Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

No . of Lodge . , 6 , 7 Bro . Wm . Stephens ... ... 15 15 o 17 87- „ Joseph Tanner ... ... 20 5 o 1707 n HoraceBrooksMarshalljC . C . ^ The first labour of an Entered Apprentice . ) IO a ° £ 447 o o

MONMOUTHSHIRE : — The Province Bro . Wm . Williams ... 105 o o Lodge . 1429 Bro . Wm . Watkins ... ... 31 10 o

£ 136 10 o NORFOLK . — The Province Bro . H . G . Barwell ... 254 2 o Lodge . e 2 Bro . Wm . A . Tyssen Amherst ... 52 10 o

£ 306 12 o NORTHS AND HANTS : — 17 64 Bro . Hamilton W . Parker ... £ 50 o o NOTTINGHAM : — 402 Bro . Chas . T . Jacoby

OXFORDSHIRE : — 357 Bro . E . L . Hawkins ... ... 31 8 o 47 8 „ James Cavom j ^ 9 „ Thos . B . Brown ... ... 10 10 o

£ 41 18 o SOMERSETSHIRE : — Thc Province Bro . Captain A . T . Perkins ... £ 38 17 a SOUTH WALES ( WESTKIIN DIVISION ) : — Thc Province Bro . Robert Margrave ... £ 22 ! o 0

SUFFOLK . -. — 81 Bro . Wm . Page T . Phillips ... 55 12 o 11 4 „ Wm . Clarke ... ... no 5 o 14 s >• W . O . Chambers ... ... 550

£ 171 2 o SURREY : — 889 Bro . J . J . Holland 1046 ,, Horatio T . Taylor ... ... 21 o o 1395 „ Rev . C . XV . Arnold ... ... 106 1 o 1714 ti Henry Hacker ... ... 37 10 o

£ 164 11 o SUSSEX : — 315 Bro . A . J . Hawkes ... ... iog o o 315 „ R . j . Pope 21 o o 126 o o WARWICKSHIRE : — 5 , 67 Bro . Joseph Boddington ... ... 38 1 ; o

WILTSHIRE : — Thc Province Bro . Wm . Nott ... ... 237 10 o WORCESTERSHIRE — 377 Bro . Geo . Tavlor ... ... 42 o o YORKSHIRE ( N . AND E . RIDINGS ) : —

57 Bro . Thos . Thompson ... ... 22 1 o 1611 „ Thos . Cooper ... ~ \ 1611 „ J . S . Cumberland ... [ 1611 „ A . T . B . Turner ... C s ° » ° „ W . P . Husband ... J

72 6 0 YORKSHIRE ( WEST RIDING ) : — R . W . Bro . Lieut-Col . Sir Henry Edwards ... J 39 Bro . Rev . Arthur W . Hamilton-Gell „ W . H . Brittain „ Joseph Bromley

„ Edward Tozer ... ... ,, J . F . Littlewood ... ... „ W . D . Allen 154 „ W . H . B . Tomlinson ( J . P . ) ... 208 „ R . J . Critchley ( J . P . ) 290 „ Wm . Harrop ... ...

302 „ Henry Smith ... ... 302 ,, Benj . Broughton ... 3 ° 4 11 J ° hn Batley 304 „ C . L . Mason ... 380 „ Capt . J . Wordsworth 448 „ C . T . Rhodes 904 ,, John Fawcett 910 „ W . F . Clark

£ 55 ° ° o LIST SINCE IN : — 1612 Bro . Thos . Kingston ... ... 21 9 6 862 „ „ ... ... 2 9 8 o Making a total , for London and the Provinces , of ... ... £ 3 ' 9 26 8 o

Loud and long continued cheering followed the reading of this list , and Bro . Woodford , as Chairman of the Board , having , with the permission of the Chairman , asked for three hearty cheers for East Lancashire , which appeal was enthusiastically responded to , the East Lancashire bre . thren were waimly congratulated on having achieved such

a result as a total list for their province of £ 3542 . Sir Henry Edwards , R . W . Prov . G . M . for West Yorkshire , proposed " The Health of the Chairman , " whom he characterised not only as one of the best of Mafons , but as a thorough Englishman , and a most worthy type of the head of the domestic circle . The Chairman having replied , Bro . Hedges replied to

the toast " Success to the other Masonic Institution : the Girls'School ( Festival 14 th of May ); tbe Boys'School ( Festival 25 th of June ) . " There were louil calls for Bro . Binckes , who , in answer thereto , also made a most enertic speech on behalf of the Masonic Institutions generally , but particularl y the Boys' School . The Chairman , in proposing " The Stewards , " compli-

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

mented those brethren on the success of the meeting , and on the admirable arrangements which had been made . Bro . the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford ( who sat on the left of the Chairman ) , President of the Board of Stewards , responded . R . W . Sir , —At this late hour of the evening it would ill become me to trespass on the patience of the meeting ,

•' anxious to migrate to more h irmonious sounds and pastures fair , '* but I should not be doing my duty , if , as Chairman of the Board of Stewards , I did not return the thanks of my many zealous friends and coadjutors for the honour which this large assembl y has done them in drinking their health . If the labours of the Stewards have given pleasure and comfort to the brethren they are heartily

satisfied , their anxieties are rewarded , their pains recompensed . Sir , allow me to congratulate all present , on the happy fact , tbat under your auspices , and with the aid of the energetic brethren of your province , we have so well begun 1879 in the cause of Masonic charity , that Masonic charity , which , we so often say , blesses them who give as well as they who receive , that charity , I repeat , which

renders our beneficent Order , the pride of its members , the admiration of its conterapories , and a real utility and a lasting blessing to mankind . ( Applause ) . The toast of " The Ladies" was then given , and the brethren joined the fair sex in the Temple , where the concert was held , ably presided over by Bro . Joseph Clever . The intervals between the toasts were enlivened with

some beautiful vocal performances by Madame Ashton , Miss Agnes Ross , Miss Lizzie Evans , Bro . H . Ashton , Bro . G . T . Carter , Bro . Fred . H . Cozens , the English Glee Union , Bro . A . Hubbard , and Bro . Theodore Distin , the same artists also performing at the concert given in the Temple . Bro . F . H . Cozens had the direction , and presided , with Bro . Fountain Meen at the pianoforte . Bro . G .

S . Giaham also gave his startling organophonic performances , which included selections from several operas . The favour worn by the Stewards this year is worthy of special commendition . In former years a rosette with tassels has been thc distinguishing mark of a Steward , but this year a handsome solid silver medallion about the size of a florin , bearing on one side the inscription" Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , "

and on thc other the Arms of thc Chairman , Bro . Lieut .-Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie took its place . The workmanship was all that could be desired , and is very creditable to the firm entrusted with its execution . We doubt not but that every brother who had the privilege of wearing the medal on Wednesday will carefully preserve it as a souvenir of thc most successful festival of this admirable Institution .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The monthly meeting of the Commiitce of this Institution was held on Thursday at Freemasons' Hall , the day after the very successful annual festival of the Institution . Bro . Colonel Creaton presided , and there were also present , Bros . Thomas Cubitt , Samuel Kawson , Henry G . Warren ,

R . H . Giraud , W . Stephens , James Brett , John A . Farnfield , John G . Stephens , Charles F . Hogard , John M . Case , William Hilton , C . A . Cottebrune , W . F . Nettleship , Dr . Jabez Hogg , Henry Smith , Thomas W . Tew , James Terry ( Secretary ) , and H . Massey ( Freemason . ) Bro . Terry , after reading the minutes , reported the death of six annuitants and one candidate for next election . Bro .

Terry also read a letter from Bro . E . J . Barrow , P . G . D ., Solicitor , enclosing £ 990 19 s . iod ., which he had received from the private estate of the late Bro . Samuel Tomkins , Treasurer . Bro . Terry stated that the result of this was that the Institution did not lose one farthing by the failure of the firm of bankers of Willis , Percival , and Co . Bro . Terry likewise said he had now to report , as most of the

brethren were aware , that the festival of the Institution , held on Wednesday evening , was largely attended , that Col . 'Starkie , Prov . G . M . for East Lancashire , presided , and that the subscriptions amounted to £ 13 , 875 ios . 6 d ., with fifteen lists to come in . There had been a Board of Stewards numbering 288 brethren , the largest Board of Stewards they had ever yet had . ( Cheers . !

A vote of thanks was then passed to Col . Starkie for presiding at the festival . Another vote of thanks was also passed to the Board of Stewards for their great and successful efforts for the comfort and convenience of the visitors . The Chairman then said that the brethren had heard

of the great success of the Institution the night before , and a great deal of that success was due to the Board of Stewards of East Lancashire , and more especially to the Chairman of that Board , Bro . J . L . Hine . He thought it would be a graceful compliment to that brother if they elected him a Vice-President of the Institution for his

ser-. A motion was made to that effect , and carried unanimously . Cheques for annuities , men £ 1280 , and widows £ 1097 , were authorised to be signed by the Chairman . The Chairman announced that there were thirty-three male candidates and seventeen to be elected at the election

in May , and forty-three women , and four to be elected . The Chairman said that after the great success of Wednesday , and seeing that there were only four vacancies for widows at the next election , he thought the Institution might elect ten extra candidates . The Committee agreed to this .

The balloting papers were afterwards settled , and a letter having been read from Bro . S . L . Tomkins , Manager of the Capital and Counties' Bank offering to receive subscriptions for the Institution , the Committee accepted the offer with thanks . The Committee then adjourned .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Craft JHasoitrji , EGYPTIAN LODGE ( No . 27 ) . —Tbe installation meeting of this lodge was held on the 6 th inst . at Anderton's Hotel , where the new lod ge room afforded ample room for what would have been elsewhere a crowded assembly . Bro . T . J . Maidwell , W . M ., presided , and there were also present , among 104 brethren , of whom fifty-seven were visitors , the following : —Past Masters BussAtkin ,

, Greene , Harrison , W . H . Gibbon , C . B . Payne , D . Jacobs , S . J . Samble , J . Coults , Hoare , Walker . Visitors : —Bros . T . Bull , P . M . 145 ; Masters , 145 ; Smith , 1441 ; Barlow , 95 ; Gray , 704 ; S . W . Webb , W . M . 1607 ; H . H . Pendlebury , 1056 ; Green , W . M . 1524 ; ; Lee , P . M . 1524 ; Hollands , P . M . 1321 ; Bunger , S . W . 435 ; Smith , 157 ; Butler , 414 ; Leslie , 1604 ; Richards , 154 ; HumeP . M . 209 ;

, Read , 73 ; Reed , 1287 ; Geo . Teddle , 11 ; Brookmer , 1541 ; Wood , 1446 ; White , 340 ; McGowan , 1287 ; Binckes , Goodman , W . M . 147 ; Lloyd , 1201 ; Hooper , 435 ; W , Dodd , P . M . 1194 ; Summers , 871 ; Rudderforth , S . D . 12 ) Webster , 807 ; Berry , 16 95 ; Corrich , 101 ; Rushton , 116 77 j Wells , 299 ; Smeed , 158 5 ; Anley , 177 ; W . W . Morgan Lee , 211 ; J . H . Southwood , W . M . 1260 ; Ellis , « 4 ; T .

Cubitt , P . G . P . ; Pevott , 861 ; Waters , P . M . 1201 ; Daniels , P . M . 6 5 ; E . P . Albert , P . G . P . ; Spurrell , P . P . G . S . W . ; Kent , 615 ; W . T . Howe , G . P . ; Waghorn , P . M . 946 ; Dance , I . P . M . 754 ; Wills , P . M ., G . S . W . Kent , 299 ; Musto , P . M . 1349 ; Harvey , P . M . 299 ,- Jones , 1612 ,-and Kennard , 145 . The W . M . first installed Mr . James Francis Hale , and afterwards , on presentation duly made to him ,

installed Bro . William Richards as Master of the lodge before a Board of Installed Masters , numbering thirty-four . The brethren appointed to office were Bros . T . J . Maidwell , I . P . M . ; Chapman , S . W . ; Coulson , J . W . ; H . G . Buss , Assistant Grand Secretary , P . M ., Trtas . ; J . B . Poole , P . M ., Sec . ; Kemp , S . D . ; Cuthbertson , J . D . ; Grammer , I . G . ; Murch , D . C . ; David Jacobs , P . M ., W . S . ; King , Assistant

W . S . ; and Potter , Tyler . After the delivery of the addresses , which were fluently given by Bro . Maidwell , the lodge voted £ 25 to a distressed brother , fifteen guineas to the Girls' School for Bro . Maidwell's list , and £ 2 to a brother , late a member of the lodge , who was in distress ; Lodge was then closed and banquet served . When the toasts were proposed , Bro . Buss , Asst . G . S ., and Bro . W .

T . Howe , G . P ., responded for " The Giand Officers , " but , the hour being late , the speeches were made very short . Bro . Maidwell , in proposing " The Health of the W . M ., " said the brethren had seen very little of the W . M ' s . woiking that evening , although what they had seen had been perfectly done . Referiing to the old adage that "the proof of the pudding is in the eating , " he would ask the

brethren to wait to see what the W . M's . capabilities were before they came to any conclusion on the matter . The W . M ., in reply , said that if he elid nt say so much , and that so ably as some of his predecessors had said , it was for the reason that a long address was not his forte . He had been in this Egyptian Lodge many years ; he had spent some of his plcasantest hours in it , and made some

of his firmest friends in it ; therefore he felt great honour in presiding over the brethren . Last December they paid him the highest honour they c mid in electing him without a dissentient vote , and while he was their Master he would endeavour to justify that vote of confidence . In proposing the toast of " Bro . Maidwell , I . P . M ., " the W . M . presented tbat worthy brother with a handsome Past

Mastei ' s jewel , and said that he believed every brother would endorse his observation , that Bro . Maidwell had performed his duty as Master as well as any brother who had held the chair of that lodge , adding that he knew the jewel would be valued by Bro . Maidwell as one of his greatest treasures . Bro . Maidwell , responding , apologised for any defects in . his reply , which he hoped the brethren

would excuse , because of the novelty of his position as a P . M . He highly appreciated the unanimous feeling the brethren had shown towards him , and assured them that what little he had done had been dictated by the love he had for the lodge . He first came among the brethren as a joining member and after he had been among them many times as a visitor . He came so often as Bro .

Jacobs' visitor , Bro . Todd ' s visitor , and as the visitor of other brethren , that at last he was ashamed to come in that character any longer . Still , he was always pleased to be a visitor at the Egyptian Lodge , but when he became a member he tried to prove , from the office of D . C . upwards , that it was his earnest endeavour to do the best he could for the lodge , to work to the best of his ability ,

and to uphold the dignity of the old lodge . As long as that met with the approbation of the brethren he was satisfied , and he should ever regard the jewel just presented to him as one of his most valued possessions . Bro . Binckes , P . G . S ., responded for " The Visitors and the Masonic Charities . " For five-and-twenty years he had advocated brethren visiting lodges , as there was nothing wh ' ch tended

more to do away with sectional organisation . Every one naturally considered his own lodge the best , and it was only by going among other lodges , instituting comparisons and drawing contrasts that the brethren derived a \ arge amount of information . Bro . Buss had alluded to one subject which he ( Bro . Binckes ) could not suffer to pass by unnoticed . The Egyptian Lodge had never forgotten the great principle of

charity , and while he saw in this old lodge winny traeliditions handed down from a Jime-immemorial foundation , he , as a visitor , and as an official charged with duties connected with the great Masonic Institutions , had to thank the brethren both for their hospitality and their charity . He concluded by wishing that these great virtues might long