The Boys School Centenary.

THE BOYS SCHOOL CENTENARY .

W HAT will probably prove to be the great closing event of the century in Masonic matters will take place on Friday next , when H . R . H . the Prince of Wales Grand Master of England will preside at the Centenary Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys ,

supported by the largest Board of Stewards ever known in connection with such an event , and with results which are almost sure to create a world's record in charity celebrations .

As is known to our readers hopes are entertained that a sum of at least one hundred thousand pounds will be realised , and although we have no data at hand on which to base an estimate , we have heard enough during the

last few weeks to induce us to believe that immense total is more likely to be exceeded than otherwise , and , in view of all it is proposed to carry out in connection with

this auspicious event , there can be but one wish in the minds of Brethren—that the most sanguine hopes of the most enthusiastic workers may be fully realised .

The Centenary of the Boys School itself is , of course , a prominent attraction on this occasion , but we venture to believe the fact that H . R . H . the Prince of Wales has promised to preside at the celebration , as Grand Master

of England , has done much to add to the popularity of the event , and will cause a very considerable augmentation of the subscriptions beyond what would have been the case if the chief of the English Order had not personally

given his approval of the work that is going on , and announced his intention of advocating its claims on the occasion of the actual celebration of the Centenary of the Institution .

It is too late now to do much more than add our good wishes to the many lately expressed on behalf of the Fund , but we do most devoutly hope the result of

the coming Centenary celebration will come up in every way to the fondest hopes of its most ardent admirers , among whom , in all sincerity , we venture to include ourselves .

United Grand Lodge.

UNITED GRAND LODGE .

npHE Quarterly Communication was held on Wednesday , JL at Freemasons' Hall , London , under the presidency of the Deputy Grand Master Earl Amherst Prov . G . M . Kent , and was very numerously attended . The resolutions submitted by the M . W . the Grand

Master , as to the departure of the Grand Lodge of Peru from the traditions of Freemasonry ( as set out in the Agenda we published last week ) were brought forward , and agreed to with the greatest unity .

Sir John Monckton ' s motion to grant 500 guineas to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , on the occasion of the celebration of its Centenary , was seconded by Bro . Richard Eve P . G . T ., and also agreed to with unanimity . The proposition standing in the name of Bro . Farnfield

United Grand Lodge.

that a sum of £ jo be given from the Fund of General Purposes , to provide the inmates of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution at Croydon with coals for the winter months , was seconded by Bro . T . Hastings Miller and carried .

The appeal of Bro . Walter James was dismissed , as the matter was considered frivolous and vexatious . The other proceedings of the meeting were of a merely formal character .

We are very pleased to record the fact that a kni ghthood has been conferred on Bro . A . F . Godson , M . P ., Provincial Grand Master of Worcestershire , and an ardent supporter of Freemasonry in many of its degrees . We have had the pleasure of Bro . Godson ' s acquaintance for many years , our

association going back to the time when we advocated in these pages the establishment of a printing department at the Boys School , at Wood Green , not only as a means of technically instructing some of the pupils , but as a possible source of income , however small . At that time Bro . Godson

was prominently associated with the management of the Institution , and so far endorsed our views as to offer to provide- the type and other of the plant required in order to put the suggestion to a practical test , but the offer was not accepted , and it was left to a later day for the experiment

to be started at the School , though we believe the results now obtained lead to regrets that an earlier commencement was not made . We may refer our readers to the report which we published of a presentation made to the new Knight a short time since in his own Province , as therein

they will find details of his Masonic career , which is but a counterpart of his private and public life . Bro . Godson is respected wherever he is known , and we are but echoing general sentiments when we tender him hearty congratulations on his preferment .

We are glad to hear that the Westbourne Lodge of Instruction has voted twenty guineas towards the Boys Centenary Festival , as we like to see these popular Schools of Masonry proving their usefulness in the direction of benevolence , but we fear that in this case , as in so many

others , the members are exhausting the resources of the Lodge in their enthusiasm over the iashionable craze . We saw quite enough of the evil resulting from such a course in connection with the Girls School Centenary , and fully anticipate the result of the excessive drain now being made

on the Craft to secure a record result will be even more disastrous than was then the case . It is one thing to raise a hundred thousand pounds to erect a sumptuous new home for the Boys , quite another to provide the twenty or twenty-five thousand pounds that will be required each year to keep it in

a state of efficiency , more especially if , as we fully anticipate will be the case , it takes each of the Institutions at least three years to get their subscriptions up to the regular average again . The Brethren who first pushed on this wild

scheme of extravagance seem to think the How of Masonic benevolence is inexhaustible ; we hope it may prove to be so . We certainly shall not complain if the future proves them to be right , and our views wrong—but we doubt the soundness of their theories .

A special church service , on behalf of the Boys Centenary , was held on Wednesday , at Rhyl , when the collection realised £ 5 12 s , which it is intended to apply for the purchase of a Life Subscribership for the vicar P . P . G . Chaplain Bro . D . Edwards .