Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

dine of poverty , leaving scarcely no interval between themselves und tlie workhouse . Therefore , I say that this institution renders good service ; and , if that is so , you , having built up this charity , cannot relieve youtselves from the act you have done , and it is your duty to support it handsomely . I Iniow there are some persons who will say that , if the funds are in sivli capital order , and that everything is so prosperous and

satisfactory , tin : i they can well turn their attention to other quarters , and thus dispisc of their surplus cash . Now I do not agree with that r .= g-. vme : it . I say that , because the funds are in good order , I venture to appeal to you this evening . The income for the male annuitants , amounts to between £ 1 , 200 and £ 1 , 300 , and for the females to between £ 700 and £ 300 , and I

say that that sum is barely sufficient to meet tho wants of tho institution , which grows with tlie growth of our order . Every fresh lodge you create , every fresh member you initiate extends the number of fresh claimants to this charity , and just as you increase in wealth , numbers , and prosperity , you are bound to maintain those great charities which are the glory of

our order . Lot me remind you of one thing , of a practice , and very good practice it is , that of all the donations contributed to tins institution ono-tliirilis invested as capital . That was a wise resolution to bo adc . pied , " and I trust it will never be rescinded . Ton have a guarantee for the administration of the funds , although under the circumstances of a great population , nothing is so difficult as the administration of public charitie s b y reason of it falling into hands of a limited number , and they cannot be brought into the lijht of public opinion . In

this institution , however , you have a guarantee , for b y the reports presented to Grand Lrl ge all the proceedings arc brought under review and inquired into , which I hold to bo a great security for the gool management of it . Let me in conclusion remind you of the value of this charity , that this , is one of the great ones yon have maintained for a quarter of a century ,

and I hope you will never let it die out . You clearly get value for your sr . ppirt in all respects and it not onl y commends itself xo the good sense , but it carries ¦ out the great principles of Freemasonry . It is valuable to the recipients , it is valuable to you to luive such a charity as it subsists . It is valuable to Masonry Use / , as it does not onl y

consist of words and sentence " , and praise uttered , but keeps a'ive the habit of action . It is operative , not less than speculative Freemasonry . Far bo it from me by any words of mine to disparage for a moment those great principles from which flow acts of charity , hut I trust they will continue to flow on , for a great poet has said that charity is like flowers that fall

from Heaven . Non-1 ask you to-night to stoop imil pick up some of these flowers . They will be found fresher than the bays of the conqueror , more enduring than the laurels of the poet . The flowers of charity will maintain all their pristine hue , and their fragrance will never depart from them : for it will grow with their growth and increase with the lapse of generations

, 'therefore I ask you by your actions to seal your devotion to tliis noble charity , which is the glory of nur Masonic Order . Brethren , I give you "Success to tho Royal Masonic Benevolent institution for Aged Freemasons and AA'idows of Freemasons . " The toast was drunk with the most enthusiastic

cheo-inn-I ) i-o . Faruficld , P . A . G . Sec , and secretin- of the Institution i ' nen read the lists , the most prominent amongst the being the following : Bros . E . T . Payne , P . Prov . G . AA " . for Somersetshire , P . M . 53 , £ 183 1-ia . 2 d . ; Richard Tanner , AA ' . M . 177 , ( Domatic )! £ 80 10 s ., ( the highest list of 'any of the Loudon Lodges ); Browse , IS , £ 59 9 s . ; Hervey , G . Sec , 256 , £ G 5 12 s . ; Adams , IDS , £ 55-U 6 d . f Rev . C . AA . Stanhope , 357 , £ 55 ; Challis , 4

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

£ G 010 s . ; Richardson , 4 , £ 50 ; Cox , 715 , £ 70 ; 619 , £ 53 14 s . ; 657 , £ 55 ISs . ; 192 , £ 55 ISs . ; 172 , ( Old Concord ) , £ 0110 s . ; 66 , £ 76 16 s . ; 1 , 107 , £ 16 10 s ., making a total of £ 2 , 219 15 s ., with six steward ' s lists to come in . Bro . Thomas , G . Chaplain , proposed "The health of tlie nobis Chairman , " describing him as an energetic Mason , who bad "

also done honour to tlio councils of his Sovereign . He asked the brethren to do honour to him as an honest man . The Chairman , in returning thanks , said he had to offer his deep acknowledgments to the G . Chaplain for the kind words in which he had proposed his health , and to tho brethren for the equally kind manner in which they had

received it . He was deeply sensible of many pleasant things that might oteuy , and , as he lv , \ d seen the list of toasts , it crossed his mind that they might be pleased to honour him by drinking bis health , but he was not prepared for the cordial way in which that had been done . He was not prepared for the high compliments paid to him by the G . Chaplain , or for

the honour of not only having his health drank by bis brethren , but by his sisters in the Craft . After alluding at some length to the other charities , and the claims they had upon them for support , he concluded by proposing "The other Masonic Charities , " and it was stated that the Boys' School Festival would take place on the 10 th of March , and the Girls on the 12 th of May .

Bros . Binckes and Patten severally returned thanks . Bro . Halsey proposed "The Ladies , " who had honoured the festival with their presence ; and Bro . Dick gave "The Stewards , " for which Bro . Browse returned thanks , which brought the proceedings to a close , marked throughout with the most complete harmony . The musical arrangements were under the direction of Bro .

Ganz , P . M . 435 , assisted by Millie . Liebhar '; , Miss Emily Muir , Miss Abbott , Bros . George Porren , Frederick Panne , AVallenreiter , and Ciabatta , and they gave the highest satisfaction . Bro . Spencer as usual acquitted himself with great ability as toastmastor of tho evening .

Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

PVTIIAGOEEAN LODGE ( NO . 79 ) . — Installation Meeting . —On Monday , the 25 th inst ., at the Lecture Hall , Greenwich , this old lodgo was held . Bro . J . H . H . Doughney , AA' . M ., opened the lodge . He passed tivo members to the Fellow Crafts degree ; he raised one member to the third degree . He then installed Bro . Richard Boncey as the AA . M ., who appointed as his officers , Bros . T . Perridge , S . W . ; Burls , J . AV . ; W . C . Penny , P . M ., Treas . ; J . H . Doughney , P . M .. Sec- ; C . NashS . D . ; J . Nash

, , J . D . ; Roberts , I . G . ; Jlunyaril , D . C . A vote of thanks , and its being entered on the minutes , was voted to Bro . J . H . Doughney , P . M ., for doing the installation . A five guinea Past Master ' s jewel was unanimousl y voted to Bro . J . H . H . Doughney , for services rendered during his year of office . A five guinea Secretary ' s jewel was unanimously voted to Bro . J . C . Peckham , P . M ., the late Secretary , for his essential services rendered for several years as the Secretary . All the work was well and ably

rendered . It was unanimously resolved that the future meetings of tins lodge be held at the Ship Hotel , Greenwich . One joining member was proposed to become a member at its next meeting . Business ended , and the lodge was closed . The brethren adjourned to the Ship , their future meeting-house , where a good banquet was served . A'isitors—A . H . Tattershall , P . M . 13 , P . M . Sec . 140 ; F . AA ' alters , P . M . 73 ; AVest , A \ . M . 5-18 ; Bumstead , P . M . 548 ; Killucr , D . C . 871 , and several

others . ST . GEOEGE ' LODGE ( NO 1-1-0 )— Installation Meeting . —At the Trafalgar Tavern , Greenwich , on AA ' ednesday , January 20 , this old lodge met . The lodge was opened by the AV . M . Bro . A . H ;