The Masonic Charities.

Bro . Taylor gh'es us both tbe history , and the work , and tbe needs of our great metropolitan charities , and so we will proceed to supply our readers with extracts , from his OAvn telling words . First , The Eoyal Masonic Benevolent Institution , —such is its beginning , rise , and progress , as described by Bro . Taylor : — "At a Quarterly Communication held on the 2 nd March 1842 ( during tbe Grand

, Mastership of his late Eoyal Highness the Duke of Sussex ) , the Grand Lodge of Eng land founded this institution , and voted the sum of £ 400 a year towards its object —the granting annuities to aged or distressed Freemasons . " On the 19 th May of the succeeding year ( 1843 ) the first election took place , and 15 brethren Avere chosen for annuities , varying according to age , from 10 to £ 30

annually . " In 1845 her Majesty the Queen gaA'e £ 50 to its funds . "In 1847 the Supreme Grand Chapter voted £ 100 per annum as its contribution , and in June of the same year the first festival in aid of the funds Avas presided over by the then Grand Master the Earl of Zetland , and produced a sum of £ 819 16 s . " In 1872 H . R . H . tbe Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M :, accepted tbe position of Patron of the Institutionand in the following year presided at its Anniversary Festival .

, "As the Institution steadily progressed it enlarged its sphere of usefulness by establishing , in 1849 , a fund for the AridoAvs of Freemasons . To this the Grand Lodge voted an annual grant of £ 100 , and Grand Chapter £ 35 per annum . In the same year an amalgamation of this institution Avas effected with the asj'luin for Aged Freemasons at Croydon , ancl as the nucleus of a sustentation fund to keep the buildings in repair , etc ., Grand Lodge contributed the sum of £ 500 Avhich has been brought up by

supple-, mental contributions to a fund of £ 1 , 000 . "In 1860 the First Annual Festival took place , before Avliicb time they bad only been held triennially . "Grand Lodge UOAV gives annually—male fund , £ 500 ; widows' fund , £ 300 . Grand Chapter UOAV gives annually—male fund , £ 100 ; widows' fund , £ 50 ; in all £ 950 .

"la 1867 the earlier system of classifying annuitants according to age Avas abolished , and all Avere made equal , so that the payment to a brother is now £ 40 per annum , and to the widow of a Freemason £ 32 per annum . " At one time the receipts used to be invested , but of late the Committee , desirous to effect the largest amount of good , whilst being Avell assured of the permanency of the Institution , feel that subscriptions are intended to alleviate present Avants ( not to be

laid by for future claims ) , and therefore invest no portion of income but such as accrue by testamentary bequests . " Since the formation of the Institution 487 brethren and 260 widows bave been elected annuitants . At tbe last election . 145 brethren Avere in receipt of £ 5 , 800 ; 135 widows , £ 4 , 320 ; and thirteen widows at half their deceased husband ' s annuities , £ 260 ; or a total of £ 10 , 380 for tbe year . To that sum must be added the necessary expenses of

management , making the total expenditure oA'er £ 12 , 000 annually , and of this large sum , £ 1 , 361 is all that is derived from invested funds . " Bro . Taylor thus describes effectively the asylum at Croydon : — " Ten minutes' Avalk from Croydon Station brought me to tbe building , Avhere I Avas Most cordially received , and every attention was paid me by Bro . Norris , the custodian , who is himself ninety years of age , and bis daughter .

'' They haA'e , hoivever , httle to do besides a general supeiwision of tbe place , as « ich inmate , or pair of inmates are . entirely independeBt , as though living in a bouse by jbemselves . The apartments of the custodian are hi the centre of the building , where , s also a fine board-room used by the committee , Avhich meets on stated occasions . The building is chadded into sections , containing four suites of rooms—tAvo rooms , each ekwen feet by twelve feet on the right-hand side of the passage , the same on the « t and a repeat on the story above . For the united use of these four sets there is a wtchen , and out-bousRs at , tbe hack .- .