Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The ; 8 th anniversary festival of this Institution was held on Wednesday evening at the Alexandra Palace , when nearly 7 °° ladies and brethren sat down to an elegant dinner , which was presided over by the Rig ht Hon . Lord Leigh , Provincial Grand Master of

Warwickshire . The festival was a great success , and the whole of the proceedings passed off most satisfactorily . Among the brethren who sat at the cross table with his Lordship were Bros , the Rev . W . K . Ry land Bedford , V . P . of the Board of Stewards ; the Hon . R . W . Giddy ,

District G . M . South Africa ; Colonel Burdett , Prov . G . M . of Middlesex ; the Hon . W . Warren Vernon , Junior Grand Warden of England ; the Rev . C . J . Martyn , Past Grand Chaplain ; Dr . Tabez Hogg , Past Grand Deacon ; Thomas Cubitt , Past Grand Pursuivant : R . J . Spiers ,

Past Deputy Prov . G M . Oxford ; Rev . Dr . Morris , Head Master , Captain Cope , Past G . S . B . ; John Hervey , Grand Secretary ; Geo . Plucknett , Treasurer ; J . T . Collins , P . G . S . B . ; W . Hall , the Medical Officer of the Institution ; H . Browse , P . G . D . ; R . W .

Stewart , P . G . D . ; James Terry , F . Adlard , Hyde Pullen , Benj . Head , P . G . D . ; W . Roebuck , Capt . Wordsworth , J . G . Chancellor , Charles Coote , S . Rosenthal , H . G . Buss , A . A . Pendlebury , W . Dodd , N . Green , George Newman , John Sutcliffe , A . H . Diaper , R . Barnes , Samuel

May , E . Coste , I . P . M . 1613 , P . M . 9 , & c . ; Bios . W . H . Ferryman , Lodge 3 ; Joseph Clever , Lodge 12 ; Robert Douglas , Lodge 13 W . N . Lash , Lodge 73 ; Edward Hopwood , Lodge 141 : N . Gluckstein , Chapter 141 ; Robert Seeker , Lodge 435 ; J . G . Stevens , Lodge Q 33 ; Alfred Durrant , Lodge 118 c , ; W . A . Tinney ,

Lodge 13 : 9 ; W . J . Murlis , Lodge 1489 ; Charles Hogard , Prov . of Essex ; D . M . Dewar , Prov . of Middlesex ; W . Hammond , Prov . oi Middlesex ; H . Phtthian , Prov . of Middle sex ; W . Sharp , Prov . of Snirey ; J . M . Kidd , Prov . of Sussex ; Frederick Soars , William Manton , and Capt . Salt , Province of Warwickshire ; H . Massey ('' Freemason " ) . Dinner was served at a few minutes after five

o clock . The arrangements were well made , and although there were so many brethren and ladies present there was no confusion or any difficulty in finding places . Neither was there any overcrowding , the large ( lining hall affording ample accommodation for every one . When the repast had been disposed of , " Benedictus " was sung , and the toasts were then proposed .

the Chairman in proposing *' The Queen , said—Ladies and brethren , I am sure that it does not need any words from me to call from you a hearty response to the first toast which I am about to propose to you ; it is the " Health of our beloved Queen , " and when I remind you

that she has reigned over us for thirty-nine years , and that this day happens to be the anniversary of her coronation day I know that you will the more heartily respond to the toast . It is not however only as Queen of England that I atk you to drink her health in a bumper , but

as patroness of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . J am delighted to see so many ladies gathered here to-day , and I am sure of this that they will heartily join with me in drinking the health of the best Sovereign that ever reigned ever this kingdom . I give you "The Queen " with the

greatest pleasuie , "The Health of our Queen , Victoria , and long may she live over a happy and contented people . " Thc Chairman , in proposing " The Grand Master , " said—Ladies and brethren , the next toast I have to propose is that of the " Prince of Wales , Grand Master of England . " I am quite

sure that all my brethren will agree with me in hoping that our illustrious brother may long continue to be our Grand Master . We must all rejoice at his return home to this country in safet y after his most successful visit to our great Indian Empire , where he appears to have gained by his courtesy and his kindness the respect and attachment of all with whom he has come in

contact , and I fi el quite satisfied that our illustrious brother will by his visit have done a great deal to secure the happy relations that now exist between our Indian princes and chiefs and the

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

natives of India . I give you with great pleasure "The Health of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M . of Freemasons of England . The Chairman , in proposing the next toast , said—I believe that it is universally allowed that

Freemasonry has made some most prodi gicus strides within the last few years , and during the last five and twenty years especially . It seems extraordinary to me to see so large an assembly as this , composed , too , not only of brethren , but of that sex whom we are happy to call " sisters /' I think vou will allow that the success of

Freemasonry must be mainly due to the excellent chiefs who govern our Craft . It is not only in the numbers , but in our great Masonic charities that we are so prosperous . Never in the history cf Freemasonry has Freemasonry stood higher than it does at this moment . I think , therefore , that our best thanks are due to our chiefs , and that we cannot do less than honour the toast I

am about to propose to you . I give you " The Earl of Carnarvon , the Pro Grand Master of England , Lord Skelmersdale , the Deputy Grand Master , the Prov Grand Masters , and the Present and Fast Grand Officers . " I have the pleasure of having on my right one of the Prov . Grand

Masters , a brother who is esteemed and respected wherever he is known , and I may say that he is "known throughout this country . I allude to the Rt . Worshipful Prov . Grand Master of Middlesex , my excellent brother Col . Burdett . We only hope that the great province he presides

over may long continue to have such a Prov . Grand Master . I need not , in addressing an assembly that knows quite as much a < =, if not more than , I do of the merits of Col . Burdett , speak of him , or say any more in his praise . I will , therefore , givs you the toast .

Col . Burdett , in reply , said —I assure you it is with extreme pleasure that I attempt to return thanks for the Earl of Carnarvon , Lord Skelmersdale , and the rest of the Grand Officers , a toast which has been so favourably put before you by your worthy chairman . We have all

known for a considerable time that our officers have been most efficient in every possible way . We have had men of the highest grade in that position . We have had men of the greatest influence rulincr over us ; but I must s . iy they have

ruled over us with credit to the ( Older and themselves . We never had a more ifficient Pro Grand Master or a more efficient Deputy G . M . than we have at the present time , and I believe also that we never had more efficient Grand

Officers generally . We all feel great pride in having such men as Lord Carnarvon and Lord Skelmersdale as Pro Grand Master and Dep . Grand Master , on whose excellences I might dilate were you not so thoroughly acquainted with them ; but I have a great deal more pleasure now

than in returning you my thanks on their behalf . I have to propose to you a toast . In proposing it to you I feel perfectly confident that both by ladies and brethren it will be accepted with the greatest fervour . We have been presided over to-day by a nobleman who has most ably and

efficiently filled the position which he has been called upon to occupy ; and though it is not the first appearance he has made before you ( for I believe he has presided at the festivals of these institutions four or five times before ) , he is ever read to come forward and assist us when we

require his assistance , and whenever he thinks he can do any good to or benefit our institutions in general . We are perfectly aware that the Province of Warwickshire holds its head up in the most wonderful manner , and we shall hear byand-bye what the results of its subscriptions will

be towards this institution . But as long as I have been in the Order , and it is over forty years—I may say I have never seen an institution so supported as this has been , and I have never seen such a meeting as that of to-day ,

participated in as it is by ladies as well as brethren . ' , I will , however , not trespass longer on your time , for I know it is very valuable but I will propose to you at once , " The Health of our noble Chairman , Loru Leigh . "

The Chairman , in responding , said—Ladies and brethren , I can assure you that J feel most deeply sensible of the very kind manner in which you have drunk my health ; and I thank my kind Bro . Col , Burdett for the very kind , indeed

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

far too flattering way , in which he has pron the toast to you . I can assure you , brethre however , that I feel it to be a great honour 3 n n j indeed a great pleasure , to preside this day the 78 th anniversary of one of your noble Jj sonic Institutions . And now , ladies and bre ~ thren—may I not say Sisters and Brethren " for I am quite satisfied of this , that the IatJi '

who have honoured us this day with their pre sence at this anniversary would not have don " so had they not felt a sisterly interest in ourg ( Masonic Charities ?—I have to propose to yon what may be termed the toast of the evening . [ , is not my intention to detain you with a lon „

speech , but I cannot propose such an important toast as that of " Prosperity to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys " without saying one or two words . As I have already observed , this is the 78 thanniversary of the Royal Masonic Jnstitu . tion for Boys . 78 years ago , when this

institution was founded , there were 6 boys ; j ; commenced with 6 boys , who were clothed educated , and placed out in different schools , ' Since then there has been upwards of 1300 boys clothed , educated , and maintained at the expense of the Craft . To-day we have 186 boys , not

placed out as they were a few years ago ij different schools , but all collected together in one noble building within a short distance of this table—in one noble building which is the freehold property of the Freemasons of England . Tim land has been purchased , and a house built bt

the Freemasons of England ; the debt on it has been paid off , and it is now our own property . Well , within the last year—I should observe that , I have no doubt that most of those that I address here to-night , indeed I know a very large number of them , know the building , and can bear witness

to its being an admirable building for the pur . pose —within the last year a detached house Ins been bought for an hospital , where sick boys can be received , and being removed from the bustle and confusion of a large establishment they would derive benefit quicker from medical

treatment there than they would if confined in a sick room in a large school . The boys receive a most admirable education , and the managers of that institution will be able to tell you that most of those , indeed , almost everyone of those boys who have left the institution since

its formation have been known to be going on well and had made their way in the woild in a satisfactory manner . With regard to the results of their education , I can assure you those that have seen the list of examinations—the satisfactory list of their examinations—will bear

witness to what they have done . The results this past year have been most astounding . I am delight ' , d t » see that out of the numrer of prizes and honours that they have gained three boys from the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys have gained first-class honours in the Local

Examinations of Cambridge ; and what 1 am sure will deli ght and please my Warwickshire brethren is , that one of those lads standing at the head of the list is a Warwickshire lad , bearing the well-known Warwickshire name of Beaumont . Great credit—very great credit , 1

may say—is due to the excellent Head Master and his assistants . 1 have had the pleasure of making Dr . Morris ' s acquaintance , and I can bear witness from what I have seen of that gentleman that he is undoubtedly the rig ht mao in the right place . Some of my Masonic

brethren—not many of them , but some of them- have recently spoken to me of the expense of the maintenance of the boys . Wishing particularly to ascertain the real facts of the case , I , in company with a good brother of mine who I wish was here present this evening , but who

unfortunately has been detained at home by unforeseen circumstances—I allude to Bro . Machen , the DProv . G . M . for Warwickshire—went on a visit to the institution some short time ago , where 1 met our kind friend , Bro . Binckes , to whom * h | institution , let me say , owes a great deal fof ' llS admirable exertions , and we went fully into the

accounts of the expanse of the maintenance ° t the boys for the last 10 years ; and I feel satisfied myself that the charges made against thi institution of being extravagant cannot sustained . I will not weary you with ti accounts and statistics for the last ten years , & l I will merely take the last two years , l 8 ? J