Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

in the three annual reports , and the details of the names of the boys for whom the grants were ordered by the General Committee appear set forth at length at page 40 0 [ the Report for 1872 , and in continuation of a similar list up to Dec , 1874 , as apparently referred to in the pamphlet of Bros . Tew and Perrott . The lump sums , therefore , which have been charged in the published accounts

of the Institution , amounting to £ 314 5 s ., will be found to agree with the vouchers and minutes as above set forth . The schedules of the names of the boys who have received the grants , which range from page 40 of the Report for 1873 down to the month of Dec . in the Report of 1874 , illustrate and explain the agreement of the vouchers and the sums debited . Having thus arrived at the conclusion

that the sum expended for the years 1872 , 1873 , and 1874 for grants and gratuities , amounting to £ 314 5 s ., is satisfactorily accounted for , the committee next directed their attention to the statement of Bros . Tew and Perrott , that out of this sum of £ 314 5 s . only £ 172 10 s . is accounted for , leaving if 141 15 s ., of which no account is rendered . In this second portion of the investigation they have

entirely failed to discover any ground for such a statement ; there is r . o such sum as £ 172 10 s ., forming the aggregate of grants and gratuities or grants and outfits , accounted Tor in the three years of 1872 , 1873 , and 1874 ; on the contrary , as above stated , it has been found that the full sum of £ 314 gs . has been so accounted for , and that there is clearly no ground for the statement that " no account is

rendered" of the sum of £ 141 15 s ., or of any part thereof . The committee did not find that any necessity existed for calling in the assistance of a professional accountant to enable them to investigate and report upon this matter , nor did they consider that they would be justified in putting the charity to the expense of any professional

accountant under such circumstances . It appears to the committee that this serious imputation upon the accounts of the Secretary has not been caused by any lack of clearness in the published accounts . There is , however , one clause in that paragraph of the pamphlet to which attention has been directed , which suggests that Bros . Tew and Perrott have had a confused impression

regarding the periods in respect of which the various grants were voted , and the dates on which these various grants were applied for and paid . The committee ground this opinion on the very loose and unbusiness-like expression that the sum of £ 314 5 s . is " assigned" to the last three years . In other words , there appears to have been a difficulty in discriminating between , on the one hand , sums

debited within a certain period in the cash account and properly vouched , and , on the other hand , sums based upon events which may have merely occurred in any given period , the items of which , of course , can only be dealt with as " assigned" in the form of a schedule . The Secretary and his clerk have afforded us every information and assistance in reply to our searching

enquiries . ALEX . RIDGWAV . AiFniD H . T . DIAPER . ( Signed ) HERBERT DICKF . TTS . GEORGE MOTION . J . C . DwARBER . Bro . Raynham W . Stewart asked whether the committee

had directed their attention to the mistakes in the spelling of the names . Bros . Tew and Perrott made out their case by the leaving out of the o or the u in a name . Bro . Ridgway said that the committee felt that they had to deal with certain specific figures , and they also felt that it was impossible to go into things in general . If they could detect in these particular figures named any amount

of error , they thought they would then be justified in going on investigating matters of a more general character ; and with that view they therefore dealt with the specific sum of £ 314 5 s . In investigating this sum they found the vouchers clearly vouching for every item of the sum debited . If it did so happen that there had been a dozen boys named a dozen times over , it would have affected in no degree the accuracy

of these accounts ; and he had no doubt whatever—and the committee referred to it in their report—that Bros . Tew and Perrott had probably misled themselves in dealing with what was not an account , instead of with the account itself . The committee tlid not direct their attention to any other matter , any side issue , as it were . Thereferenceto the committee was to see whether those sums were vouched

for . 1 hey did not look , nor did they consider it necessary for them to look , into any mis-spelling of names or repetition of names . It was quite clear if a boy ' s name appeared twice in the reports it must have been a blunder ; at all events , they were not charged twice , and the committee did not find ( that was the point of Bro . Stewart ' s question ) that any boy had been charged for twice over .

Bro . Raynham W . Stewart said then the committee so satisfied their own minds that the sum was right—they did not see two vouchers for the same sum . He had rather regretted that their report did not go further than that , and say that among the vouchers there was no mis-spelling of names . There was the great charge that the names were mis-spelt .

Bro . Ridgway said whether they were clerical errors or printers' errors to which Bros . Tew and Perrott referred , they were not matters which came before the committee . The simple fact that came before them was whether a certain sum of money had been expended by Bro . Binckes ; they required vouchers for those sums ; vouchers were given them ; and they found among them no duplicate charge

for the same voucher . So that having found all these properly vouched they had not followed up a loose statement . Bro . Raynham W . Stewart added that he did not doubt the thing for a moment ; but looking at Bros . Tew and Perrott ' s pamphlet , it was not only a slur upon Bro . Binckes , but upon the auditors of the school , saying " You have been'deceived and gulled ; and you are parties to it . "

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

Bro . Ridgway said he was afraid it was a much mo serious matter . It was very clear—the committee we unquestionably of opinion—that there was no basis f those charges made in this pamp hlet with respect to tho figures . Bro . C . W . Todd said he supposed the committee were also of opinion that they were amoun ts which ought to be

paid . Bro . Ridgway replied yes ; and not only so , but they were ordered to be paid , anil there were the minutes which showed that the order was < riven . Bro . C . W . Todd thought so , and the committee looked into the amounts . He understood Bro . Ridgway to say that everything was examined , and everything was

vouched except a silver medal , £ 1 5 s . Bro . Ridgway said yes ; and the committee had no reason to doubt that that voucher was at the institution , and that it had been producetl to the auditors when they passed the accounts . It was for a silver medal , which was a matter of such notoriety to the House Committee that no one , he presumed , would doubt that that money

was paid for the medal . Bro . Herbert Dickctts said the Special Committee had not sent to Warrington ' s for a receipt . Bro . Ridgway then read some letters which had passed between the committee and Bros . Tew and Perrott with reference to the report of the Special Committee . The first wasjrom Bro . Dicketts , the chairman of the committee ,

and was sent in duplicate , one to Bro . Tew and the other to Bro . Perrott , on the 2 Gth November . The committee , after satisfying themselves as to what the state of the facts was with regard to these specific figures , considered they were in a position to communicate with Bros . Tew and Perrott , to give them an opportunity of explaining the specific charges with which they had more particularly to dealand

, therefore a week ago they instructed their chairman , Bro Dicketts , to write a letter to Bros . Tew and Perrott . This he did , and the letter was in the following words : — "DearSirand Brother , —The Special Committee appointed to investigate certain charges published in a pamphlet reflecting upon the accuracy of the accounts of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys have had under their consideration the

£ 141 15 s . considered b y you to be unaccounted for in the accounts of the institution . If you are desirous of making any distinct specification of the items comprised in that sum supposed to be thus unaccounted for , I shall be happy to receive a communication from you at your earliest convenience . " Bro . Dicketts received the two following letters in reply : —

" Enfield Villa , Ilanwell , Nov . 27 th , - 1875 . "Dear Sir and Brother , —I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of yesterday ' s date , and I note its contents . As I presume a similar letter has been addressed to Bro . Tew , 1 must wait till I hear from him as to the course we shall adopt ; when this is determined on

, we shall at once communicate with , you ; in the meantime I may be allowed to observe ' that in the " Freemason" of last week I offered some remarks on the statement of account in the matter , ( 1 ) ' Gratuities ' and ( 2 ) , 'Grants and Outfits , ' said to be the one submitted to yourself and colleagues . "I am , dear Sir and Brother , very faithfully and

fraternally yours , ( Signed ) "O . G . D PERROTT . " H . Dickelts , Esq . " " The Grange , Carleton , Pontefract , 3 rd Dec , 18 75 . "Dear Sir and Brother , —We jointly beg to acknowledge your communication to us on the subject of our pamphlet in reference to the Masonic Boys' School , only one

portion of [ which appears to have been submitted to the notice of the committee . We therefore see no reason for withdrawing our statements respectingjthe very unsatisfactory manner in which the accounts in the published official reports have been drawn up ; and we shall therefore wait for any explanation that may be forthcoming . "We remain , dear Sir and Brother , yours faithfully and

fraternally , "Tnos . WM . TEW . "O . G . D . PERROTT . " II . Dicketts , Esq ., No . 0 , Freemasons' Hall . ' , The committee produced this correspondence in order to shew that they had given Bros . Tew and Perrott an opportunity of explaining and enabling the committee more specifically to enter into those two sums named ; but as

they hail not chosen to do so the committee had not the slightest hesitation whatever in holding to their report that those sums said not to be accounteil for were accounted for and vouched . ( Hear hear . ) Bro . Geo . J . Palmer moved , " That the report of the Special Committee be received and adopted by the General Committee . "

Bro . J . G . Chancellor seconded the motion . Carried nem . con . Bro . Raynham W . Stewart thought that that report ought to be printed and circulatetljxmong the brethren . It would , of course , remain with Bro . Binckes to take further steps or make a further statement . There never was a more unjustifiable attack on a number of brethren

without the slightest rhyme or reason . A more libellous pamphlet could not have been written . He would , therefore , move , " That the report be printed and circulated . " Bro . J . G . Chancellor seconded it . Bro . Ridgway thought after what had occurred that it was right for him to say that the pamphlet was not only false and libellous , but the object with which it was

circulated could not be recognised by brother Masons as in the slightest degree of an honourable or fraternal character . ( Hear , hear . ) The Chairman saifFthat perhaps the better motion would be " That the report of the Committee of Investigation , together with the letters from Bros . Tew and Perrott , be printed under the direction of the committee , and circulated among the subscribers . "

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

In this form the motion was put and carried unanimously . Bro . Raynham Stewart thought that the brethren owed a very great debt of gratitude to the committee for the great pains they had taken in the enquiry in order to give the brethren a true statement . He was sure they must have had great trouble , and they were deserving of the best

thanks of the General Committee for voluntarily taking the work upon them . He begged to move the thanks of the General Committee to the brethren of the Special Committee . Bro . John Boyd seconded the molion , which was put , and carried unanimously . The Chairman , addressing Bro . Dicketts as Chairman

of the Special Committee , said he cordially concurred in the resolution the brethren had come to ; and perhaps he might be permitted to say it was very satisfactory to them all that the motion should have come from Bro . Stewart , who , though his views were not entirely in accordance with the majority of the other brethren with regard to Bro . Perrott ' s resignation , now came and condemned most emp hatically ,

and he must adtl , most justly , the course taken by Bros . Perrott and Tew . Bro . Dicketts in returning thanks said that he had occupied the post of Chairman of the Special Committee with some reluctance . The brethren ' s thanks were mainly due to Bro . Ridgway whose assistance had been most valuable to the Committee . They had met several times and spent

several hours over the report , because they were fully determined that there should be nothing wanting as far as they were concerned . The report they had presented was the truth , the whole truth , and nothing but the truth . Bro . Benj . Head proposed , and Bro . F . Adlard seconded , a vote of thanks to the Chairman , which was unanimously adopted .

The Chairman acknowledged the compliment , and said he never had had the slightest doubt but that Bro . Binckes would be able to clear himself from the odious imputation cast upon him . He ( the Chairman ) had never been one of those who had flattered Bro . Binckes , but he had often had to speak to him with respect to what he might call his over zeal in behalf of the Institution . He could remember

the time when £ 800 collected at a festival was considered a large sum . Since Bro . Binckes had been Secretary it had gone on increasing until at last festival the amount was £ 12 , 700 , and mainly by the exertions of Bro . Binckes . If such a man were to be driven from his Secretaryship they would be stopping up the source from whieh the Insti _ tution derived its income . The meeting then separated .

Banquet To Bro. Erasmus Wilson, F.R.S.

BANQUET TO BRO . ERASMUS WILSON , F . R . S .

On Monday week , the Grand Steward's of 1874-5 en _ tertained Bro . Erasmus Wilson , their president , at a grand banquet at the Albion Tavern , Aldersgate-street . Bro . George Payne , W . M . 1 ; Treasurer of the late Board of Stewards , took the chair , having Bro . Wilson on his right hand . The other brethren present were Bros . J . E .

Middleton , W . M . 29 , Secretary of the late Board , in Vice President's chair ; W . B . Rogers , J . W . 91 ; H . H . Bothamle )' , W . M . 14 ; Sir | Bruce M . Seton , Bart ., 0 ; C . E . Stoltenhoff , P . M . 21 ; H . Whitfield , W . M . Oo ; James Warner , P . M . 23 ; J . Oastler , 197 ; Alfred H . Diaper , 5 ; Alfred Richards , P . M ! 4 fl ; and Visitors , Bros . C . A . Payne , S . A . Nott , 29 ; E . M . Haigh , P . M . 29 ; H . J . Chapman , Hugh D .

Sandeman , P . G . D . M ., Bengal ; W . V . Brown , Captain Marcus Sharpe , W . Hollingsworth , Lieut .-Col . Creaton , P . G . D . j Dr . Pauls , Stephen Pearce , S . D . 2 ; and H . Massey , ( " Freemason . " ) The dinner was supplied in splendid style by Bro . Jennings , and at its conclusion four toasts only were proposed , "The Queen and the Craft , " "The Prince of

Wales , M . W . G . M ., " and " The Visitors . " In giving the toast of the ^ evening , " Bro . Erasmus Wilson , " the Chairman said that it was with much diffidence he rose to propose it , as it required a brother of greater power of speech than he to do full justice to it . Simply , however , to express his feelings and those of the other Grand Stewards in recognition of his courteous conduct to them whilst president of

their Board , was not so difficult a task , and this he begged to do most heartily and sincerely , p ud as powerfully as he could . Bro . Wilson ' s generous hospitality towards them , and the labour . he undertook to obtain for them some mark of recognition ' from Grand Lodge during the late eventful year in Masonry , had incited the brethren to pass the compliment upon him of entertaining him at

this dinner . The project had met with the approbation of every Grand Steward , although there were some who , from unavoidable circumstances , were absent that evening , some unfortunately through domestic affliction . Still , he knew he expressed the feelings of the whole body of Grand Stewards when he said that they all wished Bro . Wilson might be spared long to practise that profession he so

much adorned . It was also one of their earnest wishes that he might achieve high rank in Grand Lodge , which his Masonic ability and geniality fairly entitled him to . ( Cheers . ) Bro . Wilson , in reply , said he hoped and believed that the brotherhood which had been established under circumstances certainly so peculiar , and scarcely likely to

recurthe installation of a Prince of Wales as G . M . —in our time , would be a lasting one . In taking an active part in the ceremony the Grand Stewards had formed personal friendships which he was sanguine enough to hope might be maintained by their meeting year by year in future till time

should be with them no more . He trusted that at the end of another year the Grand Stewards would become his guests at the Conservative Club , so that they might together perpetuate the auspicious ceremony of the installation of their present Grand Master , and their happy union by that reat event . ( Cheers . )