Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

eari , who , at a moment ' s notice , undertook to preside , and evinced the same zeal and ability as in 1 SS 9 , as well as to the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor , who was prevented at the last minute by illness from occupying the chair , but who nevertheless compiled a goodly fist of contributions from his friends , and to the 330 Stewards , who , bv their great exertions , were successful in obtaining so considerable a sum . The Committee has also to express its gratitude to United Grand Lodge for its renewed annual grant of £ 70 towards providing the inmates of the Asylum at Croydon with coal during the winter months .

At the election in May , 18 S 9 , there were upon the two funds of the Institution in all 409 annuitants , namely , 1 S 0 men and 229 widows , and to-day there are 152 approved candidates , of whom 6 S are men and S 4 widows , these numbers , however , having been reduced since the issue of the voting papers by the deaths of five male and one female candidate . But even when allowance has been made for these reductions , the number of candidates remaining on the list is considerably greater than it has been at any previous election ; and the Committee , though it would gladly do anything in its

power to reduce still further the list of unsuccessful applicants , does not consider it would be justified in recommending the creation of any fresh annuities . There will consequently be no additions made to the number of vacancies declared in February , namely , 14 men ( 11 immediate and 3 deferred ) , and 10 widows ( 7 immediate and 3 deferred ) , beyond those which have been caused by death in the interval that has since elapsed , that is to say , five men and one widow , so that the number to be elected to-day will be 19 men and

11 widows . Thus the number of annuitants will remain the same as after last year s election , namely , 1 S 0 men , each receiving £ 40 per annum , and 229 widows , each receiving £ 32 per annum , the total number being 409 , and the amount to be distributed amongst them £ 14 , 526 . To this , however , must be added a further sum of £ 480 , divisible under Law 9 of the Male Fund among 24 widows of recently deceased male annuitants , so that the expenditure in respect of annuities during the ensuing year will amount to £ 15 , 006 .

The Committee has further to report that , having given its most serious consideration to the great increase which has taken place during the last few years in the number of applicants for the benefits ' of the Institution , it has suggested certain amendments in the laws defining the qualifications of candidates , which , while they will make ho alteration whatever in the amounts of the annuities conferred by the respective funds of the Institution , ' will ' in its opinion have the effect of keeping the number of candidates within more manageable limits . These amendments have been submitted for approval to the Governors and Subscribers , and , it is hoped , will tend to the advantage of the Institution !

The Committee has also to report that in the autumn of last year it appointed a Sub-Committee of Inquiry into the working of the Secretary ' s office , the result being that the Sub-Committee found that , as regards the Secretary and his clerk , the emoluments they received and the duties they performed were in accordance with the arrangements made on their several appointments , with the exception that the hours of attendance had been lengthened , which had been rendered necessary owing to the ever-increasing work in connection with the Institution , whilst as regards the Collector it was clearly shown that that officer had received commission at the rate specified , and only on such amounts as the terms and ^ condftiohs of his employment allowed .

The Committee has much pleasure in publicly expressing its unqualified thanks to the Honorary Surgeons of the Institution—Henry J . Strong , Esq ., M . D ., and R . Percy Middlemist , Esq . —for their kind and unremitting attention to those annuitants , both resident and non-resident , who have unfortunately been compelled to seek their advice and assistance .

The Committee is desirous of placing on record its sincere regret at the recent death of Bro . Raynham VV . Stewart , P . G . D ., one of its members , to whose initiative the Institution is largely indebted for the increase in 1 SS 2 of its annual grant from United Grand Lodge from £ Soo to £ 1600 , and who , in his professional capacity , frequently rendered it most important service .

The Committee is pleased to be in a position to report that the building at Croydon is in a state of repair , and that the newly purchased strip ot ground adjoining it has been carefully laid out , and is likely to prove a great boon to the residents , whilst insuring greater privacy . The audited statement of accounts for the year ended the 3 ist March , 1 S 90 , is appended . After the very favourable opinion expressed by the Auditor of Grand Lodge as to the system of book-keeping adopted in the Secretary's office , and bearing in mind the

satisfactory nature of the report delivered by the Sub-Committee of Inquiry into the working of the same department , the Committee feels it unnecessary to say more than that the statement in question has been prepared with the utmost care , and after a most rigorous examination of the various items of receipt and expenditure by the Finance Committee , and it has no hesitation in stating that the funds of the Institution have been administered with a due regard to efficiency and economy .

It only remains for the Committee to express its earnest hope that in the future , as in the past , the Craft in England will give its generous help in assisting to maintain in a state of unimpaired efficiency this most valuable Institution . The very great responsibility which it has undertaken can be discharged only by the hearty co-operation of all classes of the brethren , and the Committee has every confidence that its appeal for a continuance of that co-operation will not be allowed to pass unheeded by any section of English Freemasons .

Subjoined is a statement of the receipts and expenditure for the past year , together with full particulars of the permanent resources of the Institution . On the motion of Bro . J AMES BRETT , P . G . P ., seconded by Bro . W . CLARKE , P . G . P ., this report was received , adopted , and ordered to be entered on the minutes .

On the motion of Bro . W . CLARKE , seconded by Bro . BRETT , Bros . L . Stean , Fitzgerald , Fisher , and Stevens , the retiring members of the Committee , were re-eiected . Bro . WILLIAM CLARKE , P . G . P ., next said he had to propose that Bro . J . A . Farnfield , P . A . G . D . C , be re-elected as Treasurer of the Institution . Bro . Farnfield had served the Institution faithfully for some time , and he hoped the brethren would see their way clear to re-elect him . Bro . WALTER HOPEKIRK , P . G . P ., seconded the motion . The motion was carried .

Bro . FARNFIELD said he was much obliged to the brethren . What he had done in the past he would endeavour to do in the future . Bro . J AMES BRETT , P . G . P ., in proposing as Trustee of the Institution F " und Bro . Leopold E . Gordon Robbins , barrister-at-law , Vice-Patron of the Institution , P . P . A . G . D . C . Oxon , in place of the late Bro . tineas J . Mclntyre , O . C , Judge of

County Courts , said Bro . Robbins was a lover of Freemasonry , and he had done a great deal for it and for the Institution of which he was a Vice-Patron . He was also a barrister , which , of course , was a great advantage to the Institution . In one case when it was in a position of a little difficulty through the breaking of a bank , he very generously sent a cheque for £ 100 . His efforts had done a great deal towards placing the Institution in its present position .

Bro . W . CLARKE , P . G . P ., seconded the motion , which was put and carried . Bro . J . A . FARNFIELD moved , and Bro . HOPEKIRK seconded , the re-election of the Auditors , Bros . Tattershall , Berry , and Kempton . The motion was carried . The Scrutineers of votes for the election were then nominated , and the brethren proceeded to elect 19 men and 11 widows as recipients of the annuities of the Institution out of a list of 152 candidates . At the declaration of the poll the following was found to be the result :

MALES . SUCCESSFUL .

Name . Votes . George Norwood 33 iS Thomas Hayter Chase 3110 Adolphe Faucquez 3047 John Thickins 3004

Thomas Chapman 2 S 6 g Thomas Smith 2830 Michael L . Levey 2 S 12 Edmund Herbert de Rhe Philipe ... 2697 John Elliott 2641 ames Dickson 2631

Name . Votes , Elmit Robinson 25 S 9 Anthony K . Allinson -524 William Middleton 2447 John Shaw 2 J . ' , o

John Turpin 2422 William Dehown Hall 2415 Chas . E . Walter 2360 Charles Britnor 2336 John Evans 2315

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

UNSUCCESSFUL .

Name . Votes . Thomas Deller 225 S George William Stourton 2247 Arthur Edward Windus 2117 Charles Gibbs Webb 1966 George Robert Ware 1963

James Richard Warr 1433 " Ed . F . Ferris 119 S R . G . Parker gSS B . W . Pickett S 74 Charles Sari 7 gG William Cloves 757 Archibald McMillan 6 S 2

Alexander Mole 676 Charles William Hatt 637 Richard Higgs 512 William Mason •¦ 5 ° 3 James Watts 34 S Robert Nichol 230

S . Proby Ekin 192 E . W . C . Laforest 1 S 9 William John McLean 131 George Stevens 13 ° John Fix ter 114 James P . VV . Gillard 106 Richard Glover 81

Name . Votes . John Musham 68 William Field 5 S James Horstead 57 Alexander Sellar 50 Edward Murch 50

R . S . Rendell 45 George Fox 30 Robert Pitts n Joseph Morrell 8 Henry Miller 7 George Bailes 6 Henry Winsor 5

John Close 3 Thomas Gidley 2 George Hislop 2 Jonathan Wright —• John Cowgill — Thos . S Stockman

—Charles J . Petty — John Kilshaw — Benjamin Smith — William 0 'Kelly Dead Joseph Barker Dale Dead George Cooper Dead

FEMALES . SUCCESSFUL .

Name . Votes . Sarah Ann Nott 4390 Eliza Lill y white 437 S Frances Elizabeth Warren 43 : 6 Elizabeth Burke 403 G Emily Buckland 3929 Sarah S . Newberry 3761

Name . Votes . Rosetta Harriett Taylor 3715 Jessica Sophia Hellmore 355 S Eliza Ann Moore 33 61 Mary Cooke 3213 Hesse Page 319 S

UNSUCCESSFUL .

Name . Votes . Rose Luff 3187 Louisa Lovelock 31 S 7 Alice Ransby 297 S Sarah Clements ... 2929 Charlotte Copeland 27 S 2

Emma Coles 227 6 Jane Hannah Baab 2143 Rebecca Richmond 20 SS Mary Wright 203 G Caroline Sarah Jones 1932 Sarah Codd 1420 Mary White 13 S 7

Clara Morton 137 S Susan Timms 1329 Ellen Radford 1197 Emily E . Haskins 1129 Phoebe Everitt 1095 Fanny Gibson 97 6 Louisa Middleton S 77

Charlotte M . Egan S 50 Elizabeth Turner 724 Maria Vile , _ 615 Fanny Schmidt 544 Ann E . Baker 522 Catherine Morris 507 Mary Ann Stokes 447

Sarah Welsford 409 Eleanor Maria Howard 326 Ann Emma Young 259 Martha Ann Truelove 230 Emma Paice Biggs 216

Elizabeth Thomas 214 Eliza Waterhouse 213 Mary Lewis 210 Jane Eynon 20 S Amelia Thomas 17 6 Olivia Russell 174

Name . Votes . Catherine Ann Faulkner 175 Eliz . Atkinson Mannington . ; . ... 147 Mary Redman .- ;' . 143 Ann Brooks 135 Hannah Rolfe 132

Mary Ann Foot ..- 131 Eliza Emma Willson 126 Sarah Rigarlsford 116 Sarah Wills 116 Sarah Meader 85 Margaret Parsons 85 Mary Ann Green ... S 2

Sarah P . Spratt 56 Ann Stanton 55 Katherine E . Wagner 49 Sarah Ann Burfield 31 Nancy Cowell 30 Elizabeth Olive 27 Sarah R . Bowron 26

Sarah Blight 25 Eleanor Bowey ... 19 Jane Salisbury 17 Jane Polkinghorne 11 Ann Eves S Elizabeth Best 7 Sarah Mann 6

Elizabeth Ionn 5 Annie Cartledge 4 Sarah Carter 4 Mary Ann Dyer 3 Olive Beale 3

Elizabeth Clarke 2 Susan Law 1 Charlotte Lemon — Jane Newman — Sarah Brittain ... —

Consecration Of The Hertford Military Mark Lodge, No. 408.

CONSECRATION OF THE HERTFORD MILITARY MARK LODGE , No . 408 .

Owing to the recent absence abroad , through illness , of the Marquis of . Hertford , Prov . Grand Master of Warwickshire , the consecration of the above lodge was postponed from March until Monday , the 5 th inst ., when a large number of the Mark brethren of this and the adjoining provinces attended at the Masonic

Rooms , Severn-street , Birmingham , for the purpose of assisting at the interesting ceremony . Although the date had been speciall y fixed to suit the convenience of Lord Hertford , his lordship was unable to be present through indisposition . He has honoured the new lodge by accepting the office of W . M . for the first year , and permitting the lodge to bear his name .

The proceedings commenced with the opening of the Athol Mark Lodge , the W . M . and officers of which had kindly undertaken to advance , on behalf of the Hertford Lodge , several candidates to the M . M . Degree . The members of the Provincial Grand Lodge were afterwards received , Bro . T . H . Smith , D . P . G . M . of Warwickshire , being amongst other influential Provincial Grand Mark Officers present .

The lodge having been duly opened—Bro . Matier in the chair—the ceremony of consecration was conducted in a most impressive and interesting manner . A Board of Installed Masters having been formed , Bro . the Marquis of Hertford was , by deputy , installed as W . M . of the new lodge , and the Deputy W . M ., Bro . G . King Patten , then appointed the officers of the lodge as follows : Bros . T . H .

Smith , I . P . M . ; Major G . W . Walker , S . W . ; Captain W . B . Williamson , J . W . ; Quartermaster Longden , M . O . ; Lieut . Ryder , S . O . ; Major T . C . Bird , J . O . ; Captain W . P . Gibbons , R . of M .: Captain B . Gibbons , Sec . ; Colonel Cox , Treas . ; Captain Burrough , S . D . ; Major F . A . Bird , J . D . ; Major E . H . Thorne , D . C ; Colonel Jervis , Org . ; Captain Graham , l . G . ; Captain H . H . Bird , Stwd . ; and Dalley , Tyler .

1 here were numerous apologies for non-attendance from Grand and Provincial Grand Mark Officers of the district , as also from several candidates who were unfortunately prevented from attending on this occasion . About 40 of the brethren subsequentl y dined together , Bro . G . King Patten presiding , and after the usual loyal and Masonic toasts had been duly honoured

the thanks of the brethren were given to the deputation from Grand Lodge , to the Athol Lodge for their cordial assistance in the formation of the Hertford Lodge , and to Bro . Captain B . Gibbons as Hon . Secretary to the Committee for promoting its formation ; also to the Provincial Grand Lodge of Staffordshire , who have materially assisted the local brethren in the matter .