As our readers are aware, it has been the practice of the Institution, from its earliest days, to make substantial grants to the widows and children of the gallant men who have lost their lives "on active service" in the cause of humanity, that is, while carrying out their heroic task in trying to save the lives of those in peril on the sea. The grants made have, however, taken the form of a lump-sum payment to the widow, with additional sums in respect of each dependent child. In most cases, these grants have been handsomely supplemented by the generosity of the public, and the system has, on the whole, worked successfully.

There have, however, been drawbacks.

On the one hand, the system of paying a sum down is liable to lead to a rapid, and perhaps unwise, expenditure. More- over, it is undoubtedly the fact that the generosity of the public is exceptionally stirred by exceptional disasters, and that the Fund resulting, in the case of minor disasters, is apt to be dis- proportionately small relatively to the amount which is forthcoming in con- nexion with great disasters.

The Committee have therefore decided to establish a Pension Scheme, under which the widows and children of Life- boatmen losing their lives on service will receive a definite weekly sum, and the scale which has been adopted is that of the new Royal Warrant which governs the case of N.C.O.s and men of the Naval and Military Forces of the Crown. Thus the widow of a Coxswain j will receive a pension corresponding to j that of a Non-Commissioned Officer of I a certain grade, the widow of a second Coxswain will receive a pension cor- ! responding to a lower grade of N.C.O., and the widow of an ordinary member I of the crew will receive the same pension j as the widow of a private. Dependent j children (girls under 16, and boys I under 14) will receive a pension of j 2s. 6d. per week.

j Thus the Institution, -will have laid down a scheme corresponding in its pro- visions with that which has now been made by the Nation itself, in the midst of the tremendous conflict in which we are engaged, and, as is well known, this scheme is on a much more generous scale than that of the Royal Warrant of 1914.

In taking this step, which is, of course, not retrospective, but dates from the 1st January, 1918, the Committee of Management feel sure that they will have the support and sympathy of the public, and especially of subscribers to the Institution. For such provision treats the gallant men who form the crews of the Life-boats as men who are risking their lives for humanity itself, and accords to them the same advantages as are offered to the men who lose their lives in defence of King and Country.

The Committee of Management feel, also, that the establishment of this scheme will afford further encourage- ment to these men, who, when they take their lives in their hands and face the fury of the storm, will know that, what- ever befalls them, their wives and children are provided for..