Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Contents.
CONTENTS .
LEADlSKThe Approaching Festival of the R . M . R . L ... ... ... 25 Consecration of the National Artillery Lodge , No . 257 S ... ... ... 26 Masonic Treat to Poor People ... ... ... ... ... 27 New Masonic Lodge for Glasgow ... ... ... ... ... 27 Masonic Ball at Longton ... ... ... ... ... 2 S
Craft Masonry ... ... ... ... ... ... 2 i Masonic Notes ... ¦ ... ... ... ... ... 3 ' Correspondence ... ... ... ... ... ... 32 Reviews ... ... ... ... ... ... 32 Masonic Notes and Queries ... ... ... ... ... 32 Royal Arch Masonry ... ... ... ... ... 34 Lodges and Chapters of Instruction ... ... ... ... 34 Masonic and General Tidings ... ... ... ... ... ; , 6
The Approaching Festival Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
THE APPROACHING FESTIVAL OF THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .
We are now within six weeks of the day appointed foi celebrating the Anniversary Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and it would seem desirable that wc should again take stock of the position . As our readers are
aware , the Festival will take place at the Freemasons' Tavern on Wednesday , the 26 th February , under the auspices of the Right Hon . Lord GEORGE HAMILTON , M . P ., Secretary of State for India , Prov . Grand Master of Middlesex , and we rejoice to
see that , according to the latest particulars wc have received , the efforts of the indefatigable Secretary , Bro . JAMES TERRY , have borne good fruit . Prior to the last two or three Anniversaries , it has been a part of our duty , just about this time of the year ,
to urge upon the brethren to come forward 111 sufficient numbers as Stewards in order that the sum necessary for the requirements of the year might be obtained . The same dutv has devolved upon us in anticipation of the approaching Festival , and in the fulfilment of that duty , we have had occasion ( o
point out firstly , how large is the sum that has annually to be raised in order to make good the deficiency caused by the excess of expenditure over permanent income ; and secondly , how numerous and urgent are ( he applications made by old and
indigent brethren and their widows for admission to the benefits of the Institution . This year , however , we are glad to say the outlook has been slightly more favourable than usual . The Chairman ' s Province of Middlesex has , lo use a familiar
expression , taken time by the forelock , and at the entertainment on New Year ' s Day to the inmates of the Asylum at Croydon , Bro . TERRY was in the happy position of being able to announce that every one of the lodges in Middlesex—and we
see from this year ' s official Calendar that they muster 42 in allhas furnished , at least , one Steward , while sundry of them will be represented b y two or three , or even more , brethren . This is an example to the other Provinces which we are only too glad ( o
acknowled ge is almost invariably set by that section of the Craft which is more immediately concerned in supporting successfull y the Chairman of the clay ; but it is not always the case that the section or Province which is thus situated is able to take the field .
and set about the arduous task of canvassing for donations and subscri ptions as successfull y as Middlesex ; and this not because one Province is less willing to enter upon this duty than another , but because it so very rarely happens that the Secretary of any
one ot our Institutions has it in his power to announce that he has enlisted the services of such and such a distinguished brother as Chairman for the Festival next ensuing at a ' date early enough ° allow of the brethren he presides over organising their co ' n-
r „ i Rewards so promptly . However , as we make it a » u e to avoid , as far as possible , instituting comparisons between one bod y of brethren and another , let it suffice that Middlesex
The Approaching Festival Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
has been for several months past engaged in making the necessary preparations to support its Prov . Grand Master in a manner that redounds both to his and their credit , and must prove beneficial to the Institution whose interests they have jointly undertaken to
promote . Moreover , this early preparation on the part of the Chairman ' s Province has not been without its effect on the other Provinces , and also on the London district , so that at the present time the Board of Stewards , so far as it has been constituted , is
substantially stronger than its predecessors in ordinary years have been at corresponding periods of the year . This is a hopeful sign and for more than one reason , but chiefly because ( hose who purpose representing Provinces or lodges will have
ample ( ime for canvassing their brother members and friends . In the case of those former Festivals for which , in the interests of the particular Institution concerned , it has seemed desirable that we should continue our appeals for further help almost to
the very latest moment , the appeals have undoubtedl y been answered with the utmost readiness , but then there has been little or no time for the latest comers to do much more than contribute their own personal donations . In this case , there arc
close on 280 Stewards within six weeks of the Festival , and even those who have come forward only within the last few days will have time at their disposal ( or pleading the cause of the Old People with their friends . In this respect , therefore , Bro .
TERRY IS to be congratulated on the success of his labours , and wc can only hope that the efforts of the ladies and brethren he has enrolled as members of the Board of Stewards will be as successful in obtaining the necessary funds .
Upon this point it is , of course , necessary that we should be as urgent as in previous years in our appeals to ( he brethren . The number of annuitants for whom provision must be made is as follows , viz .: On the Male Fund , 200—being an increase of
live over the preceding year— at £ 40 per annum each ; and on the Widows' Fund , 240 , at £ 32 per annum each ; the total sum to be distributed amongst these 440 Old Folks being £ 15 , 680 . To this must be added £ 600 distributable among the 30 widows
—or thereabouts—in receipt of their late husbands' annuities , making . the grand total disbursed for annuities £ 16 , 280 . The expenses of management and the maintenance of the Asylum at Croydon absorb annually about a further £ 3000 , so that the
years outlay may be set down in round figures at £ 19 , 000 , without allowing any margin for unforeseen contingencies . On the other hand , the fixed income does not exceed , if , indeed , it quite approaches , £ 5500 ; the chief heads of recei pt being grants
from Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter of £ 1600 and £ 150 respectively , and interest on invested capital about £ 3750 . There is thus a deficiency of close upon £ 14 , 000 to be made good every year , and it is for the purpose of raising this sum that the
Festival is held . But the case for the Institution does not rest here . We announced last week that , as the result of the consideration of the final batch of petitions for the year b y the Committee of Management at their meeting on the 8 th instant , the number of
candidates for the Male Fund was 62 and for the Widows' Fund 53 , makingatotalfor the two branches of the Institution numbering no less than 115 . What the number of vacancies to be competed forb y these poor people at the election in May next will be remains to
be seen . ft will be decided at the Committee meeting next month , and as in accordance with our experience of past years , there is little , if any , doubt that all the vacancies that occur between the second Wednesday in February and the third Friday in May—the day of the election—will also be filled up , it is clear
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Contents.
CONTENTS .
LEADlSKThe Approaching Festival of the R . M . R . L ... ... ... 25 Consecration of the National Artillery Lodge , No . 257 S ... ... ... 26 Masonic Treat to Poor People ... ... ... ... ... 27 New Masonic Lodge for Glasgow ... ... ... ... ... 27 Masonic Ball at Longton ... ... ... ... ... 2 S
Craft Masonry ... ... ... ... ... ... 2 i Masonic Notes ... ¦ ... ... ... ... ... 3 ' Correspondence ... ... ... ... ... ... 32 Reviews ... ... ... ... ... ... 32 Masonic Notes and Queries ... ... ... ... ... 32 Royal Arch Masonry ... ... ... ... ... 34 Lodges and Chapters of Instruction ... ... ... ... 34 Masonic and General Tidings ... ... ... ... ... ; , 6
The Approaching Festival Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
THE APPROACHING FESTIVAL OF THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .
We are now within six weeks of the day appointed foi celebrating the Anniversary Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and it would seem desirable that wc should again take stock of the position . As our readers are
aware , the Festival will take place at the Freemasons' Tavern on Wednesday , the 26 th February , under the auspices of the Right Hon . Lord GEORGE HAMILTON , M . P ., Secretary of State for India , Prov . Grand Master of Middlesex , and we rejoice to
see that , according to the latest particulars wc have received , the efforts of the indefatigable Secretary , Bro . JAMES TERRY , have borne good fruit . Prior to the last two or three Anniversaries , it has been a part of our duty , just about this time of the year ,
to urge upon the brethren to come forward 111 sufficient numbers as Stewards in order that the sum necessary for the requirements of the year might be obtained . The same dutv has devolved upon us in anticipation of the approaching Festival , and in the fulfilment of that duty , we have had occasion ( o
point out firstly , how large is the sum that has annually to be raised in order to make good the deficiency caused by the excess of expenditure over permanent income ; and secondly , how numerous and urgent are ( he applications made by old and
indigent brethren and their widows for admission to the benefits of the Institution . This year , however , we are glad to say the outlook has been slightly more favourable than usual . The Chairman ' s Province of Middlesex has , lo use a familiar
expression , taken time by the forelock , and at the entertainment on New Year ' s Day to the inmates of the Asylum at Croydon , Bro . TERRY was in the happy position of being able to announce that every one of the lodges in Middlesex—and we
see from this year ' s official Calendar that they muster 42 in allhas furnished , at least , one Steward , while sundry of them will be represented b y two or three , or even more , brethren . This is an example to the other Provinces which we are only too glad ( o
acknowled ge is almost invariably set by that section of the Craft which is more immediately concerned in supporting successfull y the Chairman of the clay ; but it is not always the case that the section or Province which is thus situated is able to take the field .
and set about the arduous task of canvassing for donations and subscri ptions as successfull y as Middlesex ; and this not because one Province is less willing to enter upon this duty than another , but because it so very rarely happens that the Secretary of any
one ot our Institutions has it in his power to announce that he has enlisted the services of such and such a distinguished brother as Chairman for the Festival next ensuing at a ' date early enough ° allow of the brethren he presides over organising their co ' n-
r „ i Rewards so promptly . However , as we make it a » u e to avoid , as far as possible , instituting comparisons between one bod y of brethren and another , let it suffice that Middlesex
The Approaching Festival Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
has been for several months past engaged in making the necessary preparations to support its Prov . Grand Master in a manner that redounds both to his and their credit , and must prove beneficial to the Institution whose interests they have jointly undertaken to
promote . Moreover , this early preparation on the part of the Chairman ' s Province has not been without its effect on the other Provinces , and also on the London district , so that at the present time the Board of Stewards , so far as it has been constituted , is
substantially stronger than its predecessors in ordinary years have been at corresponding periods of the year . This is a hopeful sign and for more than one reason , but chiefly because ( hose who purpose representing Provinces or lodges will have
ample ( ime for canvassing their brother members and friends . In the case of those former Festivals for which , in the interests of the particular Institution concerned , it has seemed desirable that we should continue our appeals for further help almost to
the very latest moment , the appeals have undoubtedl y been answered with the utmost readiness , but then there has been little or no time for the latest comers to do much more than contribute their own personal donations . In this case , there arc
close on 280 Stewards within six weeks of the Festival , and even those who have come forward only within the last few days will have time at their disposal ( or pleading the cause of the Old People with their friends . In this respect , therefore , Bro .
TERRY IS to be congratulated on the success of his labours , and wc can only hope that the efforts of the ladies and brethren he has enrolled as members of the Board of Stewards will be as successful in obtaining the necessary funds .
Upon this point it is , of course , necessary that we should be as urgent as in previous years in our appeals to ( he brethren . The number of annuitants for whom provision must be made is as follows , viz .: On the Male Fund , 200—being an increase of
live over the preceding year— at £ 40 per annum each ; and on the Widows' Fund , 240 , at £ 32 per annum each ; the total sum to be distributed amongst these 440 Old Folks being £ 15 , 680 . To this must be added £ 600 distributable among the 30 widows
—or thereabouts—in receipt of their late husbands' annuities , making . the grand total disbursed for annuities £ 16 , 280 . The expenses of management and the maintenance of the Asylum at Croydon absorb annually about a further £ 3000 , so that the
years outlay may be set down in round figures at £ 19 , 000 , without allowing any margin for unforeseen contingencies . On the other hand , the fixed income does not exceed , if , indeed , it quite approaches , £ 5500 ; the chief heads of recei pt being grants
from Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter of £ 1600 and £ 150 respectively , and interest on invested capital about £ 3750 . There is thus a deficiency of close upon £ 14 , 000 to be made good every year , and it is for the purpose of raising this sum that the
Festival is held . But the case for the Institution does not rest here . We announced last week that , as the result of the consideration of the final batch of petitions for the year b y the Committee of Management at their meeting on the 8 th instant , the number of
candidates for the Male Fund was 62 and for the Widows' Fund 53 , makingatotalfor the two branches of the Institution numbering no less than 115 . What the number of vacancies to be competed forb y these poor people at the election in May next will be remains to
be seen . ft will be decided at the Committee meeting next month , and as in accordance with our experience of past years , there is little , if any , doubt that all the vacancies that occur between the second Wednesday in February and the third Friday in May—the day of the election—will also be filled up , it is clear