Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

The Committee , however , having observed lhat for some years past the re bad been no material variation in the number of candidates , while the annuities which became vacant year by year were few in proportion lo the numbers of approved applicants , boldly resolved on making a slight increase of five on the male establishment . Accordingly , at its regular meeting in February , it declared thai the vacancies to be filled at this election should be as follows , namely : 14 immediate —including the five additional annuities and three deferred on the Male Fund ,

and seven immediate and three deferred on the Widows' Fund . But in the interval , there have been reported tin : deaths of 3 men nnd S widows , in addition lo 1 resigned and 1 having become insane , and thc Committee having regard to the successful result of the recent Festival and to the Laws of the Institution , recommends that these further vacancies shall likewise be filled up . Hence , if the Governors and Subscribers adopt tin ' s recommendation , Ihe numbers to be elected at this meeting will comprise 20 men and 20 widowsthe three deferred Annuitants

, being in each case included . The establishment for the new year will thus consist of 440 Annuitants as compared with 435 in 18 94 , of whom there will be 200 men in receipt of . £ . 40 per annum each , and 240 widows in receipt uf £ -32 per annum each , thc total sum distributable amongst thein being £ 15 , 680 . To this , however , must be added the sum of £ 600 , divisible under Law 1 ) of the Male Fund among the widows of 30 recently deceased Male Annuitants , " so that the sum total which will be disbursed in annuities during the coming year will be . £ 16 , 280 .

The Committee reports that at the special meeting of the Governors and Subscribers , held on the 15 th November , Law 25 was amended in such a manner as to provide for lodges , chapters , and olher Masonic bodies obtaining thc rank and privileges of Vice-Patrons and Patrons of the Institution as already exists in the Educational Institutions , but when the Law , as amended , was submitted for the approval of the United Grand Lodge at its Quarterly Communication on the 5 th December , 1 S 94 , the subject was referred back to the Governors and Subscribers for their reconsideration . A second general meeting was therefore held

on the 13 th February , when the two Clauses of the said Law 25 were amended in such a manner as to make their meaning and intent more obvious , but not giving the Committee power lo confer the distinctions upon lodges , chapters and Masonic Societies of ranking as Patrons and Vice-Patrons . At the same meeting a new Clause was proposed to be added to Law 45 , by which the Committee has conferred upon it the power of filling up any vacancy that may occur on the House or Finance Committee at its next regular meeting . Thc Laws , as thus amended , were approved by Grand Lodge at its Quarterly Communication on the 6 th March last .

Ihe Committee gladly avails itself of this opportunity of expressing its thanks to United Grand Lod ge for the continuance of its annual grant of £ 70 towards providing the annuitants resident in the Assylum at Croydon with coals during the winter months , and to the Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Rite for its gifts of periodicals and comforts for the residents , and also to the Emulation Lodge of Improvement for its renewed vote of £ 10 .

The Committee is also desirous of expressing the sincere and heartfelt thanks to the Honorary Surgeons of the Institution , J . Wayte , Esq ., M . B ., and R . Percy Middlemist , Esq ., for their kind and unremitting attention to those among the annuitants , whether resident at the Assylum or non-resident , who , during the past year , have been unfortunately compelled to seek their advice and assistance , and to H . ] . Strong , Esq ., Honorary Consulting Physician , for the readiness with which he has at all times given , to ail who needed it , thc benefit of his long personal experience .

The Committee congratulated itself on being in a position to announce that ( he premises at Croydon are in a thorough state of repair , both internally and externally , and will only need the usual care and attention and such an outlay of money as will suffice to maintain them in that condition . The audited statement of account for the year ended the 31 st December , 1894 , has been prepared with the utmost care by the Finance Committee

and has undergone a rigorous examination before being finally passed and approved by the Auditors , and the Committee has every reason to hope that when the various items of expenditure have been carefully scrutinised and tested by comparison with those of former years , the Governors and Subscribers will feel themselves justified in arriving at the conclusion that the funds of the Institution have been expended with a due regard to economy and efficiency .

In concluding the report , the Committee is desirous of expressing its unabated confidence in thc generosity of the Craft in London , the provinces , and abroad , and its unalterable conviction that , so long as the affairs of the Institution continue to be administered in accordance with thc principles by which the Committee has been actuated in the discharge of its important duties , the means necessary to its maintenance at its present high standard of efficiency will be regularl y forthcoming .

Bro . CHARLES E . KKYSKR , P . G . D ., moved that the report be received , adopted , and entered on the minutes , stating that a noticeable feature of the report was the placing of five further annuitants on the list , thus making 20 old breihren and 20 widows as the total number to be elected that day . He hoped all the brethren would consider the condition of the Institution , as disclosed by the report , satisfactory . Bro . Alajor BRHHJKS seconded thc motionand it was put and carried .

, Ihe Scrutineers were then nominated , and the election proceeded . Thc successful candidates will be found in our advertisement columns . Thc usual votes of thanks terminated the day ' s proceedings .

Board Of Benevolence.

BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE .

The General Committee of Grand Lodge and the Board of Benevolence met on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . Robert Grey , President of the Board , was in the chair . Bro . C . A . Cottebrune , P . G . P ., Junior Vice-President

, occupied the chair of Senior Vice-President , and Bro . C . J . R . Tijou , P . A G . P ., took the chair of Junior Vice-President . Bros . E . Letchworth , G . Sec . ; W Lake , A . G . Sec ; W . H . Lee , and G . S . Recknell represented the Grand Sccre tary ' s department .

Among the other brethren present were Bros . William Vincent , David D . Mercer , Charles Dairy , George B . Chapman , William Fisher , T . W . Whitmarsh , J- H . Matthews , J . Newton , Robert A . Gowan , Henry Garrod , S . H . Goldschmidt , George ; R . Langley , George Graveley , Walter Martin , R . II . Evans , W . M . Bywater , Alfred Savill Tomkins , George E . Fairchild , James Bunker , W . Kipps ,

¦ - "ry J . 1 . JJumas , Samuel Vallentine , Robert Rowlands , James W . Burgess , w iI * Thomas Winsor , H . Massey , E . C . Mulvey , James Joseph Hall , C . H . Webb , Thomas B . Daniell , A . W . Dcvine , J . Pickett , M . D ., A . G . Sandberg , V . Graham , S . G . Bonner , S . R . Lovett , George A . Sims , William John Hewett , Horace

F . Bonner , E . T . Crouch , H . J . Macfarlane , Henry E . Fraser , G . Emblin , J « mes Stephens , C . V . Jenkins , Valentine Wing , Richard Collick , Joseph Snape , Richard J . Harnett , W . C . Hodgkinson , R . A . Kemp , W . F . Redknap , Baron D . ° a'nell , Wilson R . Boolb , W . R . King , R . Pain Walkden , J . M . McLeod , Sec . l £ di i i ' -. > o Harcourt > William Butcher , J . G . Stevens , Herbert E , Smith , Van P L' ?; ' Tay | or > G - Edwards , F . D . Tyssen , Samuel Vickers , William I raajjh , Matthew H Hale , S . W . Latham , W . H . Williamson , F . A . Powell ,

Board Of Benevolence.

W . Goodchild . G . Penny , W . J . Levctl , G . H . Leage , Edwin W . Lewcock , W . de B . Seagrave , F . Richardson , Arthur Cox , and H . Sadler , G . Tyler . At the General Committee of Grand Lodge the agenda paper for next Quarterly Communication was first submitted , and the nominations were taken for the Board of General Purposes , the Colonial Board , and the Scrutineers of the elections and for the porch . The Board of Benevolence was then opened and the recommendations made at the April meeting to the Grand Alaster to the

extent of / . 310 were confirmed . Ihere were 59 cases on the new list qualified through lodges in the London district , and at Sydney , N . S . W ., Birmingham , Jersey , Blyth . Neath , Waltham Cross , Trinidad , Hull , Malta , Gosport , Bellary , Antigua , Southport , Cambridge , Canterbury , Garston , Halifax , N . S ., Fowey , Manchester , Todmorden , Si . Helena , California . U . S . A ., Kidderminster , Fcrozepore , Heathcote ( Victoria ) , Dinapore , New York , Sunderland , Derby , Louth , Budleigh Salterton , Sidcup , and Croydon . In the consideration of these

cases the Board sat for live hours , dismissing five petitions as not being within the rules , and deferring 10 for want of completeness till 1 st June next . The total sum voted for the relief of the remaining applicants was £ 930 . Grand Lodge of June 5 th was recommended to grant £ 75 in one instance , and a sum of . £ 5 0 each inj ' two other cases . The Most Worshipful Grand Master was recommended to sanction three grants of £ 40 each , seven of £ 30 each , and one sum of £ 25 . Thirteen grants were made of £ 20 each , 12 of £ 10 each , and four of £ s each .

The "New Era" Mark Lodge, No. 176.

THE "NEW ERA" MARK LODGE , No . 176 .

PRESENTATION TO THE SECRETARYBRO . F . W . DRIVERM . A

P . M ., P . G . STWD . Ai meeting of this lodge , which during the last two years has been borne on a full tide of prosperity , took place at Mark Masons' Hall on Saturday , the 18 th inst . There were present Bros . Chas . James , W . M . ; Henry Sadler , S . W . ; John Lusty , S . O . ; J . Cook , S . D . ; Louis Mantel ) , P . M ., P . G . Stwd . Eng ., Treas . ; F . W . Driver , P . M ., P . G . Steward Eng ., Sec ; J . M . Boekbinder , Steward ; Wm . Vincent , P . G . D . C . Eng . ( Hon . Mem . ) ; and E . Mills , Tyler . Bro . W . B . Fendick , P . M . 8 , was a visitor .

l lie minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed . The ballot was taken for the advancement of Bro . Jas . Geo . Vigo , 1671 . lt proved unanimous in his favour , and the candidate was duly advanced by the W . M ., Bro . Wm . Vincent giving the explanatory addresses . The election for W . M . took place , when Bro . Henry SadIer , S . W ., was unanimously chosen . Bro . Louis Mantel ) , P . M ., was elected as Treasurer and Bro . Ed . Mills was elected as Tyler by show of hands . The audit was appointed for Saturday , September 28 th , Bros . Crabb and Vigo being especially elected as Auditors . A Past Master ' s jewel was voted by the lodge to the W . M ., Bro . Chas . James , for his efficient services in the chair .

The W . M . made a presentation to the Secretary , Bro . F . W . Driver , M . A ., P . M ., of a handsome marble timepiece for his long and invaluable services as Secretary to the New Era Mark Lodge . The SKCREIARV , in warm terms , thanked the brethren for their substantial appreciation of his services , assuring them that , as in the past , so in the present and future , he would ever strive to promote the interests of the lodge .

Ihc thanks of the lodge were given to Bro . H . Sadler , S . W ., W . M . elect , for the suitable present of a mahogany box for the reception of the lodge collars and jewels . The lodge was then closed . The brethren afterwards took train from Waterloo for the Star and Garter Hotel , Richmond , where a banquet was held under the genial presidency of the W . M ., Bro . C . James . The customary toasts were briefly put and tersely responded to . The brethren left for town at an early hour .

Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter Of Scotland.

SUPREME GRAND ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER OF SCOTLAND .

An important meeting of Royal Arch Freemasons was held in St . Alark's Hall , Glasgow , on Saturday afternoon , the nth inst ., for the purpose of consummating the union of the Grand Chapter of " Early Grand " Royal Arch Freemasons with the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland , the former body representing chapters which originally worked under the authority of the Karly Grand Encampment of the Order of the Temple in Scotland .

The Special Committee empowered to carry out the details of union met in St . Alark ' s Hall , where a Special Grand Chapter was held , presided over by the Al . E . Depute Grand Principal Z ., Comp . Alajor F . W . Allan , assisted by the following Grand office-bears : Comps . f . Dalrymple Duncan , Past Depute G . Z ., as G . H . j J . MacNaught Campbell , G . J . ; R . S Brown , G . Scribe E . j J . A . S . Kerr , G . Scribe N . ; Dr . G . Dickson , P . G . Treas . ;

J . Melville , G . Recorder ; W . Alunro Denholm , John Carruthers . and J . A . Trevelyan Sturrock , G . Sojourners ; R . J . jamieson , Z . 1 , as G . S . B . ; VV . W . Newton , G . Std . Br . ; and G . Hay , G . Janitor ; Comp . E . Berger officiating at the organ . The Special Grand Chapter having been opened , the G . S . E . read a short report of the negotiations for the union , after which the members of the

Early Grand Chapter , which had met in St . John ' s Hall adjoining , and had formally dissolved for ever , were admitted , introduced by the G . S . E ., and , having taken oath of fealty , were received into full communion and fellowship with Supreme Grand Chapter . The M . E . DKI ' UTE G . Z . then addressed the companions as follows : — Companions , to-day we have been engaged in an important and eventful

work—the consummation of an event unique , 1 believe , in the history of Royal Arch Freemasonry in this or any olher country . We have now completed the happy union of two bodies , which hitherto have been working in a manner antagonistically to each other ; each body claiming jurisdiction over Royal Arch Freemasonry in this country . We had , on the one hand , a number of chapters working under what was called the " Early Grand "

Constitution , chapters which until vcrv recently preferred to retain their original connection with thc Templar Order , under the Early Grand Encampment of the Order of the Temple in Scotland . On the other hand , we had the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland , regularly and constitutionally organised , and established in August , 1817 , as an independent governing authority for Royal Arch Freemasonry in Scotland . This happy union has been achieved not without much labour and

anxious thought on the part of those who have bei n mainly instrumental in bringing about this satisfactory rrsult . The initiative was taken by our companions of thc Early Grand Constituion in 1890 , when it was resolved to approach Supreme Grand Chapter with a view < I submitting certain propositions as a basis of union . ' These overture ; were favourably entertained by Supreme Grand Chapter and a Committee was appointed to meet and confer with representatives of Early Grand Chapter . Various difficulties arose during the progress of the negotiations , but happily