Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The monthly meeting of the General Committee of the above Institution was held at Freemasons' Hall , on Wednesday , the ioth instant . Present : Bros . C . C . Dumas ( in the chair ) ,

J . Hervey , B . Head , J . Symonds , A . Perkins , E . H . Patten , F . Walters , F . Adlard , G . Bolton , II . W . Hcmsworth , N . Wingfield , J . R . Sheen , H . M . Lcvy . T . Cubitt , L . Stcan , and W . H . Farnfield ( Secretary ) .

The minutes of previous meetings were read and confirmed . The deaths of two annuitants were announced . Seven males

and five females were added to the list of applicants seeking to be p laced on thc Annuity Fund ; one application was dismissed .

The usual vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings . We cordially recommend this Charity to the consideration of our readers , as being worthy of their support None but those

really deserving and in need of assistance can be placed on the luind , there being a wise rule precluding all who have a certain income from participating in its benefits . We think it is to be regretted that a similar

rule has not been adopted in our other Charities , as it would have thc effect of reducing the number of applicants , and of securing thc admission of the more necessitous cases . We note another arrangement

in this Institution that docs not obtain in cither of thc others , viz .: If a lodge gives its £ 50 in the name of any officer , that or any other amount does not entitle that lodge to be represented at the Committee

meetings . Now this , 111 our opinion , is one of several rules which prevent the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution from being supported as it ought and would be were more advantages given to subscribers .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

Thc Quarterly General Court of this Institution was held on Monday , the 15 th inst ., at Freemasons' Hall . There were present : Bros . John Symonds , V . P . ( in thc chair ); R . Spencer , V . P . ; F . Walters , V . P . ;

W . Roebuck , A . L . Dussck , F . Adlard , II . Massey , and Frederick Binckes , the Secretary , who read the minutes of the previous

court , which were unanimously confirmed . Thc following recommendations from the General Committee were unanimousl y adopted : —

1 . lo approve the list of 60 candidates to be submitted for election at thc Quarterly General Court on 15 th April next . 2 . That an additional vacancy be declared b y the removal of a boy , owing to confirmed

illhealth . 3 . That the number of boys to be educated and maintained be increased from iioto 112 . 4 . That , in consideration of thc Lodge of Bathurst . Africa , ha \ iir . r ceased to meet , and

there being no other lodge within 700 miles of his residence to which the late Bro . F . vans could subscribe , the General Committee be authorised to take the petition in behalf of his son into consideration , notwithstanding his not h

.-ivinosubscribed to a lodge for thc stipulated period . Although the numbers are increased from no to 112 , there will be but 17 to be elected out of the 60 candidates on thc list .

The debt ofthe Institution is now practically reduced to . £ 5 . 000 . Combined effort at the next festival , on March 13 th

might , without difficulty , remove it entirely . All business having been disposed of , the usual vote of thanks to the chairman closed the meeting .

Masonic Festival At Chester.

MASONIC FESTIVAL AT CHESTER .

On Monday last , the celebration of the festival of St . John was held by the brethren of the Lodge of Independence , No . 721 , at the Bars ' Hotel , where the ceremonv of installing Bro .

John Larden Sellers , ALII , as W . M . for the year was performed in a most effective manner by Bro . R . W . Worrall , P . M ., who also delivered the charges most impressively to the following

officers elected hy the W . M . : Bros . Thomas , S . W . ; Dennis . J . W . ; Johnson , S . D . ; M'Millan ( by deputy ) , J . D . : Beresford , LG . ; Williams , Tyler .

Afler the ceremony of installation , Bro . Worrall , P . M ., in a neat and appropriate speech , presented Secretary Bro Fleney Allsop with a beautiful timepiece ( voted from the lodge funds ) as a slight acknowledgment of his valuable

gratuitous services as Secretary ol Lodge 721 lor some years . This gift was supplemented by another , consisting of ten handsomely-bound volumes of Chambers ' s Fmcyclopedia . subscribed for by members of the lodge , and obtained

through the active exertions of Bros . J . Jones and C u mi ah . After the lodge had been closed in due form , the brethren adjourned to a sumptuous banquet , provided by Bro . A . C . Lockwood , at ( he Hop

Pole Hotel , and which was attended by about fifty brethren . Thc W . M . presided , and was supported by the following brethren , members and visitors to the lodge : Bros . Councillor Dickson , 721 : J . Jones , 504 ( Liverpool ) :

Williams , W . M . 425 ; Salmon , W . M .-cleet 425 ; Piatt , P . P . G . W ., 537 ; M'Mastie , 425 ; Hunt , P . M . 425 ; Hignett , W M . 537 : Taylor , M . D ., 4215 ; "Willcox , 425 ; Dr . Davidson , 721 : ] .

M'Evov , I . P . M . 721 ; J . Huxley , 425 ; J . Lloyd , 517 ( l-iolyhead ) ; Venables Williams ( P . M .. ) , F . Williams , Rhyl , l- 'llis , Cunnah , Harden , J . Glyn Jones , ami Captain Jones , 721 ; F . van Jones , 597 and 721 : cKrc .

The W . M . ( Bro . Sellers ) then proposed the following toasts : "The Queen ; " "The Prince of Wales , Past Grand Master of F . ngland , " which was followed hy a song adaptetl for the occasion by liro . F ' van Jones ; "The Ri « ht Hon . the

Marquis of Ripon , M . W . G . M . of J-mgland , song , "Tubal Cain : '' "Lord de Tabley ' P . G . M . of Cheshire ; " "The W . AL 721 , " by the LP . M ., Bro . M'FA-oy ; and " The Visitors , " coupled with the name of Bro . f . Williams , W M . 42 ^ , who ,

111 responding , expressed his gratiiication , and the pleasure it always gave him in visiting Lodge 721 , anil expressed a hope that the brethren of that lodge would return theconipliinent : indeed , it would give him and his brother oliicers an

opportunity of uniting more closely with the brethren of that lodge , if they would visit them oftener . He promised ( hem a hearty reception . Bro . Salmon , W . M .-elect 425 , responded to the same effect .

The W . M . then proposed "The Health ofthe Installing Master , Bro . Worrall , " which was received with Masonic honours . Bro . Worrall , in responding to the toast , said :

Although I am a member of another lodge in this city , I can never forget my connection with my mother lodge 721 , and as long as I am able , it will give me the greatest pleasure to render my humble assistance in furthering the good

cause . " Thc Health of the LP . M ., " was next given and responded toby Bro . J . M'Fvoy . Bro . Allsop then returned thanks in suitable terms for the handsome presents .

Bro . Piatt ' s name war , mentioned 111 connection with the toast of " The Charities , " when he gave a very interesting account of tho .-. e connected with Cheshire , mentioning , especially , the great assistance rendered by Lodges 605 and 721 .

Then followed "The Officers of the Lodge , " responded to by Bro . Thomas , S . W . Bro . Williams , 42 ? , gave " The Town and

Trade of Chester , " responded to by the ex-Mayor , Bro . Dickson ; and . lastly , " All poor and distressed Masons . ' The songs cf the evening were ably given by

Masonic Festival At Chester.

Messrs . Bell and Pates , of the Chester Cathedral Choir , who were specially engaged for the occasion . The brethren separated at an early hour , well pleased with the rich and varied repast prepared for them by Bro . A . Garden Lockwood .

Masonic Ball At Newbury.

MASONIC BALL AT NE WBURY .

The triumph of two years ago encouraged the Freemasons of the town to give another ball , which came off on Friday evening last week , at

the Town Hall , and although not quite so numerously attended , everything connected with the arrangements of the affair , and the pleasure of the company were most satisfactory , a result contributed in no small degree by the activity of

the committee and their Hon . Secretary , Bro . G . J . Cosburn , and also the obliging attention of the M . C . ' s ofthe evening , Messrs . J . Bance and Coyer . The falling oft" in numbers was to be accounted for by domestic bereavement , which

prevented members of several families from attending . The ball room was tastefully adorned by Mr . G . Boyer , whose attachment to the Craft no doubt assisted his technical knowledge in adapting the decorations to the nature ofthe

gathering . The whole length of the room was appropriated to the purposes ofthe ball . At the east end was hung the Masonic motto , "Audi vide lace" which , on this occasion , would possibly bear a more general than particular application .

Festoons of evergreens and flowers looped with blue silver , and white rosettes were carried round the room , pendant from which were Masonic emblems and mottoes . The windows were filled in with handsome candelabra , in the recesses

between each were consol glasses 111 elegant frames . The band occupied an orchestra at the west end of the room , and seats were carried round the room . The hall landing was converted into a saloon for refreshments , ard the police

station was turned into a reception room for gentlemen . An elegant supper was laid out with much taste in tlie Council Chamber , this most important department being entrusted to

Mr . and Mrs . Balding , whose unremitting attentions to the company gave the utmost satisfaction . Dancing commenced about 10 to the strains of the band of the ist Life Guards , the carte de dilute containin < r an admirable selection of

popular music , adding much to the spirit ofthe gathering , which broke up as the small hours of the morning began to wane . The company , which numbered about 100 , included the following : —Mr . Walter Arundell ,

Miss Balding , Mr . Anderson , Mr . Ayres , Mr . Aveling , Air . Applegate , Bro . G . Boyer , P . M ., P . P . G . P ., Mrs . G . Boyer , . Aliss M . Boyer , Miss M . A . Boyer , Miss Ward , Miss Bern ' s , Miss Bitchelotir , Bro . j . Bance , J . W ., Miss Bance ,

Mr . W . and Mrs . Bance , Miss Brooks , Bro . W . C . Bla-ul , P . M ., P . P . G . J . W ., Bro . Burns , S . W ., Mr . R . Balding , Mr . Brewer , Bro . F . W . Beckinham , I . G ., Miss Bristow , Mr . and Miss Bidd' . s , Mr . I-I . Bartholomew , Miss Ward , Miss

| . Ward , Bro . G . J . Cosburn , Mrs . Cosburn , Bro . W . H . Cave , P . M ., P P . G . Reg ., Mrs . R . Martin , Mr . C . J . Childs , Mr . R . Canning , Bro . Durrant ( Maidenhead ) and the Misses Durrant ( 2 ) , Mrs . A . Roake , Miss Roake , Miss A

Roake , Mr . H . Davis , Mrs . F . Davis , Miss Darling . Mr . A . T . Davis , Bro . 'I ' . Deller , Sec , Mr . F . f > . Frampton , Mr . and Miss Ferris , Mr . Coulter , Bro . F . G . Flail , P . G . A . D . C , Mr . H . Hanington , Miss Ward , Mr . G . Hunt , Mr . S .

G . Hunt , Miss Hunt , Mr . Hitchcock , Bro . Johnston , Mrs . and Miss Johnston , Mr . C . Jackson , Bro . Knight , Bro . W . W . King , P . P . G . S . D ., Miss F ,. King , Mr . Legg , Miss Bates , Mr , Norrington , Bro . R . Newton , Mr . Owen , Bro .

Plenty , Mr . J . Parker , Mr . K . Parker , Miss Trendell , Miss K Parker , Bro . R . A . Ryott , Mr . S . Ryott , Miss Ryott , Bro . Ravenor , S . D ., Mrs . Ravenor , Bro . Stradling , Mrs . Stradling , Mr . Twilchcn , Miss Thomson , Bro . W . H .

Webster , Mr . J . C . Free , Miss Lewin , Miss Wragg , Miss Fidler , Bro . Liddiard , Bro . M . AVheder , Mrs . Wheeler , Mr . S . White , Mr . White , Mr . Ward , Mr . W . Wilson , Bro . G . Wheeler , Miss Day . —Newbury Weekl y News