Contents.

CONTENTS .

EDITOBIAL : T HE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION 3 THE FOND OF BENEVOLENCE -t THE COLONIES 4 ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION 5

NOTIFICATIONS ¦> AN EVENING WITH " OUR BOYS " 5 THE MASONIC POET ' COBNEB— "MASONS' VOWS" .. 5 ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE 6 INSTALLATION MEETING—WINDSOR CASTLE LODGE , NO . 771 7 CONSECRATION OF KINGSWOOD LODGE , NO . 2278 .. .. 7 EVENINGS ABROAD 8

OUR CITY ARTICLE % .. .. 8 OUR TRESTLE BOARD \ . .. 9 REPORTS OP LODGES AND CHAPTERS 9 METROPOLITAN AND PROVINCIAL LODGE AND CHAPTER MEETINGS FORTHCOMING 10 , 11 , 12 METROPOLITAN LODGES AND CHAPTERS OF INSTRUCTION 13 ADVERTISEMENTS Front cover , 2 , 14 , 15 , 16

The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution .

HE Anniversary Festival of this Institution is appointed to take place at Freemasons ' Tavern , London , on Wednesday next , the 27 th inst ., under the Presidency of the

Right Hon . the Earl of Euston , R . W . Provincial Grand Master of Norths and Hunts ; a Province which it would

appear from the recent publication of the past seven years ' statistics has not hitherto so well supported the Institution as might have been desired . It is true that the number of

Lodges which are comprised in the Province of Norths and Hunts is but ten in all , and that , at the best , a large amount of subscriptions in any one year cannot be expected from

it ; but we go so far as to say that the relief which it should afford to the aged of both sexes in connection with our Order should be , at least , equal to that afforded by other

Provinces of no greater extent . There are three of these having respectively the same number of Lodges , and whilst they figure in the said statistics for a seven vears '

average of , severally , £ 127 , £ 93 and £ G 2 per annum , Norths and Hunts can show only an average yearly contribution of £ 43 during the same period . Now it has the opportunity ,

by a zealous support of its highly-esteemed and popular Grand Master at the ensuing Festival , to break this record , and we sincerely hope , in the interests of this important

Institution , it will do so . We learn that the number of Stewards for the forthcoming Festival has been increased , up to the end of last week , to 324 as against 27 G who acted

m that capacity in connection with the Festival of last year , when a grand total of £ 15 , 290 was announced , of which sum £ 5 , 849 was contributed from London , and £ 9 , 446 from the Provinces . It was feared at one time

The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

that , consequent on the celebration of the Centenary Festival of the Girls' School in that year , and the certainty that a very large share in the benevolence of the Craft

would be accorded to that Institution , the above-named total would not be reached . But although less in amount than that realised in the preceding year , the result of the combined efforts of the 276 Stewards was considered

magnificent , and gave considerable satisfaction . With an increased number of Stewards this year , and in recognition of the many claims upon the resources of the Benevolent

Institution , Ave trust that the Craft generally will enable the executive to announce , on the 27 th inst ., a still more magnificent result .

We have referred to existing claims upon the Institution , and would urge upon the brethren who may not as yec have determined what their donations shall be , the

consideration of the fact that there are as many as sixty-two aged brethren and eirjhty-one widows of brethren now seeking election ; and that the present state of the funds

does not justify the declaration of more than seventeen vacancies in the former case , and in the latter than ten ; and in respect of each class the advantage of successful candidature must be deferred to no less than three . With

so many as forty-five male applicants and seventy-one widows , whose appeals must be refused , it is quite needless to advance further arguments that a great effort on behalf of the Benevolent Institution should be now made to

improve its financial condition . Let us again express the hope that this year ' s Stewards' lists may be far more productive than any which have preceded them .

It would not , we think , be advisable to close our remarks in relation to the forthcoming Festival without reference to the recent controversy which has arisen in respect , not

of the Benevolent Institution alone , but also of the Educational Institutions . We feel assured that no greater mistake can possibly be made by the respective managers

of our charities than that they should assume that their present critics are animated by even the slightest desire to inflict injury on the respective Institutions , either by

accident or in wanton caprice . Rather than resent such criticism by contemptuous silence or narrow-minded action it should be their earnest desire , as true friends and in

discharge of their duty to their constituents , to accept all reasonable suggestions for reform , and to discuss them temperately . It has been said that they—the critics ,

assisted by the press—are engaged in a work of destruction as affects the best interests of our Charities . This is

not the fact ; there is a vast gulf between the would-be reformer and the iconoclast . Our broad platform is the endeavour to sweep away abuses , which , if permitted to