The Masonic Mirror.

appear adverse to the interests of one of their charities , yet , looking at the fact that it was only four months since they held their las . t festival , ho thought it would be better to wait until they had further experience of the working of the biennial festivals . Ho ivould also remind tbem that they were there not to consider the interests of the other charities , bufc of the Benevolent Fund , and he therefore thought it injudicious to make any allusion to those charities . Under

all the circumstances ho must support the amendment . Bro . Barrett , in reply , stated that the only reason for referring to the other charities was , that the only argument ever used against annual festivals for this charity was that they would injure those of the other institutions . The amendment was then put , when there appeared for it , 10 ; against it , 10 . The chairman having given tho casting vote against the amendment , Bro . Savage moved as a second amendment , that the further consideration of the subject be postponed to tho next annual meeting . The amendment having been seconded ,

Bro . Warren reminded the brethren that tho effect of carrying it ivould be to postpone the consideration of the subject for two years—as noxt year they would le told it was no use then to agitate the question , as they would have a festival iu due course in eight months . The amendment was negatived by 12 to 11 , and the original motion carried . Bro . Savage wished to ask a question before thoy proceeded to tho poll . By Rule 35 it was provided that " at no period shall there be on either fund more annuitants from Lod in the London district than from those in the country . " Of

ges course that rule applied to the period of elections , as deaths might cause a variation at other times . The question he wished to ask was—how many they could elect from the London district that day . By the report it appeared that twelve of the present annuitants came from London and eleven from the country , but there were also three others ou the funds receiving half of the pensions of their late husbands , which they ivould continue to receive for another year , viz ., one from London and two from the countryso that there were actually thirteen of each

, class receiving annuities—so that if he read the law aright they might now elect three from London ( if they obtained the majority ) , ancl must elect three from the country whether they got a majority or not . Was he right 1 The Chairman . "Certainly ; the law referred to the number iu receipt of annuities , not to the amount of those annuities . " The poll was then proceeded with , and resulted as follows

;—MALE FUND , ELECTED ,

Candidates . Age . ,. ' ,. 1 " Votes . Pension , ° plications . f £ Slade , T ., Southampton ; 05 1 10510 20 Drews , K . C , London 04 2 15815 20 DaleJohnWhitby 07 1 14099 20

, , Owen , W . II ., Gravesend 50 1 12300 20 Satterly , Thomas , London 79 1 11232 25 Barlow , John , Haslingden SO 11 10050 30 Kinnear , James , Loudon 70 2 9 S 01 25 Greathead , Matthew , Richmond , Yorkshire 89 1 9237 SO Harper , John , Hull 72 11 9099 25 BattamJohnJersey 07 0 8719 20

, , Jackson , James , Stanesfield , Yorkshire . . 72 0 8082 25 Young , George , London 09 5 S 4 S 2 20 Brook , William , Huddersfield ..... 05 5 S 290 20 Gifford , John , London 72 1 8008 25 Smith , Thomas , Burnley 09 0 7981 20