Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

into this room to double the subscription which I had intended to give . ( Renewed cheers . ) The occasion is one worthy of a great exertion . It is not too late for any man to come forward yet more largely than he had intended , to secure the success of this evening , which should be such as every one of us should desire . Well , brethren , I stand before

you to-night , not merely in the capacity of Deputy Grand Master , but also as President of the Board of Stewards . In returning thanks for that toasc I find myself placed in some difficulty , because lam sorry to say that my presidency of that Board has been of a purely ornamental character ; but I am happy that that circumstance , which might have

placed me in some embarrassment , has relieved me of a difficulty in another direction , of thanking His Royal Highness , and the rest of the distinguished company , for the manner in which you have received the toast of " The Board of Stewards . " I can bear my testimony to the excellent arrangements that have been made , and to the great exertions which

that Board have employed , under circumstances of no ordinary difficulty . Sir , we esteem it a great honor to have been associated together on this occasion to receive your Royal Highness in this Masonic Hall ; and wc beg—and I think I may venture , as Grand Master-Elect , to speak in this respect on behalf , not of the Board of Stewards alone , but of

the whole Craft—to tender to your Royal Highness my warmest and most grateful thanks . But , sir , if I felt embarrassed at speaking of the Board of Stewards , the command which your Royal Highness has laid upon me , according to this programme , places me in a greater difficulty still , because it appears to me that the task which I have now to

undertake is to propose—certainly in very good company , but still to propose—my own health . ( Laughter . ) Still , although that is a very awkward and peculiar position , the first duty of every Mason is obedience and loyalty ( hear ) , and I shall not shrink from proposing the toast that has been placed in my hands : "The Provincial Grand Masters and

the Past and Present Grand Officers . And , brethren , as a Provincial Grand Master myself I can speak from personal experience of the vast importance to the Craft to secure a good body of Provincial Grand Masters . The influence they exercise in the Craft , each in his own locality , is justly and necessarilygreat ; and when they discharge those duties , as

those duties are now discharged throughout the length and breadth of the land , they do deserve the gratitude of every true-hearted Freemason . I give you , brethren , "The Health of the Provincial Grand Masters and the Past and Present Grand Officers , ' and I couple with it the name of Lord dc Tabley , Provincial Grand Master for Cheshire . ( Cheers . )

LORD DE TABLEY - . May it please your Royal Highness , Deputy Grand Master , and Brethren , I find myself most unexpectedly called upon to return thanks for the toast you have just received in so friendly a spirit . There are senior Grand Officers present , who would have returned thanks in more eloquent terms than 1 nm able to do ; but as yonr

Grand Master-Elect has said , it is not right to shrink from any duty imposed upon us , and I do not shrink from thanking you , in the name of the Provincial Grand Masters and the Past and Present Grand Officers of England . The task is comparatively a simple one , for the works which we furnish are sufficient proof of our sincerity . I can assure our

Most Worshipful Grand Master-Elect that in his forthcoming career he may rely on the co-operation ofthe Provincial Grand Masters , and on the support and assistance of the Grand Lodge , in the same manner as has distinguished the rule of a quarter of a century during which the Earl of Zetland has presided over the Craft . Let us hope that the Grand Master-Elect may enjoy a similar reign , and may

we date from this day , when wc are honored by the presence of the illustrious prince who has presided over us to-night , a new epoch tn Freemasonry . Bro . BINCKES then presented to His Royal Highness , Francis Trelcaven , from the province of Cornwall ; James Herbert Powell , from the province of Warwickshire - , and Edwin Price . Jones , as scholars of the Institution , to receive prizes at the hands of the Royal Chairman .

Having distributed these prizes , The CHAIRMAN rose and said : Brethren , it is now my pleasing duty to give you the toast of the evening ; the toast which I know will be most heartily received by you , and which will be drunk , I trust , in bumpers . It is " Prosperity to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . " Brethren , 1 find some difficulty in giving this toast , as I

am only the successor on this occasion , presiding at this dinner , of many others who have no doubt given you much better explanation than 1 can of all the merits of this institution ( "No , no ") . At the same time , if you will allow me , I will just mike a few remarks and a very short statement concerning this Institution . As ( think

wc Masons all freely admit , Freemasonry recognises above all others the great importance of education ( hear , hear ) . Tint subject of education which is now going lo be dealt with so largely , and which occupies the public mind so greatly , I think first arose in the heads of Freemasons , and the great schools that were first founded , which have now been followed by so many others , were

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

founded by the Freemasons . As you are aware , brethren , this institution was established in the year 1798 . Then only six boys were admitted , educated , and clothed . At that lime they were placed at schools close to their homes . In the year 1810 , when lhe jubilee , the fiftieth year of the reign of George the Third was celebrated , the numbers were increased to fifty . In 1814 the Duke of Sussex ,

then Grand Master , became a patron of this Institntion , and continued so until his death , in 1840 ; and , as I had the pleasure of mentioning to you in the first toast I gave , the Queen became patroness in 1852 , and has annually contributed to its funds , ( Hear . ) In that same year , 18 52 , the numbers were increased to seventy-two . In 1 S 56 , a school at Wood Green was purchased for ^ 3500 .

In 1859 it was filled with more boys , and in 1863 , the accommodation proving inadequate , the foundation stone of the present building was laid . In 1 S 65 the building was opened and eighty pupils were admitted . In 1866 the number was increased to one hundred , and in 1 S 6 S to one hundred and ten , at which number they at present stand . The total cost of the new building was upwards of

' . £ 47 , 000 * > of this amount £ 5000 is still owing , and there are liabilities making the amount . £ 10 , 200 . Now , brethren , I feel sure that I need not mention to you again what was so kindly put by the Deputy Grand alaster , that on this occasion when we see such a distinguished and numerous assemblage before us , you will not hesitate to open your purses freely and try to pay of that sum which is

weighing on the prosperity of this great institution . Its progress may be best judged of by the receipts . In 1866 , they exceeded £ 6640 ; in 1 S 6 S , they were . £ 11 , 694 ; and in the last year , when the Grand Master-Elect was in the chair , the sum of , £ 12 , 800 was collected . At the present moment 135 boys are accommodated in the building , and there are 59 candidates for the April election ,

with only 9 vacancies . Twenty additional boys could be admitted were the debts paid off . As you are doubtless aware , the scheme of education within its walls embraces English , French , German , Latin , and Drawing . The School is divided into two departments , the classical and mathematical . The pupils undergo the Oxford and Cambridge examinations , and several ofthe boys have received prizes for those examinations . One thousand and

fifty-two boys have received the benefits of this institution since its establishment . I have made you this statement shortly , but you have before you a book which will give you all the details . Before giving you this toast—and I feel sure I shall be supported by all of you in what I am going to sav—I lender my thanks to the Worshipful Bro . Binckes , for the zeal and devotion which he has displayed on all occasions for the benefit of this school . To him we owe our most cordial thanks . With this toast

I have the honour and pleasure of associating the name of the Right Worshipful Bro . Algernon Perkins , upon whom the Most Worshipful Grand Master devolved the duty of laying the foundation-stone ofthe new building , and who has since been a most munificent donor lo the funds of the institution . Let me propose to you " Prosperity to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , " associating with it

the name of the Right Worshipful Bro . Algernon Perkins . Bro . PERKINS responded , but in so low a tone of voice as to be quite inaudible to any but his immediate neighbours . Bro . BINCKES : May it please your Royal Highness , I will only trespass on your time to say a single word , and that shall be in thankful acknowledgment of the honour

your Royal Highness has done me , by thinking my name worthy of being associated with this toast . I can only say , that as my services have been most chcerfuly rendered in lhe past , they are so now-, and I hope will be in the future . The DUKE OF MANCHESTER : Your Royal Highness , Most Worshipful Grand Master-Elect , and Brethren , I have to propose to yon the health of persons who I think arc not

more eminently deserving than many those whose hca / llis have been drunk , but greatly deserving of your praise and commendation . I propose to you "The health of the Vice Presidents , the Trustees , the Committees , and Auditors of lhe Masonic Institution for Boys . " I should think you all know—I do myself—how highly that institution has been appreciated . I know it by the number

of applications I receive from candidates lor its benefits , numbers which I regret to say by the report we have before us , it is impossible anything like a due proportion can be admitted . Ills Royal Highness reminded me in one statement he made of a point in connection with this school , with which I think I may feel some degree of satisfaction . In the year in which I occupied the chair he so adorns ,

the number of pupils was raised to 100 . His Royal Highness has stated that since then it has been raised to 110 and 120 , and there are over , I think , 50 candidates for the next election . That , if it shews how great your exertions ought to be in supporting this institution , also proves how great the exertions of the officers have been in executinjj their duties . ( A voice , " No . " ) I think I hear

some gentleman say " No . " I do not know whether it is the same gentleman I heard say " No " in reference to the subject of education . ( Cheers . ) It is of course impossible in so large a body of Freemasons of England that some will not have differences of opinion , and I appeal to you , brethren , whether you would not do your best for what is well administered . What meets with the approval ofthe

majority considerably , docs some good . You can see in the list of these boys , those who left within the last year or two , where they arc placed and the kind of employment ihey are engaged in . I hope they arc succeeding and distinguishing themselves . At any rate , you may feel certain that your charity is well administered , and to the best of the ability of those who are distributing it . I

will not detain you further , but will propose to you "The heahhoflhc Vice-Presidents , the Trustees , and Committees and Auditors of the Masonic Boys' Institution , " and I shall call on Bro . John Hervey , Grand Secretary , to respond . The toast having been drunk , Bro . HEUVEY , who was most cordially received , said May it please your Royal Highness and Brethren , I was

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

not at all aware that my name would have been selected by my noble brother , the Duke of Manchester , to respond to this toast , but as no Mason ought to hesitate when called upon , I do not hesitate to return you my cordial thanks for the Vice-Presidents , and the rest of the Officers of the Boy ' s Institution for the compliment which has just been paid to them . I will not detain you with

any observations , as to the systems of education pursued at the present day ; I will merely thank you for the toast which has just been proposed to you , and am sure you will receive my thanks as cordially as you would have done if they had been rendered in the best and most eloquent terms which could have been selected . ( Cheers . ) The Marquis of HARTINGTON : Your Royal Highness ,

my lords , and brethren , I have great pleasure m rising to propose the next toast , which is that of "The Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , " and "The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . " We are met together this evening principally for the purpose of celebrating the festivaland I hope that we have done it in no unworthy mannerof the Bovs' School . But that is no reason why we

should neglect to do honour to the other two great institutions lhat are connected with our Craft . Brethren , I am aware that there are in this room many who are far more competent to speak to the merits of those institutions than I am , and at so late a period of the night I shall not venture to detain you longer than is necessary to tell you that I am assured on the best authority that

those institutions are not less worthy of support , not less useful , and , I trust , not less prosperous than the one in the immediate honour of which we are met together tonight . Brethren , before I sit down let me say one word more , let me say that it is with great pleasure and with great satisfaction that I have assisted at the gathering this evening . There can be no doubt that Masonry has in this

country taken a great hold upon the imagination and the sympathies of men ( hear ) . It is not the time lor me to discuss what are the causes of that sympathy which is now so widely felt for it , but I may say , I think , safely , that the noble charities which are connected with Masonry are one of the great causes of that sympathy . And , brethren , I am sure that it must be satisfactory not only to us , but

to the people of England generally , to see an illustrious member of the Royal House associating himself with the Institution which has been , I must say , established so firmly and deeply on the sympathies of this country . Brethren , I call upon you to drink the toast which I have proposed . Bro . E . IT . PATTEN responded , and hoped that on the

occasion of the Girls' School Festival , on the I Ith of May , as many brethren would support his institution as Bro . Binckes had got that night . He was happy to say that the Girls' School not being in debt hail not the same claims on the Craft as the Boys' School . LORD KENLIS -. May it please your Royal Highness , my Lords , and Brethren , it is my proud distinction to have

the pleasure of proposing to you , I believe , the last , but at the same time not the least important , toast of this evening . I have the pleasure of introducing to your notice "The ' Health of the Ladies . " In rising to propose it , I do so with pride and also with diffidence ; with pride , because it must make every Mason ' s breast swell with enthusiasm to have his name coupled with that of the fair sex ;

and in the next place , because on this occasion—an occasion worthy to be remembered in the annals of Freemasonry —we have the proud distinction of seeing as our chairman His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales ; but I do so with diffidence , because I see around me so many Past and Present Grand Officers of England as well as Provincial Grand Officeis , and I feel that among such a numerous

body there must be some who could do more justice to this toast than I can . Although every day that we are associated with the ladies , we feel more admiration for them , still I must say with that admiration the feeling increases of our utter incompetence to do justice to their virtues and their influence . But let us , in drawing attention to their numerous virtues , drink their health with the

greatest enthusiasm ; but before doing so , I beg you to cast your eyes to the gallery , and , when you do so , 1 can only say look and adore , and drink their healths as Freemasons always do , with the greatest cordiality . Bro . BINCKES then announced the subscriptions , which amounted to £ ' 9841 , with twelve London lists and three provincial lists to come in .

During dinner a selection of music was performed by the Coldstream Guards' Band , under the direction of Mr . Fred . Godfrey , and after dinner the songs , under the direction of Bro . W . J . Fielding , were sung by Misses Emily Spiller , Blanche Reeves , and Julia Elton , with Bros . Geo . Perron , Theodore Distin , and F . L . Hutton .

The Grand Hall during the evening was occupied by a concert party , under the direction of Bro . Wilhelm Ganz , consisting of Mdlle . Carola , Madame Patey , Mr . Vernon Rigby , Bro . Frank Elmore , Miss Winward , Madame Thaddens Wells , Miss Berry Greening , and Bro . Chaplin Henry . Erard ' s Grand Pianoforte was used on

the occasion . The dinner , which was served by Bro . Dowsing , the Manager of the Freemasons' Tavern Company , gave general satisfaction , and reflected the greatest credit on the chefde cuisine , Mr . Hooper . Bro . Spencer was toastmaster , and performed his arduous duties with great ability .

Afler dinner , the Prince of Wales , accompanied by the Earl De Grey and Ripon , the Marquis of Hartington , and the other distinguished visitors , adjourned to the Concert which was given in the Grand Hall , and stayed wilh his Masonic brethren till nearly midnight . We must add that the beautiful Service of Plate , the

various exquisite liqueurs and light refreshments in His Royal Highness' retiring-room were provided gratuitously by Bro . George Lambert , of Coventry-street , and that the liqueurs , especially , were nearly matchless , some having been in that worthy Brother ' s possession upwards of thirty years .