The Festival Of The Benevolent Institution.

THE FESTIVAL OF THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

npHE year 1889 has opened in a satisfactory manner ¦ *¦ as regards the great Charitable Institutions of English Freemasonry , and it is with feelings of satisfaction we have to-day to record the result of the first of the Anniversary Festivals annually held in connection with the Masonic Charities . We , in

common with others , have more than once expressed a belief that the Craft would this year feel the effect of the exceptional efforts made last year in connection with the Centenary of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls . Without a rlnnht thf > ano . n . aaa nf fhnl

celebration was , to a certain extent , purchased at the expense of the other Institutions , and it will be some time before matters again assume their ordinary condition . Association moneys were promised for the

Girls' School Centenary to such an extent as to make it impossible , in a large number of cases , for any sums worthy of consideration being devoted to the present year ' s Festivals ; and in other ways payments were anticipated , in order to swell the Centenary total , and secure the extra votes that were offered as a special

inducement for exceptional efforts . Time alone will prove whether the enthusiasm that was shown last year was not excessive , or whether , in the long run , the great success of the Girls' School Festival was all that it was represented to be at the time it occurred :

for the nonce we have only the returns for the present year in connection with one of the Charities—the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons—and here we

have to record a falling off , as compared with recent Festivals , but , without a doubt , much of this falling off is to be accounted for in the way we have mentioned .

The Festival to which we now refer took place on Wednesday , under the presidency of the Right Hon . the Earl of Euston , Provincial Grand Master Norths and Hunts , and the total realised was £ 13 , 055 19 s—a

falling off of upwards of £ 2 , 000 as compared with last year ( when the total announced was £ 15 , 081 18 s 6 d ) , and of upwards of £ 5 , 600 as compared with 1887

( when the Festival returns reached £ 18 , 700 ) . This is indeed disappointing , in face of the fact that this year ' s Board of Stewards numbers 80 more than was the case last vear . the actual figures beino- 356 for

1889 , against 276 for 1888 . How , then , shall we account for this tremendous decrease in the amount

realised ? It cannot be said the Craft had no notice of the event , for we have shown that there were 80 more Stewards working this year than was

the case in 1888 , while we have no reason to believe that the brethren who served at Wednesday ' s Festival worked less heartily than any who had gone before them , nor that the Craft , as a body , has

become less charitable than hitherto . Yet there is a plain statement before us—the subscriptions to the

The Festival Of The Benevolent Institution.

Benevolent Institution show a falling off of upwards of £ 2 , 000 , as compared with last year , and that , too , at a time when large increases are imperatively

demanded , in order to cope with the heavy and ever increasing demands on the resources of the Charity . We recently referred to the large number of candi *

dates seeking a participation in the benefits oi this Institution , and ventured to express a belief that the result of the Festival might allow of an increase being made in the number of annuitants . We did not then anticipate such a falling-off as has actually

occurred , or we should not have held out even the slender hope we did express on behalf of the many who were so anxiously awaiting the course of events . We are now afraid there is little or no chance of an extension being proposed during the current year , and , as a

consequence , the exceptionally large number of candidates will have nothing but the ordinary vacancies to compete for at the annual election , to be hekl in Mav . This is unfortunatein view of the tremendous

, array of approved applicants ; but , on the other hand , it would be unwise to rush madly into increased responsibilities in face of the decreased support

which has been accorded by the Craft . It is true the pronouncement of Wednesday last ^ is a splendid example of the benevolence of English wnat iias

Freemasons , but , taken in comparison wnm gone before , it is a disappointment , and we believe it is not unlikely to be followed by others , equally severe . It has long been a matter of surprise to the world that the Masonic Craft should be able to subscribe , year aftfiv vear . the splendid totals which have been

collected , and there are not a few who have expressed the opinion that such large contributions could not be maintained . Whether this be the case or not it is impossible to say , but the result of this year ' s Festival on behalf of the Benevolent

Institutionwhen , with a Board of Stewards 80 in excess of last year , the subscriptions were £ 2 , 000 less—mo ^ t certainly gives cause for anxiety , and , we are afraid , must be recognised as marking a change in the sympathies or capabilities of English Freemasons .

What I Can, And What I Cannot Solve.

WHAT I CAN , AND WHAT I CANNOT SOLVE .

BY BRO JACOB NORTON . THERE is a saying , viz ., " Wonders will never cease " Now , Masonry is undoubtedly fall of wonders , wonders to uninitiated as well as to initiated . Two such

Masonic wonders attracted my attention , one which I flatter myself of , having satisfactorily solved , the second remains unsolved . Briefly then , in the year 1884 , Bro . Witham Matthew

Bywater , P . M . of No . 19 , kindly sent me his eulogistic essay on Laurence Dermott . The 37 th page of the essay is headed with five capital letters formed into an arch , viz ., O M I N O . Under those mystic letters are placed