Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

n Wednesday last thc summer entertainment to the r o of the Asylum for Aged Freemasons and the '"'• " i " 0 { Freemasons , was given on the premises at i and was attended with even move thaw the - ' ¦ J'' ' success . The periodical amusements for the old ordinary ... ,: „ u „ j i . „ R- „ TV ,.... , * , „ c „„ r „ i , ^„ nfn , « established bBro the Secretary of the

le were y . Terry , ^" rtution shortly after his election to thc office , when ' vere instituted as a tentative scheme , which it was ^ edit by that energetic brother , would be acceptable to h Craft at large , who are strong supporters of this , as well the other Masonic Charities . The first little fete was so SS »« ful that Bro . Terry considered the scheme fairly succesM" :. •_ . „ . uand when he made his second proposition to the

I rhed rmrnittee for the use of the hall at the Asylum , it was ived not only with as much readiness as his first re-16 st but with an amount of warmth which showed that T brethren were determined to work hand in hand with ' . t 0 afford the annuitants a change in their life at frovdon which they might look forward to with pleasure .

, . time has gone on , thanks to the widespread popularity f the Craft , there has been but little difficulty in finding brethren ani ladies willing to give their assistance in makin ? up a programme of entertainments acceptable to those who partake in them , while they are always diversified and free from a set form . Consequently no one can say that a forthcoming entertainment will be in any respect

simular to a former , and the certainty that something new will be given furnishes a charm to the diversion which a set entertainment would not possibly have . At times dramatic readings have been given ; at other times there have been magic lanterns , and disolving views with panoramas and instructive lectures ; entertainments exclusively musical have at other times been

given ; and at all times a hearty social reunion in which ihe brethren who support the Institution and thc ladies of their families spend a few hours of friendly intercourse with their brethren and sisters , and strive to make this sublunary sphere as enjoyable as under the circumstances it can be rendered . On Wednesday last , Bro . Terry ' s programme was strictly musical , and to carry it out he

secured thc valuable services of Madame i haddeus Wells , ( whose feelings are so strongly Masonic that she may be identified with Masonry , ) and Bros . Seymour Smith , T . Lawler Junr ., and George Weige . The South Eastern Railway kindly put on a special saloon carriage to the j . 38 p . m . train from Cannon Street , and landed the party at Croydon in twenty-two minutes ,

the party consisted of the following ladies and brethren : J . Terry , Sec . ; Dr . H . J . Strong , Hon . Surgeon to the Institution ; Mrs . Strong , Mrs . Terry , Mrs . Newton , Mrs . Constable , Bro . Newton , Miss Terry , Bro . Bowyer , P . M . ij 8 o ; J . Stock , S . D . njS ; J . Newton , R . Pearcy , S . D . 228 ; R . H . Halford , S . W . 228 ; T . Cubitt , P . G . P . ; C . Reefe , 228 ; Mr . J . E . Terry , Bro . L . H . Webb , J . D . 174 ,

J . W . 1607 ; Mrs . Lacy , Bros . E . G . Legge , S . W . 11 9 6 , Twas . 1607 -, C . J . Perceval , S . D . 1607 ; C . Lacey , P . P . G . D . Herts ; W . W . Morgan , jun . ; H . Massey ( Freemason ) , G . Knill , Mr . G . Recknell , Bros . W . H . Stevens , J . J . Berry , Mrs . Berry , Bros . S . Smith , T . Lawler , jun ., G . Weige , J . W . 860 ; Mrs . Newton , Mrs . Bowyer , Mrs Legge , Mrs . Pearcy , Mrs . Newton , Mrs . Halford , Mrs . Recfe , Miss

Constable , Miss E . R . Reefe , Mrs . Stock , Bro . J . Constable , and Bro . J . Stevens . On arriving at the building a general inspection of the place was made by the visitors , and it was universally admitted that it had never , within the memory of the present supporters of the Institution , presented such a favourable appearance . The reason of this was speedily made known .

rinding that some repairs were required to the premises , the committee early in the year resolved to call in an architect to advise them what was required to be done , and it lyas on that brother ' s report that the committee gave directions for thc entire place to be put in a thorough state of repair . Messrs . Patrick and Son were employed on this W ( « k , and alter a few months again handed the building

over to the Institution . The way in which all the work has been done reflects credit not only on the builders , but on ihe chairman of the committee , the committee , and the Wetary , who have followed the progress of Ihe builders wth a very scrutinising eye . The Craft may rest assured that they took a wise step in having the repairs done as soon as they did , for if they had not then taken it the small c ° st which lias been incurred would have been rendered

, cr y beavy . In addition to the pleasant appearance presentetl by the buildings another beautiful sight met thc visitors' view as soon as they entered the gates . The gardens were beautifully laid out , and the recent handsome S" ( of flowers by Dr . Strong , chronicled by the Freemason st Week , vvas noticeable as adding much to the charming eene , it was a i * jScrVable that an addition hail 1 ' - »» o . 3 diau UUStl VaUlC llldL , 111 clUUlLlUU 1 J . 1 U

een made to the grounds , for at thc northern end was a r ge kitchen garden , well stocked with vegetables , antl ^ Were '" formed by the Secretary that thc slip of land v Wt , " the railway and the grounds no longer is trathnr i the Persons wbo had formerly a right-of-way to lire t at - the extremity of the gardens . Of the difad < Ki- proceedings necessary for the acquisition of these Hdtl ' r "'" fi t . KKKSSxliy 1 U 1 UU" diqUlMLlUJl Ol lllC & C

port ? S the Frcemason has given full account in its reandV meetin S the Committee of the Institution , the t " " therefore necessary that we should now repeat mw that werc taken . After partaking of tea the [ or m amn ? "t to the old people was given , and it lasted p | ea ° tban three hours . Evcrbody experienced great u „ j v re at the entertainment , although there was a ha )) w fl -ellng of regret that the space afforded by the ° lallv ? J S ° con ( * - For these entertainments it is •¦ all mi n i , Uate ; and ' < with a very small expense the lo be h i L made nearly double the size it now is , it is % ' > dow i the Craft ' whom vve heartily wish would " - s < " < - the place to form their own opinion on

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

the subject , will shortly sanction a small outlay , by which means accommodation will be given to enable the wellwishers of the Benevolent Institution to extend the numbers to whom invitations to these small fetes may be issued . Madame Thaddeus Wells , Bros . Seymour Smith , T . Lawler , jun ., George Weige , John Constable , James Stevens , J . J . Berry , C . J . Perceval , Mrs . Strong , Miss Terry , Miss

Reefe , Miss E . Recfe , and Miss Constable threw their heartiest efforts into the entertainment , and gave vocal and instrumental performances . Among the pieces were Bro . Seymour Smith ' s " opera " " Brown ' s Dinner Party . " Among the other pieces were " Jack ' s Yarn , " " Never mind thc rest , " " Coming through the Rye , " " Nancy Lee , " " Polly , " " Just another Glass , " " Cherry Ripe , "

" Nothing like Leather , " " The Women of our Native Land , " " The Singing Lesson . " During the intervals between the songs and performances the old people were regaled with wine and cake , and all the fruits that are in season ; and besides this every old lady was presented with a pound of tea , and every old brother with a pound of tobacco , the gift of the Supreme Council . Before the party

separated , Dr . Strong proposed a vote of thanks to Madame Wells , and the professional brethren , as well as to non-professional ladies and brethren who hatl given their services ; and in doing so he said that all who were present knew what a sacrifice it was to thc professional artistes to devote an evening away from their engagements . He thought that every one had spent a very pleasant evening ; that every one enjoyed the songs , and that no

one could go away and forget the charming style in which Madame Wells had given " Cherry Ripe , " and " Coming through the Rye . " " Cherry Ripe" was a very oldfashioned song , but of all the numerous songs which had been written since , there was not one which eclipsed it . Having alluded then to the professionals , they must not forget the amateurs , who had also contributed to the evening ' s entertainment , and he hoped there would be many future occasions when the brethren and the rest of the

company would enjoy a similar treat Bro . Seymour Smith responded , and expressed thc extreme satisfaction of all thc artistes that their efforts to please had been so eminently successful . On behalf ot himself and the others he thanked the company very much , and as often as Dr . Strong prescribed a similar treatment for the old people , the artistes woultl be too happy to repeat thc dose . Bro . Smith concluded by proposing thanks to Bros . Terry , who was the originator of these periodical

entertainments . After singing" Fur He ' s a Jolly Good Fellow , " the brethren listened to Bro . Terry , who saitl it was no small pleasure to him to be recognised among those who had ministered to a few hours' enjoyment of the inmates of the asylum . He vvas vcry much pleased that some brethren who had never been in the building before hatl come

down that day , as it would enable them to speak wilh a practical knowledge of the Committee whenever any questions arose . The brethren woultl go away with the satisfaction that they had endeavouretl to render the old people happy . Bro . Terry concluded by personally thanking the professional ladies antl brethren for the

entertainment they had given ; and hc added that as years went by he hoped these pleasant reunions would be frequently repeated . The patty broke up after wishing each individual inmate good night , and returned to town by the South Eastern Railway ' s special saloon .

Testimonial To Bro. Tweddell.

TESTIMONIAL TO BRO . TWEDDELL .

Mr . William Andrews , F . R . H . S ., of Mull , the Hon Sec . to the Testimonial Fund now being raised to present Bro . George Markham Tweddell with a purse of gold , has received the following excellent letter from a gentleman well known as one of the most gifted of the Yorkshire Poets , but who has for many years been resident in

Devonshire : " Elmfield House , Exeter , June 19 th , 1877 . "DEAII Sin , —A day or two ago 1 received a circular announcing that it vvas proposetl to present a Testimonial to Mr . G . M . Tweddell , of Stokesley , having had some personal knowledge of his literary labours , antl the reverses he has encountered , I must ask you to adtl my

name to the list of subscribers , to the amount of the enclosed cheque ( £ 3 ) . Whether from not being much of a man of business , a thing not uncommon among authors ; or from having 'too many irons in the lire , ' or from an over sanguine temperament , Mr . Tweddell litis encountered

these reverses , he is not the less entitled to the sympathy of those who appreciate literary industry and a perscrvance in self improvement in the face of any disadvantages . " 1 am Sir , yours faithfully , "WILLIAM DANLKV . "

A new Masonic Hall was opened at Sheffield on Wednesday , 18 th inst , by Bro . Sir Henry Edwards , Bart , Prov . Grantl Master West Yorkshire . There was a large gathering of brethren from all parts of the country , about 250 being present . The hall has been erected at a cost of about , £ 600 c . It is in the Classical style of architecture . The lodge room , the chief feature of

the building , is upwards of 50 feet long , and is magnificently decorated . At the conclusion of the opening ceremony the brethten dined at the Cutlet ' s Hall . Bro . Sir John Bennett was entertained at a dinner on Tuesday , the 17 th ult , at thc City Terminus Hotel , by his friends and supporters , in celebration of the

result of the recent election for the ward of Cheap . Mr . Goschen , M . P ., who presided , alluded to the opposition to Bro . Sir John Bennett ' s return , and remarked that members of Parliament would be vcry uneasy indeed if they were to be held personally or morally responsible for all the proceedings of their over-zealous friends .

Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

The W . M . ( Bro . R . Sharpe ) and brethren of the Royal Gloucester Lodge , Southampton , at their last meeting werc visited by the W . M . ( Bro . E . Le Feuvre , Prov . Grand Sec . of Hants and the Isle of Wight ) and officers of the lodge Vale of Avon , whose warrant " , having for some time been in abeyance at Fordingbridge , was recently transferred to Shirley , a rising suburb of Southampton , Bro . Sharpe being the Secretary of the new lodge .

Under the auspices of the Masons of Southampton residing in the district and encouraged by the Dep . Prov . Grand Master ( now the I . P . M . ) , the lodge is making excellent progress . " The Visitors " during the evening included Bro . Brayson , P . M . of the Union Lodge , at Kurrachee , Scinde , who responded to a toast which is very rarely given without personal recognition in the Royal Gloucester Lodge .

Bro . J . D . Allcroft has subscribed £ 3 , ( being half thc total cost ) towards the building fund of the Martyrs' Memorial Schools , Clerkenwell . The next regular meeting of the Sir Hugh Myddelton Lodge , No . 1602 , will take place at the Agricultural Hall on Friday , the 27 th July next . The Thames International Regatta will take

place on July 26 , 27 , and 28 th , under the patronage of Bro . H . R . H . thc Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M . ; H . R . H . the Duke of Teck , Bro . Right Hon . Lord Suffield , K . C . B ., Prov . G . M . Norfolk ; Bro . Right Hon . Lord Londesborough , F . R . G . S . ; Bro . the Right Hon the Lord Mayor of London ; the Right Hon . the Lord Mayor of Dublin ; Alderman Sir . R . Garden ;

Bro . Alderman Sir F . Perkins , M . P ., and other distinguished personages . There are fifteen races on the programme , and prizes , exceeding £ 1000 in value , will be given . H . R . H . the Prince of W-dcs gives a silver cup as the first prize for thc Thames International Amateur Champion Sculls .

The Rothesay Lodge , No . 16 S 7 , will be consecrated at the Inns of Courtj Hotel , on Friday , the 27 th inst The officers designate are Bros . Louis Beck , S . D . ' 5 S 7 i W . M . ; Frank Kirk , 1 , 63 , S . W . ; and John Hancock , 156 3 . . I-w . _ Atthe final meeting of the Board of Stewards on the i ; th inst , the result of thc kind efforts o ' 225 Stewards for the festival of the Boys' School was declared to be £ 13 , 325 12 s . 6 . I ., with two lists not received .

ihe annual drill inspection of boys attending the Board Schools took place in Regent ' s Park on Thursday afternoon , at three o'clock . About 10 , 000 boys were oflicialy inspected by Sir Charles Read . General Grant intends making a tour of some weeks' duration in Switzerland . He will afterwards proceed to Denmark and Sweden , and will arrive in Scotland

at the end of August . He is expected to visit Paris at the enti of October , and will , before leaving the Continent , make a lengthened stay in Berlin . Sir W . Stevenson , who has been more than half a century in the public service , has retired on an allowance of £ 2000 per annum , having vacated the post of Chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue

We are glad to learn from intelligence received at the Admiralty , that Bro . Ward Hunt is vcry much better .

There was a large gathering of Royal Arch Masons from the metropolis and other parts of the country at Chatham on Wednesday , on the occasion of the opening of a Provincial lioyal Arch Chapter for Kent , in accordance with a dispensation issued by the M . W . G . M ., with Bro . Viscount Holmesdale , M . P ., P . G . M ., Kent , as the First Grand Superintendent for the Province . Thc installation

ceremony was performed by Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Provincial Grand Superintendent for Hampshire ; Lord Holmesdale , after his installation , appointing Bro . J . S . Eastes , D . Prov . G . M . Kent , as Second , anil Bro . thc Rev . T . Robinson , M . A ., as 'Third Principals , with Bio . T . S . Warns as Grantl Secretary for the province . 'The other Grand Officers appointed were selected from the various

Royal Arch Chapters in Kent . The marriage of Mr . M . Biddul p h , M . P . for Herefordshire , and Lady Elizabeth Adene , eldest daughter of the late Charles Philip , fourth Earl of Hardwicke , antl widow of Mr . Henry John Adene , of Babraham , Cambridgeshire , was celebrated on Monday , 16 th inst , at St Peter ' s , Eaton-square , a select lamily circle being present

at thc ceremony . Bro . Lord Skelmersdale , M . W . D . G . M ., Lady Skelmersdale , Lieut-General Sir L . Simmons , and Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund Commcrcll left the Castle on Tuesday . On Saturday evening last Bro . Sir George Elliot , Bart , M . P ., P . G . M . S . Wales E . Div ., entertained at

dinner at his residence , No . 1 , Park-street , Park-lane , a distinguished parly of friends , amongst whom w * re the following : —Lord Barrington , Lord Eglington , Lord Harry Thynne , Hon . D . Plunket , Right Hon . Colonel Taylor , S . -C . His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., accompanied by the Princess of Wales ,

presided 011 Saturday afternoon at the unveiling of a statue of Alfred the Great , in the market-place of Wantage , King Alfred ' s birthplace . The statue is the work of Count Gleichcn , and has been presented to the town at the cost of Colonel Loyd-Lindsay , V . C . Bro . J . W . Dennison , architect , of 33 , King

street , Cheapside , is the designer and patentee of the new iron paving recently laid in Beech-street The Chelmsford Chronicle states that Bro . Tweddell has written a song to be sung in the Town Hall at Dunmow on the 23 rd inst , on awarding the Flitch of Bacon according to ancient usuage .