Our Scholars In After Life.

OUR SCHOLARS IN AFTER LIFE .

W HAT is tie present condition of the boys and girls who , in years past , were educated in the Masonic Schools ? This is a question that may fairly be asked by

those who have taken even the smallest part in providing tho means for maintaining those Institutions , as well as by thoso who are solicited for subscriptions to enable them to be continued in their career of usefulness . Wo wonder that a

answer to this interrogation is not more frequently demanded , bnt we feel assured that were such the case it would surprise many brethren to know how little information could be gathered on the subject . By this we do nofc mean to infer that our pupils are guilty of ingratitude ;

indeed , it may be that those who are really in need of assistance shrink from applying to their former benefactors lest they should offend by seeming to ask too much , while those who are more fortunately circumstanced frequently forget their school-days in the pleasures and labours of

their every-day life . Then , again , it mnst not be forgotten that the old pupils are dispersed far and wide , over the length and breadth of the country , and in no few cases

havo placed a long sea voyage between the land of their childhood and their present abode . We doubt not that it would afford many members of the Craft infinite pleasure to havo a few words from each of the old scholars of our

schools ; in seme of whom they would recognise the names of thoso they had , in years gone by , striven hard to get elected to one or other of the Institutions ; but anything like a regnlar record wc fear is impossible , nor would it perhaps bo desirable . We might regret to find that he or she , for whom we had worked so hard , had far from fulfilled our

expectations ; still would not a great part of such regret never be called for if we had taken some interest in " the pupils after they left our School , and not have allowed them tol bo buffetted to and fro in the world—perhaps without a friend from whom to seek advice—at the most

critical time of their life . It cannot for one moment be denied that such cases do occur , and that they arc in themselves a source of great trouble to very many of our foremost brethren , somo of whom , on various occasions , have striven to devise some means to reduce the evil to a

minimum , if not to entirely stamp it out . Difficulties , however , present themselves ; difficulties which appear all but insurmountable ; in fact , they havo hitherto proved to be quite so ; and thus it is that , as scheme after ccheme has been devised , and for a time supported , all have ended

in an equally unsatisfactory manner . Their projectors find it impossible to carry them out . This is not wholl y to bo wondered at , nor should ifc debar others from tryin « ; for it must be remembered that to found such a fund is in vcalit y the establishment of another English Msonic Charity , and therefore no light undertaking , or a project that should

u ° entered upon without the most serious consideration . The men to undertake such a task , even if the smallest chance of success is to attend their efforts , must bo well known as Masons throughout tho country ; must hold

positions which will secure the respect and support of their fellows , and above all they mnst secure tho services ° t brethren who arc willing to devote time , labour and money to the routine work of the scheme ; not merely for a "ay or a mouth , but for twn or fchrpp . vp . nrs nnr ? wo ovn ^

go so far as to assure these , that they may labour night and aay arid yet find their task far from complete . Few have an J idea of the amount of labour entailed , nor tho number w questions that must necessarily arise , —in some cases of

Our Scholars In After Life.

such a nature as to require deep deliberation and entail consultations with co-workers , at tho same time calling for immediate attention , as in these matters delay will bo

looked upon as proof of incompetency to deal with the question , and will not unfrequently be used in a spirit of antagonism by those who may be opposed to the scheme Another labour will be the consolidation of the various

interests concerned ; every Province which gives its support may be expected to offer suggestions , which for a time at least it will look upon as imperative , but which in the interests of others must be revised and altered so as to be equally beneficial to all ; this is one of the greatest tasks we think the founders of a Fund for the assistance of those

who leave our Schools will have to cope with , and unless the utmost care and discretion be used , ifc will prove the rock on which their destruction will be consummated . Ifc must be clearly and distinctly understood that to warrant tho smallest hope of ultimate success , the scheme must bo

started as a universal one , and not tho mere effort of an individual Province , or oi a section of tho Craft . Somo special branches of usefulness may , and doubtless will be , supported by various sections , but this idea , if undertaken , must be carried out in connection with the main scheme ,

and nofc separately , or iu other words in opposition to it . Thus , one class may desire that tho whole of their donations be devoted to apprenticing those pupils who it may be deemed expedient so to advance ; others -will stipulate that their money shall be spent in the purchase of outfits

or tools , while others , again , will doubtless find somo special object to which thoy desire the funds they provide shall be devoted , all of these suggestions can , by judicious management , be embodied in one system , and a means may thereby bo created whereby assistance may be given to those who desire to further so desirable an object .

Among the latest who have brought this question under tho notice of the Craffc we may mention tho H . W . Bro . Lord Rosslyn , whose remarks , in his capacity of chairman at the last Anniversary Festival of tho Boys' School , will doubtless be in the minds of most of our readers . Theso

remarks have since been especially referred to by Bro . Dick Radclyffe as will bo apparent by reference to our issue of 5 fch July . Lord Rosslyn even went so far as to describe the absence of such a fund as the only " blot" ho could find on our Institutions , and concluded his remarks

thereon by appealing to the brethren to try and amend it , in order , as he put it , that the pupils might derive the full benefit of our bount y and our charity . After such an appeal it is not to be wondered at that his Lordship , finding his idea had taken some root , —and the efforts thus far

of Bro . Dick Radcl yffe to start tho fund affirm such to be the case , —should now bo anxious to see his proposed scheme started . We are pleased , therefore , to he hi a position to announce that Lord Rosslyn has promised to use every exertion to make this project a reality ; nay , ho

has even gone further , he has personally advocated the advantages of such a fund in a quarter where support means success , and has taken such an interest in the matter as can only emanate from a man hearted in the cause for which he labours . Wc think English Craftsmen are to be

congratulated on having secured so ablo a brother to study their welfare , and we only hope the response will be as hearty as the appeal has been sincere . We know from his labours for Scotch Freemasonry what Lord Rosslyn ' s

support means , and trust that he will meet with that hearty co-operation he deserves . Surely we cannot do better than aid a good cause under so good a leader . In our present issue we publish a letter from Bro . Dick