History Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

have abused that liberty . At all events during the latter part of the year i S 65 rt Committee of Inquiry was appointed , and after prosecuting their investigations during a period extending over several months , handed in their Report to the House Committee on the 27 th January , 1866 . This was most carefully and conscientiously dealt with at a Special Meeting held on the 2 nd February , and subsequently , and it is evident from the circumstances which were brought to light from time to time in the evidence 1 hat was furnished that Mr . Russell ' s conduct of the School was not in

harmony with-the views of the authorities and the other resident officials , while , as has been just pointed out , the bonds of discipline became seriously weakened , it being shown that the Head Master on the one hand refused to punish boys reported to him for misconduct , while in some cases he even went the length of countermanding or removing punishment ordered by the subordinate master . However , the difficulties that

presented themselves were boldly grappled with , Mr . Russell kindly facilitating the work of rehabilitation by gracefully tendering his resignation on the understanding that he should be well and even liberally dealt with . About the same time five boys who were found guity of absconding were summarily expelled from the School , so that when Bro . Sidney F . Furrian , the new Head Master , handed in his first report—bearing date the 31 st August ,

1866—he was in a position to speak of some improvement having been made in the behaviour of the boys . " In laying before you my first report of the state of the School , " writes Bro . Furrian , " I amihappy to inform you that since the . expulsion of the five boys , who , by their foolish and wicked conduct , forfeited the privileges of your excellent Institution , the remaining boys have toned down into orderly and regular behaviour , and I have no further

complaint to make on that head . " But the terms in which he speaks of the educational condition of the School are by no means so favourable . There seems lo have been a weakness in the inferior subjects taught , and , as a matter of course , this weakness exercised a most prejudicial eifect on the superior subjects . It will , . however , be better perhaps that we should quote Bro . Furrian's remarks in their entirety , seeing that they traverse pretty well

the whole of the curriculum . " I find , he says , " a lamentable ignorance of the general work of their studies , such as a low state of common arithemetic , which hinders their advancement in the higher branches of mathematics , as algebra , Euclid ' s elements , & c . Boys , even of the fourth class , not to speak of the fifth and sixth classes , are not ready with their multiplication table , so that very common work for some time will occupy the unceasing

attention and industry of the masters . ' lhe studies of the first class comprise French , Latin , Greek , mathematics , history , and geography . I contemplate teaching them German as soon as possible . French and Latin are the best , but not better than I hope in a very short time to be the standard of lhe second class . Greek and mathematics very elementary indeed ; their knowledge of arithmetic does not proceed further than vulgar

fractions ,- whereas your first class ought to be perfect in decimal fractions , interest , square and cube roots , duodecimals , & c , so that they might devote their mathematical time to algebra , Euclid ( with problems ) , as an introduction to the higher mathematics . The studies of the second class are the same as the lirst class , but in their degree even proportionally lower . They have only just begun Greek , algebra , and Euclid . The third and fourth

classes learn French , Latin , arithmetic , history , geography , writing , and dictation . -They have only just begun French . The fifth class does not ICarn French . The sixth class is quite elementary . As a whole the boys behave well and respectfully to their teachers , but are lamentably deficient even in the very common things , ' such as spelling , arithmetic , tables , but I have well grounded hopes for the future , as I believe I am well aided by

- two conscientious teachers well up in their work , and by docility in the boys . " Il will no doubt occur to most of our readers , as it occurred to us irnmedialcly after reading the report containing the above remarks , that the scheme of education which had found favour with Mr . Russell was based on an erroneous principle , inasmuch as it-omitted to lay due . stress on the necessity for establishing a solid elementary basis ; and , moreover , that it

was far too ambitious and by no means calculated to serve the after requirements of the great majority of the pupils . Seeing that this scheme has long since been abandoned , the point is one that need not arrest our attention for long , yet it will not be quite out of- place to observe that a plan of education , which , while it included Greek , Latin , French , and Mathematics , did not insure a sound English training as well , must

have been conspicuously faulty , and Bro . Furrian , with the ' exception of his proposal to add German to th * list of higher subjects , appears to have gone the right way to work to improve matters .. The reports which follow this speak more hopefully , arid when towards the close of November , it . became necessary to consider whether or not Bro . ' Furrian ' s probationary engagement should be resolved into a permanent-one , the committee agreed to his ' permanent appointment from the 1 st of January , 186 7 , on the terms

previously arranged with him . Mr . Geo . E . Morphett , however , . with whom a probationary engagement as Second Master had been made , was not retained on the staff , Mr . Edwards Lees being promoted to his post from that of Third Master , and the services of . another gentleman engaged in the latter capacity . Thus the School , which in the mean time had been increased to its full strength of 100 boys—the resolution agreeing to this bearing dale the 27 th July , 1 S 66—made a further start under the auspices of Mr . Furrian , the conditions , however , being vastly more favourable to success .

But the attention of the Executive was by no means confined to this branch of necessary school training . Just as almsgiving constitutes only ? i very subordinate part of Charity , so what is commonly-known as "booklearning " is fortunately regarded now as only one of the several branches which constitute our system of English education . In August , 1866 , in accordance with a previous resolution , a Drill Instructor was appointed in the

. person of Scrgt .-Major Waterman , Middlesex Engineers , formerly of the 67 th Regiment , and on the same occasion it was resolved "That a G ymnasium be erected , and that Bro . Stephen B . Wilson be requested lo submit an estimate for carrying out the work in accordance with the plan now produced by him . ' . ' Other steps were taken with a view to making trie scheme of education as comprehensive as possible and in all respects calculated to fit

the boys for the pursuits which , on leaving school , they would be most likely to enter on . Competition was still further stimulated by a more elaborate system of rewards , while the prizes were distributed among the successful boys with all possible publicity and honour . The library was furnished with useful and entertaining works by standard

authors , of which the , " Waverley Novels " may be cited as an example , while the merits of the system ' p ' ursued was for the lirst lime tested in open competition . with the systems peculiar to other schools , some of the boys being permitted to enter for the Oxford and Cambridge Middle Class Examinations in 1867 , the experiment being attended with a limited amount of success , but sufficient to justify its repetition in

History Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

subsequent years . One other step may be legitimately mentioned . It was determined that a Chaplain should be appointed , and Our old ' and worthy friend , Bro . the Rev . C . Woodward , reappears upon the scene in this capacity , his duty being to conduct Divine service in the Hall of the Institution on Sundays and . days specially devoted to religious observances . In short , ¦

the School entered on the second decade of its career as such under the most favourable ' circumstances . A sufficient and numerous scholastic and domestic staff was in charge of the establishment , while the House Committee had left no stone unturned in order to do all that could be done in order to promote the comfort of their young charges , as well as to contribute to their future advancement in life .

Under the new arrangements the School undoubtedly made considerable progress . Bro . Furrian worked well and conscientiously , and would seem to have deserved the description given of him towards the close of his career as being , in the opinion of a most qualified judge , " in his own way an enthusiastic and able teacher . " No doubt , too ; he was ably seconded by the subordinate members of his staff . Had it been otherwise , we should have

experienced some difficulty in accounting for the successes achieved by sundry •of the pupils at the Middle Class Examinations already alluded to . But to what cause attributable we do not propose to inquire , there clearly did not prevail among the different sets of authorities engaged in the conduct of the Institution that perfect harmony which is indispensable to the well-being of establishments of this character . It may have been in consequence of a

certain natural antipathy between the governing body , on the onehand , and the educational staff , on the other . There may have been too great a readiness on the part of the former to interfere with the action of the latter ; or the latter may have shown too great a proneness to resent even that interference of the former which is just and reasonable . The respective duties of the educational and domestic staffs may have clashed

with each other to the detriment of the Institution . Or other and more remote causes may have been at work and marred the general effect of what , was done by the authorities . The rules affecting the boys may have been too stringent in some cases and too lax in others . Whether it was any or all of •these causes or others we have not been at the trouble of enumerating ' which operated unfavourably in the direction of that progress which

every one was so anxious should be made we cannot presume to suggest . To use a familiar expression , there was a screw loose somewhere in the ' organisation and working of . the School . When Bro . Furrian had wielded the ferule for some six years , or more the Executive in the exercise of their discretion considered it desirable to institute a fresh inquiry into the educational management of the School , Dr . Barry , of King's College ,

London , being invited to Undertake the responsibility of reporting on the subject . His report bears date the 18 th December , 18 . 72 , and is most valuable coming from one so competent to form an opinion on all the " minutire " of scholastic arrangement . His opinion as regards the building itself and its ' suitability , in respect to the health and comfort of the youthful inmates must have given the utmost satisfaction . His remarks as to the' position of

the Masters may not have been so welcome , but none will question their justice , while in respect of "the system of the School as regards the boys , " his suggestions are . eminently practical . As to the impressions he formed of the teaching he describes it as being " conscientious and sound ,. but deficient in spirit and refinement , and in . the power of stimulating independent work and interest in learning . " Again , he pronounces it as his

opinion that " the teaching " was " careful , thorough , and honest , " yet he does not consider "the standard of the school" could " rise very high under its " then " management . " It would be a * ' fair Middle Class School , " but probably nothing more than that . It must be remembered that the ' opinions , thus offered were those of a Scholar experienced in all the branches of education , and at the time in charge of one of the foremost collegiate

establishments in'the-Metropolis . The Committee appear to have attached Weight to this fact and to have taken the requisite steps to give effect to Dr . Barry ' s recommendations . At all events , it is an evidence that the . position of the School now is far superior to what it was at the time of Dr . Barry's report , and the improvement is due partly no doubt to the increased experience of the Executive , but in great measure likewise to the adoption of the chief among Dr . Barry ' s suggestions .

The Recent Mark Benevolent Fund.

THE RECENT MARK BENEVOLENT FUND .

The Anniversary Festivals of our great central Masonic Institutions so entirely overshadowed " the minor events of a . similar character which are so frequently being celebrated , that there is considerable ' danger lest the brethren should lose sight of or underestimate the great amount of good which is done by the latter . One of these minor celebrations—that of the Mark Benevolent—took place last week at the Crystal Palace , and was

successful beyond precedent . There were close on fifty Stewards . The R . W . Brother who presided , Major Woodhall , P . G . M . M . M ., of N . and ET Yorkshire , proved , as might have been anticipated , most capable representative of this popular Degree , and the result was notified by us last , week in the shape of the handsome total of . £ 832 . Considering the Mark Benevolent Fund dates itsexistance only from a few ' years back , such a subscriptbn list

is most- commendable ; but large as it undoubtedly is , it is desirable we should make it the subject of some few special remarks , or , as we began by hy suggesting , it may be lost sight of when- placed in the category of anniversary celebrations side by . side with those which have yielded their thousands' and yield - thousands yearly almost as a matter of course . It must not be forgotten , however ,

that it is barely 30 years since our . greater Charities considered themselves fortunate indeed when their respective Festivals yielded them such a total as ' was announced in connection with the Mark Benevolent Fund at the Crystal Palace on the 23 rd ult ., and two of them , at all events , had then enjoyed an existence- of upwards of half a century . Thus , if we did not conceive it to be our duly , we . cannot regard it as otherwise than an unspeakable pleasure

to make particular reference to a result which , if immeasurably inferior to those of the Schools and Benevolent Institution , will nevertheless compare most favourably with the totals announced for those . Charities within the memory of brethren of mature age . ' We have said , nothing as- to the character of the Mark Benevolent Fund , its title sufficiently indicates that ; but

it may not be amiss if We add that it not only dispenses substantial help to poor Mark brethren and the widows of Mark brethren , but likewise contributes liberally towards the education of their children . An institution which does such beneficent work as this does not need to justify itself in the eyes of the Fraternity , nor , we venture to affirm , will it ever appeal in vain to the Craft for the wherewith to dispense its benefits .