Royal. Masonic Institution For Boys.

same year had its Secretary afflicted to so great an extent , that it was necessary he should resigm He had filled the office of

Secretary for n years , having succeeded Bro . Crews , and that success of . the Institution was greatly enhanced by their administration . The Girls' School we see in a

very flourishing condition , under the wise and just administration of the Officers , and particularly their Secretary . I therefore have much pleasure in stating to you that these charities are nowprogressing most

favourably and with great and good results , equal to that which has preceded ; and I entertain no doubt whatever that under the present administration they will succeed . I am a member of both Institutions , and

am on the Committees of both , and I am perfectly satisfied that they are progressing favourably . All do their duty most righteously and religiously ; they administer the funds of the Institution with justice

while they do it with liberality , and are anxious still to extend their benefits to those outside the pale of the Institution . There are still many knocking at our doors and wishing to be admitted . We have

unfortunately , many on the list who cannot be admitted , at the next election in April . And , therefore , while they are thankful for the support already given , they yet hope to receive from the Craft future

support . I cannot sit down sir , without saying how deeply we arc indebted to your Grace in the Boys' School . I hope this Institution will not long be behind the sister Institution . I hope it will share the

prosperity of the other , and have something in the funds ; but when fifty candidates are knocking at the door—we have sixty-nine in April and only nineteen can be admitted—we do sincerely trust that

the Craft will help us , so that wc shall be able to open our doors and admit many more of those who are clamouring for the privileges of the Boys' School .

With these remarks at this late hour . I shall content myself by proposing " The sister Institutions , " and I will couple with that , the name of the newly-elected Secretary of the Girls' School , Bro . Little .

Bro . Little : It is to me a very gratifying thing to have to return thanks Tor the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls . I do so with heartfelt pleasure , and the more so , because I have the satisfaction of of /

erinomy humble congratulations to His Grace upon the magnificent success which has attended this festival of the Boys' School . I am sure every brother in this room will re-echo with me the idea that among the

chanties , we have nothing but a generous rivalry , and we arc all pleased to find the cloud of debt that has hitherto hung over the Boys' School , is now about to be entirely extinguished by the liberality of

the brethren . I am sure , brethren , it is no wish of ours that the Boys' School should have to labour under a load of deb ' t , on the contrary wc are willing that the charities should go hand in hand together , and

uphold the prestige of the Craft . My Lord Duke , I have to thank you for coupling my name with the toast . I have to thank your Grace on behalf of the Girls' School , and I have to thank you on behalf of Bro .

Terry , and I have now simply to bespeak , brethren , your continued support for the Girls' School . Its festival is on the 14 th of Mat'when Lord Skelmersdale will take

the chair , and from the number of Stewards we have on that occasion , I think wc shall shew to the world at large that charity is the great characteristic of Freemasons . The Chairman : I have to propose to you "The Board of Stewards , and the President

Royal. Masonic Institution For Boys.

of the Board of Stewards , our Bro . Lord Leigh . " You will all agree with me that they have done their work well and that their arrangements have been crowned with thorough success . Before we part we

cannot but return them our best thanks for the exertions they have made on our behalf In drinking their health will be best shewn the very grateful feelings we have towards them . The high office they have

undertaken involves , I think , great labour and we should be thankful to them for it , especially to Lord Leigh who has undertaken another duty that of President . I give you "The Health of the Board of

Stewards , and the President , Lord Leigh . Lord Leigh : I feel that in rising to respond to this toast , I ought not to be placed in that position , for that office ought to have devolved upon the excellent acting

President who has done all the work—I allude to our excellent brother Alexander J . Duff Filer . When I was asked to accept the office of President , I said that that office must be an honorary one . Living as I do

one hundred miles from town it was perfectly impossible that I could fulfil the arduous duties that my noble brother has alluded to . When I was told that the Acting President would be Bro . Alex . Filer , I

felt assured that the duties of President could not be in better hands , and that I might rest assured they would be carried out in the best possible manner . I have

now only to ask the brethren whether my expectations have not been fully justified , when we have had this evening a most successful festival — not onlv have the

creature comforts been well attended to by Bro . Filer for the brethren , but our wives and daughters , who I s ^ e gracing the gallery , have been well looked after by Bro . Filer . That function of Bro . Filer , I envy

him . I only wished when 1 came in this evening that Bro . Filer had deputed to me the duty of looking after the ladies in the gallery ; but he took very good care not to

do so , and late in the evening Bro . Filer asked me if he had done his duty ( laughter ) . Brethren , most sincerely 1 thank you , and I congratulate you all on the successful festival we have had this day .

Bro . Filer : My Lord , it has been suggested to me that I ought to say something after the very kind expressions you have made . Allow me to say , in the whole course of my life I never performed a more

agreeable duty than of acting for your Lordship , a nobleman so highly esteemed and respected throughout the Masonic world . Allow me to say , that the Stewards in entering upon their duties determined to

do their best , and lo feel that they have done it to your Lordship ' s satisfaction is the greatest reward you can give them . The Stewards beg to thank you again and the whole company assembled here this

evening to support the undertaking . The ladies also we thank for the unvarying support they have given the Boys' School . We believe their co-operation has been a great incentive to the brethren getting

subscriptions to the Institution . I shall be very happy on all occasions my Lord to do my best to assist in the good work of Freemasonry , and I beg to thank you most sincerely for being so kind as to mention my name .

Bro . R . J . Spiers : May it please your Grace , I think we should not part with satisfaction to ourselves if we did not thank die ladies , who have graced this festival

with their company . I believe if it were not for the ladies we should not have so high an incentive to be here . Their coming among us is always a very great feather in

Royal. Masonic Institution For Boys.

our cap . Bro . Filer has taken the words out of my mouth , but at all events this I may say , as the ladies have left us , we had better join them in the other portion of our building . Before doing so , we thank them for their attendance .

The company then adjourned to the Temple , where a concert was given under the direction of Bro . W . Ganz , and in which that accomplished professor , and Mdlle . Carola , Miss Banks , Miss Cullenford , and

Miss Julia Elton , assisted by Bros . Geo . Perren , J . E . Patey , Carl Stepan , and Pague , took part . The dinner was well served by Bro . Francatelli , and Bro . Goodchild was an excellent toastmaster .

( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Pray oblige me by giving prominent notice of the correction of the amount as announced by me

at the Festival last night . I felt sure there was an error in the addition , and on examination this morning I find the following to be the correct total of the various lists . London 2 , 723 r 6 Provincial ... ... ... 4 , 386 5 4

£ 7 , 109 6 10 Fifteen Lists not received . I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours faithfully , FREDK . BINCKES , Secretary .

Lines Comp Osed By G. W. Wheeler For The 117th Anniversary Festival Of Lodge 73, Glasgow ,

LINES COMPOSED BY G . W . WHEELER FOR THE 117 TH ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL OF LODGE 73 , GLASGOW ,

"T HISTLE A . VD RO . SK . " A pleasant ( heme is mine to-night , With rapturous thoughts my bosom glows ; To praise , amongst the Sons of Light , Our Lodge , the THISTLE and the ROSE .

For they are both Masonic flowers , With Guards to keep intruders back : The Thistle hath ils prickly powers , The Rose its thorns doth never lack . The Thistle is a stalwart flower , Of Scotland ' s sons it's still the boast ; Her foemen oft' have felt its power , When landing hostile on her coast .

' / 'he legend runs , that ( lie gpa Mars - First planted it upon her soil ; Invaders since have shewn its scars , Instead of their expected spoil . Her warlike Sons , in many a land , Have made their swords like it to bristle : And many a gallant foreign band

Have felt the force of Scotland ' s Thistle . But we are peacefully inclined—As each Masonic Brother knows—So with the Thistle we have twined The bonnic blooming British Rose .

Few flowers can with the Rose compare , It scatters fragrance all around , Its odours scent the very air , Its leaves perfume the ground . Fit emblem of a Mason true ,

Whose actions should a fragrance shed ; While he life ' s pathway doth pursue , And still smell sweetly when he's dead . Then let us like the Thistle stand , Proudly erect against all foes ; ' While our good deeds , throughout the land , Shall blossom sweetly like the Rose .

Since Seventeen I'ifty-Six we ve stood , The pride of friends , unhurt by foes ; Then still be faithful , firm and good , To Seventy- Three , the Thistle and the Rose . And Oh , may each succeeding year , Some latent virtue still disclose , 'Mongst all lhat are assembled here ; As Sons of Thistle and the Rose .