Festival Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

perhaps pardon me if I remind you of some of thc facts connected with this Charily . It was founded by the most Worshipful Grand Master , his late Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex , in 1 S 42 . Since that time 6 CS breihren have come on its funds . After the last election there were 173 males on the books of the Charity , each receiving £ 40 a year , which amounts to ^ 6920 . The permanent income of this branch of the Charity is only ^ 2018 , and ,

consequently , there is a very large deficit to be made good by the donations and subscriptions of the charitable Masons of England . That large deficit , I ought to add , does not include the working expenses of the Charity . But this is not the only branch of the Charity , because , in the year 1 S 49 , under the auspices of the late Earl of Zetland , another branch of this great Charity was started , namely , the branch for Freemasons' widows . ( Hear ,

hear . ) Since that time 409 widows have come on the books of the Charity . I will ask j-ou to think what would have been the fate of these ladies if this Charity had not been started . Many of them had previously been fairly well off in life , but some of them were more than fairly well off . Without this Charity many of these ladies would have been compelled to go to the workhouse , and if that had occurred you can imagine what would have

been the feelings of these ladies . After the last election there were 203 widows receiving £ 22 each , but the working expenses of this branch amount to ^ 1575 , and , therefore , there is a deficit of ^ 5200 , making in the two branches a sum of over f , 13 , 000 . We have heard it said that Masonic lodges are merely intended to encourage social meetings and good dinners ; but this is not the only curious thing one hears about Masonry .

It is even said that Masonry is nothing but a secret political society . ( Laughter . ) Happily , we know belter than that . ( Hear , hear . ) We know that in all our meetings politics are most rigidly excluded , and we know that men of all shades of political opinion can cordially meet together in the common bond of Masonry . ( Hear , hear . ) To those who said Masons onl y met for the purpose

of eating good dinners , he would say , look at the sum expended on this Charity , and at the sums expended on the other large Charities connected with Masonry . I believe I am under the mark rather than over it in stating that no less a sum than ^ 50 , 000 a year is given to the Masonic Charities . That alone should be a sufficient answer to our detractors . ( Applause . ) But I would ask those who accuse us of thinking only of good

dinners , whether we Masons are the only people who enjoy good dinners ( Laughter . ) When one of the London Charities is in special want of funds they immediately get up a dinner . ( Laughter . ) We may have our social gatherings—and long may they continue—but at the same time let us always be careful to keep our Charities going " pari passu " with our convival meetings . ( Hear , hear . ) When commerce and agriculture is

depressed all over the country , when incomes are very materially reduced , it makes it . ill the more difficult to appeal to people on behalf of any particular Charity ; but I have noticed that when there is a great emergency , the public always rise to the occasion . That has been shown of late in London in the appeal made on behalf of the Unemployed . We see her Majesty heading the list , and the Prince of Wales making a handsome subscription ,

followed by a very large list of contributions , which proves that the greater the need the more certain is it that the money required will be forthcoming . ( Hear , hear . ) I would ask any of you who have doubts as to thc excellence of this Charity to go down , as I did yesterday , to Croydon and see the old people in their homes . At present there is accommodation for onl y 33 in the houses , each of which consists of two rooms ; but it would do your hearts

good to see how loyal and comfortable those old people are . I hey express the most cordial gratitude lo you for all you have done for them , and I trust you will all echo the wish expressed by them , that the Masons of England will continue in the future as in the past to provide for indigent Masons and the indigent widows of Masons . ( Applause . ) Bro . Major J . WOODALL WOODALL , Grand Treasurer , in reply ing ,

said he felt on this occasion that a great duty had been imposed on him through the kindness of the brethren , because it was to their suffrages lie owed his position of Treasurer to this Institution . The noble chairman found it necessary to plead a want of eloquence , but he felt that this was doubly the . case with himself , because the brethren were all met to support the Institution . As Treasurer of the Institution , by virtue of his oflice of

Grand Treasurer of Grand Lodge , he thanked the brethren very much for the services they had rendered in the past , and for those which he was sure Bro . Terry would announce that evening . Many of the brethren , like himself , lived a long distance from the metropolis , but he felt there was a great debt of gratitude due to the brethren for the work they did , for many

a poor brother in the provinces benefited by the assistance given him by this Institution , and therefore he thought they , were all , or should be , hand in hand in promoting the interests of the Institution , for in so doing they were not only assisting it , but also the other Institutions belonging to the Craft . Bro . TERRY then read the following lists , which were received with loud cheers .

Stewards' Lists.

STEWARDS' LISTS .

LONDON . The Chairman ( including Personal donation of 52 10 o ) ... 20 S 7 o UNATTACHED . Bro . A . Barfield 15 15 o „ R . Berridge 10 10 o „ Edgar Bowyer So 5 o

,, Thomas Uruce 10 10 o „ W . J . Crutch 23 2 o „ W . A . Dawson 21 o o „ Baron de FerriiVcs ... 10 10 o ,, C . H . Driver ... ... 10 10 o „ Geo . Harrison 210 o „ W . Lake „ Capt . George Lambert , F . S . A

„ John Mason CiS 5 o „ C . F . Matier 15 15 o „ George Mickley , M . A ., M . B 15 15 o „ James Moon 10 10 o „ II . B . Marshall , CC . ... 105 o o „ W . ) . Murlis ,, W . Poore 10 10 o

,, Thos . Palmer 10 10 o „ James Terry 135 o o ,, E . C . Woodward ... 10 10 o Lodge 1 Bro . C . Belton 19 19 o 2 ,, G . A . Ames 3 6 15 o 3 ,, George Phillips ... 40 5 C 4 <> John A . Hughes ... 15 15 o 5 ,, H . F . Pollock ... 34 2 C

Stewards' Lists.

Lodge . 8 Bro . F . T . Rushton ... 12 10 o 10 „ Frederic Davison ... 15 15 o 11 ,, A . J . Probyn ... 27 6 o 1 4 ,, Edgar Figgess ... 13 13 o 15 „ J . J . Woolley ... 4 fi ' 4 ' '» 1 9 ,, II . Postoti ... .. 52 10 o 21 ,, Arthur Hill 2 S (> o

22 ,, J . Corbet 4100 2 ( 1 „ V .. C . Stebhnig ... 12 12 o 2 7 ,, E . Bentley Haynes ... 150 o o : 'S Ch . } '" ' Money - 5 2 ' ° ° 30 llro . J . Driscoll ... ... 70 0 0 } , ; , ,, T " . T . Bennett ... 5 S ifi o 55 ,, jubal Webb 42 10 ( 1 59 ,, W . Winnett ... 89 5 o

Go ,, R . G . Barton ... 20 7 o f > 5 ,, G . Schadler ... ... 3 S 1 o Chapter G 5 Comp . C . Daniel ... 141 15 o Lodge 72 Bro . N . Turner 73 ,, A . C . Ansbaclicr ... . 59 fi fi S 7 „ A . K . Birch ... 54 2 ( 1

92 „ Alfred Dent 140 ,, John Warcup ... 46 19 o 144 ,, j . G . Unite ... S 3 9 0 ' 57 >> \ V- Snodin 15 15 o 1 G 2 ,, A . C . deChapeaurouge 2 S 7 o if > 7 ,, Edwin Storr ... ... lot ) 1 o 1 G 9 „ E . II . Minns .. 7 fi 10 o Chapter 171 Comp . Joseph Clever ... 31 10 o

Stewards' Lists.

Lodge 172 Bro . W . I-I . Harris ... 22 1 o 174 ,, F . J . Dellow 71 13 6 177 „ H . N . Price 105 19 o ! 79 > , J- Ellwood 6 7 14 6 ' 93 „ W . Belchambers ... 59 17 o 194 ,, C . Hunt 123 7 6 197 „ C . Barry 36 13 o 195 „ C . Lambert 63 5 o

201 „ \ V . J . Cope 47 5 o 211 ,, Henry Martin ... 77 14 o 217 „ J . Addington ... 20 0 o 22 S ,, A . H . Trewinnard ... 50 o o 259 ,, John Aird 47 3 o 435 >> E . J . Jeffs 20 o o 511 „ J . H . Taylor 29 7 o 534 »» . 1- O . Bieling ... 25 iS 6

538 ,, John Skinner ... So o o 554 „ Hugh Cotter 100 o o 704 „ W . H . Hehl 32 5 0 720 „ G . Treves ... ... 39 1 o 749 „ A . F . Leech 750 „ B . E . Blasby ... 55 7 o 751 „ J . H . Pringle ... 150 o o 813 „ W . Pierpoint ... 10 10 o S 22 ,, C . F . Grundtvig ... 26 5 o

S 62 „ John Collinson ... 34 13 o S 71 „ R . T . Stringer ... 77 1 o S 79 „ Walter Martin ... 450 o o 898 ,, G . Sidders 13 G iG o Chapter SgS Comp . Geo . Graveley ... 52 10 o Lodge

goi Bro . H . Harbord 141 15 o 902 ,, J . C . Cioss 120 iS o 907 „ Geo . Wallace ... 65 3 o 917 ,, F . L . Keays 11 o 6 933 »> G . Hollington ... 6 9 16 6 IO 5 <> „ James Boulton ... 90 o o I 07 < 5 „ John Dorton 90 o o tttS „ Rev . H . R . Cooper

Smith 11 S 3 6 ¦ ' 55 ,, Fred- Morgan ... S 5 4 o 1259 „ W . M . Esmond ... 34 13 o 12 G 0 „ R . F . Budd 3196 127 S „ W . H . Making ... 54 1 6 12 S 7 „ C . Kempton 210 o o 12 SS „ F . G . W . Guyer ... 93 14 o 129 S ,, H . E . 'Cooper ... 75 2 6

1 3 ,, Joseph Greenway ... 21 o o I 3 6 S ,, Chas . Steel 50 S o 136 G „ C . Sheppard ... So 4 6 13 S 2 „ J . Carnaby 155 o o I 3 3 ,, T . B . Purchas ... 115 10 o 1426 ,, Robt . Fendick ... 46 2 o 1472 ,, C . T . Lewis 91 17 o 14 S 9 „ Edwin George ... 31 96

Chapter 1483 Comp . Thos . Griffiths ... 19 S 6 1 744 " James Willing , jun . j 105 o o Lodge 1537 Bro . A . II . Robinson ... 115 10 o 1540 „ C . J . G . Eveniss ... Chapter

1540 Comp . W . Klingenstein 31 10 o Lodge 1541 Bro . Arthur Toovey , jun . 10 10 o 572 ,, John Russell S 9 5 o 1591 ,, Sir R . Hanson ... 2100 1604 „ Geo . Boulton ... 105 10 o 1607 „ Dr . W . Gayton ... 63 14 o 1605 „ Dr . H . W . Kiallmark 85 11 6

1615 „ T . R . Dallmeyer ... 1 G 24 „ J . C . Flattely ... 400 o o 1629 „ Rev . C . J . Martyn ... 47 5 o 1642 „ James Bartle ... 250 o o 1642 ,, J . S . Adkins 1657 „ E . L . P . Valeriani ... 55 13 o > c 93 > , . !• Cooper 47 15 6 170 S ,, J . P . Hamilton ... 51 19 6

171 G „ W . J . Rundell ... 95 o o ¦ 7 ' 9 1 , James Gibb ... 30 7 o 1732 „ F . C . Austin 7617 G 1 S 04 „ C . J . R . Tijou ... lc . 1 S 04 I ) R . ft . Greer . | S 2 ' 9 ° 1 S 1 G „ C . N . Carrell ... 156 17 6 1 S 20 „ E . Abram 51 9 o Chapter

1839 Comp . A . J . Dixie ... 21 o o Lodge 1900 Bro . H . Slyman ... ... 50 o o J 9 'o >• J- L . Mather ... 40 ig o ' 949 ,, A . E . Albert 28 6 6 196 4 „ Capt . G . A . Potter ... 62 iS 6

¦ 974 » IL S . Andrew ... 30 o o 19 SG „ H . M . Williams ... 48 G o 2030 „ W . H . Baker ... 12 G o o 2045 ,, Rev . J . C . Wharton 11 11 o 210 S „ C . W . Eves 154 17 6 2128 „ T . W . Tew , J . P . ... 31 10 o

BEDFORDSHIRE . 540 Bro . R . B . Stafford ... 53 12 o BERKS AND BUCKS . 209 Bro . II . ( . Stollery ... 34 2 fi 94 8 „ A . fi . Moiling ... 48 9 o-1101 ,, R . C . Prickett ... 6 4 o o 177 " „ ] . Thickens 13 o o

BRISTOL . The Province—Bro . Pierrcpoint Harris ... 300 5 o „ W . Purnell iS 5 o CAMBRIDGESHIRE . The Province—Bro . O . Papworth ... ... Oi o 0 ,, W . Wclchman ... So o o

CHESHIRE . Lodge Si ) Bro . John Clajton •••^ , 0 , „ Sg „ ' Walter Kenworthy ... j ** ' ° 537 „ Thos . Maples ... 3 d 15 n 537 ,, K . Woodhead ... 36 15 o 75 S ,, W . Mellor 311 15 o

CORNWALL . The Province—Bro . Controller S . G , Bake 141 15 o

Stewards' Lists.

DERBYSHIRE . The Province—Bro . J . E . Harrison ... 63 0 0 DEVONSHIRE . The Province — Bro . J . E . Curlew 103 o o Lodge 135 S Bro . II . Marley 15 ' 5 o 1402 ., A . T . Blarney ... V > ii o

DORSETSHIRE . The Province—Bro . E , T . Btuldeii ... 170 o o Lodge 707 Bro . W . | ames ... ... 10 10 o

DURHAM . 764 Bro . Hans B . Olsen ... 103 o o ESSEX . Bro . R . Clowes 23 12 fi 433 „ Adam Smith ... 15 5 6 M 37 R- J- Warren ... 23 17 G 2077 > , James Salmon ... 52 to

GLOUCESTERSHIRE . Bro . R . V . Vassar-Smith 34 13 o 24 G ,, George Norman ... 550 HANTS AND ISLE OF WIGHT . S 04 Bro . T . Francis ... ... 4150 9 ^ 3 >> J- Waliingford ... 45 10 o 1990 ,, R . L . Loveland ... 54 5 o

HERTS . 403 Bro . J . W . Morris ... 52 4 o . Chapter 403 Comp . Edward Swain ... 27 6 o Lodge SGo Bro . H . Hughes 31 10 o

1327 „ W . A . Rogers ... 29 iS o 13 S 5 ,, W . K . Hopkin ... 36 i <; o 1479 „ M . Balding , M . D . 2166 1580 ,, W . J . Thody ... iG 4 o ' 757 >> W . H . Rowe ... 20 0 o 2054 „ W . Mackie 42 o o

KENT . The Province—Bro . A . Spencer 3 G 5 o o Lodge 31 Bro . Horatio Ward ... 252 G o 55 S „ G . L . Hart 44 9 G

615 „ John Aillud 45 3 o 784 ,, B . Wood 31 10 o Chapter 874 Comp . C . Graham Lodge 1414 Bro . Rev . T . S . Curteis ... 1436 „ Henri Brett 53 it o ' 53 1 >> W . Hollis 72 2 o

EAST LANCASHIRE . 152 Bro . W . Jaffries 221 ,, James Walker ... 21 o o 317 11 J- W . Edwards ... 2100 348 ,, John Kenvon ... 21 o o

6 45 „ George Taylor ... 10 10 o 1723 „ Matthew 1 'ielding ... 10 to o 1798 „ A . Besso 10 10 o 1798 >> Joseph Gershom ... 10 10 o 1798 ,, Samson E . Levi ... 13 15 o

WEST LANCASHIRE . 32 Bro . R . VV . Bourne ... 10 10 o 613 > i T . Adams 21 o o Chapter 730 Comp . T . Forrester ... 1 5 o

Lodge 13 S 0 Bro . R . A . Davies 2042 } " R-Foote I 0 , 0 ° 1675 „ T . H . W . Walker ... 31 10 o

MIDDDLESEX . 77 S Bro . E . W . Stanton ... 52 10 o Chapter 94 b Comp . R . W . Forge ... 25 o o 1194 „ A . J . Altman ... 15 15 o Lodge 1237 Bro . George Tegg ... 3 6 15 6

1326 ,, G . H . Eaton 15 15 o 1326 ,, Edwin Gilbert 1326 „ Fletcher Knight ' 326 „ James Talbot ... 32 11 o 1326 „ \ V . R . Vassila ... 10 10 o 1326 ,, F . Walters 19 1 o 1326 ,, 1 . A . Wilson ... 10 10 o

1326 „ Samuel Wheeler ... 10 10 o 1494 „ F . Sumner-Knyvett 31 10 o ' 5 " 3 , 1 W . Taylor 3 G 15 o 156 7 ,, T . 1 . 13 ird 41 7 G l 579 » T . j . Cusworth ... 4 6 14 6 204 S „ W . A . Scurrah ... 140 o o 2105 „ D- P . Cama 15 15 o

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE . 47 Bro . John Toplis 17 G 18 6 402 „ Edward Seaton NORTH WALES . 16 74 Bro . H . A . Steer 21 o o 1 S 49 „ H . Kneeshaw ... S 11 o

OXFORDSHIRE . 340 Bro . J . A . Acock 7 c 340 ,, W . R . Bowden j - 3 ' 3 ° 1895 ,, Rev . A . R . Pritchard 15 15 o SHROPSHIRE . 1 G 21 Bro . W . Laxellos-Southwell 2 <; 0 o

SOMERSETSHIRE . The Province—• Bro . W . Rice 1 G 6 iS o

STAFFORDSHIRE . The Province—Bro . W . TL Bailey ... 204 15 o SUFFOLK . The

Province—Bro . N . Tracy 105 o o Lodge Si Bro . B . Ga'l 26 5 o 93 G „ IJ . J . W . ight ... 7 8 15 o 1 G 31 „ G . b . Ciane ... S 3 o o