Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The seventy-second Anniversary Festival of this Institution was held , on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall and Tavern , and was the most numerously- attended charitable festival known .

The company numbered over 1200 persons , 700 of these being Brethren of the Order . It was acknowledged on all hands to be a great clay for Freemasonry , His ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES having consented to take the chair , thereby giving

the Craft the support ofthe Royal Family ' s sanction . The enthusiasm displayed by the brethren was immense ,-and the reception given to the newly-made brother most gratifying in every respect . His Royal Highnessseemcd quite at home in his position

of chairman , and , to the thinking of the whole company , thoroughly enjoyed himself . The Craft felt infinitely flattered by his condescension in so

readily accepting the post of president , and his affability on this , his first appearance at their charitable dinners , endeared him to the hearts of all his brother Masons .

His Royal Highness was supported by thefollowing Present and Past Grand Officers of Grand Lodge : — Earl De Grey and Ripon , Deputy G . M ., and M . W . G . M .-Elect ; R . J . Bagshaw , P . G . M . Essex ; V . Bradford , P . A . G . D . C ; H . Browse , P . G . D . ; Col .

Burdett , P . G . M . Middlesex ; B . Baker , P . G . D . ; J . Brett , Asst . G . Purst . ; W . XV . Beach , M . P ., P . G . M . Hants and Isle of Wight ; Rev . J . E . Cox , P . G . Chaplain ; Sir Michael Costa , P . G . O . ; George Cox and Major Creaton , P . G . D . ; Lord De Tablcv ,

P . G . M . Cheshire ; Conrad C . Dumas , Asst . G . D . C . ; Wm . Farnfield , P . A . G . S . ; Thos . Fenn , P . A . G . D . C . ; C . H . Gregory , P . G . D . ; G . Grecnall , P . G . W . ; Sir Geo . McPherson Grant , Bart . ; J . Grissell and W . E . Gumbleton , P . G . D . ; J . Hervey , G . Sec . ;

Marquis Hartington , P . G . M . Derby ; Marquis Hamilton ; Colonel Henderson ; Benjamin Head , P . G . D . ; Rev . J . Huyshe , P . G . Chaplain , and P . G . M . Devon ; Earl ot Jersey , P . G . Sec . Oxon . ; Lord Kenlis , P . G . M . Cumberland and

Westmorland ; Duke of Manchester , P . G . M . ; Jas . Mason , P . G . S . B . ; Rev . Chas . J . Martyn , G . Chap . ; W . Ough , G . Purst . ; E . IT . Patten , P . G . S . B . ; Geo . XV . K . Potter , P . G . D . ; Algernon Perkins , P . G . W . ; Hyde Pullen , P . G . S . B . ; Earl Perc y , S . G . W . ; Geo .

Plucknctt , P . G . D . ; R . J . Spiers , P . G . S . B . ; John Savage , P . G . D . ; Augustus Smith . P . G . M . Cornwall ; Rev . Robt . J . Simpson , P . G . Chap . ; Bcntlcy Shaw , P . G . D . ; Samuel Tomkins , G . Treas ; Capt .

Tudor , D . P . G . M . Staffordshire ; J . Udall , P . G . D . ] Sir Albert Woods , ( Garter , ) G . D . C . ; Jos . Witicy , D . P . G . M . Wilts ; Wm . Young , P . G . S . B . ; Colonel Whitwell , M . P ., D . P . G . M . Cumberland and Westmorland .

Want of space prevents us naming many of the distinguished brethren wc noticed around us . When the cloth was drawn , grace " For these and all Thy mercies , " was sung , and the business of the evening was commenced in the following words by

The CHAIRMAN * : Brethren , the first , which is a loyal toast , that I have the honor of proposing to you this evening , requires but little preface from me ; it is "The Health of Her Majesty the Queen . " ( Applause . ) I have particular pleasure in

proposing this toast on this occasion , because in giving it I give you also the health of the Patroness of this Institution . ( Cheers . ) As you arc doubtless aware , the Queen has been our Patroness ever since the year 1852 , and it affords me

great i ncisure to announce to you that besides her annual subscription , she has on this day given ; £ ioo . ( Cheers . ) Brethren , I call upon you to drink " The Health of the Queen . " The toast having been drunk with the greatest

enthusiasm was followed by the singing of the National Anthem . The CHAIRMAN ; Brethren , the next toast that

I have the honor of giving , is one which I give you with mingled feelings of joy and sorrow . I am going to propose to you "The Health of the Grand Master the Earl of Zetland . " ( Hear . ) I

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

propose his health with sorrow , because he is shortly going to resign that post which he has held for so many years ; and I drink his health with joy , because I know how popular he has been during his many years of office , and because I feel sure it is with deep regret that he is forced to relinquish

that post . ( Cheers . ) I give his health not only as Grand Alaster , but also as President of this Institution , to which he has been a subscriber for the space of twenty-six years . ( Hear , hear . ) It is needless for me to make any remarks about him , as all you , brethren , that are assembled here to-day

know what benefits he has conferred upon the Craft ; how much he has done to uphold it in every point of view , and how deeply you will regret that he will be no more in the position of your chief . I call upon you now , brethren , to drink " The Health of the Grand Master of Freemasons , the Earl of Zetland . "

The brethren drank this toast with the usual heartiness , and Bro . Geo . Perron sang in splendid style , " Come into the Garden , Maud . " The EARL DE GREY AND RIPON ( who was received with deafening cheers , and who was for some time prevented on that account from

speaking , at last obtained silence ) said : May it please your Royal Highness , before 1 propose the toast which I am confident will be received with the utmost enthusiasm by every brother in this room , I must request your greatest attention . I rise for the purpose of asking you to drink " The Health

of our Brother His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales ( cheers ) , the Chairman of this Festival , and Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales , and the rest ofthe Royal Family . " Brethren , it has ever been the custom in assemblies of Freemasons , who arc proverbial , I am happy to think , in this country

foi / their loyalty , to drink the health of the Prince of Wales and the rest ofthe Royal Family : but on this occasion I do not invite you to drink that health merely as citizens of this country , as men who arc proud of the illustrious race which has so long presided over our destinies , but I ask von

to drink it with a closer and warmer feeling , if I may say so , to drink the health of His Royal Highness as a Brother Mason . ( Cheers . ) It is not long ago , brethren , since we had the honor of welcoming His Royal Highness in Grand Lodge when he came for the first time among his English

brethren ( cheers ) . We rejoiced then that we should be able to number once more in our ranks a member of the Royal family of England ( hear , hear ) . But , brethren , ! think wc have yet greater cause to rejoice to-night , when we find that His Royal Highness when he became a Mason did not do so from any

mere curiosity , from any desire merely to penetrate those secrets with which the outer world is apt lo taunt us , but that he came among us determined to discharge the duties of a Mason , and to act up to the principles ofthe Craft ( cheers ); and what proof could we have more distinct and convincincr of that

determination on the part of IT is Royal Highness than that he should have thus seized the earliest opportunity to preside at the festival of one of our best charities ? ( cheers ) . Brethren , it was with pride that we welcomed the Prince of Wales among us ( hear , hear ) . Let us to-night show that we " are

deeply grateful for this proof of his interest in all that concerns the real welfare ofthe Craft , and let us give to him on this , as I trust we shall upon many future occasions , a hearty reception . I give you , brethren , "The health ofthe Prince of Wales . " This toast , like its predecessors , was received

with the greatest demonstrations of hearty goodwill . The CHAIRMAN : Brethren , I feel deeply touched by the excessively kind manner in which this toast has been received by you all ; and let me take this opportunity ot thanking you from tlie first for the

kind reception that you have given me this evening . Especially let mc express the pride 1 feel in being heartily received as a Brother Mason . ( Cheers . ) 1 feel deeply grateful for the kind words which have fallen from the lips of the Deputy Grand Master ; and I can assure him , and 1 can assure you , the

the whole company here present , that my wish is to walk in the footsteps of my grand-uncles who were so long connected with the Craft . Brethren , much has been said , by those who do not know what Masonry is , against it . People naturally say that they don ' t approve of secret societies , and we hear

that the Craft has frequently been reproached with being disloyal and irreligious . I am sure that that is not the case , and that you will support mc in that assertion . I feel convinced that her Majesty has no more loyal and religious subjects than the Freemasons of England . I may , perhaps , recall to you , brethren , that now about 70 or 75 years ago , when

it became necessary for the Government to put down secret societies , your then Grand Master , my late grand-uncle the Duke of Sussex , in Parliament stated that he thought Masonry should be exempt from the law that was about to be made suppressing those societies , and that was granted . ( Hear , hear . ) Granted , because at that time , as in this , Freemasonry was devoid of political significance .

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( Cheers . ) ' It' has but-one object , and that a great Christian one , for its basis—charity ; and one endthe relief of distress . ( Cheers . ) Brethren , there are still several toasts to be given and drunk this evening , and I will therefore not prolong my remarks ; but let mc now thank you once more , and deeply

from my heart , for that kind welcome you have given me , and let me assure you that I don ' t think you will find the interests of Freemasonry will not be respected and upheld in my hands . ( Cheers . ) Let me also thank you in the name of the Princess of Wales and the rest of the Royal Family , for the

excessively kind way in which you have received their names . ( Cheers . ) The CHAIRMAN : Brethren it is now my pleasing duty to propose to you a toast , which I feel certain will bc most cordially and unanimously received by vou all . I beg to propose , " The health of the Most

Worshipful the Deputy Grand Master , who is also Provincial Grand Master of Yorkshire , and President of the Board of Stewards of this Festival . " Brethren , it is always a difficult thing to praise a person when he is present , or rather it is not difficult , but it puts one in an awkward position . At

the same time , I feel sure there is nothing I can say in favour of your Deputy Grand Master that will not be accepted by you all . ( Hear , hear . ) He is now your Grand Master-Elect , and will in about a month be installed your Grand Master —( cheers ) —and I hope that if I am in London , I may have

the pleasure of supporting him on that occasion . ( Hear , hear . ) Deep as your regret I am sure is at the loss of the present Grand Master , still that loss will be diminished by knowing who his successor is —( hear , hear , )—and you may be confident that the Craft is safe in his keeping . ( Applause . )

Let me now , brethren , propose to you his health as ' Deputy Grand Master , also as President of the Board of Stewards , " and as representing that body , will you allow me to congratulate him for the success of this exceedingly well arranged and beautiful festival —( cheers)—and to tell you all , brethren , as

you are all doubtless aware , that they defray all the expenses . Let me propose to you " The Health of the Deputy Grand Master , the Earl de Grey and Ripon . " The brethren drank the toast with the utmost cordiality .

EARL DE GREY AND RIPON : Brethren , I beg to return you my hearty thanks for the manner in which you have been pleased to receive the toast which you , Sir , have so graciously proposed in terms so much too flattering . I can assure you , brethren , that I am deeply grateful for this further proof of

your confidence and your friendship , and it will bind me yet closer , if anything of that description were needed , to the Craft to which I have been so long attached . Before , however , brethren , I say anything with reference to the great occasion which has called us together to-night , it is my duty to

express to you , on behalf of my Most Worshipful friend , Lord Zetland , his great regret that it has not been possible for him to be present on this occasion , an occasion so marked as that when His Royal Highness for the first time occupies the chair at a great Masonic Charitable Festival . It was Lord

Zetland's most earnest desire to be able to be present ; but , brethren , he is now in Yorkshire , and at his age , and in such weather as wc have had lately , I am confident that you will think that I and his other friends did rightly when we advised him not to risk a journey to London for this purpose . Brethren ,

the occasion that has called us here to-night is one which must for ever be memorable in the history of our Masonic Charities . ( Hear , hear . ) It is a great fact in that history , that the Prince of Wales should have taken the chair , and should thus have marked his deep interest in the objects which we

have so much at heart , But , brethren , it is not merely on account of our illustrious chairman , that this occasion is one of interest in the history of this charity . As you are well aware , the present moment is a critical one in the financial condition of that charity . It is not my intention to detain you by

entering into any account of the circumstances in which the Boys' School is now placed . When I took the chair last year , a great effort was made by the Craft—and proud , was I indeed , to find myself occupying the presidency of a festival when I believe the greatest exertion that ever was made for a

Masonic Charity took place . ( Cheers . ) But , brethren , the present is an occasion greater still —( hear , hear , )—and I should indeed lament if I thought it would bc possible that the Craft should not now exceed largely the efforts that were made last year . And , I am confident of this , that if anv stimulus

were wanting to the zeal of our brethren in the great cause of this Institution , that stimulus would be found in the eloquent terms in which your President has spoken of the object which has brought us here to-night . ( Hear . ) Brethren , so convinced am I

that it would indeed bc to bc lamented , if by any unfortunate accident this effort of to-night were not to bc the greatest that was ever made—I will not say for any Masonic Charity—but for any charity in this great citv , that 1 have determined since I came