The Latest Denunciation Of Freemasonry.

was held in the Music Hall an exhibition , at which somo 600 or 800 persons Avere present , including a few ladies , there being also a very respectable police force on duty for the preservation of order . The majority of the spectators had come evidently , says tho Boston Herald , to enjoy tho

fun , and lest the actors might bo exposed to a fire of eggs and other disagreeable missiles , none wore allowed to seat themselves in tho balcony . After a certain Professor Blanchard , of Wheaton College , had occupied threequarters of an hour in , denouncing and exposing the horrors

of Freemasonry , a Mr . Edward Rouayne set himself to tho task of exposing the mystery of conferring the Master Mason ' s degree , but he Avas inaudible , OAving to the laughter , shuffling of feet , & c . & c . of the audience . Then an " elderly gentleman , tall of stature , and

possessed of lungs so poAverfal as to cause a drill sergeant among the police to turn green with envy , " essayed to speak , but only a feAV of his sentences Avero heard , at intervals . Mr . Ronayne then reappeared and Avent through the ceremony of conferring the third

degree , Avhich , from its exciting character , appears to have been mistaken by those present ! for a Avrestling match , At length the candidate , or " victim , " as ho is called , was disposed of and duly " laid out and covered with a pile of chairs , " when the scene closed , the audience left , and " the

' Christian gentlemen' who conducted the show , after calling at the box-offico and receiving their share of the gate-money "—the men had been charged Avhat is equivalent to a shilling of onr money for admission— " were escorted out of the building by tho police through the rear entrance . "

Many will say AVO should treat this " exposure" with contempt , bufc thejvhqle thing is so ridiculously funny thafc we could nofc leave ifc unnoticed ; nor must it bo

forgotten that Freemasonry is bound to stand always on the defensive . Though this kind of denunciation is nofc very terrible , the cursing Ave are subjected to in other quarters is not without its influence on the weak-minded .

. We append the resolutions referred to : — "Whereas , secret societies , and especially Freemasonry , promote cjass hostility , interfere with justice and elections , restrain free speech , largely control the press , ensnare tho pulpit , excite unchristian

ambition , bring professed Christian men into confidential relations with bad men , degrade the sacred name of brother , tend to destroy Christian fellowship and morality , require oaths and other obligations that are contrary to the Bible , and hinder tho progress of pare religion :

therefore—. Resolved , 1 . That all secret societies ought to be abated , as public nuisances . 2 . Thafc Freemasonry is the Lodgo citadel , and with its fall tho minor secret orders will go down . 8 . Thafc a professed Christian who remains an adhering member of a Masonio or Odd Fellow ' s Lodge thereby practically denies Christ .

4 . Thafc we warn all Christians nofc now connected with a secret Lodgo to continue free , and we entreat all who aro bound to forsake the hidden works of darkness and turn away from such unholy associations .

, _ 6 . Thafc membership in secret societies ought to be regarded as a disqualification for membership in Christian churches , because such societies secretly practise religions ceremonies , and secretly inculcate religious teachings .

' 6 . Thafc members of oath-bound secret combinations are thereby disqualified to hold any office whatever in a free government . 7 . That ifc should be urged upon all seceding and renouncing Masons , as a duty to society and God , to make public confession and exposure of the secret order Avherebv they were ensnared .

•8 . Thafc this convention fully concurs in the deliberately expressed opinion of the late Eev . Nathaniel Colver of Boston , that the vicious character of llasonry and its guilt-concealing and barbarous oaths are such as not only to release all men from their bonds , but also to

lay upon them the solemn obligations to tear off its covering and expose its enormity . 9 . Thafc we invite the co-operation and prayers of all Christians for the overthrow of-the Lodge system , as corrupting to the church and so baneful in its influence upon tho family relation .

. The Installation ceremony will be rehearsed in tho Great City Lodge of Instruction , No . 1426 , on Thursday nest , 27 th inst ., at 6 . 30 p . m ., at Masons' Hall Tavern , Masons' Avenue , Basinghall-street , E . G ., by Bro . Thomas Poore P . M . 720 . Brethren arc cordially invited to support our worthy brother on this occasion .

We are requested to announce that tho installation ceremony will be rehearsed in the Sfc . James ' s Lodge of Instruction , No . 765 , held at Bro . Meacock ' s , Gregorian Arms , Jamaica-road , Bermondsey , on Friday , the 28 th May , by Bro . J . Perkins W . M . 765 , who will be supported by Bros . J . Davison P . M . 299 Preceptor , W . Perraefather P . M . 879 Secretary , and many brethren from the mother Lodge .

R. M. Benevolent Institution.

R . M . BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

rpHE Annual General Meeting of the Eoyal Masonic Benevolent - * - Institntion for Aged Freemasons and AVidows of Freemasons was held yesterday ( Friday ) , at tho Freemasons' Tavern , London .

Bro . Terry , tho Secretary of tho Institution , having declared tho meeting open , ifc -was proposed and carried unanimously that Bro . Henry Smith , Prov . Graud Secretary of West Yorkshire , take the chair .

Bro . Terry then read a letter received from H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , stating that tho M . W . G . M . approved of tho 23 rd February 1881 as the dato of tho Annual Festival of tho Institution .

Tho minutes of tho last annual general meeting were taken a 3 read , and then tho Secretary presented tho Annual Iloports of the Audit Committee and Committee of Management , Avhicb worp unanimously approved and adopted , theso wero . as follow •. — REPORT . In presenting the Annual Report to tho Governors and Subscribers , tho Committee of Management have much pleasure in congratulating them upon tho continued prosperity of tho Institution , evidenced by the large amount of donations collected by tho Stewards at tho Festival , which , by command of tho Patron , H . H . H . tho Princo of Wales

M . W . G . M ., was held on tho 9 th February last , under the Presidency of the Right Hon . the Earl of Zotland ^ R . W . Prov . G . M . for North and East Yorkshire , supported by a Board of 230 Stewards , who bronght in no less a sum than £ 12 , 280 . Tho Committee tender their

warmest thanks to tho Earl of Zetland for his kindness in taking upon himself tho arduous task of Chairman upon the occasion , and also to tho brethren who so nobly exerted themselves to raise this largo amount .

In May 1879 thero wero 145 nialo and 145 female annuitants upon tho fund j to-day , waiting election , there aro 31 men and 48 widows . Since tlie last election 17 men and 10 widows havo died , and the Committee , naturally being desirous of , extending the benefits of the Institution as widely as they prudently can , have determined not only

to fill up theso vacancies , but to add 15 additional annuitants ( viz ., five mon and ton widows ) upon the already . largo list of recipients , so that after to-day there will be 150 males and 155 females upon the funds , tho total amount of whoso annuities will reach £ 10 , 960 . There are

also 20 widows receiving £ 20 each per annum ( being half the amount of their lato husband ' s annuity ) making the total payment £ 11 , 3 G 0 in annuities alone , without the ordinary and necessary working expenses .

The Committee venture to think that the following figures may nofc be without interest , as showing tho growth of tho Institution during the past nine years : — Male Annuitants . Fomalo Annuitants . Total annual No . Amount . No . •Amonnt . amount paid .

1872 114 £ 2 , 934 78 £ 1 , 950 £ 4 , 914 1873 115 4 , 140 81 2 , 268 6 , 408 1874 120 4 , 320 88 2 , 484 6 , 804 1875 130 4 , 680 •98- 2 , 744 7 , 424 1876 130 4 , 680 113 3 , 164 7 , 844 1877 144 5 , 760 127 - 4 , 064 9 , 824 1878 145 5 , 800 134 4 , 288 10 , 088 1879 145 5 , 800 145 4 , 610 10 , 440 1880 150 6 , 000 155 - 4 , 960 10 , 960 With these figures before the donors and subscribers , the Committee leave the support of the Institution in future with greater

confidence to the liberality of the Craft , feeling assured that the work thus being done must commend itself to its favourable consideration and sympathy . Ifc will thus be seen thafc the Institution is ia a most prosperous ! condition , mainly owing to the continued exertions of the Secretary ,

Bro . Terry , whose untiring energy and zeal for its welfare is deserv . ing of tho highest praise . Since his accession to office , tho income of the Institution has steadily increased , for whereas in 1874 the

sum announced at tho Annual Festival was £ o , 176 , tho amount has risen in 1880 to the above-mentioned sum of £ 12 , 280 ; and your Committee tender its best thanks to Bro . Terry for his great efforts in bringing about such a glorious result .

To Grand Lodge tho Committee again renew their thanks for the grant of £ 70 , enabling them to provide the residents of the Institution with coals during tho inclemency of the winter months . Tho Institution afc Croydon is in a thorough stato of repair , bufc the time will shortly arrive when tho usual painting and renovations will have to bo attended to .

The healtn of the residents is , as usual , well cared for by H . J . Strong , Esq ., M . D ., tho Honorary Surgeon , to whom they accord their heartiest thanks for his kindness and attention . An ofier having been made by R . Percy Middlemist , Esq ., to attend

to the ailments of the non-resident annuitants without fee , the Committee accepted this generous offer with their warmest thanks , and appointed him an Honorary Surgeon , and they havo reason to know that in many instances his attention has been of great service to ! those who havo needed his care .

I - Subjoined is a statement of the receipts and expenditure during the past year , ending the 31 st March 1880 , together with the particulars of tho permanent income of tho Institntion : —¦