Masonic Mems.

MASONIC MEMS .

THEMASONICMIEEOE. * * All communications to be addressed to 19 , Salisbury-street , Strand , London , W . C .

THE PHOVKCIAI GRAXD LODGES or BERKS AXD BTJCKS . AND KENT . —The annual meetings of the Provincial Grand Lodges of the provinces of Kent and Berks and Bucks took place on Wednesday last , the former under the presidency of Lord Homesdale , and the latter under that of Bro . J . EM'Connell , Prov . D . G . M ., but , in consequence of tho late period

¦ of the week at which they were held , we must defer reports of the proceedings until our next impression . BRO . SIB ARCHIBALD ALISON . —A funeral lodge of the late ¦ Bro . Sir Archibald Alison will ho held in the City Hall , Glasgow , on the 4 th July .

The Royal Masonic Benevovent Institution

THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOVENT INSTITUTION

At the last quarterly communication of the Grand Lodge the annual report of the Eoyal Benevolent Institution was formally presented , hut feiv , except those who are actual Masters of lodges are aware of its contents . It showed that as regarded the Male Fund the receipts , including the balance in hand , amounted to £ -1 , 818 Os . 7 d . ; while the disbursements , including

the purchase of £ 1 , 450 stock , amounted to £ 3 , 495 lGs . 2 d . ; leaving a balance in hand of £ 1 , 322 4 s . 5 d . On account of the Female Fund the receipts , including the balance in hand on the 31 st of March , 1866 , amounted to £ 3 , 302 Ss . 9 d ., and the disbursements , including tho purchase of £ 1 , 250 stock , amounted to £ 2 , 447 Is . 6 d . ; leaving a balance on this account of £ 855

7 s . 3 d . For the sustentation of tho building the receipts were £ 96 16 s . 5 d „ and the disbursements , £ 56 5 s . 5 d . ; leaving a balance on this account of £ 40 14 s . ; and a total balance on the three accounts of £ 2 , 218 2 s . Sd . The report stated that the committee of management , in issuing their annual report , had to congratulate the brethren on

the continued prosperity of the Institution . Notwithstanding the monetary panic which occurred in the past year , and which , no doubt , to some extent affected the general receipts , the

contributions from lodges , chapters , and individuals , with the amount subscribed at the Festival ( which was held in January , last , by permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Master , under the able presidency ofthe E . W . Bro . the Bight Hon . the Lord de Tahley , Prov . G . Master of Cheshire , and Past Grand Warden ) nearly approached the amount subscribed at the preceding Festival . During the past year the rules and regulations of the

Institution have been revised , and some alterations have been made , which have been duly approved by the Grand Lodge . To some of such alterations it may be well briefly to advert more especially to Rule 42 of the revised code , which authorises the committee to make use of a larger portion of life donations than heretofore , the former rule requiring that the whole of

such donations should be invested , while the present rule permits that two-thirds , if deemed necessary , may be used for the purposes of the Institution . Another important change is that which regulates the amount of the annuities . Formerly the annuity had reference to the age of the annuitant at the time of election , the annuities of

the old men varying from £ 20 to £ 30 . Under this rule it was found that the average of annuities was about £ 23 . By the present rule the male annuitants will each receive £ 26 a year ,

The Royal Masonic Benevovent Institution

but the few who * are receiving a larger sum under the old scale will not be affected by the change . The sliding scale lias also been abolished with respect to the female annuitants , who heretofore received somo £ 20 , some £ 25 a year . These alterations will somewhat increase the charge upon the Institution for payments to the annuitants in

general . The number of male annuitants at the date of the last report was 84 , of female annuitants 53 , and there were , in addition , nine widows , receiving , under the provision of the ninth rule , one-half of the amount paid to their deceased husbands . Notwithstanding the addition to the annuities generally ,

consequent on the alteration of the law before referred to , the committee feel justified in recommending that the number of male annuitants he increased to 88 , and the number of female annuitants to 56 ; and they confidently trust to the liberality and exertions of the Craft for the necessary funds beyond the fixed income of tho Institution , the particulars of which are

stated iii the accounts . From the above statement it will be seen that the Institution is in a very satisfactory condition , although it is to be hoped that the hands of the committee will be strengthened in their laudable exertions to extend the benefits of it to a larger number than have hitherto received them .

Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

PAS - UTTRE LODGE ( So . 720 ) . The monthly and installation meeting of this lodge was held on Monday , the 20 th ult ., at the Loughborough Arms , Loughborougli-road , Brixton . Bro . Hodges , W . M ., presided , and , having been elected for the second time , was installed into the office of W . M . of the Panniure Lodgo for the ensuing year . The ceremony was most ably performed by a brother in the Craft celebrated for his correct working and hih Masonic

g qualifications , viz ., Bro . J . Thomas , P . M . 507 , 720 , 857 , 860 , etc ., to whom a vote of thanks was accorded for his valuable services . A resolution was also ordered to be entered on the minutes expressive of the sense entertained by the brethren of the able government of the lodge hy the W . M . during the past year . Two gentlemen were initiated , viz ., Messrs . H . F . Hodges and J . T . JR . Roberts . The balance-sheet was presented

by the Audit Committee , and proved most favourable . After other routine business the lodge was closed , and the brethren re-assembled at the Grosvenor Hotel at seven o'clock , when the visiting brethren in considerable numbers from other neighbouring lodges also attended . The chair was occupied by by Bro . Hodges , W . M ., supported by Bros . Thomas , P . M . ; Levandor , P . M ., P . Prov . S . G . D . Wilt ' s ; Gardner , Bowles , and Head , P . M . 's ; Worthington , W . M . 507 ; Harvey , S . W . 902 ;

Smith , I . G . 902 ; Oswin , Hare , Liming , Hopkins , and the following officers of the Panniure Lodge , who had been that day invested with the collars of their respective offices , viz ., Bros . Tnvlor , S . W . ; Gates , J . W . ; W . P . Moore , Sec ; A . H . Smith , Org . ; J . W . Anson , S . D . ; Gwilt , J . D . ; Prnst , Dir . of Cers . ; Wolpert , I . G . ; Buckle , W . S . ; Bell , C . S . ; Dexter , Cheek , Lilley , Smith , Huntley , Roberts , Hodges jun ., Carrias , Turner , BringloeM . D . ; HilderM . D . ; & c .

, , After grace the W . M . proposed " The Queen and the Craft , " which was followed by the National Anthem with the addition of two appropriate Masonic verses . The W . M . next proposed "The Health of the Most Worshipful Grand Master , " remarking upon the fact that his lordship the Earl of Zetland was now approaching the period when he would have served the Craft in that aminent position for no

less a time than a quarter of a century . "The Health of the Right Worshipful the Deputy Grand Master , together with the officers past and present of Grand Lodge , " was next given , and in the absence of any Grand Officer , at the request of the W . M ., the P . Prov . S . G . D . for Wilts ( Bro . Levandev , P . M . ) , responded forfche Earl De Grey and Eipon and his colleagues . The W . M . next proposed "The Health of the Installing