History Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

HISTORY OF THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

( Continued from page 317 . } The change of system should have been made sooner , but prejudiqes , ^ like vested interests , are not easily overcome , and we must be thankful the struggle was not still further prolonged . '

Haying thus described uninterruptedly the events that culminated in the purchase of the land and premises at Wood Green , we must hark back to the year 1846 , when Bro . Cabbell was elected Treasurer , and traversing afresh the years intervening between that event and Christmas , iS $ 6 , select from the official and other records such other circumstances as we think

likely to prove interesting to our readers . We maj' be certain , for instance , and we are'confident our friends will be glad to have testimony of the fact , that the Committee . were careful , as they went ; on extending the benefits of the Charity , to ensure as far as possible that only worthy candidates should be received under . their charge . Thus at the . Quarterly Court in July ,. 1848—the very meeting at which it was agreed to consider for the first

time after Bro . Cabbell's accession to office how best the Institution could be extended—a Committee , consisting of Bros . Cabbell , W . H . White , Rev . J . E . Cox , Thomas Waring , J . C . Fourdrinier , George Barrett , and Henry Faudel , was appointed to consider and report as to any and what alterations it might be expedient to make in the qualification of candidates , and on the ' ist January , 1849 , ori the recommendation of this Committee , it was agreed

" That no petition be received in which it shall appear that the father of a candidate has abandoned Masonry or has ceased to be a subscribing member to any of the Masonic Charities for a period of five years previous to the presentation of such petition . " Two years later a somewhat similar resolution Was adopted on the recommendation of Bro . Alston , the

' five years' limit being retained as to exclusion from candidature , while , exceptions from the rule were made in favour not only of those who subscribed to one of the Masonic Charities , but also of those who had left Freemasonry from causes beyond their own control . It was also ' allowed that the child of a deceased brother who was a subscribing member to a Iodge or lodges within five years of his death should be eligible .

Again , one conspicuous result of the improvements introduced during this period will be found inthegreater care bestowed on the children educationally . Not only were , they put through a higher kind of training , there being several cases in which children were taught French in addition to the-usual subjects of a sound English education , but examinations were held periodically under the direction of the Committee , 'the Rev . Bro . J . E . Cox

rendering valuable service in the capacity of examiner , and instead of the solitary silver medal awarded annually to the best writer , several prizes were instituted for proficiency in the most important of the prescribed subjects as well as for good conduct , the silver medal still retaining its place among the rewards bestowed . Care was taken that the examinations should be conducted as ceremoniously as possible , the Grand Master very graciously .

permitting the use of the Temple in breerriasons Hall for the purpose , and the examiners regularly submitting a report of their proceedings and commenting impartially on the knowledge , or want of knowledge , shown by the boys who were brought under their notice . There is little doubt the institution of these tests of progress and proficiency had an important effect on the minds of the brethren on the Committee , and hastened the adoption of their

resolve to have a School of their own . The country boys were almost necessarily excluded from the competition for prizes , and the-different systems of tuition' adopted in the different schools' made it next to impossible to adopt any other basis than age for classifying the children . There is one other point that is worth noticing under- this head . The prizes were formally distributed to the successful boys , and it is only reasonable to

suppose that this quasi-public ceremonial must have exercised a most salutary effect on the boys generally , by stimulating those who had already achieved distinction to further efforts in order to repeat their successes , and those who had failed in the competition to similar efforts in the same direction , in order to defeat in their turn those who had previously defeated them . In fact , the Institution had set its mind on training its young charges more

afterthe manner of other children of the same status in life , and it was not long before the most satisfactory results . of this determination made themselves apparent . . In the financial management of the Institution , the utmost regard was paid to economy . The Committee of inquiry appointed in July , 1848 , having drawn attention to the excessive amount of the working expenses as compared with the sum devoted to the legitimate purposes of the Charity , and

having recommended that' the house in Bloomsbury-place should be given up , the General Committee lost no time in carrying out the suggestion under the professional guidance of their honorary solicitor , Bro . R . H . Giraud ,. to whom a cordial vote of thanks was passed , and very justly , seeing that the sum total of his bill for these and other services extending over 10 years was on'y £ 4 I At the same time that Bro . . Giraud got rid of the house , he

arranged to rent rooms as offices at 36 , Great Queen-street , for £ 32 per annum . Towards the close of 1856 a further saving was- effected , the offer of the Girls' School Committee to place rooms in the house in Great Queenstreet occupied by them at the service of the Boys' Institution at a yearly rental of £ 20 , the other expenses to be shared equally between the two Charities , being very readily and gratefully accepted . At the same time ,

s ' teps were taken' to encourage brethren and lodges to subscribe , and in July , 1 S 51 , a money qualification was for the first time attached to the status of a Vice-President , a resolution being passed to the effect- " That a Donation of Fifty Guineas by one or more payments within three years shall constitute the Donor a Vice-President of the Institution for Life ; but should . the number of Vice-Presidents be reduced at any time below five , the

Quarterly Court shall have the power , should it see fit , to fill up that number by election . " As a matter of course , these evidences of a desire to administer the funds economically , coupled with the determination to raise the Institution to a position worthy of . the-Craft , had the effect of very materially increasing the support received from the brethren , the accounts for the year 1853-4 , to give this one as an illustration—disclosing an estimated expenditure of only £ 814 , as against receipts amounting to £ 1746 ,

the Festival yielding not far short of £ 1000 , towards the General Fund , while the contributions to the Building Fund were kept separate and form no part of the above sum of £ 1746 . It is lo be regretted that more prominence is not given in the minutes to the Anniversary celebrations in aid of the Insti' tution , but the references to them during this period arc more frequent and the practice of recording votes of thanks to the Chairman and Stewards for their services pretty regularly observed . In short , during the first 10 years of Bro . Cabbell ' s Treasurership , the Institution would seem to have

History Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

advanced both rapidly and surely in public favour , and with a schoolbuilding ol their own in which to Iodge the children , we may be sure the Committee applied themselves with renewed vigour to the further development of the Charity . - ( To be ' continued . )

Consecration Of The Starkie Royal Arch Chapter, No. 935, Salford.

CONSECRATION OF THE STARKIE ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER , No . 935 , SALFORD .

1 his ceremony took place in the Masonic Hall , Adelphi-stieet , Salford , on VVednesday , the 25 th ult . The new chapter is in connection with the - Lodge of Harmony , No . 935 , held in the same building , and in which are also held the Newall and St . John ' s Lodges .. Every accommodation is allorded in the hall for lodge meetings , there being a commodious lod" -c room and cloak room facing it on the first floor , whilst the ground floor possesses a banquet room , similar in size to the lodsre roomkitchen . snilWv .

, & c . It is not many months since that a bazaar was held in the building , in order to defray the cost of furnishing and decorating thc different rooms . TheR . W . P . G . M ., Col . Le Gendre Nicholas Starkie , opened the bazaar , and the proceeds from the sale of the various articles that had been con-. tributed by members of the three lodges attained the respectable sum of £ 400 , and was more than sufficient to obliterate the debt . Itwas , we believe , on the occasion of Col . Starkie ' s visit that permission was given , in the event of a warrant being granted for a . new chapter , to name it after him .

' A petition was sent to Grand Chapter some three -months since , signed by Comp . J . J Meakin , Z . designate ; James Sudren , H . degignate ; W . Dumville , J . designate "; and others , for leave to form a new chapter , which was subsequently granted , and the Starkie Chapter is now fairly launched . There were present : . . Comps . Col . Le Gendre N , Starkie ,. M . E . P . G . Suot . t ' Clement R . N . Rej ™_ rt « .-Rm » i < .

P . G . 2 nd Principal ; James Hill Sillitoe , P . G . 3 rd Principal ,- Abraham Clegg , P . G . P . S . ; James Dawson , P . G . ist Asst . Soj .,- John Chadwick , P . G . S . E . ; Chas . Heywood , £ £ ' £ •_^ o- / oII , , g 7 ? > P , G ' Treas -5 J- Foyster , P . G . Reg .,- John Roberts , P . G . D . of C . ; Richard . Nelson , P . G . Std . Br ;; John Bollard , P . Z . 126 , Z . 116 , P . P . G . Swd . Br . ; Henry Thomas , P . Z . 277 , P . P . G . P . Soj . ; Joseph Clotton , P . G . Org . ; ' Herbert 1 ' inch , Z . 323 , P .. G . D . Cers . Cheshire ; John Greaves , P . Z . 277 ; Chts . 204 rauldenfi

owmn , ; Henry , .,. 204 ; C M . Godby , P . Z . 325 ; Thos . Southern , 325 ; A . B . Whittaker , H . 204 ; Wm . Dumville , 163 ; W . H . Malkin , 325 ; Henry Holder , 325 , P . P . G . T . ; T . H . Jenkins , 152 ; Alfred Lewtas , 13 S 7 ; Henry Miller , 13 S 7 ; J . W . Lean , 325 ; J . Davies , 325 ; and R . R . Lisenden , S . E . 317 ( Freemason ) . A chapter was opened soon after three o ' clock , and shortly afterwards the M . E . P . G ., First , Second , and Third Principals entered , attended by . Present and Past Officers .

After the Principals had been saluted in the usual manner , Comp . Chas . Heywood , P . G . S . N ., in the temporary and unavoidable absence of Comp . John Chadwick , P . G . S . E ., read a letter from Comp . Shadwell H . Clerke , to the effect that although the warrant was not ready to deliver lo the chapter yet everything had been arranged to admit of the chapter being formed in proper order .

Comp . CHAS . HEYWOOD read a copy of . the warrant , and afterwards thc petitioners were arranged in order , Comps . J . J . Mcaken , Chas . Sudren , . Wm . Dumville , J . W . Lean , Thos . Southern , John Davis , W . H-. Malkin , and Henry Holder . Comp . Benj . Taylor , P . Z . 3 25 , P . P . G . T ., one of the petitioners , was unavoidably absent . The M . E . P . G . SUPERINTENDENT then addressed the companions , and

expressed the pleasure he felt at being present amongst them , and consecrating a chapter bearing his own name , which he trusted would last as long as the chapter . Upon the companions signifying their approval of the officers named in the petition , a prayer was offered by the Prov . Grand J ., and the M . E . P . G . Superintendent delivered a short oration upon the beauties and objects of Royal Arch Masonry .

The Three Principals designate presented to the three Prov . Grand Principals in order corn , wine , and oil , . who thereupon dedicated the chapter to plenty , joy , and gladness , and benevolence , and charity . The M . E . Prov . Grand Superintendent subsequently declared the chapter properly constituted , after which the anthem " Behold , how good and joyful" was sung , and the Benediction uttered . The Three Principals designate were presented to the M . E . P . G . Superintendent , who called upon Comp . I . H . Sillitoe , P .

U . J ., to install them into their respective positions , which our gifted companion accordingly did with due rite and ceremony , as follows : Comps . J . J . Meakin , Z . ; Jas . Sudren , H . ; and Wm . Dumville , J . Comp . Sillitoe invested the following companions as officers for the ensuing 12 months : Comps . J . W . Lean , S . E . ; Thos . Southern , P . S . ; and Henry Holder , Janitor . Comp . Sillitoe also delivered the addresses , and concluded thc ceremony with prayer .

• Immediately afterwards , the M . E . Prov . Grand Superintendent retired . Previous to Col . Starkie Ieavinjg the chapter , the newly-installed Z ., Comp . ' J . J . MEAKIN , proposed , and Comp . J . SUDREN , H .,. seconded , a vote of thanks for his kindness in being present to consecrate the chapter ; and also that he be offered the honorary membership of the chapter . The proposition was unanimousl y carried , and Col . STARKIE returned thanks in a few appropriate sentences .

The chapter was shortly afterwards closed . The companions afterwards dined together , and the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed and responded to . ' . . The musical portion of the ceremony was enlrusted to those well-known

executants , Comps . Alfred Lewtas , H . Miller , and Wm . Dumville . Comp . Joseph Clotton , P . G . Org ., officiated at the harmonium . The same companions sang the various songs and glees after dinner , ' and performed their duties ' most satisfactorily . The chapter was furnished by Comp . George Kenning , 47 , Bridge-street , Manchester . .

was proposed as the General Grand Master , in . 1780 , it is not likely that any later revivals of such a pretentious aim would prove olher than a failure . The present regulations observed generally throughout America ,-of a Grand Lodge for each State able to support with becoming dignity such an institution , is oiie much more favourable to true Masonic progress and happiness , —Kenning ' s Cyclopcedia of Freemasonry .

CONGRESS OF WASHINGTON . —In 1822 a Congress of Freemasons in . America ( or . rather American Freemasons ) , was held in the capital of the United States in 1822 , to consider the desirability of forming a "General Grand Lodge , " on a similar basis to the General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons . All attempts have so far failed to effect such a purpose ; and as the project was unsuccessful even when General George Washington