Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

J . Hughan , P . G . D . ; C . E . Keyser , * W . Harrop , John Newton , and the Secretary ( Bro . James Terry ) . There was a large body of brethren present , both from London and the provinces . At the commencement of the proceedings ,

Bro . TERRY said he had to announce , with very great pleasure , that H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught , K . G ., P . G . M ., Prov . G . M . for Sussex , would preside at the next annual Festival of the Institution , which would be held on February 24 th , 1897 . ( Applause . )

The following report of the Auditors , which was read by Bro . TERRY , was , on the motion of Bro . W . J . HUGHAN , P . G . D ., seconded by Bro . J NEWTON , P . G . P ., accepted , and ordered to be entered on the minutes : We , the undersigned , having audited the Treasurer ' s Account from the ist January to the 31 st December , 18 95 , inclusive , and all vouchers having been produced , do find the same correct .

MALE FUND . £ a . 6 . £ s . d Balance 31 st December , 1894 2306 19 8 Receipts 13 , 970 10 8 16 , 277 10 4 Expenditure ... H-939 I 2 9

Balance on this Account 1337 17 7 WIDOWS' FUND . Balance 31 st December , 18 94 1581 o 5 Receipts 10 , 809 I 2 2 12 , 390 18 7 Expenditure 11 , 164 12 6 *

Balance on this Account 1226 6 1 SUSTENTATION FUND . Balance 31 st December , 1 S 94 56 12 1 Receipts 26 11 8

83 3 9 Expenditure 22 13 6 Balance on this Account 60 10 3 Total Balance . £ 262413 11

( Signed ) C HARLES KEMPTON , " ** ) STANLEY J . ATTENBOROUGH , > Auditors , WILLIAM CLEGHORN , ) Freemasons' Hall , London , 14 th February , 18 9 6 .

The following Report of the Committee of Management was also read by Bro . TERRY , and on the motion of Bro . NEWTON , seconded by Bro . HUGHAN , adopted , and ordered to be entered on the minutes . The Committee of Management of the Royal JIasonic Benevolent Institution has very great pleasure in laying before the Governors and Subscribers a Report of its proceedings during the past year .

The Anniversary Festival in its behalf was held by direction of His Royal Hig hness the Prince of Wales , K . G ., M . W . G . M ., Grand Patron and President , on Wednesday , the 26 th February last , Right Worshipful Brother the Right Honourable Lord George Hamilton , M . P ., Secretary of State for India , Provincial Grand Master of Middlesex , presided as Chairman , and the Board of Stewards

which supported his lordship consisted of 400 ladies and brethren . The total amount of the donations and subscriptions obtained by the combined efforts of the members of this Board , was announced as . £ 19 , 511 7 s ., but this sum has since been increased by the receipt of outstanding lists and additions to list of ^ 20 , 084 15 s . This , with the exception of the amount raised in respect of the

Jubilee Festival in 1892 , is the highest total ever recorded at a Benevolent Festival , and redounds to the credit of all who participated in the labours which produced a result so exceptionally brilliant . It must be evident to all that the reaction which followed the tremendous efforts during the Jubilee year , has now ceased , and the friends of the youngest Masonic Institution may look forward with

confidence to its receiving regularly such a measure of support as will suffice for its maintenance on its present footing of efficiency . lie this , as it may , however , the Committee is desirous of placing publicly on record its most sincere thanks to the noble Chairman who so ably presided , to the Board of Stewards which so energetically and successfully supported his lordship ' s advocacy , and to the lodges , chapters , and individual donors , who so generously

responded to the calls that were made upon them for the means necessary to carry on the Institution during the present year . But more especially does it feel that its thanks are due to the Chairman ' s Province of Middlesex , which seconded the efforts of its chief with such devoted loyalty , and the total of whose contributions — . £ 3705 15 s . 6 d . —is far in excess of any sum it has raised at any previous Festival .

At the election in May , 1895 , there were on the two Funds of the Institution 442 annuitants , of whom 200 were on the Male Fund , and 242 on the Widows ' Fund , while the number of applicants for admission was 112 , namely , 61 men and 51 widows . To-day there are 113 applicants , of whom 60 are men and 53 widows . Thus the position , as regards the numbers on the two lists of candidates , is virtually the same as it was last year .

The Committee , however , is desirous of pointing out that in 1895 the Governors and Subscribers , on its recommendation , resolved on increasing the establishment on the Male Fund from 19 s to 200 , and , taking this fact into considetation , as well as the very serious responsibility which rests upon it , of raising the large sum required for the year's expenditure , it does not consider itself justified , notwithstanding the brilliant success of the recent Festival , in recommending , any further augmentation of the established annuities on either Fund .

It realises that the changes , which a few years since were made in the direction of greater stringency in the laws defining the qualifications of candidates have exercised a beneficial effect to this extent at all events , that if the number of app licants has not been as yet appreciably diminished , it has not been increased . Hence , if the Governors and Subscribers see fit to adopt its view * the numbers to be elected at this annual meeting will be 19 men and 14 widows as

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

declared in February , the three deferred annuities being in each case included together with five men and five widows to ( ill the vacancies which hive occurred since its regular meeting in the month of February as aforesaid and which in its opinion should be filled up . Thus , if the present annual meeting sees fit to adopt this recommendation the numbers to be elected to-liy will be 24 men and -n widows , including , as already pointed out , the thres deferred annuities on each Fund . Thus the strength of the fixed establishment will remain as it was after

last year's election , namely , at 442 , of whom the 200 on the Male Fund will be in receipt of £ ^ o per annum , and the 242 on the Widows' Fund of ^ 32 pet anuum each—the total sum distributable amongst them being ^ 15 , 744 . To this must be added the sum of £ 560 payable under Law 9 of the Male Fund among the widows of 28 recently deceased male annuitants , so that the total amount which will be required for disbursement in annuities during the ensuing year will be ^ 16 , 304 .

The Committee gladly embraces this opportunity of recording its thinks to United Grand Lodge for the continuance of its annual grant of ^ 70 towards providing those of the annuitants who reside in the Asylum at Croydon with fuel during the winter months—to the Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Rite for its gifts of periodicals and comforts for the residents ; and to the Emulation Lodgeof Improvement for i ' s renewed grant of . £ 10 to be divided between the third highest unsuccessful candidates of each sex .

The Committee is also desirous of conveying its sincere and heartfelt thanks to the Honorary Surgeons of the Institution—J . Wayte , Esq ., and R . Percy Middlemist , Esq . —for their kind and unremilting attention to those among the Annuitants , whether resident at the Asylum or non-resident , who , during the past year , have been unfortunately obliged to seek their advice and assistance and also to H . J . Strong Esq ., Honorary Consulting Physician , for the exceeding readiness with which he has at all times given , to all who needed it , the benefit of his long professional experience .

The Committee also wishes to record its appreciation of the thoroughness with which the Staff enter into the spirit of their work , and particularly desire to offer to the Secretary congratulations on the continued energy he is permitted to enjoy after nearly 32 years' service in the successful working of the Institution . The Committee is glad to be in a position to state that the premises at Croydon are in a thorough state of repairs , both internally and externally , and that during the ensuing year they will only need that care and attention and the outlay of such a sum of money as will suffice to maintain them in that condition .

Ihe audited statement of account for the year ended 31 st December , 1 S 95 , is appended . It has been compiled with the utmost care by the Finance Committee , and was subjected to the most rigorous examination before it was finally approved and passed by the Auditors . Under these circumstances the Committee

has just grounds for hoping that when the several items of receipt and expenditure have been carefully scrutinised and compared with those of past years , the Governors and Subscribers will consider themselves justified in concluding that the funds of the Institution have been administered with a proper regard to economy and efficiency .

It only remains for the Committee to express its unabated confidence in the generosity of the Craft in London , the provinces , and abpotd , and its unalterable conviction that , so long as it pursues its present policy , and in shaping that policy to the varying requirements of the moment , is actuated by the principles it has always been careful to observe in the discharge of its important functions , the means that are ntcessary to maintain the Institution at its present high standard of efficiency will be regularly forthcoming .

Bros . H . H . W . Clarke , P . M . 1625 ( in place of Bro . Trew , qualified as a Vice-President ; J . P . Fitzgerald , and William Vincent were elected on the Committee of Management . Bro . C . E . KKYSKR , P . G . D ., said he had very great pleasure in moving that

Bro . John Albert Farnfield , P . Asst . G . D . C , be re-elected Treasurer of the Institution . Bro . Farnfield had held the same noiv for many yeirs with very great benefit to the cause of the old people . A telegram had been received from him saying that he was down wilh a very severe attack of hay fever , otherwise he would have been present .

Bro . J MARTIN , Prov . G . Sec . Berks ., in seconding the motion , said tnat Bro . Farnfield was well-known , respected , and admired by all Freemasons , as lib - father before him , both of them being well-known in the Craft . Bros . Kempton , Atttnborough , and Cleghorn were re-elected Auditors , on the motion of Bro . T . W . W HIT . MARSH , P . G . P ., seconded by Bro . W . J . Huiui . * . * * . * ,

P . G . D . The Scrutineers of votes were then appointed , and the poll for the election of annuitants was declared o ' pen , The CHAIRMAN first announcing that one candidate—Mrs . Huxham , Devonshire—had died the day before , and , therefore , no votes must be recorded

for her . A list of the Successful Candidates appears in another column . The proceedings closed with votes of thanks to the Chairman and the Scrutineers .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of East Lancashire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF EAST LANCASHIRE .

A meeting of the above Piov . Grand Lodge was held at the Gentlemen ' s Conceit Hall , Manchetter . There was a very large attendance ol ^ brethren of the lodge and of visiting brethren . Bro . Col . Le Gendre Starkie , P . G . W ., P . G . Master , presided , and in the absence of Bro . - * Mellor , Dep . Prov . G . M ., who has recently tendered his resi gnation on account of continued ill-health , the duties were taken by Bro . C . K- ' *

B ; swicke-Royds . . . On the roll of lodges being called it was found all were represented

two . ,. Bro . J . WUIOLEY , Prov . Grand Treas ., presented his report , recording receipts to the amount cf ^ 832 . The Prov . Grand Lodge , he said , " paid ^ 333 in donations to charities , which was a larger sum than us The amount to be handed over to the incoming Treasurer was a balance