Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

ST . JOHN ' S GATE , CLERKENWELL . It is Avell known to numerous persons who have visited St . John ' s Gate Avith an antiquarian appetite , that the late Mr . Benjamin Foster , who Avas for many years landlord of the tavern , began the restoration of the old edifice to something like its original character . So many have been the vicissitudes of this once famous

entrance to the richest priory in Christendom , and so careless of preservation Avere the successive proprietors , ranging from kings to publicans , that the expensive task was commenced cautiously , although Avhat Avas attempted ivas thoroughly executed . Mr . S . Wickens , the

present proprietor , has entered earnestly into the Avork his father-in-laiv began . The restoration , in the time of Mr . Foster , commenced at the eastern side , Avhere , entering by the Gothic door-Avay , and passing through the quaint mediceval bar , we pass up the staircase , Avhich has been

recently decorated in the Elizabethan style , and enter the dining room . This room now boasts Dr . Johnson ' s celebrated chair , ancl the walls are covered with curious old prints , some rare specimens of which have lately been added . Thence , a storey higher , into the armoury , hung

" with pikes and guns , and bows , " where ghastly skeletons of armour , with tall lances resting in their lifeless hands , look down on you . The busts of Locke and Bacon , with grimy ivigs of dust on their marble pates , severely criticise you , and huge antlers project

menacingly from the Avails . The atmosphere is chilly , and the murky light , struggling through the small closely-latticed Avindows , tends towards making you feel as though you AA'ere in the longused vault of some feudal ruin . Glad to grasp a living hand and see once more modern

daylight , as the door closes , you pass on into " Ye Grete Halle , " Avhich rests on the arch spanning the roadway . Here the restoration , though not completed , is rapidly progressing . AVe enter by a Gothic doorway , and are in the room where David Garrick , when a young man , fresh from

the country , and with possibly but a bare vision of his after fame , made his first essay as an actor before the printer Cave , and a few of his journeymen . Here , too , came Samuel Johnson , Goldsmith , SaA'age , Lander , and many of the wits of the last century—writing , reading , and talking over the contents of the new number of the

" Gentlemen s Magazine . Here , also , at the present time meet many of those hardworking , thoughtful men , who contribute so much to our intellectual enjoyment . Under the title of the " Urban Club , " numbering some sixty members , many well-known literary , artistic , histrionic ,

and scientific gentlemen hold their fortnightly gatherings . The host has recently provided , for the special use of this club , a solid oaken bookcase , Avhich occupies the niche under the southern window . The shelves are gradually becoming filled with rare editions of Shakespeare ,

Ben Jonson , & c , presented by members , as well as presentation copies of the works of the members themselves . This " hall " is a large and lofty room , handsomely carpeted , and fitted witli tall-backed Elizabethan chairs , covered with crimson velvet . Busts and portraits of

Shakespeare , Samuel Johnson , Goldsmith , and other worthies , ivhose connection with the old gate deserve a record , are placed in prominent pj . iitioiu . A brilliant sunlight bar . i .-r illumes the r j im , which bring . - out the harmony of the dec -rations .

The ea'terii portion of St . John ' s Gate has still more recently been u : i . ler a si . n'liir process of restoration . Until within a short time back , a sort of diiuy store-home for lumber and extra stock in-trade , this pinion of the building now figures as a gay and inviting ltincheon-b ir . The

floor has been lowered fourteen inches , the ceiling cleaned , and its carved oak rafters varnished . The walls have been lulf-pannelled , which , with the front side of the counter , has been dadoed and chamfered in the Elizabethan

style , corresponding with the staircase , & c , on the eastern side . The new AVOOCI lias been stained a rich brown colour , to assimilate with tlie old oak rafters . The top of the counter is of polished oak , and the silvered handles of the engine show to advantage with this dark ground-

Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

work . The Avindow frames and doors have been remodelled , and Burnett and Co . ' s revolving shutters haA-e replaced the lumbering wooden structures previously used . The old Gothic door at the north-west entrance has been raised three feet . By the position of the old hinges of

the old door it is ascertained that the pavement in this spot must have been , in times past , at least that distance lower than at present . This door was the entrance to the old circular staircase , of solid oak , Avhich leads to the top of the

west tower . Some years ago , the loAver part of this staircase was removed , and a more modern style introduced ; but this part of the staircase has now been restored to its original character , and forms a very interesting feature .

The whole of these restorations were under the superintendence of AA . P . Griffith , Esq . F . S . A ., of Guildford-street . The builder to whom the carrying out of these instructions AA-as entrusted has certainly executed his part in a most satisfactory manner .

It may be a matter of interest to know that the foundation Avails of this old structure are ten feet seven inches in thickness , and many of the upper walls are more than four feet . The cellerage occupies an area of i , Soo superficial feet . —City Press .

Annual Fete Of The Masonic Institution For Boys.

ANNUAL FETE of the MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The annual summer fete of the above institution Avas held in the school ground and buildings , AVood-green , Tottenham , on Friday , the 8 th inst ., under the presidency of Bro . Col . Francis Burdett , Prov . G . M . Middlesex .

A variety of amusements AA-CI - provided in the grounds , but owing to the excessive heat of the weather they did not attract any of the guests till the evening , and from the same cause , no doubt , the atheletic sports by the bovs were also

deferred . All seemed to prefer examining the interior arrangements of the building , every part of which Avas deliciously cool . During the morning a selection of airs Avas played by the band kindly provided by Bro . Capt . G . Plucknett , V . P .

The cheerful , cleanly , and well-conditioned appearance of the boys was the theme of universal admiration , their happy and contented mien contrasting strongly with the usual appearance of the inmates of charitable institutions .

Tlie first part of the programme consisted of an overture and a march on the organ in the dining-hall . Bro . BINCKES , Secretary , said he hoped it would not be considered out of place if he made a feiv introductory remarks . He expressed the

great gratification they felt at the large number of ladies and gentlemen who were there on the jiresent occasion . Coming year after year , they feared that the monotony , to a certain extent inseparable from such affairs , would cause a considerable diminution in the numbers attending ,

and it had been a subject of considerable anxiety to the committee how to vary their arrangement . However , the brilliant gathering , they witnessed was a gratifying proof to them that their exertions were not entirely unappreciated . Their young

friend . ; were no . v about to sepirate , and proceed to their hones in v . iriou ; parts of t ! i . country ; some of them for tire List time , and it was to be hoped tint the benefits they h . ul received while i . i the institution woul I h ive an en . hiring and b melici . il eject un in their future career . It was

the object ol the institution to provide a sound education for the sons of brethren who had died , or whose circumstances rendered them tillable to provide it from their own means . It was a source of gratiii eation to the committee , as it must be t ) the brethren an 1 subscriber .- ; j . '/ enenlly , to witness ( he steady progress made by the

pupils . This progress , he said , was a convincing proof of the efficiency of the jiresent stall" of the school , and the / could not do less than express a sense of gratitude to the head master and assistants . List year , he said , they were , through sickness and other untoward circumstances , only able to send three boys to the Cambridge local examination . Out of these one passed with

Annual Fete Of The Masonic Institution For Boys.

honours , and the other two met Avith the commendation of the examiners . This year they had adopted the bold course of submitting to tlie Oxford local examination the whole of the firstclass boys , nineteen in number , out of which no less than fourteen passed with honours , a clear

evidence that the " cramming" system had not been resorted to , ivhereby the larger portion of the pupils are neglected in order to make a brilliant show in one or two instances . Bro . Binckes felt it necessary to make some apology for his constant appearance before the Craft for

the past nine years . It ivas , he felt , his duty to constantly pursue one point , and to persistently dilate upon one theme . He had but one subject to speak upon—that Avas to provide the means Avherewith to render this school efficient .

The Avant was urgent , and the glorious result he believed could never have been accomplished if he had not been persistent ; and both himself , the committee of the institution , and the brethren generally , might join in mutual congratulations at the success which had attended their

endeavours . Bro Binckes then presented the boys entitled to receive the prizes aAvarded in the classical department , which were presented to each recipient by the chairman , Col . Francis Burdett , Avith a few appropriate words of commendation and advice in each instance .

In the upper form prizes of the value of 21 s . each ivere awarded for classics to G . AV . Martin ; mathematics , to AV . Rumblow . G . AV . Martin also took the prizes for modern languages and

English . In the first class , three prizes value 15 s . each , ivere aivarded to AV . B . Redgrave for classics , mathematics , and modern languages ; and to A . F . AVallbridge for English .

In the second class , J . Spicer carried ott prizes for classics and modern languages , Avhile E . E . Earle took those for mathematics and English . Bro . Binckes then announced that to relieve the monotony of the proceedings , Madame Thaddeus AVells ( who had generously given her

services ) and others Avould sing . Bro . Binckes then announced that the prizes in the commercial department would be distributed . He proceeded to explain the reason which induced the committee to separate the school into divisions . This course was adopted

to meet the views of different brethren , and also to give the boys an opportunity of improving themselves in those branches of education for which by their natural talents , they were best adapted . The jirizes in the commercial department were distributed as follows : —

First Class . —Prizes 103 . each . Those for arithmetic and writing both fell to C . _" . H . Palmer ; while two prizes for history , geography , and another for English were awarded to 0 . Smith .

Second class . —Prizes value 7 s . 6 d . To J . Marjason fell that for arithmetic ; to A . M . Barnes , two prizes for history , geography , antl English ; and to J . E . Stead for writing . In the Preparatory Class , A J . A \ alkington took the prize of 5 s . for general proficiency ; and F . Treleaven the silver medal for good conduct

( presented at the Anniversary Festival in March last by I-I . R . H . the Prince of AVales ) . The prize for efficiency as monitor , of the value of one guinea , was gained bv AV . 15 . RedjTtve . Bro . Chevalier tie i . mt'ki then d . *! i ;' ite I the audience with one of his truly won lerful perlormince . -, on the piano , giving an "Andante" variation of Beethoven .

Bro . Braid , S . AV . of Urban Lodge , No . 1190 , same ; the " Death of Nelson , " accomp . viying himself on the piano . E . P . J ones give a recitation in Germr . i , "Ritter

Paris . " Bro . Chevalier de I . ontski again seated himself at the piano , and with IJro . lulersheim . P . M , •^ ° * 957 , on the violin , gave a most charming duet .

In introducing tlie recipients of the special prizes , presented by private donors , Pro . Binckes introduced H . Powell , who had gained thc " Canonbury Gold Medal , " value £ 4 . 4 s ., the gift of Bro . Rev . Dr . Cox ( presented at the festival ) . It is awarded by the boys themselves