Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

now deceased , was eligible to come en the fund , she being in other respects qualified . Bro . John G . Hevens said that his opinion on the point was that under the circumstances stated in the letter which had been read , a widow would not be entitled to be placed on the list . He did not wish to say anything which wouli prejudice this particular case , but viewing the subject as a

general one , it appeared to him that there was no ground for saying that such a case was eligible . The laws of the Institution were plain and distinct with regard to those who mig ht be placed on the funds , and unless those laws were altered the case mentioned could not be accepted . If this widow had remained a widow , there would have been no question as to her eligibility , but she ceased to have that

status when she married her second husband , who happened not to be a Mason , and therefore she had no claim upon the Institution . Of course the brethren might alter the laws if they liked , but the laws were now against the case of this widow . Bro . L . Stcan adopted this view , but Bros . S . Ravvson and R . H . Giraud held that on the death of the secoml

husband the character of widow of the first husband relived . Bro . A . J . Duff Filer wished to put a suppositious case . If a widow of a Mason became an annuitant of the Institution , and after enjoying her annuity for a time , married a non-Mason , her annuity would cease . Then , if the second husband died , she would neither have her annuity

re-established nor bi re-elected as an annuitant . ( Hear , hear . ) Bro . R . H . Giraud then moved , and Bro . S . Rawson seconded , that such a candidate should be cligiblc-The motion was put to the committee , but lost by an overwhelming majority . The petitions of three brethren and four widows were

then received and passed , as was also the petition of a widow for half her late husband ' s annuity . Bro . James 'Ferry having retired from the room , The Chairman said that the next business on the agenda paper was the consideration of a motion of which he had himself given notice , and he felt that very few words would be necessary to render his

motion acceptable to the brethren . The motion ( if which he had given notice was th . it the salary of the Secretary be increased . 'I he Secretary had done his work exceedingly well ( Hear , hear ) , anil the funds of the Institution had increased mainly through his exertions . Therefore , the time , he thought , had arrived when the brethren ought to give their Secretary some substantial recognition of his

services . He need not say any more in praise of the Secretary ; had it been necessary he could easily have done so , because he believed he saw as much of the Secretary and the perfonnance of the secretarial duties as most brethren who subscribed to the Institution ; and he could assert , without fear of contradiction , speaking as he did lhc honest truth , that when the Secretary was not in the

office , he v .-H engaged m some good work for the benefit of the Institution . ( Hear , hear . ) lie would conclude by proposing , in the words of his notice , " That in consideration of the large sums collected mainly by the great additional amount of work in the office of the Secretary , his salary be increased £ ioofrom the rst of January , 18 7 6 . " Bro . John Constable seconded the motion , which was

then put and carried unanimously . Bro . Terry having been called in , The Chairman , addressing him , said he had great pleasure in informing him that by a unanimous vote of the committee his salary had been increased £ 100 per per annum from the 1 st of January last . He must congratulate him on having received such . 1 recognition of his

great exertions on behalf ol the institution , and he hoped that for many years it would have the benefit cf his services . ( Hear hear . ) Uro . Terry said he need not fell the chairman and brethren that he was very pleased indeed to hear what the chairman had told him , arid it enhanced his pleasure to hear that the vote just passed had been unanimous . That

to a very great extent made it ^ of double treble its value . He might add that most of tire brethren were aware he had laboured to the best of his ability for the institution for the thirteen years that he had been connected with it . To have received ihis mark of approbation totally unsolicited by himself was a very great compliment , and one which he should always appreciate highly . If he had

always health and strength he should endeavour to act as itrcnuousl y in the future as he had in the past , and he hoped he should always have the same cordial assistance and kindly feelings of the brethren as he had hitherto experienced . ( Hear hear . ) 1 lie Chairman next said the business they had now to consider was a recommendation of the Finance Committee

'"< " salary of the clerk 111 the office , Mr . Knill , be increased £ JO a year . It had not only been recommended by the Finance Committee , but was supported by the Sccre-!} J ' bad the best opportunity of seeing how Mr . Knill performed his duties . The Secretary said that he was a good young fellow , who was worthy of the proposed increase i

. t \ e ( tlc Chairman ) would propose that the •- " ¦ •rk s salary be increased £ 20 a year from the 1 st of December . Hro . Thos . W . White seconded the proposition . Lamed vw ; m . con . offi 'Vtny Cjbs ' '' that Mr . Kniil was a very efficient « r , and it afforded him much pleasure to speak in his lavour , T « e committee then adjourned .

Uom V ° has received a reply from the nieinal A CrCti ? - t 0 the memoria * ° f the Metropolitan Musub ect „ " , ocia ' lon > promising to give consideration to the "ject of t | , government of London .

Metropolitan Masonic Benevolent Association.

METROPOLITAN MASONIC BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION .

This Association , which has now been twelve months in existence , was formed under the auspices of the Metropolitan Lodge of Instruction , No . 1036 , to enable any member of the Craft , lady or Lewis , to become a life subscriber or a life governor of the Institutions for Aged

Freemasons arid Widows of Freemasons , and for Sons and Daughters of Decayed Freemasons , by payment of the small sum of is . pur week . The subscriptions from time to time received are appropriated by ballot . among the members of the Association on the first Friday in every month , at the Portugal Hotel , J 155 , Fleet-street , at S . ^ o in the evening , after the closing of the Lodge of

Instruction . At the meeting in October last the Honorary Secretary , Bro . W . W . Snelling , referring to the bye-law of the Association which required a member to pay all subscriptions from April last , stated that this bye-law had greatly retarded the progress of the Association—two members only having joined the Association since this bye-law

was passed . He , therefore , moved that such alterations should be made in the byo-laws as would enable a person to join at any time , and to commence his subscriptions on the day of his election , and after some discussion the motion was carried unanimously . At a meeting in November the minutes of the preceding meeting were confirmed , thus rendering the

Association a permanent one , and thts will , we trust , be the means of largely increasing the number of members , and fuither-bencfitting our charitable institutions . Bro . Snelling congratulated the members upon the success of the Association since its formation , and announced that during the first year seventy-eight shares had been taken , and £ 152 17 s . received as subscriptions

thereon , which had been appropriated by ballot among thirty members . Fourteen of the successful members would become life governors of the institution for Aged Freemasons ; two life subscribers of the Boys' School , and five life subscribers of the Girls' School , and nine had not yet determined to which cf the Institutions they would subscribe . In addition to ( his some of the successful

members had represented their lodges as Stewards of the various charities . The election of the officers and committee was then proceeded with , and Bro . J . R . Staccy , P . M . 180 , the Preceptor of the Lodge of Instruction , was re-elected as President , and Bro . j . While , P . M . 228 , as Vice-President ; Bros . J . Bingemann , P . M . 5 , : ; , W . M . 15911 , as Treasurer ; and W . W . Snelling , 180 , as Hon .

Secretary , and ten other brethren , were elected to form the committee . Bros . Denison , Larchin , Gush , and Daniel , all of 154 . 1 , were also appointed a committee to audit the accounts of the Association . As the claims upon our charitable institutions arc increasing year by year , it is necessary that every exertion sliuuM he used by member ; -, of the Craft to augment the funds of the various charities , and vt ; cannot too strongly

urge every brother who has the benefit of the Craft at heart , and who is not already a life subscriber or a life governor of the institution ? , to become so through the medium of such an Association as the above . The Association is not restricted to persons residing in the London district . Brethren in any part of the country may join , and the Honorary Secretary , Bro . Snelling , \ vU U ; pleased to furnish a prospectus of the Association to any person desirous of becominga member .

A YOUKSIIIHE SCHOOLMASTER . —In these days of great pedestrian feats it is worth while to record the doings of an old Yorkshircman who has just died at the ripe age of 84 , at Masham , in Yorkshire . James Heap was a schoolmaster , and carried on his calling in a wild and bleak part of the country , walking every day a distance of eight miles . He lived at a cotton mill just below the village of Healey ,

which is the western part of that portion of Yorkshire called Mashamshirc . His school-house was four miles distant at Coltersdale , which is still further west , and among the bleak moors aud wild hilL , leading away to Westmorland . A storm of wind and rain is no trifling matter in these paits , and during a snowstorm the snow very often drifts so thickly as to make the roads almost impassable , but no

condition of the weather or the atmosphere could shake James Heap ' s steadfast purpose , and he never had any ailment or accident which kept him from going his daily round to the school and home again . Many a time had he to wade through snowdrifts to find that his pupils were not able to reach the school , and he was certainly subjected to a drenching rain in the winter months . Yet from

December , 1822 , to January , 1 S 67 , nc never missed a single day , and during 2292 consecutive weeks he walked more than 110 , 000 miles , or nearly five times round the wcrld . Nor was he altogether idle on Sundays , for during 42 ycais of this period he shared with others the teaching of a Sunday-school at a place called Summcrsidc , about the same distance from his home , and in an equally dreary

and wild district on the moors with Colsterdale ; 17 Sundays in each year during these 42 years did he walk eight miles to teach , which adds an aggregate of 5712 miles to the former sum , so that , taking Sundays and week days into the reckoning , he would , if he had continued his work for rather more than another year , havecovered a distance

equal to half the space between the earth and the moon . The old man , until quite lately , enjoyed good health , and the Schoolmasters' Association bad only lately written to tell him that an annuity which he had been in receipt of for some time would , after the 1 st of November , he still further increased . This arrangement , however , he did not sec carried out , for he died last week . — " Globe . "

HEALTH , comfort , and economy promoted . Gas superseded by day time , and daylight reflected in dark rooms by adopting Chappuis' Patent Daylight Reflectors . Manufactory , Go , Fleet-street , London ,

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The General Committee of this Institution met on Saturday last at Freemason ' s Hall , Bro . S . Rosenthal in the chair . The other brethren present were Bros . Benj . Head , H . Browse , W . Paas , George Free , J . W . Dennison , W . Mann , W . F . C . Moutrie , W . Roebuck

John Symonds , H . W . Hunt , George Motion , and F . Binckes ( Secretary ) . Five petitions were accepted , and an outfit was granted to one ex-pupil . The resi gnation of Bro . Edward Harris , the collector to the Institution , was accepted , and a

legacy of £ 50 less duty from Bro . Brooks Gates , was reported by the Secretary . A committee was appointed to enquire into and report upon the office , and duties , and emoluments of the collector , after which the committee adjourned .

The Late Bro. Samuel May.

THE LATE BRO . SAMUEL MAY .

vve regret announce tne death ot Bro . Samuel May , which occurred on' Sunday last , at his house at Wood Green . Bro . May , who was well known in the Craft , had long taken a leading position in it ; but by nothing was he better known than , by his liberal support of the Institutions of the Order , and his untiring efforts in their behalf . He was a zealous officer of his lodges and chanters .

through the chairs of which he long ago passed . Until his fatal illness he was a constant attendant at Grand Lodge , and his presence whether there , in other Masonic assemblages , as well as in the social and domestic circle , was always hailed with pleasure . He was a genial companioii , a sincere friend , and combined in his character all those excellent qualities which cause a man's name to be long remembered when his place on earth knows him no more .

Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

On the 28 th ult . the Grand Orient of Italian Freemasonry held a solemn re-union to receive and give a festival reception to Bro . J . C . Parkinson , J . P ., P . G . D ., P . P . Deputy Grand Master of Middlesex . The editor of the "II Diritto" states that he has no doubt that this distinguished brother will receive a warm reception from his brethren in Rome .

The Provincial Grand Chapter of West Yorkshire will be held in the New Masonic Hall , Darley-street , Bradford , on Wednesday , 15 th Nov ., at four p . m . On dit that the Earl of Limerick , Great Prior of the United Orders of the Temple and Hospital foe England , has resigned that high office , and the Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot , Great Marshal of the Order , and a Grand Cross of the Temple , has accepted that position .

His Royal Highness the Grand Master could not have made a more popular appointment , and a new era of prosperity may be looked for in the Order through this and other changes which are imminent . Lord Limerick will carry with him on his retirement the cordial good wishes of the English Knights Templar , and those who have served under him will long remember his uniform courtesy and good nature .

Bro . T . VV . Boord , M . P ., was on Thursday admitted a member of the Peace ot England Lodge of Odd Fellows ( Manchester Unity ) at Woolwich . BRO . EMRA HOLMES' TALES , POEMS , AND MASONIC PAPERS . —The list of subscribers being now amply sufficient to cover all expenses , the first edition of the above work—300 copies—will be published forthwith .

THE CRYSTAL PALACE . —The great transept of the Crystal Palace is at the present time rendered more than usually attractive by a splendid display of chrysanthemums and pompones , grown by the company's gardener , and tastefully arranged by him in ^ frontof the Handel orchestra . The exhibition comprises at least fifty specimens of these beautiful autumn flowers , amongst the most

conspicuous being the yellow Jardin des Plantesand aurea multiflora , the snow white Mrs . Rundell , white globe , Virgin Queen , and Empress of IncMa , the rich crimson Prince Alfred and Dr . Sharpe's Hermoine , in its two varieties , yellow and blush purple tipped ; the white quilled

Fleur de Mai , the White and purple George Peabody , the Prince of Anemones with ils lilac blush , and the Queen of England in its three varieties , lilac , gold , and striped . The display will remain on view for at least another fortnight , and fresh varieties will be added from time to time as they come into flower .

READINGS IN THE TEMPLE . —Dr . Vaughan will resume his public readings in the Greek Testament ( the 2 nd Epistle to the Corinthians ) on Tuesday , the 14 th ult ., at eight o ' clock in the morning , in the lecture room of the Middle Temple , and continue them for about three weeks on Tuesdays , Wednesdays , Thursdays , and Fridays , at the same hour . They are open to any persons

interested in the study of the Greek Testament . ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION run BOYS . —On Tuesday last the members of the " Old Scholars' Re-union " dined together at Arrderton'sJHofel , Fleet-street . The Head Master of the Royal Masonic School , occupied the chair . Among the 26 who sat down to dinner was the Rev . Mr .

Woodward , a former Head Master and Chaplain of the Boys ' School . The chief toasts of the evening were , "The Success and Prosperity of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , " and " The Old Scholars Re-union , " " The Old Boys' Club , " though only established in April last is gradully increasing , and is likely to become a permanent institution . The committee of the club are anxious that

all old ) boys should join . 1 here are some little expenses connected with starting the affair , and Masons may help in the success of it by becoming honorary members . On Wednesday last the Royal Literary Fund voted £ 100 to the widow of Mr . George Smith .