The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

The Board under this special reference—that is by Grand Lodge in June , 184 * 1—have anxiously reconsidered the subject and beg to repeat their unanimous opinion that it is expedient to alter the present mode of distributing Masonic bounty as it is now effected by the Lodge of Benevolence , by substituting instead thereof as to a portion of the Fund of Benevolence , a system , of Annuities , allowing the Annuitants to reside where they please , to be granted to Reduced and Aged Freemasons , under such guards and control , however , as would ensure the application of the fund towards the support of those whose characters and misfortunes , as well as Masonic zeal and exertions , had given them fair claims upon the sympathy and aid of the Fraternity . Thc one other clause which it seems desirable to reproduce is to the

effect that The Board are anxious to sec the benefits of the proposed fund extended towards thc relief of Masons' Widows , but they arc decidedly of opinion that it is desirable to defer any arrangement for that object until some little experience shall enable the Grand Lodge and Craft at large to judge of the operation and working of a plan of annuities to be granted to brethren .

On learning the nature of the proposal submitted , Grand Lodge unanimously agreed that the subject should bc again referred to the Board of General Purposes wilh a view lo their carrying out its principle in detail . The Board . set about their task with a will and in the following December laid before Grand Lodge the following resolutions which , as has been said already , were accepted in March and confirmed in June , 1 S 42 . 1 . That an Institution be founded to bc called "The Royal Masonic Benevolent Annuity Fund . "

2 . That the Institution shall bc under a Committee of Management , to consist of the Grand Master , thc Pro Grand Master , and the Deputy Grand Master , together with thirty brethren , each of whom must be a Master or Past Master of a lodge ; ten to be nominated by the Grand Master , ten elected by the Grand Lodge by ballot , and ten by thc Subscribers , also by ballot . 3 . That three members of each class shall go out of oflice annually ; but shall be eligible to be re-appointed or re-elected .

4 . That all thc meetings on thc business of this Institution be held at the Freemasons' Hall , in Great Queen-street . 5 . That for thc present a sum of £ 100 be granted Quarterly by thc Grand Lodge from the Fund of Benevolence , and that donations and subscriptions be received in addition , for the purpose of granting Annuities to reduced , aged , or afllicted Freemasons . 6 . That thc following bc _ the scale of the ages by which , after each election , the Annuities shall be granted , viz . : —

Of the age of 60 to 73 years , an Annuity from £ 10 to £ . 0 70 ' 0 75 , 1 »¦ it ' , ' 5 to £ 25 75 and upwards „ ,, , ( , 20 to , ( , 30 The amount ofthe Annuity to be regulated by thc age of the candidate when elected and to be settled by the Committee of Management according to thc circumstances of the case , and not to be subsequently increased . 7 . That no Brother be eligible under thc age of Co years , nor unless he has been a

registered Master Mason for 15 years and a subscribing member to a lodge Ior at least ten years of that period , except the Brother shall be afllicted with total blindness , paiafysis , or other visitation of Divine Providence which shall permanently incapacitate him fri m earning a livelihood , and that thc affliction shall have occurred subsequent ! * - to his being raised to thc degree of Master Mason ; in such case the party may be admitted under do years of age if he shall have been seven years a registered Master Mason , and Subscriber to a ludtrc for that period .

8 . That no Brother having an income of £ 20 per annum shall be admitted to the benefit of the Fund . y . That if an Annuitant shall become possessed of an income , independentl y of his Annuity , thc Committee of Management shall have thc power to reduce thc Annuity according to thc circumstances ol thc case . 10 . That if it shall appear that any facts respecting the situation or circumstances of an Annuitant shall have been suppressed , or false representations made at thc period

of Flection , or if any Annuitant is discovered tobcin a situation to provide for himself , the Committee of Management shall have power to suspend such Brother from the list of Annuitants , and the Committee shall report the circumstances to thc Grand Lodge at its next Ouartctly Meeting , and also to thc Subscribers at thc next Annual Meeting . 11 . That the Committee of Management shall have thc power to deprive of his Annuity any Annuitant who shall anticipate thc payment thereof , or charge or encumber the same in any manner , or shall , by improper conduct , render himself unworthy to be continued upon thc Fund .

12 . 'lhat a General Meeting of Subscribers shall take place annually at 12 o'clock , on thc third Friday in May , for general business , and to elect the Members of thc Committee , each of whom shall lie a Life Governor , or a Subscriber to thc amount of two pounds annually . All elections to be by ballot , to commence at one , and close at three o ' clock . 13 . That a Special General Meeting shall bc held on requisition in writing of cie litem Life Governors , to bc delivered at thc ollice of the Secretary , stating thc object for which such meeting is to bc held , at which meeting no business shall be discussed except that specified in the requisition , and at least seven days' notice of such meeting

shall bc given in three dail y papers . 14 . That the Grand ' 1 rcasurer for thc time bcingbe thc Treasurer ^) the Institution . 1 *; . That there be four Trustees , of whom the Deputy Grand Master and the Grand Treasurer for thc time being shall be two , and two other brethren shall bc elected by the Subscribers at Ihe first General Meeting . ifi . That thc Trustees shall from time to time receive the dividends due upon thc funded properly , and pay thc same over to thc Treasurer , and shall not after such payment , as Trustees , bc accountable or responsible for thc application or misapplication Iheteof .

17 . That three Auditors bc elected annually by thc Subscribers at thc General Meeting in May . iS . That the Committee shall have thc power to appoint the Paid Ofiicers , and to fix their salaries , and to take such security as may be deemed advisable forthe due performance of Ihcir respective duties , and to remove any such officer of thc Institution in thc event of misconduct , inability , or inattention to thc duties of his office . iy . That no Paid Officer of the Institution shall retain more money than is deemed advisable b y the Committee ; nor shall any such officer interfere or canvass in elections directly or indirectly , nor bc entitled , if a Governor , to vote at any election or at any meeting .

... 20 . That thc Committee do meet monthly or oftener if necessary , and at every meeting elect their Chairman . That live bc a quorum . 31 . That the Committee shall from time to time determine the number of Annuitants to bc elected . 22 . That the election of candidates shall take place on thc day of thc General

Meeting , and that previously thereto a printed Polling paper , containing the particulars of each candidate with such other information as may be necessary , be numbered and signed by the Secrctaty , and sent by post to every Subscriber , at least six weeks before the day of ' ' " . lection ; and no second Polling paper shall be issued without the sanction of the Chairman of thc General Meeting .

23 . That all Governors and Subscribers bc entitled to ballot by proxy in thc election ol Annuitants . 24 . That the candidates stand in rotation on thc list for election according to thc date of their admission as candidates on the books of the Institution . 25 . That should any candidate be unsuccessful at three successive elections , thc Committee shall have power to place him on thc books of the Institution . 2 G . That one-half only of the sum lo be granted in Annuities shall be assigned to Brethren from Lodges in thc London District .

27 . That every applicant for an Annuity residing within the London District shall attend the Committee previously to being placed on the list of candidates . That every applicant residing in the country shall tiansmit a certificate to be produced to the Committee , stating his circumstances , & c ., signed by the Master and Wardens of thc Lodge having a personal knowledge of the applicant , and the nearest to which he may reside , and shall afterwards furnish such other testimonials as may be required by the Committee . 28 . That the Annuitants be paid quarterly . 2 y . That every Annuitant , before his Annuity be paid , shall either attend in person to receive the same or transmit to thc Secretary of thc Institution a certificate , attested

The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

by the clergyman and churchwarden of the parish , or by a magistrate , near to where he resides , of his being alive on the day his Annuity falls due . 30 . A new Subscriber shall be entitled to vote immediately upon payment of the subscription . 31 . That the Master of every Lodge shall bc entitled to four votes at every election of an Annuitant , provided thc Lodge shall have paid the last year ' s contribution to thc Grand Lodge .

32 . 1 hat a donation of £ 5 shall constitute the donor a Life Governor , entitled to two votes at every election of an Annuitant ; a donation of £ 10 to four votes , and so on in proportion . 33 . Subscribers of 5 s . per annum shall , in like manner , be entitled to one vote , and to one extra vote for every additional 5 s . subscribed . 34 . That every Lodge or Chapter subscribing 5 s . or upwards per annum shall have the same privilege as an individual Subscriber .

35 . lhat a Lodge or Chapter subscribing £ 10 in one or more payments within two years shall be entitled to two votes during its existence , and by a donation of £ 5 in one payment to two votes for 15 years . 3 6 . That the privilege of voting by Lodges and Chapters subscribing to the Institution shall be exercised by the VV . Master , or First Principal , for thc time being , unless otherwise directed at the time of subscribing .

37 . lhat a donation of £ 50 shall constitute thc donor a Vice-President of the Institution . 3 S . That an executor , or , when more than one , the executors first-named in the will , paying a legacy of £ 50 to the use of the Institution , shall be constituted a Governor for life . If the legacy be to thc amount of £ 100 or upwards , all thc acting executors shall become entitled to the like privilege .

39 . That , notwithstanding any of the previous resolutions , no person who is not a Freemason shall be entitled to any of thc privileges of a Governor or Subscriber . 40 . That none but Freemasons shall be permitted to attend any meeting of the Subscribers , or personally to present a Polling paper at any election of Annuitants ; but all such Polling papers shall be used only by Freemasons entitled to vote . 41 . That in every election , except in that of Annuitants , all Masters of Lodges , Governors , and Subscribers shall be entitled to one vote only , such vote to be given in

person . 42 . That in case of an equality of votes at any meeting , the Chairman shall bc entitled to a second , or casting , vote . 43 . That all annual subscriptions fall due cn the ist January in each year , and that no one be entitled to vote on any occasion whose subscription shall be in arrear . 44 . That , with a view of providing for the permanence of the Institution , all life donations and bequests , and two-thirds of the annual subscriptions , shall be invested in

the Public Funds in thc name of the Trustees , and on no account shall any portion of the principal invested be withdrawn , except with thc sanction of two-thirds cf the Subscribers present at the Annual General Meeting and also of the Grand Lodge . 45 . That a general Statement of thc Finances of the Society shall be prepared , and after having been duly audited , shall , together with a report of thc proceedings of the I r \ m W-. I # fr 1- mm l ^ A Wm * . m- * . m % ts . J 4-fm 4 lm rih AH > .. > I M ^ m ~ — ~ M . t * K f- * A ? . M mm £ fL 1 _ _ O .. I . _! 1 A , m . "I- _ * l _ — 1 . t vwiiiitiiiiki- \ fiic ^ iiiii mc rtuuuai UI meeting oi tne ouuscriuersto nciu

* ., u . --u - IICIUI , uc in the month of May , and to the Grand Lodge in June following . 4 O . That thc proceedings of every Annual or Especial General Meeting shall bc reported to the Grand Lodge . Lastly . That after the Rules and Regulations of thc Institution shall have been confirmed by thc Grand Lodge , no alteration shall be made therein , unless the same shall have been approved of by the Grand Lodge .

Among the first steps to be taken under the foregoing regulations was the constitution of thc Committee of Management , which , when Grand Lodgo and Ihe subscribers had fulfilled their duty , was found to be composed of thc following brethren , namely : Nominated by thc M . W . G . M . ; Bros . II . R . Lewis , II . C . Sirr , Representative Grand Lodge of Ireland ; T . II . Hall , G . Reg . ; W . II . While , G . Sec . * , II . Hancock , G . S . D .

F . W . Bossy , P . G . S . D . ; Alexander Dobie , P . G . J . D . ; John C . McMullen , P . G . J . D . ; R . W . Jennings , G . D . of C ; and John L . Kvans , G . S . B . Klectcd by Grand Lodge ; Bros . Rev . C . Yink , Isaac Walton , Thory Chapman , Charles Shakcshaft , B . Lawrence , F . Solomon , S . W . Rowsell , W . F . Fawcett , John Havers , and J . II . Daly . Elected by the subscribers : W . Stephenson , J . Udall , S . C . Norris , J . P . Acklam , John Yink , J . B . King ,

George Parbury , John Bigg , John Chrces , and L . Chandler . Thc Committee held its first meeting on the 21 st October , when Bro . VV . Farnfield was unanimously elected Secretary at a salary of £ 50 a year , and Bros . Lewis , McMullen , Kvans , Havers , and Bigg a Sub-Committee for examining into and reporting upon thc petitions that were received for election on thc Fund . It was also resolved to fund a part of thc moneys that had been

received to date . In November a letter was received from the M . W . G . M . approving of what had been done the month previous except as regards the amount settled to be given to Bro . Farnfield , as Secretary , His Royal Highness conceiving that for the present at all events the annual stipend of £ 50 was excessive , and the question what should be paid him was deferred . In December , a code of instructions to intending Candidates was prepared ,

and the fust election of Annuitants fixed for thc iyth May , 1843 , it being also settled that petitions must be forwarded to the Secretary before the ist February . In the latter month thc number to be elected was fixed at 15 , and a Sub-Committee was chosen to make the necessary arrangements for thc election . The month following it was resolved—and though thc resolution was subsequently questioned , it was allowed lo stand—that the system of voting

should be cumulative , that is , if a brother were entitled to four votes and there were , as al thc first election to this Fund , 15 vacancies , he would be able to cast sixty voles , which might all bc given to a single candidate or distributed among two or more candidates at the pleasure of thc voter . On the 17 th May , two days before the election , there was a meeting of the Committee , at which the Sub-Committee appointed for the purpose delivered

their report of the finances of the Fund and the proceedings which had taken place since its inauguration . This report was on the whole satisfactory , especially as it was pointed out that in all probability the existence of the Annuity Fund was but little known outside the circle of a few devoted brethren whose lodges had nobly backed up their efforts . Thc financial statement made up to thc date of the annual meeting ( thc 19 th May )

showing that nearly £ 1204 had been received in respect of donations from lodges , chapters , and individuals , nnd over £ 26 4 as annual subscriptions ; which sums , together with the Grand Lodge grant of £ 400 and £ 25 from Grand Chapter , and some £ 13 as interest on , £ 900 stock , made the total amount received from all sources , in round figures , £ io 60 . Thc disbursein of

ments , with the exception of over ^ 1700 expended the purchase ^ 1800 Government slock , namely , £ ( jooThree percent . Reduced and £ 900 Three per cent . Consols—were merely nominal , reaching no more than £ _ n , so that there remained a balance to be carried forward of rather more than £ 227 . This must be set down as a very satisfactory beginning for the new Charity . ( To be continued ) .