Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution For Aged Freemasons And Their Widows.

the office of D . G . Master for Devonshire , and for a long period had borne the burden of that province , and well had he earned his promotion as P . G . Master . They had also the wilds of Wales represented by Bvo . Talbot , and therefore those distant places were well represented at their charities . He gave " The health of the Provincial Grand Masters of England , coupling with them the name of Bro . HuysheP . G . M . for Devonshire . "

, Enthusiastic cheering followed this toast . Bro . Huyshe returned thanks . The Chairman gave the toast of the evening , " success to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons . " He said , Brethren , this institution is one of the three bright stars of charity which adorn Freemasonry , and I trust that this evening will show as good support to that charity as has preceded it on any former

occasion . I feel it very difficult to do justice to the position in which I am placed , as I cannot fail to recollect the ability of those noblemen who have filled this check on former occasions . I feel behindhand certainly in advocating the charities with the eloquence they have displayed , but as regards sincerity I will give way to none . Therefore I have only to hope that you will treat me with kindness and forbearance in the few words that

I shall address you upon this occasion . It will be in the recollection of some who are here present , looking back for a period of thirty years , that our late respected Bro . Walter was the first who entertained the idea of commencing an annuity fund for aged Freemasons , but it was some time before he was able to get any support from the Grand Lodgo . Still he persevered under the auspices of the late Grand Master , the Duke of

Sussex , and the annual fund was commenced in 1 S 42 . Those brethren who can look back to the time I have stated will also recollect that a worthy and distinguished brothei—our Bro . Crucifix—laid the first stone of the building for the reception of aged Freemasons ; and in subsequent years , when there were two institutions , there was a general feeling that they ought to be united . Accordingly the Grand Lodge appointed a committee to consider that subject , and I had the honour to be appointed as the chairman of it . That was in 1849 . In

1850 I helped to consecrate the Asylum at Croydon , the Widows' Fund being added in 1849 , and the first election took place in 1 S 50 . I will not detain you with the progress of the institution from that period , but I have obtained a few facts from Bro . Farnfield , and I have selected a few figures which show the present position of the institution , ancl which I will ead to you , and in doing so I hopo that you will not think I detain you too long . The annuitfund for aged Freemasons

y has an annual income of £ 1 , 230 , composed of £ 500 from the Grand Lodge , £ 100 from the Grand Chapter , and the dividends on landed property amounting to £ 630 , the residue of the expenditure being made up- 'from subscription , which are varied and productive , one third of which are invested . The expenditure from 1843 [ to 1867 amounts in all to £ 27 , 769 5 , ; ., " and the expenditure since that period had gone on increasing at tho

rate of about £ 500 a year . As regards the Widows' Fund , that part ofthe institution was established in 1819 , and its income derived in a similar manner to the other fund , viz ., £ 300 from the Grand Lodge , £ 100 from the Grand Chapter , ancl £ 350 from dividends . Tlie donations amount the £ 1 , 150 , and of that sum one-third is invested . The total expenditure from this fund has been £ 10655 . After tlie election in May lastthe

, , number of aged brethren who had received the benefit of this fund was 88 , at an annual cost of £ 2 , 177 . The money is sufficient to maintain the asylum , which is free of all rent , and there is £ 1 , 000 invested in the fund , which is applicable to any repairs the institution may require . At the last election in May a considerable number of aged brethren and widows of brethren were not elected , and on the present list there are

approved by the committe as candidates twenty-five aged brethren and sixteen widows . On their behalf I appeal to your liberality , to your generosity , and call upon you to furnish the funds by which the committee may have sufficient means to meet the claims for the support of this institution . Charity is the distinguishing characteristic of our order . It blesseili him who gives as well as him who receives , and no Mason can be engaged in a duty more consistent with our Order than in supporting our institution . The toast was heartily responded to .

Bro . 1-arnfield , the Secretary , then read the list of subscriptions , anil the following are a few of the princinal items : —Bro . Stephen Blair . Prov . " G . M . for East Lancashire , £ 15 ; T . M . Talbot , Prov . G . M . for South Wales , £ 125 19 s . Gel .: Metham ,

D . Prov . G . M , for Devonshire , £ 1 G 1 17 s . Gd .: Challis , S . W . 4 , £ 50 and £ 10 annually : Lodge No . 5 , £ G 9 6 s . ; No . 7 , £ 27 ; No . 8 , £ 21 4 s . ; No . 10 , £ 00 , and . Bro . Mclntyre , also of No . 16 , £ 20 ; No . 27 , £ 74 G ? . ; No . 33 , £ 38 .- No . 42 , £ 26 5 s . ; No . 55 , £ 89 15 s . ; Captain Starkie , No . 01 . £ 50 ; No . 65 , £ 65 ; No . S 7 , £ 14 10 ; No . 141 £ 10 ; No . 129 £ 21 ; Xo . 169 £ 30 No . 172

, , , ; , £ 70 IS , with a promise from Bro . the Rev . J . W . Laughlin , Chaplain of the lodge , and incumbent of St . Peter ' s , Saffronhill , to preach a sermon ou behalf of the Institution ; Bro . A . Dobie , chairman , £ 20 ; Bro . Stronsr . suraeon to the Institution , £ 25 ; No . 174 , £ 37 ; No . 177 , £ 13 3 s . ; No . 179 , £ 36 ; No . 228 ( Bro . Terry ) £ 192 7 s . ; No . 321 , £ 77 10 ; No . 315 , £ 23 ; No . 487 ( Bro . FrostHampshire ) £ 34 No . 749 £ 100 No 829

, , ; , ; . , ( Bro . Snow ) , £ 105 from the lodge , ancl Bro . Snow ' s own contribution of £ 50 ; No . 851 , £ 15 ' lOs . ; No . 933 , £ 55 15 s . ; No . 975 ( Bro . Little ) , £ 40 17 s . ; No . 1 , 154 , £ 15 ; No . 1 , 178 , £ 25 . The Chairman said the total amount received was £ 3 , 128 , with three lists to pome in .

Bro . Stephen Blair , P . G . M . for East . Lancashire , proposed " The Health of the Chairman , " and said , it gave hira great pleasure to do so as he had known him for a great number of years , and he esteemed it an honour to have the privilege of proposing his health , which was a duty he preferrrd rather than have to return thanks for the Provincial Grand Masters , although he was the oldest then present . They had heard how their charities had progressedancl they received the support of the

pro-, vinces . It was some time before they could know anything about them , but having come up to London and visited their festivals he saw the good that was done for them , upon which he made up his mind , heart , ancl soul , and determined to render them all the assistance that lay in his power . He commenced with the old men , then he went by the boys , the girls next ,, and then the aged widows of Freemasons . He was the Grand

Master of a very large province , consisting of seventy-two lodges with upwards of 3 , 000 paying members , and he thought if he led them they would follow his example , and he had the satisfaction of bringing up £ 1 , 000 to the Boys' School , to the Girls' about a similar amount , and he hoped to do similar good to the other institutions . He asked them to drink bumpers to the health of their chairman , hoping that he might live long to

preside over the Province of Surrey , ancl that the funds might continue to increase , not only for the support of this charity , but of the others . The Chairman said , ho thanked the brethren for the way in which the toast had been received , and although that was his first appearance in that capacity as chairman he could tell them sincerely ancl heartfelt his gratitude , if he had in any way advanced the interest of that charity . He had never failed to perform any duties he was called upon to perform in Masonrv ,

he had been a member of every committee , and that evening be had met with a reception which he should ever be proud of , ancl for the support they had given to the charity on that occasion .. Ho hoped that for many years that support would be given ancl that he should have the opportunity of meeting them . Lord Eliot , M . P ., said it was not his intention at thatpart of tho evening to take up their time by making a long speech , but he would merely say that the establishment required a certain

number of officers who took an interest in the institution . He gave "The Right Hon . Lord Southampton , Past President ; the Trustees , Vice-Presidents , Treasurer , Committee , and Officers of tbe Institution , " coupling with the toast the name of Bro . Dr . Strong , surgeon to the institution . Bro . Dr . Strong returned thanks . Bro . Nike , Prov . J . G . W ., East Lancashire , proposed " The other Masonic Charities ; the

Boys' School , Festival llth of March ; and the Girls' School , Festival , 13 th of May ; " and he said , from personal information he knew that no better information could be received than was given in their Alasonic schools . The toast was well received . Bro . Binckes responded on behalf of the boys' school , aud said that , although it had been thought by some persons that the festival for the benefit of aged Freemasons could not be an annual institution without injury to the others , bo for one never

entertained that opinion , and the result had shown that there had been no falling off , but increased support to the other institutions . He rejoiced at the great support the charity had received that evening , and he congratulated Bro . Farnfield upon it . They were running a friendly rivalry to see who could do the most good ; but they required their help ; and he would repeat what ho had before said , that Masonic hearts were large enough and their purses were deep enough to support all their institutions . The boys' school , however , was in a very pecnliaj