Our Boys.

OUR BOYS .

IT is very gratifying to know that the Board of Stewards for the coming Festival of the Boyal Masonic Institution for Boys numbers upwards of 500 Brethren , but it is yet early to hazard any opinion as to

what will be the result of that celebration , although the prospect is sufficiently promising to justify a favourable view being entertained as to the outcome of

the last of the great Masonic Charity Festivals of 1894 ; indeed , it is not too much to say we are looking forward to such an announcement from the Secretary of the Institution , Brother McLeod , as shall eclipse the past

successes of the year , and place the Boys School once more at the head of the three Institutions , in regard to the total of promised subscriptions . As we said when speaking of the success that attended the recent Festival of the Eoyal Masonic

Institution for Girls , the gratifying total of that celebration was not achieved at the cost of the other great Charity Funds , and we shall be very much surprised if

the result of the Boys Festival is of such a character as to upset the views we then entertained . We believe it is more likely to prove that the friends of our youngest Institution were aroused to greater activity when they

viewed the successes of their fellows , and have been fully alive to the necessity of energetic action in the friendly rivalry that exists between the three great benevolent funds of English Masonry ; but however this

may be there is the indisputable fact before us that a very brief period remains in which to enlist the services of fresh Stewards , while it is equally true that this Institution is the least fortunate in regard to amount of

its invested funds and permanent income , and as a consequence it has to rely to a greater extent on the subscriptions or donations of Brethren who interest themselves in its affairs for the time being .

As already stated , the Board of Stewards is upwards of 500 strong , but these figures can hardly be dealt with on the basis of past experiences so far as probable

average from each is concerned , for about two-fifths of the whole body are members of the Chairman ' s Province of West Yorkshire , and there being so large a number of workers in that one district it would be unwise to count

to be kept up to the high figure of the general returns of the past . Still , we look forward to something

on a high average from each , although we fully recognise the marvellous resources of the West Yorkshire Masons , their continued sympathy with the aged and orphans of Freemasonry in distress , but above all the loyalty they

entertain towards their leader , as evidenced whenever they have the opportunity of displaying it ; but all these forces combined can hardly secure such a total as would be needed if West Yorkshire ' s average per Steward was

Our Boys.

exceptional , and are fully prepared for a most gratifying surprise , something of which even the West Yorkshire Masons themselves will be proud , and this notwithstanding their manv grand achievements of the past .

Leaving this one district that will assuredly play so important a part in the returns of the Boys Festival of the year , it is satisfactory to know that nearly every

other division of English Freemasonry is represented , the London contingent being particularly strong , a fact that is not to be wondered at when we bear in mind the many occasions on which Brother McLeod personally advocates the claims of the Institutions in our Lodges ,

and the force with which he presses the special needs of the Fund for which he so efficiently discharges the duty of Secretary . We do not recognise Freemasons as being a particularly impressionable body of men , but we can well understand them being aroused by such appeals as Bro . McLeod is capable of making , and are convinced the Institution of which he is the representative would

reap a much richer harvest were it possible for him to second the exertions of the Stewards by a personal appeal to the members of every Lodge represented on the present Board of Stewards , although in expressing

such an opinion we by no means desire to cast any discredit on the Stewards themselves , in whom we fully recognise the true workers of the day . Five hundred Stewards is indeed a grand body of

supporters for either of our Institutions , and it is but reasonable to expect from such an array a particularly gratifying return . It may be too late to aim at any great

increase in the numerical strength of the Board , but it is by no means too late for a supreme effort to be made that would produce the most satisfactory results . No

doubt every one of the Stewards has worked hard for the cause he has at heart , and probably he has exhausted every source from which he would be likely to gain

subscriptions for the fund , but let each make one more effort , and aim at securing at least another ten guineas for his list , and we might swell the general total by upwards of £ 5 , 000 . It is in such connection we recognise

the special strength of numbers , the comparatively speaking small addition from each Steward at present on the Board of one more Life Governorship , securing the splendid augmentation we have referred to . Here then

is the opportunity that yet remains to the Craft in connection with the coming Festival of the Boys School , and although the task may appear almost insurmountable to the majority of the Stewards , we hope

most of them will find it possible to overcome it ere the returns have to be handed in for announcement on the day of the celebration . We are glad the Stewards have decided on Brighton for the Festival , as we believe a visit to that popular resort is one of the attractions of the year , and has had