Masonic Intelligence.

MASONIC INTELLIGENCE .

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The annual meeting of this Institution for aged Freemasons and their widows , was held at the Freemasons Tavern , on the 18 th of May , Br . Ed . H . Patten , P . G . S . B . in Br . Wm . Farnfield , the Secretary read the Report , which stated that the Committee regretted it was not in their power to recommend the election of more than two male pensioners , though four had died since the last annual meeting , as a reference sheet would showthat the amount of annual subscriptions and

doto the balance , nations had decreased as compared with those of the two or three previous years . It must however , be borne in mind , that since the establishment of the Widows' Fund , many persons who approved of the establishment had used their influence in aid of that instead of the male fund , so , that although the subscriptions had not diminished the they had become divided between the two charities . It must also be

in aggregate , borne in mind , that since the amalgamation of the Asylum with the Annuity fund , an expense of about £ 30 per annum has been caused for maintenance and management , equal to the charge of one Annuitant , but the advantage and accomodation to those ' who could avail themselves of a residence in the Asylum , was greatly enhanced by giving them a comfortable abode . Of the Annuitants at the period of the election in 1854 thirtynine were subscribers to country Lodgesreceiving £ 803 per

an-May , , - , , num , and thirteen to London Lodges , receiving £ 270 per annum . The Committee lad the greatest pleasure in referring to the fact , that the Grand Lodge of England had increased the grant to the Widows' fund to £ 200 per annum , thus enabling the Committee to recommend the election of four Annuitants , and increasing the number to seventeen . Since the last annual meeting , the building Committee had delivered the Asylum at Croydon , into the hands of the general Committee in a substantial

condition , leaving a debt upon it of £ 291 12 * . Qd ., which with the cost of improved drainage of about £ 70 , left a debt upon the Asylum of £ 362 , which had to be paid . The kind way in which the Craft had responded to the special appeal for money to complete it , justified the Committee in entertaining the hope , that in a short time they would be able to discharge the amount of debt . In conclusion , the Committee had only to express a hope that the brethren would not relax in their exertions to maintain this valuable Institution in their various branches .

The balance sheet showed on the male Annuity account , that the balance in hand on the 31 st March , 1854 , was £ 375 13 s ., the donation from G . Lodge , was £ C 00 , do . G . Chapter £ 100 ; donations from Lodges , Chapters , and individuals £ 99 6 s . ; Annual subscriptions £ 618 3 s . ; dividends on stock £ 249 9 s . Sd ., making a total of £ 1833 lis . Of this amount there had been expended ( including payments to the Annuitants of £ 1016 , and £ 460 12 s . M ., paid for the purchase of £ 500 ( 3 per cent in hand of £ 112 52

stock ) , £ 1721 6 s . 6 cL , leaving a balance s . cZ . On the Widows' fund the balance to the 31 st March 1854 , was £ 357 2 s . 10 c ? . ; and there had been since received , donation from G . Lodge , £ 100 ; do . G . Chapter £ 35 ; do . from Lodges , Chapters and individuals , £ 115 7 s . ; Annual subscriptions £ 98 3 s . 6 d ; dividends on stock , £ 30 18 s . 3 c ? ., making a total of 4736 lis . Id . Of this amount there had been expended ( including £ 225 paid to annuitants , and £ 368 10 s . in the purchase of £ 400 stock ) £ 648 lis . lid ., leaving a balance to the credit of the fund

of £ 87 19 s . Sd . On the building fund the balance in hand on the 31 st March 1854 , was £ 7112 s . ; and there had been since received £ 230 17 s . 6 d ., together £ 301 19 s . lid . ; and there had been disbursed £ 195 13 s . 5 d , leaving the balance in hand £ 106 6 s . 6 ( L Since the Audit , £ 173 had been received on account of the building fund , and

nowstood in the names of the trustees . The amount of stock now standing to the Credit of the Institution , was as follows : — Male Annuity Fund , £ 8116 is . 9 < Z . ; Widows' Annuity , £ 1195 3 s . 2 d . ; Building . Installation Fund £ 567 7 * . 9 d .