The Boys' Fete At Wood Green.

THE BOYS' FETE AT WOOD GREEN .

S ATUKDAY , 26 th June , was a gala day at the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys at Wood Green , the occasion being the annual file , visit of Festival Stewards , distribution of prizes , and athletic sports . This event always attracts a considerable amount of interest in Masonio circles , not merely in the metropolis but throughout the Provinces , iu proof of which it may bo mentioned that over a

thousand applications for tickets were received by tho Secretary , Bro . F . Binckes , prior to the date fixed . It is estimated that about eight hundred of that number assembled on Saturday , a largo proportion of the company being ladies , whose summer costumes tended much to heighten the effect of the gathering within tho precincts

of the School premises and grounds . During tho early part of tho day the weather maintained a threatening aspect , the sky being obscured by clouds that portended the downfall of rain which had been looked for for some days ; but as the afternoon advauced the sun shone with tbe warmth and brilliancy that have marked his

"Jubilee" behaviour , and the appearance of the grounds was picturesque in the extreme . Flags floated on the breeze at different points , and the band of the Institution , under the direction of Bandmaster Whare , played lively airs as a prelude to the business of the day . Each successive train brought its contingent of visitors from

the City , whilst many living nearer took advantage of the fine afternoon to drive over to Wood Green . It is impossible to give the names or even a tithe of those who were present , bnt amongst them we noticed Bros . A . F . Godson , M . P ., Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Worcestershire ( President of the day ) , W . Eayuham Stewart , J . L .

Mather , T . Hastings Miller , C . F . Hogard , Henry Venn , James Moon , Rev . Dr . Morris ( Head Master ) , Frederick Binckes ( Secretary ) , J . Torry ( Secretary of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution ) , Thos . Cubitt , Edward Terry , H . Young , Gray , J . Koberts , G . P . Nightingale , Major Lambert , W . A . Scurrah , W . W . Morgan , W . J .

Murlis , Gillard , W . Dale , E . W . Nightingale , Wilkinson , & c . At two o ' clock the large hall rapidly filled , and considerable attention was paid by the visitors to tbe drawings of the pupils which were placed around the walls for their inspection . Tho programme for the day opened most appropriately with the

National Anthem , sang with loyal vivacity by the choir , who were seated in a gallery at the end of the hall , the chorus being taken up enthusiastically by the audience . Tho mnsical portions of tho proceedings were conducted by Bro . H . J . Dntton , whilst Bro . Turle Leo officiated as accompanyist . A pianoforte solo by Mendelssohn

"Lieder ohne Worte , No . 30 , " was played in good style by W . Conway , after which the choir sang the " Soldiers' Chorus " from Faust , with all the requisite gusto . The prizes presented by the Institution were then distributed , an interval being filled by W . Conway , who sang very nicely "The Mermaid ' s Song , " by

Haydn . Before coming to the special prizes there was another interlude , during which the choir sang Mendelssohn ' s part song , "Behold the woods in verdure drcst ; " W . Conway and J . Hewett played the " War March" from A thalic , as a pianoforto duet ; tho choir following with Vincent ' s part somr , " A Holiday . " Then came

a " wee soDg by a wee boy , " as the Chairman put it , and J . BloomQeld , a diminutive little fellow , came iu for round after round of cheering for the way in which he sang Borger ' s pretty ditt y , " The Elf . " So persistent was tho demand that , in spite of the length of the programme , and the usual prohibition of encores ,

Master Bloomfield was compelled to return , aud in equally sweet tones he gave "Home , Sweet Home . " When , at a later stage of the proceedings , the little fellow went up for his prize for vocal music , Bro . Binckes said the Executive made singing part of tbe edncaticn imparted in the School , and there could be no difference of opinion as

fco Bloomfield being deserving of the prize by his splendid efforts at focal music that day . The prizes presented by the Honse and Audit Committees , by private donors , and by the ' Old Masoniaus , " wero next given , Bro . Binckes observing that the Honse Committee gave a large amount of valuable time in supervising tho affairs of the

Institution , and cheerfully every year gave a number of valuable prizes in the various educational competitions . The same remarks applied to the Audit Committee . Referring to the private donors , he expressed regret that Bro . Edgar Bovvyer P . G . Standard Bearer a Vice-Patron of the Institution , who annually gave a valuable

prize for book-keeping , was prevented from being present with them that day , in consequence of a domestic calamity . For the second time Brother Augustus Harris , Worshipful Master of the Drury Lane Lodge , and lessee of the Drury Lane Theatre , had presented two prizes , for the best English essay and for dramatic ability . Tho

former had been awarded to F . Lewis , but the lattor awaited the result of tho histrionic representations named on the programme . ( This was afterwards announced , tho prize falling to II . F . Reynolds ) . The quartette and chorus " Hail to the Chief , " and the part song , " Merry June , " were then sung by the choir ; aftei . which the eilver

and gold medals , the silver watch and chain for good conduct , and the University Local Examination prizes were distributed , in accordance with tho printed list . Brother Binckes said , coming to the important prizes given by tho Institution , he waa only lepcating the observation ho had made many times before , when ho

pointed out how essential it was iu a large establishment like thi .-: to promote good conduct . Tho silver medal for good conduct was regarded as the b ! uo riband of the School , and ho was pleased to find that it had this year fallen to the lot of Charles Jesso Sanderson . [ The Chairman , after investing the lecipient with the " ! . ' .. ;; : riband , "

cordially shook hands with him , amidst loud ehoerii : g from the boys . ] Tho Canonbury gold medal , piesemed by the late Brother E . Cos , Vico-Putrois , was awarded to tho recipient by the unbiassed votes oi his school fellows . It did not always follow that the n inner of this

prize was superior to his comrades in all points , hut to bo popular in a school of 250 boys must of itself argue the possession of a certain number of good qualities . Richard Frank Reynolds was this year the recipient of tho geld medal , by the unbiassed suffrages of his fellows , and ho congratulated

The Boys' Fete At Wood Green.

that young gentleman upon having iugratiatod himself iuto their favour , although the company would sympathise with him in the condition in which ho appeared to secure his prize , being lame and walking with two erutche 3 and his left foot in a sling , rendered necessary by an abscess . With reference to a special

good conduct prize given by their good friends the members of the Supremo Council 33 ° , to a b > y ou leaving the Institution , originated by Bro . Montague , this was awarded to Arthur Durham Ashdown , who had loft tho School , but had received tho watch and chain . The next series of nine prizes were for the results of the University Local

Examination , Cambridge , in December last . The sum of £ 525 was invested , and the interest , £ ' 23 , of the fund was apportioned in prizes . This feature of the Institution waa founded by Bro . W . Winn P . M . 657 , Vice-Patron , who used to come amongst them frequently ; he was sorry not to bo able to givo Bro . Winn tho welcome he deserved ,

inasmuch as he was prevented from coming to-day on acconnt of illhealth , which compels him to keep perfect retirement . One of the boys , A . J . Kennedy , who had left tho School , had by his abilities obtained a position as an engineer ' s student , and the Committee presented him with a grant of £ 30 towards his outfit , in addition to the

£ o prize to which ho was entitled . Bro . Binckes having read the prize winners , according to tbe published list , the choir sang with heartiness a Jubilee ode , entitled " All honour to the Empress Queen , " by Carter ; and W . Conway played a pianoforto solo , " Frohlichkeit . " Bro . A . F . Godson M . P . thon addressed th . ; boys , observing at the

outset that his remarks should bo very brief , though he wished to speak of th- character of this Institution , and what it had done during the pa ? -t twelve months . First , ho might bo allowed to thank tho friends of tho Institution , on behalf of the House Committee , for their great kindness in comiug there to support and to encourage

tho boys . Thoy folt it most deeply , and were always glad to see those who took an interest iu thorn . He assured the ladies and gentlemen present that for tho * little trouble they took in coming to Wood Green on such occasions they were well rewarded by the thought that they encouraged the boys and helped forward the

Institution . There was a unanimous feeling here in favour of the Institution—a state of things which , he was sorry to say , did not prevail in some places he had visited during the last few weeks . It gave him great phasnre to come down there , and to find himself in the realms of kindness and fraternal feeling . It was the second

timo , ho believed , this splendid hall had been used for the purposaof distributing the prizes , and he thought they would all agree with him the more theysavvof chat , place the more deeply they appi-ec ' ated it . Those who could remember the time when they had to hold all tho meetings of the day in tho drill-shed would know the great

inconvenience—difficulty in fact—experienced ingoing through the whole of tha programme . Now , thanks to the possession of this noble and acoustically successful hall , they wero able to have part of the proceedings there , and another part—which if not quito so intellectual was still more satisfactory to tho human appetite—in the

Gymna .-ium . It was not the lot of every Chairman to be so well snppotted as be had been to-day , and they would congratulate him upon having two " Terriers " ou either side of him—referring to Bro . " . -In mes Torry and Edward Terry—who were two as " jolly dogs " as could be found . Now , it was considered by some as part of the

drily of ; i Chairman to lecture boys . It was the sort of thing he used to "like" when he was a boy ; but he always carefully avoided heating the lecture . He had them all safe and fast , and would say a few words to them , though ho would bo as merciful a 3 he could . Whenever he advised boys to do anything he said let them put their

heart into it . If Ihey were at cricket , let them do their best ; and tho same when struggling in their athletic and other exercises . If they were afc work in their intellectual studies , 1 st them do the best they conld . Bo thorough , and thoy would find it tho great means to success in life , if they put their shoulder

manfully to whatever they attempted . Some boys were very fond of saying , "Oh ! that ' s good enough . " He assured them there waa nothing more dangerous in a boy ' s life than using the expression " it ' s good enough . " Was it the best they could do ? If so , nobody could blame them ; they conld not blame themselves ; and the head-master

could not blame them . But if they did not act up to that principle they would in after life blame themselves very considerably . Another point struck him—what were they going to do with themselves in tho holidays ? Some boys seemed to think holidays were made to do nothing in . Ho did not suppose their head-master , Dr . Morris

wished them to take up their books and work at them nine hoars every day ; but they would save themselves a great deal of work when they came back if , when they had nothing particular to do , and did ; : o 6 {( ml inclined oven ho do that , bhey wero to take up t . ' isir books and ¦ lance through them , just to keep their memories fresh as

to what they had done during tho last half-year . By doing that for , pay a qnaitcr of au hour every day , they would come back and astonish tho Doctor at the wonderful amount they had remembered . Dr . Morris was not the man to bo astonished at small things , but if anything would amaze him it would be that they came back to

School not having forgotten a single thing he had tanght them . Let thorn all come hack aud astonish the Doctor ! The company had seen the work of the boys on the wails of tho hall , and it showed , by their prsgri ^ s in geometrical drawing , thoy were doing justice to the masters who taught them . There was one point which had never

bei ' oM ! arisen on au O - -C . IKH . III ol this sort , and that was tho giving of prizes to bays who had come into the Upper School from tho i- ' repiii'titury School . Although they had given prizes to the boys of the Pieparatory School , yet this was the first timo they had been given to boys coming from there into tho Upper School , He was

5 ano this would bu a grout satisfaction to the head mistress , Mis J Hammond , and bo a proof to her that she had done her work fio well , considering the short timo she had occupied that position . She sent one boy—Churchill—so carefully and well drilled that he went at once into the fifth class of the