The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

when subscriptions amounting to ^ 405 were reported ; and , in 1 S 45 , Bro . B . B . Cabbell , P . G . J . W ., presided , when , including the personal contribution of the Chairman of twenty guineas , the festival yielded £ 402 . At the Quarterly Meeting in March , 1844 , the Treasurer announced the death of Bro . Horth , one of the annuitants , and shortly afterwards that of his widow , both of whom he had tended during the last days of their existence , so that

they might want for nothing , and that the rites of departure might be decently carried out . For this kind consideration a resolution of thanks was unanimously passed to Bro . Crucefix . At the annual meeting in July , 1845 , the funds of the Institution were stated to amount to not far short of - £ 3750 , notwithstanding the loss that had been sustained through Bro .

Rowe , the Three per Cent . Consols , including dividend , representing over £ 2126 , with £ 1200 Exchequer Bills , nearly £ 120 in savings' bank , and upwards of £ 300 in hand and at the bank . It was also resolved that a discretionary power should be vested in the Committee as to preparing , printing , and circulating a list of Governors and Life Governors , Subscribers , and Life Subscribers .

At the Quarterly General Meeting on the 15 th September , 1 S 45 , Bro . Brewster , one of the Committee of Management , reported that , at the meeting of Grand Lodge on the 3 rd of the month , he had moved , and Bro . John Lane , D . C . L ., had most ably seconded , the following resolution : Whereas in the 14 th General Regulations for the government of the Craft it is stated " That the Grand Lodge has the inherent power of investigating , regulating , and deciding all matters relative to the Craft . "

And whereas it is stated in an unanimous vote of the Grand Lodge of the Cth December , 1 S 37 , "That this Grand Lodge recommend the contemplated Asylum for the Aged and Decayed Freemason to the favourable consideration of the Craft . " Therefore a Committee shall be immediately appointed , consisting of deputations

from the Grand Lodge , from the Committee of the Asylum for Aged and Decayed Freemasons , and from the Committee of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Annuity Fund , with a view to the union of the two latter excellent Institutions under the patronage of the Grand Lodge ; it being alike detrimental to the two Charities and discreditable to Freemasonry that any evidence of past disunion in the Craft shall be longer permitted to exist .

It had been ruled , however , by the Acting Grand Master that Grand Lodge would be out of order in entertaining the motion and accordingly it was not proceeded with . But thanks were unanimously voted to Bros . Brewster and Lane for their endeavours to carry so excellent a motion , and it was agreed that a special meeting should be held for the purpose of considering such steps as it might be desirable to take in order to bring about the

amalgamation of the Asylum with the Royal Masonic Benevolent Annuity Fund . The meeting was held on the 4 th of November when , after a long discussion , it was unanimously agreed that such an amalgamation , so far as it could be legally done , was desirable , after which the following resolution was passed , namely : " That in order to promote the above object , the following Committee of five subscribers , viz : Bros . Brewster , Lane ,

Crucefix , Wright , and Sangstcr , be appointed to seek an interview with the Committee of the Royal Benevolent Annuity Fund for the purpose of ascertaining the feeling of that body on the subject and to report the same to the General Meeting . " The report was presented at the Annual General Meeting in July , 1 S 46 , and was to the effect that the Sub-Committee had been very promptly met by the Committee of the Royal Benevolent Annuity Fund ,

who , however , expressed a desire that the representatives of the Asylum would be prepared at the meeting with some plan in writing in order to show in what manner the proposed union might be carried into effect . This placed the Sub-Committee in somewhat of a difficulty , as the submission of such a plan . ' . formed no part of the commission with which they were entrusted ; but as it was considered desirable they should not attend the meeting without

having a scheme of some kind , Bro . Sangster drew up one which the Sub-Committee accepted and was submitted at the meeting of the representatives of the two Institutions as affording one mode by which the union might be effected . The principle on which bro . Sangster acted was that the funds of each Charity should be preserved to its trustees , those of the Asylum to be applied to building and repairs , and those of the Annuity Fund to annuities ,

the same pensioners to have the benefit of both Charities and to be elected by the subscribers jointly . The result of the conference was that a Sub-Committee was appointed by the Annuity Fund to meet that of the Asylum , but sundry delays occurred which prevented their coming together for some time in consequence of the Annuity Sub-Committee requesting to be furnished first of all with copies of the Asylum Trust Deed and the Bill in Chancery ,

while the Asylum Sub-Committee were unwilling to furnish these until the question of the union had been decided . However , the meeting at length took place at Freemasons' Hall on the 13 th of May , when the Sub-Committee of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Annuity Fund gave it as their unanimous opinion " That it appears to both Sub-Committees that it would be desirable to amalgamate the two Institutions , provided certain legal difficulties can be

removed by the Asylum for Aged and Decayed Freemasons , and that the Sub-Committees report to this effect to their respective constituencies . " The Asylum Sub-Committee , in submitting the result of their mission , did not fail to point out that many objections had been raised to the proposed plan of preserving the Charities distinct , while merely uniting them by appropriating their benefits to the same objects , and , on the other hand , there were many

and great difficulties in the way of amalgamating the funds of the two Charities , and hence their solicitor had been directed not to prepare the Trust Deed for the present as it might tend to increase their difficulties . Bro . Sangster subsequently explained tbe nature of the " legal difficulties " referred to , which consisted in the vagueness of the plan of the Asylum and the absence of any distinct scheme for the application of its funds , while it

was a matter of question how far the recent proceedings in the Court of Chancery might operate in influencing or controlling any contemplated union with another Charity . It was agreed to refer this report to the General Committee , the latter to be empowered to communicate with the Annuity Fund Committee in such manner as it mig ht deem best with a view to taking such steps as they might think necessary for the final arrangements for the union .

The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

As regards the few events that occurred during the progress of these negotiations it should be mentioned that Bro . Field who had held the office of Secretary ever since the retirement of Bro . Farnfield and who had been absent from his duties for some time , sent in his resignation at the Quarterly General Meeting in December 1845 , and the Committee accepted it witli regret , a regret which was intensified when shortl y afterwards the sad intelligence

reached them of his death . As a matter of course due honour was paid and recorded in the minutes to a brother who had rendered such services to the Asylum , while the letter of condolence which was forwarded to Mrs . Farnfield shortly after her husband ' s death , was very feelingly acknowledged by that lady . The duties thus left vacant were undertaken by Bro . John Whitmore until the period for the next election of officers should come round .

It was then announced that the stock belonging to the Asylum had been transferred into the names of the new Trustees , Bro . Henry Rowe , the defaulting Provisionial Trustee , whose name later on was struck off the list of Life Governors , having attended for the purpose . It was also resolved unanimously "That the Chancery suit being terminated and new Trustees having been appointed , it is desirable to announce these facts both to the

Craft and the public by advertisements in the newspapers and otherwise , earnestly soliciting subscriptions and donations to cover the heavy expenses necessarily incurred , and that the Treasurer be requested to carry out this object in the manner he shall deem best . " In accordance with this resolution a circular was prepared , in which the circumstances of the loss and expenses the Asylum had incurred were clearly and succinctly set forth , and the W .

Masters to whom it was addressed were requested to lay the subject before their lodges with a view to helping the Institution to replace part at all events of what it had lost or disbursed . On the 17 th June , 1 S 46 , the eleventh anniversary Festival of the Institution was held . Viscount Combermere , Prov . Grand Master for Cheshire , was to have presided , but being at the last moment prevented from attending , his place was taken by Bro . J . B .

Byron , of the Lodge of Antiquity , No . 2 , Vice-President of the Board o Stewards . Everything passed off satisfactorily , and in the course of the evening subscriptions and receipts were announced to the amount of . £ 504 . It is also worthy of notice that notwithstanding the heavy law costs in which the Asylum had been mulcted , its property in hand amounted to over £ 3 , 850 , of which nearly £ 3354 were Three per cent . Consols—the ^ 1200 Exchequer Bills having been converted into Stock—and £ 133 in the Savings

Bank , the balance of , in round figures , £ 363 being partly in bank and partly in the Treasurer ' s hands . The submission and approval of the Auditors ' report , in which these particulars were set forth , was followed by the election of officers , Bro . Whitmore being unanimousl y chosen to be the Secretary , after which the opportunity was taken , though by no means for the first time , of paying a handsome and well-deserved compliment to their Treasurer , Bro . Dr . Crucefix , the resolution conveying their thanks to him being couched in the following terms : —

That the heartfelt and hearty thanks of this General Meeting be inscribed on vellum , handsomely framed and glazed , and presented to their much respected and esteemed Treasurer , Bro . R . T . Crucefix , M . D ., LL . D ., & c , & c , for the great and valuable services which by his talents and exertions he has rendered to this Institution , and that Bros . Faudel , Sangster , and Wright , in conjunction with the Secretary , be requested to embody these acknowledgments in language which will best convey to Bro . Crucefix the sincere and grateful sentiments by which the meeting is animated in passing this resolution .

A vote of thanks was also passed to Bro . Sangstcr for the valuable services he had rendered in connection with the Chancery suit , which , as well as the preceding resolution , was handsomely and suitably acknowledged . At the Quarterly General meeting on 17 th March , 1 S 47 , after the regular business had been dispatched , the Secretary is recorded to have occasion to observe " that he had recently had conversations with several warm

friends of the Asylum and that a very general desire appeared to exist amongst them , that some steps should be taken towards the appropriation of the funds of this proper object . It was apprehended by some that to delay or remain longer in the present dormant position might affect the ultimate interests of the charity , whilst nearly all concurred in opinion that the immediate adoption of some well digested and judicious measures would

materially augment the number of its supporters and render its position still more auspicious and secure . " A long and interesting discussion , in which Bros . Fandel and Stevens took a very active part , followed , the result being a resolution to the effect "that a Special General Meeting of the Committee be convened for the purpose of considering the propriety of carrying out the objects of this charity by the purchase of ground and building , and for taking

such steps as may be requisite for the occasion , and that the Secretary be requested to call such meeting at the earliest convenient opportunity . " A special meeting was accordingly held on the I ith May following , when after a Ion " discussion in which Bros . Sangster , Fandel , J . Lee Stevens , and other brethren took part , it was unanimously resolved " That in the opinion of this Committee it is very desirable that some steps should be immediatel y

adopted to carry out the objects of the Charity , and they anticipate that the state of the funds is sufficient to warrant the commencement of a building or buildings as soon as sufficient information can be obtained as to the purchase of land and the cost of building . " It having been also arranged to make the requisite enquiries for the purpose by means of advertisement and otherwise , the meeting adjourned to the b ' th June , when the Treasurer announced that several letters had been received in consequence of the

advertisements which he had caused to be inserted in certain of the morninopapers . These letters were from persons residing at distances varying from five to five-and-twenty miles , some of whom offered land for sale in very desirable localities and apparently on reasonable terms , on which a Sub-Committee , consisting of Bros . Staples , Tombleson , Wright , Fandel and Crucefix , was appointed for the purpose of visiting such plots as seemed suitable , and reporting the result . { To be continued ) .