The Candidates For The Benevolent Institution.

THE CANDIDATES FOR THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

IN presenting to our readers a brief outline of the particulars furnished in reference to the circumstances of the several candidates offering themselves for election at the contest on the 18 th inst ., we can but again express the hope that those most deserving of support may ultimately be found at the head of the poll . There are , unfortunately ,

a very much larger number of applicants than vacancies , and it is to be regretted that there is little chance that the number of the latter will be materially increased unless many of those already on the funds of the Institution are removed by the hand of death . Much as we and others

would like to see many more of the " Old People " now seeking election admitted at this year's contest than is at present proposed , we hardly think any one will really wish it when we consider the only condition by which such increase is possible . The Institution is kept up for

the purpose of lessening the troubles and toil of declining years , and we feel sure that all who subscribe to it do so with the desire that each of the annuitants may live for many years to enjoy the provision thus made for them . It is very difficult to estimate the particular degree of

suffering endured by those in distress—as some of our recent correspondents and others have argued ; and it is not our present purpose to attempt to determine who is the worst off—the man who , formerly in affluent circumstances , has an income now reduced to " very moderate "

dimensions , or he who , never having had much more than " very moderate" means , now finds himself deprived of even these . We have before us a list of one hundred and twenty old people who seek election to the benefits of the KM . Benevolent Institntion , and of . these only thirty-eight can , as at

present arranged , be relieved . Which then shall be the fortunate thirty-eight ? All have claims on us , but all are not similarly circumstanced as regards number or ability of friends , and it is only those who can secure a large number of votes who have a chance of succeeding . Of the one

hundred and twenty candidates , fifty are aged brethren competing for twenty-three annuities , and to these we shall first direct our attention . Of this total , nineteen were initiated in London Lodges , twenty-nine in Country , and two if

in oreign . The Provinces which are represented are : — Hampshire , and the Isle of Wight , Lancashire ( East ) , Northumberland , and Yorkshire ( West ) , each with three candidates ; Cheshire , Devonshire , and Kent , each with two ; and Dorsetshire , Essex , Lancashire ( West ) , Middlesex , Norfolk , Suffolk , Somersetshire , Sussex , Warwickshire

Worcestershire , and Yorkshire ( North and East ) , each with one . The Foreign cases come respectively from Gibraltar and Hong Kong Lodges , while the London candidates were initiated respectively in Lodges Nos . 7 , 25 , 27

( two candidates ) , 45 , 87 ( two candidates ) , 177 ( two candidates ) , 180 , 181 , 185 , 188 , 211 , 554 , 733 , 834 , 871 , and 1185 . '''''»'''

We will take the London cases first . No . 22 , John Martin Baab , was initiated in Royal York of Perseverance Lod ge , No . 7 , in 1836 , and paid thereto for 32 § years .

* ie is now , at the age of nearly 80 years , compelled to seek aid from the Institution , for which he has been a Steward , and is a Life Governor . Pew , we imagine , are more worthy to receive an annuity ; the present is his first application .

The Candidates For The Benevolent Institution.

No . 47 , Richard Churchill , was initiated in the Robert Burns Lodge , No . 25 , in June 1843 , but only remained a member of it for six months . For fifteen years after he seems to have taken no interest in Freemasonry , for it is not until 1859 that he again appears as a subscribing

member , he having joined No . 157 in March of that year ; irom that date until 1877 he has remained on the books of Grand Lodge—since 1863 as a member of No . 969 , of which he was one of the founders—and shows a total of twenty years' subscription . He was formerly in good

circumstances , but is now compelled to seek aid from others ; speculation having reduced him to penury . He is afflicted with rheumatism , and has a helpless sister dependent npon him . No . 30 , James Shepherd , and No . 50 , John Thomas Jones , each received Masonic lig ht in the Egyptian

Lodge , No . 27 , the former in 1852 , and the latter in 1868 . Bro . Shepherd continued his subscription as a " mummy " for 6-g- years , and then , after a shorh interval , joined No . 201 , to which he subscribed for 11 j years , giving him a total of 17 f years' subscription . Loss of business compels

him now to seek the assistance of the Benevolent Institution , of which he is a Governor . Bro . Jones continued his allegiance to his mother Lodge until his retirement from active Masonic life , which took place in 1879 , after a membership of 11 | years . He now finds himself , at the

age of 74 , unable to follow his business , and therefore appeals to his brethren of the Craft . The members of the " old Egyptian " will not let him long remain out in the cold , unless there is some reason for their not helping him .

No . 6 , G . H . T . Dyer , initiated in the Strong Man Lodge , No . 45 , in 1853 , continued his subscription thereto for 26 years . He is now partially paralyzed , and comes forward with 367 votes to his credit from last election . The

Vitruvian Lodge , No . 87—thafc most zealous of patronisers of the Benevolent Institution—is accredited with the initiation of two of this year ' s candidates , No . 9 , Joseph Lewis , and No . 29 , James Goodchild . Bro . Lewis was initiated in 1862 , and continued his subcription until 1880 .

Illhealth and infirmity prevents his following his emplovment . He brings forward 536 votes from last election . Brother Goodchild is a younger Mason , having been initiated in 1872 ; he continued his subscription until 1881 , a total of 9 ^ years . Indigent circumstances and paralysis are the

claims he now puts forward in support of his application . The Domatic Lodge , No . 177 , is also represented by two of its children , viz ., No . 42 , William M . Ford , and No . 46 , Christopher Wilcox . Bro . Ford was initiated in 1856 , and

then subscribed for three years ; he re-joined the Lodge in 1871 , and continued on its roll until December 1878 , a total of eleven years . Bro . Wilcox was initiated in 1858 , and paid until 1873 ; since then he has taken part in the foundation of Lodge , No . 975 , at Richmond , and joined No . 780 , at Kew Bridge . Ill-health renders him incapable

of following his occupation . No . 16 , W . Harrison , initiated in St . James ' s TJnion Lodge , No . 180 , in 1854 , has paid Grand Lodge dues for 14 years , five from his mother Lodge , and nine from No . 733 , London . Reduced circumstances , old age , and infirmities are pleaded on his behalf . He was

only able to poll 11 votes at last year ' s election . No . 34 , B . Banks , initiated in Universal Lodge , No . 181 , iu March 1829 , has a record of 35 | years membership , made up in his mother Lodge and in Nos . 186 , 619 , and 534 . The recent death of his mother-in-law leaves him quite unprovided for . No . 39 , Ralph M . Smith , a P . G . Steward , has