Lodges And Chapters Of Instruction.

J . C . Conway was elected VV . M . for the next meeting , and appointed his officers in rotation . A vote of thanks , to be entered on the minutes , was unanimousl y voted to the Chairman , Secretary , and Committee for their services in bringing the annual lodge of instruction supper , on Friday " last , to such a successful issue . After " Hearty good wishes , " the lodge was closed .

KENSINGTON LODGE ( No . 1767 ) . —A meeting was held on Tuesday , the 13 th inst ., at the Scarsdale Arms Hotel , Edwardes-square , Kensington , VV . Present : Bros . G . A . Knight , W . M . ; W . Hillier , S . W . ; C . Woods , J . W . j R . H . Williams , P . M ., P . P . J . G . D . Middx ., Treas . ; F . Craggs , Sec ; J . R . Hubbard , S . D . j T . Jobson , J . D . j J . " B . Cory , I . G . j G . Swann , A . G . Talbot , 5 . Cochrane , VV . M . 2345 J W . Dresden , and James Sims ,

P . M . .... The lodge was opened , and the ceremony of initiation was rehearsed in a very careful manner , Bro . Swann acting as candidate . Bro . Hubbard gave the charge at the conclusion . Bro . Cochrane offered himself as a candidate

for passing , and being found proficient , was entrusted . The lodge " was opened in the Second Degree , and the ceremony rehearsed . The lodge was then resumed to the First Degree . Bro . Hillier was elected VV . M . for the next meeting , and the lodge was closed .

CREATON LODGE ( No . 1791 ) . —A meeting was held on Thursday , the Sth inst ., at the Wheatsheaf Hotel , Goldhawk-road , Shepherd ' s Bush , VV . Present : Bros . G . E . Higginson , VV . M . j VV . Hellier , S . W . j L . Fountain , J . W . j E . Austin , P . M ., Treas . j VV . H . Chalfont , P . M ., ' Sec . j J . Brown , S . D . ; W . J . Jennings , J . D . ; L . Cox , I . G . j " R . H . Rogers , P . M . ; F . Woodard ; H . D . Gilbert ,

VV . M . 1 S 2 S ; A . Larter , H . Cotton , and A . Love . The lodge was opened in due form , and the minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed . The lodge was opened in the Second and Third Degrees , and resumed to the Second Degree . The ist Section of the Lecture was worked by the VV . M ., assisted b y the brethren . The lodge was resumed to First Degree . The ceremony of initiation

was rehearsed , Bro . H . D . Gilbert candidate . The ist Section was worked by the W . M ., assisted b y the brethren . Bro . Hellier was elected VV . M . for next meeting . A letter of condolence was ordered to be sent to Bro . Wilder upon the sad bereavement of the loss of his eldest son . " Hearty good wishes" were given to the VV . M ., and the lodge was closed .

STAR CHAPTER ( No . 1275 ) . —The usual weekly meeting of this chapter was held at the Stirling Castte , Camberwell , on Friday , the gth inst ., when among those present were Comps . T . Grummant , P . Z . 1275 , M . E . Z . ; J . Hill , J . 1329 , H . ; G . L . Moore , P . Z . 16 9 , J . ; F . Hilton , P . Z . 1275 , S . N . 172 , Preceptor and S . N . ; Goodwin , P . S . ; Milliken , A . S . ; and Addington , P . Z . 1275 .

The chapter having been opened , and the minutes read and confirmed , the ceremony of exaltation was rehearsed , with Comp . Addington as candidate . Comp . Hill was elected M . E . Z . for the next meeting , and was heartily congratulated for his able work as H . for the first time in this chapter . Comp . F . Hilton , Preceptor , announced that the three installation ceremonies would be worked on the 30 th inst .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

A Special General Meeting of the Governors and Subscribers of this Institution was held on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall , for the purpose of taking into consideration a proposed revisal of the rules and regulations as already agreed to by the Committee of Management , and of considering any further proposition

or motion relating thereto that might then be brought forward . The chair was taken by Bro . J . A . Farnfield , and there were also present Bros . Dr . Jabez Hogg , Thos . Cubitt , Fredk . Mead , David D . Mercer , C . H . Webb , Charles Daniel , Smith , Edward West , George Jones , A . H . Tattershall , W . Daniell , Samuel

Brooks , Charles G . Hill , G . Bolton , James Brett , Henry Garrod , J . Newton , George Everett , Charles Kempton , L . C . Haslip , George E Fairchild , Alex . Mullord , Dr . H . J . Strong , Sir Hedworth Williamson , Henry Cox , C . G . Dilley , Alex . Forsyth , E . M , Money , Hugh Cotter , W . J . Crutch , W . H . Making , Stanley J .

Attenborough , Robert A . Gowan , W . W . Morgan , jun ., Walter Martin , and James Terry ( Secretary ) . Bro . TERRY having read the advertisement calling the meeting , at the request of the Chairman also read letters from the Prov . G . Sec . of Durham , from Lodge No . Q 7 , Sunderland , and from the Prov . G . Sec . of

Lincoln , adverse to the proposed addition to Rule 1 : " That no brother or widow of a brother shall be elig ible for the annuity of this Institution unless the said brother shall have been a Life Governor of this Institution at least two years , or a subscriber of 21 s . annuall y for five years before presenting his petition or

before his death . The brethren then proceeded to consider the proposed addition to Rule 37 . The rule as it appeared on the books was , " Should any candidate be unsuccessful at two successive elections , and have attained the age of 80 years , the Committee of Management shall have

the power to place him or her on the list of annuitants ; and the proposed addition was if in their opinion efforts have been made to secure his or her election . " The CHAIRMAN said that when this alteration was mooted the case was di-cussed of certain candidates being put on the list and being allowed to remain there

until they were 80 years of age without any effort being made to secure their election , and it was with the view of preventing that that the words now proposed for insertion were suggested . They left to the discretion of the Committee the taking them on , placing a

restriction at the same time on the Committee only to take them on if they thought efforts had been made to secure election . It struck the Committee that that was a very important alteration and would not press hardl y upon any one , because it would not affect those who

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had made efforts but only those who did not make efforts . On the motion of Bro . D . D . MERCER , G . P ., seconded by Bro . DANIEL , the addition was carried . The next proposition was to add to Rule 1—'' Qualifications for Male Fund "—but it will be

observed that widows were included in the proposed alteration . " That no brother or widow of a brother shall be eligible for the annuity of this Institution , unless the said brother shall have been a Life Governor of this Institution at least two years , or a subscriber of 21 s . annually for five years before presenting his petition ,

or before his death . " After Bro . Terry had read the alteration , and before its adoption was moved and seconded , Bro . D . D . MERCER said he should at once move that the clause be not agreed to . He had consulted a very large number of supporters of the Institution , and they

were certain that if that alteration was put before Grand Lodge it would be refused . Therefore , he felt it would be a proper course to move at once that it be not agreed to . Bro . KEMPTON seconded , being perfectly sure it

would not stand . It would , if carried , materially interfere with the Institution . Certainly for the next few years there would be no candidates eligible , or very few , because it was well known that very few candidates were Life Governors of the Institution . If the

rule were carried it would prevent several candidates from coming forward for several years . To show that that opposition did not emanate from the provinces , he would second the motion of Bro . Mercer , because London would object to it quite as strongly as the country . Bro . MULLORD asked whether that alteration had

been authorised by the Committee . Bro . TERRY said yes , and it had been before them for several months . Bro . MULLORD said he had no further arguments than those they had heard , except that Bro . Kempton had said there would be no candidates . He wished it was so , but he was certain there would be amply

sufficient candidates for the next few years or any number of years . Bro . Kempton seemed to take it for granted that the effect of that would be to bring more money to the Institution , but he ( Bro . Mullord ) did not think anything of the sort . Those who gave did not think they would ever want the annuity . It would not bring a pound to the Institution . They were in a fix now what to do with the candidates for the annuitv and how

to lessen the number . They must do something ; and how were they to do it ? Were they going to throw those over who supported the Institution in the days of their prosperity , or throw over those who never gave a penny to it ? For his part , he said , throw over those who did nothing for it . They were only just beginning

now to pile up the numbers of applicants . By-and-bye they would have double and treble the number . A man now belonged to two or three lodges , and spent all his spare cash on eating and drinking ; that was what it meant ; a man joined big lodges , and if he applied for the annuity those lodges took up his case .

Another brother said he should like to belong to several lodges , but instead of doing so he preferred to belong to one only , and gave his spare cash to the Institutions . He might belong to only a small lodge , but was a good worker . But the one who belonged to several lodges pushed him out at an election , and he had to go on

from year to year without getting enough votes . The other had made many friends of the mammon of unrighteousness , and when he failed they took him into their habitations . Charity should begin at homethey all said that—but in cases of that kind it began outside . The Secretary could show that there were

ample brethren , even of those who supported the Institution , to become candidates if that resolution was passed . Bro . J AMES BRETT , P . G . P ., took the same view in opposition to the proposition of Bro . Mercer not to send the alteration to Grand Lodge . If it was sent to

Grand Lodge they would see whether the brethren would cast it or not . It was said Grand Lodge would never pass it . He did not know that they would not . Let them vote as they chose . Let it go to Grand Lodge and be threshed out there . There were many reasons why it should be passed . It had been spoken

of as turning Masonry into a benefit society . No doubt some people joined it for the purpose of its advantages ; 900 out of 1000 . He thought the alteration would shorten the list by weeding out the unworth y ones and leaving those who were worthy to have that which they were entitled to ; having joined

Freemasonry when they were in affluence they joined several lodges , and were able to get round them many friends and a large amount of support . They were , perhaps , men who never did anything for the Charities , and when , perhaps , they sank down applied for the charity of the Institution and walked over the head of a poor man

a tradesman , who had made himself a Life Governor of all the Institutions , but had not made himself so popular as to be able to get votes . There was another class who shut them out—Tylers , who tyled many lodges , and were able to get votes merely for the asking . This alteration of the rule would be a lest case

and if it passed it would answer every purpose ; it would shorten the lists as far as the deserving and undeserving were concerned ; it would shut out the undeserving . He hoped the Board would send it to Grand Lodge and give the brethren generally an

opportunity of saying whether they would have it or not . It having been called to the attention of the Chairman , by Bro . S . J . ATTENBOROUGH , that there was no motion yet for the adoption of the alteration , and that an amendment could not be moved till an original

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motion had been made , Bro . Mullord moved , and Bro . C . H . WEBB seconded , the adoption of the proposed new rule . Bro . Sir HEDWORTH WILLIAMSON , Prov . G . M . Durham , said he had had that motion put before him by his province , and he mi ght say that the feeling was so

strong there against it that almost consternation prevailed in Durham on the point . He gave the alteration his most hearty opposition . Not onl y did he think it his duty as Prov . Grand Master for Durham to act as far as he possibly could in conforming to the wishes of his province , but it being his own view as

well as of the brethren of his province , he had come to express it . If there had not been many expressions from the provinces against the resolution , he believed that onl y arose from the short notice they had had . He had had private notice from several , and as far as he could see Northumberland , Durham , Yorkshire , and

Lancashire were strongly opposed to that alteration , and that was one of the reasons that brought him to that meeting . On a division the motion was lost by 22 votes against 11 . The next rule proposed to be altered was Rule 1—

( Jualificattons , & c , for the Male Fund "—which is as follows . The proposed alterations we give within brackets : " No brother shall be eligible to be admitted a candidate for an annuity under the age of sixty years , nor unless he has been a registered Master Mason for fifteen years [ these words in italics

to be omitted ] , and a subscribing member to a lodge for at least ten years of that period [ these words in italics to be omitted , and the word "fifteen" substituted for them ] , except the brother shall be afflicted with blindness , paralysis , or other visitation of Divine Providence [ the italicised words to

be omitted , and the following to be inserted in their place , " certified by two medical men as suffering from blindness , paralysis , or other affliction which in the opinion of the Committee ] shall permanentl y incapacitate him from earninga livelihood , and that the affliction shall have occurred subsequently to his being raised to

the Degree of Master Mason : in such case the party [ candidate ] may be admitted under sixty years of age , if he shall have been five years a registered Master Mason and subscriber to a lodge for that period . Secretaries who have been exempted by their lodges

from the payment of subscription , shall not be disqualified from receiving the benefits of this Institution , provided their quarterages to the Fund of Benevolence have been duly paid for at least ten [ fifteen ] years , and they have been registered for the required period . "

Bro . C . H . WEBB proposed the adoption of the alteration . The points were so clear that there was only little necessity to say anything about it . Bro . BOLTON seconded . Bro . Dr . FORSYTH said the average age of Masons was 10 years . Very few would be eli gible if the

Masonic life was to be 15 years , and he thought the alteration ought not to be accepted . Bro . Dr . JABEZ HOGG , P . G . D ., said that the late Grand Secretary , Bro . John Hervey , made a very careful estimate on the life of Masons , which was that it rarely ex ' ceeded seven years . The majority left the

Masons in seven years after joining . He ( Dr . Hogg ) did not approve of Dr . Forsyth ' s objection , because he thought the alteration would be an improvement in the laws of the Institution . The lists grew more and more congested year by year both with male and females , and it was quite evident that unless some intermediate

steps were taken they would still go on disappointing a large number of those who came forward and asked to have their necessities relieved . It would be a great pity to encourage brethren to put their names down on the lists unless they had some hope of succeeding . Some had already been 10 or 12 years on the list , and

no effort was made to get them elected . That was very much to be deplored . It was more the case in the country than in London , and it congested the lists and paralysed the brethren ' s efforts . Although they did not subscribe to the Charities they did indirectly , and Grand Lodge met the proposition by altering its

rule , and subscribed so much every year to make all members more eligible . They ought to be eligible . They came into the Order in prosperous circumstances , and did not expect to come and ask for Charity . He hoped the better would never make it a benefit society . The resolution was carried unanimously .

Bro . L . STEAN said he had been a Mason 60 years , being made in the Peace and Harmony Lodge in 1830 . Pie did not know of any rule by which they could judge of a man ' s Masonic life . Rule No . 2 : "No brother having an income of £ 40

, per annum , or who is otherwise in a situation to provide tor himself , shall be admitted to the benefits of the Institution . " It was proposed to alter this by substituting £ 32 for £ 40 . This was carried by 28 against 3 votes .

The following new rule , to be added to Rule 3 , page 3 8 , was then proposed : "A candidate having been a Life Governor for five years at the time of presenting his petition , shall be entitled to 20 votes at each election until successful for each Governorshi p he may have qualified before his petition was accepted : but after his election all future ri ght to such added votes shall cease . "

Bro . C . H . WEBB moved the resolution , holding that brethren who had supported the Institution should be first recognised , and that rule would be a recognition . Bro . MULLORD seconded , and said it was a most excellent rule . What were 20 votes in those days of thousands which were required to get a candidate in ,