Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

had seen a good deal of the Institution during the l .-tst two and twenty years , and in that time had witnessed a great 111 , 1113 ' changes ; but during that time he had only seen one feeling amongst the residents , and that was one of heartfelt gratitude to those who sent them there and to those who looked

after them when there . In the first week in January the residents would meet together at a Christmas dinner , when all who could leave their rooms would meet for social enjoyment in the hall . As some of the company now present were not members of the Craft , it might be interesting to them to know that the benefits of the Institution were not confined to the residents .

In the Institution there were rooms for thirty-two residents ( thirty-three if they included the Warden ) , but there were 325 who were provided by the Institution with the means of sustenance—provided with those means which enabled them to pass their time in comfort , instead of possibly in want .

The CHAIRMAN then said - . Ladies and gentlemen , I am now about to propose to 3 'ou what is in every sense the toast of the evening . ( Hear , hear , and applause . ) The toast of the evening cannot be drunk in that off-hand style of carrying everything before you all at once ; and , therefore , I shall have to make a considerable diversion , and after having made that diversion , we will return and take up that matter of the toast , which I hope will be

accepted with the hearty good feeling and best attention of every member of this company . I may as well , first of all , say that that toast will be " The Health of our Guest and our worthy Secretary , Bro . Terry . " ( Applause . ) During my temporary absence from the chair , Bro . Farnfield will occupy my position as Chairman . [ The Chairman then vacated the chair , and , taking Bro . Terry with him , proceeded to that part of the hall where the veiled

picture was hung . ] He then said : Ladies and gentlemen , you can , I believe , perfectly understand why I have left the chair , and why I have asked my Bro . Terry to accompany inc . It is now my duty to make some few observations upon the happy occasion that has drawn us together . We have here our Bro . Terry , who , everybody knows , is a thorough-hearted and thoroughly good Mason , and one who has peculiar qualifications for advocating that great

principle of our institution— -Charit }' . Our Bro . Terry has , by his assiduity and by his great kindness , by diligent observation , and , above all , U 3 ' his great interest in his work , been enabled to raise this noble Institution to its present position . Brethren , where honour is due , let honour be accorded . Standing here , I can direct 3 'our attention to the picture which hangs above me , the portrait of a man who was a great example of Freemasonry . The

portrait of Bro . Dr . Cruceh ' x , the founder of this Institution , looks down upon us , and if it could speak , can we doubt that it would say , " The work that I began you have carried forward to its present position ! " Brethren , what is the charm that has made that work so successful ? It is not money ; it is kindness of heart , sincerity of purpose , zeal , ability , and a desire to devote the talents which God has given , to promote the welfare of the needy and

the helpless . Brethren , I put my hand upon the shoulder of Bro . Terry , and I say confidently this is the man who has carried out the intention of the founder , and carried it out nobly . What is our position ? Through his exertion and his ability we have been able during the last nine years to double the number of recipients , and what has been done by the Institution has been done by the exertions , the honesty , and true

working of our excellent Secretar 3 ' , who has erected this Institution on that man ' s foundation . We arc proud to meet him here to-night ; we have valued his ability ; we have valued his assiduity . If it had not been for his perseverance where would this Institution have been ? Look at this noble hall- —by his work , by his exertion , we have been able to double its size . This has been done for the comfort of the inhabitants : il has been

done with single mind and purpose ; Bro . Terry has nobly carried out the ori ginal design . Ladies and gentlemen , look at the picture above me—that of the founder of this noble Institution—and now upon this ( withdrawing the veil ) , which is that of the man who has carried out the work . ( Longand loud applause . ) Brethren , when that work is fully done—for we must all pass away —what shall be the proud memorial ? It will be a great thing to Bro . Terry ' s

famil y to reflect upon how he was appreciated , and how he was loved ; and it is not a small thing that wc should leave a memento upon which our children and friends can look upon with respect and love . With these feelings I unveil that picture , and may that picture remind us when he shall be no more , of one man who did his work honestly and faithfully . I will not detain you much longer , but it produces a pleasant impression to know that

that picture , when the body is absent , we can look at and remember that it perpetuates the memory ol one whom we all sincerely value . Bro . Terr 3 ' , it is my pleasant privilege , as also it is my duty to present you with the clothing of a Prov . G . S . W' ., which we hope you will have many opportunities of wearing , and I have the greatest pleasure of presenting you also with a jewel corresponding to your rank , which marks our appreciation of your

ability and kindness . And now , brethren , the testimonial to Bro . Terry lies there . But Bro . Terr 3 ' has a good wife and good children ; he and his good wife have been together some ei ght-and-twent 3 ' years—may they be together eight-and-twenty years longer—and when he shall pass away , may his son be able to occupy some position in which he can wear that trophy in memory of his father . Mrs . Terry , you being the partner of your husband

in his troubles , as well as in happiness , I have very great pleasure to present to you , as a part of the testimonial , this bracelet , which I shall leave to the more skilful fingers of Mrs . Bowyer to invest you with , because , as your husband ' s partner , we have the pleasure to include you as a partner in his reward . I am sorry that by some accident , we have not had the pleasure of seeing your son amongst us ; it was an

omission that was not intended . In the trophy you will be enabled to leave to your children something by which to remember St . Thomas ' s Day , 18 S 2 . The CHAIRMAN then resumed his place at the head of the table , and said that , having got through that part of his duty , he had now to propose " Health , happiness , prosperity , and many merry Christmas ' s and many happy New Year ' s to their good Secretary , his wile and family . "

Bro . 'I ERRY , on rising to respond , said , Bro . Stewart , ladies and brethren : Amongst the many testimonials which I have had the honour and the pleasure of receiving at the hands of the brethren of the Craft , [ allow me to assure you that the present one eclipses everything that I could possibly have foreseen . First to have had the honour of having my health proposed in the truly fraternal spirit in which you did it , and to have had it received in the hearty manner in which the brethren and ladies around the table have done

is a vcry great pleasure lo myself . Amongst all one ' s labours and one ' s work there is one grand idea that sweetens labour , reward . That reward comes not to one ' s mind in ihe shape of the present memorial , but the inducement to labour on and strive to do the work is that the work brings its own reward in a successful result . You have said I have been indefatigable in my work ; I have certainly endeavoured to do my duty . 1 have never allowed my individual comfort , my home happiness to interfere with the discharge of my duty , conceiving it ' of paramount importance thai the duties

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

cast upon me should not be put aside for one ' s comfort . I am proud that these services have been recognised by those with whom I have been associated ; I am proud also that my exertions have tended through the instrumentality of the Craft to widen and enlarge the Institution . Without going into dry figures , let me note the progress of the Institution . Twenty years ago the annuities paid

amounted to £ 2600 ; the sum now is ^ 11 , 600 . At that time we had 91 annuitants ; wc have now 325 . At that time the annuities were upon a sliding scale , according to age ; the highest got £ 36 , and the lowest got £ 15 ; while the annuities granted to the widows—the highest £ 25 , and the lowest £ 15 a year . Now the men receive ^ 40 and the widows ^ 32 a year . Then the investments amounted to something like . £ 32 , 000 ; they are now

^ 64 , 000 , so that while we have widened the basis of our operations we have doubled our reserve fund and have , still gone on and been able to increase the number of the recipients . I am proud that 1 have had some hand in carrying out these improvements . I am proud also to know that services that one renders are never forgotten and lost sight of . When Bro . Stewart kindly stated that thai was the portrait of the founder of the institution , and

that he was looking down upon one who was endeavouring to carry out the work that he had commenced , it struck me also that there was a great difference in the times . Then we had to fight against an antagonism with respect to the two educational institutions , who naturally thought that there was not scope for three institutions lo live . Ycu recollect at one time we were only permitted lo have a festival once in three years ;

then it was every other 3 'ear ; it is only within the last twenty-two years that we have had a festival every 3 'ear . And then to have been thought worthy of having my portrait taken , and to have it hung in this hall , side by side with that of the founder of the institution is an honour I scarcely know how lo acknowledge it . As long as time shall last I hope that picture will last , not as a memento of a Secreta ™ ,

but as a token to those who come after , that if they do their duty well , thoroughly , and conscientiously , they will meet the appreciation of their fellow men , as I have had the honour of doing . For the P . G . Senior Warden ' s jewel , and the Masonic clothing of Northamptonshire and Hunts , I have to thank you most heartily and sincerely . I have had many compliments paid me , but none that I value more than that which has been paid me

tonig ht . But when I was informed that there was a surplus , and that it was desired to la 3 > it out in some way that would add yet another honour to the presentation of jewel and clothing , and also to the honour conferred upon me in having my portrait painted , I remembered that there was one who for many and many a 3 ear has had to sit at home while I have been away engaged in the work of this Institution , and it seemed to me appropriate

for her lo be the recipient of a portion of the reward ; and I suggested that I could not take anything further myself , but would wish my excellent wife to have some part of what you had wished to give me . In her name I beg to thank 3 'ou for this very magnificent testimonial that you have given her . 1 hope that she and I may be spared for many years , with the same happiness , comfort , and enjoyment of each other as we have had for

the last thirty years . We can only hope that for what we have been we may be looked upon by our children with reverence , and that what has been done by us will be instructive to those who come after . I would say more , but that sometimes out of the fulness of the heart the mouth refuses to say all that we wish to express . For your

appreciation of the work I have executed , and for the appreciation of the Craft at large , I thank you . For my wife , the minister of my comforts , the sharer of my joys and anxieties , who bids me go forward to discharge those duties which may be cast upon me—in her name I also thank you ; and in her name and my own I wish you all the compliments of the season and many happy new years . ( Applause . )

Bro . J NEWTON rose , and said that he would not detain the company by attempting to make a long speech , but with the chairman's permission would read some impromptu verses which he had just composed somewhat as an address to Bro . Terry . Bro . Newton then read the following lines : — Whene'er upon thy face we gaze Our thoughts revert to noble deeds ; When , sinking self , no trouble spared ,

Thou fearlessly went forth Unceasing and untiring still To plead the cause of charity , llenevolence was thy watch-word And thine armour , heavenly truth . And after many years have gone ,

When all now here are call'd to rest , May thy good work so nobly done continue : May others in thy footsteps keep , And thy bright example follow ; Humanity then will be adorned With one gem more in its diadem .

Bro . F ' ARNITELI ) , in proposing " 'I he Health of the Chairman , " said that though he was himself chairman for the year of the House Committee , it gave him great pleasure to resign his seat on that occasion to Bro . Stewart , because he was satisfied that the testimonial to Bro . Terry would come with greater weight from Bro . Stewart ' s hands . He was sure that the

company would agree with him that it could not be presented by any one better than by Bro . Stewart . Col . Creaton , the Grand Treasurer , had been invited but had been unable to be present . Bro . Stewart had excelled himself . He had been ill but was now happily recovering , and they trusted that he would continue to improve and be able to come amongst them again . The speaker concluded by proposing Bro . Stewart ' s health .

The CHAIRMAN returned thanks , and proposed "The Health of Bro . Edgar Bowyer , " for his great kindness and great zeal in doing everything he possibly could do to contribute in carrying out the object of this meeting . Bro . BoH ' VKR briefly acknowledged the compliment . The CHAIRMAN then proposed "The Health of the Artist , Mr . H . M .

Paget , who had produced the portrait of Bro . lcrry . It must be , he said , a proud thing for his father to have a son who was following his art to the best of his ability , and distinguishing himself in a career which many attempted and in which so many failed . Mr . PAGET replied .

The CHAIRMAN next proposed "The Health of Bro . John A . Farnfield , " which was duly acknowledged . Bro . Col . KAIH . 'LYITE proposed " The Health of the Ladies , " to which Bro . J oyce Murray responded .

The jewel presented to Bro . Terry bears the following inscription : "This jewel , with the clothing of Senior Grand Warden of Norths and Hunts , was presented to Bro . James Terry , Secretary of the Royal Masonic Benevolent institution , by the subscribers to the ( und ior placing his portrait in the hall of the Asylum at Croydon , in recognition of his untiring energy and un- " wearied exertions on behalf of the Institution . 21 st December , 1882 . "