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Contents . —— PAGE EEEEMASONS' MAGAZINE : —¦ Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution 461 The M . AV . Grand Master 4 G 2 Grand Orient of France 462 's Democrat" New Yorkand the " Freemason "

" Pomeroy , , , London 463 Address to Sir R . A . Shafto Adair , Bart ., Prov . G . M . Suffolk 465 Address of the Crown Prince of Prussia 465 The Eye that Seeth in Secret 467 Masonic Jottings—No 74 468 MasonicNotesand Queries 466 Masonic Sayings and Doings Abroad 470 Obituary 470

MASONIC MIRROR-. — Masonic Mems 471 CRAM LODGE MEETINGS-. — Metropolitan 471 Provincial 471 Royal Arch 476 Mark Masonry 476 Ancient and Accepted Rite 477 Laying the Foundation-Stone of St . Peter's New Schools , Blackburn 477 List of Lodge , & c , Meetings for ensuing week 430

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

LONDON , SATVBBAT , JVNH 17 , 1871 ,

From the official report of tlie proceedings afc the Annual General Meeting , held at Freemasons Hall , on Friday , 19 th May , 1871 , we are enabled to give the following particulars respecting the position and progress of the Institution : —

The Committee of Management iu issuing their Annual Eeporfc , have to congratulate the Brethren on the continued prosperity of the Institution , notwithstanding the large amount of money the late continental strife has drawn from this country for various purposes , and -which has so seriously affected many of the public

charities afc home . The Annual Festival holden by direction of the Most "Worshipful Grand Master , the Eight Hon . The Earl de Grey and Eipon , K . G ., on the 3 rd February last , was presided over hy the V . W . Bro . Samuel Tomkins , V . P ., and Treas . of the Institution , acting for Bro . Col .

Francis Burdett , E . W . Provincial Grand Master for Middlesex ( who was unable to be present through a severe domestic affliction . ) The Donations and Subscriptions contained in the Stewards' Lists amounted to £ 3 , 514 . Tho Committee have to report thafc thoy have received

the sum of £ 200 , being a legacy , free of duty , left by the late Miss Sarah Dorsefc , of Eeading , one moiety to be paid in . the name of one of the executors , to constitute him a Yice President of tho Male and Female Fund , the other moiety to be equally divided between the two funds of the Institution .

Tho Committee havo also to report , that since the last election the votes to which Lodges and Chapters were entitled by virtue of the payments to the Male branch of this Institution by the Grand Lodge and Supreme

Grand Chapter have been reduced ; this was rendered necessary by the large increase of Lodges and Chapters which caused such a preponderance of free votes as to influence the elections to the prejudice of private Donors and Subscribers and the interests of the Institution . A Special General Meeting was held on the 15 th October ,

when after discussion ifc was resolved : —To amend Rule 17 by substituting the word " two " for " four " in the 3 rd line , and the word " two " for " three in the 9 th line , which alteration was approved by the Grand Lodge at ifcs Meeting on the 7 fch December last . Afc the date of the last Reporl , there were 165

Annuitants receiving the benefits of this Institution , these were increased to 169 at the last election ; in the interim 10 have died , and the Committee now recommend the election of 25 , thus making the number 184 , besides 9 Widows receiving half their late husbands' Annuity . This steady addition in the number of the recipients of

its funds can only be maintained by a corresponding increase of its Income , and the Committee again urge on all the Members of fche Craft the great claims the Institution has upon them individually . The comfort of the inmates of the Asylum at Croydon has again been supplemented by the Annual grant of £ 50 from the Grand Lodge funds for the purchase of Coals , which were distributed amongst them during the late winter months .

For the information of the President , Past Presidents , Vice-Presidents , Governors , Subscribers aud Friends of the institution , the Committee subjoin a statement of the Eeceipts and Disbursements during the year ending the 31 st March , 1871 , together with the particulars of the fixed Income of the Institution .

MALE FUXD . Receipts . £ s . d . Balance 31 st March , 1 S 70 1 , 873 11 4 Donation from Grand Lodge 500 0 0 Do . from Grand Chanter 100 0 0 Donations from Lodges , Chapters , and Individuals 1 , 587 3 0 Annual Subscriptions ... ... 771 15 . 0 Moiety of Legacy of late Miss Sarah Dorsefc , of

Reading , 50 0 O Dividends on Stock in the Government Funds ... 679 10 O £ 5 . 561 19 4 Disbursements . £ s . a . Payment to Annuitants ... 2 , 545 10 0 SalarySecretary ' 100 0 O

, , n . . r Secretary 70 S 7 Commission , | CoIleotoJ 133 17 £ Messenger 5 0 0 Medicine for tho inmates at the Asylum 25 0 O Warden , Gate-keeper , and Gardener , do 45 10 O Taxes do 24 11 O Stationery , Rooks , Printing-, Ballotting Papers , & c 46 12 3 Office Expenses , Rent , Gas ,, Coals , & c 24 5 0

Advertisements 7 11 S Postage ' 43 1 3 Petty Disbursements , including Election expenses 23 13 5 £ 3 , 005 0 11 Purchase of £ 600 Stock , 3 per cent . Consols ... £ 552 0 0 £ 3 , 647 0 11 IMance on this Account ,,, ,,, £ 1 , 914 13 5