Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Annual Festival Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
amongst themselves that these things did good and brought gratification to them ; but these institutions and such gatherings as these proved something very important to those svho svere in the outer svorld , and not Masons . These svere facts svhich svere most desirable to be knosvn to those svho sverc not Masons , that the svork of Freemasonry svas a good thing . On the part of the present and past Grand Officers hc begged leas'e to thank the company most heartily for thc svay in svhich they had received this toast .
THE CHAIRMAN said : Brethren , before I approach that svhich the toastmaster has told you , and told you s * ery truly , is the toast of the evening , the main object of our coming together , I svill disburden my mind of that svhich has been upon it for the last four and tsventy hours . I had hoped , like yourselves , to be present at the chairmanship of one ss'ho has looked forsvard to it with great hopefulness . I do not knosv any one who
svould have filled the position with greater geniality . He is nosv upon a bed , not of sickness I am glad to say , but of physical inability to get out of it . And I may state for him that until the s-cry latest moment came he so hoped and so clung to the possibility of being present , that it svas not until svithin the last four and tsventy hours or so that he began to think of a
substitute . I , brethren , am that very unsvorthy —( no , no , )— -substitute , and in his name , as svell as in my osvn I ask you to gis'c a cordial reception to the toast nosv before you . You see svhat it is— " Success to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widosvs of Freemasons . " Brethren , I don ' t knosv that either of the other Institutions can
appear more interesting than this—can appeal to our feelings more thoroughly than that svhich sve affectionately call " The Poor Old Folks . " It is the youngest of the Institutions , as you knosv , but it is the one svhich requires as much loving care as any of them . Bro . Terry has placed in my hands a number of figures and details svhich I do not propose to read to you in full . It is sufficient to say that for 42 years nosv thc old men ' s
Institution has existed , and some six or eight years later that for the svidosvs of Freemasons , the old ladies , svas started to run concurrently svith it . I need not say that there arc a very large number svho cannot possibly reach thc benefit of such an Institution as this , but it is a peculiar coincidence—or rather it is a matter of interest—that those svho have received the benefit , added to the number to be elected at
the next election , svill amount to the exact number of one thousand . That is to say those Freemasons svho have heen unfortunate , and the svidosvs of those svho are dead , to that number , have been made happy and easy for thc rest of their lifc from thc moment svhen £ 40 a year in the one case , and £ 30 a year in thc other , svas voted to them . There used to be many , svhen 1 svas a young Freemason , nosv thirty years
ago , who said svhat is the use of I * reemasonry r I say that the facts and figures that I have just nosv read supply an anssver . If people svho have been well-to-do have set in motion for them an institution svhich keeps these people happy and comfortable for the rest of their lives , that is sufficient justification for Freemasonry if there is nothing else . None of us svho to-night are inclined to support the claims of old , ignore in so doing thc
claims of the young ; but svith thc young cs'erything is clastic and hopeful , svhile svith the old svho arc unfortunate there is nothing but penury to look forward to unless the benevolent step forsvard svith aid . I hope in a few moments Bro . Terry the indefatigable Secretary , svill be able to announce such a list of benefactions as svill offer an ample response to this toast . I da not propose to take up your time further here , you svill be better and happier elsesvhere if you go from this room feeling that you have done your duty here . I ask you to drink , to thc toast , coupling svith it thc health of Bro .
ferry . In replying to the toast , Bro . TERRY said : Very Worshi pful sir and brethren , 1 claim your attention , if you please , whilst I give you a fesv figures shosving the results of our Stewards' exertions , in doing svhich I will endeavour to make every figure distinct , so that all may be ! done justice to . The Province of Berks and Bucks , seven
Stesvards , £ 220 15 s . ; Bristol , one Stesvard , £ 293 lis . ; Cheshire , six Stesvards ( one list to come in ) , , £ 115 10 s . ; Cornsvall , one Stesvard , £ 47 5 s . ; Devonshire , one Stesvard , £ 21 6 s . ; Dorsetshire , one Stesvard ( list to come in ); Durham , tsvo Stesvards , £ 121 16 s . ; Essex , eight Stesvards , £ 399 7 s . ; Gloucestershire , four Stesvards , £ c \ a is . ; Hants and Isle of Wight , three Stesvards , £ 350 17 s . ; Herts , eight Stesvards , £ 362 6 s . 6 d . ; Kent , five Stesvards , £ 271 8 s . ; East Lancashire , 25 Stesvards , £ 640 2 s . iod . ; West Lancashire , nine Stesvards , £ 230 ios . ;
Leicestershire and Rutland , one Stesvard , . £ 350 ; Middlesex , seven Stesvards , £ 213 lis . ; Nottinghamshire , tsvo Stesvards ( one list to come in ) , £ 142 14 s . 6 d . ; Oxfordshire , five Stesvards , £ 90 2 s . ; South Wales ( the list to come in }; Somersetshire , one list by its Dep . G . M ., £ 500 ; Staffordshire , one Stesvard alone , £ 152 5 s . ; Suffolk , tsvo Stesvards ( one of svhom brings only £ 10 ios . ) , £ 201 is . tod . ; Surrey , eight Stesvards ( one list to
come in ) , £ 244 4 s . ; E : sex , one list , £ 63 ; Warsvickshire , nine Stesvards , £ 78 9 s . ; Wiltshire , one Stesvard , £ 157 8 s . ; Worcestershire , five Stewards , £ 110 5 s . ; North and East Yorkshire , tsvo Stesvards , £ 49 -8 s . ; West Yorkshire , tsvo Stesvards , £ 352 5 s . ; Guernsey , tsvo Stesvards , £ 218 8 s . ; and India , one Steward , /' io ios . That list , brother Chairman comprehends 140 Stesvards of the provinces . Our
London brethren have responded to the call svith equal liberality , and allosv me to say that the V . W . Bro . the Grand Treasurer , having no province at his back , and his osvn lodge having sent up Bro . George Kenning as Steward with £ 126 , has desired me to say that as the amount given by previous chairmen presiding over these festivals has been 100 guineas , he also gives that amount , and he svished me to mention that as he svas unable to be here , andas he has not had the gout for four years , he has fined himself
another 100 guineas for being absent to-ni ght . Thc donationof the Chairman to-night is therefore 200 guineas . ( Cheers . ) The total amount sent up by the provinces , svith 140 Stesvards , is £ 6097 iSs . ( Cheers . ) The contributions from London brethren by the hands of 159 Stesvards is £ 8245 us . 6 d . —( cheers)—making a grand total of £ 14 , 343 9 s . Cd ., with 15 lists to come in . ( Great applause . ) That , brethren , is the highest total I have ever had the honour to announce . ( Great applause . )
Col . SHADWELL II . CLERKE : Brethren , it is my privilege to be permitted to propose to you the next toast , one svhich I think I may say is second only in importance to that svhich you have just so svell received . When I tell you that I am about to propose to you the toast of the Chairman of this meeting I am sure you svill most thoroughly and
cordially agree svith me in svhat I have said . Brethren , our worthy chairman has just informed you that thc gentleman who had been selected to preside over the meeting has been prevented b y illness . We sympathise svith him . I personally knosv hosv thoroughly hc has looked forsvard to presiding here to-night , and I can understand hosv greatly he must feel his inability to be present on this occasion . But ,
Annual Festival Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
brethren , in his inevitable absence he has done the very best thing he could possibly do . Yesterday he looked about lo see hosv he could provide for the vacancy , and instantly turned his eyes to our Chairman of to-night . Bro . Monckton at once , at a few hours' notice , undertook to take thc chair . See lo-night , brethren , hosv svell hc has fulfilled that office . Brethren , you have in the chair on this evening an old and highly-distinguished Mason . The
name of Sir John Monckton is equally knosvn and honoured in the city o-f London ancl in Masonry . He is not onl y an old Grand Officer of the Craft as Past Grand Deacon , but he has held for some time past the highly responsible ofiice of President of the Board of General Purposes , an office svhich , I have no doubt you are asvarc , is engaged in carrying on the business of the Craft , and to svhich the Craft are under obligatbns . I cannot
but appeal to the many Grand Officers present here to-ni ght svhether Sir Sir John Monckton has not performed the duties of the ofiice svith energy , ability , and zeal —( hear , hear)—and therefore , brethren , I ask you to join svith very great cordiality in thanking Sir John Monckton for coming forsvard to take the chair at the eleventh hour , and to svish him very many years of prosperity in the future . I give you "Thc Health of Sir John Monckton , the Chairman of the evening . "
Sir J MONCKTON : Col . Clerke and Brethren , I feel at this moment like thc svorst half of the Siamese Tsvivs =,. The genuine Chairman of the evening is at home in bed , but to him is due the success of the evening ; but it is my privilege to fill the chair , and I shall carry to my dying day the deep impression made by the announcement of the grand
result of your exertions . I rejoice from my heart that I have had the great Masonic privilege and pleasure of being in the chair to-ni ght . What you have done is I think enough to make any man , any Mason proud , especially if he has presided over the Festival . Brethren , for myself and for Bro . Allcroft in his absence , I thank you vcry heartily .
Lieut .-Col . HALDANE , P . Dep . District Grand Master , Malta , proposed " Success to the other Masonic Institutions , " saying that he thought the Craft at large , and especially the supporters of the ' Schools , osved a deep debt of gratitude to Bro . Hedges and Bro . Binckes for the manner in svhich they conducted those Institutions , and he called upon those present to drink to " The Success of the Boys' and Girls' Schools , " and to bestosv on
Bros . Binckes and Hedges their hearty thanks . Bro . HEDGES , in responding to the last toast , said : V . W . Sir , Col . Haldane , and brethren , svith most sincere thanks I rise to acknosvlcdge on behalf ofthe Boys' and Girls' Schools the very kind and cordial manner in svhich this toast has been received ; and , Sir , in viesv of the glorious announcement to svhich sve have just listened , I feel I should be missing a
great privilege and failing in a great duty if I did not avail myself of this opportunity on behalf of those Institutions to express our most hearty congratulations on the grand success svhich has this ni ght been achies-cd—a success on svhich the Board of Stesvards has indeed a just right to be proud , and one at svhich the Institution and its executive , not forgetting our goad friend Bro . Terry , must be deeply gratified . Of the two festivals svhich have
nosv to follosv , as you arc aware , that of the Boys' School , svhich svill be held in June , svill be presided over b y H . R . H . the Duke of Albany , a Prince , Sir , who has so endeared himself lo the Craft that little more can be wanting to ensure thc success of that festival . But , Sir , before that event the Girls' School hopes to celebrate its ninety-sixth anniversary in the month of May , and svhen sve remember that the year svhich has iust passed did not
prove one of financial prosperity to that Institution , and further bearing in mind that at no previous time has the Charity been doing a greater and grander work than at thc present time , I venture therefore to hope that the Craft will mark its appreciation of lhat good svork by according to the Girls ' School a festival corresponding in ils success to that svhich has this evening been celebrated . I had hoped , Sir , to have been able to announce to you
this evening the name of thc Chairman svho svill preside on that occasion ; but of this pleasure , however , I regret to say I have been debarred . I svill therefore not trespass further upon your time , as I knosv thc brethren are anxious to join the ladies in another room ; but svill conclude by once more , in the name of the Boys' and Girls' Schools , as svell as on my own behalf , tendering you my sincercst thanks .
DR . STRONI ; said ^ he had the honour to propose the next toast , which svas " The Board of Stesvards . " The number of Stesvards , svas 299 svho by their exertions had produced an amount of donations considerably over £ 14 , , and ihcy had it on the word of their Secretary that no such amount had ever been reached . It svas to thc energy of thc Stesvards that that svas osving . It svas a peculiarity of the Masonic Charities that the svhole of the amounts collected by ihe Stewards went into thc coffers of thc Charities .
That svas a significant fact , because they sverc asvare that in other charities a large sum svas deducted in connection svith the festivals . That svas not so in the Masonic Institutions . They had to thank the Stesvards very much for all they had done that night , and hc had to associate svith that toast the name of Bro . Horace B . Marshall , who he believed svas not a very old Mason , but svho by the amount of his benefactions had made himself a prince of benefactors .
Bro . HORACE BROOKS MARSHALL in response said : Worship ful Bro . President , permit me to express my deep sense of the generous magnanimity of the Board of Stesvards in selecting so humble a Mason as myself to be their representative upon this occasion . It is comparatively easy for some of us , Worshipful Brother , svhen sve have undertaken the duties of the ofiice of Stesvard , to satisfy our conscience by handing a
cheque to the Brother Secretary ; but that is not the way the great majority of the Masonic Stesvards carry out their obligations , for as soon as they accept the office they interviesv friends , they solicit the brethren , they visit lodges and frequent chapters , svith the one object in view of obtaining funds for the Institution in svhich they are interested , and if you will analyse the Masonic Stesvards' list you svill find , apart from the brother ' s personal
contribution , vcry fesv sums of 100 , 50 , or even 25 guineas , the items on the list consisting of 10 guineas , 5 guineas , 3 guineas , 2 guineas , 1 guinea , half-aguinea , 5 shillings , and the not to be despised half-a-crosvn ; which makes up thc satisfactory total as announced by Bro . Secretary this evening . But the duties of a Masonic Stesvard do not end here . As a manager of some of the metropolitan charities it has been my painful duty again and again to protest against the enormous cost of a charity dinner , bearing in
mind that it is the custom outside of Masonry to defray the cost of an entertainment out of the funds svhich should be applied to the sacred cause of charity . But svhat a different state of things do sve find when sve enter the regions of Masonic light . Here is a reversal of things indeed , for the guests have become hosts , and the cost of the magnificent banquet of which wa have partaken this evening has been discharged by the Stesvards , besides having the privilege of entertaining the ladies in yonder dining hall . The jesvel svhich we so proudly wear , commemorative of our labours of love , is
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Annual Festival Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
amongst themselves that these things did good and brought gratification to them ; but these institutions and such gatherings as these proved something very important to those svho svere in the outer svorld , and not Masons . These svere facts svhich svere most desirable to be knosvn to those svho sverc not Masons , that the svork of Freemasonry svas a good thing . On the part of the present and past Grand Officers hc begged leas'e to thank the company most heartily for thc svay in svhich they had received this toast .
THE CHAIRMAN said : Brethren , before I approach that svhich the toastmaster has told you , and told you s * ery truly , is the toast of the evening , the main object of our coming together , I svill disburden my mind of that svhich has been upon it for the last four and tsventy hours . I had hoped , like yourselves , to be present at the chairmanship of one ss'ho has looked forsvard to it with great hopefulness . I do not knosv any one who
svould have filled the position with greater geniality . He is nosv upon a bed , not of sickness I am glad to say , but of physical inability to get out of it . And I may state for him that until the s-cry latest moment came he so hoped and so clung to the possibility of being present , that it svas not until svithin the last four and tsventy hours or so that he began to think of a
substitute . I , brethren , am that very unsvorthy —( no , no , )— -substitute , and in his name , as svell as in my osvn I ask you to gis'c a cordial reception to the toast nosv before you . You see svhat it is— " Success to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widosvs of Freemasons . " Brethren , I don ' t knosv that either of the other Institutions can
appear more interesting than this—can appeal to our feelings more thoroughly than that svhich sve affectionately call " The Poor Old Folks . " It is the youngest of the Institutions , as you knosv , but it is the one svhich requires as much loving care as any of them . Bro . Terry has placed in my hands a number of figures and details svhich I do not propose to read to you in full . It is sufficient to say that for 42 years nosv thc old men ' s
Institution has existed , and some six or eight years later that for the svidosvs of Freemasons , the old ladies , svas started to run concurrently svith it . I need not say that there arc a very large number svho cannot possibly reach thc benefit of such an Institution as this , but it is a peculiar coincidence—or rather it is a matter of interest—that those svho have received the benefit , added to the number to be elected at
the next election , svill amount to the exact number of one thousand . That is to say those Freemasons svho have heen unfortunate , and the svidosvs of those svho are dead , to that number , have been made happy and easy for thc rest of their lifc from thc moment svhen £ 40 a year in the one case , and £ 30 a year in thc other , svas voted to them . There used to be many , svhen 1 svas a young Freemason , nosv thirty years
ago , who said svhat is the use of I * reemasonry r I say that the facts and figures that I have just nosv read supply an anssver . If people svho have been well-to-do have set in motion for them an institution svhich keeps these people happy and comfortable for the rest of their lives , that is sufficient justification for Freemasonry if there is nothing else . None of us svho to-night are inclined to support the claims of old , ignore in so doing thc
claims of the young ; but svith thc young cs'erything is clastic and hopeful , svhile svith the old svho arc unfortunate there is nothing but penury to look forward to unless the benevolent step forsvard svith aid . I hope in a few moments Bro . Terry the indefatigable Secretary , svill be able to announce such a list of benefactions as svill offer an ample response to this toast . I da not propose to take up your time further here , you svill be better and happier elsesvhere if you go from this room feeling that you have done your duty here . I ask you to drink , to thc toast , coupling svith it thc health of Bro .
ferry . In replying to the toast , Bro . TERRY said : Very Worshi pful sir and brethren , 1 claim your attention , if you please , whilst I give you a fesv figures shosving the results of our Stewards' exertions , in doing svhich I will endeavour to make every figure distinct , so that all may be ! done justice to . The Province of Berks and Bucks , seven
Stesvards , £ 220 15 s . ; Bristol , one Stesvard , £ 293 lis . ; Cheshire , six Stesvards ( one list to come in ) , , £ 115 10 s . ; Cornsvall , one Stesvard , £ 47 5 s . ; Devonshire , one Stesvard , £ 21 6 s . ; Dorsetshire , one Stesvard ( list to come in ); Durham , tsvo Stesvards , £ 121 16 s . ; Essex , eight Stesvards , £ 399 7 s . ; Gloucestershire , four Stesvards , £ c \ a is . ; Hants and Isle of Wight , three Stesvards , £ 350 17 s . ; Herts , eight Stesvards , £ 362 6 s . 6 d . ; Kent , five Stesvards , £ 271 8 s . ; East Lancashire , 25 Stesvards , £ 640 2 s . iod . ; West Lancashire , nine Stesvards , £ 230 ios . ;
Leicestershire and Rutland , one Stesvard , . £ 350 ; Middlesex , seven Stesvards , £ 213 lis . ; Nottinghamshire , tsvo Stesvards ( one list to come in ) , £ 142 14 s . 6 d . ; Oxfordshire , five Stesvards , £ 90 2 s . ; South Wales ( the list to come in }; Somersetshire , one list by its Dep . G . M ., £ 500 ; Staffordshire , one Stesvard alone , £ 152 5 s . ; Suffolk , tsvo Stesvards ( one of svhom brings only £ 10 ios . ) , £ 201 is . tod . ; Surrey , eight Stesvards ( one list to
come in ) , £ 244 4 s . ; E : sex , one list , £ 63 ; Warsvickshire , nine Stesvards , £ 78 9 s . ; Wiltshire , one Stesvard , £ 157 8 s . ; Worcestershire , five Stewards , £ 110 5 s . ; North and East Yorkshire , tsvo Stesvards , £ 49 -8 s . ; West Yorkshire , tsvo Stesvards , £ 352 5 s . ; Guernsey , tsvo Stesvards , £ 218 8 s . ; and India , one Steward , /' io ios . That list , brother Chairman comprehends 140 Stesvards of the provinces . Our
London brethren have responded to the call svith equal liberality , and allosv me to say that the V . W . Bro . the Grand Treasurer , having no province at his back , and his osvn lodge having sent up Bro . George Kenning as Steward with £ 126 , has desired me to say that as the amount given by previous chairmen presiding over these festivals has been 100 guineas , he also gives that amount , and he svished me to mention that as he svas unable to be here , andas he has not had the gout for four years , he has fined himself
another 100 guineas for being absent to-ni ght . Thc donationof the Chairman to-night is therefore 200 guineas . ( Cheers . ) The total amount sent up by the provinces , svith 140 Stesvards , is £ 6097 iSs . ( Cheers . ) The contributions from London brethren by the hands of 159 Stesvards is £ 8245 us . 6 d . —( cheers)—making a grand total of £ 14 , 343 9 s . Cd ., with 15 lists to come in . ( Great applause . ) That , brethren , is the highest total I have ever had the honour to announce . ( Great applause . )
Col . SHADWELL II . CLERKE : Brethren , it is my privilege to be permitted to propose to you the next toast , one svhich I think I may say is second only in importance to that svhich you have just so svell received . When I tell you that I am about to propose to you the toast of the Chairman of this meeting I am sure you svill most thoroughly and
cordially agree svith me in svhat I have said . Brethren , our worthy chairman has just informed you that thc gentleman who had been selected to preside over the meeting has been prevented b y illness . We sympathise svith him . I personally knosv hosv thoroughly hc has looked forsvard to presiding here to-night , and I can understand hosv greatly he must feel his inability to be present on this occasion . But ,
Annual Festival Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
brethren , in his inevitable absence he has done the very best thing he could possibly do . Yesterday he looked about lo see hosv he could provide for the vacancy , and instantly turned his eyes to our Chairman of to-night . Bro . Monckton at once , at a few hours' notice , undertook to take thc chair . See lo-night , brethren , hosv svell hc has fulfilled that office . Brethren , you have in the chair on this evening an old and highly-distinguished Mason . The
name of Sir John Monckton is equally knosvn and honoured in the city o-f London ancl in Masonry . He is not onl y an old Grand Officer of the Craft as Past Grand Deacon , but he has held for some time past the highly responsible ofiice of President of the Board of General Purposes , an office svhich , I have no doubt you are asvarc , is engaged in carrying on the business of the Craft , and to svhich the Craft are under obligatbns . I cannot
but appeal to the many Grand Officers present here to-ni ght svhether Sir Sir John Monckton has not performed the duties of the ofiice svith energy , ability , and zeal —( hear , hear)—and therefore , brethren , I ask you to join svith very great cordiality in thanking Sir John Monckton for coming forsvard to take the chair at the eleventh hour , and to svish him very many years of prosperity in the future . I give you "Thc Health of Sir John Monckton , the Chairman of the evening . "
Sir J MONCKTON : Col . Clerke and Brethren , I feel at this moment like thc svorst half of the Siamese Tsvivs =,. The genuine Chairman of the evening is at home in bed , but to him is due the success of the evening ; but it is my privilege to fill the chair , and I shall carry to my dying day the deep impression made by the announcement of the grand
result of your exertions . I rejoice from my heart that I have had the great Masonic privilege and pleasure of being in the chair to-ni ght . What you have done is I think enough to make any man , any Mason proud , especially if he has presided over the Festival . Brethren , for myself and for Bro . Allcroft in his absence , I thank you vcry heartily .
Lieut .-Col . HALDANE , P . Dep . District Grand Master , Malta , proposed " Success to the other Masonic Institutions , " saying that he thought the Craft at large , and especially the supporters of the ' Schools , osved a deep debt of gratitude to Bro . Hedges and Bro . Binckes for the manner in svhich they conducted those Institutions , and he called upon those present to drink to " The Success of the Boys' and Girls' Schools , " and to bestosv on
Bros . Binckes and Hedges their hearty thanks . Bro . HEDGES , in responding to the last toast , said : V . W . Sir , Col . Haldane , and brethren , svith most sincere thanks I rise to acknosvlcdge on behalf ofthe Boys' and Girls' Schools the very kind and cordial manner in svhich this toast has been received ; and , Sir , in viesv of the glorious announcement to svhich sve have just listened , I feel I should be missing a
great privilege and failing in a great duty if I did not avail myself of this opportunity on behalf of those Institutions to express our most hearty congratulations on the grand success svhich has this ni ght been achies-cd—a success on svhich the Board of Stesvards has indeed a just right to be proud , and one at svhich the Institution and its executive , not forgetting our goad friend Bro . Terry , must be deeply gratified . Of the two festivals svhich have
nosv to follosv , as you arc aware , that of the Boys' School , svhich svill be held in June , svill be presided over b y H . R . H . the Duke of Albany , a Prince , Sir , who has so endeared himself lo the Craft that little more can be wanting to ensure thc success of that festival . But , Sir , before that event the Girls' School hopes to celebrate its ninety-sixth anniversary in the month of May , and svhen sve remember that the year svhich has iust passed did not
prove one of financial prosperity to that Institution , and further bearing in mind that at no previous time has the Charity been doing a greater and grander work than at thc present time , I venture therefore to hope that the Craft will mark its appreciation of lhat good svork by according to the Girls ' School a festival corresponding in ils success to that svhich has this evening been celebrated . I had hoped , Sir , to have been able to announce to you
this evening the name of thc Chairman svho svill preside on that occasion ; but of this pleasure , however , I regret to say I have been debarred . I svill therefore not trespass further upon your time , as I knosv thc brethren are anxious to join the ladies in another room ; but svill conclude by once more , in the name of the Boys' and Girls' Schools , as svell as on my own behalf , tendering you my sincercst thanks .
DR . STRONI ; said ^ he had the honour to propose the next toast , which svas " The Board of Stesvards . " The number of Stesvards , svas 299 svho by their exertions had produced an amount of donations considerably over £ 14 , , and ihcy had it on the word of their Secretary that no such amount had ever been reached . It svas to thc energy of thc Stesvards that that svas osving . It svas a peculiarity of the Masonic Charities that the svhole of the amounts collected by ihe Stewards went into thc coffers of thc Charities .
That svas a significant fact , because they sverc asvare that in other charities a large sum svas deducted in connection svith the festivals . That svas not so in the Masonic Institutions . They had to thank the Stesvards very much for all they had done that night , and hc had to associate svith that toast the name of Bro . Horace B . Marshall , who he believed svas not a very old Mason , but svho by the amount of his benefactions had made himself a prince of benefactors .
Bro . HORACE BROOKS MARSHALL in response said : Worship ful Bro . President , permit me to express my deep sense of the generous magnanimity of the Board of Stesvards in selecting so humble a Mason as myself to be their representative upon this occasion . It is comparatively easy for some of us , Worshipful Brother , svhen sve have undertaken the duties of the ofiice of Stesvard , to satisfy our conscience by handing a
cheque to the Brother Secretary ; but that is not the way the great majority of the Masonic Stesvards carry out their obligations , for as soon as they accept the office they interviesv friends , they solicit the brethren , they visit lodges and frequent chapters , svith the one object in view of obtaining funds for the Institution in svhich they are interested , and if you will analyse the Masonic Stesvards' list you svill find , apart from the brother ' s personal
contribution , vcry fesv sums of 100 , 50 , or even 25 guineas , the items on the list consisting of 10 guineas , 5 guineas , 3 guineas , 2 guineas , 1 guinea , half-aguinea , 5 shillings , and the not to be despised half-a-crosvn ; which makes up thc satisfactory total as announced by Bro . Secretary this evening . But the duties of a Masonic Stesvard do not end here . As a manager of some of the metropolitan charities it has been my painful duty again and again to protest against the enormous cost of a charity dinner , bearing in
mind that it is the custom outside of Masonry to defray the cost of an entertainment out of the funds svhich should be applied to the sacred cause of charity . But svhat a different state of things do sve find when sve enter the regions of Masonic light . Here is a reversal of things indeed , for the guests have become hosts , and the cost of the magnificent banquet of which wa have partaken this evening has been discharged by the Stesvards , besides having the privilege of entertaining the ladies in yonder dining hall . The jesvel svhich we so proudly wear , commemorative of our labours of love , is