Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

more boys , making the total number 115 . By a reference to this book , which is in the hands of all , you will see it will not bo difficult or expensive to extend the benefits of the institution to not less than 200 boys . Now , let us ask , what is the kind of education that this institution gives ? If we make the inquiry , we shall be told that its first

course is to ground the boys intrusted to its care in a sound English education . Every boy passes through what is called the commercial division ; and , if he possesses an aptitude , he passes onward from a sound English education to classical and mathematical studies ; and it seems to me that these arrangements are wise and proper . They secure , in the first place , for the students

a sound English education , and on the foundation so securely laid , other studies may safely follow . They do not check the onward progress of the studious boy , but at the samo time they take care that those who shall do the most credit to the school

are not unduly pressed forward to the prejudice of others who are entrusted to their care . AVe all know that if you desire to make the boys in the school of such a description that they should benefit by the intellectual training we are giving them , ¦ we must also look to their physical requirements and sanitary condition ; for , if the boys are not healthy , they cannot properly

devote themselves to the studies of a school like this . Therefore , the managers of this institution some years ago felt themselve called upon to build a more commodious building , so that they might have a more salubrious habitation for this great object and thereby they will not only be able to secure the intellectual but that physical condition of the boys which is necessary to its

intellectual development . They accordingly , at the time , t hought it right to erect a new building for the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , and it is our duty , not only for our honour and reputation , not only for the honour of the Institution , but of the Craft , that wc should have a building worthy of Masonry and the great cause we have in

baud . These things , however , cannot be done in these days without a large outlay of money , and when it was decided to erect this building it was agreed that the funds should be extensively drawn upon , and large demands should also be made upon the munificence of the Craft . You all know that the school so erected is now iu working order , and its benefits are

fully appreciated , but there remains au unpleasant thing behind , which is a mortgage debt of £ 10 , 000 . AVhen we look at the character of our Institutions , and see the accord they are in with the principles of the Craft and Masonic objects , it becomes a great duty and it is incumbent upon ns by every means in our power to endeavour to wipe off this debt , a debt for which no

blame is due to those who managed this institution , but its long continuance will cast discredit on the Craft . The amount is £ 10 , 000 , and I entertain a hope and I may be disappointed , hut I do not think that I shall . I feel confident that a large amount of this incumbrance will be swept off to-night . Proud shall I be that I have presided on this occasion , if it could be said that

they sent forth that ni ght this institution free from debt . You will naturally ask what proof have we of the success of the working of this Institution , tliat its claims may be good , but that ic has not been brought to the test of practical public examination . What fact is there that shows that this Institution is doing its work well . AVe have two significant facts

brought under our notice this evening , when wo heard of the success of the pupils of this School at the Oxford and Cambridge Middle Class Examinations . I SDt great value on the prizes given in the School at our examination , but it may be said that the prizes are given by those who are charged with the management of the institution , but when they go to be examined with those pupils of other

public schools , collected fromthe length and breadth of the land they have to compete on equal terms , and therefore I think that this is a test with which we ought to be satisfied , as to the working of this institution . Of that you have had a marked example in the case of the boy who came up to receive the last prize , who took first class honours at Oxford , aud gained first

class honours also in the Cambridge middle class examination . Tho noble lord having gone into an examination of the merits of education proceeded to say . In early years those who are managers of the school have to deal with boys whose faculties are unformed , whose powers are not developed , and the institution takes charge of the children of brethren who are not able to

provide for their education . They took them within the walls of the institution , but they could not send them forth with a fortune into the world . Even with a fortune I do not believe that a man can do without the widest and largest amount of education . If we cannot , in the case of those youths , send them forth into the world with a fortune , we may give them the means of carving

out a fortune for themselves , and give them the means of doing for themselves what their parents , through misfortunes , were unable to do for them . AVe can do more than that for them . We can give them the means by which their faculties may be developed , their minds stored with education , which will open to them tho secrets of science and literature , and place in their

hands that magic key by which they can make truth their own ; dispel the mists of darkness and ignorance , and walk forth in the broad light of day . If that was what education can do ; if that is the power which it bestows , then , no duty can be more plainly incumbent upon us than that wo should give the means and opportunities to others of obtaining those blessings which we enjo } -. If that is oui- duty as men , it is emphatically more so as Freemasons . It is more incumbent on us , as it is one of

our fundamental principles , not of our secrets , but as one of those principles which has preserved our Order through so many ages . Brethren , this is a cause worth pleading for . I earnestly implore you to discharge this obligation , and you will entitle yourselves to the gratitude of hundreds unborn , and which will surround your names for ever . If you provide for them the advantages you yourselves enjoy , you will have the proud

satisfaction of knowing that you have taken your stand on the road , and been engaged in a , great and noble warfare of truth against falsehood , of knowledge against ignorance , and light against darkness . The noble lord sat down amidst loud cheers . Bro . Binckes then read the list of subscriptions , and amongst

them were :- — -The noble Chairman , P . G . II . for AVest Yorkshire , £ 78 los . ; the Provincial Grand Lodge , 500 guineas ; 58 Stewards for West Yorkshire , 2 , 411 guineas , making the subscriptions for West Yorkshire £ 3 , 015 . "Brethren / ' said Bro . Binckes , "the next item is from Bro . Stephen Blair , P . G . M . for East Lancashire who has given the munificent donation of one thousand guineas .

( Unless witnessed it would bo impossible adequately to describe the burst pf enthusiasm which followed the announcement of this splendid donation . The whole assembly rose en masse , the more enthusiastic of the members—ladies included—w aving their handkerchiefs and demonstrating in every possible way their appreciation of this contribution . There were loud cries

f or Bro . Blair , which continued for some time , but the worthy brother , who sat on the right of the Chairman , did not respond to the call . It was some time before this ebullition of feeling subsided , and enabled Bro . Binckes to proceed with his announcement . ) The Prov . G . Lodge of East Lancashire , 500 guineas Bros . Callendat- and AVike , each 100 guineas , and , in mentioning their names , ho acknowledged the great and invaluable assistance in every way rendered by Bro . J . L . Hine , P . P . G . W ., and Pre-