-
Articles/Ads
Article " AFTER THE TURTLE." ← Page 2 of 2 Article " AFTER THE TURTLE." Page 2 of 2 Ad Untitled Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
" After The Turtle."
would now come to the toast of the evening , Prosperity to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . He had no donbt those of the brethren who took an interest iu this Institution had their heart * , thoir purses , and their g lasses equally well charged . When he was asked to undertake the very high honour of presiding at this 92 nd Anniversary of the Institution , he was quite aware that certain difficulties had ,
during the last 18 months , beset that Institution , and it was with the deliberate knowledge of those difficulties , and the manner in whioh those difficulties had been overcome , that he undertook the duty of Chairman . This great Masonio institution of free education mainly depended for its continued existence upon the annual subscriptions and snppoit whioh it got ; it had little endowment . He would not
go into its past history , because most likely the great majority of the brethren present were more acquainted with it than he was ; but he would just lay before them a fow facts . In 1865 the School building , capable of holding 100 scholars , was completed , while the annnal income at that time was nofc in excess of £ 4 , 500 . At tho present moment there were no less than 263 scholars associated with the
Institntion , and the income had correspondingly risen for the past 10 years to considerably over £ 12 , 000 . If anybody would take the trouble of making a calculation they would find that whereas 23 years ago it cost about £ 45 per scholar to maintain that scholar for the year , * hat game rate of expenditure had practically continued to the present day , and that the increased subscriptions and the income whioh the
Institution during the past ten yeara attained had not gone in extravagant management , but in maintaining an increased nnmber of scholars in practically the same ratio . In any great school if the supervision was not exceedingly strict no doubt defects in tho organisation and administration of tbat school might creep in . He did nofc wish to enlarge on that faot , bufc undoubtedly the Committee appointed last
year made a moat exhaustive examination into tho management of the School ; they made recommendations for adoption by the House Committeo , and , he might say tbo School not only embodied all that was good in the past , but it had amalgamated with that tho reform proposals for the management of the future . Therefore , he thought that every Freemason now present might bo sure that if
they would only give to the School in the future that support which they had already given , ifc would claim even a greater part among the Masonic Charities than ifc had yet taken . He rather laid stress upon thafc point . He had bad a good deal to do in his life with institutions whose income depended on the annual benevolence of a particular body and of the pnblic , and he was quite aware that
wherever there was a good system of management , on any inquiry into it—whether that inquiry to a certain extent tended to shake tbe confidence in ifc or nofc—they could not after that inquiry get fche same amount of contribntions and subscriptions . But if this great educational Institute was to play the same part in the future as in
the past , it was essential thafc thoy should all bestir themselves and take care that even , as he feared that night , the subscriptions should fall short of the post year , he hoped that would only bo an inducement to the brethren next year to bring them np to the old standard . What was fche facfc ? This Institution of all the three Masonio
Charities had the smallest snm invested . The income derived from that source did not exceed £ 700 a year , and there were 263 boys in the School , and those boys could not be educated , according to the report of the Committee which inquired into the matter , at a leas sum than £ 43 per annum . Any one who bad had to do with first-class education would say thafc that was not an excessive sum for bovs
from 8 to 15 . As Freemasons they would be ashamed of themselves if they attempted to stint the quality of the education they gave those boys , because , after all , what did this great Institution do ? To his mind it was the most important of the three Institutions . In the competition of life , somebody must from time to time go to the wall , and every one of those now present knew thafc in every section
of society in whioh they moved they found individuals and families fell from the high stations which they inherited . The only means of setting auch a family onjits legs again , and to restore them to their lost status of comfort and opulence was to give the boys a thoroughly good education , with the knowledge that if they utilised the advantages and opportunities which , through kind friends , were thus afforded
to them , they might resuscitate the fortunes of their family , and once more place them in the position they formerly occupied . Therefore , in an Institution such as this , whioh dealt with the education of boys , no more important education could be given than one which would reall y benefit them most ; because pure benevolence meant , after all , making comfortable the lives of those who had been fairly comfortable .
To give a good education to a sharp and aspiring boy meant giving a chance to the rising generation to take advantage of those opportunities whioh might have been neglected . Therefore , if they wished to get at the sources of want they should direct their attention to the lmprovemenfc ^ of schools rather than give more money to mere chari . table institutions . Every person who was charitably disposed should look
after the money he gave as if he was investing ifc in his own interest . He was glad to find an almost unanimous feeling in this great gathering . Let them see what had been done at thia School , in the first place he was bound to say from what ho could see , although e was not going into controversial matter—although there had been lauts in the past management of the School—there was a brother well
known for his energy who had done much in the past to bring tne School before them . Let them , therefore , whilst freeing the management of the School from any defects and faults which by in . Btigatron had been proved to exisc , place it on a more satisfactory looting in the future . The Committee had been successful in many ngs . They had secured the services of a most capable Head paster , and he ( the Chairman * ! had in hia hand n , littlo snfimmfln
inr-M J welI -applied tact and energy might do in a small and "uental matter . This specimen waa the firsfc number of the who it ' Wh ' ° had been Prated at the School , and anybody an a < l ° * ui at " " could 8 ee that this little periodical was got up in sav if A ! manner - It was well printed , and every one would boysi JfoT the hi 8 heBb credit on the School , because many of the were engaged ii Betting up the type wero novices and
" After The Turtle."
under ten years of age . This was a little incident , but it waa like a straw which showed which way tho wind blow , becanse no school could have undertaken tho printing of this periodical unloas there was instilled into that school a feeling of < sy . rit de corps , aud he w . xa highly glad to hear that there were indications in many directions that the boys' athletic tendencies were be ' iig cultivated , nnd thit
the boys were showing , as all English boys did , a partiality for ki-ks and hard knock * . If be might make oue more observation ho would say that cricket shonld be one of the games he hoped would be encouraged in the School—h . 3 did not wish to disparage lawn tennis , which was played with a hollow an ! soft ball—but the game the boys shonld play was with a hard ball . If a boy had bis oyo on
defending himself , and got the onslaughts of a hard ball he would be able to get on with a soft OUP . Ho had detained the brethren longer than he had intended , bnt he hopod the collection that ni ^ ht might be in excess of what was anticipated . If they would bo kind enough to recollect that he nndertook tho duties of Chairman of this Festival in the belief that the subscriptions wonld be below
those of the past , and that he did so intending to appeal to them that in future they shonld bring up tho subscriptions to their old standard . If thoy did so he should foel that he had not spent his evening in vain among his MiRouio brethren , and in that gathering his few words would have been successful in enabling this great Masouic Educational Institntion for
the future to enter upon a career of renovated activity , upon an enlarged baiii . Ho now asked them with all heartiness to drink Prosperity to the Royal Masonio Institution for Boys . Bro . Georgo Plucknett Treasnrer of the Institution replied . Ho thanked the brethren for tho liberality and munificence with whioh all the Institutions were supported , and for the great service * whioh wero
rendered by the brethren to Masonry . Most valuable timo waa given to make tho Boys' School as perfect as it could be , and to carry out the great objects which tho Craft had . When an increase was once decided on , it necessarily followed that they mast ui & ke more room . This was done , and then they had to provide for the pleasure of the boys , to make extra class-rooms , to give better
ventilation , to enlarge the place , and so on . For many years the House Committee had felt that a swimming bath was absolutely necessary for tho health of the boys . The now hall and the new buildings for the junior boys had taken away much money . He hoped and trusted that the few words he had addressed to the brethren would encourage them to provide the requisite funds . Until
they had a swimming bath the Institution would nofc be complete . Those who were not acquainted with the Institution should go down and see what the Provisional Committee had done , and ho knew they would be delighted . He trusted it would not be allowed to languish for want of funds . He could assure them that any money subscribed would be well and properly spent . Bro . Binckes now rose to read
the list of subscriptions . While being called upon to discbarge th ' s ordinary duty , he should be unmindful of every feeling of gratitude that ought to actuate a brother placod in the position which he was that evening , if he did not acknowledge the somewhat complimentary allusions the Chairman had made to him , and to thank the large assembly before him for the manner iu
whioh they had received his name as still the representative of the Institution . In vacating the position he bad occupied for thirty yeara he was delighted to find thafc on this his last representative occasion among the brethren they had done him the honour of having given him suoh an ovation as they had . Ifc would ill bjcorae him to add any observations to those he had already , by the Chairman ' s
permission , addressed to the brethren , and he only wished , with referenoe to the number at that evening ' s Festival , that more had had the opportunity of listening to tho Chairman ' s encouraging aud delightful observations with regard to the merits of the Institution and the work it had to do . He did not think—he mi ght say he was lure—thafc of all the long list of Chairmen who had presided over their anniversary
festivals—and be should ask fche brethren to endorse what he saidthat a more admirable and sympathetic speech , a more gonial speech , a more encouraging speech , than they had hoard that evening , they had ever listened to before . When he knew the difficulties in which the Institution was placed in obtaining a Chairman for their Festival , they would be moro grateful than he know how to be at the consent
of Lord George Hamilton to preside fchab evening . He hoped h * s lordship would never regret the honour he bad done them in presiding and the hearty welcome he had received afc the hands of the brethren . His ( Bro . Binckes' ) only regret was—and it was a great and severe one—that in the face of hostile circumstances he should uot be able to witness a more satisfactory result . He did not wish to bo
personal , but they had given him on the eve of hia retirement a hearty welcome , and he should carry with him in his retirement the sympathy of a large nnmber of good friends . He hoped there waa a larger success in store for this glorious Institution in the future than it had had in the pasfc . The amounts secured by tbe sever *!
Stewards were then announced . We give details in another column . The few remaining toasts were then speedily dismissed , and the brethren joined the Ladies in the Temple , whore a musical entertainment was provided by Brother Alfred Moore . The banquet was well served , and the general arrangements gave the greatest satis , faction . Bro . Morley was the Toast Master .
"Iu answer to several inquiries thafc have been made to us , we reply thafc properly qualified Lewises—if of full age —are entitled to vote at the Election of Secretary . Applications for papers should be made afc the Office , afc Freemasons' Hall .
Ad00302
FUNERALS properly carried out and personally attended in London and Country , by Bro . G . A . HUTTON , 17 Newcastle Street , Strand , "W . C . Monuments erected . Valuations made .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
" After The Turtle."
would now come to the toast of the evening , Prosperity to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . He had no donbt those of the brethren who took an interest iu this Institution had their heart * , thoir purses , and their g lasses equally well charged . When he was asked to undertake the very high honour of presiding at this 92 nd Anniversary of the Institution , he was quite aware that certain difficulties had ,
during the last 18 months , beset that Institution , and it was with the deliberate knowledge of those difficulties , and the manner in whioh those difficulties had been overcome , that he undertook the duty of Chairman . This great Masonio institution of free education mainly depended for its continued existence upon the annual subscriptions and snppoit whioh it got ; it had little endowment . He would not
go into its past history , because most likely the great majority of the brethren present were more acquainted with it than he was ; but he would just lay before them a fow facts . In 1865 the School building , capable of holding 100 scholars , was completed , while the annnal income at that time was nofc in excess of £ 4 , 500 . At tho present moment there were no less than 263 scholars associated with the
Institntion , and the income had correspondingly risen for the past 10 years to considerably over £ 12 , 000 . If anybody would take the trouble of making a calculation they would find that whereas 23 years ago it cost about £ 45 per scholar to maintain that scholar for the year , * hat game rate of expenditure had practically continued to the present day , and that the increased subscriptions and the income whioh the
Institution during the past ten yeara attained had not gone in extravagant management , but in maintaining an increased nnmber of scholars in practically the same ratio . In any great school if the supervision was not exceedingly strict no doubt defects in tho organisation and administration of tbat school might creep in . He did nofc wish to enlarge on that faot , bufc undoubtedly the Committee appointed last
year made a moat exhaustive examination into tho management of the School ; they made recommendations for adoption by the House Committeo , and , he might say tbo School not only embodied all that was good in the past , but it had amalgamated with that tho reform proposals for the management of the future . Therefore , he thought that every Freemason now present might bo sure that if
they would only give to the School in the future that support which they had already given , ifc would claim even a greater part among the Masonic Charities than ifc had yet taken . He rather laid stress upon thafc point . He had bad a good deal to do in his life with institutions whose income depended on the annual benevolence of a particular body and of the pnblic , and he was quite aware that
wherever there was a good system of management , on any inquiry into it—whether that inquiry to a certain extent tended to shake tbe confidence in ifc or nofc—they could not after that inquiry get fche same amount of contribntions and subscriptions . But if this great educational Institute was to play the same part in the future as in
the past , it was essential thafc thoy should all bestir themselves and take care that even , as he feared that night , the subscriptions should fall short of the post year , he hoped that would only bo an inducement to the brethren next year to bring them np to the old standard . What was fche facfc ? This Institution of all the three Masonio
Charities had the smallest snm invested . The income derived from that source did not exceed £ 700 a year , and there were 263 boys in the School , and those boys could not be educated , according to the report of the Committee which inquired into the matter , at a leas sum than £ 43 per annum . Any one who bad had to do with first-class education would say thafc that was not an excessive sum for bovs
from 8 to 15 . As Freemasons they would be ashamed of themselves if they attempted to stint the quality of the education they gave those boys , because , after all , what did this great Institution do ? To his mind it was the most important of the three Institutions . In the competition of life , somebody must from time to time go to the wall , and every one of those now present knew thafc in every section
of society in whioh they moved they found individuals and families fell from the high stations which they inherited . The only means of setting auch a family onjits legs again , and to restore them to their lost status of comfort and opulence was to give the boys a thoroughly good education , with the knowledge that if they utilised the advantages and opportunities which , through kind friends , were thus afforded
to them , they might resuscitate the fortunes of their family , and once more place them in the position they formerly occupied . Therefore , in an Institution such as this , whioh dealt with the education of boys , no more important education could be given than one which would reall y benefit them most ; because pure benevolence meant , after all , making comfortable the lives of those who had been fairly comfortable .
To give a good education to a sharp and aspiring boy meant giving a chance to the rising generation to take advantage of those opportunities whioh might have been neglected . Therefore , if they wished to get at the sources of want they should direct their attention to the lmprovemenfc ^ of schools rather than give more money to mere chari . table institutions . Every person who was charitably disposed should look
after the money he gave as if he was investing ifc in his own interest . He was glad to find an almost unanimous feeling in this great gathering . Let them see what had been done at thia School , in the first place he was bound to say from what ho could see , although e was not going into controversial matter—although there had been lauts in the past management of the School—there was a brother well
known for his energy who had done much in the past to bring tne School before them . Let them , therefore , whilst freeing the management of the School from any defects and faults which by in . Btigatron had been proved to exisc , place it on a more satisfactory looting in the future . The Committee had been successful in many ngs . They had secured the services of a most capable Head paster , and he ( the Chairman * ! had in hia hand n , littlo snfimmfln
inr-M J welI -applied tact and energy might do in a small and "uental matter . This specimen waa the firsfc number of the who it ' Wh ' ° had been Prated at the School , and anybody an a < l ° * ui at " " could 8 ee that this little periodical was got up in sav if A ! manner - It was well printed , and every one would boysi JfoT the hi 8 heBb credit on the School , because many of the were engaged ii Betting up the type wero novices and
" After The Turtle."
under ten years of age . This was a little incident , but it waa like a straw which showed which way tho wind blow , becanse no school could have undertaken tho printing of this periodical unloas there was instilled into that school a feeling of < sy . rit de corps , aud he w . xa highly glad to hear that there were indications in many directions that the boys' athletic tendencies were be ' iig cultivated , nnd thit
the boys were showing , as all English boys did , a partiality for ki-ks and hard knock * . If be might make oue more observation ho would say that cricket shonld be one of the games he hoped would be encouraged in the School—h . 3 did not wish to disparage lawn tennis , which was played with a hollow an ! soft ball—but the game the boys shonld play was with a hard ball . If a boy had bis oyo on
defending himself , and got the onslaughts of a hard ball he would be able to get on with a soft OUP . Ho had detained the brethren longer than he had intended , bnt he hopod the collection that ni ^ ht might be in excess of what was anticipated . If they would bo kind enough to recollect that he nndertook tho duties of Chairman of this Festival in the belief that the subscriptions wonld be below
those of the past , and that he did so intending to appeal to them that in future they shonld bring up tho subscriptions to their old standard . If thoy did so he should foel that he had not spent his evening in vain among his MiRouio brethren , and in that gathering his few words would have been successful in enabling this great Masouic Educational Institntion for
the future to enter upon a career of renovated activity , upon an enlarged baiii . Ho now asked them with all heartiness to drink Prosperity to the Royal Masonio Institution for Boys . Bro . Georgo Plucknett Treasnrer of the Institution replied . Ho thanked the brethren for tho liberality and munificence with whioh all the Institutions were supported , and for the great service * whioh wero
rendered by the brethren to Masonry . Most valuable timo waa given to make tho Boys' School as perfect as it could be , and to carry out the great objects which tho Craft had . When an increase was once decided on , it necessarily followed that they mast ui & ke more room . This was done , and then they had to provide for the pleasure of the boys , to make extra class-rooms , to give better
ventilation , to enlarge the place , and so on . For many years the House Committee had felt that a swimming bath was absolutely necessary for tho health of the boys . The now hall and the new buildings for the junior boys had taken away much money . He hoped and trusted that the few words he had addressed to the brethren would encourage them to provide the requisite funds . Until
they had a swimming bath the Institution would nofc be complete . Those who were not acquainted with the Institution should go down and see what the Provisional Committee had done , and ho knew they would be delighted . He trusted it would not be allowed to languish for want of funds . He could assure them that any money subscribed would be well and properly spent . Bro . Binckes now rose to read
the list of subscriptions . While being called upon to discbarge th ' s ordinary duty , he should be unmindful of every feeling of gratitude that ought to actuate a brother placod in the position which he was that evening , if he did not acknowledge the somewhat complimentary allusions the Chairman had made to him , and to thank the large assembly before him for the manner iu
whioh they had received his name as still the representative of the Institution . In vacating the position he bad occupied for thirty yeara he was delighted to find thafc on this his last representative occasion among the brethren they had done him the honour of having given him suoh an ovation as they had . Ifc would ill bjcorae him to add any observations to those he had already , by the Chairman ' s
permission , addressed to the brethren , and he only wished , with referenoe to the number at that evening ' s Festival , that more had had the opportunity of listening to tho Chairman ' s encouraging aud delightful observations with regard to the merits of the Institution and the work it had to do . He did not think—he mi ght say he was lure—thafc of all the long list of Chairmen who had presided over their anniversary
festivals—and be should ask fche brethren to endorse what he saidthat a more admirable and sympathetic speech , a more gonial speech , a more encouraging speech , than they had hoard that evening , they had ever listened to before . When he knew the difficulties in which the Institution was placed in obtaining a Chairman for their Festival , they would be moro grateful than he know how to be at the consent
of Lord George Hamilton to preside fchab evening . He hoped h * s lordship would never regret the honour he bad done them in presiding and the hearty welcome he had received afc the hands of the brethren . His ( Bro . Binckes' ) only regret was—and it was a great and severe one—that in the face of hostile circumstances he should uot be able to witness a more satisfactory result . He did not wish to bo
personal , but they had given him on the eve of hia retirement a hearty welcome , and he should carry with him in his retirement the sympathy of a large nnmber of good friends . He hoped there waa a larger success in store for this glorious Institution in the future than it had had in the pasfc . The amounts secured by tbe sever *!
Stewards were then announced . We give details in another column . The few remaining toasts were then speedily dismissed , and the brethren joined the Ladies in the Temple , whore a musical entertainment was provided by Brother Alfred Moore . The banquet was well served , and the general arrangements gave the greatest satis , faction . Bro . Morley was the Toast Master .
"Iu answer to several inquiries thafc have been made to us , we reply thafc properly qualified Lewises—if of full age —are entitled to vote at the Election of Secretary . Applications for papers should be made afc the Office , afc Freemasons' Hall .
Ad00302
FUNERALS properly carried out and personally attended in London and Country , by Bro . G . A . HUTTON , 17 Newcastle Street , Strand , "W . C . Monuments erected . Valuations made .