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Article Original Correspondence. ← Page 2 of 2 Article Reviews. Page 1 of 1 Article Reviews. Page 1 of 1 Article ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. Page 1 of 1 Article ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. Page 1 of 1 Article ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS. Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Correspondence.
Bro . Spencer , Masonic Depot , 26 , Queen Street , Lincoln ' s Inn Fields , the publisher of Prospectuses and Circulars ; and Bro . Kenning , proprietor of the Freemason , will furnish any further particular : - .
BRO . CONSTABLE'S HISTORY OF THE LODGE OF TRANQUILLITY . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I am very pleased to see your appreciative review of Bro . Constable's capital History of the Lodge of
I ranquilhty , for it is , as you say , " a well planned and well executed work . . . also a very interesting and readable volume . " Will you kindly permit me to draw attention to a special feature of the work , viz ., two excellent reduced facsimiles of valuable documents , alike important to the members of
the lodge , and to those interest * , d in Masonic Archa-ology The frontispiece is a facsimile of the warrant still preserved by the lodge , which is a perfect work of art , and the original of which is dated 20 th day of December , 1787 , and in the body of the History is the second reproduction of scarce documents , consisting of the " Rules and Orders "
for the " Year of Masonry 5771 . " ( v . n . 1771 ) Order and Secrecy being represented in a figurative manner on two grand pillars , and within the same occurs the list of Grand Officers , and opposite is the Introduction to the printed set of Bye Laws ( forwarded for adoption ) to the " Ancient" Lodges towards the end of last century .
We hope that many brethren will forward five shillings each ( or six shillings , if from the United States ) to Bro . John Constable , 13 , Sise I-nne , London , E . C , for copies of the History of thcLodgc of Tranquillity , so that the enterprise may prove a success , and be the means of inducing other competent brethren to write the history of the old
lodges to which they belong , for we are persuaded that the Editor of the Freemason is ri ght in expecting considerably more , light from the archives of the ancient ateliers in Great Britain and Ireland , and particularly in England , Yours fraternally , WILLIAM J AMES HUGHAN , P . S . G . D . Truro , 2 nd January , 1875 .
A CORRECTION . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Bro . Hughan has written to me pointing out some mistakes in the oration you printed—page 833—December 26 , 1874 , in your paper . I am most happy to
receive correction from such a brother , and thank him most fraternally . He says : — " You are in error about my list of lodges being 331 ) at the 'Union . ' The number , then ( 1814 calendar ) , of the two G . L . 's united was 6 47 . In 1832 , these had dwindled down to 424 , and , in 1803 , to 339 , the number you quote for the Union . " Also , "il . R . i I . the Duke of Kent was
G . M . of the Ancients ' London , ' not York . 1 he York G . L . had died out . " Also , " I thought my copy to you had , in the second column , ' removal of their Grand Master and Past Grand Master . '" Yours fraternally , AUGUSTUS A . BAGSUAWK , P . P . G . C . and P . P . S . G . W ., Derbyshire , I . P . M . 1235 .
To the Editor if Ihe Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — In my letter of December 21 st , 1874 , which you have been kind enough to insert in your paper , the Freemason , of January 2 nd , 1875 , at page 7 , the following corrections are necessary—viz ., in the 3 rd query , for the
word ' or , 111 the first line , read " if so . " And , 111 the last query , for the letters " S . C ., " in the first line , read " E . C . " I may observe that the part of your paper devoted to original correspondence , or notes and queries , I consider extremely interesting , and that is the part I always
read first , on account of the many interesting facts brought out from time to time . Thanking- you for your kindness in inserting my letter , I am , Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , Jons SMITH , 1257 E . C , 91 S . C .
Reviews.
Reviews .
TUB EUA ALMANAC . —By Bro . Edward Ledger . We have had our attention called by Bi o . Ledger to this useful and interesting almanac . To all members of the theatrical profession this almanac will forcibly appeal , and to many of the public it will be alike a source of amusement and gratification , for in it we encounter sonic of those interesting and mysterious
personages who appeal alike to our sentiment and our sympathies , our love of the sensational , our sensibility for the romantic , our appreciation of the risible , our state of ( not " pas" ) "de fascination . " We sometimes think that the world is very hard on actors . They are often the cherished idols of an hour , those whom we greet with siriles and applause , and intense excitement , and odoriferous bouquets—they pass from us , and we forget them as
if they had never been . Some of us may recall how wc saw Charles Matthews in his glory , and Mrs . Nis * . bet in her grace , how we laughed at Tyrone Power , apprtved of Ilarlcy , applauded old Farren , wept with Helen Fancit , were made sentimental by Ellen Tree , were kept in awe and yet amusement by Mrs . Glover . Our memories can go back to Mrs . Keely as Jack Shcppard , and to Keely in his quiet fun , to Paul Bedford and Mr . Webster , to Miss Woolgar and Madame Celeste , and
Reviews.
Shakespcrian Phelps . And those of us who are still young , and like still to loiter amid " Thespian groves , " may be prepared to name many of those effective actors and " pleasant dames" who shed . 1 tinge of brilliancy to the English stage . Now Bro . Ledger introduces us this year to many of these favourites , and probably next year will introduce us to more , and wc hear their sentiments and
behold their autographs . As the Frenchman said , " C ' cst quclquc chose . " We are still much gratified to be able to discern Charles Mntthews ' s neat hand-writing which puts the scrawl of this self-sufficient generation to shame ; but we arc are sorry to learn that " it does make " the excellent Toole , of laugh-compelling memory , " so wild . " With Emmett , we are inclined to ask , " Is das so ? " With Mr .
Terry we admit much value m an " if ; " we sympathize with Mr . Clarke as " A Poor Player ; " and we quite appreciate Mr . Honey ' s question , "Why didn't you say so at once ?" Of Captain Cuttle we have the highest admiration , and of Mr . Emery ' s quotation . We don ' t , however , agree with Mr . Bancroft in his mournful view of things ; we are quite sure Mrs . Bancroft docs not , nor the habitues
of the Prince of Wales Theatre , though we echo Mr . Warner ' s truism , believing that " It is never too late to mend . " With Lord Dundreary ' s sapient adage we beg to express our entire concurrence , and we greatly admire Mr . Buckstone's energetic address to the Ilaymarket company ; may they , as we do not doubt they will , applaud and attend to it . And what shall we say of the ladies ?
He must be a very uninquisitive mortal who does not wish to know a little more about Miss Pattie Laverne ' s question ; hcmustbeacold-hearted one whodocsnot sympathise with Mrs . Stirling's cheery assertion . We feel that everybody will allow Miss Farren to " say one word "—we should be willing to allow her to say a good many ; and wc trust that Miss Wallis may have her legitimate aspirations
fulfilled . It is pleasant to be informed that Miss Neilson will " come again , " and ' that Miss Eleanor Button is always ready to " answer the call . " Weare very much impressed with the poetical quotations of Miss Cavendish , Mrs . liousby , Miss Maggie Brennan , Miss Amy Hoselle , Miss Arabella Addison , and many more ; and we congratulate Bro . Ledger on his original idea and his pleasant
almanac . We commend his " aide memoire" to our readers , on the ground that it makes us familiar with the handwriting of those who play such important parts on " Earth's Mimic Stage . " Some one has said that you ma ) know a good deal of a person by his or her handwriting , and certainly wc feel that we know more of those of whom , if we have not seen , we have
heard so much , when we read for ourselves their customary caligraphy , and sec how like our own , after all , it is . Remembering , in one sense , that the world is ever only " a stage , " and " men and women only actors , " we feel how much of sympathy we ought to have for those who lend such a brilliancy to many a fading scene , and give us in their faithful representations , a
true facsimile of that strange life of ours , which passes on , hour by hour , and year by year . Whether in its joys or sorrows , its greatness or its meanness , its good or its evil , its honour or its shame , its truth or its hypocrisy , its loyalty or its treachery , it is often , we venture to say , to the " poor player " that we have to look even now , for Its most effective illustration and its most speaking moral .
Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .
On Tuesday last a Christmas and New Year ' s entertainment was given to the inmates of the Masonic Benevolent Institution Asylum at Croydon , which was tastefully decorated for the occasion . A small party of the friends of the institution , among whom were Dr . Strong and Mrs . Strong , Bro . J . G . Stevens , Bro . R . II . Halford , Mrs .
Cookscy , Mrs . Halford , Mrs . and the Misses and Master Terry , Mr . Mabbs , Mr . Terry , sen ., were received by the Secretary . Bros . James Terry , W . Lane , and Jones , early in the afternoon were conducted , together with the aged Freemasons and widows , to an excellent banquet laid for them in the pretty hall of the asylum . To this , as well as the other entertainments of the dav , several of the
brethren contributed , and the whole expense was borne by voluntary subscription . Bro . Carr , of St . Clement Danes Lodge ( King ' s Head , Strand ) , sent the beef and turkeys , Bro . W . 1 tail , of Drury Lane , sent the wine and liquors , Bro . R . II . Halford , and Mr . Bonner furnished the dissolving views and magic lantern in the evening ; while the ladies , who are always
foremost in good works , performed the music . Mrs . Strong , Mrs . Cooksey , the Misses Terry and Strong , played the piano and sang , and Dr . Strong played the violin . Masters Terry and Strong decorated the apartments with "Welcomes , " '' MerryChristinases , " and "I hippy New-Years , " and Miss Morris , daughter of Bro . Morris , Warden , attended
to the wants and comforts of visitors and inmates . Dr . Strong presided at the banquet , Bro . Terry taking the vice-chair , a second vice-chair being occupied by Br . > . J . G . Stevens . When the banquet was concluded , a few toasts were given , the chairman proposing the time honoured leading toast of "The Queen and the Craft . " Bro . Morris , Warden , then proposed "The Health of Bro . Terry , " and after thanking
him for his kindness and brotherly feeling towards all the inmates of the asylum , anil the annuitants generally , presented him , in the name of the inmates , with a handsome silver inkstand , which had been subscribed for solely by them , as a mark of their universal respectand esteem for him .
The presentation was made 111 very feeling terms , and elicited the warmest applause from all present . Bro . James T erry , in replying , informed the subscribers thai he should always look upon the testimonial as of the utmost worth , showing , as it did , that his efforts to minister to the comfort of all committed to his charge had a high value set upon
Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
them by those brethren and widows who were being entertained that day . Bro . Stevens proposed " The Health of the Chairman , " who , having replied , proposed " The brethren who had contributed towards the dinner . " Bro . Stevens responded , and assured the old people that it gave him great pleasure to see the many happy faces around him , and that this alone would be an ample reward
for any little contribution which those who were blessed with means might bestow . Bro . Cooke , one of the inmates , proposed " The Ladies , and Mrs . Terry , " for whom Bro . Terry replied . In the course of his remarks , he said that Mrs . Terry took great interest in the institution , and , indeed , she had as great an interest in it as himself . She was always thinking as much of it as he was
himself , and if ever anything should by chance slip his memory he was always reminded of it by his wife . The company then had a short respite , the inmates preferring to retire to their own abodes for tea . Those who were unwell , and unable to sit down with the rest of the company , had their dinner supplied to them in their apartments , and each female inmate was presented vvith half a
pound of tea , and each male inmate with half a pound of tobacco . At six o'clock the dissolving views were produced , and Mrs . Cooksey , Mrs . Strong , and her daughters , and the Misses Terry enlivened the scenes and descriptions with some very charming music and singing , all of which were thoroughly enjoyed . These having lasted for nearly three
hours , refreshments were again partaken of , and before separating Bro . Terry proposed a vote of thanks to Bro . I Ialford and Mr . Bonner for defraying the expenses of the magic lantern . Bro . Halford , in acknowledging the compliment , said how heartily he was delighted at being able to contribute even his small share to the enjoyment of the evening which he had participated in as much as any one
present . At any future time that he could be of similar service he should be glad to be called upon . The inmates then separately shook hands with tlie visitors , and bade them a happy new year . The London visitors shortly afterwards returned to town . It may be as well to remind our brethren of what this
Institution is , and docs , and for this purpose we quote a paragraph which appeared in The Standard of Wednesday . "The institution , which was established in 1842 , has 33 separate sets of apartments in its asylum , which are occupied partly by married couples , partly by Freemasons who are widowers , and partly by the widows of
Freemasons . " It allows £ 3 6 a year to the old men , and £ 28 a year to the old women , and provides them also with coals . In addition to this , it grants annuities of the same amounts to indigent Freemasons and widows living out of the asylum , and it has altogether on its books no less than 230 annuitants . The amount spent in annuities in the
course 01 every year is nearly £ 7 , , and with the expenses of management and collection , the annual draught on the Craft is nearly £ 8 , 000 . This is raised almost entirely by the voluntary subscriptions of individual Freemasons and lodges and chapters , and an annual festival is held at Freemasons' Tavern , when an appeal is made to the Masonic Order for support . Grand Lodge and Grand
Chapter assist the object of the charity by making contributions towards the general fund , and towards the supply of coals . But the bulk of the subscriptions are obtained by the bounty of the Craft , and this they always bestow with no niggard hand . The festival , by the permission of the Grand Master , is held on the last Wednesday in January , and , at the next festival , which will be held on the 27 th inst ., the Earl of Shrewsbury , Provincial Grand Master of
Staffordshire , will take the chair . " To this we may add that there are already lfio Stewards for the festival , and it is expected to be a great success . The Stewards cannot do better than pay a visit to the asylum , as , after seeing the comfort and happiness it is providing for the aged and needy—many of whom have walked in the upper ranks of life—they will be the better able to plead the cause of the institution in their lodges and chapters .
Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.
ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .
The meeting of the General Committee of this school was held on the last day of the old year , in the library , Freemasons' 1 lall . Bro . Thomas Fenn , P . A . G . D . C , presided , and there were also present Bros . W . Hale , Jesse Turner , W . Stephens , John Symonds , Thos . F . Peacock , Griffiths Smith , J . A . Rucker , Robt . B . Webster , F . Binckes ,
J . M . E . Snow , . II . Massey ( Freemason ) , James I erry , Richard . Spencer , and R . Wentworth Little , Secretary . On the motion of Bro . Rucker , seconded by Bro . W . I lale . the Rev . Edwin Thompson , D . D ., of the Vicarage , Wandsworth , was unanimously appointed honorary Chaplain of the school . Bro . lohn Symonds gave notice of the following
motion : — " Every Steward at : he annual festival who shall procure donors or subscribers to the extent of 100 guineas or more , and shall collect and pay over the amount ( exclusive of his personal donation ) to the funds of the institution , shall receive , if such amount be not less than 1 00 guineas , one additional vote ; 150 guineas , two votes ; 200 guineas , three votes ; and a further extra vote for every additional sum of not less than 50 guineas , so collected and
paid over . Bro . Rucker proposed , and Bro . W . Hale seconded , a recommendation to the next Quarterly Court , that the number of girls in the school be increased from 145 to 148 , which was adopted by the Committee . Eleven petitions were read , one of which was deferred . The rest were passed , and the Committee adjourned after sitting more than two hours .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Correspondence.
Bro . Spencer , Masonic Depot , 26 , Queen Street , Lincoln ' s Inn Fields , the publisher of Prospectuses and Circulars ; and Bro . Kenning , proprietor of the Freemason , will furnish any further particular : - .
BRO . CONSTABLE'S HISTORY OF THE LODGE OF TRANQUILLITY . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I am very pleased to see your appreciative review of Bro . Constable's capital History of the Lodge of
I ranquilhty , for it is , as you say , " a well planned and well executed work . . . also a very interesting and readable volume . " Will you kindly permit me to draw attention to a special feature of the work , viz ., two excellent reduced facsimiles of valuable documents , alike important to the members of
the lodge , and to those interest * , d in Masonic Archa-ology The frontispiece is a facsimile of the warrant still preserved by the lodge , which is a perfect work of art , and the original of which is dated 20 th day of December , 1787 , and in the body of the History is the second reproduction of scarce documents , consisting of the " Rules and Orders "
for the " Year of Masonry 5771 . " ( v . n . 1771 ) Order and Secrecy being represented in a figurative manner on two grand pillars , and within the same occurs the list of Grand Officers , and opposite is the Introduction to the printed set of Bye Laws ( forwarded for adoption ) to the " Ancient" Lodges towards the end of last century .
We hope that many brethren will forward five shillings each ( or six shillings , if from the United States ) to Bro . John Constable , 13 , Sise I-nne , London , E . C , for copies of the History of thcLodgc of Tranquillity , so that the enterprise may prove a success , and be the means of inducing other competent brethren to write the history of the old
lodges to which they belong , for we are persuaded that the Editor of the Freemason is ri ght in expecting considerably more , light from the archives of the ancient ateliers in Great Britain and Ireland , and particularly in England , Yours fraternally , WILLIAM J AMES HUGHAN , P . S . G . D . Truro , 2 nd January , 1875 .
A CORRECTION . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Bro . Hughan has written to me pointing out some mistakes in the oration you printed—page 833—December 26 , 1874 , in your paper . I am most happy to
receive correction from such a brother , and thank him most fraternally . He says : — " You are in error about my list of lodges being 331 ) at the 'Union . ' The number , then ( 1814 calendar ) , of the two G . L . 's united was 6 47 . In 1832 , these had dwindled down to 424 , and , in 1803 , to 339 , the number you quote for the Union . " Also , "il . R . i I . the Duke of Kent was
G . M . of the Ancients ' London , ' not York . 1 he York G . L . had died out . " Also , " I thought my copy to you had , in the second column , ' removal of their Grand Master and Past Grand Master . '" Yours fraternally , AUGUSTUS A . BAGSUAWK , P . P . G . C . and P . P . S . G . W ., Derbyshire , I . P . M . 1235 .
To the Editor if Ihe Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — In my letter of December 21 st , 1874 , which you have been kind enough to insert in your paper , the Freemason , of January 2 nd , 1875 , at page 7 , the following corrections are necessary—viz ., in the 3 rd query , for the
word ' or , 111 the first line , read " if so . " And , 111 the last query , for the letters " S . C ., " in the first line , read " E . C . " I may observe that the part of your paper devoted to original correspondence , or notes and queries , I consider extremely interesting , and that is the part I always
read first , on account of the many interesting facts brought out from time to time . Thanking- you for your kindness in inserting my letter , I am , Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , Jons SMITH , 1257 E . C , 91 S . C .
Reviews.
Reviews .
TUB EUA ALMANAC . —By Bro . Edward Ledger . We have had our attention called by Bi o . Ledger to this useful and interesting almanac . To all members of the theatrical profession this almanac will forcibly appeal , and to many of the public it will be alike a source of amusement and gratification , for in it we encounter sonic of those interesting and mysterious
personages who appeal alike to our sentiment and our sympathies , our love of the sensational , our sensibility for the romantic , our appreciation of the risible , our state of ( not " pas" ) "de fascination . " We sometimes think that the world is very hard on actors . They are often the cherished idols of an hour , those whom we greet with siriles and applause , and intense excitement , and odoriferous bouquets—they pass from us , and we forget them as
if they had never been . Some of us may recall how wc saw Charles Matthews in his glory , and Mrs . Nis * . bet in her grace , how we laughed at Tyrone Power , apprtved of Ilarlcy , applauded old Farren , wept with Helen Fancit , were made sentimental by Ellen Tree , were kept in awe and yet amusement by Mrs . Glover . Our memories can go back to Mrs . Keely as Jack Shcppard , and to Keely in his quiet fun , to Paul Bedford and Mr . Webster , to Miss Woolgar and Madame Celeste , and
Reviews.
Shakespcrian Phelps . And those of us who are still young , and like still to loiter amid " Thespian groves , " may be prepared to name many of those effective actors and " pleasant dames" who shed . 1 tinge of brilliancy to the English stage . Now Bro . Ledger introduces us this year to many of these favourites , and probably next year will introduce us to more , and wc hear their sentiments and
behold their autographs . As the Frenchman said , " C ' cst quclquc chose . " We are still much gratified to be able to discern Charles Mntthews ' s neat hand-writing which puts the scrawl of this self-sufficient generation to shame ; but we arc are sorry to learn that " it does make " the excellent Toole , of laugh-compelling memory , " so wild . " With Emmett , we are inclined to ask , " Is das so ? " With Mr .
Terry we admit much value m an " if ; " we sympathize with Mr . Clarke as " A Poor Player ; " and we quite appreciate Mr . Honey ' s question , "Why didn't you say so at once ?" Of Captain Cuttle we have the highest admiration , and of Mr . Emery ' s quotation . We don ' t , however , agree with Mr . Bancroft in his mournful view of things ; we are quite sure Mrs . Bancroft docs not , nor the habitues
of the Prince of Wales Theatre , though we echo Mr . Warner ' s truism , believing that " It is never too late to mend . " With Lord Dundreary ' s sapient adage we beg to express our entire concurrence , and we greatly admire Mr . Buckstone's energetic address to the Ilaymarket company ; may they , as we do not doubt they will , applaud and attend to it . And what shall we say of the ladies ?
He must be a very uninquisitive mortal who does not wish to know a little more about Miss Pattie Laverne ' s question ; hcmustbeacold-hearted one whodocsnot sympathise with Mrs . Stirling's cheery assertion . We feel that everybody will allow Miss Farren to " say one word "—we should be willing to allow her to say a good many ; and wc trust that Miss Wallis may have her legitimate aspirations
fulfilled . It is pleasant to be informed that Miss Neilson will " come again , " and ' that Miss Eleanor Button is always ready to " answer the call . " Weare very much impressed with the poetical quotations of Miss Cavendish , Mrs . liousby , Miss Maggie Brennan , Miss Amy Hoselle , Miss Arabella Addison , and many more ; and we congratulate Bro . Ledger on his original idea and his pleasant
almanac . We commend his " aide memoire" to our readers , on the ground that it makes us familiar with the handwriting of those who play such important parts on " Earth's Mimic Stage . " Some one has said that you ma ) know a good deal of a person by his or her handwriting , and certainly wc feel that we know more of those of whom , if we have not seen , we have
heard so much , when we read for ourselves their customary caligraphy , and sec how like our own , after all , it is . Remembering , in one sense , that the world is ever only " a stage , " and " men and women only actors , " we feel how much of sympathy we ought to have for those who lend such a brilliancy to many a fading scene , and give us in their faithful representations , a
true facsimile of that strange life of ours , which passes on , hour by hour , and year by year . Whether in its joys or sorrows , its greatness or its meanness , its good or its evil , its honour or its shame , its truth or its hypocrisy , its loyalty or its treachery , it is often , we venture to say , to the " poor player " that we have to look even now , for Its most effective illustration and its most speaking moral .
Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .
On Tuesday last a Christmas and New Year ' s entertainment was given to the inmates of the Masonic Benevolent Institution Asylum at Croydon , which was tastefully decorated for the occasion . A small party of the friends of the institution , among whom were Dr . Strong and Mrs . Strong , Bro . J . G . Stevens , Bro . R . II . Halford , Mrs .
Cookscy , Mrs . Halford , Mrs . and the Misses and Master Terry , Mr . Mabbs , Mr . Terry , sen ., were received by the Secretary . Bros . James Terry , W . Lane , and Jones , early in the afternoon were conducted , together with the aged Freemasons and widows , to an excellent banquet laid for them in the pretty hall of the asylum . To this , as well as the other entertainments of the dav , several of the
brethren contributed , and the whole expense was borne by voluntary subscription . Bro . Carr , of St . Clement Danes Lodge ( King ' s Head , Strand ) , sent the beef and turkeys , Bro . W . 1 tail , of Drury Lane , sent the wine and liquors , Bro . R . II . Halford , and Mr . Bonner furnished the dissolving views and magic lantern in the evening ; while the ladies , who are always
foremost in good works , performed the music . Mrs . Strong , Mrs . Cooksey , the Misses Terry and Strong , played the piano and sang , and Dr . Strong played the violin . Masters Terry and Strong decorated the apartments with "Welcomes , " '' MerryChristinases , " and "I hippy New-Years , " and Miss Morris , daughter of Bro . Morris , Warden , attended
to the wants and comforts of visitors and inmates . Dr . Strong presided at the banquet , Bro . Terry taking the vice-chair , a second vice-chair being occupied by Br . > . J . G . Stevens . When the banquet was concluded , a few toasts were given , the chairman proposing the time honoured leading toast of "The Queen and the Craft . " Bro . Morris , Warden , then proposed "The Health of Bro . Terry , " and after thanking
him for his kindness and brotherly feeling towards all the inmates of the asylum , anil the annuitants generally , presented him , in the name of the inmates , with a handsome silver inkstand , which had been subscribed for solely by them , as a mark of their universal respectand esteem for him .
The presentation was made 111 very feeling terms , and elicited the warmest applause from all present . Bro . James T erry , in replying , informed the subscribers thai he should always look upon the testimonial as of the utmost worth , showing , as it did , that his efforts to minister to the comfort of all committed to his charge had a high value set upon
Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
them by those brethren and widows who were being entertained that day . Bro . Stevens proposed " The Health of the Chairman , " who , having replied , proposed " The brethren who had contributed towards the dinner . " Bro . Stevens responded , and assured the old people that it gave him great pleasure to see the many happy faces around him , and that this alone would be an ample reward
for any little contribution which those who were blessed with means might bestow . Bro . Cooke , one of the inmates , proposed " The Ladies , and Mrs . Terry , " for whom Bro . Terry replied . In the course of his remarks , he said that Mrs . Terry took great interest in the institution , and , indeed , she had as great an interest in it as himself . She was always thinking as much of it as he was
himself , and if ever anything should by chance slip his memory he was always reminded of it by his wife . The company then had a short respite , the inmates preferring to retire to their own abodes for tea . Those who were unwell , and unable to sit down with the rest of the company , had their dinner supplied to them in their apartments , and each female inmate was presented vvith half a
pound of tea , and each male inmate with half a pound of tobacco . At six o'clock the dissolving views were produced , and Mrs . Cooksey , Mrs . Strong , and her daughters , and the Misses Terry enlivened the scenes and descriptions with some very charming music and singing , all of which were thoroughly enjoyed . These having lasted for nearly three
hours , refreshments were again partaken of , and before separating Bro . Terry proposed a vote of thanks to Bro . I Ialford and Mr . Bonner for defraying the expenses of the magic lantern . Bro . Halford , in acknowledging the compliment , said how heartily he was delighted at being able to contribute even his small share to the enjoyment of the evening which he had participated in as much as any one
present . At any future time that he could be of similar service he should be glad to be called upon . The inmates then separately shook hands with tlie visitors , and bade them a happy new year . The London visitors shortly afterwards returned to town . It may be as well to remind our brethren of what this
Institution is , and docs , and for this purpose we quote a paragraph which appeared in The Standard of Wednesday . "The institution , which was established in 1842 , has 33 separate sets of apartments in its asylum , which are occupied partly by married couples , partly by Freemasons who are widowers , and partly by the widows of
Freemasons . " It allows £ 3 6 a year to the old men , and £ 28 a year to the old women , and provides them also with coals . In addition to this , it grants annuities of the same amounts to indigent Freemasons and widows living out of the asylum , and it has altogether on its books no less than 230 annuitants . The amount spent in annuities in the
course 01 every year is nearly £ 7 , , and with the expenses of management and collection , the annual draught on the Craft is nearly £ 8 , 000 . This is raised almost entirely by the voluntary subscriptions of individual Freemasons and lodges and chapters , and an annual festival is held at Freemasons' Tavern , when an appeal is made to the Masonic Order for support . Grand Lodge and Grand
Chapter assist the object of the charity by making contributions towards the general fund , and towards the supply of coals . But the bulk of the subscriptions are obtained by the bounty of the Craft , and this they always bestow with no niggard hand . The festival , by the permission of the Grand Master , is held on the last Wednesday in January , and , at the next festival , which will be held on the 27 th inst ., the Earl of Shrewsbury , Provincial Grand Master of
Staffordshire , will take the chair . " To this we may add that there are already lfio Stewards for the festival , and it is expected to be a great success . The Stewards cannot do better than pay a visit to the asylum , as , after seeing the comfort and happiness it is providing for the aged and needy—many of whom have walked in the upper ranks of life—they will be the better able to plead the cause of the institution in their lodges and chapters .
Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.
ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .
The meeting of the General Committee of this school was held on the last day of the old year , in the library , Freemasons' 1 lall . Bro . Thomas Fenn , P . A . G . D . C , presided , and there were also present Bros . W . Hale , Jesse Turner , W . Stephens , John Symonds , Thos . F . Peacock , Griffiths Smith , J . A . Rucker , Robt . B . Webster , F . Binckes ,
J . M . E . Snow , . II . Massey ( Freemason ) , James I erry , Richard . Spencer , and R . Wentworth Little , Secretary . On the motion of Bro . Rucker , seconded by Bro . W . I lale . the Rev . Edwin Thompson , D . D ., of the Vicarage , Wandsworth , was unanimously appointed honorary Chaplain of the school . Bro . lohn Symonds gave notice of the following
motion : — " Every Steward at : he annual festival who shall procure donors or subscribers to the extent of 100 guineas or more , and shall collect and pay over the amount ( exclusive of his personal donation ) to the funds of the institution , shall receive , if such amount be not less than 1 00 guineas , one additional vote ; 150 guineas , two votes ; 200 guineas , three votes ; and a further extra vote for every additional sum of not less than 50 guineas , so collected and
paid over . Bro . Rucker proposed , and Bro . W . Hale seconded , a recommendation to the next Quarterly Court , that the number of girls in the school be increased from 145 to 148 , which was adopted by the Committee . Eleven petitions were read , one of which was deferred . The rest were passed , and the Committee adjourned after sitting more than two hours .