Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Approaching Festival Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
THE APPROACHING FESTIVAL OF THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .
Bro . TERRY is not the man to miss any favourable opportunity which may present itself of laying * before the Craft the case of the Institution with which he has been for so many years connected as its Secretary . Such an opportunity was alTorded him by the New Year ' s Entertainment to the inmates of the Asylum at Croydon on the 3 rd instant , and it is almost
needless to say that he turned it to most excellent account . The speech he delivered in responding * for the toast of " Prosperily to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , " was , in fact , a concise history of thc Charity , in which were fully set forth the difficulties that were encountered at the establishment of the several branches of the Institution , their amalgamation
into one Charity ' , its steady advancement in the good opinion and goodwill of the Craft , the state of its funds and the extent of the benefits it confers now , as compared with what they were at the time he was elected Collector for the Institution in 1862 . In fact , the account he gave of what had been and was being done , was both accurate and exhaustive ,
and must have strongly impressed those who had the privilege of hearing it , with the character and extent of our Masonic Benevolence , at all events as exemplified in the case of this particular Charity . But though these digressions into the domain of history arc permissible , and even worthy of every encouragement at times , when
there is nothing of pressing importance to occupy our attention , what we need most of all just now is thc exercise of a little gentle pressure , which shall result in the enrolment of those additional Stewards , which are necessary to ensure the success of the approaching Festival . Here , likewise , the speech of Bro . TERRY was effective . He took the ladies and
brethren present at the entertainment into his confidence . He told them what number of brethren had already volunteered their services , and how the Province of Surrey was bestirring itself to support the Chairman of the day ; and he expressed the hope that a sufficient total of donations and subscriptions might . be forthcoming to enable the Committee of Management
lo tide over the year without trenching upon the hard-earned capital of the Institution . But will such a sum be forthcoming ? The outlay of the Institution at the present time is as follows : 193 male annuitants at - £ 40 each , £ 7720 ; 240 widow annuitants at ^ 32 each , £ 7 680 ; 25 widows receivinghalf their late husbands' annuities , ^ 500 ; total for annuities , ^ is . goo ;
for expenses of management and maintenance of Asylum at Croydon about ^ 3000 , thc grand total of expenditure being in round figures ^" rg . non . To meet this the Institution has the following permanent income , namely : grants from Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter , , £ 1750 ; interest on invested capital about . 6350 U , Jiving a total of / S 250 . Therefore in order to make
both ends meet there must be raised each year b y means of voluntary subscriptions no less a sum than ^ 13 , 750 , or if we allow for a small margin to Le always in hand , say , , £ 14 , 000 . But we venture to point out that a sum of this magnitude takes a good deal of raising . A Festival which produces an average of £ 50 per list may be reckoned as a success ,
as being above rather than below the average ; but lo obtain the sum of . £ 14 , 000 under such favourable conditions there must be a Board of Stewards consisting of at least 280 members . Last week we were able to announce that lira . THKRV had succeeded in enrolling about 170 Stewards , and since then thcic have been additions which increase the number to over 1 S 0 . It is clear ,
therefore , that to obtain the sum we have stated under very favourable conditions , the services of another 100 Stewards must be obtained between now and the 28 th February , and though Bro . TEKRY is not given to spariiv himself when a supreme effort is necessary , we hardly think that even his marvellous powers of . work will enable him to secure so large an addition as
this . But thc conditions are by no means favourable to the obtaining of a hi gh average per list . First of all , there is the reaction from the successful effort of the year 1 S 92 , when the Jubilee was celebrated ; and then the Schools have enlisted as Chairmen of their respective Festivals the Prov . Grand Masters of two of the largest and most important Provinces . For the Girls '
School Festival Bro . the Karl of LATHOM , P . G . M . West Lancashire , has promised to preside , and for that of the Boys' School , Bro . VV . L . J ACKSON , M . P ., P . G . M . VVest Yorkshire ; and as both these Provinces will naturall y concentrate their efforts in supporting each one thc Chairmanshi p
of its Provincial Grand Master , we cannot in reason expect they will be in a position to do much for the Old People . Then there are the Provinces which have already committed themselves to the support of one or other of the Schools , either because it was its turn to receive their aid , or because they had so largel y helped this Institution in 18 92 that for the present they are
The Approaching Festival Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
unable to repeat their contributions . All these circumstances tend to diminish thc chances of Bro . TERRY being able lo gal her together a large Board ol Stewards , but the obligations of the Charily remain . The outlay of ^ jij . ooo must still be met , if not out of the current year ' s income , out of lhe invested capital—that capital on which the Committee of Management will have lo
rely in the event of the Craft generally , owing to a war or some great commercial crisis , being unable to provide thc necessary ways and means for carrying out the beneficent work of the Institution . VVhat makes the case worse is the very numerous array of candidates whose names will be on thc lists for the May election . VVe have already explained to our readers , but
lhe explanation may with advantage be repealed , lhat the number of annuitants for whom provision is made is as great as the circumstances will permit ; yet the lists of candidates will this year show a considerable increase , and unless something very nearly approaching toa miracle should happen , the Committee will ere very long be again confronted
with the difficulty under which they laboured a few years since , when the number of applicants became so large that it was found necessary to make more stringent the rules which defined their qualifications . Last year there were m candidates as compared with 130 in 1892 , namely , 55 men and 5 6 widows ; and of these 20 men and 12 widows were elected , leaving 35 men
and 44 widows eligible for further ballots . Thus the lists started for the 1 S 94 election with some So candidates remaining from the previous year , and the applicants whose petitions have since been accepted being some 511 in number , there will be a return to the higher figures which rendered necessary an amendment of the rules , and in May next we shall find about
130 candidates competing , for some 20 or 25 vacancies . How the difficulties of the position must be metis a problem which it devolves on the Committee of Management to solve . In the meantime , however , particularly as regards the Festival which is now approaching , the Craft will be doing the Committee , the Institution , and the candidates a service of incalculable value if
they will , in the first place , assist Bro . TERRY in hts efforts to strengthen the Board of Stewards , and , having done that , if they will then set to work with their accustomed generosity , and assist the Stewards in their task of comp iling a handsome total of donations and subscriptions . B y doing this , they will render it unnecessary for the Committee to draw upon the capital of
the Institution , and it is just possible , as Bro . 1 ERRY suggested in his speech at Croydon , that , if the amount is fairly large , room may be found for a few more annuitants . But , as we have before said , the sum to be raised , in order to make both ends meet , is £ l 4 , < ' >*> , and when the Stewards have succeeded * in obtaining it , there will be time enough to think about creating more annuities .
Consecration Of The Chertsey Abbey Chapter, No. 2120.
CONSECRATION OF THE CHERTSEY ABBEY CHAPTER , No . 2120 .
The consecration of the Chertsey Abbey Chapter , No . 2120 , took place at the Masonic Hall , Chertsey , on Saturday , the 9 th ult . The interesting ceremony was performed by Comp . Col . G . Noel Money , C . B ., Grand Superintendent of Surrey , assisted by Comps .. Frederick West , I'rov . G . 1 L , as II . ; M . li . Bowles , Prov . G . J ., as | . ; ( 'liarles Greenwood , Prov . G . S . Ii ., asS . li . ; Rev . I . Studholme Brownrigg , G . Supt . Bucks , as S . N . ; and
Frank Richardson , P . G . D . C , as D . C . The founders of thc new chapter ( all but one of whom were present ) are Comps . Colonel G . Noel Money , C . B ., Grand Supt . Surrey ; C . T . T yler , P . / .. 370 , P . P . G . J . ; H . C . Leigh Bennett , P . Z . 370 , P . P . G . J . ; Smallpiece , P . Z . 370 ; VV . II . Gardener , P . Z . 1900 ; D'Arcy S . Blackburn , 370 ; James Webb , lst A . S . 2317 ; H . J . Bidwell , 370 ; li . T . Madeley , 370 ; and G . J . Mason , 370 .
'lhe following visnors were also present : Comps . Pulman , 2317 , Prov , G . S . ; Lancaster , P . Z . 2317 ; Collins , J . 2317 ; Passmore , S . N . 2317 ; Askham , P . Z . 723 ; Col . Dundas , P . Z . 370 ; A . D . Mackay , P . Z . 3711 ; Lister , P . Z . and S . li . 370 ; Rev . li . R . Parr ; Dr . Latter Tandy , 1008 ; Gale , 2317 ; and R . Potter , P . G . lanitor .
' 1 he chapter was opened , and an opening hymn sung , when the Grand Superintendent addressed thc companions on the object of the meeting . The Grand S . li . then read the warrant from the Grand Lodge of Kngland , and Comp . the Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg delivered an impressive oration on the nature and principles of Royal Arch Masonry .
The chapier was then formally consecrated , dedicated , and constituted according to ancient form . The ceremony of installation was then proceeded with , Comp . the Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg installing Comp . Col . G . Noel Money as ist Principal . The installation of Comp . C . T . T yler as H ., and Comp . H . C . Leigh Bennett as J . Thc companions below the rank of Principals , having retired from thc chapter before the installation
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Approaching Festival Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
THE APPROACHING FESTIVAL OF THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .
Bro . TERRY is not the man to miss any favourable opportunity which may present itself of laying * before the Craft the case of the Institution with which he has been for so many years connected as its Secretary . Such an opportunity was alTorded him by the New Year ' s Entertainment to the inmates of the Asylum at Croydon on the 3 rd instant , and it is almost
needless to say that he turned it to most excellent account . The speech he delivered in responding * for the toast of " Prosperily to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , " was , in fact , a concise history of thc Charity , in which were fully set forth the difficulties that were encountered at the establishment of the several branches of the Institution , their amalgamation
into one Charity ' , its steady advancement in the good opinion and goodwill of the Craft , the state of its funds and the extent of the benefits it confers now , as compared with what they were at the time he was elected Collector for the Institution in 1862 . In fact , the account he gave of what had been and was being done , was both accurate and exhaustive ,
and must have strongly impressed those who had the privilege of hearing it , with the character and extent of our Masonic Benevolence , at all events as exemplified in the case of this particular Charity . But though these digressions into the domain of history arc permissible , and even worthy of every encouragement at times , when
there is nothing of pressing importance to occupy our attention , what we need most of all just now is thc exercise of a little gentle pressure , which shall result in the enrolment of those additional Stewards , which are necessary to ensure the success of the approaching Festival . Here , likewise , the speech of Bro . TERRY was effective . He took the ladies and
brethren present at the entertainment into his confidence . He told them what number of brethren had already volunteered their services , and how the Province of Surrey was bestirring itself to support the Chairman of the day ; and he expressed the hope that a sufficient total of donations and subscriptions might . be forthcoming to enable the Committee of Management
lo tide over the year without trenching upon the hard-earned capital of the Institution . But will such a sum be forthcoming ? The outlay of the Institution at the present time is as follows : 193 male annuitants at - £ 40 each , £ 7720 ; 240 widow annuitants at ^ 32 each , £ 7 680 ; 25 widows receivinghalf their late husbands' annuities , ^ 500 ; total for annuities , ^ is . goo ;
for expenses of management and maintenance of Asylum at Croydon about ^ 3000 , thc grand total of expenditure being in round figures ^" rg . non . To meet this the Institution has the following permanent income , namely : grants from Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter , , £ 1750 ; interest on invested capital about . 6350 U , Jiving a total of / S 250 . Therefore in order to make
both ends meet there must be raised each year b y means of voluntary subscriptions no less a sum than ^ 13 , 750 , or if we allow for a small margin to Le always in hand , say , , £ 14 , 000 . But we venture to point out that a sum of this magnitude takes a good deal of raising . A Festival which produces an average of £ 50 per list may be reckoned as a success ,
as being above rather than below the average ; but lo obtain the sum of . £ 14 , 000 under such favourable conditions there must be a Board of Stewards consisting of at least 280 members . Last week we were able to announce that lira . THKRV had succeeded in enrolling about 170 Stewards , and since then thcic have been additions which increase the number to over 1 S 0 . It is clear ,
therefore , that to obtain the sum we have stated under very favourable conditions , the services of another 100 Stewards must be obtained between now and the 28 th February , and though Bro . TEKRY is not given to spariiv himself when a supreme effort is necessary , we hardly think that even his marvellous powers of . work will enable him to secure so large an addition as
this . But thc conditions are by no means favourable to the obtaining of a hi gh average per list . First of all , there is the reaction from the successful effort of the year 1 S 92 , when the Jubilee was celebrated ; and then the Schools have enlisted as Chairmen of their respective Festivals the Prov . Grand Masters of two of the largest and most important Provinces . For the Girls '
School Festival Bro . the Karl of LATHOM , P . G . M . West Lancashire , has promised to preside , and for that of the Boys' School , Bro . VV . L . J ACKSON , M . P ., P . G . M . VVest Yorkshire ; and as both these Provinces will naturall y concentrate their efforts in supporting each one thc Chairmanshi p
of its Provincial Grand Master , we cannot in reason expect they will be in a position to do much for the Old People . Then there are the Provinces which have already committed themselves to the support of one or other of the Schools , either because it was its turn to receive their aid , or because they had so largel y helped this Institution in 18 92 that for the present they are
The Approaching Festival Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
unable to repeat their contributions . All these circumstances tend to diminish thc chances of Bro . TERRY being able lo gal her together a large Board ol Stewards , but the obligations of the Charily remain . The outlay of ^ jij . ooo must still be met , if not out of the current year ' s income , out of lhe invested capital—that capital on which the Committee of Management will have lo
rely in the event of the Craft generally , owing to a war or some great commercial crisis , being unable to provide thc necessary ways and means for carrying out the beneficent work of the Institution . VVhat makes the case worse is the very numerous array of candidates whose names will be on thc lists for the May election . VVe have already explained to our readers , but
lhe explanation may with advantage be repealed , lhat the number of annuitants for whom provision is made is as great as the circumstances will permit ; yet the lists of candidates will this year show a considerable increase , and unless something very nearly approaching toa miracle should happen , the Committee will ere very long be again confronted
with the difficulty under which they laboured a few years since , when the number of applicants became so large that it was found necessary to make more stringent the rules which defined their qualifications . Last year there were m candidates as compared with 130 in 1892 , namely , 55 men and 5 6 widows ; and of these 20 men and 12 widows were elected , leaving 35 men
and 44 widows eligible for further ballots . Thus the lists started for the 1 S 94 election with some So candidates remaining from the previous year , and the applicants whose petitions have since been accepted being some 511 in number , there will be a return to the higher figures which rendered necessary an amendment of the rules , and in May next we shall find about
130 candidates competing , for some 20 or 25 vacancies . How the difficulties of the position must be metis a problem which it devolves on the Committee of Management to solve . In the meantime , however , particularly as regards the Festival which is now approaching , the Craft will be doing the Committee , the Institution , and the candidates a service of incalculable value if
they will , in the first place , assist Bro . TERRY in hts efforts to strengthen the Board of Stewards , and , having done that , if they will then set to work with their accustomed generosity , and assist the Stewards in their task of comp iling a handsome total of donations and subscriptions . B y doing this , they will render it unnecessary for the Committee to draw upon the capital of
the Institution , and it is just possible , as Bro . 1 ERRY suggested in his speech at Croydon , that , if the amount is fairly large , room may be found for a few more annuitants . But , as we have before said , the sum to be raised , in order to make both ends meet , is £ l 4 , < ' >*> , and when the Stewards have succeeded * in obtaining it , there will be time enough to think about creating more annuities .
Consecration Of The Chertsey Abbey Chapter, No. 2120.
CONSECRATION OF THE CHERTSEY ABBEY CHAPTER , No . 2120 .
The consecration of the Chertsey Abbey Chapter , No . 2120 , took place at the Masonic Hall , Chertsey , on Saturday , the 9 th ult . The interesting ceremony was performed by Comp . Col . G . Noel Money , C . B ., Grand Superintendent of Surrey , assisted by Comps .. Frederick West , I'rov . G . 1 L , as II . ; M . li . Bowles , Prov . G . J ., as | . ; ( 'liarles Greenwood , Prov . G . S . Ii ., asS . li . ; Rev . I . Studholme Brownrigg , G . Supt . Bucks , as S . N . ; and
Frank Richardson , P . G . D . C , as D . C . The founders of thc new chapter ( all but one of whom were present ) are Comps . Colonel G . Noel Money , C . B ., Grand Supt . Surrey ; C . T . T yler , P . / .. 370 , P . P . G . J . ; H . C . Leigh Bennett , P . Z . 370 , P . P . G . J . ; Smallpiece , P . Z . 370 ; VV . II . Gardener , P . Z . 1900 ; D'Arcy S . Blackburn , 370 ; James Webb , lst A . S . 2317 ; H . J . Bidwell , 370 ; li . T . Madeley , 370 ; and G . J . Mason , 370 .
'lhe following visnors were also present : Comps . Pulman , 2317 , Prov , G . S . ; Lancaster , P . Z . 2317 ; Collins , J . 2317 ; Passmore , S . N . 2317 ; Askham , P . Z . 723 ; Col . Dundas , P . Z . 370 ; A . D . Mackay , P . Z . 3711 ; Lister , P . Z . and S . li . 370 ; Rev . li . R . Parr ; Dr . Latter Tandy , 1008 ; Gale , 2317 ; and R . Potter , P . G . lanitor .
' 1 he chapter was opened , and an opening hymn sung , when the Grand Superintendent addressed thc companions on the object of the meeting . The Grand S . li . then read the warrant from the Grand Lodge of Kngland , and Comp . the Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg delivered an impressive oration on the nature and principles of Royal Arch Masonry .
The chapier was then formally consecrated , dedicated , and constituted according to ancient form . The ceremony of installation was then proceeded with , Comp . the Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg installing Comp . Col . G . Noel Money as ist Principal . The installation of Comp . C . T . T yler as H ., and Comp . H . C . Leigh Bennett as J . Thc companions below the rank of Principals , having retired from thc chapter before the installation