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THEFREEMASON,Gbe © raan of tbe Craft , a Meekly IRecoro of iproaress in

FREEMASONRY,LITERATURE,SCIENCEANDART.REPORTS OF THB GRAND LODGES ARB PUBLISHBD WITH THK SPECIAL SANCTION OF HIS ROVAL HIGHNESS THK PRINCB OF WALES , THB M . W . GRAND MASTER OF ENGLAND ; HIS GRACE THK DUKK OF ABERCORN , M . W . GRAND MASTER OF IRELAND RIGHT HON . THE EARL OF HADDINGTON , M . W . GRAND MASTER OF SCOTLAND ; AND THE GRAND MASTKRS OF MANY FOREIGN GRAND LODGES .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

94 TH ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL . The 94 th Anniversary Festival of this Institution was held on Wednesday nt Freemasons' Tavern , Bro . Sir Michael E . Hicks-Beach , Prov . G . M . for

Gloucestershire , in the chair . Ladies sat down to dinner with the brethren . At the conclusion of the dinner the usual toasts followed grace , which was sung- by the professional artistes .

The CHAIRMAN , in giving the toast of " The Queen , the Grand Patroness of the Institution , " said Masons drank that toast with reverence because in her Majesty they recognised one of the noblest of women , who through a long life in spite of domestic trouble had done her duty in a way which was an example to every one of her subjects ; tbey drank it with loyalty

because they recognised in her the head , not merely of this United Kingdom but of our own great British Empire , the representative of that crown which bound them altogether in bonds of friendly unity and concord , and without which he firmly believed the British Empire would be in danger of coming to an end .

In giving " The M . W . G . M ., H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , and the rest of the Royal Family , " the CHAIRMAN said for many years past they had recognised in his Royal Highness not merely the popular heir to thc Throne , but the genial and able President of the Masonic Craft . They knew that in anything that was of interest to them they hadhiscordialsympathyand his best

wishes for their welfare ; but more recently they had been able unhappily to show their sympathy with him . A blow from Providence had fallen upon the Royal Family and upon the country . The whole country was grieved with them , but from no source had that grief come more sincerely , or , as he believed , had it been more thoroughly appreciated than from Masons . They

felt an additional bond between them and their Royal Grand Master in this sympathy of grief . They hoped that time would bring some alleviation to his sorrow , and now that he had been able again to appear in public at Warwick at the Royal Agricultural Society's Show he would shortly resume that active part in public life which he so well performed . Of her Royal

Highness the Princess of Wales he need say nothing . Her popularity with everybody in England was unbounded , and of the other members of the Royal Family he would only say that among them they saw the future heir to the Throne , who they believed , whenever the time came , would maintain to the full the dignity and honour of that Throne . Of all the members of the Royal House the whole nation was proud .

Bro . Capt . J . D . MURRAY , G . Treas ., responded to the toast of "The Pro Grand Master , the Deputy Grand Master , and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " and said he felt more than honoured in having lo do so , because he was indebted to the suffrages of his brethren

throughout the length and breadth of the land for placing him in the position he now occupied in the Craft . OI the Earl of Lathom , who was his Provincial Grand Master , he could say there was no man more respected in West Lancashire . Wherever he chose to lead , the West Lancashire brethren

were sure to follow . Thc CHAIRMAN next gave the toast of the evening , " Success to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . " He had heard it whispered since he came into the room that they had chosen a somewhat inconvenient moment for the Festival this year . He gathered from the ordinary sources of

information that something was going on in thc country which had no reference whatever to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , but which , unfortunately ¦ night have been responsible for the non-attendance of some brethren who would otherwise have been present . If that were so he was not sure "wt thc Festival was really at an inconvenient time . He knew it was one

° ' the first duties of a Mason to pour the healing balm of consolation into Ine bosom of the afflicted , and he could not help thinking that in a few days they mi ght be engaged in lhat excellent work in the case of not a few un-0 l * Uinate persons who had failed to secure successes . He knew it was their niity to drop the tear of sympathy over the failings of a brotherand on

, lese occasions when their differences were apt to be marked , and perhaps * 0 | nc \ vhat strongly accentuated , it might be very agreeable to pour thc tear sympath y over the failings of those who were with them . But seriously Peking , this was not a bad time for a Masonic Festival . It ought to teach

en " i that whatever their differences in politics and religion , Masonry I r ° gl't them together . He did not doubt that there were many in that who had been taking during the last few days an active part on absolutely crent sides , who had come up that day to take part in that joint Festival , and 1 d go down again to-morrow to recommence their rivalry , and so one day of

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

rest , one day of brotherly sympathy , would do none of them any harm . It would teach them that there was something good in those who differed from them ; it would teach them to look on the differences in a kindly and not in a hostile spirit—that beyond politics , beyond religious differences , they had a Masonic fraternal tie . He had to commend to them on this occasion the toast of almost the oldest of the Masonic Charities . The Boys' School

was founded nearly a hundred years ago by a few brethren for half a dozen boys , At the time of the Jubilee of King George the Third fifty boys received the benefits of the Institution , and for years past , before 1852 , the sons of indigent and deceased Freemasons were not onl y clothed and educated , but maintained in the Institution , which was an honour to the Craft . Those were days when new doctrines were beginning which objected to free

education , to the clothing of children , and , much more , to their maintenance . In spite of them Freemasons did what they believed to be a charitable work , and they had lived long enough to sec public opinion coming round to their views . They had lived long enough to see free education hailed by everybody as a boon which both parties had conferred upon the country ; they had lived long enough to see free meals

for children , and he had no doubt that as time went on the example of Freemasons would be followed by the most advanced spirits among our modern politicians . The brethren must be interested in this Institution , to his mind , from one point of view , even more than in thekindred Institutions . The Old People appealed to their best sympathies ; they all thought , though they would not confess it , that they might be growing old themselves •the

girls appealed to the brethren ' s chivalry , and to their admiration for the fair sex ; but in the boys they saw those who some day might be engaged not merely in the most active work of life , but who might be Masons among them . The brethren knew as well as he could tell them that during the last few years the Boys' School had passed through an anxious crisis . He thought

they were deeply indebted , more deeply than words could say , to those able brethren on the Board of Management who had voluntarily devoted so much of their time and trouble tore-organising this great Institution so that it might be a credit to Masonry . It was his lot on Tuesday to visit thc Institution , and he was impressed with thc excellence of the Head

Master , with the great interest which he evidently felt in his work ; he was impressed with the ability of the Matron ; but above all he was impressed with the cheerful and healthy appearance of thc boys . They had done well—the seniors among them in outside examinations from those Cambridge Universities at Kensington ; but more than this , they had a splendid record in their games ; they had defeated , he believed , every school they had competed with

at cricket and football . Although these things took time the foundation at any rate had been laid on a pure and good moral tone such as all would wish to see ; That was a good reason for the brethren's support of the Institution . But let him say something further . Thc Institution needed their support because , as they knew , it had no means of its own , and merely , to keep it going £ 11 , 500 was required in the year . Then £ 1000 a year was all that

was derived from invested funds , and the Lralt had to lind £ 10 , 500 in order that the Institution might not collapse . There was a great collection on its behalf last year . The brethren responded to the noble work of the Board of Management . They responded marvellously in order to put the Institution on a sound footing . They would respond this year he had no doubt when they realised that an Institution of this kind wanted something more than its

maintenance . He would mention one thing . In going round the Institution he asked to see the baths ; it was a hot day , and it was a natural request . He was shown very small baths indeed , but good use was being made of them ; but the boys in a school numbering 263 in all ought to have a swimming bath . He asked thc brethren if they could not add something more to thendonations in order that this might be provided . Then there was another thing .

' 1 he boysat this School entered at seven and remained till 15 . He was very much struck with the juvenile appearance of the senior boys , and he was told when he enquired into the matter that if there was one thing more than another that the masters desired , it was that the Board of Management should be able to give them some opportunity , not of keeping all boys to a greater age , but of keeping the most promising boys to a greater

age than at present . He could not tell the brethren what chance that might give the son of one , perhaps , of an old friend , of starting himselt in life in a position twice as high as that to which he could reasonably hope to attain if he had to go into life at the age of 15 . And , lastly , there was a greater question still , the Institution was at Wood Green . He was expecting to find it in the country , but he found no Wood , and very little Green . They had a small property there in point of area , not nearly

so large as was necessary for the healthy development of an important school j it was built round with dwellings , which no doubt might be excellent , but which were not architectural , and the Institution was absolutely precluded from extending its area . Then there naturally came the question , Might it not be well to remove ? Well , there were many , all , be thought , in these days , who were connected with schools , who cast a longing glance at the Surrey hills . This was a most difficult and important question , but he was