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The Boys' Fete At Wood Green.

THE BOYS' FETE AT WOOD GREEN .

SATURDAY last was a gala clay afc the Eoyal Masonio Institution for Boys at Wood Green , the occasion being the annual fete , visit of Festival Stewards , distribution of prizes , and athletic sports . This event always attracts a considerable amount of interest in Masonic circles , not merely in the metropolis but throughout the Provinces , in proof of which it may be mentioned thafc over a

thousand applications for tickets were received by the Secretary , Bro . F . Binckes , prior to the date fixed . It is estimated that about eight hundred of that number assembled on Saturday , a large proportion of the company being ladies , whose snmmer costumes tended much to heighten the effect of the gathering within the precincts

of the School premises and grounds . During the early part of the day the weather maintained a threatening aspect , the sky being obscured bv clouds that portended the downfall of rain which had been looked for for some days bufc as the afternoon advanced the sun shone with the warmth and brilliancy that have marked his

"Jubilee" behaviour , and the appearance of the grounds was picturesque in the extreme . Flags floated on the breeze at different points , and the band of the Institution , under the direction of Bandmaster Whare , played lively airs as a prelude to the business of the day . Each successive train brought its contingent of visitors from

the City , whilst many living nearer took advantage of the fine afternoon to drive over to Wood Green . Ifc is impossible to give the names or even a tithe of those who wero present , but amongst them we noticed Bros . A . F . Godson , M . P ., Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Worcestershire ( President of the clay ) , W . Raynham Stewart , J . L .

Mather , T . Hastings Miller , C . F . Hogard , Henry Venn , James Moon , Kev . Dr . Morris ( Head Master ) , Frederick Binckes ( Secretary ) , J . Terry ( Secretary of the Eoyal Masonio Benevolent Institution ); Thos . Cubitt , Edward Terry , H . Young , Gray , J . Eoberts , G . P , Nightingale , Major Lambert , W . A . Scurrah , W . W . Morgan , W . J .

Murlis , Gillard , W . Dale , E . W . Nightingale , Wilkinson , & c . At two o ' clock the large hall rapidly filled , and considerable attention was paid by the visitors to the drawings of the pupils which were placed around the walls for their inspection . The programme for the day opened most appropriately with the

National Anthem , sang with loyal vivacity by the choir , who were seated in a gallery at fche end of fche hall , fche chorus being taken up enthusiastically by the audience . The musical portions of the proceedings were conducted by Bro . H . J . Dnfcton , whilst Bro . Tnrle Leo officiated as accompanyist . A pianoforte solo b y Mendelssohn

" Lieder ohne Worte , No . 30 , " was played in good style by W . Conway ; after which the choir sang the " Soldiers' Chorus " from Faust , with all the requisite gusto . The prizes presented b y the Institution were then distributed , an interval being filled b y W . Conway , who sang very nicely "The Mermaid ' s Song , " b y Betore coming to tne there

^ "yun . . special prizes was another interlude , during which fche choir sang Mendelssohn ' s part song , ' Behold the woods in verdure drest ; " W . Conway aud J . Hewett P '> ayed the " War March " from Athalie , as a pianoforte duet ; the choir following with Vincent ' s part song , " A Holiday . " Then came

a ' wee song by a wee boy , " as the Chairman put it , and J- Bloomfield , a diminutive little fellow , catno iu for round after I'ouud of cheering for the way in which he sang Berger ' s pretty ditt y , " The Elf . " So persistent was tho demand that , in spite ' of the length of the programme , and tbe usual prohibition of encores ,

Master Bloomfield was compelled to return , and iu equally sweet tones he gavo " Homo , Sweet Home . " When , at a later stage of the proceedings , the little fellow went up for his prize for vocal music , Bro . Binckes said the Executive made singing part of the education imparted in the Schooland there could be no difference of opinion as

, to Bloomfield being deserving of the prize by his splendid efforts at vocal music that day . The prizes prevented by the House and Audit Committees , by private donors , and by the ' Old Masoniaus , " were Jiext given , Bro . Binckes observing that the House Committee gave a , __ _ __ _ _ . — — ______—__ _ - _ . . . . . . , . UU i _^ p ,- _« i _ . t .

« u * ge amount of valuable time in supervising tho affairs of the institution , and cheerfully every year gave a number of valuable Pn _ es in the various educational competitions . The same remarks applied to the Audit Committee . Referring to tho private donors , " « MxpresHeil regret that , Bro . Edgar Bowyer P . G . Standard li . _ a _ -r ,

The Boys' Fete At Wood Green.

a Vice-Patron of the Institution , who annually gave a valuable prize for book-keeping , was prevented from being present with them that clay , in consequence of a domestic calamity . For the second time Brother Augustus Harris , Worshipful Master of the Drury Lane Lodge , and lessee of the Drury Lane Theatre , had presented

two prizes for the best English essay and for dramatic ability . The former had been awarded to F . Lewis , bufc the latter awaited the result of the histrionic representations named on tho programme . ( This was afterwards announced , the prize falling to R . F . Reynolds ) . Tho quartette and chorus " Hail to the Chief , " and the part song ,

" Merry June , " were then sung by the choir ; after whioh the silver aud gold medals , the silver watch and chain for good conduct , and the University Local Examination prizes were distributed , in accordance with the printed list . Brother Binckes said , coming to the important prizes given by the Institution , he waa only repeating

the observation he had made many times before , when he pointed out how essential it was in a large establishment like this to promote good conduct . The silver medal for good conduct was regarded as the blue riband of the School , and he waa pleased to find thafc it had this year fallen to the lot of Charles Jesse Sanderson .

[ The Chairman , after investing the recipient with the " blue riband , cordially shook hands with him , amidst loud cheering from fche boys . ] The Canonbury gold medal , presented by the late Brother E . Cox , Vice-Patron , was awarded to the recipient by the unbiassed votes of his schoolfellows . It did not always follow that the winner of this

prize was superior to his comrades in all points , bub to be popular in a school of 250 boys must of itself argue the possession of a certain number of good qualities . Richard Frank Reynolds was this year the recipient of the gold medal , by the unbiassed suffrages of his fellows , and he congratulated

that yonng gentleman upon having ingratiated himself into their favour , although the company would sympathise with him in the condition in which he appeared to secure his prize , being lame and walking with two crutches and his left foot in a sling , rendered necessary by an abscess . With reference to a special

good conduct prize given by fcheir good friends the members of the Supreme Council 33 ° , to a boy on leaving the Institution , originated by Bro . Montague , this was awarded to Arthur Durham Ashdown , who had left the School , but had received the watch and chain . The next series of nine prizes were for the results of the University Local

Examination , Cambridge , m December last . The sum of £ 525 was invested , and the interest , £ 23 , of the fund was apportioned in prizes . This feature of the Institution waa founded by Bro . W . Winn P . M . 657 , Vice-Patron , who used to come amongst them frequently ; he was sorry not fco be able to give Bro . Winn the welcome he deserved ,

inasmuch as he was prevented from coming to-day on account of illhealth , which compels him to keep perfect retirement . One of the boys , A . J . Kennedy , who had left the School , had by his abilities obtained a position as an engineer ' s student , and the Committee presented him with a grant of £ 30 towards his outfit , in addition to the

£ 5 prize to which he was entitled . Bro . Binckes having read the prize winners , according to the published list , the choir sang with heartiness a Jubilee ode , entitled " All hononr to the Empress Queen , " by Carter ; and W . Conway played a pianoforte solo , " Frohlichkeit . " Bro . A . F . Godson M . P . then addressed the boys , observing at the

outset that his remarks should be very brief , though he wished to speak of the character of this Institution , and what it had done during the past twelve months . First , ho might be allowed to thank

the friends of the Institution , on behalf of the House Committee , for thoir great kindness in coming there to support and to encourage the boys . They felfc ifc most deeply , and wero always glad to see those who took an interest iu them . He assured the ladies and

gentlemen present that for the little trouble they took in coming to Wood Green on snch occasions they wero well rewarded by the thought that they encouraged tho boys aud helped forward the Institution . There was a unanimous feeling here in favour of the Institution—a state of things which , he was sorry to say , did nofc

prevail in some places he had visited during the lasfc few weeks . It gave him great pleasure to come down there , and fco find himself in the realms of kindness and fraternal feeling . It was the second time , he believed , this splendid hall had been used for the purpose of distributing the prizea , and he thonght they would all agree with

him the more they saw of that place the more deeply they appreciated ifc . Those who could remember fche time when they had to hold all the meetings of the day in the drill-shed would know the great inconvenience—difficulty in fact—experienced in going throngh the whole of the programme . Now , thanks to the possession of thia

noble and acoustically successful hall , they wero able to have part of the proceedings there , aud another part—which if not quite so intellectual was still mote satisfactory to the human appetite—iu fche G ymnasium . It was not the lob of every Chairman to ba so well supported as he had been to-day , and they would congratulate him

upon having two " Terrier ; , on either side ot him—referring to Bros . Jamos Terry and Edward Terry—who were two as " jolly dogs " is could bo found . Now , it was considered by some as part of the duty of a Chairman to iou-uro boys . It was the sort of thiug he used to li liko" when lie waa a boy ; but ho always carefully avoided

. waving the lecture . He had them all safe and fast , and would say a few words to them , though he would bo as merciful as he could . Whenever he advised boys to do anything he said let them put fcheir heart into ifc . If they were at cricket , let them do their besfc ; and the same when struggling in their athletic and ofcher exercises .

It' they were at work in their intellectual studies , let fchem do the best they could . Be thorough , aud fchey would liud iu the great means to success in life , if they put their shoulder manfully to whatever thoy attempted . Some boys w-. vo very fond of saying , "Oh ! that ' s good enough . " He assured them there was

nothing moro dangerous in a boy s life than using the expression " its ¦ rood enough . " Was it fche best they could do ? If so , nobody could blame fchem ; thoy could not blame themselves ; and the ' . jjad-master could not blame fchem . Bufc if they did not act up to that principle obey -vouid in after life blar . ie tliemssivea very considerably . Ajofcher