Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

IT will be seen in onr report of the late meeting of the General Committee of the Eoyal Masonic Benevolent Institntion that there are forty-seven male and sixty-three female candidates for election in May next , and it has been arranged that the actual sixteen and nine vacancies on the respective Funds shall he filled up on the usual day

of election , while three annuities on each will be filled up immediately on the occurrence of vacancies after the said election has taken place . We gladly recognise the wisdom of this arrangement . It will be in the recollection of our readers , that within a very short time after the election of

candidates in May 1881 , several annuitants died , bnt the vacancies thus caused have had to be left unoccupied ever since , in spite of the distressing fact that a multitude of poor old brethren and brethren's widows had been necessarily left out in the cold through their want of success at

the ballot . The arrangement now proposed will meet this difficulty , and vacancies that may occur—to the extent of three on each Fund—will be filled in due course , withont waiting for the expiration of a further twelve

months . We are pleased to be in a position to note this , and trust the change may be borne in mind on Tuesday week , the day of the Anniversary Festival of the Institntion .

A Most Deserving Case.

A MOST DESERVING CASE

WE publish elsewhere in our columns a letter from our esteemed Brother Hine , in which he draws the attention of the Craft to a most distressing case , and one which unquestionably calls for the charitable intervention of the Benevolent Freemason . The circumstances are as

peculiar as they are distressing . A certain brother was initiated in the year 1864 in a Staffordshire Lodge , the Mastership of which he served in 1870 , 1871 , and 1873 . He was a joining member of two other Lodges , and in 1872 was appointed by the late Earl of Shrewsbury to be S . Grand Warden of the Province of Staffordshire . He had been

associated with the . Staffordshire Masonic Charitable Association from its establishment in 1871 , and during the years 1875-9 had acted as its Secretary . He was a Life Governor of the R . M . Institution for Boys , and had filled the office of Steward at the Anniversary of the Girls '

School in 1874 , and the Benevolent Institution in 1875 . In 1878 and 1879 , owing to unfortunate business speculations , he lost all he possessed , and about sixteen months since he disappeared , leaving his wife and six children in absolute poverty . His family know nothing

of his whereabouts , or even if he is still in existence , and are dependent mainly for support on the kind assistance of friends . Here , then , is a lady with five children , two of whom are described as " earning small amounts in situations in Manchester , " who knows not whether she is wife or widow ; who is reduced , in the short space of

A Most Deserving Case.

less than two years , from comparative affluence to absolute poverty ; ancl who , notwithstanding her misfortunes , is unable to obtain from the Lodge of Benevolence that relief to which she is so justly entitled . Were she actually , as she is virtually , a widow , it would be within

the competence of the said Lodge of Benevolence to vote snch sum as , in their discretion , seemed justifiable under the circumstances . But the regulations of the Lodge are very properly most clearly defined , and the case , as described by Brother Hine , is one which cannot be

entertained . There is , under these circumstances , we are glad to say , one course open to this most unfortunate lady , and that has been considerately adopted by Bro . Hine . The laws which govern the administration of our Benevolent Fund forbid the issue of a grant of

money to this distressed lady , and so an appeal to the brethren is unavoidable . Bro . Hine , on her behalf , has made this appeal , and we feel it our duty to endorse it with all the influence we are capable of exerting . Whatever may have become of our unfortunate brother in

question , it is clear from the facts , as stated by Brother Hine and verified by others , that he did his duty honourably as a Mason when his circumstances were favourable , and though it may turn out that his disappearance is due to a lack of moral courage , still it occurs to us that his family

should not be left unheeded on the shallow ground of informality , want of necessary information , or other cause . Indeed , it occurs to us , thero might well be established a small fund for meeting the necessities of cases of this description . They are of rare , but not impossible , occurrence

The members of the Earl of Carnarvon Lodge , No . 1642 , gave their sixth Annual Ball , at the Town Hall , High-street , Kensington , on Thursday , 2 nd inst ., the greatest success attending them . There was a large attendance , upwards of 400 being present , among whom was

Brother the Rev . Charles Darby Roado , M . A ., W . M . of the Lodge , Bros . G . Penn Treasurer , W . J . Murlis Secretary , S . H . Parkhouse , E . M . Lander , S . Smout Past Master , S . Smout jun . S . W ., most of the minor Officers , ancl a large proportion of the members . Brother Charles Godfrey

conducted the orchestra , which was composed of members of the String Band of the Royal Horse Guards ( by permission of Col . Frederick Burnaby ) , and most efficiently he discharged his dnties . He gave for one of the dances his new " Grand Lodge Valse , " which was here played for the

first time in public . Bro . Godfrey has had the special permission of the Grand Master to dedicate this piece of music to His Royal Highness , and from the fact that one or two well-known Masonic airs are introduced into it , it will doubtless become a favourite at our assemblies . Dancing

was kept up with great spirit until four o ' clock , all present appearing to thoroughly enjoy the entertainment provided . We can but express a hope that tho financial result of this Ball may be as satisfactory as those which have preceded it , and that the Institution which may be fortunate enough to come in for the surplus may have a large amount to receive .

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