An Immediate Return For This Year's Contributions.

AN IMMEDIATE RETURN FOR THIS YEAR ' S CONTRIBUTIONS .

NEXT WEEKS FESTIVAL .

THE Eoyal Masonic Benevolent Institution Committee has adopted a particularly wise course in announcing an increase in the number of the Annuitants on the eve of the Anniversary Festival—the number of Male pensions of £ 40

per year each being raised from 195 fco 200 ; and we venture to predict the liberality displayed in this direction will nofc be thrown away , but rather that it will show an immediate

return , probably as early as Wednesday next , when the amount subscribed in connection with this year ' s Anniversary Festival comes to be announced .

Ifc has been urged the three Institutions do nofc show any tangible appreciation of special efforts made on their behalf from time to time , and so discourage Brethren who do not

fully appreciate fche whole system under which they are managed , from acting further on their behalf . In the present age most men seem to look for an immediate return for their

money , and hence it is that after a good result has been achieved in connection wifch one of the Anniversary Festivals of our Institutions , some are disposed to look for an immediate increase of benefits—either an extension of the

number of Annuitants , or an addition to the roll of pupils at the Schools . They do not wait to see the ultimate outcome of the Festival in which they took part , and probably all bufc

forget the matter ere it is decided to add something to the invested stock of the Institution—but meantime they have been disappointed , while some have even been dissatisfied , and have plainly expressed themselves to that effect .

Our view of this matter has been pointed out more than once . We are of opinion more should be done with fche funds as they come in , rather than that hugh reserves should be piled up—ostensibly to provide for the proverbial rainy

day , but really acting as a sore temptation for the exercise of radical ideas in fche way of change , which , though possibly needed , can yet be done without , and most likely would never be seriously thought of if a large sum of money was not

ready to manipulate . We should like to see improvements introduced into the existing buildings of English Masonic Benevolence , and probably there are many who wish to see much of the system under which they are worked changed ,

bufc what we do possess is very good , and will probably suffice—or have to suffice—for some time yet to come , principally on account of the expense of alteration . But once

let the reserves reach an amount sufficient to carry out some of the wild schemes of would-be reformers , and we shall speedily find them brought forward , and probably carried into effect .

In this respect the Benevolent Institution is different from its companion Charities , in that its buildings are insignificant in comparison with its work , and form but a small part of the programme it carries out—we do not mean , in saying this , however , that we should like to see them

An Immediate Return For This Year's Contributions.

increased , being rather of the opinion that the old people elected to the advantages of fche Institution much prefer , in an overwhelming number of cases , to have their annuity to spend in their own district , rather than be forced to live in

some central Institution . Wifch Girls and Boys it may be different , but even in their case we hope a system of boarding out will be put to the test before any further sums are expended in bricks , mortar , and the hundred and one other requirements of a modern Educational establishment .

But to resume our original line of argument . We have shown how Brethren who work for the success of a Festival

are apt to be disappointed when , after a good result , nothing is done beyond continuing the good work of the past . They may have striven hard for a special result , have helped to secure it , and then see no immediate return . Again we say

the Benevolent Institution has acted wisely in taking time by the forelock and declaring additional pensions , probably based on the knowledge they already possess of what this year ' s Festival is likely to produce . But be this as it may the fact

remains thafc fche election of May will see fche number of Male Annuitants raised fco 200 , while the Widow pensions will remain as now , 241 ; in addition to which there will be the usual average of Widows in receipt of half their late husband ' s annuity .

These large totals , taken in consideration with the fact that each Male receives £ 40 a year , and each Widow £ 33 , must convince members of the Craft that liberal support is necessary , for although the Benevolent Institution can

boast a permanent income of something like £ 3 , 600 a year that forms but a small modicum of its expenses , the sum paid to Annuitants alone amounting to close on £ 16 , 500 per annum , of which £ 200 a year results from the additional

Annuities just decided upon . Is it too much to hope that these new grants may be self supporting during this their first year , as the result of the appreciation of the Craft that some immediate return is being made for this year ' s

contributions ? We must nofc , however , devote all our attention in regard to the Festival to be celebrated on Wednesday next to these five new Annuities , for , as we have shown , they represent

but a small part of what will be done with the money then subscribed , and although they afford some relief for the very heavy list of candidates as compared with the number of lapsed annuities , they by no means provide for all we should

like to see admitted . For the Male Fund there are sixty , one candidates , with fourteen vacancies , now increased to nineteen by the recent addition , while further relief is available in the form of the three deferred Annuities regularly

granted . On the Widows' side there are fifty-one candidates , with but seven vacancies , in addition to the three deferred , so that of the 112 eligible Old People recognised as worthy

to receive the help the Craft is able to afford through the Benevolent Institution , only thirty-two can be elected to Annuities in May next , with perhaps a few others to fill