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Article ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS. ← Page 2 of 2 Article PRESENTATION TO BRO. F. BINCKES. Page 1 of 1 Article PRESENTATION TO BRO. F. BINCKES. Page 1 of 1 Article PRESENTATION TO BRO. F. BINCKES. Page 1 of 1
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Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
Bro . Roebuck said Miss Jarwood had £ 125 , and there would be when the full number of girls were admitted to that Institution 199 children there ; but if thc brethren went to that school and contrasted the position of Miss Jarwood with that of Miss Hall they would see that Miss Hall had double the labour that Miss Jarwood had . The motion was then put and carried . Bro . W . Roebuck also moved " That the salary of the
second assistant master , W . Brocklehutst , be increased from £ 70 to £ 80 . " This came to the Committee as a recommendation from the House Committee . The motion having been seconded , was carried . Three petitions were considered , and the candidates placed on the list for the October election . Four outfits were granted to ex-pupils ; and the Committee then adjourned .
Presentation To Bro. F. Binckes.
PRESENTATION TO BRO . F . BINCKES .
The monthly meeting of the Boys ! School Committee Dinner Club was held at Freemasons' Tavern on Saturday last , after the meeting of the General Committee . Bro . Raynham W . Stewart occupied the chair , and there were also present Bros . Chancellor , Roberts , Winter , G . Everett , John Boyd , II . W . Hunt , W . Roebuck , Hyde Pullen ,
Maple , H . Massey ( Freemason ) , L . Ruf , W . Paas , Styles , J . M . P . Montagu , J . W . Dosell , D . M . Dewar , W . F . C . Moutrie , W . Maple , and several others . Bro . Binckes ( Treasurer and Secretary ) occupied the vice-chair . After dinner , Bio . Binckes having retired , the Chairman proposed that five guineas be take 1 from the fun ' s of the club towards a testimonial to Bro . F . Binckes . This was
in addition to the subscriptions of individual members of the club . Bro . J . G . Chancellor seconded the motion , and was sure that every member of the club would feel proud to support thc proposition . The motion was then carried unanimously , and Bro . Binckes having returned was informed of the vote .
The Chairman then proposed the toasts , and after giving that of " The Queen , " proposed "The Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , and Bro . Binckes . " He said that the toast was one which was dear to the heart of every brother at the table , because if he did not feel an interest in the Institution he would not be a member of this club . His speech on this occasion would have been very short but for
one circumstance , the presentation of a testimonial to Bro . F . Binckes . What he was about to say was said in earnestness and truth . Bro . Binckes had tor many years acted as Secretary for the Institution , and many times had his health been drunk in that capacity by brethren who appreciated the services he had rendered to the Institution from thc supporters of
which this club had sprung . This club had been united together for some years , and by its exertions the brethren had been enabled to build up the noble Institution of which they were all so proud . If it had not been for the great feeling they had for each other , and the still greater feeling they had to support the Secretary , the Institution would have gone very far short of what it is now . They had all
worked in unity and concord of spirit , and who had kept them together so nobly and well as their Secretary , Bro . Binckes ? He had been the means of re-organising a club that formerly existed , and which woultl not have been acceptable to Masons of the present day in its old form . He ( Bro . Stewart ) and Bro . Binckes were both members of the old club ; and he ( Bro . Stewart ) was one of the oldest
members . As such oldest member he was glad to see so many brethren around thc table that evening , which showed that they fully appreciated the usefulness of this club in promoting the success of their Institution . Bro . Binckes had been honorary Treasurer and Secretary of this club for 17 years , a length of time which was nearly three apprenticeships . The brethren were all glad to support Bro . Binckes ,
who had always taken such a great interest in the Institution and in this club . When the club was started it was never meant to exist for nothing . It was meant to establish good feelings between the brethren , as well as to promote the success of the Boys' School . On this occasion he ( Bro . Stewart ) felt highly flattered and honoured in being asked to take the chair out of his turn , but being
in that position he hoped the brethren would not be disappointed in his expression , for the brethren and himself , of their good feelings for their Secretary . It was pleasant to any man , be he prince , or duke , or commoner , to be the medium of presenting a testimonial to a man who had justly earned it , in mark of acknowledgment of the earnestness with which he had performed his duties . They
had for many years enjoyed the friendship of Bro . Binckes , and he ( Bro . Stewart ) was now entrusted with a silver cruet to present to Bro . Binckes , which had been subscriber ! for by members of the Committee Dinner Club . In the tame of the brethren and in his own , he hoped that this cruet would stand on Bro . Binckes ' table , filled and emptied , and filled again , for many years . He had also to present
Bro . Binckes with a purse and contents , which they would leave Bro . Binckes to dispose of in a way that would be most acceptable to himself . He begged Bro . Binckes to understand that he had no sincerer or more honest friends than those brethren who presented bim with this testimonial . Bro . Binckes in reply , said that perhaps the brethren would forgive him if he did not commence the few observations
he had to make by stating this was the most painfully affecting or proudest moment cf his life , for he did not want to indulge in any superlative expressions of that descri ption . They would perhaps allow him first of all to get rid of the most important part of the toast by returning thanks to all those around the table , whether members of the club or not , who had not forgotten the interests of the institution . That one toast" Prosperity to the Institution , " was of course the main and principal toast of the evening ,
Presentation To Bro. F. Binckes.
and he was exceedingly gratified at being able to testify to that , which all of the brethren knew , thatthat Institution had for many years enjoyed a large amount of prosperity . It might appear to be thc irony of fate that this toast was proposed on the very evening of the day on which he had in his official capacity to report one of the greatest misfortunes that had ever happened to the Institution . But he need hardly say that there was no one who was connected with the administration of tbe affairs of that
Institution , nor any one charged with official duties associated with it who was in any way responsible for the disaster which had befallen it . Every-one shared with him in the regret he felt at the misfortune that had overtaken the Institution , but while lamenting over it they felt it was not of so serious a character that an institution belonging- to a body with
elastic resources could not get over it . He could not help alluding to the little cloud that had hung over the Institution for the last 48 hours , because itseemedan extraordinary occurrence that the mark of appreciation which the brethren had presented him with should have erme on this very nig ht . Let them now turn to a more cheerful subject , and , while thanking the brethren for drinking prosperity to
this Institution , he had no doubt he had plenty of good friends to assist him in compensating the Institution for its loss . Every brother who participated in drinking success to the Institution undertook a certain amount of obligation to make the toast a reality . He hoped that would be the feeling of every-one now round the table , and of every one to whom the
misfortune he had alluded to was made known . The loss was r . ot of any great extent , but it put the Institution in a position to command the sympathies and attract the support of all those good frienels to whom he had never yet pleaded in vain . Trusting that this cloud would soon pass away , and that nothing connected with it would interfere with , or for a moment impede the onward march
this Institution had made and was making in extending its benefits , he felt sure that as this was his sincere wish , it was also the sincere wish of every one present . It would not induce the managers for a single instant to relax their desires and intentions to confer their benefits on the sons of deceased and distressed Freemasons . For himself he considered he was nothing more than the brethren ' s agent ,
ministerially , to perform the duty of carrying out their intentions , and rendering the government of that Institution as favourable as possible , and the results attained in an educational point of view were the best ptoifs that their efforts had not been in vain . He had derived nothing but entire satisfaction for a quarter of a century of work in connection with the Boys' School , and , thank God , though he
did not like to boast , he had been endowed with health and strength for his work , and he now felt as strong and as able as ever he was in his life to continue to perform his eludes- He hoped he might be spared for some few years yet to discharge his task with satisfaction to himself and gratification to the brethren . On more than one occasion previously he had received substantial testimony
of the brethren s appreciation of his efforts on behalf of the Boy ' s School ; but whenever he had acknowledged this as gratefully as he could , he had invariably said that the success whichhad attended the Boys ' School , was not due to him , but to a great body of the Craft , who , year after year had never been found wanting in the generous
support they had rendered to that Institution . It was very true—and the brethren would pardon him for repeating himself on an occasion like this—that it was just possible that he might have been somewhat instrumental in stirring up a feeling of sympathy , and to some extent stimulating the generosity of the Craft to a greater extent than it had been exercised before on behalf not only of the
Boys' School but all the Masonic Institutions ; and if that be the case , and if he might indulge in the little boast , certainly free entirely from egotism , but not without some pride and gratification—he felt himself more than ampl y rewarded . He did not think there was any one connected with any of the Masonic Institutions who would grudge him that little meed of approval of what he had endeavoured
to earn during the seventeen years he had been Secretary of the Institution . The Boys' School had met with an amount of success which he was perfectly sure was not anticipated by the most sanguine some sixteen or seventeen years ago . He felt very grateful for that success , and they must all feel a very considerable amount of pride in witnessing the result of those exertions which had been
used for the number of years to which he had alluded He would now come to another subject which had been touched upon , the re-organising of this Committee Dinner Club , which had been of enormous use in subserving the objects of the Institution with which it was so closely connected . Thc Chairman had alluded to the old club , but he was in error when he said that he ( Bro . Binckes ) was a
member of it . He was , however , present so often that the club might we ' l mistake him for a member . He well remembered all that was done at its meetings , how its minutes were kept , and the way in which its proceedings were conducted . He did not mind admitting that those proceedings were characterised by a very large amount of wit and clever humour ; but this was accompanied by much
severe ridicule and sharp sarcasm that many members winced under , and which all did not appreciate and enjoy . Thus the club became at last much reduced in numbers , and on the occasion of his becoming Secretary of the Institution it was a question whether the Boys' School Club shoultl be continued . Fortunately a few members of the
old club said it was one of those little organisations so useful in itself as connected with the Institution , and at the same time so pleasurable in its monthly associations , that they would be sorry to seee it abolished , but they hoped to have it established on a different foundation . The meetings never ceased : the club was re-organised ; and as the newly appointed Secretary of the Institution he was
Presentation To Bro. F. Binckes.
asked to take , and was able to take , the duties of Treasurer and Secretary . That was seventeen years ago , and he was thankful and pleased to say he had only been absent from the meetings of the club on three occasions , two of which he was confined to his bed by an accident , and one under circumstances to which he need not now more particularly allude . He had never allowed the call of
duty or pleasure elsewhere to take him away from his pleasure and duty as Treasurer and Secretary to do the best he could for the brethren ' s comfort and happiness consistently with what the funds would allow . Ms did not think any of the members had much to complain of . He would now give some statistics of the club ' s operations . Since its reorganisation in 1861 it had had a total of 80 members .
Of these seven were members ofthe old club , and of these seven only two were now remaining , Bro . Stewart and Bro . Adlard . Bro . Stewart was the father of the club . The club had lost ten members by death , and in those ten were comprised some of the best members of society , and some of the hardest-working Masons , besides being the most respected friends that any
one could testify to as regarded their merits , whether inside or outside the order . Twentyseven had resigned . It was a satisfaction to himself and all those present that they had at that table a member of the old club . They had still forty-three subscribing members . B y means of the elu 1 ) they contributed 240 guineas to the funds of the
Institution . They had not then altogether missed the great purpose of their organis ition . But there was something more important that the club had done ; it had not only kept together month by month and brought into close unison the members of the club , but had enabled the brethren to invite visitors from the provinces and elsewhere , who but for this club would not have known of the merits of the
Institution . By this means , too , large sums had been brought into the coffers of the Institution . He thought , therefore , he was quite right when he said that the club had achieved a great object . It was not a direct benefit , only which such a club effected for each member or for the Institution ; there was also an indirect good by the geniality that was evinced by the members to each other
anel the hospitality they extended to the visitors , which practically enlarged that circle of good which every member had for object . Bro . Binckes again thanked the brethren for the testimonial , and said that those poor services which it had been in his power to render the brethren had thought proper to give him a substantial mark of their appreciation of , and he felt it a grjat compliment that it
was presented to him by the oldest member of the club , one of the most constant attendants at the Committees , and as good a social and personal friend as any one would wish to claim . He also thanked Bro . Roebuck , who had taken a leading part in organising this very handsome testimonial , and Bro . Chancellor , and others who had joined him . There was much trouble always associated
with anything like a testimonial , and for the trouble which the brethren had taken he offered his earnest and sincere thanks . " The Health of Bro . Roebuck " wasjafterwards given and responded to . The Chairman , in returning thanks for his health , in the course of his speech remarked again upon the failure of
Messrs . Willis , Pereival , & Co . He said that with respect to the funds of the Institutions there had always been exibited a greit deal of prudence , and the day after the last festival of the Benevolent Institution he moved , and it was carried , that £ 3000 should be invested . Instructions to invest the money were given to the bankers on the 18 th of February , and the money ought now to be invested .
If it was , so much the better . The " Health of The Visitors " followed , to which Bros . L . Ruf , Roberts , Winter , anil Styles responded . Special toasts were given for Bros . J . M . P . Montagu , and W . Paas , to which both those brethren replied . Bro . Montagu , in the course of his reply , advocated the organisation of support in the provinces for the Institutions ,
and suggested a permanent Charity Steward , an old P . M ., whose duty it should be to impress on all the members of lodges the duty of charity . By this means , instead of £ 11 , 000 , £ 12 , 000 , or £ 14 , 000 , double that amount would be contributed . With regard to the Supreme Council of which he was a member , they had determined to contribute as large a sum as they could every year . They gave at
least 50 guineas a year . Last year their charity was £ 500 , and they supported the Mace Fund and the boy Bright . He hoped the day would come when there would be a Supreme Council Studentship . The Chairman replied to the toast of " The House Committee , " and Bro . J . W . Dosell to that of " The Audit Commitee , " soon after which the company broke up .
SUNBURY LODGE ( NO . 1733 ) . —The consecration of this lodge takes place at the Magpie Hotel , Sunbury-on-Thamcs this ( Saturday ) afternoon at 4 o ' clock precisely . A full report will appear in our next . NORWICH MUSICAL FESxivAL .-The services of Mdlle . Albani , Madame Trebelli-Bettini , Mr . Santley ,
and Mr . Lloyd have been secured in connection with the approaching musical festival at Norwich . A new orchestra , constructed upon the most approved model , has been erected in St . Andrew ' s Hall . MR . RUSKIN . —The Academy regrets to hear
that Professor Ruskin is dangerously ill from overwork . He is at his house at Coniston . The Duke of Abereorn lunched with the King of Italy on Monday , and left Rome the next day , on his return to England .
Sir Thomas Chambers . M . P .. has been elected by the Court of Alderman to fill the office of Recorder of the City of London , rendered vacant by the resignation of the Right Honourable Russell Gurney , M , P .
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Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
Bro . Roebuck said Miss Jarwood had £ 125 , and there would be when the full number of girls were admitted to that Institution 199 children there ; but if thc brethren went to that school and contrasted the position of Miss Jarwood with that of Miss Hall they would see that Miss Hall had double the labour that Miss Jarwood had . The motion was then put and carried . Bro . W . Roebuck also moved " That the salary of the
second assistant master , W . Brocklehutst , be increased from £ 70 to £ 80 . " This came to the Committee as a recommendation from the House Committee . The motion having been seconded , was carried . Three petitions were considered , and the candidates placed on the list for the October election . Four outfits were granted to ex-pupils ; and the Committee then adjourned .
Presentation To Bro. F. Binckes.
PRESENTATION TO BRO . F . BINCKES .
The monthly meeting of the Boys ! School Committee Dinner Club was held at Freemasons' Tavern on Saturday last , after the meeting of the General Committee . Bro . Raynham W . Stewart occupied the chair , and there were also present Bros . Chancellor , Roberts , Winter , G . Everett , John Boyd , II . W . Hunt , W . Roebuck , Hyde Pullen ,
Maple , H . Massey ( Freemason ) , L . Ruf , W . Paas , Styles , J . M . P . Montagu , J . W . Dosell , D . M . Dewar , W . F . C . Moutrie , W . Maple , and several others . Bro . Binckes ( Treasurer and Secretary ) occupied the vice-chair . After dinner , Bio . Binckes having retired , the Chairman proposed that five guineas be take 1 from the fun ' s of the club towards a testimonial to Bro . F . Binckes . This was
in addition to the subscriptions of individual members of the club . Bro . J . G . Chancellor seconded the motion , and was sure that every member of the club would feel proud to support thc proposition . The motion was then carried unanimously , and Bro . Binckes having returned was informed of the vote .
The Chairman then proposed the toasts , and after giving that of " The Queen , " proposed "The Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , and Bro . Binckes . " He said that the toast was one which was dear to the heart of every brother at the table , because if he did not feel an interest in the Institution he would not be a member of this club . His speech on this occasion would have been very short but for
one circumstance , the presentation of a testimonial to Bro . F . Binckes . What he was about to say was said in earnestness and truth . Bro . Binckes had tor many years acted as Secretary for the Institution , and many times had his health been drunk in that capacity by brethren who appreciated the services he had rendered to the Institution from thc supporters of
which this club had sprung . This club had been united together for some years , and by its exertions the brethren had been enabled to build up the noble Institution of which they were all so proud . If it had not been for the great feeling they had for each other , and the still greater feeling they had to support the Secretary , the Institution would have gone very far short of what it is now . They had all
worked in unity and concord of spirit , and who had kept them together so nobly and well as their Secretary , Bro . Binckes ? He had been the means of re-organising a club that formerly existed , and which woultl not have been acceptable to Masons of the present day in its old form . He ( Bro . Stewart ) and Bro . Binckes were both members of the old club ; and he ( Bro . Stewart ) was one of the oldest
members . As such oldest member he was glad to see so many brethren around thc table that evening , which showed that they fully appreciated the usefulness of this club in promoting the success of their Institution . Bro . Binckes had been honorary Treasurer and Secretary of this club for 17 years , a length of time which was nearly three apprenticeships . The brethren were all glad to support Bro . Binckes ,
who had always taken such a great interest in the Institution and in this club . When the club was started it was never meant to exist for nothing . It was meant to establish good feelings between the brethren , as well as to promote the success of the Boys' School . On this occasion he ( Bro . Stewart ) felt highly flattered and honoured in being asked to take the chair out of his turn , but being
in that position he hoped the brethren would not be disappointed in his expression , for the brethren and himself , of their good feelings for their Secretary . It was pleasant to any man , be he prince , or duke , or commoner , to be the medium of presenting a testimonial to a man who had justly earned it , in mark of acknowledgment of the earnestness with which he had performed his duties . They
had for many years enjoyed the friendship of Bro . Binckes , and he ( Bro . Stewart ) was now entrusted with a silver cruet to present to Bro . Binckes , which had been subscriber ! for by members of the Committee Dinner Club . In the tame of the brethren and in his own , he hoped that this cruet would stand on Bro . Binckes ' table , filled and emptied , and filled again , for many years . He had also to present
Bro . Binckes with a purse and contents , which they would leave Bro . Binckes to dispose of in a way that would be most acceptable to himself . He begged Bro . Binckes to understand that he had no sincerer or more honest friends than those brethren who presented bim with this testimonial . Bro . Binckes in reply , said that perhaps the brethren would forgive him if he did not commence the few observations
he had to make by stating this was the most painfully affecting or proudest moment cf his life , for he did not want to indulge in any superlative expressions of that descri ption . They would perhaps allow him first of all to get rid of the most important part of the toast by returning thanks to all those around the table , whether members of the club or not , who had not forgotten the interests of the institution . That one toast" Prosperity to the Institution , " was of course the main and principal toast of the evening ,
Presentation To Bro. F. Binckes.
and he was exceedingly gratified at being able to testify to that , which all of the brethren knew , thatthat Institution had for many years enjoyed a large amount of prosperity . It might appear to be thc irony of fate that this toast was proposed on the very evening of the day on which he had in his official capacity to report one of the greatest misfortunes that had ever happened to the Institution . But he need hardly say that there was no one who was connected with the administration of tbe affairs of that
Institution , nor any one charged with official duties associated with it who was in any way responsible for the disaster which had befallen it . Every-one shared with him in the regret he felt at the misfortune that had overtaken the Institution , but while lamenting over it they felt it was not of so serious a character that an institution belonging- to a body with
elastic resources could not get over it . He could not help alluding to the little cloud that had hung over the Institution for the last 48 hours , because itseemedan extraordinary occurrence that the mark of appreciation which the brethren had presented him with should have erme on this very nig ht . Let them now turn to a more cheerful subject , and , while thanking the brethren for drinking prosperity to
this Institution , he had no doubt he had plenty of good friends to assist him in compensating the Institution for its loss . Every brother who participated in drinking success to the Institution undertook a certain amount of obligation to make the toast a reality . He hoped that would be the feeling of every-one now round the table , and of every one to whom the
misfortune he had alluded to was made known . The loss was r . ot of any great extent , but it put the Institution in a position to command the sympathies and attract the support of all those good frienels to whom he had never yet pleaded in vain . Trusting that this cloud would soon pass away , and that nothing connected with it would interfere with , or for a moment impede the onward march
this Institution had made and was making in extending its benefits , he felt sure that as this was his sincere wish , it was also the sincere wish of every one present . It would not induce the managers for a single instant to relax their desires and intentions to confer their benefits on the sons of deceased and distressed Freemasons . For himself he considered he was nothing more than the brethren ' s agent ,
ministerially , to perform the duty of carrying out their intentions , and rendering the government of that Institution as favourable as possible , and the results attained in an educational point of view were the best ptoifs that their efforts had not been in vain . He had derived nothing but entire satisfaction for a quarter of a century of work in connection with the Boys' School , and , thank God , though he
did not like to boast , he had been endowed with health and strength for his work , and he now felt as strong and as able as ever he was in his life to continue to perform his eludes- He hoped he might be spared for some few years yet to discharge his task with satisfaction to himself and gratification to the brethren . On more than one occasion previously he had received substantial testimony
of the brethren s appreciation of his efforts on behalf of the Boy ' s School ; but whenever he had acknowledged this as gratefully as he could , he had invariably said that the success whichhad attended the Boys ' School , was not due to him , but to a great body of the Craft , who , year after year had never been found wanting in the generous
support they had rendered to that Institution . It was very true—and the brethren would pardon him for repeating himself on an occasion like this—that it was just possible that he might have been somewhat instrumental in stirring up a feeling of sympathy , and to some extent stimulating the generosity of the Craft to a greater extent than it had been exercised before on behalf not only of the
Boys' School but all the Masonic Institutions ; and if that be the case , and if he might indulge in the little boast , certainly free entirely from egotism , but not without some pride and gratification—he felt himself more than ampl y rewarded . He did not think there was any one connected with any of the Masonic Institutions who would grudge him that little meed of approval of what he had endeavoured
to earn during the seventeen years he had been Secretary of the Institution . The Boys' School had met with an amount of success which he was perfectly sure was not anticipated by the most sanguine some sixteen or seventeen years ago . He felt very grateful for that success , and they must all feel a very considerable amount of pride in witnessing the result of those exertions which had been
used for the number of years to which he had alluded He would now come to another subject which had been touched upon , the re-organising of this Committee Dinner Club , which had been of enormous use in subserving the objects of the Institution with which it was so closely connected . Thc Chairman had alluded to the old club , but he was in error when he said that he ( Bro . Binckes ) was a
member of it . He was , however , present so often that the club might we ' l mistake him for a member . He well remembered all that was done at its meetings , how its minutes were kept , and the way in which its proceedings were conducted . He did not mind admitting that those proceedings were characterised by a very large amount of wit and clever humour ; but this was accompanied by much
severe ridicule and sharp sarcasm that many members winced under , and which all did not appreciate and enjoy . Thus the club became at last much reduced in numbers , and on the occasion of his becoming Secretary of the Institution it was a question whether the Boys' School Club shoultl be continued . Fortunately a few members of the
old club said it was one of those little organisations so useful in itself as connected with the Institution , and at the same time so pleasurable in its monthly associations , that they would be sorry to seee it abolished , but they hoped to have it established on a different foundation . The meetings never ceased : the club was re-organised ; and as the newly appointed Secretary of the Institution he was
Presentation To Bro. F. Binckes.
asked to take , and was able to take , the duties of Treasurer and Secretary . That was seventeen years ago , and he was thankful and pleased to say he had only been absent from the meetings of the club on three occasions , two of which he was confined to his bed by an accident , and one under circumstances to which he need not now more particularly allude . He had never allowed the call of
duty or pleasure elsewhere to take him away from his pleasure and duty as Treasurer and Secretary to do the best he could for the brethren ' s comfort and happiness consistently with what the funds would allow . Ms did not think any of the members had much to complain of . He would now give some statistics of the club ' s operations . Since its reorganisation in 1861 it had had a total of 80 members .
Of these seven were members ofthe old club , and of these seven only two were now remaining , Bro . Stewart and Bro . Adlard . Bro . Stewart was the father of the club . The club had lost ten members by death , and in those ten were comprised some of the best members of society , and some of the hardest-working Masons , besides being the most respected friends that any
one could testify to as regarded their merits , whether inside or outside the order . Twentyseven had resigned . It was a satisfaction to himself and all those present that they had at that table a member of the old club . They had still forty-three subscribing members . B y means of the elu 1 ) they contributed 240 guineas to the funds of the
Institution . They had not then altogether missed the great purpose of their organis ition . But there was something more important that the club had done ; it had not only kept together month by month and brought into close unison the members of the club , but had enabled the brethren to invite visitors from the provinces and elsewhere , who but for this club would not have known of the merits of the
Institution . By this means , too , large sums had been brought into the coffers of the Institution . He thought , therefore , he was quite right when he said that the club had achieved a great object . It was not a direct benefit , only which such a club effected for each member or for the Institution ; there was also an indirect good by the geniality that was evinced by the members to each other
anel the hospitality they extended to the visitors , which practically enlarged that circle of good which every member had for object . Bro . Binckes again thanked the brethren for the testimonial , and said that those poor services which it had been in his power to render the brethren had thought proper to give him a substantial mark of their appreciation of , and he felt it a grjat compliment that it
was presented to him by the oldest member of the club , one of the most constant attendants at the Committees , and as good a social and personal friend as any one would wish to claim . He also thanked Bro . Roebuck , who had taken a leading part in organising this very handsome testimonial , and Bro . Chancellor , and others who had joined him . There was much trouble always associated
with anything like a testimonial , and for the trouble which the brethren had taken he offered his earnest and sincere thanks . " The Health of Bro . Roebuck " wasjafterwards given and responded to . The Chairman , in returning thanks for his health , in the course of his speech remarked again upon the failure of
Messrs . Willis , Pereival , & Co . He said that with respect to the funds of the Institutions there had always been exibited a greit deal of prudence , and the day after the last festival of the Benevolent Institution he moved , and it was carried , that £ 3000 should be invested . Instructions to invest the money were given to the bankers on the 18 th of February , and the money ought now to be invested .
If it was , so much the better . The " Health of The Visitors " followed , to which Bros . L . Ruf , Roberts , Winter , anil Styles responded . Special toasts were given for Bros . J . M . P . Montagu , and W . Paas , to which both those brethren replied . Bro . Montagu , in the course of his reply , advocated the organisation of support in the provinces for the Institutions ,
and suggested a permanent Charity Steward , an old P . M ., whose duty it should be to impress on all the members of lodges the duty of charity . By this means , instead of £ 11 , 000 , £ 12 , 000 , or £ 14 , 000 , double that amount would be contributed . With regard to the Supreme Council of which he was a member , they had determined to contribute as large a sum as they could every year . They gave at
least 50 guineas a year . Last year their charity was £ 500 , and they supported the Mace Fund and the boy Bright . He hoped the day would come when there would be a Supreme Council Studentship . The Chairman replied to the toast of " The House Committee , " and Bro . J . W . Dosell to that of " The Audit Commitee , " soon after which the company broke up .
SUNBURY LODGE ( NO . 1733 ) . —The consecration of this lodge takes place at the Magpie Hotel , Sunbury-on-Thamcs this ( Saturday ) afternoon at 4 o ' clock precisely . A full report will appear in our next . NORWICH MUSICAL FESxivAL .-The services of Mdlle . Albani , Madame Trebelli-Bettini , Mr . Santley ,
and Mr . Lloyd have been secured in connection with the approaching musical festival at Norwich . A new orchestra , constructed upon the most approved model , has been erected in St . Andrew ' s Hall . MR . RUSKIN . —The Academy regrets to hear
that Professor Ruskin is dangerously ill from overwork . He is at his house at Coniston . The Duke of Abereorn lunched with the King of Italy on Monday , and left Rome the next day , on his return to England .
Sir Thomas Chambers . M . P .. has been elected by the Court of Alderman to fill the office of Recorder of the City of London , rendered vacant by the resignation of the Right Honourable Russell Gurney , M , P .