Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

who may achieve great distinction as being celebrated for remarkably good conduct ; but I , at the same time , do not hesitate to avow we have so large a regard for esprit de corps , that I like to

see a boy singled out year by year by his schoolfellows and associates , as a boy who by his conduct has earned their approval . There may be required , for aught I know , some little modification of the

conditions under which a prize like this is bestowed ; but I do not hesitate to say it , that if I could dispense with some ofthe signs of age which are upon me , and be a boy again , I would wish

to stand in the place of Charles Heiiius , and receive this medal , and be able to confess that I had discharged my duties in my position faithfully as a monitor , and at the same time say , I had

earned for myself the good opinion ot my fellow pupils . I should fancy myself the proudest pupil in the whole world , and I would sacrifice all the honours I may have obtained if I could

once throw off that age which is now hastening upon me , and be once more a boy , and that boy who here receives from his Lordship ' s hands this distinguishing prize . My Lord , I have to

present to your Lordship Charles Hennis , as the winner of the Canonbury prize , founded and established by our good friend , Bro . Edwd . Cox , a vice-patron of the Institution . ( Cheers . )

The Chairman : —Master Charles Hennis , I have more pleasure , if it i . s possible , in presenting you with this medal than I had in presenting the other to your brother schoolfellow , because I

think , and 1 hold with Bro . Cox , who instituted this medal , that it is a very great honour to be esteemed by those one lives daily with ; and if I know anything of boys at all , I am

quite convinced thatthe boy who toadied and made xi ] - ) to another boy for the sake , of obtaining this medal , would be sure not lo obtain it , if he tried for it . I thank Bro . Cox , in your name , for

having instituted such a prize , and I must confess , that though I take a great interest in education , I have never seen a prize which has tickled my fancy so much or is likely to do so much

good , lo you , Master Hennis , I may say but little because Bro . Binckes has spoken so well upon the subject , that it is almost unnecessary for me to follow him , and we believe , in Masonry ,

the less we should say , but the better we should act . You have acted well and honourably . You heard the remarks that I made to your brother school-fellow , and if you will but recollect them

I need not repeat them ; but I equally congratulate you on having this high honour before this august assembly , of receiving the Canonbury

prize , I have now pleasure of presenting you with it . You will now , like your predecessor , drink the health of the company .

" See the Conquering Hero comes , " was then sung at the special request of the Chairman . The Chairman : —Ladies and Brethren , I now rise to give you briefly , and I trust sincerely and

clearly , the toast of the evening ; it is " Prosperity to the Royal Masonic School for Boys . " ( App lause . ) I do so with great pleasure , because I have been enabled to place myself in a position

to recommend that establishment to your notice . When Bro . Binckes called upon me , at the request of your Committee , to ask me to undertake the office , of presiding over vou oil this occasion ,

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

I said that I should be happy to support the Masonic Charities , but before believing them to be good , I thought I had better go ancl see the School for myself . I proposed to visit the School ,

and , with Bro . Binckes I did so ; and I am proud to tell you the impression left on my mind was favourable indeed . ( Cheers . ) Since I visited the

School I have carefully read the report , and traced the history of it from the year i / i / , to the Union when the Ancient and Modern

Associations amalgamated , carrying out the School , and following it up again to the year 1850 , when you made up your minds to build such an

establishment . I say that I think Masons have reason congratulate themselves , they are not behind hand in giving the youth connected with the Craft a handsome ancl honourable education . Some

criticism has , I understand , been made as to the great expense of the building ; but if I may venture to be egotistical , accustomed as I am to

county expenditure , I may venture to say 1 never saw so much money ' s worth for what is on the spot . There is ventilation , there is every adaptation of modern science for the comfort of the

boys ; and I believe that that School has been built in the true spirit of Freemasonry , without any niggard feeling whatever . Perhaps you might have saved a few pounds here , ancl a few

pounds there , but the general structure is worthy of the Craft , and I shall never pass that building again , or be in it again , without feeling that 1 have done my best to support such an

Institution . And if I speak of the grounds ancl of the building with gratification , I feel it a pleasant duty also to speak of what I saw within the School . I took the liberty of asking the

boys to get their slates and to write me a composition , narrating the dastardly attempt that had been made to frig hten the Queen . I gave them twenty minutes to do it , and when it was

done , I found there was not one single mistake in the spelling , the composition was good , ancl the writing admirable . I felt after that , that I had not the ability of properly examining the

boys , but that the boys could examine me a great deal better . I was particularly struck too with the high tone of the School , the nice demeanour of the lads—they looked at you straight

in the face , shouted out of compliment before I came away , that I was the Chairman of the year , and shouted yet more lustily when I asked for a holiday for them . ( Laughter . ) They were

just as boys should be , just as boys are when properly brought up , just as we Masons wish them to be . And I would conclude my remarks as regards that School by saying , that I think we

are all indebted to the start " . I had the pleasure of being shown over the School by the Head Master . I conversed with him , and I suppose he looked upon me as a sort of Government

Inspector , come to find fault ; but I did not see anything to find fault with him for . Then I had another opportunity of talking to him sociably , and I congratulate you on having such a gentleman to

preside over the establishment . Seeing him at this table , I will take the liberty of asking him to have a glass of wine with me . ( I'he noble

Chairman here took wine with Bro . Iuirrian . ) And brethren , when you yourselves are in thc chairyou will find it the most agreeable thing you can do to have a glass of wine ill the middle of your

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speech— ( laughter ) —and as sincerely and cordially as I do on this occasion . But my speech is at an end , and I would only allude to the lady who superintends the domestic arrangements of

the establishment . I went from top to bottom , and I found everything correct . There was onl y one slight contretemps which then occurred , and yet I can hardly call it a contretemps , because it had with me a s : ood effect . I went with Bro .

Binckes into the lavatory and turned the water on , and I wetted Bro . Binckes through to the skin . ( Laughter . ) I was excessively sorry for it , because he had to change his dress , and I saw

him divested of his Masonic clothing . I think it had a good effect , because Bro . Binckes has poured upon us that usual flood of eloquence he is so capable of , and it almost appears that the

water had a very great effect on him , and afforded him that power of expression , quantity added to quality , which generally characterises all his observations . 1 must say , that speaking of the

School , I have been struck by the energy of Bro . Binckes , and I feel quite sure that that School will always prosper while it has so indefatigable a Secretary as he to carry it on . Brethren , I beg

leave to give you , with three times three , " Prosperity to the Masonic School for Boys . " "With the toast I beg to couple the name of Bro . Algernon Perkins , Treasurer and Trustee . ( Applause . )

The toast having been honoured , Bro . Algernon Perkins , P . G . D ., said that , as the Treasurer of the Institution , ho had not only to thank his Lordship for proposing the toast ,

but to congratulate the school on having such an efficient chairman for its festival . He only trusted that at the end of the evening he would be able to congratulate his Lordship on the

effects produced by his zeal , industry , and talent , in a large subscription list . The brethren had found that the noble chairman had clone his duty , ancl to parody a song they had recently heard ,

every friend of his ought to do his duty too . Bro . Binckes here read the Stewards' lists , which amounted to ^ , 308 . During the reading of these lists , Bro . Binckes reached the

chairman ' s name , against which was set the sum of fifty guineas , and twenty-five against the name of the Countess of Shrewsbury , whereupon , the Chairman said he wanted to make an

amendment . He had heard at the dinner that ladies were permitted to subscribe to the Masonic charities , and he had put down Lady Shrewsbury ' s name without consulting her , as he

thought she would like to subscribe . As there was to be a thanksgiving subscription , he would withdraw the Countess ' s twenty-five guineas from the present list , which he hoped she would

pay herself , ( laughter ) , and as he thought Masons should not only talk , but act , and as what he had said about the Prince of Wales , came

from the bottom of his heart , he would give fifty guineas to the thanksgiving fund , and he hoped the numerous Staffordshire brethen he saw before him would follow his example . ( Cheers ) .

Staffordshire sent over . -300 guineas , Yorkshire . £ 25 8 , and many other lists produced Jarge amounts .

Bro . Binckes : —My Lord , I do not think we have altogether consummated a failure . I would beg , on behalf of myself and the executive of our