Festival Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

FESTIVAL OF THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

THE first Grand Masonic event of the year 1877 took place on Monday evening last , and may bo chronicled as an unqualified success . The attendance wa 3 large , notwithstanding it had become pretty generally known that H . R . H . Prince Leopold , Provincial Grand Master for Oxfordshire , through illness , had been compelled to abandon his intention of taking tho chair . Tho Right Hon . the

Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot , however , was an able substitute , and he wa 3 supported by Lord Leigh , the Provincial Grand Master of Warwickshire ; Lord Methuen , Provincial Grand Master of Wilts ; tho Rev . C . J . Martyn , Deputy Provincial Grand Masior of Suffolk ; Colonel Creaton ; Bro . Samuel Tomkins , Grand Treasurer ; the Rev . R . J .

Simpson , Past Graud Chaplain ; Bro . John Hervey , Grand Secretary ; Bro . Nicholas Bradford , Captain Homfray , Bro . R . Wentworth Little , Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Middlesex ; Bro . F . Binckes , Bro . James Terry , Bro . Robert Griggs , & c . So Boon as the distinguished company had taken their seats the banquet was served , and , con .

sidering tho immense number who had to be catered for , reflected the greatest credit upon tho new manager , Bro . Dawkins . On the removal of the cloth , the Rt . Worshipful Chairman prefaced his remarks by saying that it was with great regret he was in the chair on tho present occasion , owing to tho absence of His Royal

Highness Prince Leopold , who only that morning was enforced to abandon the intention of being present . However , I think I may Bay , amongst brother Masons , that you know I will endeavour to do my best . ( Cheers . ) From the acclamations which greeted the first petticoat that appeared in the gallery , I am sare few remarks only

will bo necessary from me to ask you to drink the health of the first lady in the land . Amongst Englishmen , and especially amongst Freemasons , it is only necessary to mention the name of Her Majesty the Queen to ensure that toast tho hearty reception whioh it deserves . I should be wasting vour time , therefore , if I were

to dilate on the merits of Her Majesty . Long may she reign in the affections of her people . The " National Anthem" was then sung . The Chairman next proposed " the health of the M . W . G . M ., H . R . H . the Princo of Wales , " ho had now a Masonic secret to impart ; when they had done their business there , their fair sisters were anxiously

awaiting their presence in the Temple . He would therefore recommend the brethren at once to put their hands into their pockets and " stump up . " With no other object than that of saving time , he would , without wishing to weary them , propose this toast . The merits of tho Prince of Wales wero too well known to require observation .

All thoroughly appreciated him , and he left it in their hands to do honour to the toast . With it he coupled tho name of Princo Leopold . The Chairman next gave " the health of tho Pro Grand Master , tho Dep . Grand Mastor , and tho rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " and called upon the Rov . R . J . Simpson , Past Grand Chaplain , to reply . The Rev . R . J . Simpson thanked the brethren most

unfeignedly for tho compliment which had been paid to the past and present officers of Grand Lodge . With regard to Lord Carnarvon and Lord Skelmersdale , it would bo presumption in him to mention even names which hare become household words among Masons , not only for their

public excellence , but for their private worth . Tho words past and present suggest a very happy idea with regard to our present gather , ing . The present are assembled together to support the past , and to give aid to our brethren in the decline of years ; and to assist the widows of our brethren is a very fitting occasion on which Grand

Officers may assemble together ; on no fitter occasion could Grand Officers appear than for the purpose of strengthening the feeble knees of age , and making "the widow's heart sing for joy . " On this occa . sion we aro not the less strengthened by the fact that the sisters of charity attend , not merely as an accident , but openly , essentially

claiming their place in a grand and noble charity . On behalf of the Officers Past and Present of Grand Lodge , he hoped that they might havo the privilege of assembling on many similar occasions . In giving tho toast of the evening , " Success to the Royal Masonio Bonevolout Institution , " the noble earl said that the Institution had

a very small income , and if it were not for the brethren ' s generosity it could not go on . At the next election there were 72 applicants , and only ten could be elected . He had , however , heard rumours that

the subscriptions on this occasion would be large . Next year he hoped they would be still larger . Every one of the brethren present would be glad to assist the old and infirm , and he was proud to say that this was the second time he had advocated their cause . Masons

had great faith in charity above all things , and they were particularly proud of their three especial charities—The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , and the Royal Masonio Institution for Girls . Masons had great power in assisting those , who were in distress , and in looking at the

cases of distress whioh came before them they wished that they had larger means at their disposal for helping them . Prince Leopold had subscribed liberally , and the brethren of the Apollo Lodge of Oxford , the mother Lodge of His Royal Highness , ) and likewise of myself , had also sent up a large subscription . Ho then proposed the

toast , and called upon Bro . Tomkins , Grand Treasurer , to respond , After a few words from Bro . Tomkins , Bro . Terry announced the amounts of the several lists received from the Stewards , at the conclusion receiving the loudest expressions of approval from all present , The health of the Chairman was proposed by Lord Leigh , and was

briefly responded to . Amongst the other toasts were " Prosperity to the two Schools , the Boys' and the Girls ' , " to which Bro . Little replied . " The Ladies , " by Lord Methuen ; " The health of our Board of Stewards , " by Col . Creaton , and replied to by Bro . J . M . Case .

An adjournment then took place to the Temple , where an excellent concert was given , the musical artistes being Bros . Henry Parker , Baxter , Thornton , and Caravoglia ; Miss Eose Sherrington , Miss Helen Heath , Miss Agnes Larkcom j and Messrs . Lewis Thomas and T . Harper ; the whole under the superintendence of Bro . T , Lawler .

The following are the several Stewards' Lists , together with the numbers of the Lodges and Chapters contributing , and the amount contributed by each , to the above Institution : —

LONDON . Tho Marquis of Londonderry 25 0 0 Lodge 1 Bro . J . March Case - - 43 0 0 ... „ Alderman Ellis - 10 0 0 2 „ Samuel Tomkins - 10 0 0 ... „ Stephen Pearce - 86 1 0

4 „ U . Mackintosh - 15 15 0 5 „ Horace Scriven - 71 3 0 7 „ John Hervey - - 126 15 0 8 „ J . P . Probert - - 9 0 0

9 „ W . T . Scott . . 38 10 0 10 „ Rev . R . J . Simpson 56 14 0 11 „ W . F . Collard Moutrie - 29 5 0 12 „ W . B . Kidder . . 12 0 0 14 „ W . F . Nettleshi p - 10 0 0 ... „ Charles H . Turner - 12 12 0

18 „ H . G . Huggins - 31 0 0 21 „ Robert Berridge - 65 0 0 22 „ Charles W . Gray - 45 0 . 0 23 „ Charles Martin - 33 10 0 25 „ J . Hutchinson . - 32 5 0 27 „ Samuel 11 . Lamblo - 100 0 0

28 „ George H . Wright - 46 0 0 29 „ A . J . E . Trendell . 26 0 0 33 „ Francis Pendered - 34 0 0 49 „ W . A . Tharp . - 134 13 0 ... „ John S . Mercer - 17 0 0

55 „ J . T . iiobertsou - 40 5 0 58 „ James Ford - - 38 17 0 59 „ Captain Dence - - 47 19 0 65 „ Charles Daniel . - 53 10 0 69 „ Dr . Goorse Honor - 56 18 0

72 „ W . G . Brighten - 20 0 0 73 „ W . Kliugenstein . 25 0 0

Lodgo 79 „ John Dennis . 22 0 0 87 Bro . C . Creecy . . 54 0 0 92 „ R . F . Gould - . 33 3 6 95 „ Edwin Bonner . - 25 9 0 99 „ W . R . Winch - . 125 0 0 140 „ Edward Johnson . 25 10 0

144 „ I . G . Unite . . 49 16 0 147 „ Wm . Andrews - - 52 15 0 167 „ George Davis - - 52 0 0 171 „ Joseph Clever . - 28 18 0 172 „ John Hancock - - 61 15 0 174 „ S . H . Rawley . 89 0 0

Chap . 174 Comp . John Newton . 116 0 0 Lodgo 177 Bro . W .. J . Ferguson - 56 15 0 179 „ Z . D . Berry . - 36 12 0 180 „ 11 . A . Stasey - - 70 5 0 188 „ H . M . Levy - - 15 0 0 192 „ Geo . Newman . - 58 0 0 193 „ Henry Leah - - 36 5 0

197 „ Thomas G . Builen - 31 1 0 198 „ J . M . Lockwood . 28 0 0 228 „ Robert Griggs - 107 10 0 256 „ Rev . J . Amos . - 52 5 6 259 „ John Scott - - 17 5 0

4 do „ Robert Seeker - 42 0 0 511 „ AsherBarficld . - 24 10 0 554 „ J . G . Steveus . - 211 5 0 569 „ H . J . Adams - - 45 0 0 057 „ G . P . Gil lard - - 106 5 0 704 „ W . W . Gray . . 30 10 0 715 „ John Jonas - - 75 5 0 720 „ Maurice Spiegel 14 0 0

Chapter I 720 Comp . Levander - 70 0 0 1 Lodge . i 742 Bro . W . W . Baxter- - 16 10 0 j „ „ Thomas Foxall - 122 0 0 | 749 „ Peter Parsons - 45 0 0 764 „ C . F . Barham 94 0 0 765 „ R . Pawson Hooton . 7 11 0

780 „ J . Chambers Roe ¦ 22 10 0 j 822 „ Lewis Phillips jnn . - 33 12 0 860 „ Wm . H . Wallington . 40 0 0 871 „ Henry J . Tuson - 45 0 0

898 „ Benjamin Carter 100 0 0 902 „ G . Brooks . . 42 5 0 907 „ R . E . Stevenson . 50 10 0 957 „ Craven P . Cobham . 27 4 0 1076 „ H . B . Holliday - 59 11 0

1178 „ Isaac Quincey - - 25 3 0 1185 „ Alfred Durrani - 19 0 0 „ Geo . J . Eow - - 17 10 6 1201 „ Jno . H . Watts - 60 0 0 1228 „ Geo . M . E . Snow - 50 0 0 1259 .. J . W . Biinhan . . 110 O O

1260 „ E . Spooner - - 32 0 0 1278 „ Wm . Toye - - 86 5 0 | 1287 „ Edwin Lancaster - 110 0 0 { 1283 „ Eobt . V . Davies - 25 4 0 1 1305 „ Edward White- . 75 0 0

I 1348 „ John Elliott . . 40 0 0 ! 1351 „ C . J . Livett . . 63 0 0 1365 „ G . R . Soper . . 69 18 6 | 1366 „ Charles G . Hill . 107 0 0 : 1331 „ Henry Higgins - 50 1 6 1 1383 „ Colonel Randol ph ¦ 107 10 0 I 1471 » E . W , Braine „ * 28 0 0