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Article THE BOYS SCHOOL FESTIVAL. Page 1 of 2 Article THE BOYS SCHOOL FESTIVAL. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Boys School Festival.
THE BOYS SCHOOL FESTIVAL .
THE Festival was held at Freemasons' Tavern , Great Queen . Street , under the presidency of the Earl Amherst Pro Grand Master of England , who officiated in the unavoidable absence of the President of the year H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught , who was called away to Ireland in connection with his military 'duties there as Commander-in-Chief of the forces .
The large Hall of the Tavern was filled to its utmost capacity , and overflow gatherings were held in other parts of the establishment the resources of which were taxed to their fullest extent by the large assembly of Stewards and Ladies who gathered in support of the chairman .
At the conclusion of the dinner Earl Amherst rose to submit the usual toasts . He thought that before he gave the first the Ladies and Brethren ought to have an explanation how it was he was presiding that evening . •When the Duke of Connaught accepted the presidency of that . Festival , he had no idea he would be appointed to the Commandership in Chief of the forces in Ireland , and it was only when His Royal Highness attended at Watford to lay the foundation
stone of the new Schools that he had asked him to officiate on his behalf should it be necessary . The Prince was sorry the necessity had arisen , and he was also sorry he had had to fill the vacancy , but those present would understand that the many duties of the Duke of Gonnaueht in his official capacity called for his first consideration . Naturally the toast he had then to propose was the health of Her Majesty the Queen , the Grand Patron of the Institution , whom they all delighted to honour .
The toast was cordially received and was followed by a most unusual awkward pause , the artistes not being ready to give the customary musical honours , but this only served to emphasise the loyalty of the company , the National Anthem being rendered with far more heartiness and with greater effect than is customary , although it may perhaps be said with less artistic effect .
The next toast was that of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , K . G ., M . W . G . M ., President of the Institution , the Princess of Wales , and the other members of the Royal Family , and in proposing it the Chairman spoke of the great services rendered by the Prince of Wales during the twenty-six years of his Grand Mastershi p , and felt that what he had done fully entitled the toast to the heartiest reception :
which was accorded it , the company again giving the musical honours unaccompanied , and unfettered by professional singers . Rising to propose the next toast Earl Amherst said that for the moment he must ask them to disassociate him from the Grand Officers , as it was the health of that body he desired to submit to
their notice . The toast of the Grand Officers was always well received in Freemasonry . This was to be accounted for from the fact that the Grand Officers had always had the credit of doing their duty , and in a Society so widely extended as theirs there must be much for the chief Officers to do . He believed those who were appointed to Office in Grand Lodge achieved much on behalf of the Craft .
The Earl of Warwick Deputy Grand Master of England responded . He regretted the Duke of Connaught had been unable to carry out his intention of presiding , but in his absence he was sure they could not have been presided over by anyone better than their good friend the Pro Grand Master . He felt it a great privilege to be present and have the opportunity of returning thanks for the
toast of the Grand Officers . In Freemasonry they all looked forward to occupying high positions , and as there were so few appointments to be made it was but natural that when a man became a Grand Officer he felt the responsibility of his position—at no time more so than when called upon to support the chairman on such occasions as the present .
1 he Chairman said he had hitherto been very brief in his remarks in proposing the different toasts , but in giving the chief one of the evening—Success to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys—he was afraid he must ask their attention for a little longer period . It was marvellous that these Festivals had grown to sucn great proportions as they bad assumed , and they ought to look around and see what
these great displays of Masonic wealth really meant . They had to go Dack a hundred and two years , to the summer of 1798 , when they tound that Bro . William Burwood P . M . and Treasurer , with other members of the United Mariners Lodge , established the Institution , and at first were enabled to provide for the admission of six children . Truly great things arose from small beginnings , and they could well
imagine how glad would be the hearts of that small band of Brethren could they see to-day what had grown from their early efforts . At first the progress was slow , and the interest shown in the work somewhat disappointing , as may be gathered from the fact that nothing is known of the celebration of the Jubilee of the establishment of the Fund . In 1 S 52 a number of . Brethren thought it was time a home
should be provided and four years later a sufficient sum was raised to allow of Lordship House , . Wood Green , and grounds . being purchased , at a cost of , £ 3 , 500 . At first onl y twenty-hve of the boys were received into the Scnool , but very soon after seventy boys were found room for . Then there was a considerable forward movement , under the late Secretary of the Institution , Bro . Frederick Binckes
under whose auspices the Annual Festivals on behalf of the Institution proved so remarkably successful that it was resolved to erect a new and larger School , which should be capable of accommodating at least 100 boys . He called to mind the Anniversary Festival of 1883 , when they met at the Crystal Palace , on a very hot day in the summer and fairly melted under the roof of that building , but in melting
through the heat their sympathies were also melted , for a total of , £ 23 , 000 was announced as the result of that celebration . That was a record at the time , not only in regard to Masonic Festivals , but also including every Charity of the Kingdom . Following that Festival additional buildings were put up at Wood Green , and an increase of fifty , was made to the number of pupils . In 1 SS 8 they fell upon some .
The Boys School Festival.
what diiterent times . They would remember there was some question as to the management of the Institution , and the result was that a Committee of Inquiry was appointed , followed by vigorous elicits which had placed the Institution in its present very prosperous state . This was shown by the fact that whereas they , started with six boys in 1798 , they now had 290 on the books of the Institution—thirty-one
of whom were boarded out , because they had out-grown the accomodation they possessed at Wood Green . The late Pro Grand , Master the Earl of Lathom long since called attention to the inadequate accommodation at Wood Green : the result had been the acquisition of an estate at Bushey . The Centenary celebration of the School provided the splendid total of / 141 , 00 c—no mean sum for any
Institution to bring up or collect at a Festival Dinner—and an amount far in . excess of anything that had been known before . The difficulties of the Management vanished at sight of that splendid announcement , and considerable progress had already been made with the erection of the new buildings . He felt they might congratulate themselves on the success of the Boys School . The time was not very far distant
when they considered , £ 3 , 000 or , £ 4 , 060 a good result for a Festival , and they were delighted when they got the total up to ten thousand pounds . When , however , they raised upwards of , £ 23 , 000 at one Festival they congratulated themselves indeed , and they felt that such a thing would never be clone again ; but they had come to be accustomed to such amounts , although at the same time he
considered they must be regarded as stupendous . The past year had been . a most exceptional one in regard to ajipeals made to the charitably disposed sections of the community , on account of the different funds raised on behalf of sufferers through the war , by the Indian Famine , and by other events ; . and he felt they had almost exhausted every possible means of extracting money from the purse of the
English nation . But during it all'the subscriptions to the Masonic Charities had not fallen off , and he felt—in a year so special as this had been—this was a matter calling for the greatest satisfaction . We talked very often of the glories of the Masonic Charities , but at the same time felt that those who joined the Order , with half an eye , or even a quarter of an eye , on its benevolence ,. and three quarters
on its probable advantages in . other ways , should be distinctly told they were not wanted . Let them join the Oddfellows , or the Druids , of any similar sick Fund , but let them distinctly understand thev were not wanted in the Masonic Institution . He could not close his observations without one word in regard to the vacant chair that evening . The late Brother Richard Eve had been the Chairman of
the Board of Management of the Institution ever since its reorganisation , and if he had been alive and present that day it would have been his twenty-second consecutive attendance at the Festivals of that Institution . He was a good man gone , and his death would be an immense loss to the management of the Institution , and to many
others on whose behalf he worked zealously arid faithfully . The Earl had much pleasure in coupling the name of Bro . Keyser to respond to the toast , in the lamented absence of Bro . Eve . Bro . Keyser was a most liberal donor to the School , and a man who was most enthusiastic in its welfare .
Bro . Keyser felt that after the magnificent speech made by the Chairman there was absolutely nothing to be said in connection with the subject before them , but first , on behalf of the Institution , he felt he ought to re-echo the disappointment already expressed that H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught had not been able to attend and preside that evening ; and also to thank the Pro Grand Master
for having come forward and filled the place so ably as he had done . He could also endorse Lord Amherst ' s words about Bro . Eve , who was . always most active in the work of the Boys Institution , and taking the lead among the members of the new Committee of Management . He hoped all who could would journey to Aldershot the following Thursday , and by attending the funeral of their late
companion show their respect . and . esteem for him . Coming to the toast , he considered the unfortunate Brother who had to respond on these occasions was placed in a very awkward position , inasmuch as the Secretary of the Institution did not place him in the position of knowing the result of the collection . So he had to respond without knowing whether he ought to abuse the Stewards for a meagre
list , or congratulate the Brethren on a glorious success , but he felt he might do something in the way of congratulating them on the announcement that was shortly to be made . It was a pleasure to him to state that the buildings at Bushey were rising rapidly , and that considerable progress had been made' since many of them attended there on the occasion of the laying of the Foundation Stone . He had no fear for the future of the Institution ; he believed
that whatever their wants , or the wants of the two other Institutions . of the Craft , the Brethren would readily and willingly provide it . As the Treasurer of the Institution , elected by their vote , he had especially to thank tliem on that occasion , and also for all that had been done in the past . He felt certain the result of the Festival to be shortly announced would reflect credit on the English Craft as a body .
Bro . J . Morrison McLeod Secretary of the Institution then announced the result of the Festival . He said the Board consisted
of 4 S 2 Stewards , , of v whom twenty were Ladies—334 representing London Lodges , 239 Provincial ones , and cj Coming from Foreign Stations . He had first to thank the Stewards for ' what in his experience was a unique return , there being only four Stewards who had failed to send in their lists , and lie could confidently appeal to his brother Secretaries to bear him out in saying this was a most unusual , and at the same t ; ime a . most satisfactory state of affairs .
Among the 234 London Stewards were twelve Ladies , and the Institution was particularly- indebted to them for their services . It was particularly appropriate and opportune that the place of . honour in point of amount brought up , among the Stewards of the Festival on this occasion fell to the list of their late dear Brother Richard Eve , who as the representative of the Lodge which bears his name collected a total of , £ 315 , which included the two hundred guineas which he
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Boys School Festival.
THE BOYS SCHOOL FESTIVAL .
THE Festival was held at Freemasons' Tavern , Great Queen . Street , under the presidency of the Earl Amherst Pro Grand Master of England , who officiated in the unavoidable absence of the President of the year H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught , who was called away to Ireland in connection with his military 'duties there as Commander-in-Chief of the forces .
The large Hall of the Tavern was filled to its utmost capacity , and overflow gatherings were held in other parts of the establishment the resources of which were taxed to their fullest extent by the large assembly of Stewards and Ladies who gathered in support of the chairman .
At the conclusion of the dinner Earl Amherst rose to submit the usual toasts . He thought that before he gave the first the Ladies and Brethren ought to have an explanation how it was he was presiding that evening . •When the Duke of Connaught accepted the presidency of that . Festival , he had no idea he would be appointed to the Commandership in Chief of the forces in Ireland , and it was only when His Royal Highness attended at Watford to lay the foundation
stone of the new Schools that he had asked him to officiate on his behalf should it be necessary . The Prince was sorry the necessity had arisen , and he was also sorry he had had to fill the vacancy , but those present would understand that the many duties of the Duke of Gonnaueht in his official capacity called for his first consideration . Naturally the toast he had then to propose was the health of Her Majesty the Queen , the Grand Patron of the Institution , whom they all delighted to honour .
The toast was cordially received and was followed by a most unusual awkward pause , the artistes not being ready to give the customary musical honours , but this only served to emphasise the loyalty of the company , the National Anthem being rendered with far more heartiness and with greater effect than is customary , although it may perhaps be said with less artistic effect .
The next toast was that of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , K . G ., M . W . G . M ., President of the Institution , the Princess of Wales , and the other members of the Royal Family , and in proposing it the Chairman spoke of the great services rendered by the Prince of Wales during the twenty-six years of his Grand Mastershi p , and felt that what he had done fully entitled the toast to the heartiest reception :
which was accorded it , the company again giving the musical honours unaccompanied , and unfettered by professional singers . Rising to propose the next toast Earl Amherst said that for the moment he must ask them to disassociate him from the Grand Officers , as it was the health of that body he desired to submit to
their notice . The toast of the Grand Officers was always well received in Freemasonry . This was to be accounted for from the fact that the Grand Officers had always had the credit of doing their duty , and in a Society so widely extended as theirs there must be much for the chief Officers to do . He believed those who were appointed to Office in Grand Lodge achieved much on behalf of the Craft .
The Earl of Warwick Deputy Grand Master of England responded . He regretted the Duke of Connaught had been unable to carry out his intention of presiding , but in his absence he was sure they could not have been presided over by anyone better than their good friend the Pro Grand Master . He felt it a great privilege to be present and have the opportunity of returning thanks for the
toast of the Grand Officers . In Freemasonry they all looked forward to occupying high positions , and as there were so few appointments to be made it was but natural that when a man became a Grand Officer he felt the responsibility of his position—at no time more so than when called upon to support the chairman on such occasions as the present .
1 he Chairman said he had hitherto been very brief in his remarks in proposing the different toasts , but in giving the chief one of the evening—Success to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys—he was afraid he must ask their attention for a little longer period . It was marvellous that these Festivals had grown to sucn great proportions as they bad assumed , and they ought to look around and see what
these great displays of Masonic wealth really meant . They had to go Dack a hundred and two years , to the summer of 1798 , when they tound that Bro . William Burwood P . M . and Treasurer , with other members of the United Mariners Lodge , established the Institution , and at first were enabled to provide for the admission of six children . Truly great things arose from small beginnings , and they could well
imagine how glad would be the hearts of that small band of Brethren could they see to-day what had grown from their early efforts . At first the progress was slow , and the interest shown in the work somewhat disappointing , as may be gathered from the fact that nothing is known of the celebration of the Jubilee of the establishment of the Fund . In 1 S 52 a number of . Brethren thought it was time a home
should be provided and four years later a sufficient sum was raised to allow of Lordship House , . Wood Green , and grounds . being purchased , at a cost of , £ 3 , 500 . At first onl y twenty-hve of the boys were received into the Scnool , but very soon after seventy boys were found room for . Then there was a considerable forward movement , under the late Secretary of the Institution , Bro . Frederick Binckes
under whose auspices the Annual Festivals on behalf of the Institution proved so remarkably successful that it was resolved to erect a new and larger School , which should be capable of accommodating at least 100 boys . He called to mind the Anniversary Festival of 1883 , when they met at the Crystal Palace , on a very hot day in the summer and fairly melted under the roof of that building , but in melting
through the heat their sympathies were also melted , for a total of , £ 23 , 000 was announced as the result of that celebration . That was a record at the time , not only in regard to Masonic Festivals , but also including every Charity of the Kingdom . Following that Festival additional buildings were put up at Wood Green , and an increase of fifty , was made to the number of pupils . In 1 SS 8 they fell upon some .
The Boys School Festival.
what diiterent times . They would remember there was some question as to the management of the Institution , and the result was that a Committee of Inquiry was appointed , followed by vigorous elicits which had placed the Institution in its present very prosperous state . This was shown by the fact that whereas they , started with six boys in 1798 , they now had 290 on the books of the Institution—thirty-one
of whom were boarded out , because they had out-grown the accomodation they possessed at Wood Green . The late Pro Grand , Master the Earl of Lathom long since called attention to the inadequate accommodation at Wood Green : the result had been the acquisition of an estate at Bushey . The Centenary celebration of the School provided the splendid total of / 141 , 00 c—no mean sum for any
Institution to bring up or collect at a Festival Dinner—and an amount far in . excess of anything that had been known before . The difficulties of the Management vanished at sight of that splendid announcement , and considerable progress had already been made with the erection of the new buildings . He felt they might congratulate themselves on the success of the Boys School . The time was not very far distant
when they considered , £ 3 , 000 or , £ 4 , 060 a good result for a Festival , and they were delighted when they got the total up to ten thousand pounds . When , however , they raised upwards of , £ 23 , 000 at one Festival they congratulated themselves indeed , and they felt that such a thing would never be clone again ; but they had come to be accustomed to such amounts , although at the same time he
considered they must be regarded as stupendous . The past year had been . a most exceptional one in regard to ajipeals made to the charitably disposed sections of the community , on account of the different funds raised on behalf of sufferers through the war , by the Indian Famine , and by other events ; . and he felt they had almost exhausted every possible means of extracting money from the purse of the
English nation . But during it all'the subscriptions to the Masonic Charities had not fallen off , and he felt—in a year so special as this had been—this was a matter calling for the greatest satisfaction . We talked very often of the glories of the Masonic Charities , but at the same time felt that those who joined the Order , with half an eye , or even a quarter of an eye , on its benevolence ,. and three quarters
on its probable advantages in . other ways , should be distinctly told they were not wanted . Let them join the Oddfellows , or the Druids , of any similar sick Fund , but let them distinctly understand thev were not wanted in the Masonic Institution . He could not close his observations without one word in regard to the vacant chair that evening . The late Brother Richard Eve had been the Chairman of
the Board of Management of the Institution ever since its reorganisation , and if he had been alive and present that day it would have been his twenty-second consecutive attendance at the Festivals of that Institution . He was a good man gone , and his death would be an immense loss to the management of the Institution , and to many
others on whose behalf he worked zealously arid faithfully . The Earl had much pleasure in coupling the name of Bro . Keyser to respond to the toast , in the lamented absence of Bro . Eve . Bro . Keyser was a most liberal donor to the School , and a man who was most enthusiastic in its welfare .
Bro . Keyser felt that after the magnificent speech made by the Chairman there was absolutely nothing to be said in connection with the subject before them , but first , on behalf of the Institution , he felt he ought to re-echo the disappointment already expressed that H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught had not been able to attend and preside that evening ; and also to thank the Pro Grand Master
for having come forward and filled the place so ably as he had done . He could also endorse Lord Amherst ' s words about Bro . Eve , who was . always most active in the work of the Boys Institution , and taking the lead among the members of the new Committee of Management . He hoped all who could would journey to Aldershot the following Thursday , and by attending the funeral of their late
companion show their respect . and . esteem for him . Coming to the toast , he considered the unfortunate Brother who had to respond on these occasions was placed in a very awkward position , inasmuch as the Secretary of the Institution did not place him in the position of knowing the result of the collection . So he had to respond without knowing whether he ought to abuse the Stewards for a meagre
list , or congratulate the Brethren on a glorious success , but he felt he might do something in the way of congratulating them on the announcement that was shortly to be made . It was a pleasure to him to state that the buildings at Bushey were rising rapidly , and that considerable progress had been made' since many of them attended there on the occasion of the laying of the Foundation Stone . He had no fear for the future of the Institution ; he believed
that whatever their wants , or the wants of the two other Institutions . of the Craft , the Brethren would readily and willingly provide it . As the Treasurer of the Institution , elected by their vote , he had especially to thank tliem on that occasion , and also for all that had been done in the past . He felt certain the result of the Festival to be shortly announced would reflect credit on the English Craft as a body .
Bro . J . Morrison McLeod Secretary of the Institution then announced the result of the Festival . He said the Board consisted
of 4 S 2 Stewards , , of v whom twenty were Ladies—334 representing London Lodges , 239 Provincial ones , and cj Coming from Foreign Stations . He had first to thank the Stewards for ' what in his experience was a unique return , there being only four Stewards who had failed to send in their lists , and lie could confidently appeal to his brother Secretaries to bear him out in saying this was a most unusual , and at the same t ; ime a . most satisfactory state of affairs .
Among the 234 London Stewards were twelve Ladies , and the Institution was particularly- indebted to them for their services . It was particularly appropriate and opportune that the place of . honour in point of amount brought up , among the Stewards of the Festival on this occasion fell to the list of their late dear Brother Richard Eve , who as the representative of the Lodge which bears his name collected a total of , £ 315 , which included the two hundred guineas which he