Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Approaching Festival Of The Masonic Institution For Boys.
nt ; i similar character , it . is presumably very certain that many subscriptions which aro now annually forthcoming would bo withhold . But tho disci pline , like the education , is most , creditable to nil who havo a part in tho direction
of the Institution , and no ono , therefore , is likely to run away with tho impression that tho moneys contributed to tho Boys' School aro wasfcofnlly or improperly expended . It is unnecessary to say more in this connection , as our
American cousins are npb to phrase it . It is certain the money raised will ho well and worthily appropriated and will enable onr poor orphan youngsters to acquire an amount of knowledge which cannot fail to be of incalculable benefit to them in after life .
There is yet another reason to which we wish to draw the attention of onr readers . We have said the increase in the number of tho pupils and consequent , outlay had been very considerable in tho course of the last , few years . In April 187 (> , there were iu the School 15 S pupils , or ,
including ( hose admitted by purchase and presentation , 17 S . There are now 21-5 , showing nu increase in the last quinquennial period of some twenty per cent . Not , onlv does this entail an increased outlay of about , £ 1 , 500 , but in order to provide the increased accommodation for
these further pupils , a largo outlay has been necessarily inclined in respect , of building and furnishing . Yet , in spite of this increase , the number of candidates is out of all proportion to tho number of vacancies , and it is in contemplation to erect , a Preparatory School , which shall bo sufficientlv large to accommodate only in tho first
instance 50 , bnt ultimately 1 . 50 additional boys . Plans and estimates for the requisite buildings are in course of being advertised for , and as soon as the Executive see their way to commencing operations , they will make a start ; that is , they will commit , the Institution to an expenditure
greatly in excess of what is already undertaken . To put the matter still more clearly , Avhcn tho new premises have been built , and furnished for occupation , 50 new boys will be taken info the School , entailing an additional
drain on the resources of the Institution , of ( say somewhere about £ 2 , 000 per annum . Thus last year ' s expenditure was in round figures £ 10 , 500 ; a year or two hence the outlay will amount to £ 12 , 500 .
We have overlooked one point . The Royal Masonic Institution for Boys is the only one of the Charities which sustained a loss by the failure of the firm with which it banked , tho loss amounting to between £ 800 and £ 900 . This loss has been made good by what is known as the Bank
Loss Restoration Fund , to the extent only of 104 guineas , so that , thoro is even uowa deficiency of between £ 700 and £ 800 . We trust this will he borne in mind by the Craft , when the question of contributing to the funds of this Charity , at the Festival of the 29 fch instant , is submitted
to then- notice . It is one of those reasons which ought to have some influence in extracting moneys from the pockets of the benevolent . To sum up this part of our case : — the great excess of candidates over vacancies ; the limited amount of invested moneys , and the consequent , smnllness of
the permanent income : the excellence of the education and the moral training afforded ; the proposed increase in the number of pupils ; and the loss sustained some time since , — these arc the reasons we bring forward why it is incumbent on our brethren to extend a hearty and liberal support towards the Institution with which the name of Bro . Binckes has
been so intimately and so gloriously associated for the past twenty years . Having recapitulated the reasons which have induced us to lay the case of the Boys' Festival before the Craft at so early a date , and which , to our mind , render the warm
cooperation of London and the Provinces so iudisponsible , let ns pass briefly in review the special circumstances connected with the Anniversary . We must first of all note that the chair will be occupied by the Marquis of Londonderry Provincial Grand Master of Durham . As with the
Provincial Grand Master of Gloucestershire , at the Girls ' School , so with his Lordship , this may be looked upon as his first public act in Masonry since his appointment as Provincial Grand Master , and , therefore , we look forward with confidence to the support of the TAlges over whose
welfare he has so recently been calledupon to preside . Durham , though it cannot boast of a numerical strength like that of the two Lancashires , West , Yorkshire ,
Devonshire , and Hants and the Isle of Wight , is , nevertheless , a Province of considerable weight . It has on its roll twentysix Lodges , an unusual proportion of which stand high on the list of Grand Lodge , while live of theae have had the
The Approaching Festival Of The Masonic Institution For Boys.
honour of a Centenary Warrant conferred upon them . Durham , therefore , may bo rightly looked upon as a stronghold of the Craft . It has , too , a reputation for beinc * constant in its support of the Boys' School , having sent up Stewards at every one of its Festivals we have had the
pleasure of chronicling in our columns . Sunderland , which wo all know , is a port of great importance , has font Lodges ; Stockton three , Hartlepool three , and Chester-le-Street , Darlington , Durham , and Gateshead two each . Under these circumstances we are quite justified in
anticipating that , as well from its strength and influence , as from its very natural anxiety to support loyally its latel yappointed Chief , Durham will exert itself strenuousl y at the approaching Festival . Then the adjacent Province of Northumberland is not only intimately connected with it
industrially , bnt two of its towns—Newcastle , with ten Lodges , and North Shields , with one , may be looked upon as being as closely allied with Durham , as Southwark and London , Lambeth and Westminster , aro in the Metropolis .
We shall look forward , therefore , to there being a cordial amount of support , from Northumberland , not very much behind that of Durham itself . Contiguous Provinces cannot be otherwise than animated by a warm , neighbourl y fecliiiQ- towards each other .
But a marked feature in connection with the Boys ' Festival is , that so far as we are aware it will be the first time in tho annals of our Charitable celebrations that , the anniversary of any ono of our 'Institutions has been held onsido the area of the Metropolitan District . The Girls '
and BenevoientFestivals have invariably taken place at Freemasons' Tavern , but of late years that of the Boys' School has been held , now at the Alexandra , now at the Crystal Palace . This year the locality chosen is the Royal Pavilion at Brighton . As the sea-side resort is known familiarly as
London-Snper-Maro , the change may not at first strike one as being- so great , but there is no doubt it will be looked upon as a startling innovation . Yet is it one as to which
there can be no doubt about its being reasonable . The Provinces are very liberal in their support of our Ceutral Institutions . At all events , one thing is very certain , whenever a Province is thus honoured there is no doubt its
sympathies will be enlisted with the particular Institution whose Anniversary is held within its limits . Sussex , we know , requires but little , if any , incentive to do its duty ; yet Brighton , primarily and particularly , and the Province generally , cannot be otherwise than greatly gratified it
should have been chosen as the scene of this first great departure from the usual order of proceedings . Brighton has seven Lodges of its own , while there are a round two dozen on the roll of tho Province ; and no doubt these will make an effort beyond what is usual , if only to show their
sense of the compliment that has been paid them . Indeed , we have been told that Bro . V- P . Freeman , Provincial Grand Secretary , who will act as Steward for the whole Province , has already secured a list of subscriptions amounting to £ 700 , and it is hoped that before the day arrives this will be increased to £ 1 , 000 .
As to the arrangements , they , as far as we can see , leave nothing to be desired . A special train will leave London Bridge at 11 . 30 a . m ., calling at East Croydon at 11 . 50 a . m ., in order to take up passengers from Victoria . The Stewards' fees will be as usual , and the dinner tickets ,
railway fares included , will be about the ordinary price , while the arrangements for the convenience of the guests are of the most complete character possible . We may add that ladies will , as usual , be present at the
banquet , while the brethren will , also as usual , wear no Masonic clothing . It remains for us to add , that we trust , under these circumstances , the Boys' Festival of 1881 will be a success in keeping with those which Bro . Binckes has achieved during the past six years .
The Directors of the Kingston Masonic Benefit Association in their report for the year ending February , have expressed , says the ' Canadian Craftsman , their assurance of its healthiness and stability . Of twenty-one app lications for membership made during the year , nineteen were
accepted , while but seven members had died , to whose legal representatives iu each case the sum of 200 dollars had been paid . There are now 202 members , of whom 82 are resident in Kingston , while the remaining 120 are scattered about from Portland , Maine , to San Francisco , itud between Montreal and Winnipeg .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Approaching Festival Of The Masonic Institution For Boys.
nt ; i similar character , it . is presumably very certain that many subscriptions which aro now annually forthcoming would bo withhold . But tho disci pline , like the education , is most , creditable to nil who havo a part in tho direction
of the Institution , and no ono , therefore , is likely to run away with tho impression that tho moneys contributed to tho Boys' School aro wasfcofnlly or improperly expended . It is unnecessary to say more in this connection , as our
American cousins are npb to phrase it . It is certain the money raised will ho well and worthily appropriated and will enable onr poor orphan youngsters to acquire an amount of knowledge which cannot fail to be of incalculable benefit to them in after life .
There is yet another reason to which we wish to draw the attention of onr readers . We have said the increase in the number of tho pupils and consequent , outlay had been very considerable in tho course of the last , few years . In April 187 (> , there were iu the School 15 S pupils , or ,
including ( hose admitted by purchase and presentation , 17 S . There are now 21-5 , showing nu increase in the last quinquennial period of some twenty per cent . Not , onlv does this entail an increased outlay of about , £ 1 , 500 , but in order to provide the increased accommodation for
these further pupils , a largo outlay has been necessarily inclined in respect , of building and furnishing . Yet , in spite of this increase , the number of candidates is out of all proportion to tho number of vacancies , and it is in contemplation to erect , a Preparatory School , which shall bo sufficientlv large to accommodate only in tho first
instance 50 , bnt ultimately 1 . 50 additional boys . Plans and estimates for the requisite buildings are in course of being advertised for , and as soon as the Executive see their way to commencing operations , they will make a start ; that is , they will commit , the Institution to an expenditure
greatly in excess of what is already undertaken . To put the matter still more clearly , Avhcn tho new premises have been built , and furnished for occupation , 50 new boys will be taken info the School , entailing an additional
drain on the resources of the Institution , of ( say somewhere about £ 2 , 000 per annum . Thus last year ' s expenditure was in round figures £ 10 , 500 ; a year or two hence the outlay will amount to £ 12 , 500 .
We have overlooked one point . The Royal Masonic Institution for Boys is the only one of the Charities which sustained a loss by the failure of the firm with which it banked , tho loss amounting to between £ 800 and £ 900 . This loss has been made good by what is known as the Bank
Loss Restoration Fund , to the extent only of 104 guineas , so that , thoro is even uowa deficiency of between £ 700 and £ 800 . We trust this will he borne in mind by the Craft , when the question of contributing to the funds of this Charity , at the Festival of the 29 fch instant , is submitted
to then- notice . It is one of those reasons which ought to have some influence in extracting moneys from the pockets of the benevolent . To sum up this part of our case : — the great excess of candidates over vacancies ; the limited amount of invested moneys , and the consequent , smnllness of
the permanent income : the excellence of the education and the moral training afforded ; the proposed increase in the number of pupils ; and the loss sustained some time since , — these arc the reasons we bring forward why it is incumbent on our brethren to extend a hearty and liberal support towards the Institution with which the name of Bro . Binckes has
been so intimately and so gloriously associated for the past twenty years . Having recapitulated the reasons which have induced us to lay the case of the Boys' Festival before the Craft at so early a date , and which , to our mind , render the warm
cooperation of London and the Provinces so iudisponsible , let ns pass briefly in review the special circumstances connected with the Anniversary . We must first of all note that the chair will be occupied by the Marquis of Londonderry Provincial Grand Master of Durham . As with the
Provincial Grand Master of Gloucestershire , at the Girls ' School , so with his Lordship , this may be looked upon as his first public act in Masonry since his appointment as Provincial Grand Master , and , therefore , we look forward with confidence to the support of the TAlges over whose
welfare he has so recently been calledupon to preside . Durham , though it cannot boast of a numerical strength like that of the two Lancashires , West , Yorkshire ,
Devonshire , and Hants and the Isle of Wight , is , nevertheless , a Province of considerable weight . It has on its roll twentysix Lodges , an unusual proportion of which stand high on the list of Grand Lodge , while live of theae have had the
The Approaching Festival Of The Masonic Institution For Boys.
honour of a Centenary Warrant conferred upon them . Durham , therefore , may bo rightly looked upon as a stronghold of the Craft . It has , too , a reputation for beinc * constant in its support of the Boys' School , having sent up Stewards at every one of its Festivals we have had the
pleasure of chronicling in our columns . Sunderland , which wo all know , is a port of great importance , has font Lodges ; Stockton three , Hartlepool three , and Chester-le-Street , Darlington , Durham , and Gateshead two each . Under these circumstances we are quite justified in
anticipating that , as well from its strength and influence , as from its very natural anxiety to support loyally its latel yappointed Chief , Durham will exert itself strenuousl y at the approaching Festival . Then the adjacent Province of Northumberland is not only intimately connected with it
industrially , bnt two of its towns—Newcastle , with ten Lodges , and North Shields , with one , may be looked upon as being as closely allied with Durham , as Southwark and London , Lambeth and Westminster , aro in the Metropolis .
We shall look forward , therefore , to there being a cordial amount of support , from Northumberland , not very much behind that of Durham itself . Contiguous Provinces cannot be otherwise than animated by a warm , neighbourl y fecliiiQ- towards each other .
But a marked feature in connection with the Boys ' Festival is , that so far as we are aware it will be the first time in tho annals of our Charitable celebrations that , the anniversary of any ono of our 'Institutions has been held onsido the area of the Metropolitan District . The Girls '
and BenevoientFestivals have invariably taken place at Freemasons' Tavern , but of late years that of the Boys' School has been held , now at the Alexandra , now at the Crystal Palace . This year the locality chosen is the Royal Pavilion at Brighton . As the sea-side resort is known familiarly as
London-Snper-Maro , the change may not at first strike one as being- so great , but there is no doubt it will be looked upon as a startling innovation . Yet is it one as to which
there can be no doubt about its being reasonable . The Provinces are very liberal in their support of our Ceutral Institutions . At all events , one thing is very certain , whenever a Province is thus honoured there is no doubt its
sympathies will be enlisted with the particular Institution whose Anniversary is held within its limits . Sussex , we know , requires but little , if any , incentive to do its duty ; yet Brighton , primarily and particularly , and the Province generally , cannot be otherwise than greatly gratified it
should have been chosen as the scene of this first great departure from the usual order of proceedings . Brighton has seven Lodges of its own , while there are a round two dozen on the roll of tho Province ; and no doubt these will make an effort beyond what is usual , if only to show their
sense of the compliment that has been paid them . Indeed , we have been told that Bro . V- P . Freeman , Provincial Grand Secretary , who will act as Steward for the whole Province , has already secured a list of subscriptions amounting to £ 700 , and it is hoped that before the day arrives this will be increased to £ 1 , 000 .
As to the arrangements , they , as far as we can see , leave nothing to be desired . A special train will leave London Bridge at 11 . 30 a . m ., calling at East Croydon at 11 . 50 a . m ., in order to take up passengers from Victoria . The Stewards' fees will be as usual , and the dinner tickets ,
railway fares included , will be about the ordinary price , while the arrangements for the convenience of the guests are of the most complete character possible . We may add that ladies will , as usual , be present at the
banquet , while the brethren will , also as usual , wear no Masonic clothing . It remains for us to add , that we trust , under these circumstances , the Boys' Festival of 1881 will be a success in keeping with those which Bro . Binckes has achieved during the past six years .
The Directors of the Kingston Masonic Benefit Association in their report for the year ending February , have expressed , says the ' Canadian Craftsman , their assurance of its healthiness and stability . Of twenty-one app lications for membership made during the year , nineteen were
accepted , while but seven members had died , to whose legal representatives iu each case the sum of 200 dollars had been paid . There are now 202 members , of whom 82 are resident in Kingston , while the remaining 120 are scattered about from Portland , Maine , to San Francisco , itud between Montreal and Winnipeg .