February 4, 1905. 
THE QARDEN/NQ WORLD, 
10] 
Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution. 
Annual General Meeting. 
(Concluded from facie 80.) 
Mr. Arthur W. Sutton next proposed the re-election of Mr. 
Harry J. Veitch as treasurer and chairman of the committee. 
In doing so, lie spoke of the invaluable services Mr. Veitch had 
rendered the institution. He had also helped to found the 
Heading Auxiliary. In thanking the, members for re-electing 
him, Mr. Veitch said he. was glad they had been able io add 
£1,000 to the Victorian Era Fund. 
This being carried, Dr. Maxwell T. Masters, F.R.S., then, 
proposed the re-election of Mr. G. J. Ingram as secretary, 
making some comments upon the efficiency with which lie had 
served the institution. This also was carried. The retiring 
members of the committee were then proposed for re-election, 
or such of them as were eligible, namely, Messrs. E. T. Cook, 
David Fleming, John Jennings, John A. Laing, A. W. Hutton, 
Owen Thomas, F. W. Moore, and Bailey Wadds. This was 
seconded, and the motion adopted. At the same time it was 
proposed that Mr. George Woodward should be elected in 
place of Mr. 8. Osborn (deceased), and that Mr. Edward Sher¬ 
wood be elected in place, of Mr. X. X. Sherwood (retired). The 
whole proposal was unanimously adopted. Messrs. T. Man¬ 
ning, Swift, and Jesse Willard were proposed for re-election as 
auditors. Three arbitrators were also proposed in the in¬ 
terests of the instution, but the Chairman, said that these! 
arbitrators had never yet been employed, and he hoped it would 
never be necessary to employ them. Scrutineers for the ballot 
were next appointed. 
The counting of the votes was then proceeded with in another 
room, the ballot, closing at 4.30 p.m. It was nearly 6 p.m-. before 
du' scrutineers returned to announce the results. The number 
of votes gained by each candidate was given, but we shall only 
mention those that were successful. 
The following is the order of the balloting :—Edwin Williams, 
4,566 votes ; Ellen Benbow, 3,976 ; Louisa S. Paget, 3,624 ;i 
John Johnston, 3,562 ; Henry J. Thornton, 3,528 ; Anna M. 
Smith, 3,509; Eliza Allward, 3,285 ; Duncan Brown, 3,056 ; 
Anne Page, 3,047 ; Peter Dixon, 2,984 ; George Heywood, 2,881 ; 
Charles Harris, 2,860 ; George Cann, 2,856 ; John Huddy, 
2,765 ; William Odlin, 2,734 ; William Pellett, 2,586 ; Samuel 
Garland, 2,544; Thomas Wynne, 2,449 ; Frederick E. Lee, 
2,396 ; and Benjamin Hawkins, 2,279. The next highest un¬ 
successful widow was Mary A. Plummer (with 2,165 votes), who 
receives the benefit of-the “May Sherwood Campbell Widow’s 
Pension.” The two placed on the pension list by the committee 
were Samuel Brooks (2,104) and John Bradberry (851). Mr. 
A. W. Sutton contributed £20 to keep one unsuccessful candi¬ 
date for a year, and this fell to James Port, with 1,662 votes. 
This makes the highest number ever placed on the pension 
list in one year. 
Annual Friendly Dinner. 
After the closing of the polling a number of the members 
and adherents of the institution adjourned to another room in 
the same building, where they sat down to table under the 
presidency of Mi-. Edward Sherwood, who was supported by 
Messrs. A. W. Sutton, Herbert Hicks, and W. Atkinson. 
Others present included Messrs. Leonard G. Sutton, W. Sher¬ 
wood, Owen Thomas, G. Monro, James Hudson, W. Roupell, 
and. G. J. Ingram. 
After the removal of the cloth, the Chairman in due course 
proposed “ The King, Queen, and other members of the Royal 
Family,” which was heartily received. Later he rose to pro¬ 
pose “ Continued Success to the Institution,” and thanked them 
not only for the honour of being asked to preside on that occa¬ 
sion, but for being elected on the committee. It was certain 
that those who had served the institution for any lengthened 
period would ultimately have to give place to the younger 
members, and he hoped that they would have no' reason for 
regretting having elected him a member of the committee. 
The institution was founded sixty-six years ago, almost 
within a stone’s throw of that building, and during the period 
it had existed it had dispensed £33,000, or an average of some¬ 
thing like £500 a year, for the benefit of gardeners and their 
widows who had fallen upon unfortunate times. He neverthe¬ 
less thought that they would require more money in the 
future, but hoped that they would never have to touch the 
capital, but be able to increase the income. Besides the ordi¬ 
nary fund, he also, referred to the two other special ones, but 
said tliat all combined wore unable to fully moot the wants of 
the case. 
Hr llitm stated that the Hurst and Son Musical Society at 
a special entertainment had been able to raise the sum of 
£50 for the benefit of the institution. The past members of 
the institution could not be expected to carry on its business 
always, and the younger members should come forward. He 
believed lie was the youngest chairman that had hitherto pre¬ 
sided on such an occasion. He stated that his father, Mr. 
N. N. Sherwood, presided on one occasion thirty-six years ago 
when only eighteen were present. The institution had greatly 
grown since then. He coupled the toast with the name of Mr. 
Arthur W. Sutton. 
It had been announced that Mr. Harry J. Veitch would 
respond to the previous toast, but he had been unwell for some 
time past, and Mr. Sutton stated that in taking Mr. Veitch’s 
place lie did not consider that he was capable of filling it in 
I lie same way as Mr. Veitch, but the doctor under whose care 
lie was had forbidden him to attend that evening. The fifty-six 
names appearing on the voting-paper had been selected from 
applications sent in during the past twelve months, and he 
assured them that each case was carefully inquired into be¬ 
fore their names were admitted amongst the candidates. If 
one were to read through the letters of application it was 
pitiful in many cases to read of the distress. In alluding to 
the record list of donations at the annual dinner last year, he 
said it was greatly due to the exertions of Mr. Harry .T. Veitch. 
He also mentioned the receipt of £500 from Mr. X. A". Sher¬ 
wood. The Victorian Era Fund also owed its existence to the 
exertions of Mr. Veitch. 
Mr. Herbert Hicks next proposed “ The Officers, Honorary 
Members, and Country Friends.” In doing so, he said that they 
had that day elected a new member of committee in the person 
of Mr. Edward Sherwood, whom he had known for many years, 
and whom he considered a good business man. Mr. Harry .T. 
Veitch had been treasurer to the institution for the past twenty 
years, and it was needless for him to dilate upon that fact, con¬ 
sidering how admirably it had been placed before them by 
previous speakers. It would be difficult for the society now to 
manage without the aid of their country friends. The Reading 
Auxiliary had done better, perhaps, than! any of the others, 
but all of them had certainly done their best. In coupling 
the toast with the name of Mr. George Monro lie said that the 
excellent results obtained from their Covent Garden friends 
were due to the exertions of that gentleman. 
Mr. G. Monro, in replying to this, said that all those con¬ 
nected with the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution could 
not but take an active interest in the cause. During the past 
year they had had a record income, but that was not due to 
good business or favourable times, but rather because they had 
a good cause in hand. The institution was favoured by a good 
chairman and secretary. Those elected to the benefits of the 
institution seemed to renew their life, and in confirmation of 
this fact he referred to one pensioner who was more than a cen¬ 
tenarian. The removal of the anxiety by- the assistance given 
by the institution was, no doubt, an immense relief to many, 
and had enabled them to live longer than they would other¬ 
wise have done. He was sorry that gardeners had not sub¬ 
scribed so generally as they ought to do, but he thought that 
the auxiliary branches were now succeeding in bringing in many 
of them. 
Mr. W. Atkinson (of Messrs. Fisher, Son, and Sibray) next 
proposed “ The Chairman.” In rising he said that, although a 
member of the committee, the long journey from the provinces 
prevented him from attending oftener than he did. In pro¬ 
posing “ The Chairman” he said that the name of Sherwood in 
connection with the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution 
would always appeal to an immense number of adherents. He 
would not detain them with a long speech, because, coming as 
he did from the provinces, his audience would know more 
about the chairman than himself, but he would say that he 
was the worthy son of a worthy father. 
The Chairman replied to this, assuring them of his best 
endeavour to assist the institution. Before resuming his seat 
he proposed “The Secretary” (Mr. G. J. Ingram). The latter 
replied, stating that he had now been secretary to the institution 
for fourteen years, and had made many friends in the interests 
of.the society. He mentioned a number by name who had been 
of great assistance to him in his endeavour to benefit the insti¬ 
tution by subscriptions, donations, and otherwise. During the 
evening songs were rendered by various ' people under the 
direction of Mr. Scharteau. 
