Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The General Committee of this Institution met last Saturday , at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . Richard Eve , P . G . Treas ., in the chair . There were also present Bros . Geo . Corbie , J . Glass , J . E . Le Feuvre , Albert Escott , Robt . W . Bourne , George Everett , H . Bevir , James Brett , C . H . Watts , David D . Mercer , Stanley J .

Attenborough , George E . Langley , J . S . Cumberland , William Smith , W . Masters , F . Egerton Bennett , H . Massey , James Blyth , George Motion , Joseph D . Langton , W . H . Saunders , G . P . Gillard , Wm . Stiles , W . A . Scurrah , Edward Hobbs , and F . Binckes , Sec . The following reports of the Head Master were read to the brethren .

The first was a report of the 17 th January , and it stated that he has selected the following gentlemen as Assistant Masters and requests the Provisional Committee to ratif y the appointments : Mr . I . J . Shakspeare , Mr . J . H . Freeman , Mr . A . E . Salter , Mr . B . Hartland , Mr . ' S . Elford , and Mr . A . J . Shirley . The report proceeds : " I may add with reference to the above gentlemen that I have very

strong recommendations of them from private friends . I believe them to be men of the highest character and disciplinarians . I strongly recommend them to the Committee . The total salary promised them is £ 430 , which is £ 70 less than the amount allotted by the Committee . Of course one post is still vacant . In the place of the Serjeant who has left I beg to recommend a Serjeant of the Grenadier Guards . He

is one of the army instructors in gymnastics , a total abstainer , and strongly recommended by his colonel and other officers in the regiment . He will be in receipt of a pension ( I believe ) on his retirement from the army . " As to the Mistresses the Head Master reported , "I am in correspondence with several ladies , but have not at present anyone to recommend . But I trust that a

few days will enable me to select three ladies . In this connection may I bring before the Committee the fact that Miss Cotton is the sole survivor of the late Head Master ' s staff . She did not send in her resignation with the rest , and will naturally return in due course . May I respectfully ask if this is the wish of the Committee ? I find that a certain sum has hitherto been voted for

periodicals for the use of the Masters and boys . May I apply for a grant of this year of £ 12 ? It will be necessary to expend a small sum in printing ( a ) school rolls , ( b ) forms for the weekly reports , and ( cj a report book of the work and conduct of the boys to present to the Committee each month . I estimate that the total cost of this will be considerably under £ 2 . Would the Committee be so good as

to direct where I shall get this work done ? A few school books will be wanted also for the •ambridge Local Examinations . Is there an appointed school stationer who supplies these at the proper rate of discount ? ( These books are the special French and Latin authors set for this year . ) The Head Master went on to say that in the School list there were the names of boys " educated out of the

establishment . " He had no information at all concerning them . Was it part of his duty to examine and report on such boys at stated periods ? The report then pointed out the want of certain accommodation in class rooms , that the Head Master had no class room at all , and that six class rooms were required , each holding 36 boys , besides a large reading room . This large reading room was wanted for the use

of the boys after school hours , on wet days , and winter evenings to read in , write letters in , play chess , draughts , and other quiet games in . He laid great stress on the existence of this reading room , because he felt sure that care of the boys in out-of-school hours would save them from all kinds of disorder and evil habits . He had talked over the matter of the class rooms with the Sanitary and Works

Committee , and he thought he might say that they would agree with the statements he had put forward . He trusted that the Provisional Committee would not delay in providing them with sufficient class rooms ; but in a few weeks ' time , when he had been at work in the building , he should probably be better able to help in the discussion of the matter . He might add that with the question of class

rooms was associated the arrangements for cleaning boots . The present room was very unsatisfactory ; it was far away out of doors , and , beyond a small stove , there was no arrangement for drying the boots . He felt that he ought to bring these matters at once before the Committee'Tb r consideration . In conclusion , the Head Master said , " Will you permit me to thank you for the great honour you

have done me in electing me as your Head ' Master , and to assure you that I will not spare myself in any way if only I can carry out your wishes , and make this a school of which every Mason will be proud . " Another report , of the 31 st January , stated that the Head Master had arranged with three ladies to teach and supervise the boys in the Preparatory Department , and respectfully requested the

Committee to confirm the appointments . The ladies were Miss Waller , Miss Shakspeare ( no relation to the Mr . Shakspeare on the staff ) , and Miss Meacock . The Head Master said he had agreed to give £ 50 a year to each of these ladies , though it was more than the sum allotted by the Committee , yet it was the minimum sum for ladies of skill and experience , and he might add that he was

yet a good deal below the total sum allowed for the whole staff , as he was doing with one master less , and should save on the drawing and drill arrangements . He begged to ask for leave to engage a carpenter at a weekly salary of not more than 30 s . He wanted t <> use him to teach the younger boys in the evenings , and in the day time some of the older boys who had not much chance of success in any public

examination in books . He believed ( judging from the amount of repairs and alterations wanting to be done ) that a carpenter would pay his own way in the building . But a large part of his wages could be at once provided for out of the wages of the assistant porter . He did not think that they required two house porters , and in any case he would ask for leave to dismiss one of them in due course . The playing field was quite insufficient for the games of the boys . He would

suggest , therefore , that a part , at all events , of the ground now devoted to kitchen garden in the front field be turfed over and added to the field . He asked for this now as it would soon be too late in the season to turf down . A good deal of turf could be got from the edge of the upper field , and , if they began at once , most of the laying could be done by their own gardeners . Three footballs formed the stock of material for winter games . Might he ask for , £ 10 to be spent gradually , as it was wanted to provide material

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

for outdoor and indoor games . The Head Master then appealed to the Committee or their friends for puzzles , draughts , dominoes , and other games that their children had grown out of to give to the small boys of the Institution . Dealing with the Head Master's house , the report went on to say : " There seems , unfortunately , no chance of the Head Master ' s house being ready for some time . The

repairs have not yet been begun , owing to the work at the infirmary . There seems , then , nothing for it but that I should reside for some time in the main building . I can't say that I like this arrangement , but considering the circumstances of the School , it seems the only thing to do . " The last paragraph of the report states that the medical officer recommended the re-engagement of the trained

nurse who had already served in the infirmary for three months . He ( the medical officer ) thought highly of her . The engagement would be a weekly one , and at the former rate of £ 40 a year . The report of the 21 st February stated that there were 243 names on the list , of these 12 were absent from various causes , leaving 231 actually present at School . Seventeen new boys arrived that day . The whole

number is divided into nine forms , six in the main building , and three in the preparatory . Owing to the late arrival of the new boys , he had not been able to print a school roll in forms , hut he hoped to forward a copy in the course of a few days to each member of the Committee . A time table of work was appended to the report . It was ( the Head Master said ) anything but perfect ; he hoped to make it much more " modern" in its range after Midsummer .

There were 37 boys learning the piano under Mr . Dutton . Edward Tilderly had been appointed carpenter at a salary of 30 s . per week , on a monthly engagement . As the Committee had wished , he had interviewed the Drawing Master , Mr . Silvester , and he did not recommend that he should be retained after Midsummer . There was a silver cornet presented to the Institution . The instrument was missing , and he had twice applied to the late bandmaster , but had received no answer . The Head Master asked the

Committee to instruct him as to the next step in the matter . He begged to acknowledge the gift of tale books from Bro . Langton and a box of games from Bro . A . E . Austen , of South Africa , through Bro . Langton . I am sincerely obliged for these gifts , and have already found them very useful and much appreciated by the boys . Furniture was required for the Assistant Master's sitting room , the late occupants

having damaged or destroyed a great deal , and there was a good deal wanted in the infirmary . They suffered a good deal of inconvenience , and lost a good deal of time , through the arrangements for the return of the boys at the beginning of terms . He asked would it not be better for the circular which arranged the time for return , and which should give a good deal of other information , to be issued from the

Institution . 'I he report then went on as follows : " I should like to bring the case of a boy named Richardson before the Committee . He stammers dreadfully , and cannot take much part in form work . He is so defective in other respects that he has to sleep in the infirmary . He is fortunatel y leaving at Midsummer , but 1 question very much if he ought ever to have been allowed to enter this Institution . Surel y

he is a fit case to be educated outside the Institution . I have had forwarded to me Mr . Cooper ' s valuation of the books and stationery , with a list of both . It is very misleading in this respect—it values the books in the library and store at £ 1298 . I presume he means they cost that sum . 'The actual value of the books is very small indeed , because —I ., a large number are thoroughly antiquated , and (

educationally ) are so much waste paper ; they have not been used for years ; II ., oE many only single copies , or very few copies exist ; III ., there are such numbers of systems in each subject as to make it impossible to use the majority of them ; IV ., in many cases there are a few copies of quite new books , which have apparently never been introduced into the School at all , and we can find no used copies of the

same works ; V ., some are utterly unfit ( and must always have been unfit ) for use in such a School as this . I should recommend the Committee to nominate some of their number to investigate the whole matter—to get rid of the clearly useless books , to try and exchange or sell those in good condition which we shall not use . It is clear that we must use up as far as possible the books we have got , even

if our teaching suffers a littlefrom it ; weed out the multitude of systems , so as to avoid adding to bad stock , and gradually to work towards a single system in each subject running throughout the School . But clearly the first step is to get rid of the undoubtedly worthless stock which fills our shelves , in some places eight deep , and gathers dirt of all kinds . Of course there are hundreds and hundreds of good

books—French , German , Latin , and English authors , & c . —which should be carefully preserved , as no doubt they will one day be used again . I beg to ask for payment of a bill to Shoolbred's , as stated in the accompanying account book . I hope the Committee will forgive the irregularity of my ordering the articles without leave . But I am sure the Committee will understand that the case was urgent ,

and that owing to the freshness of my arrival here , I could not foresee the want . The bills are for brooms for the boys to sweep the playgrounds with , nail and clothes brushes , and waste-paper baskets for the class rooms . There is a bill for sundry articles used by the engineer . I trust that the additional class rooms will be put in hand as soon as possible , as the School is suffering a good deal from the

want of them . The bath room and the lavatories up and down stairs are , I believe , under present consideration . The tailor has delivered the new suits , but a large number have been returned for alterations , a not surprising result , seeing that the measurements were taken six months ago . The new boys will require a suit of clothes each . Would it be possible for them to have these under the new contract , so

as to start the change in style of clothes , and avoid getting any more of the present suits ? I have said nothing about the condition of the boys or the general arrangements of the Institution . There are many matters which I am considering , for there arc many bad practices and arrangements . 1 am sure the Committee would prefer me to wait quietly , and improve these slowly , after 1 have thoroughly

investigated the whole system . I make these remarks only to show that I am quite aware of grievous faults , such as , amongst boys , waste at meals and of clothes , and , amongst the staff , waste of gas , waste of water , and waste of labour , and to say that it will take a considerable time to

effect much change in these things . In the same way , to excite a better tone amongst the boys , to reduce the listlessness in play and work , the fear ( which has led to a general untruthfulness ) , the slovenliness of manners and dress—all this will take a long time and hard work . I do not expect any great results for a couple of years ., but I hope we shall

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

show you some improvement every month . My staff of Masters and Mistresses have worked splendidly so far , and they all seem excellent teachers and disciplinarians . A short discussion ensued on the reading of these reports . Bro . J . S . CUMBERLAND raised a question on the subject of the Head Master ordering articles without the

authority of the Committee , and then as to two new boys not being up to the required standard . The CHAIRMAN explained that the articles ordered by the Head Master were absolutel y necessary ; among them were brushes . When the Head Master got there there were no brushes to brush the boots with . Bro . CCMBERLA . VO said it was the system he objected to .

Bro . BINCKES said with regard to the two boys who were not up to the required standard , one was from the Isle of Man , and one was from West Yorkshire . The information of what standard they were to be up to was sent to their friends , and the answer was returned , for the boys were not able to comply with the

requirements . Bro . CUMBERLAND again intervened , and said that he objected to the present system of placing children on the lists . Answers had to be given before a child was placed on the list that the boys were qualified , and they were not qualified if they were not up to the standard which these boys were not up to even after they had been

elected . Bro . C . H . WEBB suggested that other boys should be taken in in place of these two boys . Bro . BINCKES said in the case of the boy from the Isle of Man , the lodge was going to send him up for the 2 ist March ; they resented the interference of the mother .

One boy was placed on the list for October , and £ 5 was granted as an outfit to a boy who has left the Institution . Bro . MASTERS wanted to know what was going to be done about the missing silver cornet ? That was not the first thing that was missing . He thought some

action ought to be taken . Bro . BINCKES said the cornet cost £ 20 . It had been in the bandmaster ' s charge along with the other instruments . He had written a sharp letter to the bandmaster that day , telling him that if the cornet was not

forthcoming , he must put up with some action being taken . Bro . SCURRAH said he had presented a cornet which cost £ 3 , and that was missing too . A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The following lists , or additions to what have been already announced , have been received since our last issue : —

LONDON . UNATTACHED . £ s . d . Bro . William Archer ... 10 10 o „ James Stephens 10 10 o Lodge 1 Bro . Col . Fred Gadsden .. additional 550

( raising his list to 472 9 s . ) 14 „ Gordon Smith ... 21 o o go „ F . VV . Prior additional 1 o o ( raising his list to & 126 iSs . ) 1 3 „ J . H . Price additional 1 1 o

( raising his list to £ 44 is . ) 136 a ) „ J . W . H . Lugg additional o 10 o ( raising his list to £ 63 10 s . ) 1716 „ Robt . H . Harland 45 3 o 1719 „ H . J . Davis additional 100 ( raising his list to , £ 32 10 s . )

PROVINCES . KENT . 1414 „ Alfred Lawrie additional 1 1 o ( raising his list to £ 20 6 s . )

SURREY . I 6 IG „ J . H . Strong ... ... additional 1 1 o ( raising his list to £ 25 13 s . ) 1 S 72 „ John Hodgkin 10 10 o SUSSEX . 1416 ]„ H . E . Price additional o 1 0 2201 ) ( raising his list to £ 42 . )

TOTAL ... £ ioS 12 o « .

Extensive Theft Of Masonic Jewels.

EXTENSIVE THEFT OF MASONIC JEWELS .

Edward Jones , 3 6 , tailor , residing in Royal Oak Entry , Foregate-street , Chester , pleaded " Not guilty " to a charge of stealing one coat , umbrella , and handbag , containing a quantity of Masonic jewels and clothing , valued at £ 50 , the property of Charles Kenny Benson , grocer , Wrexham , on the 27 th ult . 'There was a further charge of stealing on the same day an overcoat , hat , and handbag , the latter containing Masonic clothing and other articles belonging to

Bro . 'Thomas Beech Barton , colliery agent , Wrexham . Mr . D . A . V . Colt Williams prosecuted , and prisoner was undefended . 'Ihe RECORDER , who characterised the offence as a most impudent robbery , backed up by three or four days of falsehood and deceit , said he would not be doing his duty if he did not pass a sentence of six calendar months , with hard labour .