Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

We have great pleasure in placing before our readers the following financial statement of the above Institution : —

AUDITORS' REPORT . MALE FUND . £ s . d . £ » . d . Balance 31 st March , 1 S 70 ... 1873 n 4 Subsequent receipts ... ... 36 S 8 8 o

5 S 6 l 19 4 Disbursements ... 3095 on Purchase of . £ 600 Stock , 3 per cent . Consols 552 o o — 3 ° 47 o 11 Balance on this account ... ; £ i 9 * 4 18 5

FEMALE FUND . Balance 31 st March , 1870 ... 1061 2 II Subsequent receipts 2 S 1 S 8 6 3379 II 5 Disbursements ... ... ... 2166 iS I Purchase of . £ 450 Stock , 3 per cent . Consols 4 H 2 9

2581 o 10 Balance on this account ... £ i-9 § 1 ° 7 FOR SUSTENTATION OF THE 1 IUILDIXG .

Balance 31 st March , 1 S 70 ... 8 10 9 Subsequent receipts 30 o o 38 10 9 Disbursements 24 7 S

Balance on tins account ... 14 3 1 Total Balance ... . £ 3227 12 I ( Signed ) J OHN- SYMONDS )

HENRY G . WARREN * / Auditors . J AMES RICHMOND SHEEN ) Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , 9 th May , 1 S 71 .

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF

MANAGEMENT . ' The Committee of Management , in issuing their annual report , have to congratulate the brethren on the continued prosperity of the Institution , notwithstanding the large amount of money the late Continental strife has drawn from this country for

various purposes , and which has so seriously affected many of the public charities at home . The annual festival holden by direction of the Most Worship ful Grand Master , the Right Hon . the Earl de Grey and Ripon , K . G ., on the 3 rd February last , was presided over by the V . W . Bro .

Samuel Tomkins , V . P . and Treasurer of the Institution , acting for Bro . Colonel Francis Burdett , R . W . Provincial Grand Master for Middlesex ( who was unable to bo present through a severe domestic affliction ) . The donations and subscriptions contained in the Stewards' Lists amounted to , £ 3514 .

The Committee have to report that they have received the sum of ^ 200 , being a legacy , free of duty , left by the late Miss Sarah Dorset , of Reading ; one moiety to be paid in the name of one of the executors to constitute him a Vice-President of the Mile and Fenib Fun I ; the ot ! v ; r moiety

to be equally divided between the two funds of the Institution . The Committee have also to report that since the last election the votes to which lodges and chapters were entitled by virtue of the payments to the male branch of this Institution bv the Grand Lodge and

Supreme Grand Chapter have been reduced ; this was rendered necessary by the large increase of lodges and chapters , which caused such a preponderance of free votes as to influence the elections to the prejudice of private donors and subscribers and the interests of the Institution . A

Special General Meeting was held on the 15 th October , when , after discussion , it was resolved — To amend Rule 17 by substituting ihe word " two " for " four " in the third line , and the word " two " for "three " in the ninth line , which alteration was approved by the Grand Lodge at its meeting on the

7 th December last . At the date of the last report there were 16 5 annuitants receiving the benefits of this Institution . These were increased to 16 9 at the last election . In the interim 10 have died , and the Committee now recommend the election of 25 , thus makingthe

number 184 , besides 9 widows receiving half their late husband ' s annuity . This steady adhesion in the number of the recipients of its funds can onl y be maintained by H corresponding increase of its income , and the Committee again urge on all the

members of the Craft the great claims the Institution has upon them individually . The comfort of the inmates of the Asylum at Croydon lias again been supplemented by ihe annual grant of , £ 50 from the Grand Lodge funds

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

for the purchase of coals , which were distributed amongst them during the late winter months . For the information of the President , Past Presidents , Vice-Presidents , Governors , Subscribers , and

friends of the Institution , the Committee subjoin a statement of the receipts and disbursements during the year ending the 3 rst March , 1871 , together with the particulars of the fixed income of the Institution .

MALE FUND . Receipts . £ s . d . £ s . d . Balance 31 st March , 1870 1873 II 4 Donation from Grand Lodge ... 5 ° ° do . from Grand Chapter 100 o o Donations from lodges , chapters ,

and individuals ... ... 15 S 7 3 o Annual subscriptions 771 15 o Moiety of legacy of late Miss Sarah Dorset , of Reading ... 50 o o Dividends on Stock in the Government Funds 679 10 o 36 S 8 8 o

£ 556 l 19 4 Disbursements . Payment to Annuitants ... 2545 10 o Salary , Secretary ... ... 100 o o „ . . < Secretary ... 70 8 7 Commission jCollect (/ r ... ' '

Messenger ... ... ... 500 Medicine for the inmates at the Asylum 25 o o Warden , gatekeeper , and gardener at the Asylum 45 10 o Taxes for Asylum 24 n 9 Stationery , books , printing ,

balloting papers , & c . ... .. 46 12 3 Office expenses , rent , gas , coals , & c 24 5 o Advertisements 7 II S Postage 43 I 3 Petty disbursements , including election expenses 23 13 5

£ 3095 o 11 Purchase of £ 600 Stock , 3 per cent . Consols ... 532 o o 3647 o 11 Balance on this account £ i 9 H JS 5

FEMALE FUND . Receipts . £ s . d . £ s . A . Balance 31 st March , 1 S 70 1061 211 Donation from Grand Lodge ... 3 ° ° do . from Grand Chapter 50 o o Donations from lodges , chapters ,

and individuals 1500 2 6 Annual subscriptions 521 II o Moiety of legacy of late Miss Sarah Dorset , of Reading ... 50 o o Dividends on Stock in the Government Funds 369 15 o 2 S 1 S S 6

Disbursements . 3879 II 5 Payment to annuitants ... 1745 o o Salary , . Secretary 100 o o „ . . ( Secretary ... 47 10 S Commission - CollcctoJ ... Ior 3 < - Messenger 5 °°

Taxes , Asylum 24 11 8 Mrs . Mary Walker ' s funeral expenses ... ... ... 5 9 6 Stationery , books , printing , balloting papers , & c 44 10 9

Omcc expenses , rent , gas , coals , & c 24 5 o Advertisements 7 II 8 Postage 38 2 II Petty disbursements , including election expenses 23 13 5

2166 iS I Purchase of , £ 450 Stock , 3 per cent . Consols ... ... ... 414 2 9 25 S 1 O 10 Balance on this account 129 S 10 7 Z 32 I 3 9 o

FOR SUSTENTATION OF KUILI'INU . Receipts . Balance 31 st March , 1 S 70 ... 8 10 9 Dividends on , £ 1000 Stock in the Government Funds ... 30 o o

3 S 10 9 Disbursements . Repairs , & c , done at the Asylum ... ... ... 24 " 8 Balance on this account ... 14 3 '

Total balance as per Auditors report to 31 st March , 1 S 71 ^ 3 7 I- I The permanent income of the Institution is as follows : —

V . AI . I' I' (' . NI ) . Annual Grant from Grand Lodge 500 o o Annual ( Irani from Grand Chapter loo o o

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

£ s . d . £ s . d . Dividends on , £ 22 , 650 Stock in the Government Funds ... 6 S 8 10 o 1288 10 o

FEMALE FUND . Annual Grant from Grand Lodge ... ... ... 300 o O Annual Grant from Grand Chapter ... ... ... 50 o o Dividends on . £ 13 , 450 Stock in the Government Funds ... 403 10 o 753 10 o

FOR SUSTENTATION OF THE BUILDING . Dividends on £ 1000 Stock in the Government Funds ... 30 o o / 2072 o o

( Signed ) BENJAMIN HEAD , V . P ., Chairman . Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , 10 th May , 1871 . We shall have something to say respecting this excellent Institution in an early number .

( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) SIR , —Will you please inform me through the columns of your paper , what degrees it is necessary for a brother to have taken to render him eligible for the Rose Croix degree ; and also what are necessary for the Red Cross of Rome and Constantine ? Yours respectfully , MAS 0 N 1 CUS .

Northallerton , June 20 th , 1 S 71 . [ Candidates in each instance must be Master Masons in good standing . No other qualification is necessary . — ED . F ' . l

Instruction.

INSTRUCTION .

A meeting of the Sphinx Lodge of Instruction * No . 1329 , was held at Stirling Castle , Camberwell , on Saturday , June 3 rd , for the periodical working of the Fifteen Sections . Bro . J . Thomas presided , and having opened the lodge in due form , with solemn prayer , proceeded to put the questions . The brethren mustered strongly , and each sustained his part in the working in a most

satisfactory manner . Also present : Bros . Wortliington , S . W . ; Allman , J . W . ; Vockins , S . D . ; Larlham , P . M . ; Martin , I . G . ; Dawncy , Pooie , Pulsford , Bedolfe , Ross , Wise , Elliott , J . Elliott , Noke , Stevens , and Wingham . Visitor : W . Bro . the Rev . Geo . Ross , Prov . G . Chap . Cornwall . The Fifteen Sections were worked by the folio wins ; fifteen brethren respectively , viz ., Vockins ,

Pulsford , Martin , Wortliington , Stevens , Poore , Larlham , Ross , Bedolfe , Stevens , Wortliington , Allman , Noke , Pulsford , and Dawncy . The lodge was then duly closed down to the first degree , when a vote of thanks to Bro . Thomas was carried unanimously for his able conduct in presiding . The interest felt in the principles and practice of Masonry by the younger brethren , who chiefly compose the ! odt ; e , reflects great credit on Bro . Thomas , the

esteemed Preceptor , and his friend and coadjutor , Bro . Wortliington , P . M . Bro . Thomas , the Preceptor , may , in fact , be truly said to be the working " centre" of Freemasonry on the Surrey side of the water , a term given by Vitruviusto that branch of the compasscson which the other pivots , and from which the entire circle is regulated and apportioned . In this lodge refreshment is not permitted during the period devoted to work , and the members invite the co-operation of those who approve the system .

The Atrical.

THE ATRICAL .

HAYMARKET . —Bro . Buckstonc is to be congratulated on the unqualified success of the new comedy-drama "An English Gentleman . " Mr . Sothern , as Charles Chuckles , has added this character to his many legitimate triumphs . " Mischief Making" commences , and , after the drama ,

" Uncle Foozle" concludes the entertainment . We can place this theatre in the highest rank among the houses in our great metropolis . On last Saturday a new one-net extravaganza was added to the programme , under the title of " Not if I know it , " written expressly for Mr . Sothern by Messrs .

Maddison Morton and A . W . Young . Ai'Ki . i'Ui . — " Notre Dame " still continues in favour here , and notably so , as it is a great success . It seems likely to hold its own until Christmas , when perhaps a change may take place in the bill . " Fantisticuff , " a comic ballet , terminates the evening's amusement .

Q UEEN ' S . —Mr . and Mrs . Rousby in "Joan of Arc" draw crowded houses . The piece is most successful , and is received nightly with great applause . VAUDEVILLE . —At this popular theatre \ hcrc is performed to crowded houses— " A Fearful Fog , ' "Tweedie ' s Rights , " " The Orange Tree rind the Humble Bee , " and " Bubble and Squeak . "

BRO . HENRY Guii'i'ini . ' , W . M .-elect of the Kennurd Lodge , No . 25 S , will be installed as the W . M . at the lodge meeting to be held at Clarence Hotel , Pontypool , on Monday , June 26 , 1871 , at 5 p . m .