The Boys' School Festival.

THE BOYS' SCHOOL FESTIVAL .

The third and last of the great Anniversary Festivals of the year was held at the Royal Pavilion , Brighton , on Wednesday , under the genial presidency ot Bro . Lord BROOKE , Prov . G . Master of Essex . The result was far in excess of what even the most sanguine supporters of the Boys ' School had anticipated , and in the case of ordinary Festivals—that is to

say , Festivals in connection with which no special attraction is held out to Stewards or Donors and Subscribers— . has only been surpassed by that of the Festival in 1891 , in respect of the same Institution . The amount announced in the course of the evening—as will be seen from the Report and Returns which appear in another part of our columns—was considerably

in excess of ^ 21 , 000 , the London Stewards , who were over 200 in number , being responsible for about ^ 9300 , while the 320 country Stewards raised some ^ 12 , 000 . We therefore gladly avail ourselves of the opportunity of congratulating in the first place the chief of Essex Freemasonry on a success to which there is no doubt his personal influence and popularity very

largely contributed , as well as the Province which , by the loyal support they gave to his Lordship , furnished unmistakable proof of the respect and esteem they entertain for him . We further congratulate the Institution on a result which will not only suffice for the immediate necessities of the Institution , but will likewise enable the authorities

to strengthen its permanent resources , and thereby enlarge its permanent income . And , lastly , we congratulate the Secretary , Bro . J . M . MCLEOD , and his staff , on the day ' s proceedings . It is they who have done Ihe lion's share of the work , which resulted in this large subscription . For the last twelve months they have been busily engaged in making the

necessary arrangements for the Festival . Bro . MCJ ^ EOD , during that period , has been traversing the country in all directions with a view to enlisting the sympathy and support of the brethren in England , and but for the preliminary work which he carried out so steadily , and with so little show , it is almost beyond all question , that the total announced would have

been less than it actually was by several thousands of pounds . It is very desirable that this should be publicly recognised . The devotion of the brethren generally to all our Institutions is recognised as one of the important factors , of which account must be taken in reference : to these gatherings , and the popularity of chiefs , and the loyalty of their Provinces arc

another . But there is still a third important factor which must not be left out of the consideration , that is to say , the unflagging energies of the Secretary , whose work knows no interruption , and who must keep on pegging away either to remedy a deficiency , if any particular Festival has proved a failure , or strengthen and confirm a triumph

11 , as in the case of Wednesday's proceedings , a more than usually brilliant success has been accomplished . But we need not dwell further on the mailer . The Chairman , his Board of Stewards , and the Executive of the institution have together scored a grand result , and we congratulate 'hem one and all most cordially .

Anniversary Festival Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL OF THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

I he 95 th Anniversary Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for % s was held on Wednesday , at the Pavilion , Brighton , under thc presidency of the Right Hon . Lord Brooke , Prov . Grand Master for Essex . About 600 ladies and brethren sat down to dinner . The President was sl * P | wted by , among others , Bro . Col . Malet de Carteret , Prov . G . M . for Jersey .

Lord BROOKE , in proposing " The Queen , " said the toast was always Reived with the greatest cordiality and enthusiasm amongst Masons r ° ughout the country , and he had no reason to believe that it would meet . '"¦ anything but the most loyal reception at that , one of the most P ° rtant Masonic Festivals . It was unnecessary for him to dilate on the t - ts of our Most Gracious Queen . She had lone been a pattern to all

, llarcr > s of the world , both in her public and in her private capacity , and id earned the respect of all who had come in contact with her , and her ^ had gone out throughout the world . He trusted that she might long spared to reign over them , and when the termination of her reign came it 8 t be said of her that she was one of the most pjorious monarchs who

ha 1 ° n t' 1 c t * lrone ° -- * - " •¦ * ¦ country . One thing , as her loyal subjects , they ct > . rcason t 0 be thankful for , that under her sway they had had peace , Cr > tment , prosperity , and quiet . '" giving the toast of " The M . W . G . M ., H . R . H . the Prince of Wales

Anniversary Festival Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

the Princess of Wales , and the other members of the Royal Family , " Lord BROOKE said it would be odd if the company did not drink the health of those included in that toast with the greatest cordiality , because Masons had had almost from the beginning of the Craft the connection with it of some member of the Royal Family . The present Prince of Wales

never spared himself in his public duties , and among thdse duties those w hich were most pleasant to him were in connection with the Craft . As for the Princess of Wales , from the moment she landed on our shores she was received with welcome and great honour by all those who in the future were to be her subjects . With regard to the other members of the Royal

Family the thoughts of the people naturally turned to the time which was shortly coming when the Duke of York was to take as his wife an English princess . The Province of Sussex was also connected with the Royal Family through his Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught , who was installed as its Provincial Grand Master under the roof of the Pavilion at

Brighton . Lord BROOKE , in giving the toast of " The Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Lathom ; the Deputy Grand Master , the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe ; and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " said that

as long as he could remember I ^ ord Lathom had taken the deepest interest in the Masonic Craft , and especially in the Institution they were met that day to do honour to . The brethren of Grand Lodge whom he saw around him deserved the deepest thanks of thc Craft for their attendance , * those

; THB CHAIRMAN . brethren were ever ready to do their duty to Masonry ; and , as an instance , he might mention the Grand Master of Jersey , Col . Malet de Carteret , who was then present , and vvho the day before was at thc presentation of prizes at the Boys' School . However , it was only what was to be expected of Freemasons .

Bro . Col . MALET DE CARTERET , P . G . M . Jersey , replied in a few words , expressing the great pleasure the Grand Officers always felt in doing anything they could for the good of the Craft . Lord BROOKE next proposed " Success to thc Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . " His lordship said : Brethren and Ladies , —the toast which I

have the honour to submit to you now is one which I think without contradiction I may call the toast of the day . It is " Success to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , " and I shall couple with that toast the well-known name of Bro . Eve . I can only say , brethren , that in coming here to-day I feel most deeply the honour which you have conferred upon me and upon

my province in giving this opportunity to me of testifying my great wish to assist Freemasonry in any way I can . I feel that the honour which you have conferred on me is one through me conferred on my province . Although it is not a very large one , yet still I think I may say to them without beingcontradicted that they arc brethren who have the interests of Freemasonry most

cordially at heart —( applause)—and it is this fact I am sure , and not through any merit of mine , that I have been to-day selected to hold this honourable post before you . Of course we know how easy it is in this country to collect a body of our country women and countrymen together for the purpose of recreation and refreshment j but at the same time there is something more than this on this occasion . This is , so to speak , different from most public