Royal Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The committeee meeting of the abovenamed Institution was held at Freemasons ' Hall , on Wednesday , the 13 th inst . There were present : Bros . Major Creaton ( chairman ) , C . Dumas , E . H . Patten , W .

Famfield , J . Brett , B . Head , H . Browse , F Walters , N . Wingfield , H . M . Levy , G Bolton , H . Hemsworth , R . Spencer , F Adlard , J . R . Sheen , C . A . Cottebrune , T Cubitt , and ethers .

The usual routine business having been gone through , the death of Bro . W . Young , P . G . S . B ., was announced , and unanimous regret and condolence with his family at his loss was expressed .

The deaths of two male annuitants , Bros . Bugden and Chaffer , were reported . Four male and one female applicants were added to the list of those who are seeking to be elected on the Annuity Funds . One case

was deferred to next meeting , which will be the last one for receiving candidates' names who may wish to be elected next May . The usual vote of thanks to the chairman closed the meeting .

City Of London Masonic Club.

CITY OF LONDON MASONIC CLUB .

This prosperous club celebrated its second annual dinner , at the Jamaica Coffee House , Comhill , on Monday , the nth instant , Brother William Carpenter , P . M . and P . Z ., the President ,

in the chair , and Bro . Leman in the vice chair . About forty-five brethren sat down to an ample banquet , provided by Bro . Darcy , six or seven visitors being of the company .

The cloth having Been removed , the President gave the usual Masonic toasts , and the expressions of sympathy with the Queen and her family , and of affection for our suffering brother , P . G . M . the Prince of Wales , were unmistakeably sincere and fervent .

On rising to propose the toast of the evening , the President said he was sure it would be received with so much cordiality , for its own sake , that he might give it without a word by way of introduction , but knowing it was always expected

that the proposer of such a toast should say something by way of showing the interest he felt in it , if not by way of commending it to the reception of the company , he supposed he must comply with the usual custom . When he had

the honour to occupy that chair at the previous banquet , which was the inaugural one , he so far trespassed upon their time and patience as to expatiate somewhat on the objects , and , as he conceived , the importance of such a club . He

need not do that now . The club had been in existence for more than twelve months , and its usefulness and importance had been established , not less in the advancement of several of its members in Masonic knowledge , than in the

gradual increase in their numbers . ( Hear . ) Man had sometimes been described as a gregarious animal , and that not improperly . He instinctively sought society ; and he thought they would agree with him if he said that man ' s associations made

him better or worse , for , under ordinary circumstances , like produced like . ( Hear . ) There was , he believed , a sort of spiritual atmosphere pertaining to every living man , and others who came within it , and yielded themselves to its influence ,

were more or less affected by it . There was more or lees of sympathy created by it , and those affected drank into its spirit , for good or for evil , and were gradually and perhaps imperceptibly drawn into the like pursuits with those by whom they were affected . " Show me a man ' s

company , and I'll tell you what manner of man he is . " But what , lie might be asked , had this to do with the toast ? He would tell them . Whenever a number of persons of good morals , square conduct , and upright intentions ; desirous , moreover , to render themselves useful to their fellowcreatures ; associated themselves together for

City Of London Masonic Club.

purposes consonant with these principles and feelings , the result could not fail to be a good one : ( Hear . ) Good must be imparted and acquired . The aggregate influence of which he had spoken became so powerful , that all were

affected by it . No moral influence was lost , whether it were a good one or a bad one . It always made its impression , and would ultimately produce its fruits . ( Hear . ) But their ' s was not a mere social club . They did not come together

for the mere purpose of spending a pleasant evening , by the interchange of thought and cheerful conversation . They had a special object in view , in coming together—something beyond a pleasant evening . Their ' s was a

Masonic club . Their object was to impart and acquire knowledge . ( Hear . ) They had brethren who came amongst them to learn , and brethren who came to teach ; and the result of such an union could not be other than beneficial . The

members of the Craft were multiplying exceedingly , but he feared that its influence was not increasing in proportion to its numbers . He spoke as the result of his own observation only , when he said that they had in the Craft many

who entered it lightly , and who , having so entered it , remained upon the threshold , only . ( Hear . ) They were , some of them , satisfied with bearing the name of Mason , only : while others were satisfied if , in addition to bearing

the same , they could exhibit some of its symbols . ( A laugh . ) They knew nothing of Masonry , and never would . They knew nothing of its symbolic teaching . How should they ? This could only be known through a course of study ,

like all other sciences ; and the necessity of study never entered into their minds . In their lodges , they listened to the ceremonies , but they were strangers to their deep meaning and interest . They knew nothing of the secret arts and hidden

mysteries of Freemasonry . What were its alle gories and symbols to them ? A dead letterperhaps an exhibition of mere trifling , if not of absurdity . They were altogether oblivious of sucli a thing as a system of morality veiled in

allegory and illustrated by symbols . Yes , he who was satisfied with getting just as much of Masonry as he could acquire by a mere attendance in his lodge , was destitute of almost all that rendered Masonry of any worth . ( Cheers . )

But when the symbols and allegories of Masonry were clearly perceived and thoroughly understood , then their ceremonies were found to be pregnant with a high and a deep meaning—full of Divine instruction , and their Masonry was imbued with

a living principle , governing the life of the man , making him useful to his fellow-creatures , and , above all , leading him to show forth the praises of the G . A . O . T . U . ( Hear , hear . ) Tin ' s club aimed to take part in promoting and extending :

this knowledge , and diffusing these principles ; and he thought he was not wrong in assuming that the mere fact of a brother joining the club was , in itself , a proof that he valued Masonry and took an interest in it , and was also a pledge

that he would do what he could to enforce its principles and enlarge the sphere of its beneficent operations . ( Hear . ) He could not but feel that , as a body , Freemasons had an important mission to discharge , and he believed that they

who had done most for it , both in past and in present times , felt that . ( Hear . ) There was much ignorance , much vice , and much misery in the world , and even in there own neighbourhoods , even in this favoured city , they were

surrounded by ignorance , want , and destitution . He believed , in his heart , that they , as Masons , were under a special obligation to labour to mitigate that—to promote education , suppress vice , and help the distressed . And they might each do much , if they only made an effort . Let

them , then , looking abroad , on the dark side of tilings , grasp their glorious banner , which bore the inscription , " Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth , " and go forth to war upon all that was evil ; and if they wanted a noble and heartstirring chant to cheer them on , let them take the words of the great American poet : —

Lives of great men all remind us We may make our lives sublime , And departing leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time ;

City Of London Masonic Club.

Footprints which another seeing , Sailing o ' er life ' s troubled main , Some forlorn and shipwrecked brother , Seeing may take heart again . Let us , then , be up and doing ,

With hearts prepared for any fate ,. Still achieving , still pursuing , Learn to labour and to wait . ( Cheers . ) He proposed " Prosperity to the City . of London Masonic Club . " ( The toast was received and drank with cheering . )

Bro . Major Finney responded to the toast , and forcibly pointed out the great benefits resulting from such Masonic associations and such means of instruction as the club afforded .

The President said he had spoken of the last toast , according to custom , as the toast of the evening ; but he thought he might well give that designation to the one he had now to propose , which was , " Our Preceptor , Bro . James Brett . "

( Cheers . ) He then proceeded to speak of Bro . Brett's great Masonic knowledge , and particularly dwelt upon his readiness at all times to impart it to those who asked for it , and of the delicate as well as efficient way in which he

rendered service in lodges of instruction and in their club . For himself , he felt under great obligations to Bro . Brett , and he was sure he might say the same for all present . ( Hear , hear . ) Bro . Brett returned thanks in a strain that

elicited warm applause . The President said there was another Richmond in the field , and he might fairly say there was another toast of the evening . If they could not get on without an able Preceptor , they could

not live without a vigilant Secretary ( cheers ) , and such an one they had in Bro . Stephen Carey . ( Cheers . ) He had been the originator of the club , and he had kept it together by the diligent and efficient way in which he had discharged the duties of Secretary . He permitted nothing to

keep him away , for on his lodge or chapter nights he often lost his banquet by giving a portion of the evening to the club . ( Hear . ) He ( the President ) proposed his health in a bumper , and hoped he might live long , to see the prospering career of the club . ( The toast was most heartily drunk and cheered . )

The Hon . Secretary , Brother Carey , returned thanks , and gave an interesting account of the origin and progress of the club . They had largely increased in numbers , he said , and they could easily double those they had . They were

satisfied with what they had , however , and were careful not to get on too fast . To have from eighteen to five-and-twenty present at a meeting was , he thought , better than to have many more , and the progress many of the brethren had made

showed how useful the club was . ( Hear . ) He might state , for the information of their visitors , that half the subscriptions was devoted to the charities , and half towards the banquet . During the twelve months of their existence , they had

given f 15 to the three chanties , and they should vote another ^ 5 at their next meeting . ( Cheers . ) Besides , they had originated , through the suggestion of Bro . Henry Chapman , a City of London Life-Boat Fund , and had already collected about He

^ 200 . considered that as Masonic a work as the contributions to their charities , and he hoped they would be able to float the life-boat within a couple of years . ( Hear . ) Bro . Haycock proposed " The health of the

President , " and pronounced a glowing eulogium on his acquirements , literary ability , and urbanity , and on the services he had rendered to the club . ( The toast was drunk with due honours . ) The President returned thanks .

Several other toasts followed , to one of which Bro . Henry Chapman , as Honorary Secretary to the Life-Boat Fund , responded , and urged upon the brethren the obligation of working diligently

in the cause . He hoped many more brethren would take collecting cards , and do as a brother had done that day , who sent in a card with nearly £ 0 on it . ( Cheers . ) They should all go and do likewise . ( Hear , hear . )

The evening , which was diversified with some excellent songs and an amusing comic recital by Bro . Haycock , was , in all respects , a very pleasant one , and Bro . Darcy was not forgotten for the excellent banquet and wines he had supplied .