January 26, 1901. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
347 
THE GARDENERS’ ROYAL BENEVO¬ 
LENT INSTITUTION. 
The sixty-second annual general meeting of the 
members and subscribers of the above institution 
was held at " Simpson’s,” ioi, Strand, London, 
W.C., on Tuesday, January 22nd, at 3 p.m. The 
chair was promptly taken by Harry J. Veitcb, Esq., 
who at once called on the secretary to read the 
minutes of the previous annual meeting. The 
minutes were unanimously adopted. 
Before proceeding to the more serious work of the 
meeting, Mr. Veitch in a few touching words 
referred to the illness of Her Majesty, who has been 
patroness of the institution since 1851 He 
proposed that the following telegram be sent:— 
" The subscribers to the Gardeners' Royal 
Benevolent Institution at the annual general 
meeting now assembled for the election of pen¬ 
sioners, desire to express their deepest 
sympathy with their President, H.R.H. the 
Prince of Wales, and every member of the 
Royal Family in their intense anxiety conse¬ 
quent on the most alarming illness of Her 
Majesty, who has been patroness of the institu¬ 
tion since 1851.” 
(Signed) Veitch, Chairman, 
101, Strand, London. 
The proposition was unanimously agreed to. 
The annual report was then called for, and was 
read by the secretary, as follows : — 
Report of the Committee. 
In presenting their annual report and statement of 
accounts, as audited, for the year 1900, the com¬ 
mittee have again the privilege of congratulating 
the members and subscribers on the continued 
success which has attended the work of the institu¬ 
tion during another year—the last one in the nine¬ 
teenth century, and the completion of the sixty-first 
year in 'the society’s history—and they desire to 
express their thankfulness that the help afforded to 
the large number of old and worthy people, whose 
circumstances have compelled them to seek its aid, 
has been instrumental in providing a much appre¬ 
ciated measure of relief and comfort for them in the 
evening of their lives, after a service of toil for the 
pleasures and necessities of others. 
At the commencement of the year there were 179 
persons—ninety-eight men and eighty-one widows— 
who were receiving permanent aid of £20 and £t6 a 
year respectively. During the year, twenty-one of 
these pensioners have passed away—fourteen men 
and seven widows. Of the men, five left widows, 
whose circumstances were of such a nature as to 
permit the committee placing them at once on the 
funds at £16 a year in accordance with the rules. 
Thus at the close of the year they had sixteen 
vacancies, and they recommend the election of 
seventeen additional pensioners at the annual meet¬ 
ing and election to be held this day, making the 
total number of pensioners for life 180—the largest 
number on the funds of the institution since it was 
founded. 
With regard to finance, the committee are much 
gratified to be able to report that, notwithstanding 
the heavy demands made upon the benevolent public 
during the past year, the idcome of the institution 
has been well maintained, enabling them to continue 
and increase their operations without the anxiety 
which must necessarily occur with diminished 
funds. For this happy result the committee grate¬ 
fully offer their sincere thanks to all the friends and 
supporters of the institution throughout the country. 
They would, however, remind their friends of the 
increased liabilities incurred in adding to the number 
already on the funds, but they confidently appeal for 
continued effort on the part of their many friends 
and supporters, so that the work may be in no wise 
curtailed. 
The committee have much pleasure in stating that 
the anniversary festival dinner, which was held in 
May last under the presidency of the Duke of Port¬ 
land, was a great success. They gratefully acknow¬ 
ledge their deep indebtedness to his Grace for his 
kindness in presiding, and for his able and effective 
advocacy of the institution’s claims, which met with 
so ready and generous a response. In tendering his 
Grace their very sincere thanks, the committee 
would desire to thank also all those who, either as 
stewards, collectors, donors of flowers, or in any 
other way contributed to the success attaineo. 
They would further take this opportunity of express¬ 
ing 1 heir thanks to the honorary secretaries of the 
several auxiliaries, and to other friends in various 
parts of the country for their kind services to the 
institution, as well as to the horticultural Press for 
their generous help, gratuitously and ungrudgingly 
afforded at all times. 
The committee are glad to state that the Victorian 
Era Fund is more than ever a source of invaluable 
assistance to unsuccessful candidates—who have 
been subscribers—whilst awaiting election. During 
the year now closed the sum of £99 has been dis¬ 
tributed as follows:—Mrs. Baxter, £5 ; J. Gibbons, 
£10 J. Jefferies, £10; G. Marlow, £10; W. Smith, 
£1°; G. Wills, £10 ; T. Kirkby, £8; Mrs Hack- 
well, £8 ; S. Mills, £8; Mrs. Wighton, £8 ; Bird 
Porter, £7 ; J. Thatcher, £3 ; W. Gould, £2. And 
the thankful letters received from the recipients un¬ 
mistakably show how much the help was required 
and with what gratitude it has been received. 
The Good Samaritan Fund—established in 1899 
for the purpose of dispensing temporary relief in 
urgent cases of trouble and distress—has enabled 
the committee to grant gratuities in two cases, and 
as the fund has been augmented during the past 
year by £560, and although the interest alone from 
the fund is available, they are hopeful that they may 
have the means at their disposal for alleviating, if 
only temporary, many sad cases of distress which 
come before them. They again earnestly commend 
this fund to those friends who are in a position to 
afford it their practical sympathy and aid. 
In their last report the committee had to record 
with deep regret the death of the Duke of Westmin¬ 
ster, who had been their valued president for many 
years, and who had always evinced so warm an 
interest in the affairs of the institution. They are 
very gratified to be able now to announce that 
H.R H. the Prince of Wales—who since 1871 had 
been patron of the institution—has graciously con¬ 
sented to become its president. For this gracious 
and powerful support to the work, the committe are 
confident every subscriber will join with them in 
tendering H.R.H. their respectful and grateful 
thanks. They have also the pleasure to report that 
H.R.H. the Princess of Wales and their R.H.’s the 
Duke and Duchess of \ork, have been pleased to 
evince their interest in the work carried on by the 
institution by becoming patrons. 
Unfortunately, the committee have again to 
deplore the loss of many warm friends and sub¬ 
scribers through death, amongst whom they would 
mention Mr. John Fraser, formerly for some years a 
member of the committee; Mr. Philip Crowley, 
treasurer of the Royal Horticultural Society, and 
Mr. T. B Haywood, all of whom for many years 
generously supported the institution. 
In conclusion the committee make an earnest 
request for further help, that the progress made by 
the institution hitherto may be sustained, and that 
the income may be enlarged to such an extent as to 
warrant them in granting assistance to many more 
applicants upon whom declining years, infirmity and 
misfortune have fallen. 
BALANCE SHEET, 1900. 
Db. 
To Balance.£980 14 7 
., Amount on deposit.3115 10 0 
,, Annual subscriptions .£1526 4 6 
,, Donations at, and in conse¬ 
quence of Festival Dinner, in¬ 
cluding collecting cards ... 1455 4 6 
,. Good Samaritan Fund . 560 9 0 
,, Return of income tax . 33 17 3 
„ Advertisements injannual reports 46 15 6 
., Dividends and interest ... 
CR. 
By Pensions and gratuities. 
,. Expenses of annual meeting and 
election . 
,. Secretary salary ... . 
,, Office assistance . 
,, Rent, cleaning, firing and light... 
,, Printing, including annual re¬ 
ports. voting papers, appeals, 
&c . 
,, Stationery . 
,, Festival expenses ... £208 6 4 
,, Less dinner charges.,. 127 1 0 
,, Advertisement in Fry’s Chari¬ 
ties . 
,, Postages, including reports, vo¬ 
ting papers, appeals, &c. 
,, Travelling expenses . 
,, Carriage, telegrams, repairs and 
incidental expenses . 
., Bank charges. 
,, Transferred to Good Samaritan 
Fund. 
,. Amount on deposit. 
,, *Balance with Treasurer.,. 
,, „ „ Secretary ... 
£8651 10 0 
932 14 8 
£275 
0 
0 
28 
5 
0 
89 11 
2 
111 18 
0 
17 19 
6 
'81 
5 
4 
3 
3 
0 
51 
8 
9 
5 
9 
2 
8 
3 
3 
0 
2 
0 
560 
9 
0 
3315 10 
0 
1024 
0 10 
4 
2 
5 
4555 5 5 
£8651 10 0 
... £3062 17 2 
12 5 5 
392 16 2 
279 9 0 
3875 19 0 
* This balance was required on December 31st, 1900, 
to meet the quarterly payments due on January 1st, 
1901 , 
VICTORIAN ERA FUND. 
Balance Sheet, 1900. 
To Balance.£40 16 7 
,. Dividends .£126 12 4 
,, Return of income tax . 4 7 8 
- 131 0 0 
By gratuities to unsuccessful candi¬ 
dates .£99 0 0 
,, Balance. 72 16 7 
£171 16 7 
£171 16 7 
GOOD SAMARITAN FUND. 
£171 16 7 
Balance 
To Balance. 
,, Donations, 1900 
Annual Subscription 
,, Dividends . 
,. Return of income tax 
Sheet, 1900, 
£559 8 
. 1 1 
. 10 6 
. 0 2 
£0 17 0 
£570 18' 1 
By gratuities 
,, Balance... 
... £10 0 0 
... 561 15 1 
£571 15 
£571 15 
1 
1 
£571 15 1 
We have audited the accounts, and certify the 
same to be correct, and everything in order, and 
have also satisfied ourselves that the securities of 
the invested funds are in the hands of the bankers, 
by whom the dividends are received on behalf of 
the institution. 
(Signed) Thomas Swift, , 
Thomas Manning, Auditors. 
Jesse Willard, > 
January 1 6th, 1901. 
The chairman referred with pleasure to the fact of 
H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, having become the 
president in place of the late Duke of Westminster. 
The work of the Institution was very heavy, 17,000 
communications having gone out from the oflSce 
during the year. This has been the best financial 
year the Institution has ever had. Mr. Veitch also 
referred to the various funds and placed the merits 
of each before the members. The auxiliary 
societies were spoken of, especially the one at 
Worcester, which has sent up as much as £500 
during its term of existence. He hoped that many 
other auxiliary societies would be formed. He 
proposed the adoption of the report, which was 
seconded by Dr. Masters, and unanimously adopted. 
The following propositions were seconded and 
unanimously agreed to :— 
(1) The re-election of Harry J. Veitch, Esq., as 
chairman of the Institution , proposed by Mr. Geo. 
Wythes, V.M.H. (2) The re-election of Mr. Geo. 
J. Ingram as secretary, proposed by Mr. Geo. 
Monro, V.M.H., and seconded by Arthur W. Sutton, 
Esq. (3) The re-election of the members of the 
committee, proposed by Mr. White, of Worcester, 
and seconded by Mr. Bowell. (4) The re-election of 
the auditors, by Mr. Wm. Denning, seconded by 
Mr. John Fraser, F.L.S. (5) The re-election of the 
arbitrators, proposed by Mr. Jas. Hudson, V.M.H. 
And (6) Mr. H. Cutbush proposed the election of 
the following pensioners to the benefit of the fund: 
J. Clark, Wm. Cotton, Wm Craggs, John East- 
wood, Thos. Gale, and Elizabeth Harris, seconded 
by Mr. Bowell. 
The meeting then adjourned till 5 o'clock, when the 
following were declared elected 1, Agnes Wright, 
with 7,916 votes ; 2, Wm. Smith, with 6,299 i 3 , Thos. 
Tyler (who was a life member), with 5208 ; 4, Geo. 
Wills, with 4,975; 5, James Thatcher, with 4,671 ; 6, 
John Gibbons, with 4,604; 7, Cecilia Kent, with 
4,228 ; 8, Eley Hackwell, with 4,190; 9, Wm. Tillery, 
3,961 ; 10. Samuel Mills Other two were added to 
the list, on the proposition of Mr. Geo. Monro, 
V.M.H. ; these being James Finch, with 3,486 votes ; 
and Wm. Moore, with 2,003 votes. 
Nine papers were lost because they had not been 
signed, and seventeen were unable to vote because 
of unpaid subscriptions. Votes of thanks to the 
scrutineers and to the chairman terminated the 
proceedings. 
Annual Friendly Supper, 
At 6 o'clock the members gathered together for 
supp ; r, which was well served and enjoyed. Among 
those present we noticed Alderman Robert Piper, of 
Worthing (in the cnair), with Messrs. H. J. Veitch, 
N. N. Sherwood, Arnold Moss, R. Sydenham, B. 
Wynne, Roupell, Geo. Monro, P. Veitch, H. B. 
May, P. Kay, Geo. J. Ingram (secretary), B, S. 
Williams, J. Hudson, Geo. Wythes, J. Collins, E T. 
Cook, H. J. Wright, C. H. Curtis, Moore, H 
Thomas, and J. H. Dick. 
Immediately after, supper Alderman Piper arose, 
and all eyes turned upon him, for a rumour had 
gone round the room telling that the Queen was no 
more. The truth was so. 
(To be continued.) 
