The Masonic Mirror.

that I feel I am not able to make an impassioned appeal on behalf of the institution which might have a sensible effect on yonr liberality , but I may say that I am told this is the largest meeting we have ever had in connection with the institution . ( Hear , hear . ) I will , therefore , close my remarks by saying , that , as this is the largest gathering we have ever had , I hope

the contributions will be the largest we have ever had . ( Applause . ) I give you , "The Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . " The toast was enthusiastically responded to . * - Ballad— "Why Throbs the Heart ? " ( "Desert Flower , " ) which led to a rapturous encore .

Bro . BINCKES , the Secretary , then proceeded to read the list of subscriptions , which amounted to £ 1 , 213 , with 20 lists to come , ten of which he stated ho knew would produce fully £ 150 , and concluded by thanking the bretliren for their continued and munificent liberality . The CHAIEJIAN then gave , " The Vice-Presidents , Trustees ,

General Committee , House Committee , and Auditors of Accounts . " Bro . HOPWOOD , P . G . D ., as a member of the House and General Committee , replied , and expressed the gratification of the ollieers at the noble results of the evening . The next toast was , " The Royal Freemasons' Girls' School ,

and the Benevolent Annuity Funds . " Bro . PATI'EX , P . G . S . B ., Sec . of the Girls' School , acknowledged the toast . He must first congratulate Bro . Fairfield on the handsomeresults which hael attended the festival of the

Benevolent Institution m January , ancl next he must congratulate Bro . Binckes ou the very flattering response to his exertions that evening . He begged to remind tho brethren that the festival of the Girls' School would take place on the llth May , when he trusted every brother then present would attend , or send a friend to take his place . He could not invite them all to come and bring a friend , for if they they did the house

would not be able to hold them . ( Laughter . ) Ho had perhaps not quite so strong a case as Bro . Binckes this year , for appealing to them . He could not ask for their support for a whole building in the course of construction , but he would remind thorn that last year an additional wing had been built to the Girls' School , and that they had taken in twenty extra pupils ,

making the number 100 . That entailed an additional expense of £ 600 a-year , and he confidently looked to the liberality of the brethren to find the money . ( Cheers . ) The Ladies and the Stewards having been duly toasted , ancl Bro . Benjamin Head having returned thanks for the latter , the company broke up about eleven o'clock . The musical arrangements of the evening , under the direction

of Bro . Wilhelm Ganz , were excellent , he being most ably supported by Bros . Donald King and Wallworth , Mdme . Parepa , Miss Messent , and Mdlle . Georgi . Bro . Thomas Spencer officiated as toastmaster . The following reports were circulated in the course of the evening : — ANNUAL REPORT .

The anticipations of success to which expression was given in the last annual report having been in every respect realised , the committee offer their sincere thanks to all those brethren by whose efforts the gratifying results have been achieved , and at the same time desire to enlist their aid in inducing others to follow their example . The large amount of contributions announced at the

anniversary festival in 1863 , at which the chair was filled by the R . W . D . G . M . the Earl cle Grey and Ripon , when the members of the province of West Yorkshire , over which bis lordship presides , subscribed the magnificent sum of £ 1 , 500 , justified the committee in at once talcing the necessary steps for the commencement of the new building ; an object , the accomplishment

of which has long been desired . Powers having been given by a Special General Court to expend £ 15 , 000 , architects were invited to send in plans and designs , for the three most approved of which , premiums of £ 70 , £ 50 , and £ 30 , were offered , and thirty-two sets of drawings were received and exhibited at Freemasons' Hall . The selected design having been in material respects modified , its author , Mr . Edwin Pearce , and Messrs . Stephen , Barton , Wilson , ancl Son , were ' appointed combined

architects to carry out the work . On the Sth of August last , the first stone of the building was laid with full Masonic honours , by 11 . W . Bro . Algernon Perkins , Past Grand Warden ( whose liberal gift on the occasion the committee desire gratefully to acknowledge ) , the M . W . Grand Master having convened a Special Grand Loelge . A competition for the construction of the foundations of the entire building was solicited , and a contract entered into with Messrs . Myers and Sous for the sum of

£ 1 , 589 , the lowest tender ; at which cost they have been completed . The specification for the superstructure , has been prepared , and the committee are waiting the receipt of tenders from twelve selected respectable building firms , it being their intention to proceed with the works early in April , and to hasten their completion with all reasonable despatch . Every care has

been taken to render the arrangements as perfect as possible , and it is confidently expected that , when finished , the Institution will possess a building admirably adapted to its requirements , —one that will favourably compare with any existing building of a similar kind , and , by the beauty of its external appearance , bo an ornament to the neighbourhood in which it is situated , and an honour to the Craft by whose liberality it has been raised .

The accounts presented show that the receipts during the past year have amounted to £ 7 , 328 3 s . Sd ., and the disbursements to £ 6 , 709 3 s . 7 d . ; the net balance in the hands of the treasurer being £ 935 lis . lOd . The disbursements , however , include a sum of £ 7-1-9 for the purchase of £ 800 Stock Consolidated 3 per Cents ., by which amount the funded property has been increased ; thus leaving £ 5 , 960 3 s . Id . to be divided between

" ordinary" and " extraordinary" expenditure , as specified in the cash statement . The principal item under the latter head is that for erecting and furnishing a separate residence for the head master , which has enabled the committee to render the offices of head master and matron independent of each other . This was impossible while the defective accommodation necessitated the engagement of a married couple for tbe discharge of the duties of these respective positions .

The new arrangements took effect early in September last ,, when the head master removed to the residence provided for him , and Miss Elizabeth Hull entered upon her duties as matron . Though so short a time has elapsed , the committee can already congratulate themselves and the subscribers upon the advantage thus gained , and while testifying to the efficient domestic management by the matron , they call attention to the reports of the examinations recently held , as evidencing a most

satisfactory progress in tbe educational condition of the school , and the diligence and attention bestowed by Mv . Russell , the head master , and the assistant master , Mr . Lees , in their respective departments . To the two gentlemen who conducted the examination , the Rev . Dr . Brette and Mr . Henry J . Uoivker , the Principals of the French and Commercial Schools at Christ ' s Hospital , the committee tender their thanks for the interest manifested in the welfare of the school—for their valuable ,

suo-gestions—and for the care and pains taken in ascertaining the proficiency of tho pupils . It has been represented that the cost of the official department of the Institution is large in proportion to the number benefited ; but it must be borne in mind that the mere office duties , arduous as they necessarily are in institutions of this character , would bo very little increased if the number of boys admitted to the school were raised from 72 to 150 , while the

cost per boy would be reduced from £ 15 2 s . 9 d . to £ 7 Is . 4 d . ; an amount of which no reasonable complaint could bo made . While on this subject , it may be stated that , with an increased number of boys , the proportionate expenses of every description would be materially diminished , ancl the analysis of expenditure compare much more favourably than it possibly can do under present circumstances . In conclusion , the committee feel themselves justified in

continuing to press upon the Craft the claims of the Boys' School . Recognising the necessity of adopting every means in their power to meet the constantly-increasing application for admission , they are prepared to devote the whole of the funded pro-