Festival Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent institution .

THE festival to celebrate the sixth-second anniversary of the foundation of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons , was held on Wednesday , February 24 th , at the Hotel Cecil , and the R . W . Bro . the Earl of Shaftesbury ,

Provincial Grand Master for Dorsetshire , presided . His lordship was supported by a very large gathering of brethren , and also by ladies , the whole company numbering more than seven hundred .

R . W . IIRO . THE RT . HON . THE EAUL OF Sll AF'I'ESliUH V , PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER FOR DORSETSHIRE , CHAIUMAN .

The Chairman had a very large number of Present and Past Grand Officers on his right and left , among them being Bro . Colonel Brymer , M . P ., his Deputy in the province , and Bros . Sir Edward Letchvvorth , F . S . A ., Grand Secretary ; C . E . Keyser , P . G . D . ; W . F . Smithson , P . G . D . ; Major Herbert G . E . Green , P . G . Swd . Br . ; F . R . W . Hedges ,

P . G . Swd . Br . ; Lieut .-Colonel George W ^ . Dixon ; V . P . Freeman ; James Speller , P . G . Std . Br . ; James Stephens , P . D . G . D . C , Treasurer of the Institution ; P . Colville Smith , P . G . D ., Secretary ; the Rev . C . E . L . Wright , Grand Deacon ; Dr . Strong , P . A . G . D . C . ; Thomas J . Railing , P . A . G . D . C . ; Major Henry Wright , P . G . Swd . Br . ; A . J . Thomas ,

and J . J . Thomas , P . G . Std . Br . At the conclusion of the dinner the toasts were proposed and responded to .

1 he Earl of Shaftesbury , 111 proposing the toast of "The King , " said His Majesty was the Protector of the Masonic Order , and the brethren were glad to feel that he still lent his sympathy and support to it . It w-as a matter of rejoicing to all the brethren and to the general public that he was enjoying robust health , and , moreover , it was a comfort tr >