The Approaching Festival Of The Boys' School.

THE APPROACHING FESTIVAL OF THE BOYS' SCHOOL .

IT is hardly necessary to remind our readers that tho Seventy-ninth Anniversary of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys will be held on Wednesday next . Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Provincial Grand Master for Hants and Isle of Wight , will preside , and , as on the last

two occasions , the Festival will be held at the Alexandra Palace , Muawell Hill . The Earl of Donoughmore , P . S . G . W . is President of the Board of Stewards , which consists of

over 200 brethren , and may be still further increased between now and the appointed day . As our readers are aware , the ladies are present on these occasions , whereas , at the Festivals of the R . M . B . I . and the Girls' School ,

having previously dined apart in another room , they are merely admitted to be spectators of the proceedings that follow the banquet . This year there will be a still further innovation . Gentlemen who are not Masons will be permitted to be present . To repeat an argument we adduced

some time since , when the proposal was first sanctioned , brethren and their friends will meet together as a company of ladies and gentlemen . „ Some of the outside world will thus have an opportunity of learning what manner of men we are , and whether we bear any resemblance to the

desperate band of conspirators we are supposed to be . We do not fear the verdict that will be passed upon us . We believe , indeed , the innovation will be productive of good , not only to the Institution , whose well-being we are so desirous of promoting , but to the Fraternity likewise . The

silly reports which are propagated about us will be scattered to the winds , when we are proved to be a quiet and inoffensive body , loyal to the government , and avoiding all offence towards others who may differ with us in religion or politics . But we need not dwell upon these points . Let us rather direct the attention of our readers to the

School itself , which , from so small a beginning , has , in so short a period of time , grown to be so important and so well regulated an establishment . In 1875 the Festival yielded an aggregate sum of close on £ 13 , 000 . Last year the amount it produced was only a little less , but in each

case , the total subscriptions exceeded the totals subscribed to the Girls' School and Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution respectively . We have no intention of instituting a comparison between this and the sister charities . The work of Charity is the same , whether it be directed to the

maintenance of old men and women , girls , or boys . We can but do our duty towards those whom age , misfortune , or sickness has rendered incapable of helping themselves , or the young of both" sexes , who in early childhood are deprived of their natural guardians . There is this , however , to be

said on behalf of the Boys' School . It is only a few years since it was freed from debt , and consequently the amount of moneys it has been able to lay by for a rainy day is represented by a few thousands only . If—which Heaven forefend—a political or commercial crisis should suddenly

overtake the country , and while lessening the chance of the requisite support being as readily forthcoming , should make perhaps the need for that support even greater than it is now , it is possible the Benevolent and the Girls' School might tide over the eventful period , but the funds of the Boys' School would be exhausted in a few months .

Moreover , it becomes more apparent every year that the Institution is incapable of meeting the increasing number of applications for admission on the part of orphan boys . On an average , perhaps , there are three unsuccessful to one

The Approaching Festival Of The Boys' School.

successful candidate at each successive election , and this in spite of the fact that , even dm-ing the last three years , some fifteen or sixteen pupils have been added to the strength of the School . While , then , our threo Institutions stand before the Craft on exactly the same footing in respect of

the good they are striving to accomplish , we do not consider we are acting invidiously if we lay some stress on tho exceptional circumstance we have just described in connection with the Boys' School . As one of our three groat Charities , it has no right to expect either more or less in the

way of favourable consideration than its fellows ; but , as possessing little or no invested property , and as being , therefore , less able to cope with the pressure of even a momentary adversity , it certainly is entitled to hope for a more liberal share of support—until it shall find itself onco

again placed on a tolerabl y equal footing with them in this respect . Our readers are perfectly well aware that we have made it our business , as the anniversary of each Institution has recurred periodically , to do all in our power to enlist the sympathy and assistance of the Craft in its

behalf . We do not for a moment imagine they will consider we are animated by any predilection whatever in favour of this particular Institution . But we know there are

circumstances connected with it which call for special commentwhich , indeed , it would be the height of unwisdom to leave unnoticed ; and in directing attention to these circumstances , we are simply fulfilling an important duty .

A few days , and the Festival of the Boys' School for 1877 will be an event that is past . It behoves us , therefore , to point out to Craftsmen , while there is yet time to do so , that it rests wholly and solely with them , whether the year begun so auspiciously at the Festival of the Royal

Masonic Benevolent Institution in February , and so fruitful of good to the Girls' School in April , shall turn out as favourably in the case of the Boys' School on Wednesday next . The Board of Stewards may be numerically weaker than it was last year . That , however , is a defect which there

is even yet time to remedy . At the same time , there is no reason why the amount of contributions should be smaller . On the contrary , it seems to us the fact of the Stewards being fewer in number will serve to stimulate them to even greater exertion .

' The tower men , the greater share of honour . " Then , when the lists are closed , and a glorious victory has been won , they will bo entitled to say to each other , with feelings of honest pride : — " Wo few , we happy few , we band of brothers , "

and those who might have joined " shall think themselves accurs'd , they were not" there . For the sake of Bro . Beach , who , on Wednesday next , will preside not for the first time at one of these magnificent gatherings ; for tho

sake of the Boys' School , which more than ever needs the support of brethren ; and for the honour of the Craft generally , we trust the Festival of next week will not be the least successful of this year ' s celebrations .

Masonic Jurisprudence

MASONIC JURISPRUDENCE

LAST week , there appeared in these columns two letters , in which were submitted certain questions connected with Masonic Jurisprudence . As regards one of these , it is not our intention to dwell upon it at any length . The writer referred to the ruling of the Grand Registrar at the March Communication of Grand Lodge , when , having