Church Service.

CHURCH SERVICE .

ON Sunday evening , the 10 th , the pretty little church at Deeping St . Nicholas , Near Spalding , was the scene of a goodly gathering of Brethren of the Hundred of Elloe Lodge , No . 469 , who had journeyed to a Masonic Service to which they had been invited by the Vicar ,

Bro . Rev . W . Benson , who is also Chaplain of the Lodge , and who , together with the W . M . Bro . J . E . West , and Bro . G . F . Barrell D . C . of the Province , as well as D . C . of the local Lodge , were responsible for the arrangements for the Service , which proved highly satisfactory to the

Brethren and friends present , despite the unpropitious weather which prevailed until late in the afternoon . Crowds of inhabitants of the village and visitors filled the church to overflowing . Representatives from the Lodges at Bourne and Peterborough were present , also the P . G . J . W . of Kent , Bro . Barrell . Consequently when the procession was formed the Brethren numbered over

fifty , and , including the choir and clergy , close upon a hundred . The procession started from the vicarage for the

church , singing the processional hymn " Onward Christian Soldiers , " and after reaching their places in the church came the Masonic Hymn " Hail Eternal by whose aid . "

Bro . Rev . R . G . Ash P . P . G . Chaplain ( J . W . ) rendered the first part of the service , and the second part was taken by Bro . Rev . W . Benson ; the first lesson was read by Bro . J . E . West W . M ., and the second by Bro . G . F . Barrell D . C .

The special psalms were 84 , 96 and 148 , and the Anthem was from Mendelssohn ' s Hymn of Praise , " I waited for the Lord , " the duet being exceptionally well sung by Mrs . Brogden of Spalding , and Mrs . Linnell of

Market Deeping . The singing of the anthem spoke volumes for the vocal ability of those concerned . The choir was augmented by members from other churches , including Bourne , Peakirk and Market Deeping , but especially from the choir of the Spalding Parish Church ; the success of their efforts , which proved a musical treat ,

was mainly owing to Bro . W . J . Price , Organist of the Spalding Parish Church , who kindly undertook the training of the choir . Bro . T . P . Holland , Lodge Organist , presided at the organ . The sermon was preached by Bro . Rev . W . Benson from I Kings v , 17 " and the king commanded , and they brought great

stones , costly stones , and hewed stones , to lay the foundation of the house , " and both from a Masonic and public point of view was an exceptionally able and remarkable discourse . The singing of the re-processional hymn , " Saviour , blessed Saviour , " brought to a conclusion one of the most striking and interesting services

ever held at Deeping St . Nicholas .

The Boys School Festival.

THE BOYS SCHOOL FESTIVAL .

VISIT OF THE STEWARDS TO THE SCHOOL . THE annual distribution of prizes , and visit of Stewards to the Institution took place on Tuesday , when a large number of friends of the Institution assembled at Wood Green , under the presidency of Bro . Richard Eve P . G . Treasurer Chairman of the Board of Management of the School .

The principal guest of the day was Mrs . W . Lawies Jackson , who presented the prizes and certificates of merit to the successful pupils , and was accompanied by Bro . Jackson , M . P ., Provincial Grand Master West Yorkshire Chairman of the Anniversary Festival , together with Miss Jackson , who appears to take considerable interest in the Institution .

The Visitors having been cordially welcomed by Bro . Eve , the Head Master presented the Report of the School examination which was decided on by the Board of Management at its meeting in August last , when it was resolved to submit the whole School to an independent examination , arrangements being subsequently made with the Syndicate appointed by the University of Cambridge

for such to take place . The Board desire that the Report should he made as widely known as possible , feeling sure it will satisfy the subscribers as to a distinctly marked progress in Educational attainments , as well as the excellent tone and standard of the School . We havo pleasure in making the following extracts from the Report of the Examiner :

" The course of study and organisation were very satisfactory . Under the present rules boys leave the School at the age of 15 , except in very special circumstances . In my opinion this rule must operate very prejudicially in the case of promising boys , and it would , I think , be advantageous if the limit of age were raised

The Boys School Festival.

in favour of boys who have attained a certain position in the School . Such a course would bo likely to benefit tho boys themselves , and to facilitate tho organisation of the Institution . " The Buildings aro large and commodious ; tho Class rooms arc well lighted and ventilated , and the Dormitories well kept and

supplied with all appliances in case of fire . There is also a fine Hall , with au organ , which is used for tho purposes of assembly , prayers , & c , and a spacious Reading Room , which is , in fact , a Common room for the senior Classes , its arrangements being managed by a committee of the boys themselves .

"A good Playground is contiguous to tho Buildings , and serves excellently for ordinary purposes , but the Cricket Ground is scarcely largo enough for the wants of so many boys , and it is , I think , desirable that a more suitable one should , if possible , bo found .

" The tone of tho hoys and their demeanour during tho examination pleased me greatly . Thoy seemed happy both in their work and in their play , and tho Staff appeared to bc , ono and all , zealously working for the good of the School . " I proceed now to speak of the work done by tho boys in tho

examination , aud , taken as a whole , I am glad to say thafc it was satisfactory . The weak points were not more numerous than might reasonably bo expected in a School of this size , and on the other hand tho greater part of the work was iu every respect sound and good , and much of it excellent . "

Tho prizes were then distributed by Mrs . Jackson , and at tho conclusion of this part of tho day's programme Bro . Eve proposed a vote of thanks to that lady . He said tho Board of Management wore very much indebted to Mrs . Jackson for her attendance . It was very gratifying that tho wife of the Brother who would p .-csido at their Festival the following

day should attend and take a share in the work of the School . Ho referred with gratification to the fact that the boys of the Institution were all in very good health , there not being a single lad in tho Infirmary . Not only were the boys healthy just at tho present moment , but they wont away from the School full of health and strength , to the entire satisfaction of the parents . The tone of tho

boys had greatly improved during the past seven years ; now it might bo said tho little boys wore quite little men and the older ones really good fellows . As had been manifest at the recent Athletic Sports of the School the lads developed muscle , and it was a source of great gratification to the Executive that the boys turned out so well . They recognised this result was due to the efforts of

the Head Master and his assistants , who seemed to possess the knack of winning the respect of tho boys while instructing them in their duties . Bro . Eve referred to that part of the Report which dealt with tho limit of ago at which tho Boys had to leave tho School . Most decidedly the lads ought to remain until 16 years old , and not bo turned out at 15 as is now compulsory , except in special

cases . There were nine boys at present in tho School who had beon accorded this extension of time by the Board of Management , but they would like to make the extension general , which could only bc done , however , by direction of tho subscribers to tho School and in answer to the largo hearted support of the Craft . Then in regard to a larger cricket field ; they had recognised the need for this , but there were so few available spaces around them as to render

its provision extremely difficult . However , thoy were delighted tho boys required more accomodation for physical development , and would endeavour to supply tho need . The Institution owed a debt of gratitude to the Head Master and the Assistant Masters for the way in which they had raised the tone of the School , which was making satisfactory progress . Bro . Eve concluded by proposing a hearty vote of thanks to Mrs . Jackson for her services . The voto was carried with acclamation .

Bro . Jackson acknowledged . He said his wife , like a great many other ladies , did most of her talking at home , and had desired him to say something in recognition of the compliment that had just been paid her . Ladies no doubt often wondered what it was that bound men so strongly together in Freemasonry . As an answer he might refer them to the meeting that day , which was an

exemplification of what Masons did when away from their homes , although but a very small part of what they accomplished throughout tho country . Such results should secure for the Craft greater latitude from the Ladies than they now enjoyed . It had afforded Mrs . Jackson very great pleasure to bc present that day and she , as well as himself , was greatly pleased at what they were

told , both in the Examiner ' s Report and the Head Master's remarks . There was really nothing to find fault wifch . Bro . Jackson then addressed himself more particularly to the pupils , urging them to greater efforts , both in their educational studies and in their sports . One failure or one disappointment should be but tho incentive to greater exertions in the future , so as to retrieve the disaster and win

success later on . Reference had been mado to a cricketer who was very closely associated with him and who , he could assure them , would have been very pleased to be present that day . Though his son ho was also his Brother , and would , the speaker was convinced , take his place some day in the work of the Institutions of Freemasonry . It was impossible to keep boys healthy in body or mind

unless they were found some healthy recreation with which to occupy their minds in their leisure hours , and that being so he strongly urged the Craft to see what could be done towards providing the enlarged cricket field referred to in their Examiner's Report . He was glad to know on such high authority that the moral tone of the School was good . It must be extremely gratifying to those who a few years back took it in hand and strove

to raise it from its then position . He urged the boys to show their love for their Masters by maintaining this tone ; never giving way to disappointment , but rather sticking to their purpose with the tenacity , he might almost say the obstinacy , of Yorkshiremen , and working on the principle that there is no such word as " can't" for those who really aro determined to push on in the world . Too often they would find that " can't" was used where it should bo