The Eve Of The Festival.

THE EVE OF THE FESTIVAL .

THE excitement of anticipation has ruled at a high pitch during the last few weeks in the Masonic Oharity world , as no doubt it will continue to do for a few days longer , in connection with the Anniversary Festival of the

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . This event will be celebrated on Tuesday next , the 22 nd inst , under the presidency of Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Provincial

Grand Master for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight , when we hope such a result will be achieved as will cause a fresh excitement in our midst—this time the excitement of

realisation , not only of the most sanguine expectations , but of our wildest hopes . So much has been said of late in our pages in regard to this approaching event , that there is little to add now that

it is so close upon us , further thau to review what has been done ; make a hasty glance at what is proposed ; and conclude with a final appeal on behalf of those for whom so much is needed , with so little available .

Looking back , we find it was only as recently as the middle of December that the Institution had the good fortune to secure the services of a Chairman for its

Festival , a fact which must of necessity have some effect on the final result . Since that day the respected Grand Master of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight—the brother who consented to preside—has evinced great personal interest

in the work he has undertaken , while he has been nobly supported by the brethren of his Province . Yet we must not forget they have had but two short months in which to organise everything ; to appeal for the aid they doubtless

wish to secure , or canvass for contributions from those able to make them . The shortness of the period thus available for work may be expected to make no small difference in the announcement on the night of the

Festival , as any of our Provincial friends who have worked in a similar cause in their own districts could testify , for it not unfrequently happens that some of those who would be

pleased to support their Masonic ruler in a Chairmanship for one or other of the Masonic Charitable Institutions , would find themselves unable to do so at two months '

notice , for the reason that they had previously pledged themselves in another quarter . Not only would their services thus be lost for the time being , but if , in addition , they had been bestirring themselves for the object of their

choice—as they no doubt would have done—the loss would be still greater , as they would have diverted other contributions than their own from the channels to which they might have been expected to flow had the decision of the

Provincial Grand Master been made known at an earlier date . London Masons will perhaps hardly appreciate the difference it makes in the support rendered by a Province when its Masonic chief undertakes the Chairmanship

of a Festival , but a glance at past records would soon convince the most sceptical on this point , while it almost makes us regret that our Masonic chiefs do not shew a greater public and permanent interest in the

Charities then they do at present . A Province which invariably does well may be relied on for three , four , six or even ten times its ordinary contribution when , in addition

to the claims of an Institution , are added the persoual appeal of the Provincial Grand Master himself , but it will be readily understood that in this respect the time available for canvass has no small effect on the result ,

Of Lodges To Be Visited Is Largo, With Days Of Meeting Spread Over A Long Period. However, The Provincial Grand Master Who Will Preside On Tuesday Next Has Availed Himself Of The Best Resources At His Command, Setting A Good Example To Those From Whom He Invites Support.

of Lodges to be visited is largo , with days of meeting spread over a long period . However , the Provincial Grand Master who will preside on Tuesday next has availed himself of the best resources at his command , setting a good example to those from whom he invites support .

as so much depends on personal solicitation , either by the Chairman himself or by one or other of his more intimate associates , a work which can only be carried on to a limited extent—a very limited one when the number

Notable in this respect we may refer to his summoning an Especial Provincial Grand Lodge , which was held on the 31 st ult ., at Winchester , under his personal supervision . At that meeting the main business was the consideration of

a proposal to devote a portion of the Prov . Grand Lodge funds to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , the result being that the handsome sum of two hundred and

fifty guineas was voted , the only point of difference among the brethren in regard to the matter being as to whether the amount should not be greater ; but as the adoption of an extended vote would have entailed a withdrawal of some

part of the invested funds of the Province , the original proposition was agreed to—a decision which will , we are sure , be endorsed by all supporters of the Benevolent Institution , who would rather see that Charity go a little

short for the time than that it should ever be open to the charge of having induced the brethren of this southern county to commence a course of extravagant expenditure . Besides , may it not be urged that the

Province has done all that could reasonably be expected when it voted all its current balance to the cause it has at heart ; other claims will doubtless arise in the future for which some provision ought to be made , for there ia

no knowing how severe may be the need when next the brethren of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are specially appealed to . Another Provincial meeting was held the same day , at Winchester ; the Annual Convocation

of Grand Chapter being fixed for that day , the Chairman of Tuesday next again presiding . There also the claims of the Benevolent Institution were urged to good effect , the result being that Provincial Grand Chapter voted a sum of

fifty guineas , while Companion Eve , on whose list the contribution of Provincial Grand Chapter will appear , announced his intention of making a personal contribution of one hundred guineas , so that from these three sources alone

Hampshire and the Isle of Wight added four hundred guineas to the Festival Fund on the one day . Such examples cannot fail to produce good effects in the district—all we can hope is , that they may be as well backed up as they deserve .

Turning to the next phase of our subject we find the Committee of the Institution endeavouring to keep pace with the efforts being made on its behalf , while there is a manifest readiness on their part to extend the benefits of

the Charity yet further , provided the Craft—by the amount of its contributions—renders such a course in any degree practicable . At the last monthly meeting of the Committee of Management the programme for the Election in

May next was virtually settled , although , as we have said above , there is ample time for still greater extension , should the subscribers deem it prudent when the result of the Festival is known . As we announced in our last

issue the decision of the Committee of Management was to increase the number of Female Annuitants to such an extent as to allow of the admission of twenty-five at the next election from a total of seventy-seven now eligible to