Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

THE REPORT OP THE SPECIAL COMMISSION . THE Quarterly Court of tlie Subscribers to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys was held on Friday , 26 th April , at Freemasons' Tavern , London , Bro . Henry Smith , Deputy Prov . G . Master West Yorkshire , in the chair . There was a large attendance of tho brethren , who

wero mainly attracted by the knowledge that the Report of the Special Commission to inquire into tho management , discipline and expenditure of the School would bo presented . Bro . George Plucknett was re-elected Treasurer , and the General Committee was re-elected . In the absence

of Bro . A . F . Godson , M . P ., Bro . Roebuck , on behalf of the House Committee , moved that three additional boys bo elected . Bro . H . Venn seconded the motion , which was agreed to . Bro . Philbrick , Q . C , Grand Registrar , then

said , on behalf of the Committee appointed under the resolution of last July , to inquire into the management , discipline , and expenditure of the Institution , and to report to this Court at a subsequent meeting , I beg to hand to the

Court the unanimous report of the Committee acting under that resolution . It has been necessary for signing ifc to put it into print , and I have to stato that the type will remain set until to-morrow in order thafc if this Court

like to order copies for its information they may be obtained without the expense and delay of recoraposing by the printer . The learned brother then handed a copy of the report , officially sealed in an envelope , to the

Chairman , who , breaking the seal , said : I apprehend I must have a resolution to receive this report , and if necessary it can be read . Bro . Joseph Storey ( London ) said , would not the mosfc practical way be to move a

resolution that the report be received , printed , and circulated among the Governors . If so , I shall have pleasure in moving it , for I think tin ' s is a matter which should be placed before every subscriber to this Institution . Bro .

A . E . Gladwell ( London ) seconded the motion . The Chairman : It is rather a lengthy report . ( The document occupied forty-eight pages in print ) . Bro . Binckes ( Secretary ) suggested that there should firsfc of all

be a motion simply that tho Report be received . The Chairman : Yes . It has been moved and seconded that the report be received . This motion was unanimously adopted . Brother Binckes : Now it has become the

property of the Institution , and the brethren can do as they like . Bro . Storey : I will now move that tbe report be printed and circulated . Bro . Russell ( London ) seconded the motion . Bro . Binckes : There are over 4000

Governors . Is it to be understood that the report is to be sent round at the expense of the Institution to every qualified member of the Court . Brother Gladwell : No . I would make a suggestion . Ifc is a large

expenditure , and a very large number of the reports might be treated as waste paper , and nofc receive the consideration we desire . I will , therefore , move that the reports be issued to all those who want them , at a

cost not exceeding one shilling each . Brother Philbrick : I may mention that only the proof copies for signature , and a copy for each member of the Committee , have been taken as proof ' s . I am informed tbat the cost of printing the reports will be between £ 10 and £ 12 per

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

thousand . If paper not quite so good as this be used the charge will bo about £ 10 per thousand , but it was necessary for ns to have thicker p-iper , as wo had to write our signatures uponit . Bro . Storey : When I proposed my resolution l

did not think ifc worth whilo to occupy the time oftho Court , because I thought such a proposition would be accepted without hesitation . A certain stigma has been cast upon the management of the Boys' School , and it has been

widely circulated by means of printed circulars and pamphlets , and I think it is duo to this Institution , to tho General Committee , and to those who have taken a very active parfc in its affairs , that this report should bo

cirjulated in a proper manner . I do not know what the Committee report , but whatever it is , it ought to bo as equally wide-spread as the stories which have been circulated . Oi tho contrary , I do not think we oughfc to hesitate for

a moment , even if ifc cost £ 100 to circulate the report . Bro . Russell ( Kent ) : I think that whatever may havo been said by our brother on the right of the chairman ( Bro . Philbrick ) , there is not the slightest doubt that this

report ought to be printed and circulated . If you can do 1000 copies for £ 10 you can produce 4000 for £ 40 , and what is £ 40 to this Institution compared with the doubt and uncertainty which has been hanging over it for so

long ? I shall have very great pleasure in supporting Bro . Storey's proposition , because I believe ifc is conceived in the true interests of the School . I think wo onghfc to give all possible information to everybody and make no charge

for it . You will in that way remove the cloud which h-is been hanging over you , and when you have a bright and pure Institution , it will prosper . Bro . J . S , Cumberland ( N . and E . Yorkshire ) : I should like to suggest , in order

to save expense , that the report be printed on rather commoner paper than the proof presented to the Court . I quite agree with Bro . Russell that for a pound or two we should not deprive any member of a copy of the report ,

and I think every subscriber to tho Institution has a perfect right to a copy . I would suggest thafc tho printer who has the type set up should be asked at what charge he will supply us with the same , paper cover , and with the

report printed on rather commoner paper , i quite agree that the sooner the report is in the hands of the Subscribers the better it will be for the Institution , and the sooner we can have a Special General Courfc to consider what

shall be done the better it will be in the permanent interests of the School . Bro . John Wordsworth ( West ( Yorkshire ) : I beg to propose that 4000 copies of tho

report be printed and circulated afc the expense of the Institution . Bro . W . Goodacro ( Prov . Grand Secrelary West Lancashire ) seconded the motion . Bro . Storey : I think ifc would be far better if the members of the

Committee of Management took no part in this pafticular business ; and in my opinion the motion ought to come from the general body of Subscribers . I do not think we ought to limit ourselves to the number of copies to

be printed . Every Subscriber ought to have a copy of the report . There oughfc to be no hole-and-corner business . Let it be plain and unsophisticated—the plaine ^ the better . Bro . James Stevens ( London ) : I think , under the

anxiety which this Institution has gone through during the past 12 months , and which it is likely to go through , if there is any reservation in the circulation of this report ,

there oughfc to be no limit as to tho number of copies printed and circulated , that those interested in this Institution may know exactly all that has transpired . It is a