Laying The Foundation Stone Of The New Grammar School, Cheltenham.

boys together at school ; and we test it with the plumb-rule as an emblem of that justness and uprightness of thought and action which we trust will always characterise both teachers and scholars at this school . VVe also pour out corn , the symbol of that plenty , both of pupils and the means to educate them , which we hope will always be forthcoming here ; we pour out wine , the symbol of that

cheerfulness which ought to rule all the actions of those who will be educated and those who educate them ; and finally , we pour upon it oil , the symbol of that peace which we trust may subsist between the governors , the masters , and the boys of this school . And now I will conclude by wishing all prosperity and success to the undertaking in which we are engaged , and by calling upon the Prov . G . Chaplain

to appeal for that prosperity and success to that quarter from which alone it can come . Bro . Dr . LYNES , Prov . Grand Chap ., then offered up an appropriate prayer , after which the boys , under the direction of Bro . J . A . Matthews , P . P . G . Org ., sang the hymn " All people that on earth do dwell . " Bro . W . H . GWINNETT , P . P . G . Treas ., chairman of the

School Governors , then placed in a cavity m the lower stone two bottles , the contents of which he described , they comprising local papers , documents bearing the names of the governors , teachers , and boys of the schools , current coins of the realm , and a local Jubilee medal . The Prov . Grand Master then adjusted the cement on the face of the lower stone , with a trowel handed to him

for the purpose , and the upper stone was lowered in due form . The Prov . Grand Master next proved the just position and form of the stone by the plumb rule , level , and square , which were successively delivered to him by the Prov . J . G . W ., S . G . W ., and Deputy G . Master . Being satisfied in these particulars , the Prov . Grand Master gave the stone three knocks with the mallet , which was handed

to him by the Past Deputy Prov . Grand Master , and declared the stone " well and truly laid . " The Prov . Grand Stewards then delivered the corn , wine , and oil to the Prov . Grand Master , who strewed the corn , and poured the wine and oil over the stone in ancient form . The architect , Bro . Knight , and the builder , Bro . Collins , were next presented to the Prov . Grand Master by Bro . Alderman

Parsonage , Deputy Mayor , one of the Governors of the School . The Prov . Grand Master , having inspected the plan of the intended building , delivered the same to the architect , together with the tools used in proving the position of the stone , and desired the builder to proceed without loss of time to the completion of the work in conformity with the plan . The Town Crier having rung

his bell and cried " Oyez , Oyez , God save the Queen , " Bro . J . B . WINTERBOTHAM , Prov . G . W ., one of the Governors of the School , and Hon . Secretary of that-body , then mounted the stone , and thanked the Prov . G . M . for his presence , and for sanctioning on this occasion the use of those Masonic honours , which have not been witnessed in Cheltenham for upwards of 60 years . He was sure he did

not exaggerate when he said that there was no single Englishman who did not sympathise with Sir Michael in the illness which laid him aside for a time , and none felt greater pleasure than they in Gloucestershire at his recovery , and they welcomed him to his own county . They were grateful to see him amongst them that day exercising , at any rate to some extent , operative rather than

speculative Masonic implements , wielding the trowel instead of the ancient gavel , and they prayed that the Great Architect of the Universe might deign that a superstructure should be raised perfect in all its parts , and honourable not only to him who had laid this first stone , to the founder of the school , and to those whom it was intended should receive benefit within the walls of the new building , but also to this

fair town of Cheltenham , to which they hoped these schools would for many years to come prove an honour , benefit , and ornament . The ceremony was brought to a conclusion wilh the singing of the National Anthem and cheers for Sir Michael . Subsequently upwards of 200 sat down to a recherche

luncheon laid by Mr . George in the Assembly Rooms . Bro W . H . Gwinnett , chairman of the School Governors , occu pied the chair , amongst those present being Bro . Sir M Hicks-Beach , M . P ., and Bro . J . T . Agg-Gardner , M . P After luncheon a lengthy toast list was gone through . "The Oueen " having been duly honoured ,

Bro . J . B . WINTERBOTHAM proposed , in eloquent terms , " The Pious Memory of Richard Pate . " He remarked that the endowment was made 300 years ago , and it was not altogether immaterial to mention , in these days of depression , and depreciation , when some people thought that the value of property had diminished , that the endowment , which in Queen Elizabeth's time was worth £ 73 19 s .

. ( d ., in the Jubilee year of the greater Queen exceeded £ 2500 . Much of this property had been presented to Richard Pate 12 years before by Elizabeth , " out of her Divine and fervent zeal for good learning , " and it might be assumed that he spent those 12 years in erecting his school-house , establishing his school , and perfecting those wonderful ordinances whereby he provided for all things

that might happen . The final endowment , when he left it to the president and scholars of Corpus Christi College , Oxford , as trustees , came none too soon , for the autumn of the following year strewed its leaves over his grave . He died at the age of 72 years , having lived in four reigns . The toast having been drunk in silence , Bro , AGG-GARI ? NER , M . P ., in proposing "Success to

the Grammar School , " said that the success they wished to imply was not merely a commercial success , but that the success waiting on the future Grammar School should be that of the pupils , the teachers , the town in which they lived , and the country which they hoped it would be their best interest to serve . He coupled with the toast

the name of the head master , Mr . Styles ; if they might accept the past and present as an augury of the future , his career showed that the omens of success were with them , and friends of the school might look forward to a realisation of the most sanguine anticipations with reference to the school .

Mr . STYLES having acknowledged the toast , The CHAIRMAN proposed "The Health of the Trustees , " coupling with it the name of Dr . FOWLER , President of Corpus Christi College , who responded .

Bro . Baron DE FERRIERES , in proposing "The Health pf Bro . Sir Michael Hicks-Beach , " said this was the first time he had appeared in public in Cheltenham since the trying and sad illness which he trusted he was now surely recovering from . It seemed but a few years since they looked with great pleasure , and almost with wonder , upon the progress

Laying The Foundation Stone Of The New Grammar School, Cheltenham.

made in public life by Sir Michael , and the prospect he had of reaching the highest offices of the State , and the intelligence that some failing of the sight was likely to put an end to his political life fell upon them , as it must upon Sir Michael himself , like a thunderclap ; but now that cloud was passing away . and he was sure the sympathy that had been called forth would make up for many of the trials

of that illness . They hoped that now he was restored to health he would be able to carry on those labours which he felt sure would be for the welfare of his country , and that he would be enabled once more to take up that position in the State he was so well calculated to fill , and to use for benefit of his country . Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH , who on rising to respond

was very cordially received , said he could assure them nothing was more agreeable to him than to remember the friendly and cordial sympathy which was shown towards him on al ! sides at the time of his sudden trial last spring , and nothing could be more pleasant now than to feel that when he was able once more to take a part , he hoped a useful part , in public life , he came among them as friends ,

whether they agreed or differed with him in political opinions . He was glad that one of his first appearances , after his return , should be at a place which was associated with so many agreeable memories of the past , politically , socially , and friendly , of all kinds , but he was perhaps more glad than anything that he met them in connection with a subject on which they could all feel in common , and

which raised no hostile differences of opinion among them . 'Ihe proceedings of that day had been interesting from a Masonic and an educational point of view . Remembering what fell from Mr . Winterbotham , when he told them that 60 long years had elapsed since Cheltenham had been favoured with a sight of a Masonic ceremony , he was glad that the Freemasons had that day been able to dissipate a

most dangerous and unfounded delusion . They all knew that the fair sex had no voices , but they were mortal and had a few agreeable failings , and one of the most remarkable of them was a tendency to jump at too rapid conclusions from insufficient premises . He was speaking in the presence of many Freemasons who had heard their lady friends speak of Freemasonry as a society the

members of which merely associated for a display of their inordinate vanity in fine dress and love of good dinners . That day ' s proceedings showed how utterly unworthy were such statements . Far from their making a great display that day , they emerged humbly and quietly from the ruins and sandpits into their presence at the ceremony , after which they as quietly disrobed , and so far from thinking of

anything connected with good cheer , they performed their share of the work without fee or reward , and it was due to the Governors of the school that they were now so happily assembled around that festive board . For the future he hoped every lady wouldimpress upon herfriends two things—firstly , that Freemasons were the most humble and retiring of all individuals , and secondly that the last thing they ever thought

of was a good dinner . The proceedings of the day had been of great interest from an educational point of view . He confessed Cheltenham had always struck him as being overdone with educational institutions , and some might have wondered why there should be a grammar school , or what on earth it could find to do except to attract pupils from other less fortunate schools . But he thought those

who reflected upon the proper functions of grammar schools would see that there was a real opening for its work quite independently of all the other educational institutions , and not only for all work but for all the funds it possessed . The founders of their grammar school and those who dealt with them now bore in mind this fact , lhat there was great need of a link between the university and elementary systems

of education . He believed the grammar schools supplied that link , and his friend who was sitting near him had , in furtherance of that view founded a scholarship in connection with Cheltenham Grammar School , available for scholars attending the elementary schools . After all , their ancestors were not such fools as some of the wise young people of to-day seemed to imagine . Take one

instancetechnical education about which they heard so much nowa-days , What was the desire for technical education after all but a feeling that there had been a very great mistake made by the practical abolition of that system of apprenticeship which was so widely and profitably known in England a few generations ago ? And so again with elementary education . Had not this generation been making a great

mistake in attempting to add on to elementary education excrescences that did not in any degree belong to it : Was it not utterly unfair upon those who had to pay for elementary education that an attempt should be made in the elementary schools to teach not only the three R ' s or the foundation of future knowledge , but all kinds of sciences and languages which certainly would

not , however valuable in themselves , be likely to from any practical part in the working life of 99 out of every 100 of the children educated there . Would it not be better if anything was to be superadded to Ihe educational work of the elementary schools , that some instruction in handicrafts or some things that would be really useful io thc men and women of the future , who must , after all , whatever our

state of civilisation , be largely employed in such work , should be taught them , instead of the languages and sciences . He was far from suggesting that these languages and sciences ought net to be taught , or that the fullest opportunity ought not to be given to the child of the poorest labourer to learn such things , if he is fitted to learn them , and to raise himself to a position in society ; but the way to

learn such things was by means of such scholarships as their friend had founded for the benefit of scholars in the elementary schools , going to the grammar school and obtaining the highest education there , and then proceeding from the grammar school to the University , and crowning their career there . Therefore , if those connected with Corpus Christi College should find , on mature consideration , that they could aid the Cheltenham Grammar School

in some more material and practical way than either by their management of its property or even by their genial presence on those occasions ^ he thought that in some such way as he had indicated their efforts might be very usefully employed , and without any harm to the real intentions of the founder . He thanked them once more for their kindness , assuring them that wherever he was , and whatever he did , he should always have a corner in his heart tor such a town as Cheltenham .

Bro . R . V . VASSAR-SMITH , in submitting the toast of "The Mayor and Corporation of Cheltenham , " mentioned that Richard Pate was a member of the Gloucester Corporation , being the Recorder of Gloucester . He congratu-

Laying The Foundation Stone Of The New Grammar School, Cheltenham.

lated the Mayor On being at the head of a body whom he was expected ' to lead and not to be driven , and trusted he might be given health and strength to carry out the duties of his office with ability and courtesy . The Mayor , Mr . J . HADDON , in response , said this should be marked as a red-letter day in the Cheltenham calendar . This was a step in the right direction ; they had started a

fine building that would be a credit to the town and a boon to the rising generation , and he hoped they would be able to say that they had a good Grammar School at which boys could have a first-rate education at a normal cost . Col . FORD , the new Master of the Ceremonies at Cheltenham , proposed "The Colleges and Schools of this Town , " and pointed out how the prosperity of the town

of Cheltenham depended on the welfare of its educational institutions . He coupled with the toast the names of Dr . Kynaston ( principal of Cheltenham College ' , the Rev . C . Naylor ( head master of the Crypt Grammar School , Gloucester ) , and Miss Beale ( principal of the Cheltenham Ladies ' College ) . Dr . KYNASTON , in responding , said that whatever thc

difference might be between a college and a school , or whether they presided over a public , private , proprietary , endowed , chartered , or unchartered educational institution they had but one object in view . Like those masons who would now set to work on the structure of the Grammar School , they took their materials in hand , engraved on them the mark of education , and shaped them as to be fit to be

placed in their proper position in the great structure of civilised society . Their methods might differ , but they were agreed on vital points , and this agreement had been much developed by the founding in Cheltenham of the Teachers ' Guild , much of the life which kept it going being furnished by many members of the Training College . It struck him as a very ill-advised thing that people did not come to

reside in this county and send their children to the schools and colleges of Cheltenham . The place was conveniently situated , while its climate was beautiful ; in fact , when one considered thnt there was everything in this county to deve-Iope a " corpus sanum , " it seemed extraordinary that any

one should fail to place in that " corpus sanum " a "sana mens . " The Corporation were able to do much by rendering the town attractive to residents , and the educational authorities would try to do the same , and if they could form a league for the purpose , let them join hand in hand and do so .

The Rev . C . NAYLOR also responded . \ Other toasts were "The Visitors , " proposed by the CHAIRMAN , and responded to by Mr . H . M . J EFFREY , late Head Master of the Grammar School , and " The Governors , " proposed by Sir M . HICKS BEACH , and responded to by the CHAIRMAN . The new school will be in the Elizabethan style , Messrs

Knight and Chatters being the architects . It will be arranged in three blocks , the form being somewhat like the letter F inverted and reversed . The connecting corridors will be nine feet wide . The front building , facing Highstreet , will be occupied by the assembly room , 68 feet by 32 feet and 27 feet in height , with the addition of a large bay on the left 15 feet by 6 feet . On the right of the principal

entrance under the tower will be the governor's boardroom , with business or waiting-room adjoining , and over these apartments and the entrance hall will be the rooms set apart for class-rooms or school library . The second block will be in the rear of the front buildings , and run parallel to them . It will contain rooms for the head master , boys' dining-room , drying-room and caretaker ' s

residence , whilst on the first floor above will be the preparing room , & c ., the floors being made fire proof . The third portion will be at right angles to the former buildings , and will contain on the ground and first floors seven class-rooms , each 24 feet by 22 feet , assistant master ' s room and room for drawing 45 feet by 22 feet , the windows of this room being lofty and with a northern aspect . The front buildings

will be set back about 12 feet from the street line and will take the whole of the frontage now occupied by the old school premises and the master ' s house . Accommodation is provided for over 300 boys , and the sanitary , ventilating , and warming arrangements will be effected on the newest principles . The old school was founded in 1578 by Richard Pate , who provided a valuable endowment for the

purpose . All the arrangements were perfect and passed off without a hitch , thanks to the energy of the Hon . Secretaries , Messrs . G . Norman and E . Lawrence .

Presentation To Bro . John Osborn, P.P.G. Std. Br., Middx.

PRESENTATION TO BRO . JOHN OSBORN , P . P . G . Std . Br ., Middx .

A meeting of the members of the Sir Hugh Myddelton and Citadel Lodges and the Sir Hugh Myddelton Chapter was held at the Cock Tavern , Highbury Station on Friday , the 23 rd inst ., the object being to pay a graceful compliment to Bro . John Osborn , P . M ., P . Z ., P . P . G . Std . Br ., MiddxThe

. brethren of the lodges and chapters mentioned , having heard with great regret that Bro . Osborn had had a valuable watch stolen from him on his return from the last meeting of the Citadel Lodge , a general desire was felt that it should be replaced by another which would serve to mark the respect and esteem with which he is regarded . Bro . John Weston , W . M . 1 S 97 , occupied the chair

, and was supported by Bros . Homan , W . M . 1602 ; Greenfield , P . M . 1602 ; T . I . Bird , P . P . G . S . B . Middx . ; W . H . Lee , P . P . G . D . Middx . ; Von Holtorp , S . W . 1 S 97 ; Hughes , J . VV . 1 S 97 ; Jno . Osborn , P . P . G . S . B . Middx . ; Weedon , 813 ; Snook , P . M . 1 G 93 ; Chas . Dearing , J . W . 1 ( 302 ; Cave ; Garner , S . D . 1602 ; W . Wright , 1 S 97 i Everett , Baker , Green , W . W . Lee , and others .

.. ^" P ^ justice having been done to a substantial repast , Ihe Queen and the Craft " was given by the presiding brother . " Bro . J WESTON , W . M . 1897 , then said it was his pleasure to propose the toast of the evening . They had met to honour one whom the majority present had known for many years . It had been his pride and pleasure to be associated with

Bro . Osborn for a lengthy period , for they were almost twins in Freemasonry , and had worked shoulder to shoulder in the Craft . He had found Bro . Osborn always ready to give time and the benefit of his experience to brethren desiring Masonic instruction . He had felt considerable pride in his association with ' that brother , for no man had won his esteem and regard as ha had done . They had been connected by many ties , and if they had differed they had listened' with respect to