The Boys' School Election.

THE BOYS' SCHOOL ELECTION .

THE prospects of the candidates seeking admission to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys at the next election , on Monday , the 13 th inst ., are not so bright as those of the Girls who will compete for the vacancies in the

sister Institution on the previous Saturday , for while in the case of tbe Girls there are twenty-two vacancies to be divided among thirty candidates , in that of the boys there are but twenty-five to be admitted from an approved list of

forty-four . Still , the chances of success , even in the candidates for the Boys' School , are very much greater now than was the case with those who competed for the coveted scholarships a few years back . Then it was customary to

have a much longer list of candidates , and frequently a smaller number of vacancies ; then it was usual for a very large proportion of the candidates to be sent away disappointed , or at least to find themselves shut out from

all chance of securing the benefits of the Institution for another six months , but now we are pleased to find that considerably more than half of those eligible can be admitted , while the anxiety imposed on their friends in the

collection of votes is considerably lessened by reason of the smaller number required to secure election . On the whole , those who are compelled to seek the benefits of the Educational Institutions of Freemasonry have much

to be thankful for just now , for if they can only secure the support of a moderate number of influential brethren , the early admission of a child is certain . We sincerely hope that sufficient funds may always be forthcoming to

maintain the Institutions in their present state of usefulness , and to enable them to be extended in proportion to any increase that may occur in the numbers of those needing assistance from them , and found worthy of receiving it .

As we have already said , the number of boys seeking admission at this month's election is forty-four , of whom twenty-one are new to the present list , while twenty-three are brought forward from previous ones .

The last applications are three in number . No . 1 , James Murray Green , is a candidate who now comes forward for the fifth time , with a total of twentythree votes to his credit . He is one of two children left

to the care of a widowed mother . His father , who died in 1877 , was a subscriber to tbe Craft for ten and a half years , during which time he rose to the position of W . M . of his Mother Lodge—the Royal Clarence , No . 976 ,

Somersetshire—he also filled therein the office of Secretary . This being the only case accredited to this district we hope the brethren there have decided to support the lad in this his last appeal . No . 15 , Cuthbert John George Roddam ,

has not had so severe an experience as a candidate , he having only competed once before , securing 187 votes ; he also is one of two children dependent on their mother . His father was initiated in the Euphrates LodgeNo . 212 ,

, London , and appears to have remained a member of the Order until his death . The support the lad received in October last , small in itself , is yet indicative of an amount of

sympath y which should be capable of carrying him through this time , as it is hardly to be supposed so large a number of votes would be polled for a lad whose age bordered so close on tbe limit fixed for admission if within

six months it was to be proved that they had been thrown away . The friends of the lad have much to do , but the Euphrates Lodge members are capable of [ much if they

The Boys' School Election.

only determine on doing it . No . 32 , Harold John Walker , the other last application case , now comes forward for the first time . His father , an initiate of Trinity Lodge , No . 254 , Warwickshire , is still alive , and has this child and two

others dependent on him . In the days of his Masonio membership he rose to the rank of Worshipful Master of his Lodge , and likewise secured the honour of Junior Grand Deacon in his Province , positions which prove he

must have secured many friends in the Order ; these we trust will now come forward , and practically demonstrate their Masonic fellowship . It may be unkind to this brother , who is compelled to ask for the benefits of the School for

one of bis family , as well as to those who are supporting the case , yet we must ask our usual question—Why is not the reason stated which renders this case eligible ? We

think , in fairness to the subscribers , that something should be said on the ballot papers to explain , in face of no particulars , what appears strange .

Both parents being dead always seems to us sufficient to entitle a candidate to especial sympathy . No . 35 , William Edward Tappenden is the only lad on the present list so circumstanced . He is the son of an initiate of the

Wellington Lodge , No . 548 , London , and he and two other children are now dependent on friends for their maintenance . His is a new application , and we hope will be so well supported on the 13 th that he will be found among the list

of successful when the result of the poll comes to be

announced . All the other candidates have one or both their parents living , and all have other chances of competing provided they are unsuccessful on this occasion . We shall

now proceed to briefly review the particulars given in each case , taking first those who have already participated in previous elections , and attending to each of them in the order in which they stand as regards number of votes

brought forward . In tbis respect No . 22 , Charles Henry Wurr , heads the list , with 754 votes brought forward from the October election of last year . He is one of seven fatherless children , and is accredited to the Province

of Nottingham , his father having been initiated there in the Newton Lodge , No . 1661 . Judging from what has already been done for this lad , it will not be long ere he is admitted to the School . No . 9 , Frank Perkins , follows very closely ,

his total of recorded votes being 749 , but it has taken him two elections to secure that number . He also is one of seven fatherless children . His father , an initiate of Saint James Lodge , No . 765 , London , appears to have been a

most energetic brother , for although only a subscribing member of tbe Order for seven aud three quarter years , he had secured the rank of P . M . and Secretary of his Lodge ; he had also done good work in the cause of Charity , having

served as Steward both for the Boys' and Girls' Schools , these qualifications alone , from their comparative rarity among the fathers of candidates , entitle to special consideration . The lad stands a sood chance of succeeding in his

next attempt , if his friends only support him as they have clone in the past . No . 20 , Walter John Richards , has a sister in the Girls' School and may himself be said to be half elected to the Boys' Institution , for he brings forward

a total of 687 votes from the one previous election iu which he has taken part . He is one of two children now dependent on a widowed mother , who , we imagine , will never regret her husband ' s initiation into Freemasonry , which took place in the Lewis Lodge , No . 1185 , London ,

less than twelve months prior [ to his death . 663 votes