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Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .
77 th ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL . THE Third Great Festival of the Year , that of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , took place at the Alexandra Palace , on Wednesday last , and may , without hesitation , be pronounced one of the greatest successes of this important Masonic year . The Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , M . W . Pro Grand Master of England , and Provincial G . M . of Somerset , presided , and was supported by
Lord Burleigh , the Earl of Shrewsbury , E . B . "Webster ( Hon . Treasurer ) , Sir Henry Edwards , J . Eucker ( Vice-President ) , J . M . P . Montague Worrell , Eev . 0 . J . Martym P . G . C ., J . Boyd P . G . P ., Cottebrnne P . G . P ., E . P . Albert A . G . P ., T . Cnbitt P . G . P ., Roebndr , Cooper Smith P . G . J . W . Oxon ., Reai P . G . P . Oxon ., Eev . Dr . Brett . Bros .
Webster , J . A . Spencer , S . Smith , Stonor , J . Wright , MoEae , C . Horsley , T . J . Sabine , G . Verry , A . C . Burrell , S . Rosenthal , W . Parsons , C . Pegler , C . Moutrie , Hopekirk , Bubb , Larkin , Pulsford , Davies , W . Paas , Wilkins , Farthing , Levy , Hodges , S . Jones , Watts , Morton , Leggot , Dr . Eamsay , Abrahams , Foxall , Richards , Condor ,
Hon . C . Burke , Eutherford ; F . Binckes , Secretary Boys' School j R . W . Little , Secretary Girls' School ; Jas . Terry , Secretary Royal Benevolent Institution , and about 24 . 0 Stewards from the several Provincial and Metropolitan Lodges . The banquet , which was served in a most satisfactory manner by
Bros . Bertram and Roberts , took place m the large dining-room of the Palace , and vast as the space is that was set apart , not a vacant chair was to be found . This is the first time , in the history of Masonic gatherings of this description , that arrangements have been made for the ladies to be present at the dinner ; on previous
occauions the rule having been that the ladies should dine by themselves , and not join the gentlemen until the business proceedings of tho day had been disposed of . However , if we may judge by the result of this day ' s Festival , the claim thus established will not be readily surrendered by our fair friends .
After grace had been sung , the Chairman rose and said : It was the first time in his Masonic career that he had presided at a Masonic gathering of this novel character . He welcomed the ladies very cordially , and proposed that which had been the first toast from time immemorial . The Queen commanded their respect in every possible
manner , in every possible place , and by every possible title ; but now it was doubled , for Her Majesty was both their Patron and their Queen . The National Anthem was then sung . The Chairman then said : —Brethren , the next toast on my list is
the " Health of M . W . G . M . his Eoyal Highness the Prince of Wales , K . G . " Not only was he entitled to their respect as Prince of Wales , but as the Grand Master of English Freemasons . All those brethren who were present at the Albert Hall saw one of the greatest sights that Masons in any part of the world ever witnessed . All came to
present their homage , and to welcome his Royal Highness to the chair . He was sure the wish of every brother then present was that his Royal Highness might long live to rule over the Craft , and conduct its affairs in happiness , in peace , and with success . ( Cheers . ) The toast was drunk with great enthusiasm .
The Right Hon . the Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot , R . W . Pro G . M . of Staffordshire , rose and said : He hoped the brethren would fill a bumper to the health of his old friend and schoolfellow , hia old college companion , his brother in politics and his brother in Freemasonry , tho Pro Grand Master , the Right Hon . the Earl of
Carnarvon . ( Great cheers . ) The Earl of Carnarvon , in responding , said it was extremely pleasant to be praised by one who was himself praised . In this instance it was by an old college friend . He thanked this great meeting for the kindly way , nay , even friendly manner , in which they
had drunk his health . Masonry was a compact body , composed of different orders and different degrees , but two great principles prevailed , the principle of election and the principle of appointment by the free vote of the craft . Both Master and Pro . Grand Master had great powers invested in them . Tho officers who represent them
were the Grand Officers , who had all the light and pulse of the Craft . Ho would couple with the toast he was about to propose—viz ., the Right Hon . Lord Skelmersdalo R . W . D . G . M ., the Provincial Grand Masters , aud Present and Past Grand Officers—the name of one who had but lately attained the purple of office , his friend Sir Henry
Edwards . Sir Henry Edwards briefly responded . Miss Josephine Sherrington then sang the Shadow Song from Dinorah in a manner that completely electrified the . audience , who
most enthusiastically demanded an encore , which was graciously conceded by tho accomplished artiste . The noble Chairman rose again . He said there was an old saying that after tho nightingales came the crows . ( Laughter . ) After the air they had been listening to his voice wonld sound very much like
Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
a crow ' s . He was about to propose the toast of the evening—that vhich had brought them there that day— " Prosperity to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . " ( Loud Cheers . ) In this as in every institution we naturally look back to the past , and if we compare the past with the present how very wide will that difference be . I mnsfc
ask you to go back with me as far as the year 1739 , and you need nob be afraid that I shall give you a record of every fact that has occurred between then and now ; but I ask you to remember what the year 1739 was in England . Politically it was very different from the present . We were on the eve of a civil war , and of an internal
disturbance . In matters of education , though there were great writers and great thinkers , whom we still delight to read and to honour , there was little education in the class at least for whom this school is provided , and , Masonically , it was an important year , because just at that time the Pope had thought it
worth while in England to fulminate the bull against Freemasonry j and English Freemasonry itself did not number , I suppose , within the four seas , one-half of those whom I see collected in this room . la that year , 1739 , I find that a resolution was proposed during the Grand Mastership of one who , strange to say , bore my own name , the
Lord Carnarvon of the day , from which grew ont , some years after , wards , first the Girls' School , and secondly the Boys' School . That resolution is now matter of Masonic history . It was subsequently acted upon as I have said , and this institution was established . In those days it was but a small affair ; there were but sir scholars , and
they were to bo clothed , and brought up , and nurtured , and educated j but in the inevitable default of the necessary accommodation , it was provided that they should be brought up in any neighbouring school chat would offer a good education . Since then , however , great is the difference ! Buildings have been erected which we all know , and tho
present school , for tho sake of which we are assembled together today , numbers within its walls no less , I am told , than 177 boys . Those boys are brought up , and clothed , and educated , entirely free of expense to their friends ; they receive what may be termed , a thoroughly good commercial education , they go forth
subsequently into life , and I believe , from all that I have heard , they do honour to themselves generally , and to tho institution which has sent them forth . Year by year this school has passed under examination —first of all under the Syndicate of Cambridge , and periodically by the University Local Examinations—and it may be a matter of
satisfaction to all those who take an interest in this Institution to know that since tho day when these buildings were erected , now some 16 years since , so satisfactory has been the health of those boys , that I am informed that during tho whole of that period there have been but three deaths . In this time the school and the Craft have gone on
steadily advancing together , and this is an illustration in fact of the way in which the Craft itself is worked in this country . It has undertaken useful works ; by those useful works it stands ; and through those useful works it has spread far and wide its great reputation for usefulness and for charity , I have to say one word
on tho subject of that which , after all , affects all these questions more closely than anything else , and which though it may sound dull , is yet of vital consequence—I mean the question of finance . I have not myself had the opportunity of looking into or of examining closely the financial condition of this institution .
All that I can say is to be derived from those who are more conversant with it j and whilst on the one hand there is much that is satisfao * tory , I am bound also to point ont to you that , like all human things , it even yet admits of amendment . You have , no doubt , done much ; large sums are subscribed on every gathering such as
this . You have erected magnificent buildings ; you have even , as I am informed , paid off the debt upon these buildings ; and you gave an education to these boys at what seems to mo comparatively a very low figure , viz ., £ 45 a year , and I am told further that even that £ 45 a year has been gradually reduced , as expenses have been brought
down during the last few years . All this you have done , all this is matter for honest pride and satisfaction , but I have also to remind you that this Institution has no endowment , and that the money which is subscribed on these occasions has hitherto , as I understand , been only just sufficient to pay the way of this great
Institution . And , more than that , I may repeat what was said by one who formerly spoke in this place , and spoke , I think , on that point with considerable truth when he stated that the subscriptions proceed too frequently from a certain given fixed number of individuals , and are not so largely taken up and
supported as they should be by the whole body of the craft . In this , as in other matters of charity , I desire that tho pyramid shonld have as broad a base as possible—should rest on that base , and should not rest on a tiny bottom . Nothing but a large amount of subscriptions from a great number of individuals can make
the base of your pyramid broad , and nothing but breadth of base is a security for such an institution as this . And now I have said enough , and perhaps I should not have said so much had I not myself absolutely felt bound on such an occasion to do so . I have said quite enough for so festive an occasion as this . I can only command the charity to you , and to your sympathies , by commending it to all
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .
77 th ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL . THE Third Great Festival of the Year , that of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , took place at the Alexandra Palace , on Wednesday last , and may , without hesitation , be pronounced one of the greatest successes of this important Masonic year . The Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , M . W . Pro Grand Master of England , and Provincial G . M . of Somerset , presided , and was supported by
Lord Burleigh , the Earl of Shrewsbury , E . B . "Webster ( Hon . Treasurer ) , Sir Henry Edwards , J . Eucker ( Vice-President ) , J . M . P . Montague Worrell , Eev . 0 . J . Martym P . G . C ., J . Boyd P . G . P ., Cottebrnne P . G . P ., E . P . Albert A . G . P ., T . Cnbitt P . G . P ., Roebndr , Cooper Smith P . G . J . W . Oxon ., Reai P . G . P . Oxon ., Eev . Dr . Brett . Bros .
Webster , J . A . Spencer , S . Smith , Stonor , J . Wright , MoEae , C . Horsley , T . J . Sabine , G . Verry , A . C . Burrell , S . Rosenthal , W . Parsons , C . Pegler , C . Moutrie , Hopekirk , Bubb , Larkin , Pulsford , Davies , W . Paas , Wilkins , Farthing , Levy , Hodges , S . Jones , Watts , Morton , Leggot , Dr . Eamsay , Abrahams , Foxall , Richards , Condor ,
Hon . C . Burke , Eutherford ; F . Binckes , Secretary Boys' School j R . W . Little , Secretary Girls' School ; Jas . Terry , Secretary Royal Benevolent Institution , and about 24 . 0 Stewards from the several Provincial and Metropolitan Lodges . The banquet , which was served in a most satisfactory manner by
Bros . Bertram and Roberts , took place m the large dining-room of the Palace , and vast as the space is that was set apart , not a vacant chair was to be found . This is the first time , in the history of Masonic gatherings of this description , that arrangements have been made for the ladies to be present at the dinner ; on previous
occauions the rule having been that the ladies should dine by themselves , and not join the gentlemen until the business proceedings of tho day had been disposed of . However , if we may judge by the result of this day ' s Festival , the claim thus established will not be readily surrendered by our fair friends .
After grace had been sung , the Chairman rose and said : It was the first time in his Masonic career that he had presided at a Masonic gathering of this novel character . He welcomed the ladies very cordially , and proposed that which had been the first toast from time immemorial . The Queen commanded their respect in every possible
manner , in every possible place , and by every possible title ; but now it was doubled , for Her Majesty was both their Patron and their Queen . The National Anthem was then sung . The Chairman then said : —Brethren , the next toast on my list is
the " Health of M . W . G . M . his Eoyal Highness the Prince of Wales , K . G . " Not only was he entitled to their respect as Prince of Wales , but as the Grand Master of English Freemasons . All those brethren who were present at the Albert Hall saw one of the greatest sights that Masons in any part of the world ever witnessed . All came to
present their homage , and to welcome his Royal Highness to the chair . He was sure the wish of every brother then present was that his Royal Highness might long live to rule over the Craft , and conduct its affairs in happiness , in peace , and with success . ( Cheers . ) The toast was drunk with great enthusiasm .
The Right Hon . the Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot , R . W . Pro G . M . of Staffordshire , rose and said : He hoped the brethren would fill a bumper to the health of his old friend and schoolfellow , hia old college companion , his brother in politics and his brother in Freemasonry , tho Pro Grand Master , the Right Hon . the Earl of
Carnarvon . ( Great cheers . ) The Earl of Carnarvon , in responding , said it was extremely pleasant to be praised by one who was himself praised . In this instance it was by an old college friend . He thanked this great meeting for the kindly way , nay , even friendly manner , in which they
had drunk his health . Masonry was a compact body , composed of different orders and different degrees , but two great principles prevailed , the principle of election and the principle of appointment by the free vote of the craft . Both Master and Pro . Grand Master had great powers invested in them . Tho officers who represent them
were the Grand Officers , who had all the light and pulse of the Craft . Ho would couple with the toast he was about to propose—viz ., the Right Hon . Lord Skelmersdalo R . W . D . G . M ., the Provincial Grand Masters , aud Present and Past Grand Officers—the name of one who had but lately attained the purple of office , his friend Sir Henry
Edwards . Sir Henry Edwards briefly responded . Miss Josephine Sherrington then sang the Shadow Song from Dinorah in a manner that completely electrified the . audience , who
most enthusiastically demanded an encore , which was graciously conceded by tho accomplished artiste . The noble Chairman rose again . He said there was an old saying that after tho nightingales came the crows . ( Laughter . ) After the air they had been listening to his voice wonld sound very much like
Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
a crow ' s . He was about to propose the toast of the evening—that vhich had brought them there that day— " Prosperity to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . " ( Loud Cheers . ) In this as in every institution we naturally look back to the past , and if we compare the past with the present how very wide will that difference be . I mnsfc
ask you to go back with me as far as the year 1739 , and you need nob be afraid that I shall give you a record of every fact that has occurred between then and now ; but I ask you to remember what the year 1739 was in England . Politically it was very different from the present . We were on the eve of a civil war , and of an internal
disturbance . In matters of education , though there were great writers and great thinkers , whom we still delight to read and to honour , there was little education in the class at least for whom this school is provided , and , Masonically , it was an important year , because just at that time the Pope had thought it
worth while in England to fulminate the bull against Freemasonry j and English Freemasonry itself did not number , I suppose , within the four seas , one-half of those whom I see collected in this room . la that year , 1739 , I find that a resolution was proposed during the Grand Mastership of one who , strange to say , bore my own name , the
Lord Carnarvon of the day , from which grew ont , some years after , wards , first the Girls' School , and secondly the Boys' School . That resolution is now matter of Masonic history . It was subsequently acted upon as I have said , and this institution was established . In those days it was but a small affair ; there were but sir scholars , and
they were to bo clothed , and brought up , and nurtured , and educated j but in the inevitable default of the necessary accommodation , it was provided that they should be brought up in any neighbouring school chat would offer a good education . Since then , however , great is the difference ! Buildings have been erected which we all know , and tho
present school , for tho sake of which we are assembled together today , numbers within its walls no less , I am told , than 177 boys . Those boys are brought up , and clothed , and educated , entirely free of expense to their friends ; they receive what may be termed , a thoroughly good commercial education , they go forth
subsequently into life , and I believe , from all that I have heard , they do honour to themselves generally , and to tho institution which has sent them forth . Year by year this school has passed under examination —first of all under the Syndicate of Cambridge , and periodically by the University Local Examinations—and it may be a matter of
satisfaction to all those who take an interest in this Institution to know that since tho day when these buildings were erected , now some 16 years since , so satisfactory has been the health of those boys , that I am informed that during tho whole of that period there have been but three deaths . In this time the school and the Craft have gone on
steadily advancing together , and this is an illustration in fact of the way in which the Craft itself is worked in this country . It has undertaken useful works ; by those useful works it stands ; and through those useful works it has spread far and wide its great reputation for usefulness and for charity , I have to say one word
on tho subject of that which , after all , affects all these questions more closely than anything else , and which though it may sound dull , is yet of vital consequence—I mean the question of finance . I have not myself had the opportunity of looking into or of examining closely the financial condition of this institution .
All that I can say is to be derived from those who are more conversant with it j and whilst on the one hand there is much that is satisfao * tory , I am bound also to point ont to you that , like all human things , it even yet admits of amendment . You have , no doubt , done much ; large sums are subscribed on every gathering such as
this . You have erected magnificent buildings ; you have even , as I am informed , paid off the debt upon these buildings ; and you gave an education to these boys at what seems to mo comparatively a very low figure , viz ., £ 45 a year , and I am told further that even that £ 45 a year has been gradually reduced , as expenses have been brought
down during the last few years . All this you have done , all this is matter for honest pride and satisfaction , but I have also to remind you that this Institution has no endowment , and that the money which is subscribed on these occasions has hitherto , as I understand , been only just sufficient to pay the way of this great
Institution . And , more than that , I may repeat what was said by one who formerly spoke in this place , and spoke , I think , on that point with considerable truth when he stated that the subscriptions proceed too frequently from a certain given fixed number of individuals , and are not so largely taken up and
supported as they should be by the whole body of the craft . In this , as in other matters of charity , I desire that tho pyramid shonld have as broad a base as possible—should rest on that base , and should not rest on a tiny bottom . Nothing but a large amount of subscriptions from a great number of individuals can make
the base of your pyramid broad , and nothing but breadth of base is a security for such an institution as this . And now I have said enough , and perhaps I should not have said so much had I not myself absolutely felt bound on such an occasion to do so . I have said quite enough for so festive an occasion as this . I can only command the charity to you , and to your sympathies , by commending it to all