Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

or taxes , that the hay appears to make itself , and the animals are looked after for the ridiculously small sum of a farthing per head per week , and it includes , apparently , milking and butter making . ( Hear , hear . ) And apart from this , there is another item in the accounts , which , perhaps , is more easily explained than that of farming . I observe that the

expenses of the Festival of last year amounted to a sum which would maintain five boys in the Institution , and with something like two-and-a-half per cent , on the total amount realised by the Festival . Now , it strikes me that it would be a very good thing if the expense of collecting was reduced at the same time that the full amount could be

realised . I do not say that is possible , but it would be a very good thing indeed if we could have two or more boys in the School and keep them out of the expenses of the Festival . I am glad , indeed , to hear , and I had it on good authority , that the managers of the Institutions have determined to institute an independent inquiry into the charges which have been preferred

against them . ( Cheers . ) I have little doubt that the results of that inquiry will be satisfactory to all interested in the Institution . But in the House of Commons we have got tired of official assurances that all is right —( A V OICE—No politics . ) No , I am not going to talk politics , you need not be afraid—but I do say lhat official assurances that all is right are

somewhat at a discount in another part of this country—another Institution in this country—and , therefore , I rejoice to see the statement that there is to be an independent inquiry , which will lead , I have little doubt , to the refutation of the injurious statements against the reputation of the Institution and the result of that inquiry will be to restore confidence in it

, among all Freemasons' in every part of England . ( Hear , hear . ) Now , I hope in making these remarks I shall not be thought to have exceeded my duty as Chairman this evening . ( Hear , hear . ) It would have been easy enough and pleasanter to have buttered everything freely all round , but I do not think that indiscriminate praise is any assistance to an Institution .

I have spoken with a sincere desire to benefit the Masonic Institution for Boys , and although my comments on the Report may have been somewhat critical , yet for the Institution itself , so far as my experience of it goes , I have nothing but praise . I went down there the other day on my own account and looked at it , if I may say so , unofficially . A couple of boys , picked

out at random , I know , were told off to do me the honours of the School , two very nice boys , well spoken , well dressed , and clean , taking an interest in their School , an interest which , from what I could see of the premises , and of the system , was thoroughly deserved . I deeply regret that the illness of Bro . Plucknett prevents my coupling his name with this toast as

Treasurer of the Institution , but his place will be ably filled by the Secretary of the Institution , and in conclusion I give you " Prosperity to lhe Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , and the Health of the Secretary , Bro . Binckes . " ( Cheers . ) The toast was drunk with all the honours .

Bro . BINCKES , who was received with loud and long continued applause , in replying , said : R . W . Bro . Chairman , Ladies and Brethren , I think I may fairly state that this occasion may be characteristically described as one of entire innovation . ( Hear , hear . ) It is the first occasion in my long experience that a Masonic Festival has been held in Freemasons' Tavern

where the ladies and brethren had sat down at the same tables to enjoy themselves , as I hope they have done this evening , administered to satisfactorily while assisting in the cause of one of our great Institutions , instead of being relegated , the ladies themselves , to the cold mercy of the gallery . It is 13 years ago in the history of this Institution , we made an alteration

which I always thought has given satisfaction , and although our numbers this evening are comparatively few , especially with regard to our lad y friends , I sincerely hope and trust that what has been done to promote their comforts has been not altogether in vain . Another innovation is that in my experience , certainly in connection with this Institution , the Secretary

has never been called upon until to-night to reply to the toast of Prosperity to our Institutions , and I very deeply deplore on the present occasion that the duty has devolved upon me because it is occasioned by the illness unfortunately of one whom we very greatly esteem and respect , and whose services for a long number of

years past have been cheerfully and generously given in support of the Institution , in connection with which he occupies the distinguished and responsible position of Treasurer . We have listened to our Bro Plucknett on each occasion with a large amount of satisfaction , and I am sure I shall be allowed to convey to him that our sympathetic regret , and he will regret that

, he was not here to-night to discharge the duty which he has discharged with credit to himself and satisfaction to you . ( Hear , hear . ) Another innovation b y which these proceedings have been distinguished is that for the first time in my experience on an occasion like this we have had allusion very properl y made by our able and distinguished chairman , and one who

brings to every subject which he is associated with a discernment and a spirit of inquiry that I am sure will commend itself to every one associated with the arrangements of the Institution , and to all its friends who are so numerousl y represented here . But let me assure you that those to whom ¦ usion is made connected with the executive department of the Institution ar P " eeply indebted to him for the allusion he has made to the slanderous .

umnious and malacious statements made against the Institution . I stand ere in the presence of several members of the House Committee of our to t 1 , tutlori j an < ^ I y that we not only do dot shirk inquiry but are about . ake steps to invite a dispassionate and an honest and an impartial inna 'T ' n ^ > hear , ) Before I make allusion to certain remarks which I „ f - . fr ° m our Chairman with reference to certain departments of our rou ' rf 0 n ' ^ ^ k w ' ' me * a moment— * * believe I am sur-... L . b y friends who thoroughly realise their obligations as

Masonsstitut ' desire with reference to the management of their Masonic Inwhe t 0 . ^ lose pe rsons I will put the question plainly , that lion ^ P nions are instituted in the past between our Instituj [ t i an those of others , before I direct attention to various matters , , e y roake a difference in the estimate formed of the Institution , is it ri _ ,. ; desire as friends of the Masonic Institutions , is it not vour

unde * See l ' conducted as Masonic or pauper I have always shade ? ^ at ' administering these institutions everything in the cold c ° mfo f c ^ arit y should be eliminated from it , that you should have every th at w - ,. can P 0 SsibIy have , the best of clothing , the best of food , and hav e ' i ' - ^ 'ggard hand ; and that in illness in the best possible way PUr Pos V f w . out calculating what we can save per head , and for the certain ? ' g that cost per head loose by death or by disablement a had be ' 30 rVon . f those admitted . Now , when I told you that comparison a "usion er j , " ? ' tutecl with the expenditure on our Institutions to which St aff 0 r , J ™ . been made by our chairman—I allude to the Province of stiire—one of our brothers made a reference to or drew a com-

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

parison with the London Orphan Asylum , has been increased on account of a severe outbreak of illness , he does not do us the justice to tell us in our School in the autumn months last year we had an outbreak and we dealt liberally , generously , and thoroughly with the matter , and with 51 casessome of the most malignant character—we did not lose a boy ( hear , hear ) that in saving those valuable lives we spent £ 400 . No word of allusion to

this special expenditure ( hear , hear , and cheers ) . Well , then , I can go further and say with reference to clothing and a home , I do not believe that we spend with reference to our contracts one shilling in excess of our contracts of any other school , but I do say we are more liberal with reference to our allowance of clothing , and I hope more liberal with reference to our allowance of food . Another thing overlooked was rates

and taxes . Our Institution is a suburban one ; we are overwei ghted with taxation and it is a source of annoyance and trial to us . All the other institutions referred to are rated very differently to ours , being situated in the vicinity of the metropolis ( hear , hear ) . Let me leave these allusions to other large establishments because I am so dreadfully afraid if I went into them I should become wearisome . ( No . ) Then one of our

Chairman s mysteries is the farm account . There is no mystery in it , if you look into it , it is all net profit . The expenditure on that farm account is included in our wages and what we pay to our own people , and all these things we show in our farming account are net profit ; all the result of our judicious management 1 Every penny of it is all to the good . The hay making all by our own workmen ; the attention to our poultry , pigs ,

our cattle and all the rest are included in the expenditure for wages and what we produce in the shape of milk , eggs , poultry , and all the rest of it , hay and grass , all included , is just as much net profit , and therein is the good explanation of that which on the face of it is a mystery . And then as to our Festival expenses , our Chairman is under a misapprehension ; that does not include the expense of this Festival , which does not cost one

shilling , but is paid out of the surplus of the Stewards' fund . During the time of my unsuccessful administration the Board of Stewards has given out of their surplus £ 600 to the funds of the Institution . What the large expenditure means is what the noble lord saw last Saturday when we think it our duty , as well as our privilege , to extend our hospitality to the Stewards and their friends , and the friends of the bovs that were

educated there , to comedown and see the results of our trainingand education , and witness the rewards with which they are honoured , and we think when they come labouring in our behalf we cannot do less than do something in the shape of giving them a little well-administered generosity . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) I must say a word—I did not intend to do so , but the noble lord has given me an opportunity—with reference to this anonymous

circular . Well , now ladies and brethren , there is not anything in this world so easy as to destroy an individual reputation or the reputation of any organisation as by any one , or a small body of men , sitting down recklessly placing into print what they choose to disseminate widely , and shrinking from the responsibility of supporting those statements by attaching their signatures to the circulars . I undertake to say , without expressing any

opinion whatever , they nave no claim to cleverness . I will sit down to-ni ght , and against the House of Commons or any distinguished body in this world , and state any estimated amount of charges which shall have some weight but which , if not vouched for , ought to be discarded at once . But , discounting as we do , and knowing as we do from a large experience that vve have all gone through , that an enormous organisation like that of

Freemasonry , increasing as it has done to an enormous extent of late years , there are , I was going to say , a few , I will say if you like a considerable number who are not acquainted with details which anyone who makes himself or herself master of , the House Committee will be , rightly or wrongly , in the estimation of the Craft or not , too happy to institute , and they have undertaken to institute , by a notice of motion for the Quarterly Meeting

of the 27 th July , an impartial inquiry into the discipline and management of the Boys' School . I hope that I may say that it is perfectly certain the more minute that inquiry the more satisfactory will be the result . Brethren , may I put this one question to you—what interest can anyone have—whatever his position may be in connection with an Institution like ours , than to do the best they possibly can for the interesting objects the

sons and daughters of Freemasons who are committed to our care in these Institutions ? We have no self-aggrandisement , we have no selfish object , and if we spend one pound more than some Masons think desirable , what is that amount spent for ? Not for my comfort , not for the advantage or comfort of any individual member of the Committee , but for the comfort of those boys and girls . ( Hear , hear . ) Before I leave this

question of comparison let me ask you to bear this in mind , if I am not wearying you , that the Boys' School occupies an exceptional position . All the recipients of the benefits of our Institution are of our own stern sex , the most expensive to deal with . ( Laughter . ) In the Girls'School they are all girls . The expenditure of an Institution all for girls and of an Institution all for boys must be different . Look at our educational staff , look at

their educational staff ; look at what they do in making their own clothing ; look at what they do in all branches of domestic work . We cannot do that at the Boys' , Go to the Commercial Travellers' and the London Orphan Asylum , between whom and us the comparison is instituted—they are composed partly of one sex and partly of the other ; but in ours we are composed of one sex , and all the expenditure is for the promotion

of comfort , and everything else which necessitates large expenditure . ( Hear , hear . ) Now I think I have tolerably well exhausted these various subjects of which I am sorry and deeply regret that there should have been occasion to say one word . I should have liked this meeting to have passed over without any subject of a controversial nature being introduced ; but an allusion has been made to these matters , and as at the

present moment these things are rife , I do trust you will not think I have trespassed on you in vain in endeavouring , as honestly as I can on an occasion like this to meet these charges . Unless proof as strong as Holy Writ can be brought to justify these monstrous , malicious allegations , you will at least suspend your judgment and give us credit for honesty ( hear , hear ) . I know you are exceedingly indulgent to me , and I . should be trespassing

too much on your kindness and consideration if I said another word on this most unwelcome—to me—subject of discussion . I would to God they would pass away and leave nothing behind them than their memory ; but brethren , I can assure you on behalf of both members of the House Committee and myself , thank God , we can present a front before you and show before

you , by the honesty of our convictions and the honesty of our expressions , that we invite inquiry , and do not shrink from investigation . We know , by a long experience , that what we have done is the best which we possibly can do to educate your sons or the sons of such as you , and to fit them for a career in after life as we best may , as I hope many of you saw at our