Royal Benevolent Institution For Aged Freemasons And Their Widows.

The following report of the committee of management was read , and ordered to be entered on the minutes , viz .: — The committee of management , in presenting their report this year ( being the twenty-second of the establishment of the Royal Benevolent Institution for Aged and Decayed Freemasons , and the fifteenth year of the fund for the relief of distressed widows of members of the Craft ) , has more than ordinary satisfaction in calling to the notice of the governors and subscribers the still continued and increasing support which it receives from lodges generally , not only in the metropolis , but in the provinces .

In the present year , which is the fifth in which an Anniversary Festival has been holden , sixty-nine brethren tendered their services as Stewards ; that meeting was fixed by the M . AA . Grand Master for Wednesday , the 27 th of January , and by the R . W . Bro . His Grace the Duke of St . Alban ' s , Provincial Grand Master for Lincolnshire , when the subscriptions and donations contained in the lists of the several stewards amounted to £ 2376 . This being the fifth successive year in which the

, large sum of upwards of £ 2 , 000 was produced , has enabled the committee during that period to augment the funded property of the institution , in conformity with the rules , by the purchase in the aggregate of £ 7 , 657 12 s . 3 cJ . 3 per Cent . Stock . In this sum is included purchases for the sustentation fund , completing the amount of £ . 1 , 000 , fixed hy the laws ; beyond which it is not necessary to be augmented , except by investment of its own

interest . It has also enabled the committee to increase the number of annuitants by eighteen men and eighteen women . The permanent annual income is therefore how—Male fund , £ 1 , 098 ; widows' fund , £ 563 ; total , £ 1 , 661 . After the election hist year there were seventy-nine male annuitants , of whom thirteen have since died , and the committee have recommended the election of fourteen , which will make the number eighty .

. after the last election , there were forty-seven widows , of whom six have since died ; and the committee have recommended the election of six , which will continue the number forty-seven . There are also at present seven widows , receiving half the amount of their late husband's annuities .

ahe number of annuitants , and the total amount received by them , are as follows : — Of the male annuitants , fifteen are of London lodges , receiving £ 350 per annum ; fifty-one are of country lodges , receiving £ 1 , 125 ; total , £ 1 , 475 . Of the widows , twenty are of brethren of London lodges , receiving £ 425 ; twenty-one are of brethren of country lodges , receiving £ 140 ; widows leeeiving half the amount of their dec-eased husbands' annuities , are

three of London lodges , receiving £ 35 ; four of country lodges , receiving £ 43 ; total , £ 943 ; grand total ( 114 annuitants ) £ 2 , 418 . The asylum building at Croydon is in perfect substantial repair , as also its drains , which are good and efficient , and the painting and whitewashing kept in excellent condition , so that all aids to comfort and health are well attended to . The committee has further to state that £ 50 was voted b

y the Grand Lodge , on the 2 nd of September last , for coals for the inmates in the asylum , and placed in Bro . Fai-nlield ' s hands , it is now all expended ; a monthly supply of 4 cwt . having been delivered by Mr . Bean , of Croydon , to each inmate , from October , 1863 , to May , 1864 , both inclusive . The Chairman stated the brethren would have to elect , to form part of the Committee of Management for tho ensuing three brethren in lieu of BrosThomas EDavisAV

year , . . , . AA entworth Davis , and Abraham A . Le A eau , who go out in accordance with the fifth article of the rules . Bros . Charles Lee , Morris Levinson , and Raynham W . StRivart were severally proposed ancl seconded and declared elected . The following are the Committee of Management for the

ensuing year , .: — Frederick Adlard , P . M . 7 AV . S . Masterman , AV . M . 410 Henry Bridges , P . M . 33 James R . Sheen , P . M . 201 A . H . Hewlett , P . M . 23 R . AV . Stewart , P . M . 108 Charles Lee , P . M . 9 II . G . Warren , P . AI . 172 Morris Levinson , P . M . 19 AVilliam Young , P . M . 60 Bros . John Symonds , P . Assist . Dir . of Cers .. Henry George Warren , and James R . Sheen were elected Auditors for the

ensuing year . The election was then proceeded with ancl resulted as follows : —

Royal Benevolent Institution For Aged Freemasons And Their Widows.

MALE ANNUITANTS . —Successful Candidates . Bro . B . Bu tter 15 , 569 Bro . T . Ledward 9 , 416 „ James Winter 12 , 423 „ J . Morley 8 , 906 „ Robert Deck ... 12 , 377 „ AA . D . Hughes ... 8 , 374 „ B . Mitchell ... 12 , 152 „ \ V . B . Beutley ... 8 , 305 „ AA . B . Packwood 10930 „ C . Elude 7 , 340 „ E . C . Priest ... 10 , 613 „ T . Gunter 7 , 215

„ H . Maxwell ... 9 , 819 „ S . H . Sankey ... 6 , 412 Unsuccessful Candidates with numbers to be carried forward , and added to the poll at the next election . Bro . J . C . Suow 6 , 381 Bro . J . Broadbent , 193 „ J . Thompson ... 6 , 133 „ J . Hodgson 157 „ R . Adams 5 , 228 „ Stanley Holt 123 S . M . Shrubsole . 3778 R . Adams 90

„ , „ „ AV . AVarran 3 , 582 „ J . Redfern 75 „ Jesse Taylor ... 2 , 4-iO „ AV . Garside 60 „ S . Julyan 1 , 258 „ J . P . Munro 1 „ John Lucas 203 „ T . Storey 0 „ H . Martin 198 WIDOWS . —Successful Candidates . Mrs . M . E . Barton ... 4 , 939 Mrs . M . A . Firmin ... 4 , 078

„ Jane Puttock ... 4 , 502 „ C . Cooke 3 , 681 „ M . Cresswell ... 4 , 232 „ S . Harvey 3 , 523 Unsuccessful Candidates with numbers to bo carried forward , and added to the poll at the next election . Mrs . M . A . Osborne ... 3 , 348 Mrs . R . Mayoh 472 „ M . A . Swain ... 2 , 439 „ Ann Kinnear 288 „ Ann Slater 2 , 257 „ Sarah Dixon .:.... 261

„ R . Hammett ... 1 , 790 „ Sarah Crow 201 „ A . B . Lawrence 1 , 425 „ M . A . Johnson ... 114 „ Margaret Dale 1 , S 90 „ Betty Stansfield ... 25 „ E . AVilkins 970 „ Sarah Bwxton ... 4 „ B . Partington ... 584 „ Elizabeth Lyon ... 1 „ A . I . Tisoe 546 „ Elizabeth Mott ... 0 „ Mary Marson ... 517 After the usual vote of thanks the meeting separated .

Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

ROYAL OAK LODGE ( NO . 871 ) . —This lodge held its last meeting for the season on Thursday , May 26 th , at Bro . Stevens's , Royal Oak Tavern , High-street , Deptford . The lodge was opened by Bro . G . Wilton , I . P . M . Bro . C . Stahr , W . M ., when he arrived , presided over the lodge . The ballot was unanimous in favour of the candidate for initiation , Mr . A . F . Drew . A letter was read from iir . Drew apologising for his absence . In

the absence of the anticipated work , the AV . M . requested Bro . F . AA alters , P . M . and Sec , to give the lecture on the 1 st tracing board . Bro . F . AA ' alters then gave a full explanation of the board , and introduced nearly all the fourth and fifth sections , and , when he had completed , he received a hearty burst of applause from all the brethren present . Bro . F . Walters , P . M . and Sechaving retired from the lod Bro . J . W . WeirP . M .

, ge , , , proposed , and Bro . J . Hawker seconded , that a Secretary ' s jewel to the amount of five guineas he given from the lodge funds and presented to Bro . F . Walters , P . M . and Sec , for the able , zealous , and talented manner he had performed the duties of the Secretaryship , and to show the esteem and gratitude of the brethren for the many services rendered to the lodge from its founding . This proposition was carried unanimously . Bro .

F . Walters , on his return to tho lodge after the AV . M . announced the decision , returned thanks to the brethren for this mark of their favour . The lodge was then closed . Visitors , J . Donnithorne , 73 ; A . J . Baatz , 871 ; & c .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

LANCASHIRE ( EAST ) . MANCHESTER . —MASONIC PRESENTATION . —On the evening of Friday , May 27 th , about fifty members of various lodges in Manchester and the neighbourhood partook of a very excellentlyserved dinner at the Clarence Hotel , Manchester , on the occasion of presenting to Bro . Henry Thomas Baldwin , P . M ., F . Z ., & c , a substantial recognition of his services in Freemasonry during