The Boys School Festival.

known ; only lately he was present and took an active part in the consecration of a new Lodge . In Sussex they had H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught as Provincial Grand Master , and in all quarters thoy had evidence of the interest the Royal Family took in Freemasonry . The Chairman followed on with tlie toast of the Grand Ollicers . It was

not necessary in an assemblage of Freemasons to dilate ou the merits of the rulers of the Order . All knew the chiefs were well appreciated as rulers of the Craft . The Chairman referred to the efforts of the Pro and Deputy Grand Masters , who had presided at previous Festivals as he was doing that day , and said they were to be congratulated on the success that attended their efforts at all times .

Brother Richard Eve P . G . Treasurer responded . He said the Graud Officers of England endeavoured to uphold Freemasonry in every direction and were particularly mindful of the Charitable Institutions of the Craft . The Chairman next submitted the toast of the evening—success to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . He had felt very proud in being asked to take the chair on this occasion , in succession to many distinguished

Masons who had presided at previous Festivals , which Festivals had resulted in such grand totals for the Boys School . He trusted the good example that had been set on previous occasions wonld be followed that day . He was pleased to see so large a number of members of his own Province present that day ancl felt the generous contributions they had raised in past years for the School had perhaps induced thoso who were responsible for the

present Festival to ask him to preside at this year ' s Anniversary . He wished every success for the Boys School . Masonry was now , even more than ever , a living Institution , by reason of its splendid Charities . It was also an Institution in complete harmony with the spirit of the age , because it included all ranks , as was evidenced by tho presence of the Heir to the throne in its midst , with others of different grades , down to the Tyler . It

was a bond of union cementing all classes , and had proved itself loyal to the crown and to the institutions of tho country . Ho believed it to be one of the first duties—if not actually the first—of Freemasons , to provide for those of their number who , by sickness or old age , were unable to support themselves . They had the Masonic Institutions for this purpose , and he was glad that not only his own Province , but other Provinces as well , had started local

Charities for a similar object . It should be their constant care to see that those who had supported Freemasonry in their days of prosperity should not suffer when adversity came upon them , and next they should see to the children of Masons . The rising generation would become the masters of the future , and as they were educated so would their future be . He was sure it was the desire of those who supported the School that

the rising generation should be encouraged , so that they might ultimately become ornaments to the Craft . The Chairman then proceeded to briefly review the formation and progress of the Institution which , he said , up to 1856 was somewhat limited in scope . In that year a new start was made , the ground on which the School now stood being purchased ; in 1665 the main buildings , as they now saw them , were erected ; ancl in 1884 a new

hall was built , it being under the presidency of his brother-in-law , Lord Amherst , that the large sum was raised rendering this addition possible . Coming to moro modern times he might refer to 1890 , in which year a new administration was given to the School ; it must be satisfactory to the Craft to know that the Committee of Management then created comprised some of the most valued and practical Masons to be found throughout the country .

The School had now assumed considerable proportions—they were told the day before , when at Wood Green , that there were 282 students on the rolland this naturally entailed a considerable outlay year by year . The annual income was very small , and very disproportionate to what was required for the work of the Institution , and therefore it was not only necessary to raise enough to supply the deficiency , but desirable to form a permanent invested

fund , so that the income might be increased , and tho School made less liable to fluctuations from time to time ; they should , in fact , aim at increasing the Endowment Fund , so as to mako it more available . The School was splendidly supported by every Province in the Kingdom . His own Province of Cheshire had six boys in the School , and was perfectly satisfied with its administration . He did not wish to speak of it in the abstract , but rather as

one who visited the School the day before . It bore evidence of being well managed , and the boys appeared happy and healthy . Every child in the country now had the benefit of free education , but they wanted the children of Masons to have a good middle class education , and should also like to see the best of the boys kept at the School long enough to compete for

Scholarships at the Universities . The chairman referred to the general scope of the Institution , the one fault of which appeared to be there was not enough room . It was unfortunate more ground was not purchased years ago , but many other Schools were cramped in this way , notably that at Westminster , the boys of which appeared to be able to make their way without what was regarded as proper accommodation .

Bro . C . E . Keyser responded to the toast , and then Brother BIcLeod announced the results of the Stewards' efforts , which are set out elsewhere . The health of the Chairman was given and acknowledged , and then followed other usual speeches , a most successful gathering being thus brought to a conclusion .

Prize Day At The School.

PRIZE DAY AT THE SCHOOL .

rpHE annual visit of Stewards to tlie Institution at Wood Green took JL place the day preceding the Festival , when a large party assembled to support the Duchess of Buckingham and Chanties , who presented the prizes to the pupils of the School . Her Grace was accompanied by her husband the Chairman of the Anniversary Festival , and both expressed the pleasure and gratification they experienced at what they saw .

Bro . C . E . Keyser P . G . D . fulfilled the duties as chairman , in the absence of Bro . Richard Eve , who , he said , had been called away on important duty at Kidderminster .

Bro . Rev . H . A . Hebb Head Master of the School read his annual Report , in which he referred to a new departure in their work—a course of ambulance lectures by a qualified medical man—from which he anticipated good results . The examination of the Boys , a stupendous work , had been thoroughly carried out . He might mention that the examination forms , nil of which had been carefully gone through , formed a stack of paper four feet high . The results were excellent , being the best the School had ever produced . Tho

higher grade of the School had been lifted to a higher sphere than had ever before been attempted , while the lower sections had iu turn been advanced . An examination of thc whole School in Music had been made by Dr . Lott , who reported that though the instrumental music , which was taken up bv a few only , was hardly up to the standard desirable , the vocal music , which was taught to the whole School , was exceptionally good . The pupils had been entertained on many occasions in the past , which he considered proof that the School was becoming better known and appreciated . Thc good results

Prize Day At The School.

of the past year were in great measure due to the action of the Board of Management in allowing some of the Boys to remain in the School beyond the usual ago for leaving , and further in allowing every bed in the Institution to be filled , there being then 282 Boys in the School . Another step in the

right direction was the action of the Committee Dinner Club , which had undertaken to provide a Scholarship of one thousand guineas , the interest on which amount should be devoted to providing for some one or more of the boys to enable them to pursue their studies in a higher sphere . This Scholarship would , he felt sure , mark a new epoch in the School .

The prizes wero then presented to thc pupils by the Duchess of Buckingham and Chandos , to whom a vote of thanks was proposed by Bro . Keyser . One of the points they were interested in was to get the Ladies to take a greater interest in their proceedings , as then they could but hope they would take a greater interest in the great Charitable Institutions of the Order . After the holidays there would be 278 Boys on the establishment and in view of this it could hardly be said Freemasonry did no good '

Freemasonry had practical objects and was , in fact , the greatest charitable institution of the world . He believed they had this year twenty Ladies working as Stewards of the Festival , and he hoped that future years would show more of them similarly engaged . The School was much indebted to Her Grace for attending that day ; she had the reputation of being a very good hand in such proceedings as she had been engaged in , and had certainly won the thanks ancl gratitude of all .

Lord Egerton of Tatton said he was deputed by Her Grace to thank the company for their hearty reception . Mention had been made that Ladies might do much for Freemasonry . Well , they had not yet admitted them to all the secrets , but they recognised that they could do much for the orphan boys and girls of members of the Craft . He hoped those who were being educated in the School would prove in their after lite that they were worth y descendants of worthy Masons , and show appreciation for what had been clone for them . Thc following is the

PRIZE LIST . Form Prizes 1 B—1 H . Mnir , 2 A . S . Miller . IA—1 S . W . Hughes , 2 R . F . Rees . 2—1 S . A . Horsburgh , 2 F . C . Poulton .

„ 3 c—1 L . C . Lowenthal , 2 J . A . Wilson . ' 3 B—1 L . W . Croft , 2 W . E . Arkell . 3 A—1 L . G . Penney , 2 B . Moore . 4 A—1 G . F . Bullivant .

4—1 A . W . Clarke , 2 W . L . Kemp . Writing . —K . Kendall , G . J . Harwood , K . C . Howell . Latin . —Form IV , E . J . Barker .

French . —Form IV , A . W . Clarke . V , E . Whale . Mathematics . —Form IV , A . P . Shaw . Geology . —W . E . J . Watson . Sight singing , Choir . —H . S . Thompson , E . Whale . „ not in tho Choir . —W . Holland .

Piano . —R . P . Chinneck , F . H . J . Gabbutt . Drawing . —R . P . Chinneck , W . A . Mears . Gardening . —Greenwood and Mills . Mossop . Bro . Lupton's Shorthand Prizes . —H . M . Broughton , G . Wilkinson , H , J . Staff , B . Bullivant . " Old Masonians " French Prize . —W . E . J . Watson .

Bowyer Memorial Prize for Shorthand . —( Not Awarded ) . Cama Memorial Prize for the youngest boy who passed the Cambridge Local Examination . —E . Whale . Cama Memorial Prize for Arithmetic . —J . A . Coupland . Escott Prize , for Mathematics . —R . T . Groombridge .

Thrupp Prize , for History . —J . A . Coupland . Winn Prize , for Boys who have gained Certificates in the Cambridge Local Examination . —Senior . Second Class . —Coupland . Junior . Second Class . — Binks , Broad , Groombridge . Third Class . —Foote , Jarmain , Watson . Satisfied the Examiner . —Adkin , Appleby , Bolsover ,

Chinneck , Davey , Harris , Heath , Hitchcock , Leeming , Long , Metcalfe , Moreton , Nankivell , Podmore , Rangeley , Ravenscroft , Roberts F ., Roberts L . 0 ., Whale , Windsor . Canonbury Gold Medal , for the most popular Boy ( elected by his comrades ) .

—J . A . Coupland . Greenwood Memorial Prize , for Good Conduct . —W . R . Binks . Supreme Council ' s Prize , for Good Conduct . —R . T . Groombridge . Institution Silver Medal , for the Head of tho School . —J . A . Coupland .

HONOURS DURING THE YEAR . Department of Science and Art , South Kensington . Mathematics , First and Second Stages - - - 11 certificates Sound , Light and Heat ----- 2 ,, Practical , Plane and Solid Geometry ... 6 „ Drawing , Freehand and Model - - - - 12 „

Cambridge Local Examination . Seniors ( with honours ) ----- 1 „ Juniors ( 6 with honours ) ----- 26 „

Trinity College Musical Knowledge Examination . Intermediate . —Broad , Leeming , Watson , Chinneck - 4 ,, Junior ..... 5 ,, After the distribution of the prizes the boys gave a representation of Gilbert and Sullivan ' s comic opera " The Pirates of Penzance" ( by kind

permission of R . D'Oyly Carte Esq . ) , the performance being produced under the direction of Mr . Herbert Hilton , with costumes and scenery hy Simmons of Covent Garden . Bro . Frank B . Wood , F . R . C . O ., the former Music Master of the Institution , kindly acted as general manager and musical director , and

the performance afforded ample evidence of the able and careful training the boys must have received from him and the present staff of the Institution the performance was indeed a marvel , the make up of the boys , especially in their representation of General Stanley ' s Daughters , being really works of art . In fact , there were many among thc audience who could hardly believe that