Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Notes And Queries.
yearly assembly of all the confederated lodges , if such existed . ( 29 ) Provides for the due enregistration of those already made Masons—that is , the law is retrospective . ( 30 ) 1 ( This may be read in two ways , thus ) : That for the future the said society ( meaning each individual society or lodge ) shall conform to the laws and regulations promulgated at a general assembly of the lodge , held once a year under the presidency of a Master and Wardens elected for
the occasion j ( or it may be preferably read thus ) : That Sot the future all the confederated lodges shall meet once a year , andthen elect a Master and Wardens to preside over them on that particular occasion . The picture formed in my mind is this—that there were a few lodges meeting , as usual in guilds , say once a month under their annually elected Master , "the Master of that limit where such lodge was kept . " That these lodges had come to a mutual
understanding , by which they were to come together once a year under officers elected for that special occasion ; but these were not Grand Officers in any sense , because their powers ceased to exist on the dispersal of the assembly . That one of the chief objects of this meeting was to give a public account of all fresh admissions" " to the end ye whole company and fellows may the better know each other . " That for the making of a
Mason it was not necessary to wait for a lodge meeting , but any live Freemasons might proceed to initiate provided two were Operatives and one a Master or Warden of that district . That these five had then to Write a letter , " certificate , " to the Master of the lodge which statedly met in that district stating what they had done , and that on presenting this , the new Mason might obtain membership of the lodge and enrollment in its books . Is there anything
impossible in such an undertaking amongst contiguous lodges ? Must there not have been much communication and understanding amongst the four old lodges before they met together in 1716 ? And when they met what did they do ? Why , put the oldest Master Iwason in the chair ; made him president of all of them for that occasion only . And if four lodges could thus meet together in 1716 , why not previously and elsewhere ? Or even , what reason is
there to think that the Harleian MS . does not apply to London ? I do not say it does , I do not even think so ; hut it might ' . It will be seen that the acceptance of this MS . does not require us to alter our preconceived views of possibilities to any outrageous extent ; we need not at once conclude lhat a Provincial Grand Lodge existed or that a Grand Master granted diplomas or certificates . Hut
I say once more , that even if the MS . distinctly affirmed this highl y improbable state of affairs in unequivocal terms ( which it does not ) and if at the same time its seventeenth century origin is undoubted , wc should have no recourse but to modify our views of possibilities and accept it with all its consequences . Luckily it imposes no such difficult task upon us . G . WM . SPETH .
343 J THE HARLEIAN MS . 1942 . 1 have read carefully all Bro . Speth has said so well and clearly , and submit one or two " points" which seem to mc to demand and deserve attention . When you look at the original MS ., you sec how different it is from Roberts's publication and even Anderson's . Had Roberts and Anderson either of thciri seen the actual MS . 1042 ? I am inclined to think not , as I said last week . The actual MS . is written in a very marked hand , which wc may
yet identify , but it has no sign of haste , erasure , or interpolation . Roberts ' s copy is entirel y different . He professes to be printing from a MS ., and he inserts that remarkable passage , " Additional Orders and Constitutions made and agreed upon at a General Assembly held at on the eighth day ot December , 1663 . " 1 think if this be a true rendering of the MS . ' copicd from , we must come to three conclusions : ( i ) , that Roberts saw another form j
( 2 ) , that this form is either prepared for a meeting j or ( 3 ) , that it represents certain local resolutions , whether of a lodge or general assembly matters nothing , and that Roberts could not read the name . As published by Spencer , in Roberts ' s form there is a duplication of the form of asseveration which is very peculiar . The limit as to the age is not in the Harleian , nor the "duplication , " and Roberts does not interpolate the word " grand . " In
Roberts ' s form we find " new " does not occur , and these Additional Orders and Constitutions come after the Apprentice ' s Charge , not before as in the Harleian . Whence then these differences ? They cannot be accidental , and they certainly arc not trivial . Anderson uses quite another word , " Regulations , " leaves out , as I remarked last week , in clause ' 5 the words "Society , Company , " and uses simnlv the word Fraternity , and at the close of the clause
he again substitutes " Society for Company as in Roberts and Harleian . lie interpolates "Grand , " and the limitation , as in Roberts ' s , of age . I think it well to give clause . 5 as it appears' in . each form , italicizing all words which do not appear or are omitted from the Harleian MS . Harleian : " That for the future the said Society , Company , and Fraternity of Freemasons shall bee regulated and governed by one Master and Assembly and Wardens , as ye said it
Comp & wy shall think ( to chose at every yearely Generall Assembly . " Roberts , 1722 : "That for the future the said Society and Fraternity of Freemasons shall be regulated and governed by one Master and as many Wardens as the said Company shall think fit to chuse at any yearly General assembly . " Anderson , 173 S : " That for the future the said Fraternity of Freemasons shall be regulated and governed by one Grand Master , and as many Wardens as the said at Annual General
Society shall think fit to appoint every Assembly . " Thus wc note , that whereas Harleian says Society , Company , and Fraternity , Roberts only says Society and Fraternity , and Anderson only Fraternity , and that whereas at the close of clause 5 Harleian and Roberts say " Company , " Anderson uses " Society . ' It seems to me that they never saw Harleian , but some other form of it . Is there anything in the date 1 G 63 December 8 th , or
Decem-, ber 28 th ? and is it possible that the word "twenty' has been obliterated as before " eighth , " just as the locality is out ? Roberts says " general assembly ; " Anderson " general assembly and feast . " May 29 th , 1 GO 0 , was the Restoration . Is it possible that we have in this date of 1663 the first meeting of the general or grand assembly
after the Restoration ? And is December a mistakfi for June ? and were the meetings then triennial , the next meeting recorded by Anderson being June 24 th , 1 G 6 G ? If the Freemasons held a great feast in 1 GG 3 , it is just possible a record of it may yet be preserved in some of the papers and gazettes . The morel look at 1942 Harleian the more 1 think 1 sec its reality , its value , and its importance . MASONIC STUDENT .
Annual Elections Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
ANNUAL ELECTIONS OF THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .
On Friday , the lOth inst ., the annual elections to the annuities of this Institution took place , an unusually large number of brethren from both the metropolis and the provinces assembling to take part in the proceedings . The
Freemasons' Tavern was , as usual , the scene of the struggle , as , owing to the large number of candidates who contest the comparatively short list of vacancies , these annual ejections may now be fairly termed . As usual Bro . Colonel Creaton again acted as Chairman . Bro . J AMES TERRY , the Secretary , having read the report , which we append below , it was unanimously adopted
and ordered to be entered on the minutes . The motion of which Bro . Charles Lacey had given notice , the purport of which was to reduce the amount of the annuities , was withdrawn , the unexpectedly large returns made at the last festival giving Bro . Lacy a favourable opening for the adoption of this course . The poll was then open , the results of which will be
seen in an announcement in another column . Votes of thanks to Bro . Creaton and the Scrutineers , concluded the proceedings . The report is as follows : " 'Ihe Committee of Management have much pleasure in submitting to the Governors and Subscribers a report of their proceedings during the past year :
" 1 he Annual Festival was held by direction of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , K . G ., & c , the Grand Patron and President , on Tuesday , the 2 Gth of February last . The Grand Treasurer , John Derby Allcroft , Esq ., had very kindly undertaken to preside on the occasion , but unfortunately at the last moment he was prevented by illness from carrying out his intention , and his place was filled
by Sir John U . Monckton , P . G . D . and President of the Board of General Purposes , who advocated with much ability and earnestness the claims of the Institution , which , coupled with the staunch exertions of a Board of Stewards composed of 300 brethren , produced the sum of £ 14 , 665 13 s . —this being the largest amount ever contributed on a similar occasion in aid of its funds . To all concerned in
bringing about a result so eminently gratifying the Committee respectfully tender their most grateful thanks . " At the election in May , 1 SS 3 , there were upon the funds of the Institution in all 332 annuitants , namely , 165 men and 167 widows , while to-day there are no less than 120 candidates , namely , 38 men . and S 2 widows , whose claims to be admitted into the Institution have been severally
approved . With this lamentable fact before them , and the knov * l « tJgc VhaV cmVy 0 . 2 vacancies—namely , 14 men and 8 widows—had occurred since the last election , the Committee decided at their meeting in February last upon increasing the number of annuitants still further by placing 10 additional widows upon the fund , thus raising the aggregate on the two funds'to 342 . Since then there nave died five men
and live widows , so that the numbers to be elected to-day on the respective funds would be 19 men and 23 widows . But having regard to the unprecedented success which attended the Festival held , as already described , in February , the Committee recommend to the Governors and Subscribers to elect five more men and five more widows , so that the full number now about to be elected will be 24 men
and 2 S widows , the aggregate number of annuitants being thus increased to 352 , towards whose support the large annual sum of £ 12 , 624 must be provided . There are likewise 23 widows to each of whom is assigned during the first three years of her widowhood a moiety of her late husband ' s annuity ; the sum annually required for this further expenditure is £ 4605 and it is believed that the Royal
Masonic benevolent Institution stands almost , if not quite , alone in granting this boon without requiring these poor women to go through the trouble and anxiety of an election . "The Committee in thus announcing their readiness to take upon themselves the responsibility of providing for this additional number of Annuitants , feel tt to be their bounden-duty to point out that the increased expenditure
thus involved can only be met by a continuance on the part of the Craft of that generous support which they have so readily tendered in the past . "The Committee take this opportunity of expressing their thanks to the Supreme Grand Chapter for its recent liberal donation of £ 500 , and the United Grand Lodge for its renewed vote of £ 70 , wherewith to provide the residents
of the Institution at Croydon with coal during the winter months . "They arc also desirous of conveying their most cordial thanks to the Honorary Surgeons of the Institution , Hy . John Strong , Esq ., M . D ., and R , Percy Middlcmist , Esq ., for their great kindness in ministering to the ailments and relieving the sufferings of those Annuitants who have
been under the necessity of seeking medical advice and assistance . " The Committee have much pleasure in reporting that the building at Croydon is in a complete state of repair , and they trust that the gas which is now being laid on in every room , will have the effect of still further promoting the comfort and convenience of the residents . "The Committee are naturally proud of the high position held by the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution
amongst similar Institutions in this country . They are convinced that the annual statement of accounts , here annexed , will be found to disclose a truly wise and economical administration of the funds of the Charity , and they appeal to the influential and important body of the Governors and Subscribers , as well as to the whole Craft of English Freemasonry , for a continuance of that full and
unreserved conhdence by which they have been heretofore sustained in the discharge of their somewhat arduous and most responsible duties . " In conclusion , the Committee express an earnest hope that as their previous appeals for support have never yet been allowed to fall unheeded , so they may be justified in looking forward even to an increased measure of active sympathy from the brethren , and be thercbv enabled to
reduce still further the very large number of unsuccessful candidates . They are fully sensible of the pain which must be generally felt that , in spite of the great increase which is being made to-day on the responsibilities of the Institution , there are still so many whoje necessities must continue unrelieved during at least a further period of 12 months , and they trust the mere mention of their anxiety to effect this object will ensure its realisation at an tarly period . "Subjoined is a statement of the receipts andcxpendi-
Annual Elections Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
ture during the year ending the 31 st March , 1 SS 4 , together with the particulars of the permanent income of the Institution :
"MALE FUND . Balance 31 st March , 18 S 3 324 ° " 15 . 3 RECEIPTS . Donation from Grand Lodge ... ... ... Soo o o Do . Grand Chapter 100 o o
Do . Lodges , Chapters , & Individuals 6051 6 , 0 Annual subscriptions 9 6 9 ' 5 Dividends on Stock in the Government Funds n 17 15 s Rent of Field 900 Cash withdrawh from Call 1250 o o Interest on Cash at Call ... 16 S 6
£ 13 , 5 60 6 10 DISBURSEMENTS . Annuitants £ 6440 o . o Salaries—Office 422 10 o Collector—Commission 252 49 ' Messenger 500 Provincial . & c , Expenses 67 14 1
Medicine for Residents at Institution 1210 o Warden 20 o o Pension to late Gardener , & Gardener ' s Salary 54 12 o Rates and Taxes 47 17 1 Repairs , Painting , & c , and goods supplied ... 141 iS 5 Stationery , Printing , & c 1 S 5 17 10 Advertisements 15 ' 7 ' ¦
Postages , & c , including expenses of Election 196 15 5 Petty Expenses 18 2 . 6 Entertainment of Stewards and Annuitants ... 51 ' § ' Hire of Hall on Day of Election 2 12 6 Rent , & c—Office 45 o o „ of Field 16 S S ' Purchase of Stock 1033 15 o
Votes of Thanks to Stewards 19 u 10 Placed at Call : opo o o Premium on Collector ' s Guarantee Policy 3 ' 5 ° Banker'Charges 2 11 7 Coals fpr Residents ... 35 o o Redemption of Tithes 7 10 3 Architect ' s Commission 5 ' . 5 ° Assistant in Office 990
Balance on this Fund , £ 3445 12 s . 9 d . J £ 10 , 11414 i "WIDOWS' FUND . Balance 31 st March , 18 S 3 31 ' ° ° 3 RECEIPTS . Donation from Grand Lodge ' ... ... 800 o o Do . Grand Chapter * 50 o o Do . Lodges . Chapters . & Individuals 6672 1 «
Annual Subscriptions 1183 11 3 Dividends on Stock in the Government Funds 725 lo o Rent of Field 900 Cash withdrawn from Call 750 o o Interest on cash at Call 917 o
£ 13 , 31 ° 5 7 DISBURSEMENTS . ¦ ¦ - Annuities £ 5629 o o Salaries—Office 422 10 o Collector—Commission 25 G 3 o Messenger 500 Provincial Expenses 67 14 1
Medicine for Residents at Institution 12 10 o Matron 62 o o Gardener ' s Salary 2 S 13 o Rates and Taxes 47 17 3 Repairs , Painting , & c , and goods supplied ... 141 18 5 Stationery , Printing , & c 1 S 5 17 10 Advertisements 15 17 I
Postages , & c , including expenses of Election 201 19 5 Petty Expenses tS 8 6 Entertainment of Stewards and Annuitants ... 5118 1 Hire of Hall on day of Election 2 t : ( 3 Rent , & c—Office ... „ 45 o o Do . of Field 16 18 9 Purchase of Stock 1033 15 o Placed at Call 1000 o o
Votes of Thanks to Stewards 19 11 it Premium on Collector's Guarantee Policy ... 315 u Bankers'Charges 2 11 6 Coals for Residents 35 o o Redemption of Tithes 7 10 3 Architect ' s Commission v ' 5 13 o Assistance in Office , 9 9 ° Balance on this fund , £ 3981 3 s . ] £ 9329 211
"SUSTENTATION OF BUILDING . Balance 31 st March , 1883 59 1 O 4 Dividends on Stock in Government Funds ... 39 7 G £ 89 3 10 DISBURSEMENTS . Repairs 15 17 3 Balance on this Fund £ 73 6 7
I otal balance as per Auditors' report , £ 7500 2 4 "The permanent income of the Institution is as follows : " MALE FUND . Annual Grant from Grand Lodge ... ... £ 800 o o „ ,, „ „ Chapter ... ... 100 o o Dividends on Stock in Government Funds ... 111715 8 £ 2017 15 8
"WIDOWS' FUND . Annual Grant from Grand Lodge £ 800 o o ,, ,, „ „ Chapter 50 o o Dividends on Stock in Government Funds .., 725 10 1 £ i 575 « o 1 ——»•_
"SUSTENTATION OF BUILDING . Dividends on £ 1000 Stock in Government Funds ... £ 30 o 0 ¦ —*¦«—«^ Total permanent income ... ... £ 3623 5 9-( Signed ) "J . CREATON , Past Grand Treasurer , Vice-Patron , Chairman . " Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C ., 16 th May , 1884 . "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Notes And Queries.
yearly assembly of all the confederated lodges , if such existed . ( 29 ) Provides for the due enregistration of those already made Masons—that is , the law is retrospective . ( 30 ) 1 ( This may be read in two ways , thus ) : That for the future the said society ( meaning each individual society or lodge ) shall conform to the laws and regulations promulgated at a general assembly of the lodge , held once a year under the presidency of a Master and Wardens elected for
the occasion j ( or it may be preferably read thus ) : That Sot the future all the confederated lodges shall meet once a year , andthen elect a Master and Wardens to preside over them on that particular occasion . The picture formed in my mind is this—that there were a few lodges meeting , as usual in guilds , say once a month under their annually elected Master , "the Master of that limit where such lodge was kept . " That these lodges had come to a mutual
understanding , by which they were to come together once a year under officers elected for that special occasion ; but these were not Grand Officers in any sense , because their powers ceased to exist on the dispersal of the assembly . That one of the chief objects of this meeting was to give a public account of all fresh admissions" " to the end ye whole company and fellows may the better know each other . " That for the making of a
Mason it was not necessary to wait for a lodge meeting , but any live Freemasons might proceed to initiate provided two were Operatives and one a Master or Warden of that district . That these five had then to Write a letter , " certificate , " to the Master of the lodge which statedly met in that district stating what they had done , and that on presenting this , the new Mason might obtain membership of the lodge and enrollment in its books . Is there anything
impossible in such an undertaking amongst contiguous lodges ? Must there not have been much communication and understanding amongst the four old lodges before they met together in 1716 ? And when they met what did they do ? Why , put the oldest Master Iwason in the chair ; made him president of all of them for that occasion only . And if four lodges could thus meet together in 1716 , why not previously and elsewhere ? Or even , what reason is
there to think that the Harleian MS . does not apply to London ? I do not say it does , I do not even think so ; hut it might ' . It will be seen that the acceptance of this MS . does not require us to alter our preconceived views of possibilities to any outrageous extent ; we need not at once conclude lhat a Provincial Grand Lodge existed or that a Grand Master granted diplomas or certificates . Hut
I say once more , that even if the MS . distinctly affirmed this highl y improbable state of affairs in unequivocal terms ( which it does not ) and if at the same time its seventeenth century origin is undoubted , wc should have no recourse but to modify our views of possibilities and accept it with all its consequences . Luckily it imposes no such difficult task upon us . G . WM . SPETH .
343 J THE HARLEIAN MS . 1942 . 1 have read carefully all Bro . Speth has said so well and clearly , and submit one or two " points" which seem to mc to demand and deserve attention . When you look at the original MS ., you sec how different it is from Roberts's publication and even Anderson's . Had Roberts and Anderson either of thciri seen the actual MS . 1042 ? I am inclined to think not , as I said last week . The actual MS . is written in a very marked hand , which wc may
yet identify , but it has no sign of haste , erasure , or interpolation . Roberts ' s copy is entirel y different . He professes to be printing from a MS ., and he inserts that remarkable passage , " Additional Orders and Constitutions made and agreed upon at a General Assembly held at on the eighth day ot December , 1663 . " 1 think if this be a true rendering of the MS . ' copicd from , we must come to three conclusions : ( i ) , that Roberts saw another form j
( 2 ) , that this form is either prepared for a meeting j or ( 3 ) , that it represents certain local resolutions , whether of a lodge or general assembly matters nothing , and that Roberts could not read the name . As published by Spencer , in Roberts ' s form there is a duplication of the form of asseveration which is very peculiar . The limit as to the age is not in the Harleian , nor the "duplication , " and Roberts does not interpolate the word " grand . " In
Roberts ' s form we find " new " does not occur , and these Additional Orders and Constitutions come after the Apprentice ' s Charge , not before as in the Harleian . Whence then these differences ? They cannot be accidental , and they certainly arc not trivial . Anderson uses quite another word , " Regulations , " leaves out , as I remarked last week , in clause ' 5 the words "Society , Company , " and uses simnlv the word Fraternity , and at the close of the clause
he again substitutes " Society for Company as in Roberts and Harleian . lie interpolates "Grand , " and the limitation , as in Roberts ' s , of age . I think it well to give clause . 5 as it appears' in . each form , italicizing all words which do not appear or are omitted from the Harleian MS . Harleian : " That for the future the said Society , Company , and Fraternity of Freemasons shall bee regulated and governed by one Master and Assembly and Wardens , as ye said it
Comp & wy shall think ( to chose at every yearely Generall Assembly . " Roberts , 1722 : "That for the future the said Society and Fraternity of Freemasons shall be regulated and governed by one Master and as many Wardens as the said Company shall think fit to chuse at any yearly General assembly . " Anderson , 173 S : " That for the future the said Fraternity of Freemasons shall be regulated and governed by one Grand Master , and as many Wardens as the said at Annual General
Society shall think fit to appoint every Assembly . " Thus wc note , that whereas Harleian says Society , Company , and Fraternity , Roberts only says Society and Fraternity , and Anderson only Fraternity , and that whereas at the close of clause 5 Harleian and Roberts say " Company , " Anderson uses " Society . ' It seems to me that they never saw Harleian , but some other form of it . Is there anything in the date 1 G 63 December 8 th , or
Decem-, ber 28 th ? and is it possible that the word "twenty' has been obliterated as before " eighth , " just as the locality is out ? Roberts says " general assembly ; " Anderson " general assembly and feast . " May 29 th , 1 GO 0 , was the Restoration . Is it possible that we have in this date of 1663 the first meeting of the general or grand assembly
after the Restoration ? And is December a mistakfi for June ? and were the meetings then triennial , the next meeting recorded by Anderson being June 24 th , 1 G 6 G ? If the Freemasons held a great feast in 1 GG 3 , it is just possible a record of it may yet be preserved in some of the papers and gazettes . The morel look at 1942 Harleian the more 1 think 1 sec its reality , its value , and its importance . MASONIC STUDENT .
Annual Elections Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
ANNUAL ELECTIONS OF THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .
On Friday , the lOth inst ., the annual elections to the annuities of this Institution took place , an unusually large number of brethren from both the metropolis and the provinces assembling to take part in the proceedings . The
Freemasons' Tavern was , as usual , the scene of the struggle , as , owing to the large number of candidates who contest the comparatively short list of vacancies , these annual ejections may now be fairly termed . As usual Bro . Colonel Creaton again acted as Chairman . Bro . J AMES TERRY , the Secretary , having read the report , which we append below , it was unanimously adopted
and ordered to be entered on the minutes . The motion of which Bro . Charles Lacey had given notice , the purport of which was to reduce the amount of the annuities , was withdrawn , the unexpectedly large returns made at the last festival giving Bro . Lacy a favourable opening for the adoption of this course . The poll was then open , the results of which will be
seen in an announcement in another column . Votes of thanks to Bro . Creaton and the Scrutineers , concluded the proceedings . The report is as follows : " 'Ihe Committee of Management have much pleasure in submitting to the Governors and Subscribers a report of their proceedings during the past year :
" 1 he Annual Festival was held by direction of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , K . G ., & c , the Grand Patron and President , on Tuesday , the 2 Gth of February last . The Grand Treasurer , John Derby Allcroft , Esq ., had very kindly undertaken to preside on the occasion , but unfortunately at the last moment he was prevented by illness from carrying out his intention , and his place was filled
by Sir John U . Monckton , P . G . D . and President of the Board of General Purposes , who advocated with much ability and earnestness the claims of the Institution , which , coupled with the staunch exertions of a Board of Stewards composed of 300 brethren , produced the sum of £ 14 , 665 13 s . —this being the largest amount ever contributed on a similar occasion in aid of its funds . To all concerned in
bringing about a result so eminently gratifying the Committee respectfully tender their most grateful thanks . " At the election in May , 1 SS 3 , there were upon the funds of the Institution in all 332 annuitants , namely , 165 men and 167 widows , while to-day there are no less than 120 candidates , namely , 38 men . and S 2 widows , whose claims to be admitted into the Institution have been severally
approved . With this lamentable fact before them , and the knov * l « tJgc VhaV cmVy 0 . 2 vacancies—namely , 14 men and 8 widows—had occurred since the last election , the Committee decided at their meeting in February last upon increasing the number of annuitants still further by placing 10 additional widows upon the fund , thus raising the aggregate on the two funds'to 342 . Since then there nave died five men
and live widows , so that the numbers to be elected to-day on the respective funds would be 19 men and 23 widows . But having regard to the unprecedented success which attended the Festival held , as already described , in February , the Committee recommend to the Governors and Subscribers to elect five more men and five more widows , so that the full number now about to be elected will be 24 men
and 2 S widows , the aggregate number of annuitants being thus increased to 352 , towards whose support the large annual sum of £ 12 , 624 must be provided . There are likewise 23 widows to each of whom is assigned during the first three years of her widowhood a moiety of her late husband ' s annuity ; the sum annually required for this further expenditure is £ 4605 and it is believed that the Royal
Masonic benevolent Institution stands almost , if not quite , alone in granting this boon without requiring these poor women to go through the trouble and anxiety of an election . "The Committee in thus announcing their readiness to take upon themselves the responsibility of providing for this additional number of Annuitants , feel tt to be their bounden-duty to point out that the increased expenditure
thus involved can only be met by a continuance on the part of the Craft of that generous support which they have so readily tendered in the past . "The Committee take this opportunity of expressing their thanks to the Supreme Grand Chapter for its recent liberal donation of £ 500 , and the United Grand Lodge for its renewed vote of £ 70 , wherewith to provide the residents
of the Institution at Croydon with coal during the winter months . "They arc also desirous of conveying their most cordial thanks to the Honorary Surgeons of the Institution , Hy . John Strong , Esq ., M . D ., and R , Percy Middlcmist , Esq ., for their great kindness in ministering to the ailments and relieving the sufferings of those Annuitants who have
been under the necessity of seeking medical advice and assistance . " The Committee have much pleasure in reporting that the building at Croydon is in a complete state of repair , and they trust that the gas which is now being laid on in every room , will have the effect of still further promoting the comfort and convenience of the residents . "The Committee are naturally proud of the high position held by the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution
amongst similar Institutions in this country . They are convinced that the annual statement of accounts , here annexed , will be found to disclose a truly wise and economical administration of the funds of the Charity , and they appeal to the influential and important body of the Governors and Subscribers , as well as to the whole Craft of English Freemasonry , for a continuance of that full and
unreserved conhdence by which they have been heretofore sustained in the discharge of their somewhat arduous and most responsible duties . " In conclusion , the Committee express an earnest hope that as their previous appeals for support have never yet been allowed to fall unheeded , so they may be justified in looking forward even to an increased measure of active sympathy from the brethren , and be thercbv enabled to
reduce still further the very large number of unsuccessful candidates . They are fully sensible of the pain which must be generally felt that , in spite of the great increase which is being made to-day on the responsibilities of the Institution , there are still so many whoje necessities must continue unrelieved during at least a further period of 12 months , and they trust the mere mention of their anxiety to effect this object will ensure its realisation at an tarly period . "Subjoined is a statement of the receipts andcxpendi-
Annual Elections Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
ture during the year ending the 31 st March , 1 SS 4 , together with the particulars of the permanent income of the Institution :
"MALE FUND . Balance 31 st March , 18 S 3 324 ° " 15 . 3 RECEIPTS . Donation from Grand Lodge ... ... ... Soo o o Do . Grand Chapter 100 o o
Do . Lodges , Chapters , & Individuals 6051 6 , 0 Annual subscriptions 9 6 9 ' 5 Dividends on Stock in the Government Funds n 17 15 s Rent of Field 900 Cash withdrawh from Call 1250 o o Interest on Cash at Call ... 16 S 6
£ 13 , 5 60 6 10 DISBURSEMENTS . Annuitants £ 6440 o . o Salaries—Office 422 10 o Collector—Commission 252 49 ' Messenger 500 Provincial . & c , Expenses 67 14 1
Medicine for Residents at Institution 1210 o Warden 20 o o Pension to late Gardener , & Gardener ' s Salary 54 12 o Rates and Taxes 47 17 1 Repairs , Painting , & c , and goods supplied ... 141 iS 5 Stationery , Printing , & c 1 S 5 17 10 Advertisements 15 ' 7 ' ¦
Postages , & c , including expenses of Election 196 15 5 Petty Expenses 18 2 . 6 Entertainment of Stewards and Annuitants ... 51 ' § ' Hire of Hall on Day of Election 2 12 6 Rent , & c—Office 45 o o „ of Field 16 S S ' Purchase of Stock 1033 15 o
Votes of Thanks to Stewards 19 u 10 Placed at Call : opo o o Premium on Collector ' s Guarantee Policy 3 ' 5 ° Banker'Charges 2 11 7 Coals fpr Residents ... 35 o o Redemption of Tithes 7 10 3 Architect ' s Commission 5 ' . 5 ° Assistant in Office 990
Balance on this Fund , £ 3445 12 s . 9 d . J £ 10 , 11414 i "WIDOWS' FUND . Balance 31 st March , 18 S 3 31 ' ° ° 3 RECEIPTS . Donation from Grand Lodge ' ... ... 800 o o Do . Grand Chapter * 50 o o Do . Lodges . Chapters . & Individuals 6672 1 «
Annual Subscriptions 1183 11 3 Dividends on Stock in the Government Funds 725 lo o Rent of Field 900 Cash withdrawn from Call 750 o o Interest on cash at Call 917 o
£ 13 , 31 ° 5 7 DISBURSEMENTS . ¦ ¦ - Annuities £ 5629 o o Salaries—Office 422 10 o Collector—Commission 25 G 3 o Messenger 500 Provincial Expenses 67 14 1
Medicine for Residents at Institution 12 10 o Matron 62 o o Gardener ' s Salary 2 S 13 o Rates and Taxes 47 17 3 Repairs , Painting , & c , and goods supplied ... 141 18 5 Stationery , Printing , & c 1 S 5 17 10 Advertisements 15 17 I
Postages , & c , including expenses of Election 201 19 5 Petty Expenses tS 8 6 Entertainment of Stewards and Annuitants ... 5118 1 Hire of Hall on day of Election 2 t : ( 3 Rent , & c—Office ... „ 45 o o Do . of Field 16 18 9 Purchase of Stock 1033 15 o Placed at Call 1000 o o
Votes of Thanks to Stewards 19 11 it Premium on Collector's Guarantee Policy ... 315 u Bankers'Charges 2 11 6 Coals for Residents 35 o o Redemption of Tithes 7 10 3 Architect ' s Commission v ' 5 13 o Assistance in Office , 9 9 ° Balance on this fund , £ 3981 3 s . ] £ 9329 211
"SUSTENTATION OF BUILDING . Balance 31 st March , 1883 59 1 O 4 Dividends on Stock in Government Funds ... 39 7 G £ 89 3 10 DISBURSEMENTS . Repairs 15 17 3 Balance on this Fund £ 73 6 7
I otal balance as per Auditors' report , £ 7500 2 4 "The permanent income of the Institution is as follows : " MALE FUND . Annual Grant from Grand Lodge ... ... £ 800 o o „ ,, „ „ Chapter ... ... 100 o o Dividends on Stock in Government Funds ... 111715 8 £ 2017 15 8
"WIDOWS' FUND . Annual Grant from Grand Lodge £ 800 o o ,, ,, „ „ Chapter 50 o o Dividends on Stock in Government Funds .., 725 10 1 £ i 575 « o 1 ——»•_
"SUSTENTATION OF BUILDING . Dividends on £ 1000 Stock in Government Funds ... £ 30 o 0 ¦ —*¦«—«^ Total permanent income ... ... £ 3623 5 9-( Signed ) "J . CREATON , Past Grand Treasurer , Vice-Patron , Chairman . " Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C ., 16 th May , 1884 . "