Our Institutions.

OUR INSTITUTIONS .

THE official particulars respecting our Institutions which wc published last week deserve something more than a passing comment . There is no doubt as to the liberal—we may say , rather , the munificent—support they meet with from the Craft all round . Yet the record for last year , handsome as it undoubtedly is , shows a very

formidable decrease as compared with the year 1880 , while it figures unfavourably to the extent of not far short of £ 1 , 300 as compared with 1879 . Fluctuations are of course to be expected , but a falling off of , in round figures , £ 6 , 500 as between one year and its immediate successor cannot be

treated lightly , and will go far towards , convincing the Fraternity generally that the policy we have more than once advocated in these columns of strengthening the permanent resources of our Charities is a wise one , and shonld be followed , for some time at least , in preference to the

policy of extension , or , in other words , of committing ourselves to an annually-increasing expenditure on their behalf . The munificence of the Craft is indubitable , but there is such a thing as over-taxing the powers of a willing horse , and it strikes us as being only reasonable that the marked

decrease we have just noted should be made the text of a brief homily on the advantages of consolidation . We cannot too seriously regret the increasing demands that are being made on the resources of our Charities , but there is a limit even to Masonic Benevolence , especially

when it seems that the demands on our breeches pocket more than keep pace with the amounts that are paid out of it annually . "We speak subject to correction , but we believe Ave are correct in stating that , for all the additions that have been made during the last few years to the

number of beneficiaries , the number of candidates is larger than ever it was . Thus , there are forty-six old men candidates for the fourteen vacancies in May next , and 66 old women candidates for the then seven vacancies . It is intimated there will be fifteen vacancies in April for the Boys '

School , and the number of candidates is set down at a possible seventy-two . The Girls' School is better circumstanced , as there are only twenty-eight candidates for the twenty-one vacancies that will occur in the spring . Now there are 155 old men , and 160 widows on the Benevolent

Fund , 215 pupils in the Boys' School , and 233 in the Girls ' School ; or , to put the case moderately , quite fifty per cent . more than there were in 1875 , and yet the cry as regards the candidates is " Still they come , " in ever-increasing numbers .

There are those who think the candidates will become more numerous as the number of recipients is increased , and the experience of the past few years would appear to bear oat this view . At all events , with a drop of £ 6 , 500 from 1880 to 1881 it seems to be reasonable that , for the

present , and in spite of the overwhelming number of candidates , steps should be taken to increase the invested moneys oftho three Institutions . In the case of the Boys '

School this policy wonld seem to be most imperative , the amount received in respect of " dividends and interest " being only £ 510 , while tho grants from Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter are only £ 160 10 s , together , and the

Our Institutions.

permanent expenditure is , in round figures , not less than £ 9 , 500 per annum . The same , but to a loss conspicuous degree , is the case with tho Girls' School and Benevolent Institution , and hence wo commend theso remarks espe «

cially to our readers . However , we trust the support to our Charities during tho current year will be worthy of the Craft , as well as commensurate with the demands that are being made on their resources .

Masonic Presentation To H.R.H. The Duke Of Albany.

MASONIC PRESENTATION TO H . R . H . THE DUKE OF ALBANY .

ON the 9 th instant , Prince Leopold , accompanied by the Hon . A . Yorke , crossed from Osborne to Portsmouth in the Alberta royal yacht , and on landing at the Dockyard was received by His Royal Highness Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar , K . C . B ., commanding the southern military district , who was attended by Lord Albert

Seymour and Major Brunker . His Royal Highness at once drove to the Government House , Portsmouth , to receive a deputation from the Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar Lodge , No . 1903 , which was formed a few months since , Commander Lord Charles Beresford being its first

Master . The Officers attended , aud were introduced to his Royal Highness by Brother A . Leon Emanuel , tho Secretary of the Lodge . The acting Master presented the following resolution , which had been handsomely illuminated and enclosed in a gilt frame : —

At a moetiug of tho Princo Edward of base-Weimar Lodge , No 1903 , held on the 7 th December 1881 , it was unanimously resolved that tho brethren of tho Lodge , having learned of the approaching nuptials of R . W . Brother H . R . H . Princo Leopold , Dnko of Albany ,

with H . R . H . the Princess Helena of Waldeck , beg to offer to his Royal Highness the expression of their most respectful congratulations on the happy event , aud they pray that tho Most Hif ? h may grant to his Royal Highness and his august bride many years of domestic felicity and happiness .

Princo Leopold made the following reply : —Acting Worshipful Master and Brethi'en of the Princo Edward of Saxe-Weimar Lodge , —From my heart I thank yon for your address of congratulation and for the sentiments expressed therein towards me and my future bride . Being

now on my way to visit her in her German homo , I shall bear with me that expression of your goodwill . I can wish for no greater happiness than that on her coming to this

country she may find a new home in the hearts of the English people . His Royal Highness , who consented to become an honorary member of the Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar Lodge , afterwards left for London .

We regret to hear that Dr . Bedford , the founder of the Bedfordian system of Astronomy , has met with a severe accident . Our talented brother was crossing the Straud on Monday week , when he was knocked down by a reckless driver , and had his left arm dislocated , his left leg

crushed , and was otherwise fearfully injured . Dr . Bedford is seventy-two Years of age , but lie can boast of an excellent constitution , and it is to be hoped it will not be long before he recovers . Meanwhile , his many friend * will be " ¦ ratified to learn he is going on favourably .

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