Tee Jubilee Festival Of The R.M.B.I

TEE JUBILEE FESTIVAL OF THE R . M . B . I

At len ° "th we aro within a few days of what may be regarded as thc principal event of the current year . The Jubilee of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Ag-ed Masons and their Widows will be celebrated at thc Theatre Roval , Covent Garden , on Wednesday next . Bro . the Ri ° 'lit Hon . the Earl of MOUXT EDGCUMBE , Deputy Grand Master of

Jiii < rlaiid , and Provincial Grand Master of Cornwall , has very kindly undertaken to preside , and thc Board of Stewards which will support his lordship , after making ' allowance for numerous withdrawals and a few deaths , already exceeds 1400 in number , about 600 of them constituting the London contino-ent while thc remaining * Soo hail from the Provinces . What will be the

result of the efforts made by this Board remains to be seen . The prospects , however , are most encouraging , and it is both possible and probable that thc amount announced at the Centenary Festival of thc Royal Masonic Institution for Girls will be very closely approached , if , indeed , it is not exceeded . But in a short time this point will be determined , and , therefore ,

there is no need for us to indulge in speculations as to the amount which the celebration of Wednesday next will bring forth . We know the aggregate of thc lists will be a large one , and if a few words of exhortation from us at the last moment arc at all likely to make that aggregate still larger , it is manifestly out * duty to utter them .

What vve are anxious to impress upon out * readers is that the question to he solved next week is not one of mere rivalry between two Institutions vvhich during the periods they have been respectively in existence have done o-ood service to thc Craft of Masonry . The effort to surpass what has been declared to be a brilliant result is natural ancl laudable , but what concerns us

most is whether , at the present time at all events , the Benevolent Institution is not in greater need of funds than either of our other Masonic Institutions . Notwithstanding the repeated , and on more than one occasion the very substantial , augmentations which have taken place during thc last ten or a dozen years in the number of annuitants on thc two Funds of this Charity , there

. ire at this moment about 140 candidates—the precise number is made up of ( in men and 70 widows—who havc been approved worthy of being elected to the benefits of this Institution . All of them are advanced in years , all have seen better davs , but arc now in a state of extreme poverty and distress . Their age prevents them doing anything towards earning a livelihood ,

nnd in ihe majority of cases their relations are as poor as themselves . Thus , though manj * contributions vvill be forthcoming on this particular ftccension , cither because it happens to be the Jubilee Festival , or because the Executive is striving their utmost to cut thc magnificent record vvhich was established in 1888 , the great point to be urged upon the

brethren and lodges both in London and the Provinces is that an enormous aggregate of donations and subscriptions is needed , because there is such a l . injc number of poor brethren and widows awaiting election , and the proportion of vacancies to candidates is so small that in the ordinary course of ibings it would be impossible to admit more than one-fourth of the number on

the list for ballot in May next to the benefits of the Charity . However , as wc pointed out last week , thc Committee of Management , on the mere pros-P ' i -t of a large result , have already resolved to increase thc annuitants on the . Male Fund by 10 , and those on the Widows' Fund by an equal number . 1 liis is a bold and perfectly justifiable , and therefore a commendable , step on

the- part of the Committee , but even this increase vvill still leave between So ami 00 unprovided for . Hence , what we desire to sec realised is that the Jubilee on Wednesday shall yield so abundant a crop of donations and subscri ptions that the Committee , after making thc needful provision for the year ' s L-Npcnditurc , will find a large sum at their disposal vvhich will be available for

'" vestment , and which , by increasing thc permanent income of the Institution v * r y considerabl y , will admit of a still further increase in the number of ¦ " "' mutants without at the same time too seriously increasing the responsibilities of the Institution . If . 1 result is attained which will enable this to be "one , then the Committee of Management , instead of contenting themselves

V' " caling 20 additional vacancies , will have it in their power to create 40 ? cvcn 5 ° vacancies without risk of being considered rash in their proceed-A ; while , at the same time , thc list of unsuccessful candidates in May 1 * t will bc reduced within manageable compass , 'therefore it is that we •I'licsll y exhort our readers to render all the assistance in their to t 3 IU llIIUVl !• W

power ,. - -- - " ... . v-,. w ^ . - .. . ' » .............. ... * ..-.. j ~ ., „ . ... le 'airman and Board of Stewards for thc approaching Jubilee , to the end •' tbe Masonic Benevolent Institution may at length lind itself in a position c ° pe successfull y with thc heavy demands which for several years past ¦ 'cI been made upon its resources . Wc desire to see the list of approved l

of _! tntC : S reduced to such moderate dimensions that when once thc name ¦ mother or widow is placed upon it , he or she may stand a chance of a ( " s ndm 'ltcd to the benefits of the Charity within a reasonable time . With that fv scr 'P * - ' "st on Wednesday next there is good reason to hope ll 1 's very material point will bc gained .

Consecration Of The Bisley Royal Arch Chapter, No. 2317.

CONSECRATION OF THE BISLEY ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER , No . 2317 .

The consecration of this chapter was postponed in consequence of the illness of Comp . Col . Noel Money , C . B ., Grand Superintendent , but owing to the continuation of his illness and contemplated residence for a time in the Riviera , it was decided bv him that there should not be any

further postponement , and in accordance with his request , Comp . Philbrick , Q . C , Grand Superintendent of Kent , and acting G . Scribe E ., attended on thc Sth inst . and performed the ceremony of consecration in a most able and impressive manner . He also installed Comp . Rev . J . Cater as Z ., and Comp , H . Tyler , Prov . G . J ., installed Comps . J . B . S . Lancaster as H ., and E . H .

Gale-Crovvdy as J . Owing to the prevailing epidemic , a number of illustrious companions were absent , but among those present were Comps . J . H . Askham , Prov . G . P . S . of Hants ; ' H . Miller , P . Z . ; VV . Vincent , P . Z . ; and G . White . The officers present who were elected and invested vvere Comps . C . Pulman , P . Z ., Scribe E . ; Major G . Collins , Scribe N . , * C . F . Passmore , P . S . ; and J . H . Askham , P . Z ., as D . C .

After thc chapter closed the companions dined together at the Brookwood Hotel .

The customary toasts were proposed by the M . E . Z ., and repl ying on behalf of " Grand Chapter , " Comp . PHILBRICK said that , while he deeply sympathised with the founders in not having their Grand Superintendent with them , he could not altogether regard his own attendance in the light of a favour to the Bisley

Chapter . He simply felt that he vvas only carrying out that grand principle of Masonry—doing vvhat he could . Certainly there vvere some difficulties which presented themselves , but he thought that the founders had proved equal to thc occasion , and from this fact coupled with , might he say thc " audacity" of their M . E . Z ., he could anticipate a prosperous future for thc Bisley Chapter .

Comp , H . TYLER replied for " The Grand Superintendent and Prov . Grand Ofiicers , Present and Past . " Me alluded in feeling terms to the sickness of the several officers of thc province , and expressed great pleasure in being * able to contribute , he felt in a somewhat inefficient manner , to the success of the day's proceedings . He cordially wished for thc newlyconsecrated chapter every success .

Thc toasts of "Thc M . E . Z ., " "Thc Visitors , " and "The Officers " were dnly honoured . Thc companions separated feeling that what had appeared to be almost insuperable difficulties had vanished , and that the )* had been greatl y favoured under the existing circumstances .

Reasons For Masonic Secrecy.

REASONS FOR MASONIC SECRECY .

If the secrets of Masonry are replete vvith such advantages to mankind , it may bc asked , why arc they not divulged for the general good of society ? To this it may bc answered , were the privileges of Masonry to be indiscriminately dispensed , the purposes of the Institution would be subverted , and our secrets being familiar , like other important matters , would lose their value , and sink into disregard .

It is a weakness in human nature , that men arc generally more charmed vvith novelty , than with the intrinsic value of things . Innumerable testimonies mig ht be adduced to confirm this truth . The most wonderfu l operations of the Divine Artificer , however beautiful , magnificent , and useful , are overlooked , because common and familiar . The sun rises and sets , the sea flows and rellovvs , rivers glide along their channels , trees and

plants vegetate , men and beasts act , yet these being perpetually open to view , pass unnoticed . The most astonishing productions o ! nature on the same account escape observation , and excite no emotion , either in admiration of the great cause , or of gratitude for the blessing- conferred . Even virtue herself is not exempted from this unhappy bias in the human frame .

Novelty influences all our actions and determinations . What is new , or difficult in the acquisition , however trifling or significant , readily captivates thc imagination , and insures a temporary admiration ; while what is familiar , or easily attained , however noble or eminent , is sure to be disregarded by the giddy and unthinking .

Did thc essence of Masonry consist in the knowledge of particular secrets or peculiar forms , it might be alleged that our amusements were trilling and superficial . But this is not the case . These arc only keys to our treasure , and having their use , are preserved j while , from the recollection of the lessons which they inculcate , the well-informed Mason derives instruction ,

draws them to . 1 near inspection , views them through a proper medium , adverts to the circumstances which gave them rise , and dwells upon the tenets which they convey . Finding them replete with useful information , he prizes them as sacred ; and convinced of their propriety , estimates their value from their utility . —American Masonic Register , iSjo ,