Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The following appeared in a portion of our last issue : — ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING . The Annual General Meeting of this Institution was held at Freemasons' Tavern , on the 19 th inst ., under the presidency of Col . Creaton , Grand Treasurer . The minutes of the Annual General Meeting of 20 th May , 1 SS 1 , having been printed and circulated , were taken as read .

Bro . TERRY , the Secretary , read tne annual report , and . also the following Auditors' Report : We , the uo-lers . gned . having audited the Treasurer ' s account from the ist of April , 1 SS 1 , to the 31 st of March , 1 SS 2 , inclusive , and the several vouchers having been produced , do find the same correct .

MALE FUND . £ s . d . £ s . d . Balance 31 st March , 1 SS 1 ... 4734 15 o Receipts ... 9533 ° - 14 , 268 5 2 Disbursements 11 , 190 g 1 Balance on this account 3077 16 1

WIDOWS' FUND . Balance 31 st March , 1 SS 1 ... 3343 G 1 Receipts -S 23 S 9 12 , IGG 14 10 Disbursements 10 , 514 17 7 1651 17 3

SUSTENTATION FUND . Balance 31 st March , 1 SS 1 ... 34 iC 4 Receipts ... 29 7 G 64 3 10 Disbursements 4 10 3

59 13 7 £ 4789 G 11 Examined and found correct— c . j C A . H . TATTERSHALL , Signed I R B WEBSTER , Freemasons' Hall , 15 th May , 1 SS 2 . The CHAIRMAN : I think we shall all have heard that

report with great satisfaction , and I therefore propose that it be received and entered on the minutes . Bro . ADLARD -. I beg to second that . The motion having been seconded , was put by the Chairman and carried unanimously . The SECRETARY then read the report of thc Committee of Management , whereupon it was moved and seconded

that the same be received and entered on the minutes . Bro . WOODFORD : I beg to propose that Bros . Goode , Stean , and Quitmann be elected to form part of the Committee of Management . Bro . ADLARD : 1 have much pleasure in seconding that proposition . The Chairman having put the motion to the meeting , declared Bros . Goode , Stean , and Quitmann duly elected .

Bro . TERRY : Mr . Chairman , I beg to say that Bro . H . G . Warren , hitherto one of the Auditors , finds it very inconvenient to attend to perform the duties of the office , and desires therefore to retire . Bro . ADLARD : I beg to propose tbat Bros . Tattershall , Webster , and John J . Berry be elected Auditors . This motion having been seconded , was put to the

meeting , and the proposed Auditors were declared duly elected . The CHAIRMAN : The following brethren , having offered their services , will receive proxies : Bros . Bowyer , Clarke , Stean , and Davies ; and the following brethren , who have also offered their services , I appoint to be Scrutineers : Bros . Webster , Matier , Ferryman , Percival , VV . Stephens , Watts . Bellerbv . Hood , Dillev , Newton , Berry , Liddall ,

Crutch , Cubitt , Goode , Cummings , Calderwood , Dewar , Hickman , Timothy , Rolleston , Killick , R . Taylor , Cliesworth , E . F . Storr , Parkhouse , and Barham . Brethren , having been appointed Scrutineers , you will please retire to another room , and have the goodness to appoint one of your number to be your Chairman . Bro . TERRY announced that , in consequence of deaths

whicli had occurred since the proxies were issued , the number to be elected was twenty-eig ht men and thirteen widows ; of whom twenty-five men and ten widows would be immediate annuitants , and the remaining six as vacancies occur . Bro . Terry added that no proxies would be

received after , three o clock . The CHAIRMAN : 1 now declare thc poll opened . Tlie result of the poll was not declared until half-past six , in consequence of a scrutiny being demanded as to one of the returns . The following were the successful candidates :

MALES . SUCCESSFUL . Votes . William Henry Hubbard 2 G 30 William Belcher 1 G 33 James VVoodbourne — ' 597 George Worley * 5 ° 5 Charles Stuart Jolly ' . 75

James Munn ' 3 4 Robert Darling I 3 > 8 VVilliam Christmas Barlow " 48 Horatio Lewis " 4 Solomon Marks " ° 0 Joseph Whitehead " ° 4 Robert Watts " ° -

Thomas Maxwell 1054 William Amos Wilson i <" -4 John Hall 99 s Thomas J . Parker 9 5 John Johnson < J 3 John Worthimrton 94 '

Robert Watts Micklethwaite 9-2 Thomas Higson 9 Joseph Burton 9 ° 7 William Piatt 9 ° i Edward Townend 893 George Thomas Longstaff s 9 i VVilliam Roberts SSo

Deferred.

DEFERRED .

William James H . Jones S 64 Jarvis Horsfield S 54 Morris XV . VVest S 05 UNSUCCESSFUL . Samuel L . Caffe 62 S Joseph Lewis 53 G James L . Langley ... : 509

Charles Benjamin Bennett 509 Frederick John Knott ... ... ... 50 S Richard VVhite 425 Thomas William Sewell 37 G George Henry Talbot Dyer 367 Francis Joseph Wirtzfield ... ... ... ... 34 G

James Hayter 2 S 3 George Ensell 23 S John Inwood 15 S John Patterson 15 S Daniel Heigho 13 Charles Sari ... ... ... ... ... ... 30 Alexander Ueid ... ... ... ... .. 21

John Sugars ( Dead ) iG George Cole 13 William Harrison ... ... ... 11 FEMALES . SUCCESSFUL . Betty Moorhouse ... ... ... ... ... 2 ogG Anne Grossman Hambly 1841 Frances Exley 15 S 1 Eleanor Elizabeth Dover 1565

Elizabeth Frances 15 G 4 Elizabeth Mary Mongar 1525 Mary Roach 144 S Mary Ann Bentley 1433 Ann Biles 1425 Mary Ann Aston 1407 Eleanor Gregory ... ... ... ... ... 1403 Maria Miller 13 SS Hannah Lumb 1373

UNSUCCESSFUL . Mary Ann Watson 135 S Eliza Lafittau 134 S Ellen Morrison 1342 Elizabeth Pearson 1279 Caroline Golding 1174 Mary Nowlan ... ... ... ... 1071 Lilias Greig .. ... ... ... ... ... 942

Ann Roberts 924 Ann Wakefield 919 Amelia Wallis Davis 905 Isabella Elliott 7 G 4 Zelie Emmerson 67 S Ellen G . Beattie G 7 G Charlotte Muruss 594 Phoebe Ann Rumsey 594

Caroline C . H . V . Buckley 591 Elizabeth Mary Thomas 571 Eliza Haynes 522 AnnettaT . H . Wood 512 Fanny Stubington - ... 4 SG Caroline Sarah Louisa Pratt 450 Sarah Ann Allen 439 Elizabeth Mary Ann Child 430

Elizabeth Chappie 37 G Margaret Rowell 3 GS Sarah Greathead 3 G 3 Emma Bowen 275 Elizabeth Hill 273 Mary Russell 263 Harriet Evans 252 Mary Geary 243

Mary Smith 172 Sarah Ann Chrisp 137 Naomi Gambcll ... ... ... ... ... ... 117 MaryPelton 94 May Marianne Uodgers GG Ellen Potter 5-Jane Maddick 13 Charlotte Copeland 12

Mary Crisp ... ... ... ... ... ... S Lousia Cathcart . 7 Sarah Fcnning ... ... ... ... ... ... 7 Jane Greenwood G Harriet Matilda Madeley 6 Sarah Rigarlsford ... ... ... ... ... 6 Sarah Coates ... ... ... ... ... ... 5 Harriet Caswell 1

Annie Parker o Jane Penman o Isabella B . Healy ( Dead ) . The CHAIRMAN announced that he had received from Bro . Sir John Monckton a sum of £ 20 13 s . id . ; as the first payment from the John Hervey Memorial Fund , which sum

would be divided between thc hrst four of the unsuccessful candidates . The recipients would therefore be—Males S . L . Caffe and Joseph Lewis ; Widows ; M . L . Watson and E . Lafitteau . Votes of thanks to the Scrutineers and to the Chairman closed the proceedings .

The Progress Of Freemasonry.

THE PROGRESS OF FREEMASONRY .

The fact that during the past week a deputation from the Grand Lodge of English Freemasons has attended at Buckingham Palace , under the presidency of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , to present an address of congratulation to Her Majesty the Queen on her recent Providential escape from assassination , brings the body to which the deputation

belongs before the public , and therefore some facts in connection with the progress of Freemasonry in this country may not be uninteresting . It should , in the first place , be stated that the Freemasons of England , Scotland , and Ireland are distinctly non-political ; no discussion on controversial matters , whether belonging to religion or politics , is permitted , cither at the meeting of a lodge or at the subsequent banquet . Abroad—that is to say , in France or

Italy—there can be no doubt that Masonry has been led away from its original aims and objects , and used by unscrupulous persons for the purpose of forwarding the plots and plans of treasonable conspiracies . Happily , in the British dominions this has never been the case ; and not even in Ireland , where the Grand Lodge prospers under the benign rule of the Duke of Abevcovn , nas there ever to our knowledge , been an attempt made to turn the friendship

The Progress Of Freemasonry.

whicli should exist among Masons to other and baser purposes . In Germany , Norway , Sweden , and Denmark , in the same way as here , no political significance is attached tothe gatherings of Freemasons . The progress which the Fraternity has made in this country since the commencement of the present century is truly astounding . In or about the year 1 S 00 there were between fifty and sixty lodges which acknowledged theiurisdiction of

the Grand Alaster of England , and they numbered at most some 1500 brethren . At the present time there are under the rule of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , Grand Master of England , no less than 2000 lodges , which in all number about 140 , 000 members . Besides these there arc the Grand Lodges of Scotland and Ireland , which , though closely akin to that of England , yet have separate rulers . I hey have also enormously increased in numbers and power

since the commencement of the nineteenth century . Freemasonry seems to have a peculiar fascination for the American mind , and we should be rather under than over estimating the number of brethren in the United States if we gave tlieir sum total at three quarters of a million . It has bcen alleged by people hostile to the Order , that Freemasonry in England only flourishes because a Royal Prince is at the head of the Craft , and all his brothers are associated

With it . 1 hat this is not the case u-e have conclusively proved by the quotation as to the number of the brethren who exist on the continent of America . There can , however , be no doubt that since the Heir Apparent was elected to the position in Masonry which he so well and worthily occupies , the Craft has , from the fact of its occupying more public attention , made great strides in the country , and it continues daily to advance further on the path of

prosperity . There is a notion abroad that a great nart of the enormous funds over which the Grand Lodge " and its affiliated lodges have control is devoted to banqueting , or , in other words , to eating and drinking . This is not the case . All the money collected goes for the purpose of maintaining the three great Masonic Charities , viz ., the old people , the boys , and the girls . Every lodce is bound annually to

contribute a portion , and a large portion , too , of its funds to the support of these excellent institutions . The other monies collected are in great majority of cases expended in relieving the immediate necessities of poor and destitute brethren and their families . It is only necessary to glance at the list of grants which the Board of General Purposes makes monthly to the needy to see how much great and useful work is accomplished by the Freemasons of England .

Instead of being , astheir enemies represent them , abodyof men taking delight in a few idle forms and ceremonies and the pleasures of the table , they , on the contrarv , are the greatest charitable and benefit society ever yet established . The good they do is incalculable , and most of it is done by stealth . ' 1 he men who manage the machinery and do the

work of this great institution , do it at frequent personal inconvenience and discomfort . All the thanks and all the reward they get is the knowledge that they are instruments in forwarding a great and glorious cause . The watchword of the Order is , charity and brotherly love , and all genuine Masons act up to the great lesson it inculcates . —Court Circular .

Bro. The Lord Mayor.

BRO . THE LORD MAYOR .

We recently gave a brief sketch of the Masonic career of Bro . the Lord Mayor , on the occasion of his appointment as Grand Junior Warden . Her Alaj ' esty , since then , has signified her intention of conferring upon his lordship thc dignity of baronetcy , with the twofold object of marking her sense of the service rendered to the public by the Corof London

poration in preserving Epping Forest , and to commemorate her recent visit of ceremony , when she declared it open to the public for ever . Under these circumstances , it seems to us to be a fitting opportunity to supplement our former notice with a few particulars as to his career outside the limits of the Craft . Bro . J . Whittaker Ellis was born in 1 S 20 at Richmond . S UIT ™ .

where he was educated under the care of the Rev . W . Allen . At the early age of lifteen he was articled to the firm of Musgrove and Gadsen , of Old Broad-street , and in 1 S 54 become a partner in that of Messrs . Fairbrother , Ellis , Clark , and Co ., of which he is now the sole representative . Hc was elected member of th * IVmri _ r r ,. m „

Council in 1 SG 4 , and eight years later was unanimously chosen Alderman of the Ward of Broad-street . He served the office of a Sheriff of London and Middlesex , and last year attained the height of his ambition—the Lord Mayoralty of London .

BRO . THE EARL OF KINTORE , Deputy Grand Mark Master Mason of England and Wales , & c ., who has kindly consented to preside at the fourteenth Anniversary Festival of the Mark Benevolent hund , to be held at the Crystal Palace on the 19 th July is one of thc most distinguished members of the Craft in Scotland . He is Prnvinrfn ! f . ran . 1 Yl ^ c + o ,- ,. c ia-: ,- _ — w ui iui iume

-- ------- --. _ .... __ . - _ .. __ - slure , a 1 rustee of Grand Lodge , and representative of the Grand Lodge of Missouri ; First Grand Sojourner of the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter , and Provincial Grand Superintendent of Angus and Mearns ; Admiral in the Chapter of the Temple ; M . 111 . Grand Sovereign of the Grand Imperial Council of the Order of the Red Cross and Intendent General of Forfar _ in . l K ; n ,- *_ . ; . „ . '

Patriarch and Grand Com . ofthe Patriachal Council K . H . S .: Supreme Magus on the High Council of the Rosicrucian Society ; G . Marshal of the Royal Order of Scotland ; and 111 . G . Architect , Supreme Grand Council of the 33 of thc Ancient and Accpted Scottish Rite . We augur well from this for the Mark Benevolent Fund . It stands to reason that one who devotes so much of his timn anr ! . _«_ . „ in

Masonry , and its various branches and offshoots , will not lack the requisite will and power to advocate the cause of this young but excellent Institution ; ancl equally well are we persuaded that the members of the Mark Degree will support him loyally .

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS . Wc have much pleasure in arnouncing that Her Majesty the Oueen has made a donation of £ 50 on the occasion of her assuming the position of special l-atroness of the institution .

Bros . Karl Derby and Viscount Shcrbrooke were amongst the Royal Commissioners in thc Citv Com . panics who attended the last meeting .