Festival Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

feel that m him they had one who was imbued with strength , energy , and wisdom to preside over the destinies of the Empire in such critical times as these . In giving " The Health of the Duke of Connaught , MAV . Grand Master , " he said that brethren were fortunate in having so keenzealous , and true a Mason to preside over the Craft ,

, and long ' might he live to reign over them as Grand Master . Sir Edward Letchworth , Grand Secretary , responded to the toast of " The Pro Grand Master , the Deputy Grand Master , and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past . " He said that in the absence of Lord Stradbroke and Lord

Donoughmore , who were to have been present , he rose with no little diffidence as a very humble member of a most distinguished body to thank the brethren for the compliment they had just paid at the motion of the eminent brother in the chair in very kind words . It would be presumption in him to respond on behalf of the Pro Grand Master and the Deputy Grand Master , who shared with his

Royal Highness , the Grand Master , the management of the Craft , but he said , for the Pro Grand Master and

the Deputy Grand Master , that they Avere animated by every possible zeal to promote in all

ways the best interests of Masonry As to the other Grand Officers , they also tried to advance the good of

the Craft , and he alluded particularly to the noble Chairman and those who like him adorned

the Craft , and of whom they were iill justly proud . The Earl of Shaftesbury said it

would now be his privilege to propose " Success to Hie Royal Masonic Benevolent

Institution , " a toast which overshadowed everything else that evening , and it' overshadowed it

because upon the success of this annual festival

depended the provision for the comfort of their poor . aged and distressed brethren and widows—those who relied on the brethren ' s benevolence for the comfort -they would have in the latter years of their lives and for that of the widows they left behind them . It was a . matter of no little surprise , while of great admiration

to him , to note how great was the amount collected on behalf of these poor people at these annually-recurring Festivals . The number of brethren he now saw around him , smd the amount of money in pounds , shillings and pence ¦ collected , went far to prove to him that the true spirit of

Masonry was living and flourishing in the hearts of the brethren throughout the Kingdom . They must not allow it ¦ to diminish or grow dim in any way . The light that cheered must be kept burning and never allowed to fade . Charity was the essence of Freemasonry , and if men were all true and good Masons they must look to it that they were

Bno . J . W . Er . viN . BKO . P . COI . VII . I . K SMITH . ISHO . Dit . It . J . STKOSR .

BKO . Dlf . . 1 . WAVI-K . RI : O . . KMKS TKKKV . BKO . T . HASTINGS MIU . KR . BUO . JAMKS SI-KI'H I ; NS . VISIT OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE TO TUB INSTITUTION ON MONDAY , 22 irii FEHRUARY , 11 ) 01 . ( Photo Elite Portrait Co . )

not behindhand in responding to its call . The work that was clone by the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution was admirable in its quality and great in its quantity . The brethren might know that at the present time there were 226 poor and aged brethren receiving from the Institution £ 40 a year eachand 276 widows receiving

, £ 32 each per annum , besides 31 receiving £ 20 a year each for five years as half of their late husband ' s annuities . Therefore , to supply these amounts , a very large sum of money was required , and it was gratifying to find that at the annual festivals there was a larger field to work upon , and that more

money was forthcoming for the purpose of distribution . He was sure that to-night , when the Stewards' list was read by the Secretary , the brethren would be pleased to learn that it had been accomplished . Indeed , it was an honour to be associated with such a festival , which he was sure would not fall behind the festivals which had preceded it . He felt that this result was , to a large extent , clue to the untiring efforts of

Worshipful Brother Colville Smith and the brethren who had worked so hard with him that such a successful issue had been achieved .

The toast was drunk with enthusiasm . Bro . P . Colville Smith then read the list of subscriptions ,

announcing at the outset that there were 762 Stewards , including 44 ladies and 4 lewises , the

largest Board of Stewards at any ordinary festival . The total amount was . € 2542501- ^ 14 , 448

, , 16 s . for London , and 30 guineas extra for London , and . £ 10 , 914 15 s . 6 d . for the provinces .

The total last year was . £ 25 , 3 ° 5- The Chairman ' s province of Dorsetshire sent £ . 1411 . The

largest London total was £ 1 , 020 , contributed by the Southern Cross Lodge , No . 2918 . Lodge of Prosperity sent £ ' 524 .

Lion and Lamb , No . 192 , £ 315 ; Strong Man , £ 2 62 10 s . ; Old Union , No . 4 6 , £ 242 us . From the provinces West Yorkshire sent . £ 925 ; Surrey , £ " 905 15 s . ; Gloucester , £° 3 S 5 - ! Sussex , £ ' 666 ; Essex , . £ 693 ; Kent , £ ' 621 ; Middlesex , £ 431 ; Berks , £ " 407 ; Somerset , . £ 3 6 9 ; Staffordshire £ 347

, . Bro . James Stephens , P . D . G . D . C ., Treasurer of the Institution , in responding to the toast , congratulated the Chairman on his province contributing £ 1411 , and on the festival producing a record amount for an ordinary festival . He attributed the success to the Committee having taken on

thirty extra annuitants last year , and their intention to take on an extra twenty-five at the next election . Dr . Ralph Gooding , P . G . D . ( late Mayor of Greenwich ) , proposed the toast of " The Chairman . " The Earl of Shaftesbury , in reply , said words failed him to thank the brethren adequately for the reception