Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

ON Monday , 6 th instant , tbe pupils of this Institution presented a very handsome and costly musical album to the Matron , Miss Hall . The presentation was made , before the assembled pupils , by the Head Master , tho Rev . D . Morris , at their request and on their behalf , who , in addressing Miss Hall , said , he was extremely gratified

by the request made to him to present tho handsome testimonial of respect and esteem entertained for her by her young friends . The offering was entirely spontaneous , and hence its value in evidencing the sense felt by her young charges for the kindness which had , during her long

term of office , characterised her domestic management . His brief experience would not allow him to say much on this head , but the fact of this testimonial having been subscribed for voluntarily , by the entire School , was the best assurance she could receive of the estimation in which she

was held , and of the appreciation of her labours for the comfort and well-being of those nnder her care . Miss Hall offered a few feeling words in reply , expressive

of the satisfaction and delight afforded her by this kind recognition of the manner in which she had discharged her duties . She thanked them most heartily , and should ever treasure the handsome present just given her .

It is always well when the services of an official are thus generously recognised . Those only can appreciate such a presentation who have had the same or similar duties entrusted to them , and it speaks well for the Matron of this Institution , that after a lengthened service , those under her

charge have paid her this compliment . The duties of a matron are many and arduous ; she occupies a position in which her temper is daily , nay , even hourly , tried . Boys will be boys , and in the exuberance of their abundant spirits , are often forgetful of the wear and tear of temper to which

she must be subjected . Clearly her conduct , in this respect , must have given general satisfaction , or we should not be recording this interesting event . Nor in this respect only . The duties of a matron are very much those of a mother . She has all the responsibilities of a mother

resting upon her shoulders . She must advise those in her charge in all their little troubles , soothing down any animosities that may have broken out amongst them , and reconciling disputants . A judicious matron may exercise a great deal of influence for good with the masters , and

help not a little in the maintenance of discipline . It often makes all the difference between ease and difficulty in maintaining discipline if the matron be a judicious person . It is , we suppose , in the nature of boys to give trouble to those in authority over them , but feminine

influence rightly employed does a world of good in reducing the exercise of this habit of our boy-nature to aminimum . Thus when the small school world takes upon itself to do such a graceful action as we have just had the pleasure of recording , we may be sure there have been good and

sufficient reason for its action . The boys must be , as their fathers were before them , genial fellows , admirable chips from good oldMasonic blocks , and the lady whohas given such satisfaction in the discharge of her functions as Matron must be a genial and kind lady , and motherly withal . Boys are keen

to learn whether or not a person over them is lovable and worthy of their respect , and it is very creditable to Miss Hall that she can show how thoroughly and properly

her services have been appreciated , not only by the governing body , but by the governed likewise . We repeat most cordially our felicitations on this most p leasant occasion .

A Few Hints How To Manufacture A Masonic Song.

A FEW HINTS HOW TO MANUFACTURE A MASONIC SONG .

IT is passing strange , perhaps , yet indubitable , that Masons , as a rule , are not given to poesy . Our system is veiled in allegory , and our symbolism is most beautiful . Nevertheless , the poetic fancy is not strong among us . It

may be some of the terms in use among the Craft are somewhat unpoetical in sound , and that more than the usual difficulties in the way of rhyme and rhythm are encountered by any brother who may essay to put his thoughts into verse . We remarked in some of our earlier numbers on

the lack of feeling noticeable in most of our Masonic minstrelsy , and wo quoted specimens from the best known repertoire of songs in proof of the hardness , we might almost say thewoodenness , of very many of the lines . We

have said this is somewhat strange , for there are those among us who indulge their imagination freely , while the principal tenets wc profess , indeed , the worship of all that is beautiful and good , are both elements towards the making of tuneful verses . Somo there are who write in true

poetic language of the antiquity of the Order . The archaeologists among us are , in truth , poets , for their flights of fancy are calculated to reach even the loftiest Parnassian heights . Some trace our Order straight back to King Solomon , others have taken us still further hack into the

remote past , and connect the origin of Craft Masonry with Moses , and through him with the patriarchs , of whom , from a Masonic point of view , Abraham is the most admirable . Others , again , go further back , even into the Garden of Eden , and make Adam the founder of Freemasonry ,

We are not aware if any have made researches beyond this epoch , but , doubtless , it is in the order of things that , as years roll on , and men become wiser , we shall hear of inquiries , extending not only as far back as the pre-historic period of the universe , but even into the glacial , and

possibly , the pre-glacial periods , on the supposition , at least , that there was a pre-glacial period . Now these worthy brethren are , beyond all question , indued with a lofty imagination , and should be capable , with so grand a field before them , of producing one or two admirable poems .

Mr . Tennyson , within narrower limits , has fashioned , out of the famous Arthurian legends , a series of magnificent idylls . May not some Bro . Tennyson , W . M . of the Lodge Poetic , contrive to equal , if not surpass , the efforts of the

Poet Laureate ? As it is , the only real poets among us are the Masonic archaeologists who write in prose , while our soi-disanl poet is nothing if not prosy . Hence has it occurred to ns to offer our readers a few hints on

versification , in the hope that some of them , having profited by our suggestions , may be encouraged to cultivate the art of poetry , and give us now and again , some tuneful song . Tho practice of verse-making is one of which all of us , no doubt , have had , more or less , experience . " Our Old

Friend John" remembers , doubtless , that in the days " when we were boys together , " one of the few intellectual games indulged in was " capping verses . " Any number might take part in it , and the manner of playing it was very simple . One boy would quote a line from some

favourite poet , another would cap it with a line that rhymed , taken from the same or any other poet . A greater test of poetic reading was to quote a sentiment , and cap it with other lines expressive of the same sentiment . Tho simpler form of the game accustomed our juvenile ears to the value of sound , whilo the severer necessitated a wider acquaintance with the poets of our own and other countries , and so led us gradually to the cultivation of