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HUXLEY made some amusing and caustic remarks in proposing the toast of " The Artist ' s Benevolent Bund " the other day , as to the small amount often spent on the professed objects of charity themselves ; but , as Freemasons , we can point with pride to thc fact that we are giving annually the large sum of £ 11 , 600 per annum to our annuitants , male and female , and

that the permanent income of the Institution is only . £ 2741 6 s . 2 d . per annum . Our benevolent Craft , all honour to it , gives in one way or the other as in 1 SS 1 , £ 12 , 400 in round numbers for its maintenance and developement . As our readers are aware , the Institution has two funds , thc males and the widows . On the males the receipts were £ 14 , 268 5 s . 2 d .,

the expenditure , £ 11 , 190 9 s . id ., leaving a balance of £ 3077 16 s . id . The receipts for the Widows' Fund were £ 12 , 166 14 s . iod . ; the expenditure £ 10 , 514 17 s . 7 d ., leaving a balance of £ 165 1 17 s . 3 d . It is always difficult for " outsiders " to decide what is the amount necessaryfor what are called " working expenses " and such figures can only be satisfactorily

settled by those conversant with the routine and needs of the Institution . There must always be a sum at call to meet emergencies ; and it is a proof of wisdom and forethought , good management and commendable thrift , to put by something in fair weather for a rainy day . There is an amount on

each division of £ 1500 placed at call , and the investments for the Male Fund have amounted to £ 1494 7 s ., and for the Widows' Fund to the same amount . We must again repeat that we think the annual report is a credit tothe Institution and its management , and will give entire satisfaction to the subscribers and the Craft .

ALL the readers of the Freemason , and they are many , will rejoice to hear of the signal honour conferred by Her Majesty the QUEEN on our distinguished Bro . the L MAYOR of London , whose public services are so many and so meritorious , and will heartily wish him many long years of health and happiness .

WE call attention lo an amusing letter elsewhere , professedly from a Tangerine brother , though whether that letter is really written by him , or has been dictated by some ingenious and interested friend behind the scenes , must remain an open question . The letter is amusing , we repeat , because we are told by our brother from Tangiers we do not understand our own

language , and that he understands it better than we do ourselves . We flatter ourselver , however , that we do know the meaning of the QUEEN ' English . Unfortunately for him , too , we have been in Morocco , and know Tangiers well ; and we can only repeat that Morocco has no dependencies , in the English sense of the word . It has provinces , but not dependencies .

Our allusion to Ceuta and in respect of Melilla , Spanish convict settlements , was meant for politechaff , the absurdity of the names adopted , and of apparent o-eoo-raphical ignorance , and of which our reference to " good old Gib" and

mysterious Timbuctoo , we should have thought , would have convinced our critic . But perhaps our excellent Tangerine brother can hardl y be expected to understand English chaff , though he need not probably have gone far to find a convenient brother who did so .

Lodge Of Benevolence.

LODGE OF BENEVOLENCE .

The monthly meeting of the Lodge of Benevolence was held on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . Joshua Nunn , P . G . S . B ., President , presided ; Bro . Montagu , D . P . G . M . Dorset , occupied the Senior Vice-Presidcnt ' s chair ; and Bro . James Brett , P . G . P ., Junior Vice-President , occupied the Junior Vice-President ' s chair . The other brethren

present were — Bros . Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke , G . Sec . ; H . G . Buss , Asst . G . Sec . ; A . A . Pendlebury , VV . Dodd , Montague Guest , Prov . G . M . Dorset ; J . H . Mather , G . P . Britten , Charles Dairy , P . M . 141 ; Thomas Cubitt , P . G . P . ; William Stephens , P . M . ; L . F . Littell , A . G . P . ; Charles Frederick Hogard , P . M . 205 ; Charles Atkins , P . M . 27 and 1260 ; T . Cull , P . M . 144 6 ; J . D . Collier , P . M . 13 G 6 ; John Messent , P . M . 231 ; C . A . Cottebrune , P . G . P . ; - Rev . Thomas Cochrane , G . C ; E . I " . Storr , P . M . - > - >

Magnus Ohren , P . A . G . D . C ; E . W . Wilson , VV . M . 1 G 9 ; T . Ransom Sachs , P . M . 435 ; John Noyes , P . M . 5 S ; Charles A . Solbe , W . M . 17 S 9 ; Horton Adkins , W . M . 1261 ; Edgar Bowyer , VV . M . 19 G 4-, A . J . P . Stevens , W . M . 129 S ; Charles ] ames Cuthbertson , VV . M . 27 ; VV . B . Blackmore , P . M . 140 ; Henry Roberts , P . M . 70 John Mason , P . M . 309 ; W . F . Smart , W . M . 766 ; XV . Smallpeice , P . M . 130 c , •G . P . Gillard , VV . M . G 37 ; J . I .. Jones , VV . M . 1744 ; W . G . Kentish , W . M . 120 , : 1 . Boulton , VV . M . 105 G ; VV . Beazley , W . M . 172 ; W . H . Wyatt SargentP . M . 1099 ;

, George Drysdale , W . M . 222 ; John O . Carter , P . M . 209 ; Henry Lansdell , W . M . 4 ; John Waugh , P . M . 1563 ; Lewis Bryett , P . M . 182 S ; W . H . Ferryman W . M . 13-ji ; Albert Trott , VV . M . 1593 -, Augustus Day , VV . M . 166 ; lohn Fish , VV . M . 1327 ; Alfred Brookman , W . M . 1 G 57 ; W . G . Lemon , W . M . 1 G 01 ; E . Zwinger , VV . M . 715 ; L . C . Haslip , VV . M . 813 ; George Cowell , W . M . 10 S George Willson , W . M . 1321 ; James Stevens , P . M . 1216 ; VV . J . Cattermole , VV . M

217 ; Frederick Binckes , P . M . Grand Stewards Lodge ; E . E . Barratt Kidder , W . M . 12 ; Henry C Burt , P . M . G 22 ; Thomas Ducas , P . M . 95 ; Hewitt Rogers , P . M 80 S Wm . Lake , P . M . 131 ; George Brown , W . M . 140 ; XV . A . S . Humphries , W . M . 45 H . Potter , P . M . 11 ; Geo . VV . Dixon , VV . M . 1 S 71 ; James VV . Baldwin , VV . M _¦» - <_• G . Pitt Lewis , P . P . G . J . W . Devon , P . M . 444 ; W . Klingenstein , W . M . 73 •E c ' Coglan , P . P . G . S . B ., 4 S 4 ; Wm . II . Dean , W . M . 1900 ; H . Sadler , G . T . ; and H . Massey , VV . M . 192 S ( Freemason ) .

The Board of Masters had submitted to them the agenda paper for next Grand Lodge of 71 I 1 June . The brethren confirmed grants to the amount of £ 215 recommended at last meeting . There were thirty-five new cases on the list . Of these three were dismissed , and four deferred . The remainder were relieved with a total of £ 910—consisting of one £ 150 ( £ 150 ); one £ 100 ( £ 100 ); three £ 50 ( P 50 ) ; three £ 40 ( £ 120 ); four £ 30 ( £ 120 ); eleven £ 20 ( £ 220 ); one of £ 15 ( £ 15 ) ; three £ 10 ( £ 30 ); and one £ 5 ( £ 5 ) . The lodge was then closed .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

A meeting of the General Committee of this Institution was held at Freemasons' Hall , on Thursday last , Col . Creaton in the chair . There were also present Bros . Frank Richardson , T . S . Howell , C . Hammerton Col . J . Peters , Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , J . H . Matthews , Robt . Grey , D . M . Dewar ' Arthur E . Gladwell , E . Letchworth , A . H . Tattershall , E . M . Money , C . G . Brown E * Baxter , Capt . H . G . Colville , Edgar Bowyer , H . A . Dubois , C H . Webb , Peter de Lande Long , and E . C . Massey ( Freemason ) .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

After the minutes of the last meeting had been read and confirmed , the CHAIRMAN said , referring to the discussion which took place at the meeting last month , with regard to Bro . Molesworth ' s proposal as to the admission of a girl to the School by purchase , that on that occasion Bro . Raynham W . Stewart undertook to ascertain what had been done in similar cases in the Boys' School . Bro . Stewart had made his enquiries and found that nothing

had been done . There had been no case of an admission of two brothers into the School at the same time . Bro . Stewart , who was unfortunatel y unable to be present to-day , had written to him ( Col . Cieaton ) to say that he had carefully looked into the bye-laws , and was of opinion that two sisters cannot be admitted into the School at the same time . The Chairman added that he had also himself carefully considered the matter , and he ruled that two sisters cannot be permitted to be in the School at the same time .

Bro . RICHARDSON said that he felt as clearl y as possible that there was no necessity for a peti' . ion in a case of purchase . And as there was a strong doubt about the meaning of these particular laws , he would move that the bye-laws relating to this point be referred to the Grand Registrar for his opinion .

Ihe CHAIRMAN said that every candidate to be eli gible must be dul y qualified , and that she would not be qualified unless the petition had been approved . Bro . RICHARDSON did not consider that the petition was a qualification . The qualifications were that the child must be legitimate , the daughter of a Freemason and so on .

Bro . WooDroRD seconded Bro . Richardson ' s motion , as it was desirable that no doubt should be allowed to remain on this question . The CHAIRMAN then put the motion that the report of the Grand Registrar be obtained , which was carried . The SECRETARY reported that Bros . Dr . Hope , Smith and Montuuis , who had been nominated as candidates for election on the House Committee had retired , and thereupon the Chairman declared the present members of the House Committee elected .

The CHAIRMAN also declared the present members of the Audit Committee duly elected . Bro . TATTERSHALL said lhat it had been remarked to him that the House Committee was a close borough , and he had told his informant that he would give notice of motion that each year one fourth of the members should retire , and should not be eligible for twelve months . He , therefore ,

gave notice of motion for the Ouarterly Court to be held in July , " To insert in Rule XXXVI I ., after the word - Trustees , ' the following words 'That three membeis shall retire annually , and shall not be eli gible for re-election until after an interval of twelve months . ' " He had also to propose that Mr . VV . G . Weber , the senior Clerk in the Secretary ' s office , who was in so bad a state of health that the doctors advised that a long sea

voyage was necessary , and who , in order to go to Australia , had tendered his resignation ( which , in ordinary course , would take effect in September ) , be granted three months' leave of absence , so as to enable him to go at once . He had also to propose , that as Mr . Weber ' s expenses he had ascertained could not be less than £ 63 , and as he had a wife and three children , that three months' salary be paid him in advance , and he would further suggest that a further donation be made to him .

The CHAIRMAN pointed out that this Committee had no power to make the donation . It would require a resolution of the Quarterly Court . Bro . TATTERSHALL then gave notice of motion for the Quarterly Court in July : " That three months' leave of absence be granted ^ to Bro . Weber with payment of three months' salary ( £ 37 ios . ) in advance , and that a donation of £ 25 be added to that sum . "

Bro . RICHARDSON said that the next business was very important . Upon a suggestion that some improvement in the drainage system at the Institution should be effected , it was resolved to obtain a full report first upon the present condition of the drainage system there . This had now been done , and the result was very much worse than had been expected . The place had been built thirty years ugo , when it was out in the country , but since

that time a numei-ous town had sprung up , which had interfered very much with the sanitary condition of the place . The Premises Committee , to which this matter was referred , had employed the Sanitary Engineering Company to examine the drains , and they had found that the pipes all went down straight into the sewer ; the pipes all converged from the various buildings into a cesspool under the playground , which in its

turn was relieved by the sewer . The estimated cost of the thorough repairs or alterations which were considered absolutely necessary was , he was sorry to say , no less a sum than £ 1297 . In the face of the report the Premises Committee thought it best to get the report of Professor Corfield , who stood at the head of the profession as regarded all such matters . Professor Corfield had been over the place ; he had onl y had time to make a

preliminary report , but he agreed entirely with the report of the Sanitary Engineering Company , though of course he had not seen that . Here were two separate authorities come to the same conclusion as to the unsatisfactory state of the Institution ; the matter must be met in some way . They traced the scarlet fever they had had at the school to this cause . The proposed alterations were necessary , but without the consent of a Quarterl y Court the expense could not be incurred . He suggested that the Premises Committee

should be authorised , and that a special Court should be called to < rive the authorization . Col . Leech , a high government official , hadgone over the place and pointed out several things that were wrong and several things that were wanted , and offered to go through the reports of these Sanitary Engineers and say whether they were right or wrong . He had therefore to propose to call a special court to authorise the alterations at an expense not exceeding £ 1300 .

Bro . GLADWELL supported Bro . Richardson ' s motion . If they undertook the care and education of over 200 girls they were bound to do their best to preserve their health . He thought that the Committee mi ght give the authorisation , and merely ask the General Court for a bill of indemnity . It was then arranged that a Special General Court should be called for the purpose named .

Bro . LETCHWORTH gave notice of motion that Bro . Dr . Hope be appointed honorary physician . to the Institution . One petition was approved , and the candidates name ordered to be p laced on the list ; and one petition was a second time deferred for further inquiry . Bro . TATTI ' RSUALL also gave the following notice of motion : "To add to rule LX 1 II ., after paragraph 2 , the words , ' Provided that there be no sister in the Institution at that time . ' "