Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

VVest Yorkshire Jubilee celebrations are exacting from us various heavy •dditional contributions , and , perhaps , I may be pardoned for alluding to fhe Iam * e number of brethren from this province who , at considerable per-•onal loss , have come to London to show their loyalty to her Majesty the Oueen and our Royal Master by attending *; the magnificent demonstration at the Albert Hall yesterday afternoon . Yet with all my advisers within this

•ovince ; n whose hands I had placed this matter in the exercise of their discretion , I felt justified under the circumstances in pleading the additional sU pp 0 tt of my province and myself in a particularly emergent difficulty , and thus it is I am in this chair to confirm my confidence in them , and in my own person to redeem the pledge given by them to the Executive of the Institution on my behalf . The celebration this evening of this Festival ,

whatever may be the result , must not be regarded as one in Avhich the northern Province of West Yorkshire has assisted by means of a diligent and lengthened process of organisation—our Festival share in the success is that of sympathetic friends , who seeing those in London in whom AVC are interested in an unlooked-for position of difficulty readily accepted the responsibility of the situation , and came to the

rescue , not enquiring too minutely how this help can be proved available . This help cheerfully if at the eleventh hour we cordially trust will not only be appreciated by many brethren , and may also not be without substantial value to the Institution whose prosperity we have so much and sincerely at heart . VVe look on this festive gathering in the Crystal Palace , after witnessing the magnificent Masonic assembly of yesterday in the Albert Hall ,

with feelings of intense gratification , heightened by the circumstance lhat vve have to acknowledge the aid accorded to our three Masonic Institutions by that meeting . We thank the Grand Lodge of England for its munificent contribution on the istdayof this month of £ 6000—distributed in sums of £ 2000 to each of the three Masonic Institutions—and gratefully recognise the assistance this Institution has derived in its year of need from those two

sources , and yet I feel myself perfectly justified in pleading here , vvith you to-day for support on this occasion . On the Jubilee celebration of his Majesty George III ., fifty boys were then specially admitted to the benefit of the Schools . On the celebration of this Jubilee of her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen , Grand Patroness—Patroness from 1852 to 1883 —258 sons of Freemasons are now enjoying the full benefits of education ,

clothing , and maintenance . Further , the purchase of land and erection of School buildings , all being freehold , has cost in round figures little short of Xioo . ooo . I am sorry to say that on the Building Fund for the Preparatory School , and on the General Fund , Sustentation Fund , the accounts with the Bankers are over drawn , this serious liability being in round numbers about £ 3000 . Urgent efforts of a generous Jubilee nature it is my duty to

specially press upon the charitable consideration of this assembly this evening , in order to wipe out this balance of deficit and to restore an equilibrium in its finances . The expenditure last year on the Institution vvas some £ 16 , 300 , and the receipts some £ 13 , 000 . I am anxious , therefore , the Festival in this year of rejoicing should render the monetary course of this noble School one removed from all cause of anxiety to the Executive , and

one of ease and smoothness in the future of its history . If evidence were wanting for the value of the Institution over and above those points to which allusion is perhaps too frequently made , let me direct your attention to 25 representative guests of the Board of Stewards at our tables , enjoying distinctive hospitality on an exceptional occasion like this—ex-pupils of the Schools , and who are now pursuing successful careers—the result of the

training and education in an Institution on behalf of which I plead this evening on your good will and esteem to augment its usefulness , and to stimulate its wide spread influences , to further educational development in those orphans committed to its care . The difficulties of extending the usefulness of this School are considerable , as the House Committee can testify to the ignorant state in which many of

the young lads enter the School , very many boys having had the ground work of their education sadly neglected . Boys from a lower class of society than heretofore are gradually creeping into the School , which makes another difficulty the Committee have to contend with . This the Craft can in some degree remedy in time , by being more particular as to the status in life of the candidates admitted into the Order of Masonry . Admit into your

lodges a higher social standard of Masons , and you will have those naturally capable , intelligent class of boys to educate at Wood Green . In the face of these obstacles , the examinations of the past 12 years have been remarkable , and will bear comparison Avith the results obtained by the first grade grammar and other schools in England . This is much to the credit of the learned Head Master . During the last 12 years he has passed for the

Cambridge Local Examinations 198 candidates , of which 47 gained first class honours , 45 second class honours , 48 third class honours , and 58 gained certificates . In addition to these results , seven boys passed the Senior Cambridge Examination ( for lads only ) . During the last five years 19 boys have earned distinctions in Latin , mathematics , and French . In 1875 this School had three boys in the Honour List , first class , the only one

at the London main centre who gained a first class . In 1880 , at the Cambrid ge Local Examination , our Masonic School was the only one at the I ottenham centre that gained first or second class honours . There were two hoys in the first class and five boys in the second class on that occasion . Another difficulty the Executive have with regard to this School is that it has no scholarships attached to it as an institution , whereby boys aiming at

advancing themselves can enter any of the professions or higher cultivated walks of life , or may be thus aided in their struggles or aspirations to get 'nto the position of profession or trade their fathers held before them . I ask the Craft and this brilliant and most influential assembl y to accept this observation in the generous spirit ' s shape , and vvhich this gathering can rectif y if its chooses . For the duller boys who enter the School indifferently

grounded , I think some "tecrmicai" education seems to be an appropriate ad junct to the School ' s educational appliances , and desirable for them . By 'his p hrase I do not mean that the boys should be taught a trade of some special kind ; but , by the help of workshops and instructions , the lads may "ave the opportunity of acquiring a taste or liking for " manual" labour , a jid make themselves feel its worth and dignity . It is , I believe , in nearly a 'l schools found that many youths , somewhat dull over their books ,

•... would be bright enough in school Avorkshops , and their j" ** ' J'gences would be aroused under the genial work they vihi anc" wou' ^ ' perhaps , do better in the school room classes for such nolesome exercises as manual labour promotes . My humble opinion is , "t I do not ask you to accept it without consideration at abler hands than 'ne , the scholarship and the workshop should go hand-in-hand together in fo k ' ° ^ t * k ' ^ At King ' s College excellent opportunities are given will h ^ ^ ° " * k e car P entry- Tlie . Board Schools before a long time elapses have a technical department attached to them , and instruction to the

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

children attending * Elementary Schools will be given by competent instructors . Surely , brethren and ladies , we should be equally to the front with such schools in this instructive matter . We ha * . * e plenty of clerks , but we cannot have , I hope , too many educated workmen . I think it important that you should know that , owing to the sound principles the Head Master grafts into the boys' minds , very few of all the old boys have come to grief

after leaving the School—not more than two or three . These old pupils are scattered all over the Avorld . Some in our colonies , others in South America and China , I have ascertained are doing well . A few have entered the law as solicitors . One youth named Brook , about five years ago , passed the first LL . B . examination at London . Many have entered the medical profession . An old boy , C . D . Green , who passed the London

matriculation on leaving the School in 1878 , and later on took the London M . B ., occupied the post of House Surgeon at St . Thomas' Hospital in 1885-6 . Two or three boys have gone to Oxford to study for the Church . Several have become schoolmasters . Another boy , R . Bryant , is a member of the Royal Astronomical Society , and has read papers before that learned body . Some boys haye gone into the army any navy . I should , I fear ,

weary you with details of further successes of VV . R . Parker , who passed 9 th out of 1080 candidates , without any special preparation , for an Engineer Studentship for the navy ; of A . T . Kennedy , a little over 15 years of age , who passed the Cambridge local first class at Christmas 18 S 6 , and entered for this same examination ( Engineer Studentship ) , and vvas one of 40 out of 500 candidates ; of A . R . Parker , H . H . King , and VV . S . Sparkeswho

, is now a commander in South Africa , and president of his mess , and rn-my others likewise . These are a few cases of boys doing well from many when they have left Wood Green . It is gratifying to the Executive of this School that several of the old pupils make their appearance on prize day at Wood Green ; whilstof the rank and file , as wellasof the moredistinguished of the old pupils , they are accomplishing useful work in the world and are not unmindful

of their School and Masters at Wood Green and the training advantages it offered to them and the valuable start it gave them in life . Let me say that at this School the policy of cramming for examination purposes is not the system of the Head Master . Steady drudgery or careful grounding are the principles of his system of education , and he has striven on this basis of a sure foundation of hard plodding to secure good and sound results in

all the School classes , paying careful attention to the Avork of the lower forms . My humble opinion is , the success of a school depends very much on the Avork done in the lower part of the school . Your learned and experienced Head Master is the Ex-President of the Philological Society . He has written and published no less than 37 works in this and analogous departments of literature . Between him and

myself there exists literary sympathies . I have the greatest respect for his erudite knowledge . He has toiled for 12 years through good reports and bad reports of the School ; but he has , as I haveshown you , attained success vvith his pupils , and he has sincerely the interests of this noble Masonic Institution , its welfare and lasting success and prosperity , at heart . His labours merit recognition from us to-day . I plead earnestly for this School .

I ask every brother here not to leave this place without doing his utmost to enable the Executive and the Head Master to accomplish greater results in the future than the appliances at their disposal have enabled them to accomplish in the past . Brethren , with these observations , roughly penned at too short a notice , I confidently leave the cause of this Institution to your generous and liberal sympathies and aid , believing you will support

that true " Charity which blesses him that gives as well as him that receives !; " that you will remember these boys are orphans , that they look to you to be their guardians and fathers ; that you will take upon yourselves the responsibility of enabling them to fight nobly in this hardhearted and selfish world the battle of honourable life , and make them by their goodness and brightness like " the polished corners of the Temple '' in

your Masonic edifice . To do this , then , give to day ungrudgingly from your wealth that much which will enable the continuation without drawback or reproach of the work of the Institution , augment its usefulness , and extend its benefits . I ask you to drink "Prosperity to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , " and couple with this toast the name of Bro . George Plucknett , P . G . D ., and Vice-Patron , Treasurer . Bro . PLUCKNETT responded , but was quite inaudible .

Bro . BINCKES then proceeded to read a list of the totals of the amounts collected by the various Stewards , remarking that the result was a very disappointing one .

STEWARDS' LISTS .

Lodge LONDON . Grand Stewards' Bro . Fredk . Binckes .,, ,., 132 13 0 1 Bro . F . G . Brown ,,. 31 0 o 2 „ C . O . Tagart ... 52 10 o 3 „ A . G . Sandberg ,,. 25 4 o 4 „ F . T . Bennett ... 16 16 o 5 „ Edwin T . Hall ... 26 15 6 C „ Philip C . Novell ! ... 21 o 0 S „ Thomas Skewes-Cox

10 „ bamuel Green ( ,,, 23 2 0 14 „ Walter J . Ebbetts ... 19 8 6 19 » John Glenn ,., 72 19 6 21 „ Marcus R . Sewill ... 36 15 o 23 „ F . Pinches ,,. 15 15 o 28 „ James Boulton ... 42 o 0 29 „ John R . Dunlop ... 27 6 0 < .-, 1 i \/ T * Cf * nVY . TT & n

00 >> '"¦ """ SS '" " ¦ - / " " 34 „ S . J . Attenborough 65 2 0 46 „ Ed . W . Stanton ... 56 14 0 49 „ E . Anderson , jun . ... 3 6 15 0 55 „ Edward H . Brown ... 57 15 o 59 » F . J . Tyler 47 5 o Co „ W . H . Kempster ... 26 5 0

63 „ A . S . W . _ Bium ... 63 o o 87 „ E . W . -ightingale ... gi o 0 90 „ T . Abbott Smith .,, 66 3 91 „ Fred . C . Watts ... 29 8 o 96 „ Major H . A . Joseph 138 o o 101 „ Edward J . Altman .., 140 „ W . C . S . Burney ... 42 o 0 IJ . I .. Charles Dairv ... 71 18 6

142 „ J . L . Thomas , F . S . A . 23 2 0 162 „ Thomas Burne ... 22 1 0 165 „ G . A . Vennell ... 21 o o 172 „ John Whaley ... 31 10 o 179 « Walter Dickeson ... 65 o 0 181 „ E . J . S Layton ... 3 6 15 o 188 „ J . W . Dewsnap ... 41 15 o 197 „ C . Barry , F . S . A . ... 25 4 o 205 „ Joseph Da Silva ... 42 o 0 2 5 s „ N . D . Fracis .,. 21 0 0

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

Lodge £ s . d . 259 Bro . C . Godson , M . D . ... 31 10 o 435 „ D . Belinfante ... 50 IS 6 534 ,- Oliver Bryant 54 S „ Henry Carman ,., . 27 6 o 657 ,, F . A . Warner ... 44 7 o 720 „ J . D . Arnold .,, 54 o o 733 „ C . R . Wickens ... 32 o o 733 < i Sills ] . Humfress ... 10 10 o

822 „ C . F . Grundtvig ... 28 7 o 87 ' » John J . Pakes ... 37 iG o 898 „ G . Graveley ... 52 10 o 957 „ Charles Corby ... 53 o o 1076 „ Henry Taplay ... 100 0 o 1150 „ C . Monckton ,,, 79 16 o 1155 •¦ B . Goldsmith ,,, 51 o o 117 S „ Henry Stockwell ... 117 12 o 1269 „ John H . Lane ... 3 S 6 6 1328 „ J . L . Thomas , F . S . A . 106 11 6

\ W >}„ D . D . Mercer ... 43 1 o 1361 Bro . J . J . Wedgwood ... 16 16 o 1366 „ R . W . Gaicr ... 16 16 o ' jS 3 „ Dep . Inspector-Gen . T . 8 . Purchas , M . D . 105 0 o 1420 „ T . Wilkinson ,,. 26 17 6 1426 ,, F . VV . Potter ... 73 10 o 1445 „ Hy . Seymour-Clarke . 44 12 6

147 . „ K . Boddy 4 6 13 6 14 S 9 „ William Gray ... 28 7 o 1538 „ T . G . Fluck 39 o o 1572 - » J . S . Stacy 79 16 o 1593 » A . Escott , F . R . A . S . 36 15 o 1601 „ Alfred Thompson .,, 42 16 6 1614 „ T . A . Dickson 1615 „ Capt . F . 5 . G . Moon

16 * 27 » AhredHudon ... 8 S o 1629 „ Rev . C . J . Martyn ... 63 o o 1642 „ W . W . Buckland ... 57 15 o 1658 „ James Hill 47 13 e 1670 „ . Carl Erhardt ,., 46 4 0 I 1 S 72 „ G . P , Minett , „ 22 u 0