Royal Benevolent Institution For Aged Freemasons And Their Widows.

the dais , supported by the following distinguished brethren and friends of the institution , viz . : — Bros . John Emmens , G . Purst . ; J . Spiers , P . G . S . B . and ; DProv G . M . Oxon . ; John Symonds , P . Assist , G . Dir . of Cers . ; John Hervey , P . G . D . ; G . AA . K . Potter , P . G . D . ; AV . Gray Clarke , G . Sec ; Samuel Tomkins , G . Treas . ; Rev . C . R . Davy ,

G . Chap . ; A . Perkins , P . G . AA . ; Rev . AA . Bowyer , P . G . Chap . ; Williamson , J . G . W . ; John L . Evans , President of the Board of General Purposes ; J . S . S . Hopwood , P . G . D . ; George Cox , G . V ., Treasurer ofthe Stewards ; J . Stevens Pullen , JP . G . D . ; A . Bradford , P . G . Dir . of Cers . ; Capt . R . Cope , G . S . B . ; Henry Greene ; F . Binckes , Sec . Boys ' s School ; R . Young , P . Prov .

G . AV . Cambridge ; JohnUdall , P . G . D . ; Victor AVilliamson , present G . W . ; AA . Farnfield , Assist . G . Sec . ancl Secretary to the Board ; and several past and present Provincial Grand Officers . After grace , and the cloth having been drawn , the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and responded to ; the last of these , that of the Provincial Grand Masters and Deputy

Provincial Grand Masters , having been responded to by Bro . J . Spiers , P . G . S . B . and D . Prov . G . M . Oxon . The CHAWIIAIT proposed "Success to the Royal Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and their Widows , " and in doing so said , he need not express the diffidence he felt when he was asked to take the chair afc ibis

festival . He remembered that he had been present on most of the occasions , when men who were high in Freemasonry and in the nation ' s councils , who had a well-deserved prestige , presided . Such men commanded every respect and attention , and though he felt incompetent properly to fill that position , he could not shrink from his duty , and he therefore consented

to take the chair . He wished he could successfully imitate his predecessors in their eloquence , but as he coulcl not do that he must content himself with simply advocating the cause of this Charity . He was sure they would not allow his inefficiency to imperil the claims of the aged Freemasons , but that they Avould generously come forward in aid of their distressed brethren . As they all knew the peculiar merits of the Charity

as well as he could tell them , he would not detain them by particularising ; but he thought he would save time if he gave them a few statistics with which he had been favoured by Bro . Farnfield , the Secretary . The Institution was suggested in 1842 by the late Duke of Sussex , and since that time 238 brethren had been elected , ancl they had received £ 23 , 914 15 s .

After last May election there had been Si male annuitants on the books , who were in receipt of £ 1 , 830 annually . At that date the income was £ 500 from Grand Lodge , mid £ 100 from Grand Chapter ; dividends on funded property , £ 1 , 171 10 s ., leaving £ 678 10 s . residue , devoted by Grand Lodge to this Institution . The residue of the income of this branch was made up of annual

subscriptions . At present there were thirty-one approved male candidates on the list for next election . The Freemasons ' Widows' Fund was established under tlie Earl of Zetland in 1850 , since which period ninety-one widows of deceased brethren had heen recipients of the fund to the extent of £ 282 18 s . Gel . After the election in May last there were fifty-nine female

annuitants , receiving from the fund , per annum , £ 1 , 170 . The annual income of the Widows' Fund consisted of—Grand Lodge £ 300 Grand Chapter 50 Dividends on funded property 306

£ 056 The whole income from the Great Benefaction of Grand Lodge was £ 514 . The residue of the income of this branch of the Institution was made up from annual subscriptions . There

were at present twenty-one approved female candidates on the list for election . There was an asylum at Croydon attached to the Institution capable of affording accommodation for thirtyfour inmates , each of whom had two rooms , ancl there were now twenty-seven occupants . The whole of the building was paid for , and there was a Susfcentation Fund of £ l , 000-stock , tho interest of which was employed to keep the . edifice in good order , so

that the subscriptions for annuities were not employed for maintaining the building . That statement afforded a satisfactory account of the Institution j but a larger income than it now had was required to pay annuities to the increasing number of applicants . The Institution depended on the generosity of the brethren for what it required , and it was their bounden duty

to clo what they could to assist it in tho hour of its necessity . He coulcl not bring the recipients of this Charity before them as was done annually in the case of the Boys' and Girls ' School . That was always a touching sight—one which brought tears to the eyes of disciplined Masons . But though he could not bring that scene before them , the Institution was equally deserving of support . Those men and women

for whom he pleaded , no doubt once entered on the great battle of life with bright aspirations and hopes , and though they had fought that battle unsuccessfully had perhaps fought it faithfully ; and they now appealed to their more fortunate brethren , in the helplessness of old age to bring solace ancl comfort to them . He would most urgently advocate the cause of these aged brethren who now asked for relief

from their misfortunes ; and he exhorted his hearers to think what a comfort in their own distress would be the thought that they had lightened the sorrows of some one else , who no doubt raised supplications to the Great Architect for the happiness ancl prosperity of those who shed the last ray of hope and comfort upon their declining days , and on that existence which

would otherwise be dark and cheerless . He would say no more , but leave in their hands , most confidently , the cause of the aged ancl distressed brethren ( cheers ) . Tlie toast having been drunk , Bro . Ciabatta and Miss Berry sang a duet . Bro . FAKNHELD then read the Stewards' lists , and the CllAmnAH announced that the total amount collected was

£ 2 , 993 . Bro . WILLIAMSON , J . G . AV ., gave " The Health of the Chairman , " to which the CIIAIBMAH" responded . Miss Eyles here sang with admirable effect a Scotch ballad , " Maggie ' s secret . " Bro . A . Perkins proposed " The Past President , Trustees , Vice-Presidents , Treasurer , Committee , and Officers of the

Institution , " to which Bro . TOMKINS replied . " The other Masonic Charities " followed , Bro . BlSCKES replying for the Boys ' , and Bro . UDALL for the Girls' Schools . Bro . SATE replied for " Tlie Ladies , " aud Bro . J . S . S . HOPWOOD for the Stewards , and the brethren separated at half-past eleven .

Bro . Spencer officiated admirably as toast master . The selections of music given during the evening , under the direction of Bro . AVilhelm Ganz , P . M . 435 , Org . 4 , and interspersed between the toasts , were most admirably rendered by Miss Rose Hersee , Miss Eyles , Miss Arabella Smith , ancl Miss Berry , together with Bros . Fass ( from the Royal Opera ,

Hanover ) , Walworth , and Ciabatta . AVe would specially mention the Scotch ballad " Maggie ' s secret , " sung by Miss Eyles and received with tremendous applause ; the new song , " TheNightingales ' s trill , " by Miss Rose Hersee j and Miss Berry's song , " The bird that came in spring . The Fitzroy Lodge attended in considerable strength , and