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Article THE RETIRING MASTERS OF THE BOYS' SCHOOL. ← Page 2 of 2 Article THE RETIRING MASTERS OF THE BOYS' SCHOOL. Page 2 of 2 Article THE RICHMOND COMMANDERY IN THE NORTHERN STATES. Page 1 of 2 →
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The Retiring Masters Of The Boys' School.
excited in us the strongest feelings of regret , that changes in the educational staff were again imminent . We pointed out that in the preceding Report , for the year 1873 , it was stated , "A due regard for the important interests entrusted to their care , has forced upon the Committee the imperative
necessity of introducing changes in the Educational department . " A year elapses , and we are told , " Important changes have again taken place in the Instruction department , including the resignation of the Head Master , the Assistant Masters having also been replaced by new
appointments . " We remarked how damaging to the interests of this Institution such frequent changes must be , and we urged upon the Committee the desirability of selecting such new masters as would make the recurrence of similar changes in the last degree improbable . Elsewhere
we publish a letter from the " Four Retiring Masters , " and we have received from various quarters several other communications , all bearing on the unfortunate differences which have arisen as to the management of the School . We have no intention whatever of passing judgment on
the contents of these documents . We are strictly impartial in the matter , and are only anxious that the interests of the boys should not suffer in the course of this turmoil . Moreover , the present time , when the grand success of the
recent Festival is yet fresh in the minds of our readers , appears to be very favourable for bringing under notice some of the most important statements connected with these disputes .
We note , in the first instance , that the report to the Cambridge Syndicate , of the examiner , Mr . Finlaison , as regards the progress in study made by the boys is generally satisfactory , while as regards the discipline of the school it is overwhelmingly so . On the former point Mr . Finlaison
remarks , firstly and generally , " I have great pleasure in certifying that the average educational condition of the boys , having regard to their ages and duration of residence in the school , is satisfactory—in some respects very much so—notwithstanding that I may feel it my duty to call
attention to some points in which improvement is desirable . " Then dealing seriatim with the subjects of study the examiner say , " In Scripture I had some very fair answers , " notably from cei'tain boys , while " in the second class the average was decidedly good . " He thinks it would have
been better had they taken up fewer books of the Old and New Testament and learned them more thoroughly , while he cautions them against answering at random . Again , " in Catechism , " he say , " I was extremely well satisfied throughout . The boys appear to have got a very good text
book , and to have made a very good use of it . Some boys also showed very considerable thought . " In English Grammer " some fair essays were written , but , as a whole , the grammatical portion of the paper was weakl y answered . " Then , "the spelling and writing were
unquestionably good throughout the school . " In History , sundry boys answered remarkably well , " but the bulk of the school would do better to pay more attention to the leading principles of history . " " In Geography , the map drawing was very good indeed , " but greater attention is
recommended " to geographical descriptions of countries . " As regards Latin , "the average translation was fairly good , but the relative strength of the second class , as compared with the first , was not so great . " " The French paper was very well answered throughout the school . " " The
German , which I examined viva voce , exhibited a satisfactory average . " " The answers in Euclid were very fairly done , both viva voce and in writing . " In Arithmetic the average merit was fair ; but by no means remarkable . " The Algebra was not quite so
satisfactory , " and more attention to this subject is suggested . " The junior classes appear to possess fully as much information , and that of as sound a character as their ages would warrant one in expecting . " Now nothing is easier than to praise or blame wholesale , but it will be remarked
that Mr . Finlaison has passed judgment on the school with the nicest discrimination . He has not hesitated to point out faults , while giving every credit to what is admirable . This makes his judgment valuable , nor can it be denied that his opinion is , on the whole , very satisfactory to the
masters and the manner in which they have performed their duties . As to the other point , the conduct of the boys , the examiner is stronger in his praise . " The conduct of the boys , " he remarks , " was so uniformly good and highly disciplined that it is [ plain that no ordinary pains haa . beea taken ^ with them in this respect . " On the
The Retiring Masters Of The Boys' School.
strength of this report , the Head and Assistant Masters have every reason to congratulate themselves . The next point to which Ave must call attention is the unenviable position of one of tie subordinate officials of the school—to wit , the Matron . We presume no one in
his senses would allow that any sucb official should have it in her power to thwart the views of the Head Master . We care not what school is in question , whether it be Eton , with its tutors and dames , or a small preparatory academy , with a head master and one or two ushers , it is clear the
success of the school , both as regards moral and religious training , depends absolutely on the exercise of a supreme authority by the head master , subject of course to the laws and limitations imposed on him by the governing body . Without such a regulation , the management of a school would become a farce . We are convinced the Committee are
too fully alive to the importance of their own duties and of those of their Head Master to sanction in any way the interference with the latter of any person properly subordinate to him . Into the complaints raised by the Assistant Masters against the Matron we shall not pause to enquire .
They are ex parte to begin with . The Matron may be in a position to meet them , or they may be incontrovertible . At all events it is no business of ours to pass judgment on the merits . But be they right or wrong , the fact of such charges being bandied about between the Masters and
the Matron is not creditable to the Institution . We judge of the excellence of a piece of machinei'y when we find the parts of which it is composed work harmoniousl y together . Here there seems to have been not only no harmony , but absolute discord , to what cause attributable remains to be decided .
Our respected Bro . Binckes says that all the statements in Bro . Tew ' s phamphlet , to which we recently referred , can be answered satisfactorily . The Rev . Bro . Perrott is anxious for a complete investigation into his conduct . The four retiring Under Masters give chapter and verse for their
several allegations , and the Matron , no doubt , is read y with a complete answer to all that has been urged against her . We are no advocates for stirring muddy water ; but if the Committee take no further steps , injustice to some of those concerned must be the result . It is clearly a case in
which the Committee must exercise a very great dmount of discretion . Equally clear is it that the Committee owe it as a duty to the supporters of the Institution that everything of a polemical character between the Head Master
and his subordinates should be put down with a firm hand . There must be no war between masters and servants , or the boys will suffer . The one authority before which masters and servants must equall y bow is that of the Committee .
The Richmond Commandery In The Northern States.
THE RICHMOND COMMANDERY IN THE NORTHERN STATES .
THE presence of this Commandery in Boston for the purpose of shai-ing in the centennial celebration of the Battle of Bunker ' s Hill has been made the opportunity for a grand display , not only of Templar Masonry , but of a truly Masonic enthusiasm between the brethren of the
Northern and Southern States . The Northern papers give most glowing descriptions of the reception accorded to the Richmond Knights by the Boston Commanderies , and speak , with a natural pride , of Masonry being among the
most powerful of the many agencies at work to re-unite heartily , as they are governmentally , the two suctions of the United States , the North and South , a few years since engaged in so terrible a struggle . The enthusiasm of
the Bostonians for their Southern guests was immense , and as hearty as it was grand , while the latter are deeply sensible of the fervour and patriotism with which they have been greeted in Boston and other Northern cities .
The Richmond Commandery , No . 2 of Virginia , reached the Providence depot , Boston , on the afternoon of Wednesday , the 16 th ult . The officers accompanying them were E . Sir Wm . E . Tanner , Commander ; Sir Wm . T . Allen ,
Generalissimo ; Sir L . L . Bass , Captain-General ; Rev . Sir George 0 . Vanderslice , Prelate ; Sir 0 . M . Marshall , Treasurer ; Sir George R . Pace , Recorder ; Sir John E .
Laughton jun . Senior Warden ; Sir J . T . Keesee , Junior Warden ; Sir John J .. Wright , Standard Bearer ; Sir Chas . T . Binford , Sword Bearer ; Sir J . Thompson Brown , Warder ; gir Thomas Angel , Sentmel . With them also
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Retiring Masters Of The Boys' School.
excited in us the strongest feelings of regret , that changes in the educational staff were again imminent . We pointed out that in the preceding Report , for the year 1873 , it was stated , "A due regard for the important interests entrusted to their care , has forced upon the Committee the imperative
necessity of introducing changes in the Educational department . " A year elapses , and we are told , " Important changes have again taken place in the Instruction department , including the resignation of the Head Master , the Assistant Masters having also been replaced by new
appointments . " We remarked how damaging to the interests of this Institution such frequent changes must be , and we urged upon the Committee the desirability of selecting such new masters as would make the recurrence of similar changes in the last degree improbable . Elsewhere
we publish a letter from the " Four Retiring Masters , " and we have received from various quarters several other communications , all bearing on the unfortunate differences which have arisen as to the management of the School . We have no intention whatever of passing judgment on
the contents of these documents . We are strictly impartial in the matter , and are only anxious that the interests of the boys should not suffer in the course of this turmoil . Moreover , the present time , when the grand success of the
recent Festival is yet fresh in the minds of our readers , appears to be very favourable for bringing under notice some of the most important statements connected with these disputes .
We note , in the first instance , that the report to the Cambridge Syndicate , of the examiner , Mr . Finlaison , as regards the progress in study made by the boys is generally satisfactory , while as regards the discipline of the school it is overwhelmingly so . On the former point Mr . Finlaison
remarks , firstly and generally , " I have great pleasure in certifying that the average educational condition of the boys , having regard to their ages and duration of residence in the school , is satisfactory—in some respects very much so—notwithstanding that I may feel it my duty to call
attention to some points in which improvement is desirable . " Then dealing seriatim with the subjects of study the examiner say , " In Scripture I had some very fair answers , " notably from cei'tain boys , while " in the second class the average was decidedly good . " He thinks it would have
been better had they taken up fewer books of the Old and New Testament and learned them more thoroughly , while he cautions them against answering at random . Again , " in Catechism , " he say , " I was extremely well satisfied throughout . The boys appear to have got a very good text
book , and to have made a very good use of it . Some boys also showed very considerable thought . " In English Grammer " some fair essays were written , but , as a whole , the grammatical portion of the paper was weakl y answered . " Then , "the spelling and writing were
unquestionably good throughout the school . " In History , sundry boys answered remarkably well , " but the bulk of the school would do better to pay more attention to the leading principles of history . " " In Geography , the map drawing was very good indeed , " but greater attention is
recommended " to geographical descriptions of countries . " As regards Latin , "the average translation was fairly good , but the relative strength of the second class , as compared with the first , was not so great . " " The French paper was very well answered throughout the school . " " The
German , which I examined viva voce , exhibited a satisfactory average . " " The answers in Euclid were very fairly done , both viva voce and in writing . " In Arithmetic the average merit was fair ; but by no means remarkable . " The Algebra was not quite so
satisfactory , " and more attention to this subject is suggested . " The junior classes appear to possess fully as much information , and that of as sound a character as their ages would warrant one in expecting . " Now nothing is easier than to praise or blame wholesale , but it will be remarked
that Mr . Finlaison has passed judgment on the school with the nicest discrimination . He has not hesitated to point out faults , while giving every credit to what is admirable . This makes his judgment valuable , nor can it be denied that his opinion is , on the whole , very satisfactory to the
masters and the manner in which they have performed their duties . As to the other point , the conduct of the boys , the examiner is stronger in his praise . " The conduct of the boys , " he remarks , " was so uniformly good and highly disciplined that it is [ plain that no ordinary pains haa . beea taken ^ with them in this respect . " On the
The Retiring Masters Of The Boys' School.
strength of this report , the Head and Assistant Masters have every reason to congratulate themselves . The next point to which Ave must call attention is the unenviable position of one of tie subordinate officials of the school—to wit , the Matron . We presume no one in
his senses would allow that any sucb official should have it in her power to thwart the views of the Head Master . We care not what school is in question , whether it be Eton , with its tutors and dames , or a small preparatory academy , with a head master and one or two ushers , it is clear the
success of the school , both as regards moral and religious training , depends absolutely on the exercise of a supreme authority by the head master , subject of course to the laws and limitations imposed on him by the governing body . Without such a regulation , the management of a school would become a farce . We are convinced the Committee are
too fully alive to the importance of their own duties and of those of their Head Master to sanction in any way the interference with the latter of any person properly subordinate to him . Into the complaints raised by the Assistant Masters against the Matron we shall not pause to enquire .
They are ex parte to begin with . The Matron may be in a position to meet them , or they may be incontrovertible . At all events it is no business of ours to pass judgment on the merits . But be they right or wrong , the fact of such charges being bandied about between the Masters and
the Matron is not creditable to the Institution . We judge of the excellence of a piece of machinei'y when we find the parts of which it is composed work harmoniousl y together . Here there seems to have been not only no harmony , but absolute discord , to what cause attributable remains to be decided .
Our respected Bro . Binckes says that all the statements in Bro . Tew ' s phamphlet , to which we recently referred , can be answered satisfactorily . The Rev . Bro . Perrott is anxious for a complete investigation into his conduct . The four retiring Under Masters give chapter and verse for their
several allegations , and the Matron , no doubt , is read y with a complete answer to all that has been urged against her . We are no advocates for stirring muddy water ; but if the Committee take no further steps , injustice to some of those concerned must be the result . It is clearly a case in
which the Committee must exercise a very great dmount of discretion . Equally clear is it that the Committee owe it as a duty to the supporters of the Institution that everything of a polemical character between the Head Master
and his subordinates should be put down with a firm hand . There must be no war between masters and servants , or the boys will suffer . The one authority before which masters and servants must equall y bow is that of the Committee .
The Richmond Commandery In The Northern States.
THE RICHMOND COMMANDERY IN THE NORTHERN STATES .
THE presence of this Commandery in Boston for the purpose of shai-ing in the centennial celebration of the Battle of Bunker ' s Hill has been made the opportunity for a grand display , not only of Templar Masonry , but of a truly Masonic enthusiasm between the brethren of the
Northern and Southern States . The Northern papers give most glowing descriptions of the reception accorded to the Richmond Knights by the Boston Commanderies , and speak , with a natural pride , of Masonry being among the
most powerful of the many agencies at work to re-unite heartily , as they are governmentally , the two suctions of the United States , the North and South , a few years since engaged in so terrible a struggle . The enthusiasm of
the Bostonians for their Southern guests was immense , and as hearty as it was grand , while the latter are deeply sensible of the fervour and patriotism with which they have been greeted in Boston and other Northern cities .
The Richmond Commandery , No . 2 of Virginia , reached the Providence depot , Boston , on the afternoon of Wednesday , the 16 th ult . The officers accompanying them were E . Sir Wm . E . Tanner , Commander ; Sir Wm . T . Allen ,
Generalissimo ; Sir L . L . Bass , Captain-General ; Rev . Sir George 0 . Vanderslice , Prelate ; Sir 0 . M . Marshall , Treasurer ; Sir George R . Pace , Recorder ; Sir John E .
Laughton jun . Senior Warden ; Sir J . T . Keesee , Junior Warden ; Sir John J .. Wright , Standard Bearer ; Sir Chas . T . Binford , Sword Bearer ; Sir J . Thompson Brown , Warder ; gir Thomas Angel , Sentmel . With them also