So far we have only spoken of an annual outlay of OUR FI RST LOVE. £1,040, which is the amount required to provide the new annuities created last year ; bnt how insignifi- WE last week attempted , and we think with some cant this sum appears when compared with the total amount of success, to prove the present pros- requirements of the Institution for a year, which, at perity oi English Freemasonry, and in doing so we the present timo, for annuities alone, amounts to referred to the gratifying results which attended tho £14,724, divided as follows : £7,264 amongst two efforts of those brethren who undertook the duties of hundred and twenty-seven Widows of Freemasons, at Stewards, and canvassed for subscriptions, on behalf £32 each ; £7,160 amongst one hundred and seventy- of the three Central Charitable Institutions of the nine aged brethren , at .£40 each ; and £300 amongst Craft during the past twelve months. Like most' fifteen Widows, to whom has been awarded one-half other tilings in this world, the prosperity to which Ave j of their late husband's annuity for the usual limited then referred has two ways of being looked at, and it period. It is to meet this charge, and others will be to consider these varied aspects—in so far as which are incidental to the working of the Institu- they particularly concern " our first love," the first tion, that the usual appeal is now being made to the Anniversary Festival of the year—that we shall Craft, who are asked to support the Annual Festival address ourselves on the present occasion. of the Institution, to be held on Wednesday, the The Eoyal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged 29th February, under the presidency of Sir George Freemasons and Widows ol Freemasons, as already Elliot, Bart., M.P. recorded in our columns, stood in the proud position There is an old saw which tells us " nothing suc- of heading the totals received last year by the great ceeds like success," but in the case of this particular Masonic Institutions, the actual amonnt paid into its Institution the success of past years has been put to coffers being £28,968 4s 4d, out of a total of such good use as to render success at the present £61,059 Os lid secured by the three Charities. As time very difficult of acquirement , and although we our readers will remember, this most gratifying- are hardly of opinion the English Craft will be found. position was, in a measure, foreshadowed by the wanting when tried in the balance against the claims result of the Festival held in February last, when of the aged and necessitous, there is no question that don ations and subscriptions amounting to £18,700 this year presents more than the usual number of were announced. The success or that Festival, difficulties which require to be surmounted , and that coupled with other considerations, not the least too in face of more than the usual need for increased among which was the fact of the Queen's Jubilee, support. We have already mentioned the number induced the supporters of the Institution to very con- of annuities IIOAV being paid by the Institution— siderably extend its sphere of usefulness, no less than they total up to four hundred and twenty-one, and thirty-one additional annuities being created, and require £14,724 per year to meet them. In addition annuitants elected to them, at the contest in May to this there are at the present time upwards of one last. Twenty-five of these additions were on behalf hundred and thirty brethren , or widoAVS of deceased of Widows, and were each ot the value of .-£32 per brethren, asking for help from the Craft for the annum, the remaining six being awarded to Aged closing years of their life. Thus far there are but Brethren, and of the value of £40 each ; so that we fourteen vacancies available for this large number have at once an addition of £1,040 to the year's out- of candidates, so that it does not require a very lay in annuities alone, which sum, as we have so serious tax oi our arithmetical powers to say that, often pointed out, virtually becomes a permanent unless something unforeseen occurs, there Avill be annual charge on the funds of the Charity. It is close on one hundred and twenty aged Craftsmen or the fact that the responsibilities of the Craft in Widows sent adri ft from the Boyal Masonic Benevolent connection with these new annuities did not cease, but Institution after the next election , with nothing to rather has just commenced , with the election of the even hope for for at least a year, although in each case annuitants, that requires to bo forcibly impressed on their necessities are admittedly sufficient to entitle every member at the present time. Year by year, so themto relief. In plain words, nothing but the hand of long as these old people live, they will look to the , , , death ; or the benevolence of— tbe Craft j can assist these Benevolent Institution for the amount of the annuity old people out of their present difficulties ; Ave do not which they have only now enjoyed for a few months, mean their death , but the death of some of those and at their decease there will no donbt be many already on the books of the Institution. Is there one hoping for a transfer of the annuity in their favour. amongst us who Avishes to help these candidates at Shall either of them be disappointed ? is the pertinent the cost of the Hie of an annuitant ? Certainly not, question we now put to members of the Order, and we and therefore the only loop-hole appears to be the feel sure the answer will be—Not if we can help it. support of the Anniversary Festival of next month. Before going further, we will at once say that the We sincerely hope this method of relief will be taken Brethren in Freemasonry can prevent such dis- every advantage of , but appearances are somewhat appointment, althongh it may perbjvps entail a little, disappointing in regard to it. Of course, a very good very little, self sacrifice on the nart of some. I opinion can be formed as to what a Festival is likely to bring fort h by comparing it with those of years should be Avith every brother interested in the success gone by, and if Ave attempt to do so in this case AVO of the Institutions, until after the date of its Annual are at once met with the fact that this year the num- Festival, then another star Avill be absolutely in the ber of SteAvards for the Festival is upwards of seventy ascendant , and other claims Avill come to the front , short of what it was at the corresnondmo: period last and be urged upon us. Until then Ave would advise year ; while to those who are a little behind the scenes our readers that it is best to be off with the old love comes the conviction that this year's totals AvilJ uot before AVO take on Avith tho new, and ask them to use average nearly so much as was the case in 1887 , or every effort in their power to secure the success of the for the matter of that, in any recent year. These tAvo first Festival of 1888. matters point to a very severe diminution in tho year's return, and it will require the most skilful generalship to prevent their making a strong impression on the Tna+i+n+i/-»Ti i + aal^ HIRAM LODGE. It may be asked—what is the reason for this falling off, as compared Avith last year ? Ancl for ansAver Ave Hira m Lodge F.A.M. v. G.L. of Connecticut F.A.M. may turn to another of the Masonic Charities—the G.L. of Connecticut F .A.M.v. Hiram Lodge F.A.M. Boyal Masonic Institution for Girls—Avhich will this [COMMUNICATED .] year celebrate its Centenary. The three Institutions shall be exceedingl sorry to lose the li ht which of the Craft are too intimately associated to alloAV of WE y g any feeling of jealousy when one happens to be more our very greatly esteemed Bro. Hughan is qualified fortunate than its fellows, but it requires strong to throw upon the intricate questions involved in the con- determination to wish success to another , when Ave troversy between Hiram Lodge and the Grand Lodge of feel that much of that success may be purchased at Connecticut. our own expense and this is really AA'hat Ave may But we can do no other than give him the honourable , name which we have already affixed to two letters on this expect during the present year. A Centenary is not subject. an event of every-day occurrence , and Avhen it does Indeed, it seems to us that when the search is simply occur Ave can readily excuse all that is done to honour for truth , impersonality is sometimes preferable, provided it. We should be the last to discourage any one the correspondence is between Masonic gentlemen. making a special effort on behalf of the Girls' School Certainly, it precludes personal prejudices and prepos- this year, but at present our love is the Benevolent. sessions, conscious or unconscious, | irorn any influence to No doubt, in due course, Ave shall fall a slave to the warp the judgments or seduce into the crookedness of Girls' Institution, but until that takes place Ave hope casuistry.