Festival Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

'FOREIGN STATIONS . Five brethren , hailing from distant parts , complete the list , the sum of their lists being £ 52 10 s . It is worthy of remark that Bro . Surgeon Kiddle , of Cyprus , has taken part in all three Festivals of this year . These subscriptions are likewise a most welcome addition to the home total .

CONCLUDING REMARKS . We have now traversed the whole field of contribution , and though it is quite possible we may have passed unnoticed some lists which might have been specified , we have endeavoured to describe the Returns as fully and as accurately as the limits of our space will allow . We have also striven , and we trust not unsuccessfully , to avoid saying aught that might be calculated to give offence . We complete our task by congratulating the School , the Chairman , the Stewards , and the Craft generally on the success of the Festival .

Distribution Of Prizes At The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES AT THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

On Tuesday last , the eve of the 98 th Anniversary restival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , the Countess of Lathom attended at the School , Wood Green , to present the prizes to the successful pupils during the last year . Her ladyship was accompanied by her husband , the Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom , Pro Grand Master , and Prov . Grand Master for West Lancashire . About 400 brethren and ladies were present on the occasion , among them being Bros . Richard Eve , Past Grand Treasurer , Chairman of the Board of Management ; John Glass ,

George Corbie , W . Goodacre , Provincial Grand Secretary West Lancashire ; Henry Smith , Deputy Prov . Grand Master West Yorkshire ; W . F . Smithson , P . G . D . ; Stanley J . Attenborough ( who was a most efficient and courteous Director of Ceremonies ) ; W . Masters , Nash , A . C . Spaull , John Bodenham , Alderman E . G . Harwood , Diamond , Henry Pritchard , Robert Martin , W . A . Scurrah , R . J . Taylor , Triggs , R . J . Embleton , the Bursar of Lincoln College , Oxford , the Bursar of Rossall School , all the Committee of Management , and a very large number of Stewards .

The distinguished party arrived at three p . m ., and were received at the main entrance of the building by Bro . Richard Eve and the Board of Management . The Earl of Lathom then introduced the Head Master , Bro . the Rev . Harry Hebbs , M . A ., to the Countess of Lathom , and a beautiful bouquet was handed to her ladyship by the Head Master ' s youngest daughter . Her ladyship was next received by the Ladies' Reception Committee and members of

the Board in the Board Room , where the Secretary , Bro . J . Morrison McLeod , was introduced to her . A procession vvas thereafter formed , which conducted the Earl and Countess to the large hall , which was filled with a large number of brethren , the place being elegantly decorated . Here on the dais , the Earl and Countess , the Ladies' Reception Committee , the Chairman of the Board of Management , and the Head Master , took their places , and the Countess of Lathom distributed the following prizes :

FORM PRIZES . First Form—Leeming , Jarmain , and Chinneck . Second Form—Mundle and Hayes . Third Form—S . J . Mitchell and A . Williams . Fourth Form—Coupland and Green . Fifth Form—R . D . Williams and Lewis . Cambridge Local—Churchill , Gay , and Crompton .

PREPARATORY SCHOOL . First Form—Spain . Second Form—Svvornsbourne , W . J . Williams , and Kemp . Third Form—Carr and Moreton . Writing—Cooper , Somers , and Pinder .

SPECIAL SUBJECTS . Mathematics—Higgison , R . D . Williams , Crompton , and P . II . Matthews . French and German or Latin—Haines and Crompton . Physiography—Haines and Noorcroft ( equal ) . Sound , Light , and Heat—Harvey and Bingham . Drawing—Moorcroft , Steward , and Stephenson .

Writing—Pronger and Court . Singing—Melhuish , Waspe , and Jarmain . Pianoforte—Higgison , H . M . Harrison , and Clarke . Smartness ( Presented by Bro . Bolas)—Podmore . Gardening—Broadbent .

Carpentry—Cable . Printing—France . Mrs . D . P . Cama Memorial Prizes for Mental Arithmetic , Bookkeeping , Shorthand , and Drill—Churchill , Groves , Harris , Fawcett , Turner , Warren , Coupland , S . J . Mitchell , Mundle , Patience , Leeming , and Clarke .

The Wynn Prizes for boys who have gained certificates in the Cambridge Local Examination—Honours : France , Haines , Churchill , Foord , Manning , and Saville . — Passes : Angier , Brister , D'Oyly , Figgess , Fearon , Gay , Harvey , Hiegison , Huggett , Kent , Lewis , Leaman , Matthews , Moorcroft , Robey , Shorrock , and Williams . Canonbury Gold Medal—for the most popular boy ( selected by his

comrades—Fearon . Greenwood Memorial Prize—for good conduct during the whole of his school career —Haines . Watch and Chain—presented by the Supreme Council for good conduct—France . Institution Silver Medal—for the highest aggregate of marks in the examination—Haines .

Shorthand Prizes presented by Bro . W . F . Smithson and friends : ( 1 ) Harvey , ( 2 ) D'Oyly , ( 3 ) Neville . Williams , Lewis , Brister , Hayward , Aspinall , Pope , Lane , Moss , Oscroft , Harrison , France , Scholes , Haines , Stibbs , Churchill , Gay , Shorrock , and Oakes . These boys were examined by the Pitman Society and were awarded certificates , Harvey gaining the certificate of membership .

Bro . RICHARD EVE afterwards addressed the boys and the company . He congratulated the boys who had won prizes and encouraged those who had not . Although the prizes were given as a mark of the proficiency of the winners , yet they were intended also as an incentive to further work and industry . He trusted that that was the effect , that they would be a stimulus to those who had obtained them to use still greater exertions , and also incite those who were not so

fortunate to endeavour to merit on future occasions such marks of distinction . He then dwelt on the healthy tone of the boys , and said he was pleased to inform her ladyship that physically they were healthy too , for there was not one boy in the infirmary . He trusted that that state of things would long continue . Although the boys were efficient in their knowledge , as was shown by their examinations , the Committee had not lost sight of the absolute

desirability that physical education should not be neglected while mental and moral education were proceeding . He was pleased to find that the boys had in football and cricket distinguished themselves , and that they had succeeded in thrashing some competitors in schools larger than theirs , and who were much older . He was very pleased to think they could hold their own under any circumstances .

He thanked Lord and Lady Lathom for their attendance , and especially thanked the Countess for distributing the prizes . It mi ght be useful to know that music and drawing were taught toallthe boys in the School instead of only a section of them . The shorthand class had been very successful , and hc was pleased to find so many pupils had distinguished themselves in that branch of education and had obtained

Distribution Of Prizes At The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

certificates . Prizes were given for this branch of study , which was one that would , be very useful , as a knowledge of and dexterity in shorthand were the means of obtaining an excellent situation . Bro . Smithson gave a prize i ' or shorthand , and be thanked him for it . He wished her ladyship to understand distinctly that the boys who had attained proficiency in phonography worked up in their p laytime which showed that they took an interest in it , as they were depriving themselves of pleasure and relaxation by so doing .

The Countess of LATHOM , who on rising was loudly cheered , in a short address stated that she had had great pleasure in attending that ceremony . She vvas delighted with everything she had seen of the appearance and condition of the boys . She was quite satisfied that the Institution was doing a great and good work . She wished it success in the future , and promised that she would do all she could to lend it a helping hand at all times .

A choice programme of music was then performed by the boys in admirable style , but the " Toy Symphony" was generally admitted to be the most effectively rendered .

Refreshments were afterwards served , and the proceedings closed shortl y after five o ' clock . On the whole it was one of the most successful gatherings on prize day that the Institution has ever had .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Lincolnshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF LINCOLNSHIRE .

ANNUAL MEETING AT BARTON . The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held on the 12 th inst . , at Barton , under the banner of the St . Matthew Lodge , No . 1447 , and under the presidency of Bro . W . H . Smyth , J . P ., D . L ., assisted by Bro . J . Fowler ( Mayor of Louth ) , D . P . G . M ., and by other Provincial Grand Officers . No less than 161 brethren were present from all parts of the county .

Provincial Grand Lodge having been opened , the rolls were called , minutes read , and returns and reports received . A vote of thanks was passed to Bro . the Rev . J . G . Bayles for presentation of Prov . Grand Chaplain ' s jewel—a timely gift . It vvas decided that 30 guineas be granted to the Prov . Grand Charity Stewards —Bros . C . E . Ward and W . Goodwin—as a contribution for this year to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . The P . G . M . made the following appointments and investments of the

Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing year : Bro . F . D . Davy ,. 1 447 ... ... ... ... p v . S . G . W . „ W . T . Sharpe , 1304 ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . Thos . Gregory , 2351 ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ C . M . Nesbit , 712 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ Hy . Watson , 297 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ B . Vickers , 297 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ T . Mountain , 12 94 ... ... ... ... p v . S . G . D . „ C . P . Morton , 272 ... ... ... ... p . J . . D .

„ W . Langbndge , 2078 ... ... ... pr 0 v . G . S . of W . „ W . H . Roberts , 792 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ G . Todd , 1282 ... ... ... ... p rov . A . G . D . C . „ C . F . Bedford , 588 ... ... ... ... p . G . S . B . „ G . Middleton , 792 ... ... ... ... " i „ M . Enderby , 18 93 ... ... ... j Prov . G . Std . Brs . „ H . L . Burtenshaw , 1482 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ H . W . Meggitt , 1447 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ F . G . Shilcock , 1232 ... ... ... p rov . G . Purst .

„ A . Wykes , 2284 ... ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . ,, D . Stephenson , 272 ... ... .,, ... "* „ S . Thurlby , 2 97 ... ... ... „ J . Clare , 588 ... ... ... ... I „ Mark Smith , 712 ... ... ... _ | -Prov . G . Stwds . ,, J . Reddish , 792 „ J . Norfolk , 2351 „ W . Donner , 1 447 •¦• ••• ••• ... Prov . G . Tyler .

It was decided to hold the Prov . Grand Lodge next year at Grantham , on June 21 st The PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER remarked that at one time there were only four lodges in the province , whereas now there are 24 , with 106 7 members , so there vvas every reason for satisfaction with the way the province was going on . He had had three other applications to hold the Provincial Grand Lodge , but tbey had to be put off .

A banquet afterwards took place at the Oddfellows' Hall , The Prov . G . M * , Bro . Hy . Smith , presided , and he was supported by the D . P . G . M ., Bro . James Fowler , and most of the P . G . Officers . About 80 sat down . After the toasts of " The Queen and the Craft , " and " The M . W . G . M . and Grand Ollicers , Present and Past , " had been dul y honoured ,

Bro . LAWTON gave " The Prov . Grand Master , the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , and the rest of the Prov . Grand Officers , Present and Past . " He observed that before a man could take a leading part in Masonry he must be a thoroughly genial man , he must be a business man , and he must have a love of Masonry at heart .

The Prov . Grand Master of Lincolnshire possesses every one of these qualities . As to the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , he had the pleasure of meeting him some years ago in restoring a church . Time had passed since then , and they both had become grey-headed . But one thing he ( Bro . Lawton ) was proud of was that he saw on that platform two of their members in the oldest Prov . Grand

Officers—Bros . Meggitt and Davy . The CHAIRMAN , in replying , said he had been connected with that province 25 years . During that time he had lost many old friends and found new ones . He thanked the brethren for the enthusiasm and kindness they had always shown towards him . With regard to the Prov . Grand Officers he had been particularly fortunate . The Duke of St . Albans vvas often in London , and a great deal

devolved upon him ( the speaker ) , and he was very much indebted to the officers . He had as good officers as any province ever possessed—especiall y in Bros . Lucas and Marsden and their present Secretary ( Bro . Vickers ) . Bro . Greenwood , too , had worked hard ; he it was who framed the by-laws , and they had heard that during the year he journeyed 700 miles to solicit contributions . Bro . Fowler had visited the lodges and been of great service . Indeed , he might say the same ol all the Past Grand Officers .

The Dep . P . G . M ., Bro . FOWLER , proposed a toast which he said every brother present would be deeply interested in , as it was " The Health of the Worship f 1 ' Master and Officers of St . Matthew Lodge . " They were assembled under their banner , and their best thanks were due for the way in which they had received them . The reception was such as had seldom been given to Provincial Grand Lodge wherever it has gone . There had been a better amount of taste disp lays "

in the lodge by members of the St . Matthew ' s Lodge , aided , he had no doubt , By some other and more delicate fingers than their own . They wished every P ' perity to St . Matthew ' s Lodge . It was not a very old one , but they could see from the officers who had been promoted that day that they had efficient brethren among them . The way in which the lodge put those members forward for office showed that it ranked as one of the leading lodges in the province . In conclusio he said they most heartily wished the Master and the lodge every prosperity .