Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

THE monthly meeting of the General Committee of this Institution was held on Saturday last , at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . Raynham W . Stowart P . G . D . presided . Thero were also present Bros . Leopold Ruf , Charles Sanders , Charles J . Perceval , William Roebuck , J . G . Chancellor , George Coppin , W . H . Saunders , Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , Richard Tyrrell , D . M . Dewar , S . Rawson , S . Rosenthal , H . MasseyH . Young , Alfred Williams , Thomas Bull , Herbert

, Dicketts , Arthur E . Gladwoll , C . G . Rushworth , Frederick Adlard , W . Paas , Rev . C . W . Spencor-Stanhope G . C ., W . W . Perryman , and F . Binckes ( Secretary ) . After the reading and confirmation of the minutes , the Committeo adoptod tho recommendation of the House Committee to raise tho salary of tho Foreign Master £ 10 a year . Tho Chairman brought forward his motion , of which he gave notice at the

November meeting : " That it be an instruction to the House Committeo to obtain plans and estimates for the orection of a school-houso , with convenient offices , on tho vacant spaco of ground in front of the present building , for tho purpose of ultimately accommodating 150 children , bnt that only so much as will accommodate fifty children be erected at present . " He stated that his object was , that there should

be a Preparatory School for the Junior Candidates . The time had arrived when the benefits of the Institution should be extended . The Institution was benefitted to a large amonnt by the boys being kept at the School only till fifteen years of age , instead of sixteen as formerly , and that advantage should be given to an extra number of boys . There was no room for erecting more wings on tho present

premises . The ground on the opposite fide was produoing but £ 8 or £ 9 a year , for grazing purposes , and could be beneficially utilised by having a Preparatory School erected on it , where junior scholars could be " educated by ladies till they were nine or ten years of age , when they could be drafted into the Upper School . The motion was seconded by Bro . W . Roebuck , who thonght there should be a

separate building for the younger boys . Bro . Binckes said the scheme was one which he had long thought of ; but since the notice of Bro . Stewart was given , he had received several letters which showed there was a feeling abroad that fresh building operations would be entered into . To this he found there was an objection , as it was thought the fond in hand would be encroaohed

upon . That fund amounted now to £ 15 , 000 , and he hoped during the next year to raise it to £ 20 , 000 . He was strongly opposed to one shilling of that being touched for the new scheme , as it had been raised by the exertions of brethren in past years . If the brethren of the present generation wished to have the new building , let them say they would raise the money for it , and relieve the brethren

who had already worked so hard for the Institution , by putting their hands again into their pockets for that new scheme . Bro . W . H . Saunders , while admitting the necessity of an extension of the Institution , thought that instead of building a new school they should hire a building in the neighbourhood of London where the new school could be tenants . He thonght there would be no difficulty in

getting this at £ 100 a-year . The motion might be so altered as to give the House Committee the power of considering the subject of taking a building already built elsewhere . Bro . Henry Young wished it to be distinctly understood where the funds were to come from for the new building . If an appeal was made to the Craft for funds , the brethren would collect the money to raise those funds , and the

parent Institution would be left in the lurch . Bro . Rev . A . F . A . Woodford said there were strong objections among the Craft generally ; and particularly among the brethren of West Yorkshire , Lancashire , and Cheshire against more building operations . The ' present building could not bo increased . There was a demand for the benefits of the Institution for more candidates . There was a large number of nn .

successful candidates after last election , and there would be only three vacancies in April . Consequently there would be a great addition to the unsuccessful candidates after that election , and a larger number after the election in October . They must look to the present state of things , and see whether it was not possiblo to meet the demands made on the Craft . Brother Stewart ' s motion

only went to erecting a new building ; but he thought an addition might be mado to it , which would embrace the taking of an existing building , such as Brother Saunders had referred to . Brother Binckes , with reference to the observations of Bro . Woodford , as to the number of unsuccessful candidates , said that there would be fat least twenty vacancies in April , though there

would only be a few in October . He did not think the balance of unsuccessful candidates would be anything like so large as was sup . posed . Bro . Perceval thonght the junior candidates might be educated out of the School at £ 20 a-year each . Bro . Binckes said that was the original plan in the Boys' School , but it militated against the success of the Institution , and he hoped they would never return to it . After a good deal of discussion , Bro . Raynham

W . Stowart adopted the suggestion of Bro . Woodford , to add to his motion the words—" or to obtain similar requisite accommodation olsewhere , by a new building , or an existing building . " The motion , as altered , was unanimously agreed to . Nine candidates were placed ou tbo list for election in April , and outfits of £ 5 each were granted to two former pupils of the Institution . The Committeo thou adjourned .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BROTHER J . L . RASTRICK .

WE regret to announco the death of liro . Joseph Liunington Rastrick , which occurred afc hi 3 residence , Sussex-place , Soutbsea , on Tuesday night , 30 th nlfc . Bro . Rastrick for sovoral years represented St . Paul ' s Ward in the Town Council , and was also

a member of tho defunct Landport and Sonthsca Commissioners , and of the Board of Guardians , but he has not recently taken any active part in public life . He was a much-respected member of the Masonic craft , being tbo oldest P . M . of tho Koyal Sussex Lodgo , and P . Z . of the Chanter . —Portsmouth Times .

Presentation To Bro. W. J. Murlis, Secretary 1642.

PRESENTATION TO BRO . W . J . MURLIS , SECRETARY 1642 .

A COMPLIMENTARY dinner was givon on Thursday , 2 nd inst ., A by the members of the Earl of Carnarvon Lodge , No . 1642 , together with some friends , to Bro . W . J . Murlis , one of the Founders and present Secretary of that Lodge . The day chosen was the twenty-fifth anniversary of Bro . Murlia ' s marriage , and the opportunity was taken advantage of to present to him a testimonial in recognition of the respect in which he is held , not only by the

members of the Lodgo , but of all who have dealings with him . The testimonial took the form of a handsome gold keyless chronometer for himself , and a set of oar-rings , brooch , and locket for Mrs . Murlis . The chair was occupied by Bro . Samuel Smont , the W . M . of the Lodge , and the vice-chair by the Rev . C . Darby-Reade S . W . Bro . Smout was also supported by Bros . E . M . Lander , G . Penn ,

S . Parkhouse , W . Stephens , J . H . Pearson , Churchwarden Bailey , Dr . Carpenter , Humfress W . M . Westbourne Lodge , Hallett W . M . elect Westbourne Lodge , S . Smout junior , J . Bartle , W . Woodmason , W . Buckland , J . H . Rutherglen , J . D . Adkins , R . Green , Dr . Pocock , Dr . Rule , Fisher , F . J . Moore , H . Watson , B . Jeffries , & o . & o . After tho conclnsion of the repast , which was well served at the Ladbroke

Hall , Notting-hill , by Bro . Linscott , the proprietor thereof , the chairman gave tbe usual Loyal toasts . Rising to propose the health of Bro . Murlis , he remarked that they might consider that toast the principal one of the evening . They had assembled to celebrate the silver wedding of their honoured and respected Secretary Brother Murlis . Most of those present were in a position to judge for

themselves of the very excellent services he had rendered to the Earl of Carnarvon Lodge as Founder , Master , and Secretary . He was pleased they were also in a position , through the liberality and kindness of those assembled and a few other friends , to present to Bro . Murlis a testimonial as a token of their appreciation and their gratitude . The inscription on the watch was then read , the

chairman remarking that he was sure the sentiments therein expressed was re-echoed in the hearts of all present . He was also delighted to say that they had also a small present for Mrs . Murlis , and he hoped that the articles that night presented to her by the Earl of Carnarvon Lodge would serve her as adornments until the day of her golden wedding . The inscription on the watch was as follows : —

Presented to BROTHER WILLIAM J . MURLIS P . M ., on the occasion of his Silver Wedding , by the Members of the Earl of Carnarvon Lodge , No . 1642 , as a token of their esteem and regard , and in recognition of his services as Secretary and Founder . 2 nd December 1880 .

The set for Mrs . Murlis was enclosed in a leather case , which bore the following inscription : — Presented to MRS . MURLIS , by the Members of the Earl of Carnarvon Lodge , No . 1642 ,-on her Silver Wedding Day . 2 nd December 1880 .

These gifts were supplemented by Bro . W . Stephens , who presented , in the name of himself and wife , a handsome cruet , as a small token of their personal regard for Bro . and Mrs . Murlis , who , Bro . Stephens said , had been known to him throngh the whole course of their married life . Bro . Murlis on rising to respond , was heartily received . He would not say , as was nsual , that he was almost choked , for , on

the contrary , his tongue was now let loose , and he most heartily thanked his friends for the hearty way in which they had celebrated his silver wedding day . Twenty-five years since he had little idea that he shonld see aronnd him so many dear friends . He was then a stranger in London , now he had friends far and near . Fortunately for him ho could look back on his married life as a most happy ono ,

and that night he felt in the position of being able to claim the flitch of bacon , aye , and twenty-four other flitches for the years that had passed since his marriage . He had to thank them most heartily for the handsomo gift they had been good enough to present to him , and also for the kindness tbey had evinced towards his wife . He had thought it would have been best for the

whole of the laurels to have been worn by his better half , but the brethren had decided to make them both recipients of their bounty Bro . Murlis felt his wife would prize the gift more than anything ever presented to her , as being tbe gift of the members of the Earl of Carnarvon Lodge . To Bro . Stephens he had to say a few words of especial thanks , as it was to him virtually that he

owed the whole of his Masonic laurels , he ( Bro . Stephens ) having introduced him into Freemasonry , Bro . G . Penn gave the health of the visitors of the evening , which was responded to by Messrs . Bayley , Walker , Watson , and Hallett . Bro . E . M . Lander then proposed the health of Bro . Samuel Smout , the Chairman of the evening . Those who know Bro . Smout in hi 3 official position as W . M . of the Lodge loved aud respected him , and he ( Bro . Lander ) felt that no ono

could be found moro fitted to fill the chair on such an occasion as that thoy had met to celebrate . Bro . Smout thanked tho brethron and visitors ; in tho course of his remarks he rectified one omission bo had made . The present was not only the year of Bro . and Mrs , Murlis ' s silver wedding , but was likewise the jubiloo of their birthdays . The proceedings were enlivened with some excellent songs , and everything was done that could add to the enjoyment of tho company .

Messrs . A . aud F . Pears , tho well-known soap manufacturers , have offered the Government to print gratis the whole of tho forms required in taking tho forthcoming Census roturns , with permission to havo tho advertisoment of " Pears ' s Soap " on the back . About eight million forms will bo required .