Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

Carnarvon such an one had been found , and he was sure that Lord Carnarvon jn whatever duty he was called on to perform in Freemasonry , discharged it in a most able and efficient manner . He might say that he had watched Lord Carnarvon ' s career with some considerable amount of interest , because he was the means of introducing Lord Carnarvon into the Masonic Order ,

and he was glad to see that the early instruction which his lordship had received in Freemasonry had been amply and fully carried out . He was quite sure that his name was sufficient to carry enthusiasm to the hearts of Masons to give him not only a hearty reception when present , but also to his name when absent .

The next toast was to "The Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom , R . W . Deputy Grand Master , and the Present and Past Grand Officers . " In proposing this toast the CHAIRMAN said that in the Earl of Lathom , the Deputy Grand Master , they had a Freemason who united in his person those essential Masonic qualities of ability and courtesy ruling over one of

the largest provinces in England with conspicuous tact , and also found time to discharge his duties in London and other parts wherever Masonic work mig ht demand his presence . With regard to the officers of Grand Lodge

he would only say that by their conduct , they amply justified the confidence which had been placed in them , and when Freemasons saw them coming among them , they were glad to profit by their advice , and congratulate themselves upon having such able and efficient officers .

Bro . HORACE BROOKS MARSHALL , P . G . Treas ., in behalf of the Grand Officers , said in reply to the toast , that he esteemed it a very great honour to have his humble name associated with this toast , and in the presence of such illustrious Masons as those by whom he was surrounded , remembering that he held his appointment direct from the Craft it was his duty ever to re ^

member that it behoved him to act with that knowledge always beforehim , and to serve as far as he possibly could the one great principle of the Order . It was now eight years ago , that very day , that he entered that hall as an Entered Apprentice , and served his first Stewardship for the Benevolent Institution . Since that day it had been his privilege to serve the office of

Steward at every Festival of the Old People , the Girls , and the Boys . And to-night it was his great privilege to introducehis son as an Entered Apprentice to serve his first Stewardship for the Old People ; and on his behalf he desired to say that it was his earnest desire to co-operate with him in endeavouring always to serve to the best of their humble ability the three Masonic Charities of which all Masons were so proud ,

THE CHAIRMAN . The CHAIRMAN then rose and said : Brethren , an important duty now devolves upon me , namely , to propose to you " Success to the Benevolent nstitution , " whose Anniversary we have come here to celebrate . And , rethren , when I give vou a succinct account of the Dresentcnnrlitim- in aM

h 's Institution stands , and the number of applicants there are for its e nefits , you will accordingly see how urgent the demand is for your benevolence and assistance . Brethren , it is impossible by any yearly sum to n ° , sufficient to meet all charges which come upon the Institution ; it is ereforeupon that charitable assistance which is given in a great Anniversary

cms kind , that the committee of the Institution are bound chiefly to rely . nen this Institution was founded the late Dukeof Sussex was Grand ^ aster , in the year 1842 , and since that time there had been 693 ^ cipients of annuities . After the last elections there were 173 men receiving , ^ 4 ° a year which amounted to £ 6020 . Fro m this the . nermanpnt ir , ^ »

£ ' 9 8 7 _ had to be deducted , which leaves £ 498 3 to be made comh- XClUSiV - ° f workin £ P enses - Well , now , there is another Institution Dined with it , and this is no less useful—the Widows . Now , the re ' . ? ws' Fund was established in 1849 , since which 422 widows have been the ' p entS ° ' S brancl - * ter the , ast elec t' ° n there were 202 widows on Und ' receiving £ 32 a year , amounting to £ 6496 . There were also 14

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

widows receiving half of their late husband's annuity making ^ 280 , and this comes to £ 6944 , and deducting the permanent income of £ 1549 , it leaves £ 45 g 5 to be made up as well as the ordinary working expenses . There are at present 77 candidates for this , and 51 for the Male Fund . On the Male Fund there are only nine vacancies , and for this there are fifty-one

candidates . You may judge , therefore , how great a gap has to be made up . The Committee have decided to place 25 additional annuitants on the Widows' Fund , involving an outlay of £ 800 additional . I may mention that there is an Asylum at Croydon , opened in 185 r , which accomodates 33 annuitants . The total payments , therefore , for annuities were ^ 14 , 464 ;

the permanent income is £ 3536 , thus leaving £ 10 , 988 to be provided for , besides working expenses . Well , the Committee would be extremely glad , I am instructed , to add further annuitants provided the assistance to be rendered on this occasion should be of an extremely liberal nature . Now , I cannot but hope that such may be the case , and I would venture to place

these considerations before you as an appeal to your benevolence . I know full well that the benevolence of a Freemason is like a perennial fountain : it is always flowing , and whatever the calls may be upon you there is always benevolence coming for what is really deserving . How can you have anything more deserving than this Insti . ution , where

those who have been among you for years , have been suddenly afflicted by some unforseen calamity . There may be brethren whom perhaps you have met in lodge , who have grasped your hand in the terms of friendship , who have looked forward to a long career of prosperity , and something has occurred , they have been struck down and brought low , and they have to

appeal for assistance to the very brethren whom a short time ago they were meeting on terms of equality . Are you not ready , brethren , to render yourselves liable and free to respond to this call ? 1 feel sure that you are , and when these brethren who are looking forward fror . z such a past , who are wailing on the threshold of the Society , but there are not sufficient

funds to admit them , when they hear that the results of this day have been exceptionally prosperous , then how cheerful will be their faces , and how much you will soon have to congratulate yourselves on having supplied that great need which has appealed to you not in vain . What can be more sad than the case of a widow whose partner is dead , and

who is left to appeal to those who knew her husband , for their beneficence and assistance . I can only express the most sincere and fervent hope that the appeal made to you this day will not be without happy effect , and I commend this Institution to your thought , to your zeal , and to your liberality . The Chairman was greeted with tremendous applause when he had

concluded his appeal , and it was continued to an extent which seriously interfered with the speech in reply which was made by Bro . the Rev . C . J . MARTYN , P . G . C , who remarked that it was a saying of the wisest man that ever lived that there was a time and a season for everything under the sun , and he was quite sure that if there was a time and season for everything , the time lor

him to make a long speech was not on the present occasion . He knew they were all wailing anxiously lor the announcement of the lists brought up by the Stewards , and he would therefore only detain them to say one or two words in response for this toast . He would express the thanks of those connected with the Institution to their Chairman who had come forward

and taken the chair , as he always did , with so much ability . He ( Bro . Martyn ) looked upon him as his Masonic father , and he would thank all present by anticipation for the magnificent result which would be announced in a few moments . On behalf of the Institution , he begged to thank them very sincerely .

Bro . J AMES TERRY , the Secretary of the Institution , then came forward and announced the amounts resulting from the efforts of the Stewards from London and the various Provinces . When announcing the amount from East Lancashire , Bro . TERRY said that the brethren would perhaps be surprised at the smallness of the amount that he was about to

announce ; but they must remember that before 18 S 7 was out there was to be a collection throughout the whole of the lodges in the province , and , although he was not authorised to announce the expected amount officially on that occasion , he believed it would amount to £ 1500 . ( Cheers . ) As regards West Yorkshire , also , Bro . Terry said he did not know what

they were going to do for the Jubilee year •but he ventured to think that they might expect a sum of four figures in addition to the sum ( £ 750 ) which their 33 Stewards had collected . In conclusion , Bro . Terry said that there were 199 Provincial Stewards , who collected £ 9146 , and 179 London Stewards , who collected / , 9554 18 s ., making a total collection of £ 18 , 700 18 s .,

which was the highest sum ever announced in the history of the Institution . And he was sure they would permit him to add that when the totals of West Yorkshire and Lancashire were announced , the total announcements for this Festival would be over £ 21 , 000 . ( The announcement of the result was received with deafening applause . )

Bro . T . VV . TEW , P . G . M . W . Yorks , begged the brethren to give him silence for a few moments while he proposed "The Health of the Chairman of this Festival . " The Province of West Yorkshire , with which he had the honour to be associated , considered it a peculiar privilege to have the honour of proposing this toast . He might say that their Chairman of the

evening since he was initiated into freemasonry , in 1848 , he believed , had twice taken the chair at the Girls' Festival , once for the Boys ' , and to-day they had the honour of silting under his guidance at this Festival ol ihe Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . The magnificent sum of £ 1743 contributed by the province which their Chairman ruled over showed wnat

energy had been displayed by the brethren , and was a considerable contribution to the grand total of nearly ^ 19 , 000 which Bro . Terry had announced . Their acknowledgments were due to the Chairman lor his kindness in coming forward on this Jubilee occasion , and he therefore asked the brethren to drink his good health , and thank him lor coming amongst them .

The CHAIRMAN : Accept my hearty and sincere thanks ior the kind way in which you have received the mention of my name . It was not in vain that I appealed for liberality , but I hoped for a good result ; but I confess that the anticipation has been more than realised . i will not detain you

more than by expressing the hearty thanks 1 owe to the Stewards on behalf of the Institution . I am exceedingly indebted to the brethren of my one province for the liberal way they have rallied round mej and I would not forget those who have come with my excellent Bro , Tew from West York