Extension Of The Boys' School.

EXTENSION OF THE BOYS' SCHOOL .

THE proposition to increase the accommodation provided by the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , so as to allow oi the reception of a greater number of lads to a participation in the benefits of that Institution , was , on

Saturday , brought before the General Committee of the School , with a result -which we hope and believe will prove satisfactory to all concerned . It will be remembered that Bro . Raynhatn W . Stewart gave notice , at the meeting in November , of his intention to move that the House

Committee be instructed to obtain plans and estimates for the erection of a school house , with convenient offices , on the vacant space of ground in front of the present building , for the purpose of ultimately accommodating 150 children ;

but that onl y so much as would accommodate fift y be erected at present . Had this proposal been accepted we are convinced it would have been distasteful to the great majority of the subscribers , who , although content to leave the management of the School in the hands of a small

minority , cannot be supposed to coincide with everything done by them . The result , however , proves that an exceptionally strong feeling exists against any addition being madeto the present accommodation if an outlay of funds on building operations is necessary . Of the few who attended

the meeting on Saturday , a considerable majority went prepared to oppose the proposition of Bro . Stewart , unless the additional accommodation could be provided without the Institution building more premises . It has now virtuall y been decided to look out for suitable quarters which may

be occupied by the Institution at a fixed rental . So far as we are concerned , we thought it our duty strenuously to oppose the proposition as originally put forward , as we consider a further heavy expenditure on bricks and mortar should not on any account be permitted under existing

circumstances as regards income , & c , from the fact that by making permanent additions to our buildings , permanent expenses are created;—a result to be avoided , especiall y at the present time , when many brethren are of opinion that the Masonic Schools are receiving an amount

of support which can hardly be relied on as continuous . We trust no diminution in the receipts of those Institutions will ever take place ; but it is as well to be prepared for the worst , and so to act in the present as to leave the actions of our brethren of the future untrammeled as

far as possible . We therefore hail with gratification the course that has been taken by the Committee of the Boys' School , and look upon it as the first step

towards the ultimate adoption of a less expensive maintenance being afforded to some of those orphans who are debarred , through want of accommodation , from being admitted to the full benefits of what we must henceforth call

our Upper School . Of course the matter is not yet definitively settled , nor is it advisable it should be deckled one way or another until the merits of the case in its several bearings have been carefully inquired into . The accepted motion really stands as before , but with the addition of a

proviso allowing the Committee to look for suitable accommodation in some existing building . From the general expression of feeling exhibited on Saturday , we have no doubt the committee , to whom is entrusted the collection of information , will now devote the greater part of

their attention to securing offers from holders of eligible buildings already in existence , so as to overcome at once the obstacle which precludes the adoption of more of the lads who have been accepted as fit and proper persons to receive the benefits of the Institution . We are still

Extension Of The Boys' School.

of opinion , however , that sufficient instructions have not been given to the House Committee . We believe that a greater amount of good could be dono by the establishment of grants to be allowed towards a child ' s education and maintenance among his or her family , and

we regret that at present no chance will be given for a trial of that system . The plan was actually proposed by Bro . Perceval , but on Bro . Binckes pointing out that it wa 3 the original mode adopted by the Boys' School , and that it proved detrimental to the interests of the Institution ,

it appears to have been dropped , a result we can but deplore , as had the Houso Committee been instructed to inquire into this mode also , somo information might have been forthcoming which would have gone far to convince the brethren as to the non-practicability or otherwise of

assisting some of the candidates in that way . It is not often we question the reasoning of Bro . Binckes , but we hardly think it is good logic on his part to argue that because a plan did not succeed twenty-five years back it would not do so now , and this is more particularly the

case as regards a subject which has made such vast strides during the last few years as has education . Still , we must not be too exacting , but rest thankful with the concession that has been made , and leave to the future the work of establishing " assistance " grants . The amendment

ultimately adopted appears to have been based on the remarks made by Bro . W . H . Saunders ; but there is one point on which we think he might improve , and as it is not yet too late , we hope the committee will' consider our view of the subject , and take the necessary steps to put the General

Committee in possession of figures , & c . We allude to that part of Bro . Saunders ' s remarks wherein he suggested that the Institution should hire a building in the neighbourhood of London . That expression may certainly have been used without any limit being fixed as to the area within

which the committee might extend its researches , but we think it would be better if they acted in direct opposition to it . What benefit can there possibly be in having the Junior School near London ? Why not establish it at some healthy spot in the country , even if not at the

sea-side . It is well known that a few years of childhood spent in the country often haves an influence on a person ' s health which proves beneficial for the whole of his life , and thus we think it would be better to look for premises somewhere away from the . smoke and muggy influence of our

great metropolis . We should certainly decide m favour of a sea-side establishment , as there can be no question as to the advantage of sea- bathing and a bracing air on the constitution of the young . We have no doubt the brethren of the selected district would , take such an interest in the

School as would prevent its suffering from being a few miles further from headquarters , and it might perhaps be au additional inducement to them to make further efforts to raise funds for the Institutions . Whatever course may ultimately be decided upon , we feel that no time will be

lost by the House Committee in preparing the estimates they are asked for , and all we can hope is , that at no very distant election , the brethren may have such a number of additional vacancies declared as will enable them , if not to take on all the applicants , at least to adopt a considerable

majority of them . We are in a position to judge from what was done in the case of Lyucombe House of the probable time that must elapse before a building could be adapted to the requirements of the School , and we may look forward

to a speedy solution of the difficulty under which the Committee at present suffer . May the October Election of 1881 prove as welcome to " Our Boys " as did that of the present year to the sister Institution !