Royal Masonic Benevolent Institute For Aged Freemasons And Their Widows.

for the Aged Masons , it was established in ISIS on the recommendation of our Illustrious Grand Master the Duke of Sussex , and since that time 224 aged Masons have been aided by it . I find at the present moment there are 77 men who are annuitants and ou the books of the Charity . With regard to the widows , a fund which was established in the time of our present Grand Master iu 1850 , since then 83 widows have

been admitted at a cost of £ 7 , 183 , and there are now 53 annuitants receiving relief . ( Cheers . ) Consequently , it is only 23 years since the first Institution was established , and only 15 years since the second came into operation ; and having heard the results , you will say in themselves that they are satisfactory . But , instead of looking at the short time

that has elapsed since the establishment of these Institutions , and remembering that all good things grow slowly , and all require time to clevelope themselves , can we regard this state of things as satisfactory ? When we look at the number of the Masonic body , when we look at its ramifications iu every part of the country , relying on the fact that we pride ourselves , with

our increasing numbers , that at the present moment we have only 77 male and 53 female annuitants , I must say I am struck with the inadequacy of the results as compared with the demands of our poor bretliren . I say now , as I have said before , that we must not rest on our oars . AVe have done much , no doubt , hut we must do more when we compare- the

numbers , the wealth of our Order . Our numbers are increasing , ancl it is our duty to see that the charitable resources of our Order increase also . I believe if we bear in mind and labour in the true spirit of Masonry , by aiding our poor brethren wisely and discriminately in the extension of our noble Charities , we shall do much to widen the foundation , we shall place it on a basis which shall endure for

all time , and defy from every craavter cavils ami misrepresentations . Brethren , I give yon " Success to the Royal Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and their Widows . " ( Loud cheers . ) The toast was drunk with great enthusiasm . Bro . FARNEIEID , Secretary , then read the list of subscriptions , and amongst them were the following : —Province of AVest

Yorkshire , £ 1 , 000 ; East Lancashire , £ 374 Ss , ; ancl the following lodges : No . 90 S , £ 50 ; No . 193 , £ 34 ; No . 162 , £ 94 Ss . ; No . 33 , £ 250 19 * . ( including £ 50 for Bro . Maudslay , Steward ) ; No . 55 , £ 64 15 s . ; No . 169 , £ 69 15 s ; No . 45 , £ 53 ; No . 173 , £ 3019 s . 6 cZ . ; No . 25 , £ 122 ; No . 403 , £ 70 , and many other similar sums . The total amount , with one list to come in , was £ 3 , 548 16 s . 6 cJ . ( Loud

cheers . ) Bro . Colonel BOAVTER proposed the health of the Deputy Grand Master of England , Earl de Grey and Ripoii , which was received with three times three . The CHAIRMAN returned his most sincere thanks for the honour the brethren had just conferred upon him , and lie was

very grateful to the Right Hon . Bro . Bowyer for the very flattering terms in which he had been pleased to propose the toast . He congratulated the brethren on the very satisfactory subscriptions which had just been announced , and he could say , if any poor exertions of his had contributed to that important result , it was to him a source of the highest satisfaction and

he was proud that the province over whieh it was his privilege and happiness to preside , had proved itself not unworthy of its ancient reputation . The CHAIRMAN next gave "The Right Hon . Lord Southampton , Past President , the Trustees , Vice-Presidents , Treasurer , Committee , and Officers of the Institution , " coupling with the toast the name of Bro . Tomkins , Grand Treasurer . Bro . TOMKINS returned thanks , and saicl that every effort

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institute For Aged Freemasons And Their Widows.

would be used to promote the welfare of the Institution ; and it was most gratifying to them to see , year after year , that the amount receiveci at their Festival exceeded that of the year preceding . The CHAIRMAN - next gave "The other Masonic Charities , the Boys' School Festival on the Sth of March , and the Girls ' School Festival on the 10 th of May . "

Bro . PATTEN , Secretary to the Girls' School , returned thanks in the absence of Bro . Binckes ( through illness ) for the Boys' School , and afterwards took occasion to adverb to the Institution with which he was connected , and hoped the Festival would be well supported , which would take place on the 10 th of May . He said they had lately enlarged the

building to accommodate twenty additional girls , which had been paid for , and the twenty children had been taken in at an additional expense of £ 600 per annum ; but lie regretted , in going over his accounts the other day , to find that he was

deficient £ 600 this year in the ordinary receipts as compared with 1863 , and this , added to tho £ 600 he had spoken of , would make them worse off by £ 1 , 200 than they were in 1 S 64 . Therefore , he asked all the brethren present to eome to the Girls' Festival , and bring as many more with them as they could , so that this Charity might be well supported . The CHAIRMAN , then , in a humorous address , gave "The

Ladies . " " The Stewards" was next given , for which Bro . Lord Richard Grosvenor returned thanks , and said it would always be marked as a red-letter day with his brother Stewards when they served for this Festival . With this toast terminated the proceedings .

The selection of music was under the direction of Bro . Donald King , assisted by Miss Jane ATells , Miss King , Miss M . King , Miss Van Noorden , Miss Hunt , Miss AVatkins , Miss Bedell , Bros . Montem Smith , Barnby , and Lawler . Bro . Spencer was , as usual , a most efficient toastmaster .

Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

GLOBE LODGE ( NO . 23 ) . —This old established red-apron lodge held its installation meeting at the Freemasons' Tavern , on Thursday evening , the 19 th inst ., when the following brethren were present : —Bros . R . Gibbons , W . M . ; George Smith , S . W . ; L . D . Phillips , J . W . ; A . II . Hewlett , P . M . and Treas . ; Matthew Cooke , See . ; E . J . Page , S . D . ; AV . A \ atson , F . . T . Hill , H . H . Collins , G . S . Brandon , and R . M . Smith , P . M . 's , together with Bros . Warr , Lovell , W . H . Mansbridge , May ,

Stedwell , Holland , Piatt , Johnston , Walsh , J . Mansbridge , Kirby , Burgess , Howell , Harrison , Clements , Walkley , Yates , Meacock , ancl Howe . The visitors were—Bros . Mason , Industry , 186 ; Redgrave , Crystal Palace , 742 ; Gary , Alfred , 784 ; Kitterbrandt , Polish National , 534 ; Littell , Dalhousie , 860 ; G . T . Carter , Royal Union , 356 ; T . Lawler , Moira , 109 ; and Thomas Young , St . George ' s , 5 . A gentleman , Mr . Usher , was initiated , Bro . W . II . Mansbridge passed , and Bro . Redgrave , of the

Crystal Palace Lodge , raised . After which a board of Installed Masters was formed , and Bro . George Smithj Past Grand Steward and S . AV ., having been unanimously elected AV . M ., was duly installed ; the ceremony of the same being divided between Bros . Gibbons , the out-going AV . M ., and Bro . W . Watson , and it is quite unnecessary to say how the latter performed his share of the duties ; but a word or two of strong praise is due to his coadjutorBro . Gibbonsfor the delivery of his part

, , of the ceremony . After the board had been closed , the investiture of the following officers took place : —Bros . L . D . Phillips , S . W . ; J . E . Page , J . AV . ; Hewlett , P . M . and Treas , re-invested ; Yates , J . D . ; Walsh , I . Q-. ; Lovell , Dir . of Cers . ; and Crawley , re-invested Tyler . Five pounds were voted to the old men , and the Treasurer gave notice of motion to limit tho number of brethren to forty . The report of the Audit Committee Avas received and adopted , and the balance in favour of the lodge