Provincial.

aud ha regretted they had not been allowed to include the Royal Benevolent Institution , knowing that required more support than the schools . The proceedings of those gentlemen led to his moving in the matter , and the result of the late festival , when sixty-three stewards had been obtained in support of the institution , and tho amount collected , over £ 2 , 053 8 s ., showed there was a strong feeling in favour of supporting that branch of their charities , and he hoped it would lead the Grand Master to sanction an annual festival . There was one important thing required

looking to , and that was the appropriation of money in hand on account of the Fund of Benevolen . ce . Ho had been looking- through some accounts , and he found that the invested capital of tho Fund of Benevolence had been increasing iu bulk for many years . From tho year 1 S 42 to 1846 inclusive , the amount of invested capital was £ 11 , 000 . He had not been able to ascertain the amounts for the two following years ; but in January , 1 S 49 , it rose to £ 11 , 500 ; and was the same in 1 S 50 . In 1851 it was £ 12500 in 1 S 52 £ 133001853 £ 13300 : Jul 1354

, ; , , ; , , y , £ 1-1 , 000 ; 1355 , £ 15 , 500 ; 1856 , £ 16 , 500 ; Jan ., 1 S 57 , £ 10 , 500 ; July , 1858 , £ 17 , 500 ; and January , 1859 , £ 1 S , 000 . It seemed to him to be almost ridiculous to keep such a largo sum as £ 18 , 000 for the benefit of Masons not yet born , when there were so many ways in which it could now be usefully employed , aud he therefore felt inclined to suggest , that the vested capital should be reduced . He thought it would be wise and advantageous if the vested capital were reduced to £ 8 , 000 , and the overplus distributed equally amongst the four charities , in sums

of £ 2 , 500 each—there would then be ample in hand for all tho general requirements of the present time , in addition to doing a very great service to their valuable charitable institutions . £ 8 , 000 was quite sufficient to be kept in hand for a benevolent fund . In tho years 1857 , 1 S 5 S , ho found by the returns that upwards of 8 , 000 new members had joined the Masonic order ; it was fan to suppose that 6 , 000 out of that number would continue subscribing members , and this alone would give £ 600 a year to be added to the interest of the money invested . He was not then in a position to make any definite motion oil the subject , hut at the

same time he was content merely to call attention to the matter , and ho hoped that it would be suggested through some means or other , that at least £ 10 , 000 should be taken from the vested capital , and divided equally among the four charities . Bro . G . Oakshott , P . M ., said he fully concurred in the observations thrown out by Bro . Sherry . _ Professiug to be , as beyond all doubt they were , a purely benevolent body , wishing to do all they could iu acting a brother ' s part and in good faith with all Masons , it was their duty to see that all funds connected with the honourable fraternity were properly spout . He could see no better

way of using the money alluded to than that now suggested . He was exceedingly glad to find there was such a large amount in hand , and hoped always to see a due sum invested as capital ; but he did not see the necessity of keeping such a large sum as £ 1 S , 000 locked up out of use . By reducing the vested amount to £ 8 , 000 , and equally dividing the other £ 10 , 000 between the four charities , they would he , to a great extent , assisting . in carrying out the very pith of the great and mighty principles they as a body professed . He hoped to see tho subject stronglmooted

y in every province , and find that all would take it into their serious consideration , so that they might thus lead to a determination in the proper quarter what should be done with the money . The speaker then alluded to the proposition to build a Temple in London for the Freemasons , which he approved of , provided not too costly an edifice was raised . Bro . Gerrard could see no use in hoarding money to the extent of £ 18 , 000 , as the vested capital of a benevolent fund . Masonry being equally free in all its benefits , and as there were many who did and

might require aid , he should approve of a motion for submitting the question to a board of inquiry , why so much money was comparatively lying idle , when there were so many ways in which it could be well and usefully applied . He thought a deputation from the provinces might wait on Grand Lodge , and ask what should be done with the money beyond that amount which it should be decided was sufficient for a rest capital . Bro . Butcher asked if the money in hand on the Benevolent Fund ' s account was put to any specific use . The AV . M . said the amount merely stood in the three per cent , consols . Bro . Newman inquired how 2 E 2