Royal Arch.

¦ IV customary loyal and Royal Arch toasts having" been I i ! honoured , the I . P . Z . gave "The Health of the I V ' W ' the colll'se of his speech he said that Comp . - ro-e Gardner during his comparatively short connection th freemasonry had made great strides in the art . He "' t | ie founder of two flourishing lodges , and no doubt ere ) Y would make his mark in Royal Arch Masonry . In

coni lin < r his remarks , the speaker said that it must not be r '" otten that the M . E . Z . was an exaltee of No . 13 S 1 . The M-E . Z . having briefl y replied , gave "The Second t Third Principals , " to which toast Comps . Westley and Silter responded . '' " The Exaltee " followed , and , in reply , Comp . Cohvell

, „ ade an able speech . ' « ' [• he Visitors" gave Comps . Lee and Price an opp ' ornitV of spea ' in o > n terms of laudation of the working of Comp . K- Ayling and others . "The Health of the Past Principals" was coupled with the na ™ ° - Comp . H . J . Lardner , who did the toast full

jn iriving"The Health of the Treasurer and Secretary , " t | lC M . E . Z . spoke in high terms of commendation of the Masonic and social qualities of both Comps . Everett in ' d Pig ' s ' - T ' f ° rmer had brought the chapter to a Innst prosperous condition . Everything worked most

harmoniousl y . Ihe efforts of the Scribe E . were also most praiseworthy . _ Comp . Everett having responded , the toast of " The Visitors" terminated the proceedings , which were agreeably enlivened by the musical efforts of Comps . Arter , Webb , Buxton , and Simmonds .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The General Committee of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys was held last Saturday , in the Board Room , Freemasons' Hall , and was very numerousl y attended . Bro . Richard Eve , P . G . Treasurer , was unanimously called to the chair , and , having taken his

seat , the minutes of the last meeting in August were rcadhy Bro . BINCKES . A BROTHER : Does the meeting thoroughly understand that the resolution containing a recommendation from the General Committee for the grant of a pension

of £ 350 to Bro . Binckes was for the Quarterl y Court ? The CHAIRMAN : Certainly . This is reported by the General Committee , and whatever is done must be considered by a Quarterly Court . The minutes were then confirmed , and Bro . BINCKES

read the minutes of the House Committee for information . In these minutes were contained various facts which had come before the Committee . The matron had written a letter complaining of Dr . Morris , and Dr . Morris had written answering the allegations . Also the

Committee reported what had been done with reference to the choice of a new medical officer . They had had Hie testimonials of 35 applicants before them , and subsequently reduced the number of candidates from 35 to ' 5 , again to 10 , then to 6 , and afterwards to 2 ; after

which they recommended one gentleman , and returned the testimonials of each of the remaining 34 to those gentlemen . Bro . BRITTEN said that as it appeared that the resolution of the Provisional Committee with regard to the

election of the medical officer was irrevocable , he wished to say a few words . He was told that the temporary medical officer since the retirement of Mr . Hall was an entirel y satisfactory officer ; he was resident something more than a mile from the Institution , but if he was a

satisfactory officer he did not think it was right to reject mm because he was a little out of the radius which the Provisional Committee had prescribed . The CHAIRMAN said he had heard from Bro . Scurrah ¦ lid other brethren observations to this effectand he

, [ elt himself that the Provisional Committee had done wrong in returning the applications to the candidates , ' was resolved , as appeared by the minutes , that each i > PPhcant be informed that any brother applying for the Position could appear before the Ouarterlv Court , and

*» d in his applications to the Quarterl y Court . AH « the Provisional Committee had done was to recommend one brother for appointment . It was for the ynarterl y Court to say whether they would like him or ilirJh T ° f the a PP licants - He could not put it iin ' i n tl - - rlie brother wllo was now acting was the h ° " tent t 0 a PP earbefore the Quarterly Court with

is he ™ ' . f TTEN : He is an entirely satisfactory officer , io th p HAIR - MAN : J USt S 0 ' He is P erfectly satisfactory n Committee and every one else . t . ro ; BI « ITTEN : I should like to hear read the refer-H ' Y ° Provisional Committee . I daresay Bro . « -i > r « LS tlle report when the Provisional Committee re -ippointed .

,, sio Y ' p ' CKES then read the reference to the Provi-ProY- 011 ? "V ttee by a special meeting at which the g 'onal Committee were appointed . vis ' ionil r TES ? '• - { t in my mind that the Proont . L' l ~ mittee were expressly appointed to carry miss ]/ ^ Pu ° f the Inc l y of the Philbrick Comof the Ph-ik . ' Y . have in m y hand the report iLK 0 mmlssl 0

1 will , ^ I V l with your permission , Br A ° ° ° extracts from ir - Wino . ' .: C . SPA ;* , asked whether what was now ' I'Lr arose out ° the reading of the minutes . Bro R AIRMAN : Yes - ^ cto . o R , rrEN : " The educational staff is satislf ( - 'H m , teaching good , and the school discipline the Y | ' ntain ed , " " There should be one head , and V Britrf establ -shment should be subject to him . " C ° "HiiitY ' continuin §' said he was not one of the '" these ( f ' andhedid not know the reasons for coming inclusions . He thought they recommended

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

that Dr . Morris be dismissed or to be permitted to retire at Christmas . ( Loud cries of "No , no , " and hear , hear . ) The CHAIRMAN : That notice has been given . Bro . BRITTEN : Obviously the entire scope of this report was that the school under Dr . Morris was satisfactory —( hear , hear , and oh , oh)—and therefore he was

at a loss to see why he should be requested to retire . He was quite able to understand that there might be good reasons why a change was necessary , but no reason was given only , so far as he could gather from the report and the minutes just read , the new matron did not approve of him . Every man of business must agree that in the conduct of such an establishment as

the Masonic Boys' School the head master should be the matron ' s master —( hear , hear , and cheers)—and he thought the notion that Miss Hocker seemed to have that she should come and go as she liked without the control of the head master could not be maintained . He again wanted to know the reason for the recommendation that Dr . Morris should retire .

Bro . J ONES would like to hear read the resolution passed by the Quarterly Court . The CHAIRMAN said there were some recommendations other than those Bro . Britten had read . The resolutions were arrived at before the question of the matron and Dr . Morris had arisen , and it was arrived

at in consequence of the report of the Investigation Committee . That was the reason given ; it was arrived at before that question of the matron , and he might say it was a unanimous resolution of a large Committeethe largest Committee he had ever seen in connection with the working of the Institution . Although he was

not Chairman on the occasion of that meeting which said that Dr . Morris ought to be informed by them , and not get his information from the outside , yet he might say they thought it ri g ht they should enquire . Bro . BRITTEN : Will you tell us the reason . ( Cries of hear , hear , and " No , no . " )

The CHAIRMAN : The Committee of course onl y express themselves by resolution and do not generally enter into all the reasons . ( Cheers , and hear , hear ) . Bro . W . A . SCURRAH said he did not think the Provisional Committee had gone outside their duties in

this respect , because the first thing in the report of the Philbrick Commission was "We , therefore , are of opinion that an entire change in the administration , and a thorough breaking away from the present practice must take place before the management , expenditure , and discipline of the Institution will be satisfactory . "

( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) Therefore , he said , the Committee had not gone beyond its duties . He would like to ask , through the Chairman , why he ( Bro . Scurrah ) was treated with discourtesy when he wrote a letter to the Secretary respecting the medical officer . The Secretary acknowledged the rest of the letter , and

stated that it should be placed before the Provisional Committee . He appealed to the Committee as a member of this General Committee , as a brother who , though he said it , had done some service to the Institution , to support his contention that he should be treated in a courteous manner , and that he ought to have had a

reply to his letter . He felt very much hurt that no reply to his letter was sent . The Chairman had stated that all the medical gentlemen were at liberty to come up to the Quarterly Court : he wished to know whether they had been invited to return their testimonials , which were sent back to them . He understood from several candidates that they had never been requested to send

back their testimonials , and how could they appear before the Quarterly Court as candidates if the Quarterly Court had not their testimonials ? If the Sub-Committee was appointed to select one candidate out of the thirty-five , then he could understand that the Sub-Committee was in perfect order in doing so . But it was not so , and no other Committee was at liberty to say one was to be selected and 34 were to go

away . The CHAIRMAN said that , as to the question of want of courtesy raised by Bro . Scurrah , they did not wish to treat him with discourtesy . When his letter arrived it took them by surprise , and they passed it unanimously . They had sent information to the candidates

that they mig ht come before the Quarterly Court , and that they mig ht produce their testimonials . Every one of these gentlemen mig ht come before the Quarterl y Court . Bro . SCURRAH said a letter should have been sent to him informing him of the fact .

The CHAIRMAN said it ought to have been sent , and , if not , it must have been an oversi g ht . Bro . J . H . SAUNDERS , interrupting , rose to move that the question be referred to the next Quarterl y Court ; but it was received with strong marks of disapprobation .

Bro . SCURRAH wished to know whether this was a proper instruction to these candidates that they could come before the Quarterly Court—an intimation to them that their testimonials were returned ? Was it sufficient information to the Committee that first of all

the 3 S candidates were reduced to 15 , then to 10 , then to six , and then to two ? Was there any intimation in the circular to those medical gentlemen to send them their testimonials , and that they would be considered ? ( Cries of " No , no . " ) It was "We will select a medical officer . "

The CHAIRMAN said he was going to terminate this matter . If the conduct of the Committee had not been such as the General Committee approved they were sorry for it , but he mig ht say they gave the greatest amount of information they could ; that the Court was open for them to send their applications to , and

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

that it was perfectly open for them to come to the Quarterly Court . Bro . SCURRAH : I will move a resolution —( cries of " No , no , " and hear , hear)— " That a letter be sent b y the Secretary to all these candidates to the office of medical officer , telling them that their applications are

not dismissed , and that they will be laid before the General Court , and to send back their testimonials , " ( Hear , hear . ) Bro . W . H . SAUNDERS said he had a motion before the Committee that the question of election he deferred to the next Quarterly Court . ( Cries of " No , no . " )

Bro . J . S . CUMBERLAND said he wished to put the matter in this way . The brethren , in their wisdom , elected a Provisional Committee to do the best they could for the interests of the Institution . It was utterl y impossible for any body of men like those meeting there that day , or at the Quarterly Court , to take into

consideration all the testimonials that came before them ; they therefore appointed a Sub-Committee to come to a satisfactory conclusion . That Committee had gone through the testimony , and in their wisdom they selected , say , five , or 10 , or 15 out of the number . Was it to be supposed that the whole of them could come to

the Quarterly General Court with their testimonials , and throw them at the feet of 300 brethren , some of them , perhaps , their partisans . What would be the resultV Why , the matter would be deferred again . ( Hear , hear . ) The Provisional Committee had been appointed , and they were the Provisional Committee

until they were turned out . ( Hear , hear . ) How could the Quarterly Court select the best man ? For himself , he thanked the Committee very much for having gone through the qualifications of the candidates ; but he wanted to know why they limited the distance to not more than one mile from the Institution , within which

a candidate must reside . He supposed they thought that an Institution containing the sons of Masons should have a doctor who could soon be fetched on a cold winter night . If they could get as good a man within half a mile , it was for the interests of the Institution . If Bro . Scurrah ' s motion or Bro . Saunders ' s

motion was passed it would be referred back . It would be utterly impossible to consider the question at a Quarterl y Court . As to the gentlemen sending back their testimonials , it was rather a dig in the ribs to them . If the brethren had not sufficient confidence in the Provisional Committee , let them get rid of them .

( Hear , hear . ) Bro . CHARLES DAIRY asked how long the doctor was elected for ? ( Laughter . ) The CHAIRMAN said as far as Bro . Saunders' resolution went he must inform him that they could not now say what the Quarterly Court would do . At that Court

the election of the doctor would take place . Bro . Saunders had proposed "That it be . referred to the next Quarterly Court . " That motion he could not receive , but the motion of . Bro . Scurrah could be received . Bro . Scurrah said further notice ought to be given to these various candidates . He would , however ,

submit that the utmost notice had been given them . All that the Committee had done had been done under Laws 40 and 45 of the Institution , by which they were to inquire into the qualifications of candidates , select some , and report to the General Committee . They had

done so , and they had intimated to all the others that they would be open to election at the Quarterly Court . No brotherwished to do any injustice—if it was thought there was any injustice . He had no objection to receive Bro . Scurrah ' s notice .

Bro . J AMES STEVENS inquired whether it was quite just that the Provisional Committee should recommend one particular person . Was it not a nomination r It was put very strongly . According to the circular , it was an intimation that one particular candidate had been chosen out of IK .

The CHAIRMAN said he had read the clause under which they acted , which distinctly said that they were to select and recommend to the Quarterly Court , and they had reported that one was a qualified man . Bro . SCURRAH : You are to report on the qualifications of all of them . ( " Oh , oh ! " )

The CHAIRMAN : We have only recommended one . It will be entirely in the hands of the Quarterly Court . We have discharged our duties faithfully . Unless there is a real objection , I will put Bro . Scurrah ' s proposition .

Bro . Dr . J ABEZ HOGG said he would propose to confirm those minutes , and after that to be permitted to offer a resolution on a subject which would answer all the questions that had been put to the meeting . Pie was sure they would not disagree , and then would get over the business well .

Ihe CHAIRMAN : What is the proposition ? Bro . Dr . HOGG -. To refer the question back to the Committee . He said he did so because he felt confident that there had been misapprehension by the Committee itself on this question . There was an advertisement issued in all our medical journals

and the Committee proceeded to deal with the question with reference to this advertisement . The difficulty that had arisen had arisen in this way . The candidate for the office of medical officer of this Institution must reside near to and visit the School at least once every day . That advertisement did not say anything about a distance of a mile or half a mile . That

omission had led to all this disagreement to-day . The Committee , he knew , desired to do the best they could , and the brethren were all very much indebted to them ; but without thinking of this advertisement , they passed this resolution limiting the radius of a mile from the Institution , and confining the applicants to those living within that radius . That was the omission . The