Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

pcrity of this Institution . You all see in the report that has been handed to you how this Institution started with a very small beginning ; how in the year 179 8 this Institution began by providing the education and clothing of six boys . Since then it has gradually gone on increasing , till here we find in the report now presented to yoo that the School at present consists of 215 boys . ( Hear , hear ) From that it will be seen that there has been a steady increase in the

number of pupils admitted , and I have not the slightest hesitation in saying that with the increase in the popularity of Freemasonry throughout the country , so will the prosperity increase of this School—at least , I say it ought to do so . At the same time there is one other little fact in thc report before you which I think worthy of notice , and that is that I am happy to see during the past few years there has been a gradual—a gradual but steady decrease in the

cost of the tuition and maintenance of thc School . ( Hear , hear . ) Now , the larger the number that come into the School so the more will thc cost ot each individual boy decrease in proportion . ( Hear , hear . ) As for the prosperity of the Institution I do not think there can be any doubt about that . Itr is not on the wane at present , and I trust it will be many years before we see it decline . ( Hear , bear . ) There is one point I wish to mention , and

that is one continually heard about these Institutions—1 am talking of the three now—as our Masonic Charities . Now , I object to that word . ( Hear , hear . ) I say they ought to be our Masonicduties . We as Freemasons are bound to keep up these great Institutions . They have been started on good lines , they have been well and admirably carried on , and it is our duty as Freemasons to keep them up to the mark . ( Hear , hear . ) It is quite true that within the past

few years—I may say that my own province showed a very laudable example in it—there have been many local institutions started , benevolent and educational . No doubt brethren are more inclined to give their money to local institutions than they are to the central one , hut , at the same time , I think , brethren , we are rich enough for both .

( Applause . ) It is very easy to get up our local fund to a very large amount . I will ask any one to look at the return of West Lancashire , and he will say that we have had a very large amount of money at our disposal . At the same time 1 am happy to say I have onl y to look around me to sec that this Institution is not

otherwise than well supported . ( Hear , hear . ) I say , brethren , we ought all to put our shoulders to the wheel , not only to support modern institutions , but alsoour mother head quarters , namely , this and the two sister Institutions . There is one point , brethren , which I ought to mention . It is one which our Lancashire brethren will tell me I have been a little tedious upon , and that is , we find in the north of England , certainly , that very large sums arc expended in

the year in picnics and entertainments of one kind and another . 1 have no objection to those entertainments , I have no objection to those picnics , halls , or whatever they may be , but I say those entertainments ought not to come out of the lodge funds . ( Hear , hear . ) I say that those entertainments ought to be kept up for this simple reason , that they interest our sisters in our proceedings . They make us see that we are able to do our duty in the way of charitv ,

and we ought to be convivial and entertain our female relations , but I say it ought to be done by private subscriptions , ( hear , hear ) , it ought not to come out of the lodge funds . ( A voice : They don ' t . ) With these few words / am sure you will take it to heart , and in future we shall see a larger subscription to these Institutions . ( Applause . ) Brethren , I had the honour and pleasure of going down to Wood Green last Saturday , and giving away the prizes to the boys

of this institution . Before I had had no opportunity of seeing or hearing their proficiency in the different parts of their education , and 1 could only judge from the lists presented to me , but I can only say that 1 saw before mc as healthy a set of boys as I should ever wish to set eyes upon ; I saw a number of hearty happy faces all looking forward to their holidays , extremely well pleased to come

up and receive their prizes , and to have done their best to amuse the company with their plays and their songs . I gave what prize I could on that occasion . I will not repeat it now except to say that I think the Head Master ol the Institution , and his assistants must have thoroughly dom * their duty . If you turn to one page of the report you will sec the result of the Cambridge Examination . I think it is very highly creditable to Dr . Morris and his stall , that

he has brought up , I think I am right in saying , the eleven candidates , ten passing , and nine in the honour list . Now , the uhole Craft ought to he proud of such a show as that . ( Hear , hear , aud applause . ) There is one other point wish to say a few words to you upon , and that is a scheme that has been promoted , and that has been brought to a head . I mean the Masonic Pupils' Assistance Fund . ( Cheers . ) 1 know , brethren , that there has been great

opposition to this fund . I own that when first shown of it 1 myself was opposed to it , but as time went on , anil I saw how our Bro . Dick Radclyffe was working , and 1 got his assurances lhat the scheme would be carried nut according to certain lines that I then took , and myself laid down to him , 1 gave it my support , and I say here that I think that this Masonic Pupils' Assistance Fund , if carried out as 1

believe it will be upon the lines laid down by the Committee , will be of real use . ( Great cheering . ) _ I hear that tlie object of the fund is simply this , to raise a sum of money ( the larger the better ) which will enable the Committees of the Boys' and the Girls' School to grant a sum of money to any deserving hoy or girl on leaving thc school to help them on in their future career . It was at first thought lhat this was to be a fourth charity . It is not

a fourth charity , and it is now to be nothing of the sort . VVe are to have no Governors of it—no votes—all we want is to have a certain sum of money so as to enable us lo assist boys to get on either in college life ; to give them an advance in order to get them in the army , or whatever their bent mny be ; and girls in the same way . This money we propose tn put entirely in the hands of the two Committees of the Boys' and Girls' Schools , and it will bc

ot llicm to determine who are persevering and who are not . ( Loud applause . ) No doubt all of you are aware at the present moment a bazaar is being held in furtherance of lhe objects of this fund . It has gone already for three days , ana there are yet two days more on tWiich it may be held . 1 can only hope lhat the receipts of the next j .,.,-,, v . ,-. will exceed the product of the days which have been already held . I do not say it has been quite so successful as tve might have desired ; but I do say this—that the money

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

realised up to the present time has completely cleared all expenses entailed , and has left thc original fund subscribed untouched . ( Applause . ) Now , brethren , if we can manage by means of this bazaar and the list of subscriptions to get a sum of £ 30 , 000 , we should then be in a position to do all that is wanted . It is not a large sum that is wanted , £ 3 ° , £ 4 " ° ; or £ - 5 ° year will do all we want . Some people were under the impression that instead of having this

Assistance Fund it would bc better if a certain number of exhibitions or scholarships were founded . 1 am afraid that those brethren who suggested thc idea had very little notion of what it costs to found a scholarship . For a scholarship of £ 30 a year you have to invest £ 1000 . A scholarship of £$ o , as a rule , is held for three years ; therefore you want £ 3000 to provide for that , but that said scholarship is competed for year by year ; therefore you

must treble that sum . I ask you , brethren , considering all our local Charities , and considering our Masonic Charities here , how can we expect the brethren to subscribe such , an enormous sum as would be required for that 1 say the thing would be simply unreasonable to ask ; therefore the present scheme , and I look upon it as an excellent one , and one that will really do good without entailing upon the brethren very much extra charity .

( Hear , hear . ) I have spoken out on this subject , because I feel it has been very much misunderstood , and I wished to give you a clear explanation of what it was . I will not weary you any longer . 1 am happy to find the evening has turned out fine , notwithstanding the wet morning we had , and I therefore hope my brethren and sisters will be able to enjoy tnemsclves very much . In conclusion 1 beg to give you the toast of " Prosperity to the Royal Masonic

Institution for Boys , " and couple with it the name of Bro . Geo . Plucknett , P . G . D ., Vice-President , Treasurer . The toast was drunk with the greatest enthusiasm . Bro . GEO . PLUCKNETT , in responding , said : Ladies and brethren , 1 have to thank you for the honour you have done me in drinking my health as Vice-President and Treasurer of this Institution . My first dutv as Vice-President of this Institution is

to thank the Right Hon . Chairman for the part he has taken this evening in taking the chair and so nobly supporting this honourable Institution . Ladies and brethren , i have also , as Treasurer of this Institution , to thank you for being ] present this evening mid providing funds for carrying on this good and honourable Institution . 1 can assure you that money . subscribed by you for that purpose will be most faithfully and cconon-ically expended . ( Hear ,

hear . ) Col . SllAmvKM . Cl . KliKH in proposing the next toast , said : Ladies antl brethren , 1 am quite sure this evening that the feeling uppermost in all our hearts at the present moment is that of intense delight at the magnificent list which has just been read . You will all join with me in offering our thanks to thc executive of this honourable Institution , and more especially

to our most able and indefatigable Secretary , Bro . Binckes . 1 will now take the opporunity of asking you to recognise the services of those brethren whom I may call the busy bees of our Institution , and to whose able services the prosperity of our Boys' School is so greatly indebted . I , therefore , ask you , brethren , to join with me in tlrinkiingto " Tlu ; Health of the Vice-Patrons ,

Vice-Presidents , Trustees , Members , and Committees , " and to take the opportunitv of thanking them for their continuous anil highly meritorious services for the well-being of the Institution . 1 beg to couple with it the name of Bro . Raynham W . Stewart . " The toast was drunk most enthusiastically . Bro . KAYNMIAM VV . STEWART responded .

The above represents ( he favours- worn by the Stewards . The Ladies' Stewards were distinguished by a silver medal , with red and white ribbon . The Vice-Presidents wore also a silver gilt , with red and white ribbon ; while the House Committee , including the President , Secretaries , and Treasurer were decorated with a silver-gilt medal , sus pentlc-d by a blue-ribbon . The Earl of LATHOM said : Ladies , and brethren , There is one toast I cannot refrain from giving to you this

evening , and thai is " Success 10 the other Masonic Institutions , " the Royal Alasonic Institution for Girls , and thc Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . This Institution has headed the list this year , it has been beaten before , hut J am happy to see thc healthy rivalry going on between the various Institutions . I will not detain you for one single moment , but g ive you the toast of " The other Masonic Institutions , "arid couple with it the name of Bro . Terry . The loast was received with acclamation .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

Bro . TERRY in response , said : My lord , ladies , and brethren , permit me to thank you very heartily , and very sincerely , for the manner in whicli the toast of success to the other Masonic Institutions has been proposed by the President . Permit me also , as a colleague of Bro . Binckes , the Secretary of the Boys' School , to congratulate him upon the success of his efforts this evening , resulting in the enormous sum of £ 14 , 002 . My lord , " it is one of the most gratifying things to know that , whenever your

lordship has officiated as President of either of our Masonic festivals , the festival has been the one of the year . Ladies and brethren , I thank you very heartily and very sincerely for the manner in which you have received the toast , and although I have had the misfortune this year of standing No . 3 on the list

I hope in rSSr that the Benevolent Institution will be No . 1 on the list . ( Applause . ) The toasts of "The Board of Stewards" and "The Ladies " were then given and responded to , and the brethren and ladies afterwards proceeded to the palace grounds lo view the firework display . Seventeen Stewards' lists have yet to come in .

Talk With A Young Mason .

TALK WITH A YOUNG MASON .

BV A . V OLD O . VE . You asked me , What is Freemasonry ? and I will try to answer , as you are a " young Craftsman , " and proposed the question with a view to your future progress and acquisitions in the Order . By the word Freemasonrv—I do not mean the wort or

rituals , as practised m our lodges , for this is a separate undertaking . Not of her language , her arms , her livery , or her ornaments would I ask , but of herself—the active , living , deathless ; principle which constitutes the soul and vitality of Freemasonry . Before we commence the study of it , it will be important to understand , to some extent at least , the nature and magnitude of the labour we are about

to undertake . Before a man starts on a journey to a distant land , he not only endeavours to ascertain , first , the distance he may have to travel to reach his destination , but , in his mind ' s eye , traces out the way by which lie is to go ; what mountains he may have to climb , and what kind of a road leads over them ; whether there are rivers , lakes , or seas to cross ; and if so , whether there arc means hy

which he can pass them in safety , and what those means are . The entire map of his tour is spread out before him , and he knows what he will have to accomplish , what facilities he will have to enable him to reach the end , how long it will probably require , and the amount of labour that will bc necessary to overcome the obstacles which he knows lie in his way .

So , in the attempt to study antl fully understand Freemasonry we should first ascertain what it is ; we should lix its boundaries , define its outlines , understand its forms anil piopositions , and learn its nature . VVe should determine whether it consists of thc real or the ideal , whether it bc theory or practice , or both ; whether it is made up of ceremonies , and rites , antl forms , or whether , within all

these , there be a living principle , something on which the mind may fasten and employ its powers of investigation , anil by that investigation , as gems are taken from the rock and rubbish of the earth , bring forth something of real value , by which the moral and intellectual faculties of man may be cultivated and improved , his heart made belter , ami his life adorned and beautified .

Freemasonrv has a soul as well as a body . It is not a magnificent temple , beautiful in proportions , rich in architectural skill , and lovely in all its mitv .-ard adornments , but entirely desolate and dark within . If it is comely and beautiful without its inner courts and private chambers are immeasureably more so . it its outward splendours bespeak the habitation of a divinity , go with me over its tesselated

ground-floor , through its middle chamber , and into ils " holy of holies , " and there you will see the altar , and the lire , and the divinity itself . " The great mistake- of the day is in supposing that what wc technically call the work of Masonry is Masonry itself . This is a serious error antl should be corrected , for it is lowering the dignity and importance of Masonrv , and degrading as well her character ns her

mission , lhe work and rituals of the Order are only the tlefences cast up around the institution to preserve it from unhallowed hands , and guard it from the approach of the impostor and the unworthy . If the rituals and ceremonials of the lotlge-room constitute the whole of Freemasonry , there isa phenomenon connected with its history , its reception , and its progress among men

which cannot be explained by any known laws of human action . That men of all professions , of all sfations antl conditions in society , lliose of exalted positions , and those of humble pretentions , that men in every land and of every language where Protestant civilisation obtains , should all be pleasetiand gratified with Freemasonry—nay , should esteem it an honour to be associated with the Craft , and be permitted

to meet in onr lodges antl share in our labours , and be considered brothers among us , —and yet that Freemasonry is nothing but rituals anil ceremonies , an empty show , the shadow of a shadow , is certainly one of the most singulai features in human character . And that all these various classes of men should sustain and encourage an institution of mere shadows , and appreciate it the more the belter they

know it , is something that human reason cannot account for , and credulity itself will not believe . Masonry is not of obscure parentage or private growth . It has not been kept concealed in some dark corner of the earth , secluded from the gaze of the critical and curious , nor is it a thing of yesterday . You may go bark to the plain , practical men of other days— -a Franklin , a Warren ,

a Washington , a La Fayette , a Clinton , Marshall , Jackson , tec ., men whose distinguishing characteristics were strong sense and stern virtue , and even then Masonry was in its manhood , and received the homage of the best men in the world . The true friends of the Order have traced the windings of her most secret apartments , and found nothing n _ . I-I . 1 _ . _ 1 t i i _ , i _ ... Willie nei enemies i \ eiy leai

wrong , nave . umen uu « n e ^ barrier to find the " mystery of iniquity , " but have failed in the discovery , because there was no such iniquity in her temples . After enduring all this for many years , she still retains the affection of her friends , and commands the homage even of her enemies . And yet is Masonry only a ceremony , thc mere performance of prescribed rituals ? It cannot bc . —Moore ' s Masonic Messenger .