lOS 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
January  30,  1902. 
Societies. 
Gaideiers’  Royal  BeneYolent  Institution. 
Important  Alteration  of  Rules. 
In  London,  on  Thursday,  the  26th  inst.,  Harry  J.  Veitch,  K.sq., 
javsidinp;,  a  meeting  of  .subscribers  to  this  institution  as.sembled 
at  one  o’clock,  and,  after  a  fair  amount  of  discussion,  it  \vas 
decided  to  abolish  Sub-sections  5  and  10  of  Rule  III.  as  they 
have  hitherto  existed,  and  substitute  in  their  place  the 
following : 
“All  candidates  eligible  under  Rule  III.,  Sub-section  2,  who 
have  been  annual  subscribers,  or  the  v'idows  of  sucli,  .shall  be 
entitled  to  receive  a  certain  number  of  votes  in  proportion  to  the 
number  of  years  they  have  subscribed,  that  is  to  say:  For  each 
guinea  subscribed  for  eacli  vear  100  votes,  and  in  like  manner 
tlie  votes  to  be  increased  for  each  additional  guinea  per  year 
subscribed.  .411  candidates  who  are  or  may  become  life  members 
by  payment  of  ten  guineas,  and  who  are  eligible  under  the  same 
rule  and  sub-section,  or  the  widows  of  such,  shall  be  entitled  to 
receive  100  votes  for  each  year  of  life  membership,  but  such 
100  votes  per  year  .shall  not  continue  to  be  given  for  more  than 
ten  years,  being  1,000  votes  for  the  10  guineas,  and  by  payment 
of  20  guineas  be  entitled  to  200  votes  per  year  not  exceeding  ten 
years  being  2,000  votes  for  the  20  guineas,  and  so  on  in  pro¬ 
portion,  but  subject,  nevertheless,  to  .such  other  rules  as  apply 
to  the  election  of  pen.sioners.” 
Before  the  above  had  been  propo.sed  by  A.  W.  Sutton,  E.sq., 
the  chairman  mentioned  that  the  present  change  was  not  brought 
forward  hurriedly;  it  was  no  new  suggestion,  but  had  been  pro¬ 
posed  in  committee  three  years  ago.  Some  of  the  subscribers 
might  ask.  Why  was  the  proposed  alteration  neces.sary  ?  In 
answer,  he  stated  that  the  rule  presses  hard  some  of  those  who 
have  been  on  the  pen.sion  list  for  two  or  three  years,  while  many 
who  have  subscribed  for  fifteen  years  are  placed  on  the  funds, 
without  election,  right  away.  Tho.se  who  have  not  subscribed 
for  this  period  are  thus  at  a  great  di.sadvantage.  Tlie  number 
of  tho.se  coming  forward  under  Rule  III.,  Sub-section  5,  is  yearly 
increasing,  and  it  was  felt  that  some  alteration  was  nece.s.sary. 
Mr.  Sutton  supported  this  when  he  proposed  the  resolution, 
saying  that  it  was  becoming  more  keenly  felt  each  year  that  if 
the  auxiliary  societies  kept  sending  in  life  members  qualified  to 
go  on  to  the  funds  of  the  institution  its  resources  would  be 
swamped.  The  life  membership  principle  had  been  held  out  to 
gardeners  when  a  branch  or  auxiliary  was  being  founded,  and  he 
was  sorry  if  the  new  rule  seemed  somewhat  against  the  hopes  that 
some  of  the  life  members  may  have  formed.  But  as  each  life 
member  will  receive  1,000  for  his  10  guineas  this  was  hoped  to 
materially  as.sist  them  at  an  election.  Mr.  George  Monro 
(C’ovent  Garden)  seconded,  and  pointed  out  that  many  of  the 
subscribers  seemed  to  look  upon  the  institution  purely  in  the 
light  of  a  benefit  society.  He  wished  to  have  it  clearly  under¬ 
stood  that  it  is  not  a  benefit  society  in  any  shape  or  form  ;  it  is 
first  and  la.st  a  charitable  institution,  subscribed  to  by  all  classes 
of  the  horticultural  community  for  the  relief  of  aged  and  dis¬ 
tressed  gardeners.  After  Me.ssrs.  Owen  Thomas,  J.  H.  White  (of 
Worcester),  R.  Piper  (Worthing),  Geo.  Wythes,  A.  Watkins 
(Strand),  —  Wheeler,  and  the  hon.  solicitor  (Thos.  F.  Peacock) 
had  spoken  on  the  subject  of  the  resolution,  the  matter  was 
j)ut  to  the  vote,  only  two  voting  against  it  and  the  overwhelming 
majority  for  it. 
Mr.  Geo.  Wythes  proposed  (.seconder  unrecorded)  the  follow¬ 
ing  amendment  to  Rule  III.,  Sub-section  3:  “After  ‘total  in- 
capacitv.’  in  second  line,  in.sert  the  ivords  ‘through  accident  or 
incurable  disease.’  After  ‘  incapacity  ’  in  fifth  line,  insert  the 
words  ‘from  w’ork  at  any  age.’  After  the  word  ‘certificate’  in 
sixth  line,  insert  the  words  ‘  such  certificate  to  be  given  when 
required  bv  the  committee  of  the  institution  by  a  medical  officer 
to  be  appointed  by  them;  ’  also  to  Rule  III.,  Sub-section  2: 
“  substitute  the  words  ‘  list  of  candidates  for  pension  list  ’  in 
the  sixth  line.”  Both  amendments  were  unanimously  agreed  to. 
The  following  alterations  to  Rule  IV.,  Sub-section  2,  were 
also  discussed  and  agreed  to: — Rule  TV.,  Sub-section  2:  “Strike 
out  the  words  ‘  one  vote  for  each  vacancy  ’  in  third,  fourth,  and 
seventh  lines,  and  insert  the  words  ‘  five  votes.’  ”  Rule  IV.,  Sub¬ 
section  3 :  “  Strike  out  the  words  ‘  one  vote  for  each  pensioner 
to  be  elected  ’  in  fourth  and  fifth  lines,  and  insert  the  words  ‘  five 
votes  at  all  elections  of  pensioners.’  ” 
Then  in  Rule  XIII.,  Sub-section  1 :  “  Strike  out  the  words  ‘  All 
life  subscriptions  received  from  those  members  who  may  become 
eligible  as  pensioners  under  Rule  III.,  Sub-section  2,  and  ’ 
“Add  the  following  new  rule: — Rule  III.,  Sub-section  10: 
‘  .\fter  each  election,  the  committee  may,  if  they  think  fit,  award 
pen.sions  to  Tiot  more  than  two  of  the  remaining  unsuccessful 
candidates.’  ” 
This  new  rule  is  inserted  for  the  benefit  of  those  candidates 
whose  cases  are  really  necessitous  yet  who  are  without  friends. 
The  meeting  la.sted  about  an  hour.  At  three  o’clock  the  usual 
annual  as.sembly  met,  when  the  annual  report  and  balance-sheets 
‘^as  audited)  were  read  and  adopted. 
Annual  Raport. 
The  committee  have  much  plea.sure  in  submitting  their  annual 
report  and  statement  of  accounts,  as  audited,  for  the  year  1901, 
and  in  doing  so  de.sire  to  congratulate  the  subscribers  and  friend.s 
of  the  institution  on  its  continued  prosperity  and  the  success 
wliich  has  attended  its  efforts  on  behalf  of  the  aged,  di.sabled, 
and  distres.sed  people  who  have  been  obliged  through  misfortune 
and  necessity,  occasioned  by  no  fault  of  their  own,  to  seek  its 
benefits,  and  the  aid  thus  afforded,  it  is  encouraging  to  know,  is 
most  gratefully  appreciated  by  the  recipients  in  their  days  of 
need. 
At  the  beginning  of  the  year  181  person.s — 98  men  and  83 
widow.s — were  receiving  life  annuities  of  £20  and  £16  respectively. 
Of  tliis  number,  during  tlie  year  tliirteen  had  passed  away — ten 
men  and  three  widows — whilst  two  widows  have  been  removed 
from  the  list,  one  having  been  .sent  to  an  asylum  owing  to  her 
mental  condition,  and  the  other  to  an  infirmary  on  account  of 
advanced  age  and  illness,  and  con.sequent  inability  to  pay  for  the 
medical  attendance  and  nursing  she  now  requires.  Of  the  men 
deceased,  four  left  widows,  and  their  circumstances  being  of  a 
deserving  and  neces.sitou.s  nature  the  committee  have  been 
enabled  under  their  rules  to  award  them  the  widows’  allowance 
of  £16  a  year.  There  were,  therefore,  at  the  close  of  the  year 
170  recipients  of  permanent  relief;  and  the  committee,  notwith¬ 
standing  that  they  have  eleven  vacancies  only,  recommend  an 
addition  of  twenty  pensioners  to  be  elected  this  day,  making  a 
total  of  190  persons  on  the  funds,  being  nine  more  than  at  the 
corresponding  period  of  last  year,  and  the  largest  number  of 
beneficiares  receiving  life  annuities  from  the  institution  in  any 
year  .since  its  foundation.  Whilst  the  committee  are  keenly  alive 
to  the  increased  liability  thus  entailed,  they  have  been  influenced 
in  their  action  bv  the  generous  financial  .support  hitherto  accorded 
to  the  institution,  which  they  are  encouraged  to  hope  will  be 
continued  and  increased  in  the  future,  so  that  there  will  be  no 
necessity  for  the  work  to  be  in  any  way  curtailed.  The  committee 
are  much  gratified  to  be  able  to  report  that  the  anniversary 
festival  dinner,  which  took  place  in  May  la.st  under  the  pre¬ 
sidency  of  the  Right  Hon.  Lord  Llangattock,  was  most  .succe.s.sful, 
a  substantial  amount  being  realised  in  aid  of  the  funds.  For 
this  pleasing  re.sult  the  committee  are  deeply  thankful,  and  desire 
to  place  on  record  their  great  indebtedne.ss  to  Lord  Llangattock 
for  his  kindness  in  presiding,  his  able  and  warm  advocacy  of  the 
institution’s  claims,  and  for  his  lordship’s  generous  contribution 
to  the  funds.  The  committee  take  this  opportunity  of  offering 
their  sincere  thanks  to  the  stewards,  collectors,  donors  of  flowers, 
the  horticultural  Press,  and  to  other  helpers  who  contributed  in 
any  way  to  make  the  festival  a  success. 
The  committee  have  much  plea.sure  also  in  drawing  attention 
to  the  continued  progre,ss  of  the  valuable  auxiliaries,  from  which 
the  following  amounts  have  been  received  during  the  past  year : 
Bristol  and  Bath  (hon.  sec.,  Mr.  G.  Harris),  £80  17s.  ;  Devon  and 
Exeter  (hon.  .sec.,  Mr.  W.  Mackay),  £30;  Reading  and  District 
(hon.  sec.,  Mr.  H.  G.  Cox),  £70  7s.  ;  Wolverhampton  (hon.  sec., 
Mr.  Richard  Lowe),  £20;  Worcester  (hon.  sec.,  Mr.  Percy  G. 
White),  £85.  The  hon.  secretaries  are  most  cordially  thanked 
for  their  valued  servuces  so  ungrudgingly  given  to  the  cause, 
as  are  ahso  other  friends  in  various  parts  of  the  country  who, 
either  by  arranging  concerts,  opening  of  gardens,  holding  flower 
stalls,  or  in  other  ways  .so  generously  furthered  the  interests  of 
the  institution.  Tlie  committee  are  glad  to  be  able  to  state  that 
the  special  funds  have  proved  a  source  of  incalculable  benefit. 
From  the  “  Victorian  Era  Fund  ”  nearly  £100  ivas  distributed 
during  the  past  year  amongst  the  un.succes.sful  candidates  at  the 
la.st  election  w'ho  were  formerly  subscribers  to  the  institution, 
whilst  a  sum  of  £48  has  been  given  from  the  “  Good  Samaritan 
Fund  ”  as  a  temporary  help  to  .several  cases  of  a  particularly  dis¬ 
tressing  nature.  This  latter  fund  has  been  augmented  in  the 
past  year,  and  the  committee  rejoice  that  the  increased  income 
from  that  .source  will  enable  them  to  respond  favourably  to  more 
of  the  many  pathetic  appeals  wffiich  so  frequently  come  before 
them.  They  would,  however,  again  point  out  that  only  the 
interest  derived  from  this  fund  is  available,  and  they  therefore 
very  earnestly  commend  its  object  to  those  friends  who  have  it 
in  their  power  to  increase  its  usefulness. 
The  committee  have  to  make  the  very  gratifying  announce¬ 
ment  that  His  Royal  Highness  the  Prince  of  AVales  has  graciously 
consented  to  .succeed  His  Majesty  the  King  (now  patron)  as 
pr&sident  of  the  institution,  for  which  mark  of  Royal  favour  and 
recognition  they  are  deeply  grateful,  and  they  feel  sure  that  every 
friend  of  the  institution  wdll  unite  with  them  in  tendering  His 
Royal  Highness  their  most  humble  and  respectful  thanks.  The 
committee  congratulate  the  members  on  the  alterations  in  the 
rules  which  have  been  this  day  decided  upon  at  the  special  meet¬ 
ing,  feeling  convinced  that  they  will  very  largely  conduce  to  the 
still  greater  success  and  wmll-being  of  the  institution  in  the 
future.  The  committee  cannot  conclude  their  report  wuthout 
referring  wuth  great  regret  to  the  many  losses  that  have  occurred 
through  death  in  the  past  year  amongst  the  valued  friends  and 
•supporters  of  the  institution.  These  los.ses  will  be  severely  felt, 
andthe  committee  therefore  plead  most  earnestly  for  renewed  effort 
to  fill  the  places  of  those  subscribers  who  have  passed  away,  that 
