The Royal Benevolent Institution.

transported by the same train to Croydon—and yet , numerous as you are , you are not so many as I saw arrive by one train to witness the late Masonic spectacle at Edinburgh , when a thousand Masons from Glasgow alighted afc the station . Could I have induced you to go with me and see all that I saw , your hearts would bo melted at the sight of the olcl men aud old women thanking me—and through me you—for your kindness to them , aud expressing their trust that your favours would be continued to them for the time to come . One old ladivished above all things

y to see the M . AV . Grand Master , as she thought the sight of him would do her good , and render her happy . Indeed , I saw that the inmates both male aud . female are deeply grateful for all that has been clone for them , but I should not be doing my duty as a Mason if I did not tell you thafc I also saw a great deal which pained me , I saw many houses vacant for want of funds to maintain occupants iu them , gravel walks without auy gravel to cover them , ancl a library without any books . This ought not to be . I trust that such is your feeling , ancl that such may be the

result of your contributions , that henceforward things will be found to have greatly mended . The claims of the schools , both for the boys aud that for the girls , have been advocated in this room . Those institutions are both noble in themselves aucl nobly conducted , but we must not , while we take so much care of the young , forget the claims ofthe parent stock . The subscriptions' at the List festival on behalf of this charity , ivhich Avas held in 1857 , amounted to , £ 1 , 500 , but I trust the result of this evening ' s subscriptions will be to exceed that sum by

far ; and here it should not be forgotten that there are at present seeking admission to the institution , as many as thirty-five male ancl eightcon female candidates . Their cases are mosfc sad . Some of them are brethren , or the widows of brethren , whom many of you have known in the days of their prosperity ; and as they then subscribed with willing hearts to the institution , they come now to ask you—nofc for charity , but for a right . I hope I bave now said enough . I hope too , you will pardon me asking you to believe that of which I myself have no doubt ; that what I have said is only the mere truth , I have nofc flattered those who are able to give , nor have I dealt unkindly with those who may refuse , for I know that in

cases of real distress relief is never iu vain asked from Masons , ivhose hands are always swift to aid , ancl ever ready to promote the cause of their poor ancl distressed Brethren . Now fill a bumper , aud drink " Success to the Royal Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and their AVidows , " AVhen this toast had been duly honoured , Bro . Farnfield read the first list of subscriptions , amounting to £ 1 , 875 . The chairman then remarked that the amount collected at tlie last festival had been only £ 1 , 538 , so that they were already in advance of that , ancl there were eight subscription lists yet to como in .

Bro . Piu-ton Cooper , Prov . Grand Master for Kent , said , it fell to his lot to propose the next toast , but before doing so he ivould , as senior Grand Officer present , return thanks for the toast "Lord Panmure and the Grand Officers past aucl present , " a toast which had not been as yet responded to . Having by Way ol parenthesis disposed of that matter , he would now proceed to a most pleasing task . He had to propose to them the health of their most excellent chairman . He would nob tell them that ho was old enough to be the chairman's f-ither—he might indeed his grandfather—but he felt a pride in seeing so juvenile a brother

say so ably acquit himself . He had lately been often told that he was too old to take office , and that he should give way to younger men ; but he had never until that evening been convinced that there were duties which ivei-e best performed by young men . If he were a lady sitting among those in the gallery , aud sufficiently old , he should wish to have such a son as his friend ; if about his own age , he would be proud to be his sister ; but if about ten years younger , he ivould ha delighted to be his wife ( laughter ); hut he was sorry to inform the young

ladies especially , that as it was a principle of Masons to marry oai'ij * in hie , the chairman was already provided with a Avife . In conclusion he Avould call on the Brethren to drink Bro . Portal ' s good health . The chairman briefly returned thanks , and hoped he might live long enough to enjoy the throe great pleasures of olcl age—old books , old wine , and olcl friends . Bro . Dr . Rowe then in very complimentary terms proposed tho health of "liver Tomkins , the Treasurer of tho Institution . " * 2