-
Articles/Ads
Article THE ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL OF THE R.M.I.B. ← Page 2 of 3 Article THE ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL OF THE R.M.I.B. Page 2 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Anniversary Festival Of The R.M.I.B.
know what an intorest he lakes in tho Craft , and how ho is always ready when his other manifold duties permit if , to come forward and support anything that may rotate to it . ! need only point to his last Masonio act , namely , going down into Cornwall to lay tho foundation stone ( if a Cathedral , an act which has not been done by any . Masonic body hitherto . His IJoyal Highness has our Craft at heart . I look
upon him as cue of ( no truest "Masons in the country . Not only is his Royal Highness one of us , but wo have two of his lioyat llighnoss ' s brothers also among onr ranks . If . li . H . Prince Leopold has taken n most deep interest in Masonry ever since ho joined ns . I myself not many years ago had the honour of installing him into tho chair as Provincial Grand Master of Oxfordshire . His Royal Highness the Duke
of Connaught will bo installed into tho chair of a Lodgo on Monday as Worshipful Master . I think I need say no more , but ask you to drink tho health of His Royal Highness tho Grand Master . The Rov . H . A . Ficknrd P . G . C . then rose , and said—My Lords , Ladies , and Brethren , —Ton seo one who has had greatness thrust upon him . When I left my warm retreat at Oxford at tho beginning of
this week to join , as I havo frequently , in tho pleasure of this Masonic and like Masonic gatherings , I did so with the fnll conviction that my Senior Chaplain , Bro . Martyn , who is so well known to all of yon , wonld havo been present hero this evening , and wonld have proposed the toast which it is my lot now to ask you to honour . I hold in my hand a telegram just received from that worthy and
Worshipful Brother , who says , " I am very sorry I cannot possibly bo with you to-day . Please accept my hearty good wishes for a most successful Festival . " No ono can regret Bro . Mat tyu's absence more than he doos who now takes his place ; bnt at tho same time I am fully awaro that tho toast which I have to proposo to your notice will bo drunk by yon with eqnal enthusiasm , although it is given by
ono who does not know now properly to proposo it . very few , I am sure , could do justice to tho toast of our Chairman , tho Earl of Lathom . Let Lancashire testify how well ho is beloved by those who know him Masonically , and let all those who have seen him at our Masonic gatherings in London say that it is possiblo for any ono to hold tho distinguished post of Deputy Grand Master of England
better than ho does who ha . s consented to bo Chairman of onr Institution this evening . Brethren , Lord Lathom has already presided at the Festivals of the other two Institutions , and has always had a very successful Festival , and I trnsfc that when ho looks back upon this day in years to come ho will remember it as one to bo marked with a white stone , as one which did not fall very far short of those Festivals which
he enjoyed so much previously . There is , perhaps , ono reason why I may rejoice that it has fallen to my lot beforo this distinguished company to propose Lord Lathom ' s health , and it is because fourand-twenty years ago , when I was Master of the Apollo Lodge , I had the honour of initiating Lord Lathom into the mysteries of Freemasonry . Ladies and brethren , I call upon you to drink , with all the
honours , the health of the Chairman , Lord Lathom . Tho Earl of Lathom , in responding , said , —Ladies and brethren , I thank yon most heartily for tho kind manner in which you havo received the toast proposed by my Masonic father . I can assure you , brethren , that it gives me intense pleasnre to be able to be present hero to-day , and to presido at the Eighty-second Anniversary of this
Institution . I shall havo moro perhaps to say about it in a few moments , but all that I will do at present is to thank you most heartily , and tell you that , as far as in mo lies , I will try to carry out thoroughly my Masonic duty and merit your goodwill and esteem . The Rev . Dr . Morris , in proposing the next toast , said , —Brethren and ladies , it is said that the best commander is ho who is ever ready
to obey orders when ho receives them . The Chairman has ordered mo to propose this toast ; I am ready to obey tho command . The toast I have to propose is the Right Hon . tho Earl of Carnarvon M . W . Pro Grand Master , The Right Hon . tho Earl of Lathom R . W . Grand Master , tho Vice-Presidents of tho Institution , the e > :-officio Vice-Presidents of tho Institutions , and the Prov . Grand Masters and
present and past Grand Officers , including Col . Shadwell Clerke , the Grand Secretary . Although the P . G . Officers havo more or less retired from active duty , we are not going to forget them , and I am sure yon will all receive this toast mo 3 t heartily . The toast was drunk with tho greatest enthusiasm . Colonel Shadwell Clerke , in response , said , —Brethren , Ladies and
Gentlemen , as it has fallen to my lot to respond to this toast , I do so most willingly , bnt at the same time I feel perfectly overwhelmed with gratitude at the way in which you have received this toast . When I reflect upon those illustrious names which aro comprehended in this toast , I feel that some more influential brother ought to retnrn thanks for it , but in their absence , I beg to offer you the thanks
of tho Officers for the very kind greeting which you have given to their names this evening . I can assure you that tho Grand Officers yield to none in the interest they fee ] in this Masonic Charity , and they will look most anxiously to-morrow morning at the papers to read the list of subscriptions which are this day announced . I will not detain yon , Ladies and Brethren , further , but simply thank you very much
indeed for the very gratifying manner in winch you have received the toast , and assure you that we feel very much obliged to you for it . Tho Earl of Lathom then said , —Brethren aud Ladies , —if they will allow me , I will say sisters , for I am sure they ought to be called our sisters , showing tho interest they do in this Institution—I appear before yon to give yon the toast of Prosperity to tho Royal Masonic
Institution for Boys on its Eighty-second Anniversary . Brethren , it is hardly necessary for me to go into a history of tho origin , the rise , and the prosperity of this Institution . Yon all see in the Report that has been handed to you how this Institution started with a very small beginning ; how , in the year 1798 , this Institution began by providing the education and clothing of six boys . Since then it has gradually
gone on increasing , till here we find in the Report , now presented to you that the School at present consists of 215 boys . From that it will be seen there has been a steady increase in the number of pupils admitted , and I have not the slightest hesitation in saying that with tho increase in the popularity of Freemasonry throughout this country , so will the prosperity of this School increase ; at least I say it
The Anniversary Festival Of The R.M.I.B.
ought to do so . At the same timo thero is ono other littlo fact in tho Uoport before you which I think worthy of notice , and that is that I am happy to say tint during tho past few years there has boon a gradual — a gradual but steady decreaso in the cost of the tuition and inaint 'nance of each hoy . ( Hear , hear . ) Xow , the larger f ! io number that come into tho School , so ( ho
more will tho cost ot each individual boy decreaso m proportion . As for tho prosperity of tho Institution , I do not think there can bo any doubt about that ; it is not on tho wane at present , and I trust it will be many years beforo wo seo it decline . Thero is one point I wish to mention , and that is one continually heard about these Institutions—I am talking of tho three now , as our Masonic
Charities . Now , I object to that word . I say they oncrht to bo onr Masonic Duties . We , as Freemasons , are bound to keep up theso great Institutions . Thoy have been started on good lines ; they havo been well and admirably carried on , and it is our duty , as Freemasons , to keep them up to the mark . It is quite true that within the past few years—I may say that my own Province showed a very
laudable oxamplo in it—there have been many local Institutions started , Benevolent and Educational . No doubt brethren aro moro inclined to give their mouey to local Institutions than they aro to tlie central ono ; but at the samo timo I think , brethren , wo are rich enough for both . It is vevy easy to get up onr local fnnd to a vevy large amount . I will ask any one to look at the return of West
Lancashire , and lie will say that wo havo had a very largo amount ( if money at our disposal . At tho same time I am happy to say I have only to look around mo to see that this Institution is not otherwise than well supported . I say , brethren , wo ought all to put our shoulders to tho wheel , not only to support Local Institutions , but also our main head-quarters , namely , this and tho two sister
Institutions . There is ono point , brethren , which I ought to mention . It is ono which our Lancashire brethren will tell me I have been a little tedious upon , and that is , wo find—in the North of England certainlythat very largo sums aro expended in the year in picnics and entertainments of one kind and another . I havo no objection to those entertainments , I havo no objection to thoso picnics , balls , or
whatever thoy may be ; bnt I say that those entertainmonts ought not to come out of the Lodge funds . I say that thoso entertainments ought to be kept np for the simple reason that they interest our sisters in onr proceedings . They make us see that we are able to do onr duty in tho way of Charity , and we ought to be convivial and entertain our female relations ; bnt I say it ought to bo done bv private
subscriptions ; it ought not to come out ot the Lodge funds . —[ A Voice They don't . ]—With theso few words , I am sure you will take it to heart , and in future years we shall see a larger subscription to these Institutions—( Applauso ) . Brethren , I had the honour and pleasure of going down to Wood Green last Saturday , and giving away the prizes to the boys of this Institution . Before , I had
had no opportunity of seeing or hearing their proficiency in the different parts of their education , and I could only judge from the lists presented to me ; bnt I can now say that I saw beforo mo as healthy a set of boys as I should ever wish to set eyes upon . I saw a number of hearty , happy faces , all looking forward to their holidays , extremely well pleased
to come up and receive their prizes , and to have done their best to amuse the company with their plays and songs . I gave what praise I could on that occasion . I will not repeat it now , except to say that I think the Head Master and his Assistants must havo thoroughly done their duty . If you turn to ono page of the Report yon will see the result of tho Cambridge Examination . I think it is
highly creditable to Dr . Morris and his staff , that he has brought up , I think I am rig ht in saying , eleven candidates , ten passing , and nine in the honour list . Now , the whole Craft ought to be proud of such a show as that . There is ono other point I wish to say a few words to yon upon , and that is a scheme that has been promoted and that has been brought to a head—I mean tho Masonic Pupils '
Assistance Fund . ( Cheers . ) I know , brethren , that there has been great opposition to this Fund , I own that when first I heard of it I myself was opposed to it , but as time went on , and I' saw how onr Bro . Dick Radclyffe was working , and I got his assurance that tho scheme would bo carried out according to certain lines , that I then took and myself laid down to him , I gave it my
support ; and I say , brethren , I think that this Masonic Pupils ' Assistance Fnnd , if carried out as I believe it will bo , upon the Hues laid down by tho Committee , will be of real use . I hear that the object of the Fund is simply this—to raise a sum of money—the larger the better ; to raise a sum of money which will enable tho Committees of tho Boys' and tho Girls' Schools to grant a sum of money to any
deserving boy or girl on leaving the School , to help them on in thoir future career . It was at first thought that this was to be a fourth Charity . It' is not a fourth Charity , and it is not to be anything of the sort ; wo are to have no Governors ot it , no votes , all wo want is to have a certain sum of morey so as to enable ns to assist boys to get on either in College life , to give them an advance in order to got
them into the Army , or whatever their bent may be ; and girls in the like way . This money we propose to place entirely in the hands of the two Committees of the Boys' and Girls' Schools , and it will be for thom to determine who aro deserving and who are not —( Loud applause ) . No doubt all of you are aware that at the present moment a Bazaar is being held in furtherance of tho objects of tho Fnnd . It
has ' ^ one already for two days , and there are yet three days more on which it may bo held . I can only hope that the receipts of tho next two days will exceed tho product of tho days which have been already held . I do not say it has been quite so successful as wo might have desired , but I do say this , that the money realised up to tho present timo has completely cleared all expenses entailed , and has left tho
original fund subscribed untouched ( applause ) . Now , brethren , if vvc can manage , by means of this Bazaar and tho list of subscription , to « et a sum of £ 130 , 000 , we should then bo in a position to do all that is wanted . It is not a large sum that is wanted— £ 30 , £ ' 10 , or £ 50 a year will do all wo want . Somo people were under the impression that instead of having this Assistance Fund
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Anniversary Festival Of The R.M.I.B.
know what an intorest he lakes in tho Craft , and how ho is always ready when his other manifold duties permit if , to come forward and support anything that may rotate to it . ! need only point to his last Masonio act , namely , going down into Cornwall to lay tho foundation stone ( if a Cathedral , an act which has not been done by any . Masonic body hitherto . His IJoyal Highness has our Craft at heart . I look
upon him as cue of ( no truest "Masons in the country . Not only is his Royal Highness one of us , but wo have two of his lioyat llighnoss ' s brothers also among onr ranks . If . li . H . Prince Leopold has taken n most deep interest in Masonry ever since ho joined ns . I myself not many years ago had the honour of installing him into tho chair as Provincial Grand Master of Oxfordshire . His Royal Highness the Duke
of Connaught will bo installed into tho chair of a Lodgo on Monday as Worshipful Master . I think I need say no more , but ask you to drink tho health of His Royal Highness tho Grand Master . The Rov . H . A . Ficknrd P . G . C . then rose , and said—My Lords , Ladies , and Brethren , —Ton seo one who has had greatness thrust upon him . When I left my warm retreat at Oxford at tho beginning of
this week to join , as I havo frequently , in tho pleasure of this Masonic and like Masonic gatherings , I did so with the fnll conviction that my Senior Chaplain , Bro . Martyn , who is so well known to all of yon , wonld havo been present hero this evening , and wonld have proposed the toast which it is my lot now to ask you to honour . I hold in my hand a telegram just received from that worthy and
Worshipful Brother , who says , " I am very sorry I cannot possibly bo with you to-day . Please accept my hearty good wishes for a most successful Festival . " No ono can regret Bro . Mat tyu's absence more than he doos who now takes his place ; bnt at tho same time I am fully awaro that tho toast which I have to proposo to your notice will bo drunk by yon with eqnal enthusiasm , although it is given by
ono who does not know now properly to proposo it . very few , I am sure , could do justice to tho toast of our Chairman , tho Earl of Lathom . Let Lancashire testify how well ho is beloved by those who know him Masonically , and let all those who have seen him at our Masonic gatherings in London say that it is possiblo for any ono to hold tho distinguished post of Deputy Grand Master of England
better than ho does who ha . s consented to bo Chairman of onr Institution this evening . Brethren , Lord Lathom has already presided at the Festivals of the other two Institutions , and has always had a very successful Festival , and I trnsfc that when ho looks back upon this day in years to come ho will remember it as one to bo marked with a white stone , as one which did not fall very far short of those Festivals which
he enjoyed so much previously . There is , perhaps , ono reason why I may rejoice that it has fallen to my lot beforo this distinguished company to propose Lord Lathom ' s health , and it is because fourand-twenty years ago , when I was Master of the Apollo Lodge , I had the honour of initiating Lord Lathom into the mysteries of Freemasonry . Ladies and brethren , I call upon you to drink , with all the
honours , the health of the Chairman , Lord Lathom . Tho Earl of Lathom , in responding , said , —Ladies and brethren , I thank yon most heartily for tho kind manner in which you havo received the toast proposed by my Masonic father . I can assure you , brethren , that it gives me intense pleasnre to be able to be present hero to-day , and to presido at the Eighty-second Anniversary of this
Institution . I shall havo moro perhaps to say about it in a few moments , but all that I will do at present is to thank you most heartily , and tell you that , as far as in mo lies , I will try to carry out thoroughly my Masonic duty and merit your goodwill and esteem . The Rev . Dr . Morris , in proposing the next toast , said , —Brethren and ladies , it is said that the best commander is ho who is ever ready
to obey orders when ho receives them . The Chairman has ordered mo to propose this toast ; I am ready to obey tho command . The toast I have to propose is the Right Hon . tho Earl of Carnarvon M . W . Pro Grand Master , The Right Hon . tho Earl of Lathom R . W . Grand Master , tho Vice-Presidents of tho Institution , the e > :-officio Vice-Presidents of tho Institutions , and the Prov . Grand Masters and
present and past Grand Officers , including Col . Shadwell Clerke , the Grand Secretary . Although the P . G . Officers havo more or less retired from active duty , we are not going to forget them , and I am sure yon will all receive this toast mo 3 t heartily . The toast was drunk with tho greatest enthusiasm . Colonel Shadwell Clerke , in response , said , —Brethren , Ladies and
Gentlemen , as it has fallen to my lot to respond to this toast , I do so most willingly , bnt at the same time I feel perfectly overwhelmed with gratitude at the way in which you have received this toast . When I reflect upon those illustrious names which aro comprehended in this toast , I feel that some more influential brother ought to retnrn thanks for it , but in their absence , I beg to offer you the thanks
of tho Officers for the very kind greeting which you have given to their names this evening . I can assure you that tho Grand Officers yield to none in the interest they fee ] in this Masonic Charity , and they will look most anxiously to-morrow morning at the papers to read the list of subscriptions which are this day announced . I will not detain yon , Ladies and Brethren , further , but simply thank you very much
indeed for the very gratifying manner in winch you have received the toast , and assure you that we feel very much obliged to you for it . Tho Earl of Lathom then said , —Brethren aud Ladies , —if they will allow me , I will say sisters , for I am sure they ought to be called our sisters , showing tho interest they do in this Institution—I appear before yon to give yon the toast of Prosperity to tho Royal Masonic
Institution for Boys on its Eighty-second Anniversary . Brethren , it is hardly necessary for me to go into a history of tho origin , the rise , and the prosperity of this Institution . Yon all see in the Report that has been handed to you how this Institution started with a very small beginning ; how , in the year 1798 , this Institution began by providing the education and clothing of six boys . Since then it has gradually
gone on increasing , till here we find in the Report , now presented to you that the School at present consists of 215 boys . From that it will be seen there has been a steady increase in the number of pupils admitted , and I have not the slightest hesitation in saying that with tho increase in the popularity of Freemasonry throughout this country , so will the prosperity of this School increase ; at least I say it
The Anniversary Festival Of The R.M.I.B.
ought to do so . At the same timo thero is ono other littlo fact in tho Uoport before you which I think worthy of notice , and that is that I am happy to say tint during tho past few years there has boon a gradual — a gradual but steady decreaso in the cost of the tuition and inaint 'nance of each hoy . ( Hear , hear . ) Xow , the larger f ! io number that come into tho School , so ( ho
more will tho cost ot each individual boy decreaso m proportion . As for tho prosperity of tho Institution , I do not think there can bo any doubt about that ; it is not on tho wane at present , and I trust it will be many years beforo wo seo it decline . Thero is one point I wish to mention , and that is one continually heard about these Institutions—I am talking of tho three now , as our Masonic
Charities . Now , I object to that word . I say they oncrht to bo onr Masonic Duties . We , as Freemasons , are bound to keep up theso great Institutions . Thoy have been started on good lines ; they havo been well and admirably carried on , and it is our duty , as Freemasons , to keep them up to the mark . It is quite true that within the past few years—I may say that my own Province showed a very
laudable oxamplo in it—there have been many local Institutions started , Benevolent and Educational . No doubt brethren aro moro inclined to give their mouey to local Institutions than they aro to tlie central ono ; but at the samo timo I think , brethren , wo are rich enough for both . It is vevy easy to get up onr local fnnd to a vevy large amount . I will ask any one to look at the return of West
Lancashire , and lie will say that wo havo had a very largo amount ( if money at our disposal . At tho same time I am happy to say I have only to look around mo to see that this Institution is not otherwise than well supported . I say , brethren , wo ought all to put our shoulders to tho wheel , not only to support Local Institutions , but also our main head-quarters , namely , this and tho two sister
Institutions . There is ono point , brethren , which I ought to mention . It is ono which our Lancashire brethren will tell me I have been a little tedious upon , and that is , wo find—in the North of England certainlythat very largo sums aro expended in the year in picnics and entertainments of one kind and another . I havo no objection to those entertainments , I havo no objection to thoso picnics , balls , or
whatever thoy may be ; bnt I say that those entertainmonts ought not to come out of the Lodge funds . I say that thoso entertainments ought to be kept np for the simple reason that they interest our sisters in onr proceedings . They make us see that we are able to do onr duty in tho way of Charity , and we ought to be convivial and entertain our female relations ; bnt I say it ought to bo done bv private
subscriptions ; it ought not to come out ot the Lodge funds . —[ A Voice They don't . ]—With theso few words , I am sure you will take it to heart , and in future years we shall see a larger subscription to these Institutions—( Applauso ) . Brethren , I had the honour and pleasure of going down to Wood Green last Saturday , and giving away the prizes to the boys of this Institution . Before , I had
had no opportunity of seeing or hearing their proficiency in the different parts of their education , and I could only judge from the lists presented to me ; bnt I can now say that I saw beforo mo as healthy a set of boys as I should ever wish to set eyes upon . I saw a number of hearty , happy faces , all looking forward to their holidays , extremely well pleased
to come up and receive their prizes , and to have done their best to amuse the company with their plays and songs . I gave what praise I could on that occasion . I will not repeat it now , except to say that I think the Head Master and his Assistants must havo thoroughly done their duty . If you turn to ono page of the Report yon will see the result of tho Cambridge Examination . I think it is
highly creditable to Dr . Morris and his staff , that he has brought up , I think I am rig ht in saying , eleven candidates , ten passing , and nine in the honour list . Now , the whole Craft ought to be proud of such a show as that . There is ono other point I wish to say a few words to yon upon , and that is a scheme that has been promoted and that has been brought to a head—I mean tho Masonic Pupils '
Assistance Fund . ( Cheers . ) I know , brethren , that there has been great opposition to this Fund , I own that when first I heard of it I myself was opposed to it , but as time went on , and I' saw how onr Bro . Dick Radclyffe was working , and I got his assurance that tho scheme would bo carried out according to certain lines , that I then took and myself laid down to him , I gave it my
support ; and I say , brethren , I think that this Masonic Pupils ' Assistance Fnnd , if carried out as I believe it will bo , upon the Hues laid down by tho Committee , will be of real use . I hear that the object of the Fund is simply this—to raise a sum of money—the larger the better ; to raise a sum of money which will enable tho Committees of tho Boys' and tho Girls' Schools to grant a sum of money to any
deserving boy or girl on leaving the School , to help them on in thoir future career . It was at first thought that this was to be a fourth Charity . It' is not a fourth Charity , and it is not to be anything of the sort ; wo are to have no Governors ot it , no votes , all wo want is to have a certain sum of morey so as to enable ns to assist boys to get on either in College life , to give them an advance in order to got
them into the Army , or whatever their bent may be ; and girls in the like way . This money we propose to place entirely in the hands of the two Committees of the Boys' and Girls' Schools , and it will be for thom to determine who aro deserving and who are not —( Loud applause ) . No doubt all of you are aware that at the present moment a Bazaar is being held in furtherance of tho objects of tho Fnnd . It
has ' ^ one already for two days , and there are yet three days more on which it may bo held . I can only hope that the receipts of tho next two days will exceed tho product of tho days which have been already held . I do not say it has been quite so successful as wo might have desired , but I do say this , that the money realised up to tho present timo has completely cleared all expenses entailed , and has left tho
original fund subscribed untouched ( applause ) . Now , brethren , if vvc can manage , by means of this Bazaar and tho list of subscription , to « et a sum of £ 130 , 000 , we should then bo in a position to do all that is wanted . It is not a large sum that is wanted— £ 30 , £ ' 10 , or £ 50 a year will do all wo want . Somo people were under the impression that instead of having this Assistance Fund