Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

a word that day in explanation of why such an important alteration as this should take place . It seemed to him they were somewhat in the dark when they were asked to make the alteration without the reason being assigned . The very fact of passing the first resolution would be the foundation for some other great alteration which would take place . He , as one of the old members of tbe Institution , unless he could conceive some benefit to arise

to the Institution from the alteration , would be the first to raise his voice against it . If it could be shown in any way that the proposed alteration would benefit the Institution , he would agree to it ; but until that was done he would certainly not willingly consent to any alteration of the rule . Up to the present time the rule had worked satisfactorily . He thought that the report of the last Festival would show that the Craft , generally speaking ,

were perfectly satisfied with the way in which the affairs of this Institution were managed . ( Hear , hear . ) Therefore , to attempt to alter it without some very good reason was needless . If they passed this first resolution it might lay the foundation-stone for an alteration which he feared would not be satisfactory . Again , they would have entirely to alter the

administration . At the meeting in May the election had been an established fact since the Institution was founded . An alteration for the purpose of making a more convenient day for some few brethren , he failed to see the urgency for . He hoped the brethren would at once set their face against it unless a very cogent reason was given .

Bro . BIRCH , in replying to Bro . Lacey , said be bad thought that the advantages of the alteration would be apparent to everybody . It was proposed , in the interests of the provinces , to allow provincial brethren when coming up to London once in April not to come up in May . A joint Committee was appointed to consider and report on the proposed alteration . They had reported , and an alteration had been made in the Boys' and

Girls Institution , anticipating that this alteration would be made in the Benevolent Institution . The alteration was made to the last Friday in April and October for the Boys School , and to the following day for the Girls ' , and it was proposed that the meeting- and election of the Aged Freemasons and Widows should take place the following Monday . The amendment of Capt . Homfray was from the Monday following the last

Friday in April to the Monday following the last Friday in October . The Secretary had been consulted , and he considered the alteration might be made . He ( Bro . Birch ) had previously explained the advantages to the provinces if this alteration were made . The provincial brethren had to attend at great expense both of money and time , and they therefore asked

that they might be allowed to pay two visits to London a year instead of three . The provinces asked the brethren to make this alteration in the interest of the provincial brethren , and to save the expense and loss of time . A BROTHER said that Bro . Birch had stated he had consulted the Secretary , and that the Secretary considered that the alteration might be made .

Bro . TERRY said that , as Secretary , he could concur in nothing ; but as a private individual he could express an opinion . Nothing he had said had been said as Secretary . A BROTHER enquired whether the Secretary thought the alteration would interfere with the working of the office—whether it would increase or decrease it ?

Bro . J . S . CUMBERLAND said it was not a matter so much for the Secretary as for the general body of the brethren . He did not think Bro . Terry could be called upon to express an opinion on this important matter . It should be left in the hands of the brethren to decide ; and whichever way they did decide , Bro . Terry would be only too glad to carry out their instructions .

Another BROTHUR said he could not see any reason at all for believing that the proposed alteration would be of the slightest benefit to the Institution . It would throw a considerable amount of work on the staff , with a certain concomitant amount of expense . The alteration mi ght suit the brethren in the provinces , and they naturally , through gaining their point , would be pleased to work harder for the Institution , which might get increased

funds from them . On the other hand , those who lived in the neighbourhood of London would have a larger amount of work in one week than they could cope with , and they would have to remodel their system . Personally , he represented one of the home counties , and he was sorry to say that by the alteration , if carried out , whether the meeting was thrown at the end of April or the beginning of November , he would be knocked out of one of the elections

for certain , and his province would lose his knowledge and experience , and some one would have to be appointed instead of him . A great number of the brethren were on the Stock Exchange , who took a lively interest in Freemasonry , and were great and liberal supporters of all the Institutions . They also , like himself , took an interest in the elections , and if the three elections were thrown together in the compass of the same week , it would be

simply impossible for them to pay that attention to the elections they had been accustomed to give ; and if they did not take part in the elections , their interest would cool down in the Institutions generally . He did not see any benefit to be derived to the Institutions from the alteration . A strict Sabbatarian might consider there would be a great breaking of the Sabbath in counting votes .

Another BROTHER said he failed to see any benefit to arise from the alteration .

Bro . J . E . LE FEUVRE , P . G . D ., Dep . P . G . M . Hants and Isle of Wight , observed that this matter was discussed last year in the three Charities b y representatives from the Boys' School , the Girls' School , and this Institution , who were appointed to go into the subject . They practically brought up their report that day , and it was the unanimous opinion of the Committee , formed of representatives of all three Institutions , that the alteration should

be made . He submitted , that being the case , a large amount of consideration ought to be offered and given to tbe country supporters of the Charities by the London brethren . London brethren were always on the spot , and the country brethren lived at a considerable distance , and were naturally put to great expense and inconvenience by coming up three times a year ,

By the proposition now before the brethren the visits of these brethren would be limited to two , and they would have better opportunities of forwarding the interests of the Charities of the Order , and the provincial brethren asked the London brethren to consider them , as they were good supporters of the Institutions .

A BROTHER , with reference to the observation previously made as to the Sunday , said he would like to remind the brethren that at present they were here in London two Sundays in the year , and if this resolution was carried they would be here no longer . A BROTHER from Yorkshire said he had to travel 200 miles to be present . He thought it would be a graceful act on the part of the London brethren to grant the provincial brethren this little favour .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

The motion was lost by a large majority , and Bro . Birch declined to oon with his other motions . ° Bro . CHARLES J . PERCEVAL proposed , and Bro . C . LACEY seconded Bro . John A . Farnfield , P . A . G . D . C , as Treasurer . ' The motion was carried unanimously .

Bro . W . CLARKE , P . G . P ., moved , that Bros . A . H . Tattershall , J Newton , and J . J . Berry be re-elected Auditors ; and the motion , having been seconded by Bro . C . F . HOGARD , P . G . Std . Br ., was carried unani mously . Scrutineers for the election were then selected , and the meeting proceeded to elect 23 men and 15 widows to the annuity of the Institution . [ The names of the successful candidates will be found in our advertise . ment columns . ]

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Gloucestershire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Gloucestershire was held on Tuesday , the 15 th instant , at Stoiv-on-the-Wold ( a little Cots . wold town on the Eastern border of the county ) , by command of Bro . the Right Hon . Sir Michael Hicks Beach , Bart ., the Grand Master of the province . Notwithstanding the inconveniences of the railway service

which made it very difficult for members in distant parts of the province to attend , the number of brethren present was large ; and unusual interest attached to the proceedings from the fact that two of the permanent offices those of Dep . Prov . G . M . and Prov . G . Secretary , had lately become vacant by resignation . The lately deceased Bro . Brook-Smith , P . G D

had resigned the Deputyship a few weeks before his death , upon his appointment to the Headmastership of the Modern side of Cheltenham College ; and Bro . E . Trinder , of Cirencester , had also intimated to the Prov . G . Master that he could not accept re-appointment as Secretary , Since the re-formation of Provincial Grand Lodge for Gloucestershire

in 1856 , there had been but two Deputies . Bro . Nevvmarch , to whose personal exertions and influence the re-organisation of the province was mainly due , had his services in that respect acknowledged by being appointed Deputy to the late Lord Sherborne ( then the Hon . R . Dutton ) on the acceptance by the latter of the office of Prov . Grand Master in 1856 . Bro ,

Newmarch filled the post with eminent success until 1880 , when he followed his chief into retirement ; and in the same year Bro . Sir Michael Hicks Beach succeeded Lord Sherborne , and selected Bro . Brook-Smith , in accordance with the general feeling of the province , as his Deputy . On Bro , Brook-Smith ' s retirement , Bro . Vassar-Smith was nominated as hissuccessor , and has in the interval betueen his nomination and his formal investiture

on Tuesday , discharged the duties of the office . Bro . Vassar-Smith is W . M . of 246 , P . M . of 839 , and a Past Warden of the Province ; but it is pre-eminently as Provincial Charity Secretary that he has rendered service to the Craft in Gloucestershire . The Provincial Grand Secretaryship had had but one occupant since 1856 , Bro . E . Trinder having filled it during

the whole period . On receiving intimation of Bro . E . Trinder's retirement , the Prov . Grand Master offered the office to Bro . James B . Winterbotham , by whom it was accepted , and no appointment could have been more popular in the province . Bro . Winterbotham is a P . M . of 82 . In 1874 116 was appointed a Prov . Grand Deacon , and last year he held the highest office under the Deputy , that of S . W . of the province .

Provincial Grand Lodge had not been held at Stow-on-the-Wold for about 20 years , and the local lod ^ e , No . 951 , had exerted itself to atone for its shortcomings in railway communication by the hospitality of its welcome . Lodge was held in the St . Edward ' s Hall , a building well suited for the gathering , and the large room used as the lodge room was tastefully

decorated with evergreens and flowers . The proceedings began at one o'clock , when there were present—Bros , the Right Hon . Sir Michael Hicks Beach , Bart ., M . P ., R . W . Prov . G , M . ; Newmarch , P . D . Prov . G . M ., acting Prov . G . M . ; J . B . vVinterbotham , Prov . S . G . W . ; h . C . Sewell , P . P . J . G . W . ( in the absence of Bro . Dr . Grossman ) , Prov . J . G . W . ( pro tem . );

Rev . Dr . Lynes , Prov . G . Chap . ; I . Nelson Foster , Prov . G . Treas . ; E . I rinds ' , Prov . G . Sec . ; R . V . Vassar-Smith , Prov . G . Charity Sec . ; G . H . Perrin , Prov . G . b . of W . ; C . Green , Prov . G . D . C ; W . E . Hayward , Prov . G . S . B . ; J . A . Roberts . Prov . G . P . ; E . Fisher and G . Peters , Prov . G . Stewards ; Baron de Ferrieres , P . P . a-G . W ., P . G . D . Eng .: W . H . Gwinnett , P . P . S . G . W ., P . P . G . Treas . ; H . Jeff * . r- -

S . G . W . ; W . P . Want , P . P . J . G . W . ; R . W . White , P . P . J . G . W . ; A . V . Hatton , P . P . J . G . W . ; W . Clifford , P . P . J . G . W . ; G . Norman , P . P . G . Reg istrar ; bit Brook-Kay , Bart ., P . Prov . G . Registrar ; H . J . Small , P . Prov . S . G . D . ; Ralph Chandler , P . Prov . S . G . D . ; J . Bruton , P . Prov . S . G . D . ; S . M ° ' P . Prov . J . G . D . ; J . Bryan , P . Prov . J . G . D . ; R . W . Northcott , P . Prov . J . G . IM xx ; u / - n-:-u „ u D .. ... r . c „ p \\ t . i c c . „ p D ,. „ . C < „ f W .. . "

Matthews , P . Prov . G . S . of W . ; F . Moore , P . Prov . G . D . C ; A . C . Wheeler , i * . Prov . G . D . C ; H . S . Stephens , P . Prov . G . D . C ; C M . Penly , P . Prov . G . U / c . ' J . H . Wilkins , P . Prov . G . Std . Br . ; F . Millman , P . Prov . G . Std . Br . ; G . c . Hewitt , P . Prov . G . Std . Br . ; J . G . Seymour , P . Prov . G . S . B . ; R . Blizard , P- f ft ' G . S . B .: W . Powell . P . Prov . G . S . B .: W . T . Bvett . P . Prov . G . Stwd . ; ''T

Dening , W . M . 951 ; A . R . Grieve , W . M . 702 ; W . Vizard , W . M . 7 61 ; H . B ' " . ' P . M . 900 ; J . IN . Wheatley , W . M . 270 ; W . Parry , W . M . 592 ; J . S . Tanner , 1 ¦ '"• 592 ; H . Perrett , W . M . 855 ; E . L . Baylis , S . W . 82 ; W . Heath , J . W . 24 O ; . "/ league , 951 ; J . S . Whitham , J . W . 995 ; S . Bloodworth , S . VV . 761 ; E . C . tripP ; S . W . 592 ; A . Baker , S . W . 9 uo ; G . C . Pike , Stwd . 839 ; B . London , Sec . im > D . Chandler , S . W . goo ; J . Bradstock , I . P . M . 1067 ; C . E . H . Broughton , 9 •<* . '' n'ri „ ri , Qii A ^ . R p r i « « <* vv « n I ? P HnJ . v mr ,. (; . E . uownra" >

951 ; W . G . Nicholls , 237 ; R . J . Weston , 493 ; Rev . G . P . A . Bowers , 839 , ¦>• E Sumner , 819 ; H . Blandford , 7 ( 31 ; B . Coombe , 246 ; H . L . Cooke , 59 > \' Boulton , 592 ; W . Zachary , 592 ; E . N . Witchell , I . P . M . 702 ; F . Bailey . * 3 J E . Lea , 1005 ; J . Bullock , 561 ; J . F . Nicholls , P . M . 951 ; E . Rowe , 839 * b * 951 ; T . Groves , 951 ; Rev . W . FawceLt , 592 ; J . Hyde , 592 . ., The lodge having been duly opened , the PROV . GRAND M ASTER S there was one subject in tbe thoughts of all them . A year ago it w h aS g ] i ( the Prov . G . M . ' s ) misfortune to be absent from their meeting lW » , illness , and then his place was taken by one of whom he could n ° 1

trust himself to speak as he could wish . On that occasion a vote o * J ^ pathy with him ( the Prov . G . M . ) in his illness was passed j but " tne they think then , that before another meeting was held they would mou ^ loss of him through whom that expression of sympathy was convey > ^ who had done so much for Masonry in the province . No P ' ? Ye had been more fortunate , if any had been as fortunate ,. as Glouce stersni