The Benevolent Festival.

THE BENEVOLENT FESTIVAL .

AS the day draws near for the celebration of the Anniversary Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution it seems to be more and more apparent that the counter attraction of the Boys School Centenary will have a very serious effect on the returns for the year ,

but we yet hope sufficient will be collected to prevent an actual deficit , despite the fact that the amount required for the Annuities of the year is so large as /" i 6 , 384 , in

addition to which there are the working expenses to be provided for , with a small sum , in comparison , available in the shape of assured income .

In our first issue this year we wrote at some length as to the needs of this Institution , and the splendid work it is engaged in carrying on . The recipients of its bounty now number close on 500 , each of whom receives such

an amount as to relieve them of all trouble so far as the actual provision of the necessities of life are concerned , and not a few of . them must look upon the amount regularly sent them from the Offices of the Institution as a veritable Godsend .

We have been very pleased to learn that different members of the Craft have specially taken up . the cause of the Old People during the last few weeks , recognising that the alarm expressed in various quarters has a real

existence , and feeling it would indeed be a calamity if the Festival turned out as badly as some were apt to predict it would do , a couple of months back . But there

is ample room , nay , almost a necessity , for further workers , and even at this late hour we . once more appeal to our readers to see if it is possible for them to do anything to increase the total for the year .

The worthy Secretary of the Institution , Bro . James Terry , is making strenuous exertions on behalf of the Fund he has so zealously served for many years past ,, and we cheerfully add our voice in support of his appeal . The

Festival is to be held on Tuesday week , the 22 nd instant , so that there is no time to be lost—yet there is ample in which to achieve much , if the task is enthusiastically started upon . There is room for more

names on the roll of Stewards , and if any of our readers can see their way to fill up one of the blanks yet on the list we are sure they will never regret having acted in support of so good a cause .

Unpunctuality.

UNPUNCTUALITY .

r I 1 HE fatal mistake of unpunctuality in commencing the - * - work of the Craft led several members of a Provincial Lodge into , serious trouble last month , and as

a result thirteen Brethren had to appear at the Farnham Petty Sessions on the 10 th inst ., to answer the charge of being found on licensed premises during , prohibited hours . It was urged for the defence that the business of the

Unpunctuality.

Lodge which the Brethren had attended was commenced an hour late , and thus everything was thrown out of gear . The Bench took a lenient view of the case , and dismissed

the summonses , but at the same time they—very wisely we think—expressed the opinion that the police were perfectly right and justified in taking the proceedings they did , and were only doing their duty .

It is a . great pity that a Masonic Lodge , the first care of whose members should be to conform to the laws of the country , should so carelessly lay themselves open

to such a charge as this—which in the natural course of events is widely reported in the general press of the country—as it gives the enemies of Freemasonry such strong evidence in support of their case against the Craft .

The annual ladies' night in connection with the Cator Lodge was held at the Holborn Restaurant , on Monday , 31 st ult ., when Bro . Dr . F . A . Barton W . M . presided over a very large gathering of 180 Brethren . In former years the Cator Lodge has usually united with the Lewis in arranging

for its annual ladies' gathering , but this year both have decided to run alone , and , so far as the Cator is concerned , the general success of the evening warrants it doing so in the future .- Soon after six o ' clock , the company having assembled in the reception room of the Holborn Restaurant ,

a move was made to the magnificent Masonic Temple , where the Brethren , ladies , and gentlemen , were duly presented to the W . M . The banquet was held in the Council Chamber , and at the conclusion the W . M . briefly proposed the toast of

the Queen , and announced that speeches were to be extremely" few in number and brief in character . On . such an occasion , of course , the toast of the Ladies was sure to be received with the greatest enthusiasm , and was proposed in very graceful terms by the W . M .

The fifth annual banquet , concert , and ball in connection with the Surrey Masonic Hall Lodge was held at the Surrey Masonic Hall , Camberwell New Road , on Wednesday , 12 th ult ., and passed off very successfully . Bro . Wm . Hile W . M . presided at the banquet , and gave the usual toasts .

Bro . J . Morgan P . M . proposed the Worshipful Master , and expressed regret at the absence , through illness , of the Immediate Past Master Bro . L . F . Side . In Bro . W . Hile they had an excellent W . M . and they all hoped that his year

of office would be attended with much success . The chairman , in responding , said he believed gatherings of that kind did much to' cement friendships and to bring new members into the Lodge .

The large ball room at the Oatlands Park Hotel , Weybridge , presented a very brilliant appearance on Wednesday night , 2 nd inst ., the occasion being a Masonic ball arranged by the Noel Money Lodge , No . 2521 . Although the youngest Lodge in the locality , the Noel

Money is one of the strongest , and the success attending the organisation of this gathering afforded gratifying proof of its vigour . By a dispensation of the Provincial Grand Lodge , the Brethren attending the ball were permitted to wear Craft clothing .

The Brethren ' of Meridian Lodge , No . 8 93 , held their annual ball in the Boys Schoolroom , Millbrook , on Monday , 31 st ult ., in aid of the Masonic Charities .