Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The annual festival of this Institution was held on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Tavern . Bro . Lieut-Col . Sir Henry Edwards , Bart ., D . L ., R . W . Prov . G . M . for West Yorkshire , presided . He was supported

on his right by Bro . Lieut .-Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie , Prov . G . M . for East Lancashire , and on his left by Bro . Tew , D . P . G . M . for West Yorkshire . There were also present at the right and left of the Chairman .- Bros . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , Grand Secretary ; Chas . Greenwood . G . Swd . B .. G . Sec . Surrey ; Thomas

Cubitt , P . G . Purst . ; J . Duff Filer , P . G . Swd . B . ; J . G . Chancellor , P . G . S . ; W . H . Gill , P . P . G . W . W . Yorks ; George Lambert , P . P . G . W . Herts ; W . H . Brittain , P . P . G . W . W . Yorks ; Dr . Le Cronier , D . P . G . M . Jersey ; R . J . Critchley , P . P . G . W . W . Yorks ; Thomas Hill , P . P . G . W . W . Yorks j W . H . B . Tomlinson ,

P . P . G . R . W . Yorks ; John Hirst , P . P . G . W . W . Yorks ; Benj . Watson , Vice-Patron ; John Wordsworth , P . G . Stewd ., P . P . G . W . W . Yorks . ; Isaac Booth , P . Prov . G . W . W . Yorks ; O . H . Colven , G . Steward ; Henry G . Buss , Asst . G . Sec ; Henry Bulley , P . G . S . B . ; Rev . C . J . Martyn , P . G . C , D . P . G . M . Suffolk ; R . Percy

Middlemist , Honorary Surgeon ; and Col . Laurie , P . G . M . Nova Scotia . About 600 brethren were present , and more than 200 ladies . The CHAIRMAN , in proposing the first toast , that of " The Queen , " said : Her Majesty is the daughter of a Mason , the niece of a Grand Master and the mother of

our Royal Grand Master , and the Patroness of our Order . It would be , I think , unbecoming in me to do more than express our admiration of her noble character and her many virtues . Long may she continue to reign over a loyal and loving people , of whom not the least loyal are the Freemasons of England .

TheCfUiRMAN next proposed "The Health of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , the Princess of Wales , and the rest of the Royal Family . " He said : The Prince of Wales , as many of you who are now present remember , was installed in the Albeit Hall in 18 75 , and never did a more glorious gathering take place . There were at

least 10 , 000 Masons present , every one of them bearing due allegiance to their most noble and most distinguished patron , the Prince of Wales ; and from that time to the present the popularity of H . R . H . has been increasing , day by day , in a ratio we can scarcely calculate . Where can he go without meeting with a glorious

reception V Nowhere in England , nowhere in the United Kingdom , nowhere in India , nowhere wherever he may go . We are , indeed , most fortunate in having at our head such a popular and such a distinguished Mason , and I am happy to say that it is not only that we are

'ndebted to him for favours already received , but we are also indebted to his three brothers , who are all Provincial Grand Masters in England . We are fortunate in having had for years , I may say for centuries , members of the Royal Family at our head . If I entered upon the "umber I don ' t know when I should cease ; but at all

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

events we have had royal dukes from one reign to another , which every other society in the world I may say have been jealous of because they could not get the honour . I have now to propose to you the health of a Mason who I have already told you is the most popular

man in the world , and the-rest of the Royal Family . It would be preposterous and taking a very great liberty to say one word beyond this ; you all remember what our old bard has written , and whose words will apply to the Prince of

Wales" To gild refined gold , to paint the lily , To add fresh perfume to the violet , Is wasteful and ridiculous excess . " The CHAIRMAN : I am asked to couple the next two toasts together— " The Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master ; The Right

Hon . the Earl of Lathom , Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master , and the . Present and Past Grand Officers . " The EJarl of Carnarvon is not only well-known to you all , occupying as he does , the high position in Masonry , but as a statesman and highly-gifted nobleman . We all regret his absence abroad on account of delicate health ,

and earnestly hope that he may be speedily restored to health , and enabled to again preside over our deliberations in Grand Lodge . The Earl of Lathom , our Deputy Grand Master , without exception is , perhaps , the most industrious Freemason in England , and whom Lord Beaconsfield has honoured in giving him a step in

nobility . The name of Skelmersdale was a household word amongst Masons . Let those persons who do not know him , if such exist , go to West Lancashire for his character , where he is at home . The Rev . C . J . MARTYN in reply said : I have to acknowledge the toast which has been so happily

proposed by the Chairman— " The Earl of Carnarvon , the Earl of Lathom , and the rest of the Grand Officers Past and Present . " With regard to Lord Carnarvon I am sure I need not detain you , as you are anxious to hear the announcement of the lists and then join the ladies . I am sure we all most heartily wish , with the Chairman , to see Lord Carnarvon again in this country

restored to health . With regard to Lord Lathom , all of us in London know him well ; many of us have the privilege of his acquaintance , and we all know how popular he is . With regard to the present Grand Ofiicers , they all try to do their duty , and I believe they do it to your satisfaction , as the Past Grand Officers have done before them .

The CHAIRMAN , in proposing the toast of the evening , " Success to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons , " said : My lords , ladies , and brethren : This chair has been occupied by many worthy Masons , but never did one take it with a higher sense of the honour , or a higher

sense of the responsibility attached to the position . I am satisfied that it is no part of my duty this evening to plead for this Benevolent Institution . I am rather in the position of one to return thanks for most indefatigable labours with noble results ; I am , like yourselves , most anxious to hear from Bro . Terry the outcome of the

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

Stewards' labours . 1 may now mention that this Institution was first suggested by H . R . H . the Duke of Sussex , M . W . G . M ., in 1842 . At that time 13 male annuitants received £ 290 ; now 150 male annuitants receive £ 6 , 000 , or , £ 40 each . In 1849 the widows' fund was founded under the late Earl of Zetland , M . W . G . M ., when five widows received £ 75 ; now 155 widows

receive . £ 4 , 960 in incomes of £ 32 each . Since the establishment of this Institution 531 brethren have received these annuities , and 304 widows have had their closing years cheered from this source . Roundly stated , the permanent income is £ 2 , 610 , and the expenditure

. £ 13 , , leaving a deficiency each year of . £ 10 , 400 . There are now 99 applicants and only 20 vacancies . There is an asylum at Croydon affording a home for 33 annuitants , who have each two rooms , and are provided with medical attendance free , and coals during the winter . It needs no words from me to commend the

toast entrusted to me , and I give you Success to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and the Widows of Freemasons . " I call upon Bro . Terry to read the Stewards' list . Bro . J AMES TERRY then read the following list of subscriptions : —

LONDON . Lodge £ s . d , Bro . Edgar Bowyer ... . 115 o o „ Samuel Rawson ... ... ... 10 to o ,, E . C . Woodward .. 10 to o ,, Wm . Stephens ... ... ,, Abner Torkington ... ... 26 6 o

1 „ A . Brookman ... ... 15 15 o 3 „ James Allan ... ... ... 26 3 o 4 ,, Horace J . Browne 5 „ John Wm . Jones ... ... 29 7 o 8 ,, Thos . Skewes Cox ... ... 15 12 o 10 „ Rev . J . N . Palmer ... 55 6 o Rose Croix Chapter

10 Comp . George Powell ... ... ... 22 ¦ o Lodge u Bro . L . B . Garrett ... ... ... 24 4 o 14 „ George H . Hopkinson ... ... 26 5 o | 8 „ Jno . E . Anderson ... ... 38 17 o 21 ,, Chas . Mansfield ... ... ... 41 17 o Chapter 21 Comp . George Lambert

Lodge 25 Bro . T . J . Robins ... ... ... 46 5 6 28 „ El ' is Jones ... ... ... 44 12 o 29 ,, Chas . T . Trendall ... ... 22 o o 33 „ Ellis B . Saunders ... ... 41 12 o 55 » Wm . Hy . Marston ... ... 46 3 6

58 „ Oswald H . Colver ... ... 70 7 o 60 „ Frederick Binckes ... 31 10 o ° i t , Wilmer Hollingworth ... ... 68 5 o 65 „ Chas . Edwin Terry ... ... 106 1 o 79 ,, Henry Roberts ... ... ... 85 8 o Chapter 70 Comp . W . G . Batchelor ... ... 37 16 o Lodge 87 Bro . Alfred W . Woodliffe ... ... 45 17 6 g 2 ,, H . F . Auldjo ... ... ... 10 10 o 101 ,, Hy . J . Reynolds ... ... 32 11 o MO ,, Jno . G . Loughborough ... ... 63 15 6 141 ,, Wm . Carter ... ... ... 50 15 o Chapter

142 Comp . J . W . Lambert ... ... 22 u 6 Lodge 143 Bro . Jas . Hy . Matthews ... ... 97 13 o 144 ,, Robt . Jno . Taylor ... ... 75 8 6 Chapter 157 Comp . Samuel Pownceby ... ... 37 15 o