Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

Thc CHAIRMAN * . No . Bro . F . BINCKES , P . G . S . ( Secretary ) , said , wilh reference lo Bro . Storr ' s apprehension of money not being contributed lo the General Fund , thc same plan was adopted by this motion as was adopted in raising funds for the building- of the present School . Brethren to obtain these advantages must first qualify as Life Governors , and it was expected there would be a

great number . The funded property sold to build thc School had all been replaced , and more had been added to it , and his earnest hope was that they should increase the sum before the close of the year—perhaps not to a laroe extent . With reference to thc time that the special qualifications should exist , he thought Bro . Stewart would bear in mind that it was after considerable discussion that the House Committee decided that it should be

for as short a time as possible , but that it was better to leave it an open question . Any independent member of the Court could give a notice that the money should be transferred to the General Fund . The Committee had been already empowered to raise this building . They would not touch a farthing of their present capital , but they hoped still to increase it . If they failed to raise as much as £ 8000 , let notice of motion be given that the

money raised be transferred to the General Fund . His own opinion was that when this scheme was fairly before the Craft they would find the Institution occupying a better position than it ever did . Do not let the brethren run away with tlie notion that it could not be managed . That was all a matter of detail how the School was to be managed with efficiency and the work afterwards done . Thc House Committee had guarded themselves in this and had / eft the Craft to find the funds .

Bro . J . S . C UMBERLAND enquired whether the brother who would obtain the additional votes for his contribution to the Building Fund must first be a Life Governor of the General Fund . Bro . BINCKES : Yes . Bro . ALFRED W ILLIAMS wished this to be made clear . It was not so on

thc motion . Bro . R . F . S TORR said that was his question . Bro . J . S . CUMBERAND thought that what Bro . Binckes had said was not conveyed in the motion . Thc motion was then altered as follows : " That any donor , on completion of his or her qualification as a Life Governor of the General Fund of the Institution , shall receive two votes instead of one vote , " & c .

Bro . G . P . BRITTEN did not think there was any reason , sense , or justice in giving double votes . If an appeal was put forward on proper authority they would get all they wanted without offering special advantages , in which hc saw special difficulty . He wished to know whether it was intended to reduce the qualification of candidates .

Bro . RAYNHAM W . S TEWART did not see how it was possible there could lie a difficulty . There was no intention of reducing thc qualification . The motion , as altered , was then put , and carried item . con . * - ' ** Bro . ARTHUR E . G LADWELL , W . M . 172 , moved as an additional paragraph to Law XVI .:

" The Secretary for thc time being of a Masonic Charitable Association ( such as those usually associated with lodges of instruction ) which has paid to the Institution a sum not less than one hundred guineas , shall , upon proof thereof , be entitled to the honorary rank of a Life Governor , and to all the privileges of thc same ; and , further , the Secretary of an Association which has paid to the Institution during his secretaryship a sum of not less than two hundred guineas , shall , upon proof thereof , on his retiring from such office , or on the Association ceasing to exist , be entitled to all the privileges of a Life Governor in his own right . "

He said , that after his observations on Saturday on the same motion in the Girls School , he did not propose to trespass on the brethren ' s attention , but he had been encouraged to submit the motion to the Boys' Quarterly Court because he had been told a great deal of what hc then said was unheard , and a great deal was not understood . Besides , many brethren were debarred by their business associations from being present . There appeared to be an idea that his intention was to create a large number of additional Life Governors .

That was not thc case ; but hc thought that where Sccretariesof lodges of instruction collected subscriptions for the benefit of the Institution they should receive some recognition of their trouble . He quoted cases in which £ 1843 had been thus sent up to the Girls' School . Something- of the same amount had been sent up to thc other Institutions . Without going over the ground he went over on Saturday , he would simply move his resolution . Bro . GEORGE KING , P . M . 172 , seconded the motion .

Bro . F . BINCKES supported the motion , as hc had positively pledged himself to say a few words . He was one of those who felt very grateful to the brethren who as Secretaries of these Associations had taken so much trouble in collecting the money . He thought there ought to be a graceful and liberal recognition of their services . He did not see what harm it could possibly

do to any subscriber ; it was simply testifying the approbation of exertions made . Hc belonged himself lo three or four of these Associations and attended their meetings , and could testif y to the large amount of time and exertion used by thc ' Secretaries in obtaining the large results which the Institutions profited by from time to time . But he should be sorry to limit thc amount to that mentioned in Bro . Gladwell ' s resolution .

Bro . WALTER H OFEKIRK , P . M . and Treasurer , 179 , also supported thc motion and spoke highly of thc exertions of Secretaries of lodges of instruction in connection with the Charitable Associations . Bro . G ODTSCHALK thought thc proposal would put Stewards at a disadvantage . Stewards of a large province worked the province at their own expense , and their travelling and hotel bills were heavy ; they asked for none

of the expense back again . The Institutions said they were serving a very honourable oflice , and got from them two guineas for their Stewards' fee , for which they had a dinner . The CHAIRMAN said the Steward got a vote for every twenty-five guineas on his list beyond his own donation . Bro . GODTSCHALK said two guineas qualified him for a guinea dinner ticket . What of the other guinea ? The Secretary of a Charitable

Association merely took the money that was brought to him as Secretary . Each of the Stewardships he had served had cost him ( Bro . Godtschalk ) from £ 35 to £ 40 . The whole system of bonus-giving was in the wrong place . He would rather not have a bonus vote , but do what he undertook for the honour of thc thing , and do all thc good he could for suffering humanity . Hc would do away with all distinction and make the recognition equal . Thc- motion was put and lost by an overwhelming majority .

Bro . CUMBERLAND thought that when motions were to be brought forward which involved some consideration , copies should be previously sent to the Life Governors by post , and not merely advertised in newspapers , where the chances were they were not seen . The election of twelve boys out of a lisl ' of sixly-two ' thcn took ' placc . The following is the result : —

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

SUCCESSFUL .

Bottomley , Albert Wm . ... ... 2227 Watson , William Rcnwick ... ... 2173 Mott , Bierce Henry ... ... ... 215 S Motion , William Gideon ... ... 214 G Thompson , Clement Wm . ... ... 20 N 9 Levick , Christopher ... ... ... 2035

Booth , Frederick 2002 Kirkby , Alfred 1984 Langdon , James 1976 Wnrtlcy , George 197 ( 1 Fellows , Arthur 1952 Wilson , George TQJS

UNSUCCESSFUL .

Lee , Sidney Edward 1 S 66 Jordison , Hugh Lloyd ... ... 1 S 30 Burgess , Harold Thomas ... ... 17 S 3 Gurncy , Charles Aubrey ... ... 170 S Ashdown , Arthur Durham ... ... 1 GG 2 Clark , Frederick Arthur ... ... 1570 Roe , Frederick Swyer ... ... 1472 Ecclestone , Henrv A . 1377

Stanford , William Bryant ... ... 133 S Fowke , Alexander W . 1152 Jones , Cleophas C . B . 1066 Truman , Hugh Beckit ... ... 105 S Hill , George Wm . King ... ... IOJO Crow , Charlie John 9 S 5 Taylor , George William ... ... 9 63 Neville , Fredk . John ... ... ... 750

Stewart , Charles Edward 711 Jones , Wm . Vincent B 625 Willett , George Cross 4 S 7 Liversidge , Charles Percy ... ... 4 S 1 Skelton , Fred . Francis ... ... 475 Hotting , Alfred Henry ... ... 447 Goldsbrough , Jno . Tom ... ... 352 Sanderson , Charles Jesse ... ... 24 G lones , Geoffrey Stuart ... ... 220 O'Doherty , Chas . Patrick 205 Crabb , Tom Walcott 1 G 9

Ball , Edward Thomas 166 Long , Joseph William 154 Hewett , John Herbert 144 Tenterborn , Arthur J . - 112 Farrar , Ethelbert ... 10 5 Simpson , Edward Henry 102 Escott , Charles Leopold 94 Cummings , Charles Brown 79 Puilnnn IT .- / .. I .... I .. ! . _ r : 111111 tv

. UUIH . JJ JL . u .. ... ... ... yu Collinson , James ... ... ... 45 Humphrey , John 41 Cook , Frederick John 3 S Windross , John Benjamin 3 S So . vdon , Sidney ... ... ... 30 Potter , George ... ... ... 2 7 Templeman , las . P . G . 20

Hurden , John Henry 14 Wyatt , Augustine Wm 10 Nicholas , Thomas M . 7 Pringle , William James 6 * Pratt , Robt . Williamson 5 Hill , Reginald Aug . L . 3 Laing , llerbt . L . ( withdrawn ) ... 22 Gunnell , Wm . P . ( withdrawn ) ... 374 Sisley , Walter J . ( withdrawn ) ... iSS Jackson , Charles Ernest

—Votes of thanks to the Scrutineers and Chairman were then passed and responded to . Bro . BINCKES announced that already 100 guineas had been subscribed in the room to the Preparatory School Building Fund , and he should be happy lo receive other names . The proceedings then terminated .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

I he monthly meeting of thc Committee of this Institution was held on Wcdncsdayat Freemasons' Hall , Bro . Lieut .-Col . Creaton , G . Treas ., in the chair . There were also present Bros . J . II . Leggott , C . A . Cottebrune , G . Bolton , John Buhner , J . Newton , C . G . Dilley , John G . Stevens , James Brett , Dr . Jabez Hogg , Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , C . II . Webb , Charles

Lacey , Thomas W . C . Bush , S . Rawson , Henry Smith , William Hale , Charles John Perceval , Raynham W . Stewart , William Stephens , A . H . Tattershall , Edgar Bowyer , Thomas Cubitt , James Willing , jun ., Fredk Adlard , Richard Hervc Giraud , William Hilton , James Terry ( Secretary ) , and H . Massey { Freemason ) .

After the reading and confirmation of the minutes , Bro . TERRY reported thc death of three annuitants . He also read a letter from Col . J . A . Lloyd Phillips , Provincial Grand Master of the Western Division of South Wales , consenting to take the chair at thc next Festival of the Institution . The Warden ' s report was also read by Bro . TERRY , who likewise read the report of the Finance Committee . This report showed a total balance in favour of the Institution of £ 1340 Ss . 4 d . Thc report was adopted .

A letter was read from Mr . Dipnall , Secretary of Christ ' s Hospital , asking for a contribution of £ 5 towards the expenses of opposing the Charitable Trust ' s Bill . Bro . Terry was directed to enquire whether this sum was for the contribution of the Benevolent Institution only , or included the contribution of thc Girls' School and Boys' Schools . Two petitions were approved , and the petitioners placed on thc list for the next election .

Bros . Raynham W . Stewart , the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , W . Hilton , W . Stevens , C . J . Perceval , Charles Lacey , and George Bolton were appointed a Committee to revise the bye-laws , and a special general meeting to consider the alterations was appointed for the second Wednesday in November , at a quarter to four p . m . A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings .

Secretaries.

SECRETARIES .

Sometimes thc Secretary of a lodge is chosen without much regard for his fitness . Perhaps , a brother wants the place as a stepping-stone to advanced official position , and , to gratify his aspirations , the lodge elects him as its Secretary , knowing all the time that he has not the requisite qualifications for the post . Or , it may be that the lodge is altogether responsible for thc mistake , some good-natured member being pounced upon and over-persuaded to accept the office , whilst all the time he is fully

convinced of his unfitness . In either case , the result is the same , and a serious stumbling-block is put in the way of the prosperity of the lodge . Indeed , a lodge can generally get along with less detriment under charge of an incapable Master than when it is hampered by an inefficient Secretary . If there is any officer who ought lo have a rare combination of graces , it is the Secretary . He should know what to do , and what not to do , and , not thc less , how to do that which needs to be done . He should be an interested

and accomplished Mason , and , above all things , he should have good common sense . One of the District Deputies in Maine suggests that lodges might avoid much trouble , if they would select their Secretaries on the basis of executive and collective ability rather than for mere clerical gifts ; and from this text the Token goes on to remark as follows : " Of all things , a shiftless , dilatory man , is to be avoided , in choosing a Secretary . His records are always behindhand , and have to be read and confirmed from the minute-book

instead of the record itself , which is entirely wrong , as the very idea of confirmation is that the lodge acquiesces in the copying ; he forgets to answer letters , and makes distant members ignorant with the lodge ; and the dues get behind of all but those methodical members who insist in paying up . lt is just as easy to do the work promptly , and you want thc man who will do it ; one who will pull on the bit up hill and down . The re is always such an one in the lodge , if you take pains to find him . "