The Boys' Election.

THE BOYS' ELECTION .

A LARGE INFLUX OF CANDIDATES AND A LONG LIST TO CARRY FORWARD .

rpHE ballot paper for the Spring Election of the JL Royal Masonic Institution i ' or Boys , to be held on Friday , the Sth proximo , affords evidence that the Craft is able to keep np the supply of candidates quite as well , ancl even better , than the Institution is able to deal with them ; and although Ave were last -week

congratulating ourselves that the proportion between ; the number of applicants and the number of vacancies was becoming more workable than was usual in days gone by , a few such additions as is apparent this half year in connection Avith the Boys' School would soon provide an imposing array of aspirants , a list , in fact , far beyond the capabilities of the Institution to

deal AVith , and render it necessary to carry iorward a considerable proportion of the candidates after each contest . In October last 36 Boys went to the poll at the half yearly election , of whom 24 were admitted , and tAVO were subsequently removed from the list of those eligible , in consequence of their age . There Avere thus 10 to carry forward for the April

election , but 28 new cases having been approA ed , the list has now run up to 88 candidates , for Avhom 20 vacancies are declared , which will be filled up next month , leaving 18 unsuccessful cases to be dealt with in the future , a number 50 per cent , in excess of the total six months since .

Of the 38 candidates on the list four now make their last application , tAVO being old cases and two new ones . Of the former , No . 1 , B . B . Howell , has already contested six elections , and as a result thereof brings forward 47 votes ; while No . 2 , S . T . Bennett , has fared almost as well at the three

elections m Avhich he has taken a part , having now 41 votes to his credit . We need hardly say these two lads stand no possible chance of being elected unless something very different is done on their behalf next month to Avhat has hitherto been

accomplished for them . The new cases among the last applications are No . 24 , AV . G . B . Kent , ancl No . 33 , A . P . Shaw . The former of these is a Metropolitan case , the father having been initiated in the merchant

Navy Lodge , No . 781 ; he afterwards joined the Stanhope , No . 1269 . Both parents are hvmg , the father being a Life Subscriber to both the Boys' School and the Benevolent Institution , and having two children now dependent upon him . The latter case , No . 33 , comes from the colony of Victoria ,

wnere tbe lad ' s father was initiated , in the Combermere Lodge , No . 752 , and rose to high honours in the District Grand Lodge and Chapter . The Avidow aas five children dependent upon her , and will , we

¦ nope , receive the assistance she now asks on behalf oi her child from the Masonic brethren of her late Husband , separated though they may have been by several thousand miles .

The Boys' Election.

Happily there is only one case on the list in which both parents are dead—No . 27 , E . A . Thornber ; and in this instance there are three children in the family now dependent . The father Avas admitted as an initiate in the Union Lodge , No . 129 , and subsequently acted as one of the founders of the Windermere , No . 2217 , Cumberland and Westmoreland ,

occupying the position of a Past Master therein . London is only responsible for ten of the candidates out of the list of 38 , and on the principle Ave referred to last week , of securing benefits in proportion to the amounts subscribed , there should be little difficulty in securing the return of all these candidates . That

would be devoting one-half of the prizes to the Metropolis , and Avould not be much beyond a fair share if a strict debtor and creditor account was drawn up . We shall expect , however , to find at least half of these London cases among the unsuccessful

at the close of the poll , not because they are any the less deserving of support in their endeavours to secure a place in the Boys' School , but because many causes combine to attract London votes to the Provinces , while the country districts also possess the advantage of having efficient organisations to look after

their votes and conduct their Elections . We do not wish it to be thought we are desirous of seeing a strict account kept of every penny subscribed , and benefits meted out in proportion between London and the Provinces . We are fully aware such

a proceeding is not only impossible , but likewise undesirable ; but we do think that a little more interest might be displayed by London Masons in supporting London candidates , even when , by doing so , they may have to disappoint their country friends . The returns which are issued of the number of votes

sent out and the number used at the elections shows that the London votes are not wasted ; and such being the case , it may be urged they are used to the best advantage , or at least they are used in the way their owners desire , apart from any considerations of

locality or neighbouring ties ; but there are other considerations to be weighed in this connection , considerations quite as important as anything in the shape of business or private influence , ancl for the sake of the Lodges Avhich are year after year appealed to , to provide Stewards ancl funds for the

Festivals , something like a proportionate return should be secured as between London and the country . Looking at the list in its entirety it must be particularly gratifying to the supporters of the Institution that , with so many new cases put forward , inst beyond one-half of the whole of the

candidates can be admitted to the benefit of the Charity at the next election , especially in view of the fact that 24 Avere elected in October last , making a total of 44 for the year . This total shows—better perhaps than any other figures—what the Institution is doing on behalf of the orphan sons of the Craft . It means that every eight days the doors of the