution for the use of the Chairman who presides at any of the festivities of the Institution at Croydon , and it was used at this meeting for the first time .
In the evening the annuitants and visitors were entertained with a musical treat by Mrs . Rapkin and Miss Kemp , -Mr . Charles Norman , Miss Harris , Bro . John Porter , Miss Clarkson , Mrs . R . II . D . Rapkin , Bro . Percy Day , and Mr . E . J . Dale , with "Mystic Wonders" ( conjuring ); Mr . Edward Bernard , ventriloipiist ; Mr . E . J . Dale with the Graphophone and the Cinetnatographe , which included the following scenes : A Musical Ride—the Lancers ; Dancing on the
Lawn—Crystal Palace ; Bicycling in Hyde Park ; Scene in Paris outside the Barracks ; the Hat Manipulator ; 11 ighgate Tunnel—G . N . Railway ; the Conjuror ; Brighton—the King ' s-road ; the Serpentine Dancer ; Balloon Ascent —Crystal Palace ; On the Terrace—Crystal Palace ; the Lightning Cartoonist sketching a Face ; and the Diamond Jubilee Procession—the Soldiers , the Band , and the Queen ' s Carriage .
The whole of this entertainment was provided by , and given under the superintendence of , Bro . H Kemp . W . M . S 62 . The company returned to town by the 10 . 40 p . m . train , after having spent a delightful day .
AMONG , the guests ut T . R . H . the Prince and 1 'iinccssof Wales , at Sandringhs "' on Saturday last , in addition to members of their Royal Highnesses family , were tlic Spanish Ambassador and lhe Bishop of Rochester . On Sunday morning the Princes and Princesses and the house parly were present in the Church of St . Mary Magdalene where the service was performed by the Rev . Canon llervey . On Monday T . R . H . tinl ' rincj and Princess ut Wales and Piincess Victoria , attended by Miss Knollys a"i Hro . Capt . Holford , travelled to Chatsworth , on a visit to Bro . the Duke and Duchess ol Devonshire .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Annual Entertainment To The Old People At Croydon.
STRONG said that for the information of those ladies and brethren who had not attended these meetings before he might say that the expense uf the entertainment did not come out of the funds subscribed to the Institution , as was the case in some Charitable Institutions , whose funds were thereby diminished materially . This entertainment was due entirely to the voluntary contributions of brethren and ladies who took a deep interest in the Institution . Some of the contributions
were in kind and others in money , and among the contributors were Bros . Hastings Miller and Cooke , and Mrs . Curtis . Mrs . Curtis gave warm stockings and gloves , and among the donors of money was Bro . Sydney Edridge ( Mayor of Croydon ) , who , he was happy to say , was present . Bro . Edridge was a Vice-Patron of the Institution as well as of the other Institutions ; but if Bro . Edridge had a pet among those Institutions he should say decidedly it was the Benevolent Institution . With his name he coupled this toast .
Bro . SYDNEY GEORGE EDRIDGE , Mayor of Croydon , in reply to the toast , said he felt rather under false pretenses because it was not until recently he was able to get Dr . Strong to accept a small mite towards the expenses of this feast . He anxiously wished to take part in this gathering by his presence and his small contribution . Dr . Strong had referred to the fact that the Benevolent Institution was his ( Bro . Edridge's ) pet Institution in Masonry . Well , he might say he thought it was —( hear , hear )—for the reason that the Boys had the great future in
front of them backed by the sympathy of the friends of the Institutions , and they had youth in their favour . The Girls in the same way . But the Old People—what of them ? They still had friendly sympathy and material comfort ; they were in this home erected by the hands of magnificence and munificence ; they could only by recollection look back ; the storm and stress of their lives were over . What wonder , then , that Dr . Strong for the first time , with that incisiveness which was characteristic of his
profession he once adorned , was able to see into his ( Bro . Edridge's ) mind and tell the company what his ( Bro . Edridge's ) feelings were towards the Old People ' s Institution . He was obliged to go away to another function , but he would come back again to see the rest of the entertainment provided for the Old People . He was not so old a Mason as Bro . Terry ; he was young enough to be Bro . Terry ' s Masonic grandson ; but at the same time , although so many years a Mason , he felt Masonry up to the hilt , and when they came to consider
the number of brethren there were who absolutely supported the Order' simply out of the kindness of their own hearts—they had nothing to gain by it except to do good—he thought that all the years he had been a Mason , when each Anniversary came round he looked back to sec where he had failed in the least degree in sympathy with it , or whether hccould have done better than he had done . In the presence of his elders , he said he hoped he had not done wrong . It was quite impossible , according to Masonic tradition , for them to persuade men'to belong to it , but that did not mean you could not recommend it . He believed the
ritual taught that you could not force it , but you could recommend it , and one of the finest recommendations there could be of it was what had been done by it . The proof of what it was , was not its sentiments , not its words , but what it did . If they did the most they could in this world—a world so cold , so insensible , so unsympathetic—there was room for them to show their sympathy for others , and the most practical way he knew of was to belong to that Order to whom he had the honour to belong—the glorious Brotherhood of which they were all so proud . ( Cheers ) .
Bro . J A . FARNFIELD proposed " The Chairman , " Dr . Strong , who was so well-known to all present , that it was unnecessary to enumerate his virtues , or inform them what he had done for the Institution . He had treated the inmates most tenderly , and they could testify to this better than he ( Bro . Farnfield ) could because Dr . Strong had never seen him in bed . Dr . Strong was a jolly good fellow and when he sat at the head of these festive gatherings he was in his
right place . He trusted Dr . Strong might live many many years to enjoy the rest he had so well earned . Dr . STRONG , acknowledging the toast , said it gave him great pleasure to have the privilege accorded him by the Committee to preside over these festivals . He had presided every year since they were first established ; he had not been absent once . As long as the Committee honoured him with the invitation nothing would give hiin greater pleasure than to preside at these pleasant meetings .
Dr . STKOKU gave the third toast " Success to the Institution and the Health of Bro . Terry , the Secretary . " Bro . TERRY , replying to the toast , said he had the same unbroken record as Dr . Strong in attending these annual visits ; he had not been absent from one ol them ; and he trusted it would be his privilege to be present at them for many years . The year had been a very successful year for the Institution . The subscriptions had not been the highest the Institution had had in any
one year , because they must not forget that in 1 S 92 they collected nearly £ 70 , 000 . But last year they turned £ 27 , , the Boys' £ 23 , 000 , and the Girls ' £ 21 , 000 ; and this was despite all the claims on the brethren ' s pockets and the exertions made to support the Craft generally . More than £ 70 , 000 had been got in 1897 for the three Institutions . This year there would be a grand effort for the Boys' Centenary , and therefore the other Institutions would have to suffer . Nevertheless , he hoped the Benevolent Institution would be able to pay its way without selling out any of its investments .
Dr . STRONG next proposed " Miss Norris ( the Matron ) and her sister , Miss Mary Norris , " to whom the preparation of the banquet was due , and who worked very hard to render the residents in the Institution happ / and comfortable . Bro . J , A . FARNFIELD led in Miss Norris , and , replying for her , said he had felt her grasp , and he perfectly understood what she wished him to express to
the company for the very kind manner in which they had received the toast of her health . Dr . Strong had mentioned the great amount of labour she had expended on the Institution , and she bade him say that it was a labour of love ; everything she could do for the Institution and its various inmates she should be happy to do so iong as the Committee felt she was doing her best . She hoped to remain in the Institution with her sister , who so well supported her .
The old folks then retired to their homes until the evening entertainment , and the ladies paid a round of visits to the residents while the brethren who had been attending to the wants of their guests at the Old People ' s dinner , sat down to a repast of their own . Bro . John Newton presided , and Bro . J . Terry took the vice-chair . At the conclusion of the repast "The Queen ' s Health , " was
drunk . Bro . J NEWTON next proposed " Prosperity to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . " Mig ht it go on ard prosper for many years . The brethren had seen the Old People that day and they were all very happy . If they were not it was their own fault , for the Committee and Secretary did the very best they possibly could to smooth the remainder of the days of the annuitants .
In connection with that toast it was usual for the chairman on these occasions to wish continued health to the Institution's esteemed Secretary , Bro . James Terry , but to his mind it was absurd to wish prosperity to the Institution separate from the health of Bro . Terry . Brc . Terry was so bound up with the Institution that its prosperity and his health were concurrent . It was impossible for Bro . Terry to do more work than he did for the Institution ; he worked hard , intensely hard , and how he did it was a marvel . This all the brethren acknowledged .
Bro . J AMES TEKRV , P . G . S . B ., in reply to the toast , said no unc could be more sensible than himself of the words which Bro . Newton had tittered so kindly and so friendly . In the first place lie would get rid of the personal debt he was under to Bro . Newton for his expressions and to the brethren round the table who had so cjrdially received them . It wa 3 not now a small number of years he had
Annual Entertainment To The Old People At Croydon.
been connected with this Institution . Since the year 1864 he had been intimately connected and associated with it and from 1872 he had had the honour of being its Secretary . He need hardly tell the brethren that the growth of the Institution during that lengthened period had been very , very great , consequent , naturally , upon the increased number of lodges in the Craft . But the work he had to do was never looked upon by him as work ; it was his duty to do it , and he did it to the best of his power and ability . One got sometimes , perhaps , a little tired , he
need hardly say , especially when one went into the country . On those occasions the provincial brethren , when they got a Londoner down , they would take him from one club to another , and the only question was whether the doors of the hotel where he was staying would open for him after he had been keeping the night porter up . He was down at Oxford three months ago at the Provincial Grand Lodge meeting there , and was staying at the hotel where the P . G . Lodge banquet was held ; he stayed there in order that no inducement should entice him to go out .
But on that occasion there were so many brethren present who were going to support their Prov . G . Master , the Earl of Jersey , in his Chairmanship of the next Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution that he was compelled to relinquish his resolution , and he was taken to as many as three different clubs , and did not get back to his hotel until 4 . 30 in lhe morning . However , he went to bed , and was up again to breakfast at 8 . 30 and away from Oxford by the 9 . 15 a . m . train to London to discharge his duties . So far as regarded the personal
interest he took in the Institution , he hoped and trusted that as long as he lived and health was spared him he should continue to take that interest . Now , with regard to the Institution , of course , they were going to pass through a very crucial year in 1 S 9 S ; everything was running one way , and that way was on behalf of the second-established Institution of the three ; and he hoped it would have such a bumper as would satisfy the Committee of Management for four or five years , so as to allow the other Institutions to recuperate , if they did not , the
Benevolent Institution would have to make further appeals and have two Festivals a year . At that time last year he had something like 270 or 2 S 0 Stewards for the then forthcoming Festival ; he had only 150 now . Therefore , the brethren would see the Institution's normal Festival strength that year would only be about half what it was last year . Of course , they had not yet got . the £ 2000 which Grand Lodge voted in commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee ; and that would come in that year , and it would assist materially ; therefore , if they
got for their Festival on February 22 nd an amount which he expected to announce — with the aid of the Board of Stewardsthey would not have to sell out any invested capital and pull through 1 S 9 S without trenching on anything which his predecessors and the Committee of Management before and since he had been Secretary had been able to put away . Of course , it was an exceptional event , the Centenary of the Boys' School , and the other Institutions bowed to it ; but in the year of the Centenary of the Girls '
School the Benevolent Institution was able to realise £ 13 , 000 . He did not think he would realise that this year , but the brethren might rely upon it it would be sufficient to justify the Committee in the belief that at the end of the year it would be found they had paid their way . That that thing must come round to all the Institutions was apparent to everyone , but he trusted he might tell those around the table that although the jubilee of 1892 was that of the Male Fund , 18 99 would be the Jubilee of the Widows' Fund . The funds of 1892 were not
divided , and he was perfectly cettain that the gallantry of Masons was such that they would never allow the Jubilee of the Widows to pass over without supporting it as they did the Men ' s Jubilee . The question of a festival being held was carried by a large majority . He knew how the majority was constituted . Health and strength being spared to him , he should endeavour in 1 S 99 to make that Festival a great success . He knew that the brethren now in the room had the interest—their undivided interest—in the support of the
Girls' and the Boys' Schools ; but as Dr . Strong had said that day boys and girls were different to old people ; boys and girls with full vigour in health had a prospect before them ; the ' old people could but look back and they might have bitter distress . He only hoped and trusted that the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution might have a very fair Festival this year and a brighter hope for 1 S 99 —the last Festival the Old People could hold in the 19 th century . Sincerely
and heartily did he hope that the Institution would go on prosperously ; everyone wished it ; but if there was any one who felt for the benefit and interest of the Institution would they allow it to be shared by the Secn-tary of the Institution Long might they have gatherings like this—the union of friends ! They encouraged the executive on their way , and when the day came , as it must , that they went underground , might the good done by them be followed by those who had the honour of succeeding them . ( Cheers ) .
Bro . J . A , FARM iF . t . ti preposcd "The Health of the Chairman , Bro . John Newton . " Bro . Newton had one single purpose in this life , the promotion and the welfare of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . As February came near people avoided him in the street . ( Laughter . ) Bro . Terry had said he believed the Institutions would be solvent at the end of the year . They had been preparing for this centenary of the Boys ; they knew it was coming on , and it would not overwhelm them . He trusted that with the liberality of the Craft they would be able to get on .
Bro . J NEWTON replied , and acknowledged that he did work lor the Institution . He was not going to say how he did it ; but very often other people got the credit for what he had done . He did not care for that j he was satisfied if the Institution benefited . This part of the proceedings of the day was then closed .
An interesting occurrence was brought to the attention of the brethren . One of the annuitants , Bro . Alcock , who died in November , was the possessor of a handsome chair . That chair has since been presented by the widow to the Institution for the use of the Chairman who presides at any of the festivities of the Institution at Croydon , and it was used at this meeting for the first time .
In the evening the annuitants and visitors were entertained with a musical treat by Mrs . Rapkin and Miss Kemp , -Mr . Charles Norman , Miss Harris , Bro . John Porter , Miss Clarkson , Mrs . R . II . D . Rapkin , Bro . Percy Day , and Mr . E . J . Dale , with "Mystic Wonders" ( conjuring ); Mr . Edward Bernard , ventriloipiist ; Mr . E . J . Dale with the Graphophone and the Cinetnatographe , which included the following scenes : A Musical Ride—the Lancers ; Dancing on the
Lawn—Crystal Palace ; Bicycling in Hyde Park ; Scene in Paris outside the Barracks ; the Hat Manipulator ; 11 ighgate Tunnel—G . N . Railway ; the Conjuror ; Brighton—the King ' s-road ; the Serpentine Dancer ; Balloon Ascent —Crystal Palace ; On the Terrace—Crystal Palace ; the Lightning Cartoonist sketching a Face ; and the Diamond Jubilee Procession—the Soldiers , the Band , and the Queen ' s Carriage .
The whole of this entertainment was provided by , and given under the superintendence of , Bro . H Kemp . W . M . S 62 . The company returned to town by the 10 . 40 p . m . train , after having spent a delightful day .
AMONG , the guests ut T . R . H . the Prince and 1 'iinccssof Wales , at Sandringhs "' on Saturday last , in addition to members of their Royal Highnesses family , were tlic Spanish Ambassador and lhe Bishop of Rochester . On Sunday morning the Princes and Princesses and the house parly were present in the Church of St . Mary Magdalene where the service was performed by the Rev . Canon llervey . On Monday T . R . H . tinl ' rincj and Princess ut Wales and Piincess Victoria , attended by Miss Knollys a"i Hro . Capt . Holford , travelled to Chatsworth , on a visit to Bro . the Duke and Duchess ol Devonshire .