Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Candidates For The Benevolent Institution.
THE CANDIDATES FOR THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .
ON Friday , the loth inst ., the annnal election will take place , for the benefits of tho Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , for which , as usual , there aro a very large number of applicants , with but few vacancies . For the Male Fund the ballot paper gives the names of sixty-eight candidates , with but fourteen declared vacancies , three of which are for deferred annuities . For the Widows' Fund
there are eighty-four applicants , with only ten vacancies , of which , three are for tho deferred annuities , as in the other branch of the Institution , so that it will bo seen , with existing arrangements , only 24 candidates can be relieved out of a total of 152 eligible to go to the poll .
Among tbe aged Masons seeking a participation in the benefits of the Benevolent Institution is Bro . Charles Sari , who now makes his ninth application , bringing forward 646 votes from the elections in which ho has already taken part . He was admitted as eligible for the annuity of the
Institution as far back as November 1881 , and it is to be hoped ho will be successful at this month ' s contest , although that will not be possible unless very much more assistance is rendered him than has hitherto been the case , for at the last election the lowest on the list of successful
candidates polled no fewer than 185 7 votes , even with twenty to be elected . Then follows Bro . John Mnsham , eighth application , with 60 votes ; Robert Nichol , seventh application , with 22 G votes ; and William John McLean , sixth application , with 117 votes . There are three
candidates applying for the fifth time , three fourth applications , twelve third , and sixteen second , while the remaining thirty are new to the present list . The number of votes brought forward varies considerably , being very low , as we have shown , in the older cases , aud going as
high as 1808 in the case of John Shaw , 1745 in that of Adolphe Faucquez , and 1717 in that of Thomas Hayter Chase , each of whom now make their second application . Taking the companion list , we find two widows now applying for the tenth time , the one bringing forward 455
votes , and the other 94 . Two others make an eighth appeal , their past records being 972 and 325 votes respectivel y . Then there are 3 seventh applicants , 5 sixth , 4 fifth , 3 fourth , 14 third , 29 second , and 22 first . As in the ease of the aged Brethren candidates , the past successes
of those who have already taken part in the elections is very varied , the figures ranging as high as 2443 , tho total brought forward by Mrs . Warren , No . 25 on the list , who has taken part in the last two contests , and only missed success at the last election by four votes , the lowest on the
fortunate list winning with 2446 . It is very difficult to say anything likely to influence the voters in making their selection from the large number of candidates before them . Most of those who have votes have alread y pledged their proxies , while the few who
may have a paper or two to spare will no doubt have applications for them from personal friends or Lodge acquaintances . It is very different now to what it was years ago , when an energetic canvass might result in a return
almost sufficient to carry a case . Now nearly every ° ne belongs to a Provincial or other voting organization , Tvith ^ result that proxies are pledged long before they are issued , and good use is made of every single vote
The Candidates For The Benevolent Institution.
whereas , in years gone by , many of the smaller papers were distributed somewhat haphazard , with questionable benefit to local casep , but to tho advantage of somo of tho outsiders who had energetic and enterprising friends working for them . Wo do not say the time has wholly
gone by for this lattter class , but the field open for operations now is so limited as to render success very difficult . If our readers cannot help any particularly deserving caso on tho present list there is . one other way open to them , and a method which will not only lead to immediate
benefit , but will also help to relieve the pressure of futuro years ; this is to form a determination to advance tho welfare of the Institution that provides these annuities , which can be done in a number of ways . We all have friends in Freemasonry , and no doubt among our friends
are some who are not yet acquainted with all that is being done year by year for the annuitants of the Royal Masonio Benevolent Institution , and the need there is for more general co-operation on their behalf . The ballot papers issued for the coming election should in themselves be
sufficient to awaken sympathy . Here are particulars in regard to one hundred and fifty old people who are applying for assistance ; all of whom havo been deemed , after most careful consideration , worthy of receiving it ; while on the other side tho Craft has but twenty-four annuities to offer
for competition among them . It may bo too late now to hope for any extension of benefits this year , but , unfortunately , the existing state of affairs is no exception to tho general rule , and if those who would liko to see something more cheerine- at the comine election will bear this fact in
mind , the opportunity will come round in regular order and some good may result , if not for the old people who now arouse their sympathy , at least for others equally deserving who may appeal in years to comr . It must give rise to very peculiar feelings in the minds
of thoughtful Masons to regard the lists for the coming election , and at the same time bear in mind the various teachings and boasts of Freemasons with which wo are familiar . Here are widows who have been striving since June and September 1880 to secure an annuity from the
Masonic Benevolent Institution , and have perhaps failed because they are unknown to a sufficiently large number of brethren to secure the requisite number of votes to carry their election . They are aged , deserving of help , and yet no help has been possible for them . They have perhaps
been buoyed up by false hopes , and year by year , as their failure has been made known to them , have asked the question—Is Freemasonry all it professes to be ? There are also aged Masons on the list who have been candidates for almost as long a period , and no doubt the same thought
entered their minds—they may even have other considerations , they may look back and think of what they have done for others under similar circumstances , and it is not in our power to say whether the comparison they can form of Freemasonry , as known to them in days of
prosperity , and Freemasonry , as they find it in days of adversity , is creditable to the present generation or otherwise ; but we can , each and all of us , ask ourselves the question , —Whetherwe do all that lies in our power to render the closing days of our aged brethren and their widows as easy as possible ?
If the annnal election for this Institution led to this
question being more generally asked and conscientiously answered , it would accomplish much . If it did not cause immediate benefit end relief it would be none the less
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Candidates For The Benevolent Institution.
THE CANDIDATES FOR THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .
ON Friday , the loth inst ., the annnal election will take place , for the benefits of tho Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , for which , as usual , there aro a very large number of applicants , with but few vacancies . For the Male Fund the ballot paper gives the names of sixty-eight candidates , with but fourteen declared vacancies , three of which are for deferred annuities . For the Widows' Fund
there are eighty-four applicants , with only ten vacancies , of which , three are for tho deferred annuities , as in the other branch of the Institution , so that it will bo seen , with existing arrangements , only 24 candidates can be relieved out of a total of 152 eligible to go to the poll .
Among tbe aged Masons seeking a participation in the benefits of the Benevolent Institution is Bro . Charles Sari , who now makes his ninth application , bringing forward 646 votes from the elections in which ho has already taken part . He was admitted as eligible for the annuity of the
Institution as far back as November 1881 , and it is to be hoped ho will be successful at this month ' s contest , although that will not be possible unless very much more assistance is rendered him than has hitherto been the case , for at the last election the lowest on the list of successful
candidates polled no fewer than 185 7 votes , even with twenty to be elected . Then follows Bro . John Mnsham , eighth application , with 60 votes ; Robert Nichol , seventh application , with 22 G votes ; and William John McLean , sixth application , with 117 votes . There are three
candidates applying for the fifth time , three fourth applications , twelve third , and sixteen second , while the remaining thirty are new to the present list . The number of votes brought forward varies considerably , being very low , as we have shown , in the older cases , aud going as
high as 1808 in the case of John Shaw , 1745 in that of Adolphe Faucquez , and 1717 in that of Thomas Hayter Chase , each of whom now make their second application . Taking the companion list , we find two widows now applying for the tenth time , the one bringing forward 455
votes , and the other 94 . Two others make an eighth appeal , their past records being 972 and 325 votes respectivel y . Then there are 3 seventh applicants , 5 sixth , 4 fifth , 3 fourth , 14 third , 29 second , and 22 first . As in the ease of the aged Brethren candidates , the past successes
of those who have already taken part in the elections is very varied , the figures ranging as high as 2443 , tho total brought forward by Mrs . Warren , No . 25 on the list , who has taken part in the last two contests , and only missed success at the last election by four votes , the lowest on the
fortunate list winning with 2446 . It is very difficult to say anything likely to influence the voters in making their selection from the large number of candidates before them . Most of those who have votes have alread y pledged their proxies , while the few who
may have a paper or two to spare will no doubt have applications for them from personal friends or Lodge acquaintances . It is very different now to what it was years ago , when an energetic canvass might result in a return
almost sufficient to carry a case . Now nearly every ° ne belongs to a Provincial or other voting organization , Tvith ^ result that proxies are pledged long before they are issued , and good use is made of every single vote
The Candidates For The Benevolent Institution.
whereas , in years gone by , many of the smaller papers were distributed somewhat haphazard , with questionable benefit to local casep , but to tho advantage of somo of tho outsiders who had energetic and enterprising friends working for them . Wo do not say the time has wholly
gone by for this lattter class , but the field open for operations now is so limited as to render success very difficult . If our readers cannot help any particularly deserving caso on tho present list there is . one other way open to them , and a method which will not only lead to immediate
benefit , but will also help to relieve the pressure of futuro years ; this is to form a determination to advance tho welfare of the Institution that provides these annuities , which can be done in a number of ways . We all have friends in Freemasonry , and no doubt among our friends
are some who are not yet acquainted with all that is being done year by year for the annuitants of the Royal Masonio Benevolent Institution , and the need there is for more general co-operation on their behalf . The ballot papers issued for the coming election should in themselves be
sufficient to awaken sympathy . Here are particulars in regard to one hundred and fifty old people who are applying for assistance ; all of whom havo been deemed , after most careful consideration , worthy of receiving it ; while on the other side tho Craft has but twenty-four annuities to offer
for competition among them . It may bo too late now to hope for any extension of benefits this year , but , unfortunately , the existing state of affairs is no exception to tho general rule , and if those who would liko to see something more cheerine- at the comine election will bear this fact in
mind , the opportunity will come round in regular order and some good may result , if not for the old people who now arouse their sympathy , at least for others equally deserving who may appeal in years to comr . It must give rise to very peculiar feelings in the minds
of thoughtful Masons to regard the lists for the coming election , and at the same time bear in mind the various teachings and boasts of Freemasons with which wo are familiar . Here are widows who have been striving since June and September 1880 to secure an annuity from the
Masonic Benevolent Institution , and have perhaps failed because they are unknown to a sufficiently large number of brethren to secure the requisite number of votes to carry their election . They are aged , deserving of help , and yet no help has been possible for them . They have perhaps
been buoyed up by false hopes , and year by year , as their failure has been made known to them , have asked the question—Is Freemasonry all it professes to be ? There are also aged Masons on the list who have been candidates for almost as long a period , and no doubt the same thought
entered their minds—they may even have other considerations , they may look back and think of what they have done for others under similar circumstances , and it is not in our power to say whether the comparison they can form of Freemasonry , as known to them in days of
prosperity , and Freemasonry , as they find it in days of adversity , is creditable to the present generation or otherwise ; but we can , each and all of us , ask ourselves the question , —Whetherwe do all that lies in our power to render the closing days of our aged brethren and their widows as easy as possible ?
If the annnal election for this Institution led to this
question being more generally asked and conscientiously answered , it would accomplish much . If it did not cause immediate benefit end relief it would be none the less