The Royal Benevolent Institution.

THE ROYAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

THE festival on behalf of this institution , ivas held at the Freemasons' Tavern , on Wednesday , January 26 th , when there ivas an unusually good attendance of tho Brethren , as might have been expected from the following magnificent list of Stewards : — The E . W . Bros . Alexander Dobie , Proi ' . G . M . for Surrey ; B . Bond Cabbell , Provincial Grand Master for Norfolk ; William F . Beadon , Prov . J . G . W . ; George Harcourt , M . D ., D . Prov . G . M . for Surrey , P . M . No . 4 SC , Treas . ; Hyde Pullen , for Isle of Wihtancl Barrett 1 Samuel

D . Prov . G . M . g , Bros . George , P . M . No . SS ; Aldrich , P . M . No . 196 ; Henry E . Wotton , W . ' M . No . 3 ; / Eneas J . Mclntyre , No . 4 ; John Stone , No . 5 ; Matthew Pratt , P . M . No . 1 ; Joseph Stohwasser , P . M . Nos . 289 and 8 ; James Burton , Prov . G . S . B . Herts . ; John 11 . D . Tyssen , No . 10 ; Samuel Glover , P . M . No . 14 ; Geo . Burt , S . W . No . 18 ; Thos . Taylor , P . M . No . 21 ; Thomas A . Adams , P . M . No . 23 ; William E , Wood , Grand Steward , P . M . No . 27 ; Benj . P . Todd , P . M . and Treas . No . 29 ; Eclwy S . Phillips , J . W . No . 30 ; Samuel E . NuttW . M . No . 32 ; Henry A . LucasVIM . No . 57 ; Alfred DayAV . M . No . 78 ;

, , , AYaltov E . Jackson , P . M . No . 87 ; C . Sherry , P . Prov . D . C . Hants ; AV . AVentwovth Davis . P . M . No . 112 ; Charles Simon ; Raynham AV . Stewart , P . M . No . 125 ; Frederick Perkins , AV . M . No . 152 ; AValter E . Luce , J . AV . No . lBli ; AVm . F . Birch , S . AV . No . 108 ; Henry G . AVai-ren , AA' . M . No . 169 ; Henry Comick , AV . M . No . 190 ; John AV . Barrett , S . AV . and Treasurer No . 198 ; George M . Gurton , P . M . No . 201 ; John AA ebber , P . M . No . 202 ; Thomas AV . Thompson , J . AV . No . 203 ; Dimthorn J . AVake , No . 206 ; Thomas Tyrrell , Pr . Soj . Chapter No . 200 ; John Gurton ,

P . M . No . 211 ; James Robinson ; James Stanboroiigh ; Charles Hutton Gregory , P . M . No . 233 ; George Lambert , P . M . No . 234 ; Charles Greenwood , Prov . G . Sec ; Surrey ; Edmund V . Iud ; Algernon AYarner , P . M . No . 286 ; Benjamin Babbington , AA . M . No . 317 ; Augustus R . Gifford , S . D . No . 318 ; James Merryweather , J . AV . No . 32-1 ; Giro Pcusuti , No . 329 ; William Hasclwood , Past Prov . G . AV . Herts ; Robert AVhitton , P . M . No . 372 ; AV . Moates , P . Prov . G . D . Surrey ; Thos . Coombs , P . Proi' . G . D ., Dorset ; John M . Baab , P . M . No . 7 ; R . M . Motion , AV . M . No . 003 ; John Thomas , P . M . No . 7-15 ; Thomas E . Davis , P . M . No . 745 ; John Scott , P . M . No . 902 ; David E . Farmer , P . M . No . 745 ; Henry M . Arliss , P . M . No . 237 .

The chair was taken by Bro . AYyndham Portal , J . G . AA . ; ivho Avas supported by Bros . Samuel Tomkins , G . Treas . ; Gray Clarke , G . Sec . ; John Hervey , P . G . D . ; Evans , P . G . S . B . ; Le'iVcau , P . G . S . B . ; Purton Cooper , Prov . G . M ., Kent ; Hyde Pullen , D . Prov . G . M ., Isle of AVight ; Sherry , P . Prov . G . D . C , Hants . ; Bridges , P . Prov . G . D ., Surrey ; Hutton Gregory , P . G . Steward ; Nutt , Grand Steward ; Taylor , Grand Steward ; George Barrett ; Dr . Harcourt , D . Prov . G . M ., Surrey ; Rev . — Pettit , P . Prov . G . Chaplain ; AVcbber , P . Prov . G . AV ., Herts . ; Burton , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers ., Herts . ; FarnfieldSecretary ; and about two hundred other

, Brethren . Grace having been saicl—The chairman rose to propose the first toast of the evening , and in doing so said- — Brethren , iu commencing the pleasant task which your kindness has imposed on me , I ask you to charge your glasses , while I put before you a toast , and that one , perhaps , the most important of tho evening . Brethren , I need nofc say that Queen Victoria reigns in the hearts of all Englishmen , but I ivill say that she reigns in

the hearts of all Masons in particular . I give you the health of " Her Majesty the Queen . " The toast haA'ing been mosfc enthusiastically received , the national anthem was sung by the vocalists , the Brethren joining in the chorus . The chairman then said—Brethren , the next toast ivhich I have the honour to propose to you is one ivhich you all naturally anticipate . It is the health of " His Royal Highness the Prince Consort , Albert Prince of AVales , and the rest of the Royal Family . " It is , I confess , a matter of some little regret that wo have not at present among the immediate members of the royal family any ono ivho is a Mason ; if , however , those rumours arc true ivhich reach me iu ordinary Masonic gossip , such