Stewards' Visit To The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

STEWARDS' VISIT TO THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

Thc visit to the Institution of the Stewards for the year took place on Tuesday last . For many years past this Stewards ' visit to Croydon has been made a sort of gala day for the inmates of the institution and their friends . The invitations of the Committee to the friends of the institution are on these occasions eagerly accepted , and there is always a

large and cheerful party to meet the Stewards and their friends when they go to visit the residents , and see and hear for themselves how efficiently the benevolent wishes of the subscribers are carried out by the Committee and the managers , in the manner in which the resident annuitants have the necessaries and as far as possible the comforts of life provided for them in their old age . At a little afterone o'clock on Tuesday aconsiderable party left London

lrom the Cannon-street Station , several saloon second class carriages having been provided through the attentive forethought of Bro . Terry , the indefatigable Secretary of the Institution . On aniving at the institution shortly before two o ' clock these visitors found a considerable party ahead assembled in the grounds , and Bro . Terry busy in welcoming each individual upon arrival , while Bro . Mason was equally attentive to them in the reception room , and

securing their autographs . The arrival of the party from Cannon-street was the signal for commencing luncheon , as Bro . Terry knew by experience that a second party would be ready for luncheon by the time the wants of the first had been satisfied . Bro . C . J . Perceval was the Chairman of the day , and presided at the cross table , while Bro . Raynham Stewart and Bro . Cubitt took the ends of the side tables , Bro .

Terry having nominally his seat at the end of the third , or centre table . Surely the duties of hospitality were never more efficiently performed . Bro . Terry , as has been said , had nominally his seat at the centre table , but he seemed ubiquitous , first seeing the ladies were properly seated , then returning to his seat and carving with the utmost dispatch and dexterity ; anon he was up and down amongst the guests personally ascertaining that their wants were

properly supplied . And the guests undoubtedly appreciated his attention and that of the chairman and vice-chairman , who , though they could not leave theirseats , were constant in seeing that justice was done the very handsome and ample collation that had been provided . The guests considerately did not loiter , but as soon as they had lunched went off to stroll in the grounds , and to carry out the real object of their visit , namely , to call upon and chat with the residents .

A good staff of waiters immediately restored order in the table arrangements , and a fresh party uf guests came in and took the vacated seats , and were soon fully occupied . When luncheon was concluded , Bro . PEP . CEVAL rose and said that in the name of the House Coir . mitiee he begged to tender a hearly welcome to the Board cf Stewards and their friends . He trusted that what these friends of the Institution saw that day would be

impressed upon their minds , and carried away in their hearts , to bear fruit in the future . He begged to assure them that the residents were never so happy as when they had visitors to see them , not only on days like the present , but on the ordinary days of everyday life . He begged those before him to have a look at the whole arrangements ot the Institution—there were many things to be seen—and to carry away the result to their friends in the provinces ,

and he was sure that the consequence of so doing would be the increased welfare of the Institution . He would call upon Bro . Terry to give for their information a short " resume " of what had taken place in the last few years . Bro . TERRY said that the Chairman had called upon him very unexpectedly to give a summary of what had been done ; but as he ought not to be behind hand in responding to the call he would just give a short account of what

the Institution was in bygone times and what it was now . Some 15 , if , or 17 years ago , that room in which they were assembled was merely a barn ; the residents were located in their apartments in a very different style to what they were now ; thc funds of the Institution were nothing like they now were . Fifteen or 16 years ago there were 120 annuitants in all ; now the annuitants upon the funds were 345 in number . Then they paid £ 2700 in annuities ,

whereas now the annuities amounted to £ 12 , 600 . At that time the men , according to their age , received from £ 16 to £ 26 a year , and the widows from £ 15 to £ 25 . The males now received £ 40 a year , and the widows £ 32 . At that time the residents scarcely knew each other ; but now , through the kindness of the committee , they were granted the use of that room in which to meet each other once or twice a week to play a sociable game at cards , or to have a

little music and social intercourse , and the consequence was that a ^ kindly feeling had been promoted , and they vere now like members of one family . And , in addition to that , they had now the pleasure of seeing a company of friends assemble there every year . At one time the Stewards did not know that there was a building , never knew it , never saw it , never heard anything of it . Now all that was altered ,

and with very beneficial results . I hen they thought great things of getting £ 3400 ; now they were not content with less than five figures as the outcome of the Stewards' exertions . The more it was visited the better for the Institution . Ladies were of a very practical turn of mind , and they wanted to know what their husbands did when they retired from their company on certain nights to attend their lodges . Well , when the ladies came down there they could

see something of what their husbands did when they deprived themselves of their wives' delightful company . At this last election they had an enormous number of candidates , but were only able to elect 29 , and the remainder have to wait another year before they can stand the chance of election . The Institution had only a certain sum to give , and the more they obtained the more annuities they could grant . That was not like an educational

institution , which with increasing funds required increased accommodation ; but he could say that if the brethren gave the Institution another £ 1000 that £ 1000 should be distributed in additional annuities . No further expenditure for buildings was required . He had no doubt that they would witness before they left the building

the gratitude of the residents for all that the brethren had done for them . He hoped the result of their visit would be a pleasant one , and if they would come again on any day to make an inspection , they would it all times be heartily welcome . There was an adige which said that annuitants never died .

Stewards' Visit To The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

In proof of that he would give them an instance of one of their candidates who came from Richmond , in Yoikshire , and who it was found had not been a subscribing member to a lodge a sufficient number of years 10 make him eligible . He was then So years of aye , and he then went and joined a lodge and paid two and-a-half year ' s subscription to make up the necessary term ; then at the age of 82 he stood one election and was unsuccessful , he stood another and

was unsuccessful again , but according to a bye-law in the case of a candidate of over So years of age the committee had power to place him on the fund without further election . The committee availed themselves of this power and placed him on the fund at 84 years of age . Well , he had the advantage of receiving that annuity for 18 years afterwards , and died within six weeks of being 102 years old . That showed that if brethren did come down in

life so as to come on the fund the wheels uf life ran very easily even if they did run slowly in the Institution . There were people who had been in the Institution seven and twenty years . The Warden , Bro . Noiris , was made a Mason in 1 S 12 , and was 93 last January ; he was in possession of all his faculties , but he was probably on the eve of dissolution ; he had been an annuitant for six or seven and twenty years . There was one old gentlemen . resident at Jersey , who was

, 93 , who , when it was a tine day , was able to take a four or five mile walk . Theannuitants had little to do but eke out existence by gentle stages . Bro . Terry said that he hoped that the visitors would go and see the Girls' School at Clapham Junction and then to Wood Green to the Boys ' School , the festival u'f which was to be held on VVednesday , when he believed such a sum would be announcedas would astonish the Masonic world—he believed it was likely to be

between £ 21 , 000 and £ 22 , 000 . He mentioned that as a practical hint as to what might also be done for the Masonic Benevolent Institution . " Bro . Terry ' s Health" was subsequently proposed by Bro . RAYNHAM STEWART in a highly complimentary speech , to which Bro . 1 ERRY made a suitable reply . The decorations of the hall , it may be added , were in very good taste and greatly enhanced the elegant appearance of

that spacious room . The band . of the Boys' School were in attendance and played some very nice selections of music , and won well deserved praises from all present . Amongst the brethren and their friends present we noticed Albert Escott , Mrs . Escott , and friends ; T . F . Lloyd , H . E . Frances , P . P . G . D ., and Mrs . Frances , Capt . Godson Godson , J . Dixon , J . G . Fisher , S . H . Moore , Edgar Bowyer and Mrs . Bowyer , C . J . Perceval , K . F .

Ould , J . I ' . Austin , VV . Hancock , b . C . I'rye , W . B . Lethbndge , H . L . Anderson , Herbert Davy , Thomas Cubitt and Mrs . Culmer , Dr . Seddon , J . Marsh , E . W . Baker and Mrs . . Baker , E . F . Storr and Mrs . Storr , Mrs . Ball , K . Jackson , G . Lambert , E . H . Minns , G . L . Moore , J . Soper , T . B . Linscott , A . Woodliffe , A . 6 . Fox , J . Shipley , A . H . Hickman , T . M . Humphries , J . H . Smith , L . Jacobs , J iseph Smith , J . E . Fells , J . H . Clare , W . M . Lowell , H .

Doubleday , B . Kauffmann , J . Hemming , A . Meyers , John Maclean , T . M . Greenwood , J . Noble , G . Bugler , W . Bishop , J . Spooner , J . Featherstone , C . Pulman and Mrs . ) Pulman , V . J . Baker , C . S . Lane and Mrs . Lane , John Lane and Mrs . John Lane , T . Gurney , H . Glenn , A . Posiier , J . Roberts , J . Finch , J . Driscoll , T . Thurston , VV . J . Lowdon , J . Salmon , C . Smith , J . S . Fraser , E . M . ^ Money , C . Breeden , R . A . Fraser , Adolphus Clark , and E . C . Massey ( Freemason ) .

Grand Corner-Stone Ceremony At Bolton.

GRAND CORNER-STONE CEREMONY AT BOLTON .

An imposing Masonic ceremony—of which we gave a short notice in our last , the more extended and corrected report which follows being omitted for want of space—took place on Saturday , the 9 th inst ., at Tonge Moor , Bolton . Sixty

years have passed since an event of a like nature took place in Bolton , the occasion then being the laying the corner-stone of H . _ ly Trinity Church with full Alasonic honours in June , 1823 . The event we now record was the laying the corner-stone of the new church of St . Augustine ' s by Col . Le Gendre Nicholas Starkie , R . W . P . G . M . of East

Lancashire The new church is designed to meet the spiritual wants of the large outlying district of Tonge Moor , which originally formed a part of the Old Bolton Rectory estate , but was assigned to St . James ' s , Breightmet , on the formation of that parish in 1 S 55 . A Sunday school was kept together and lay services conducted for 10 years , from 1855

to 1 S 71 . In the latter year , owing to the exertions of Frank Hardcastle , Esq ., and the co-operation of the late Rev . Lewis Porter , vicat of Breightmet , the schoolroom was adapted for divine service and licensed , and had continued up to the present time the sole place of worship . The Rev . J . VV . Cundey , M . A ., was appointed to the charge of Tonge Moor in March , 1871 , and was succeeded

by the Rev . J . Stuart VVhite in October , 1 S 79 . The promoters of the present scheme for the erection of the church were Miss C . Hardcastle , of Firwood , and her brother , Mr . Frank Hardcastle . The former promised £ 1000 and the latter £ 500 towards the building of a church , the design being first to have a church consecrated and the parish separated , trusting that then the Ecclesiastical

Commissioners will endow the living with the private funds at their disposal . In the meantime vliss Hardcastle guaranteed £ 300 for the clergyman s stipend , and this and other handsome offers were supplemented by the offer of £ 500 from Bro . Col . I . e-C «* ndre Starkie , and other large sums amounting to £ 3500 . On the resignation of the Kev . R . S . VVnite in October , 1881 , the Rev . l < . E . I homas , M . A ., with

the sanction of the Kev . A . Stephens , vicar of the mother parish , was offered and accepted the charge of the district . Alter some delay the surviving trustees , Col . Starkie , F . Hardcastle , Esq ., K . Winder , Esq ., W . Hampson , Esq ., Herbert Cross , Esq ., and G . Green , Esq , obtained the sanction ot the Charity Commissioners to grant a site for the church , and also for the vicarage out of the school land , and the church site was accordingly conveyed over to the

Ecclesiastical Commissioners at the commencement of 18 S 3 . Arrangements for the commencement of the new chuich were at once proceeded with , Bro . K . K . Freeman , F . K . I . B . A ., was appointed architect , Messrs . Wood and Son , of Bootle , are the contractors , and the cost is estimated at £ 4230 . 'The first sod was cut on February 22 nd , 1 S 83 , by Aliss Hardcastle , and the work has proceeded rapidly since that initial step . It is expected that the church will be ready for consecration about Christmas .

Grand Corner-Stone Ceremony At Bolton.

Tonge Moor on Saturday was alive with visitors from Bolton and elsewhere , and the inhabitants had done their best to give the eclat to the occasion by a profuse display of Hags and banners , nearly every house having some kind of streamer adding its quota to the general gaiety . The clergy in attendance , all robed in whitesurpliccs , assembled at the Parsonage . The Sunday school teachers , scholars , and choir assembled in the school yard , the church

committee , lireniun and others in the large schoolroom and the brethren in the infant school . Fust came the Bradshaw Brass Band , next the members of the Firwood Fire Brigade . The next in order were the working masons employed on the building , followed by the teachers and scholars to the number of 300 . . The choir in surplices , the church committee , the clergy followed , and the Masonic brethren to the number of about 200 , attired in Craft clothing wilh

insignia of oflice , brought up the rear . Among the more prominent brethren we noticed , in addition to the Prov . Grand Master , Bros . George Mellor , D . P . G . M . ; G . P . Brockbank , P . P . S . G . D ., W . M . 37 ; Richard Duxbury , W . M . 146 ; John Isherwood , W . M . 221 ; Wm . Crankshaw , W . M . 348 ; R . Latham , W . M . 1723 ; James Newton , P . P . S . G . D ., and Hon . Sec . to the Masonic Committee ; Thomas Mason , Prov . S . G . W . ; Charles Haywood , Prov .

J . G . W . ; J . L . Hine , P . P . G . W . ; Thomas Glaister , P . P . G . W . ; Edmund Ashworth , P . P . G . W . ; Kev . W . R . Clayton , Prov . G . Chap . ; Rev . W . Chaytor , P . P . G . Chap . ; John Rigby , Prov . G . Treas . ; T . J . Hooper , P . P . G . Treas . ; Samuel Isherwood , P . P . G . Treas . ; J . A . Foyster , Prov . G . Reg . ; John Chadwick , Prov . G . Sec . ; John J . Meakin , Prov . S . G . D . ; Charles E . Austin , Prov . S . G . D . ; James Jaffrey , Prov . J . G . D . ; W . Slater ,

P . P . G . D . ; George Ferguson , Prov . G S . of W . ; Samuel Crowther , P . P . G- S . of W . ; S . Porritt , Prov . G . D of C ; John Roberts , Prov . G . Dep . D . of C ; Andrew Milne , Prov . G . A . D . of C . ; J . H . Sillitoe , P . P . G . D . of C ; Robt . Whittaker , P . Prov . G . D . of C ; J . VV . P . Salmon , P . Piov . G . D . of C . ; B . J . Gosling , Prov . G . Swd . Br . ; W . Nicholson , P . Prov . G . Swd . Br . ; F . W . Pacey , Mus . Bac , P . Prov . G . Org . Berks and Bucks ; 1 . W . Taylor .

P . Prov . G . Org . ; Henry Greenwood , P . Prov . G . Purst . ; T . Mitchell , Prov . G . Tyler ; John Booth , S . W . 37 ; R . K . Freeman , P . M . 37 ( the architect for the new church ); R . Pennington , LL . B ., P . M . 37 ; J . Mills , P . M . 37 ; Dr . N . Y . Martin , P . M . 1 S 14 ; J . W . Poyntz , S . D . 37 ; J . Hardcastle , J . D . 37 ; W . H . Lomax , I . G . 37 ; J . Naylor , 37 ; R . Nightingale , 37 . H . Broughton , S VV . 146 ; I . F . Skelton , J . W . 146 ; J . Wild , P . M . 146 ; J . Morris , P . M .

146 ; W . Cooper , P . M , 146 ; J . Dooley , P . M . 146 ; G . laylor , P . M . 146 ; J . Holt , H . Tongue , J . Haslam , W . Carter , T . Nightingale , J . Galloway , E . Hird , D . Constantine , W . Heywood , J . Rostron , J . G . Carter , | . T . Vose , all of 146 ; E . Melrose , S . W . 221 ; P . Bradburn , J . W . 2 ^ 1 ; J . Heywood , P . M . 221 ; J . L . Aldred , P . M . 221 ; H . Stead , P . M . 221 ; VV . Wadeson , P . M . 231 ; T . S . Sugden , W . F . Chambers , J . F . Elliston , H . Briscoe . R . F .

Cturnside , all of 221 ; J . Partington , ! . W . 348 ; J . Alcock , P . M . 348 ; T . Kaby , P . M . 3 ^ 8 ; T . Higson , P . M . 34 S ; I . A . Greenhalgh , P . M . 34 S ; S . Barrett , P . M . 34 S ; J . B . Taylor , P . M . 34 S ; J . Wolstenholme , P . M . 34 S ; R . H . Phillips , W . Chadwick , G . Walker ,. B . Topp , W . Greenwood , G . VV . Dyson , A . Jones , J . Wood , J . Hamer , J . Eckersley , C . Buckley , VV . Scholes , W . Greeii , all of 34 S ; J . Barrett , S . W . 1723 ; E . G . Harwood ( Mayoruf Bolton ) ,

J . W . 1723 ; N . Nicholson , P . M . 1723 ; J . H . Greenhalgh , P . M . 1723 ; I . Richardson , P . M . 1723 ; J . M . Rutter , P . M . 1723 ; W . Blain , P . M . 1723 ; J . Priestley , T . Morris , J . B . Goulnurn , J . W . Forbes , ' ! ' . B . Tong , J . Bromley , all of 1723 ; E . A . Evans , J . W . 42 ; R . L . McMillan , 163 ; T . Peake , 67 S ; W . Coope , 350 ; and others . The procession was marshalled by the Prov . G . Director of Ceremonies , the Deputy Prov . G . Dir . of Cers ., and the

Assistant Prov . G . Director of Ceremonies , to whom valuable assistance was rendered by Bro . J . H . Sillitoe , P . Prov . G . D . of C , who had charge of the arrangements at the site of the New Church also . The route taken was up Tonge Moor-road , round by Castle-hill to Firwood , and as the processionists wended their way they presented a most animated and picturesque appearance , the large banner of the school carried in front and the Masonic banners

serving to heighten the effect . The Bible was carried on a cushion by the following , who are all sons of Masons , and who each wore their college caps : Percy C . Taylor , George Bently , Herbert Pacey , and Edwin Newton . On reaching Firwood a halt was made and the brethren deployed on to the lawn , where they were received by the R . W . Prov . Grand Master , and the principal Officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge ; the Rev . Canon Powell ,

Vicar of Bolton and Rural Dean ; Frank Hardcastle , Esq . Charles Hargreaves , Esq ., of Redthorpe ; W . Hampson , Esq . ; and Bros . G . E . Hulton and lames M'Laren , and a numerous company of friends . The officers and past oflicers assembled to meet the processionists on the lawn included Bros . G . Mellor , Deputy Prov . Grand Master ; Thos . Mason , Prov . G . S . W . ; Cnas . Heywood , Prov . G .

J . VV . ; Edwd . Ashworth , P . P . G . W . ; Thos . Glaister , P . P . G . W . ; John Chadwick , P . G . Sec ; G . P . 'Jrockbank , W . M . 37 , P . P . G . S . D . ; James Newton , P . P . G . S . D ., Hon . Sec . to the Masonic Committee ; Wm . Slater , P . P . G . S . D . ; E . G . Harwood , J . W . 1723 , Mayor of Bolton ; and R . K . Freeman , P . M . 37 ( the architect ) , who had been entertained to luncheon by Frank Hardcastle , Esq ., at Firwood .

Previous to the procession continuing its course , an effective group of the brethren was formed on the lawn and very successful photographs taken by Mr . John Taylor , 14 , Moncrieffe-street . At thc stone five platforms were erected for the convenience of the brethren and visitors , amongst whom were a large number of ladies . The ceremony then commenced , and was in strict accord with the ritual of the Craft . The stone bore the initials " A . M . D . G .,

A . D . 18 S 3 . " At the commencement of the proceedings , the hymn "All people that on earth do dwell" was sung by the assembled multitude . Bro . F . W . Pacey , P . Prov . G . Oig . Berks and Bucks ( clad in his robes as Mus . Bac ) , presiding at the harmonium and conducting the musical portion of the proceedings . A flourish of trumpets followed , and the Rev . F . E . Thomas , M . A ., the

curate-incharge , read an account of the undertaking , the facts of which we have given above , and then handed the bottle to be enclosed in the cavity to the Rev . A . Stephens , Vicar of Breightmet , who , in accepting it said that judging from what he saw around him , as well as from the plans both at home and in the Royal Academy , London , he believed they would have a very pretty church , a very becoming daughter of the extremely pretty mother church at Breightmet .