The Masonic Mirror

R . W . friend to his left ( Bro . Havers ) , when filling- the chair for another of their institutions , in most eloquent language , which lie ( the D . G . M . ) , had not the good fortune to hoar , pressed upon them the claims of their aged brethren"to sympathy ' and support ^ and ho had no doubt that that speech had been , and would be , most beneficial to the charity . There could be nothing , perhaps ,

more painful than age and poverty combined , but the helplessness of children who were left without their natural protectors possessed < n-eat claims upon their sympathy for support . He could wish that the benefits of their Institution should be greatly extended , instead of being , as it now was , confined within the limits of 70 children . He trusted that the Craft , animated by zeal and

encouraged by the success which had hitherto attended their exertions , would determine to ^ extend still further the benefits of this noble charity . They . must recollect that when speaking of education they were not alluding only to the development of the intellect , though that was the great object of all education . He believed it was the great misfortune of this country that

they looked too much to the means of evoking the intelligence of a child , instead of the means of cultivation by which they should develope all the faculties , and render the party educated fitted for all the relations of life . This they could not do without they had proper buildings and good school-rooms , with every appliances for developing alike the powers of the body and

the mind . The question of improving their buildings was one of great consequence , for it was fruitless to expect that much progress could be made whilst their buildings were faulty and inconvenient . He had reason to believe that their buildings were being greatly improved , and he trusted that they wouldshowthat night by their liberality , their desire to see their school made perfect in every respect . A , little bird had whispered to him that the lists sent up from West Yorkshire alone amounted to £ 1360 , and since

he had entered the room he had been authorised to state , on the part of brethren present , that they would undertake to make the total up to £ 1500 . ( Cheers . ) He had told them that he was not conceited , but he was proud of what the brethren of "West Yorkshire had done , as it showed to the rest of the world that they appreciated and understood their duties as good men and good Masons . ( Cheers . ) As kings , who had large armies ,

took the sous of their soldiers and brought them up as recruits for future armies , so they should educate their boys as recruits for Freemasonry , who would become hereafter not " unworthy soldiers of their noble Craft . He would not detain them further , but trusted that his feeble efforts might prove of advantage to the Charity in which he took the deepest

interest . The noble Chairman then appealed to the brethren not to give the fruit , & c , to the boys , as had been done on former occasions , which had only caused confusion . Not that he wished to deny the boys the good things upon the table , as be had a little boy himself , and knew how they were enjoyed ; but the good things had been provided for them in

another room , where they might enjoy them under proper supervision . The D . G . M . concluded by giving "Prosperity to the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys , " coupled , in the absence of Bro . B . B . Cabbell , Treas ., with the name of Bro . Hopwood . ( Cheers . ) Bro . HOTWOOD , P . G . D ., acknowledged the compliment , as a

member of the House Committee . He had been between 40 and = 0 years a Mason , and always taken the greatest interest in their charities , more especially the Boys' School . Bro . BINCKES then introduced Master Frederick Lewis "iber , who had won the silver medal , to the noble Earl , who presented it with a few appropriate , remarks . Other boys were a 'so presented , and received their respective prizes . The boys having retired , Bro . Binekes proceeded to read , in

brief , the list of contributions , which amounted , within a few pounds , to the noble sum of £ -1500 , an announcement which was received amidst loud cheers . The CHAIRMAN then gave "The Committees , and other officers of the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys . " They had heard the steady progress the school was making , which must ,

in a measure , be attributed to the great exertions of the brethren , who gave their valuable time to its supervision . Bro . JOHN UDAM , , V . P ., Chairman of the House Committee acknowledged the compliment , and expressed the thanks of the committee to the noble Lord for so kindly presiding over the Festival , which had been attended with such magnificent

results . The D . G . MASTER next gave " The other Masonic Charities . " They were all labouring to one end ; and though their business was that night especially to promote the interests of the Boys School , all their Charities were equally worthy of support , and in proposing their prosperity , he would couple with the toast the

name of Bro . Farnfield . Bro . FAENFIEID , Assist . G . Sec ., acknowledged the toast , and thanked the brethren for their kindness and support at the recent Festival of the Aged and Benevolent Institution , when upwards of £ 2300 had been added to its funds . That evening they had nobly responded to the appeal on behalf of the Boys *

School , and he envied not the result which reflected great credit on the exertions of the Stewards aud Bro . Binekes . He regretted that Bro . Patten was prevented being present , by his health , and trusted that he would be well supported at the approaching Festival of the Girls' School . ( Cheers . ) The CHAIRMAN then proposed "The Health of the Stewards , " to whom they were greatly indebted for the arrangements of the

evening , and with the toast he gave them " The Health of Bro Stebbing . " Bro . STEBBING , on behalf of the Stewards , returned thanks to the brethren for the compliment just paid them , and for the more substantial compliment of adding £ 1500 to the funds of the excellent charity they had met to support . He should not

be doing justice to the untiring exertions of their Secretary , Bro . Binekes , were he not to express his conviction that it was mainly owing to those exertions that £ 1000 more had been collected upon that occasion , than was received last year , the highest amount ever subscribed for the charity . ( Cheers . ) The Noble Lord then gave "The Ladies , " aud the company

shortly afterwards separated . The musical arrangements were conducted bp Bro . Wilhelm Ganz , assisted by Madame Eiidersdorf , Miss Messent , Mis * Behrens , and Bros . Lawler and Eeichart . Bro . W . Spencer offi ciated as Toast Master .

COMMITTEE ' S REPORT . It is with unmixed gratification that the Committee submit to the Governors and Subscribers the report of the proceedings of the past year—a year attended , in every respect , with a larger amount of success than any occurring in the history of the Institution . The receipts have amounted to £ 4823 19 . ? . 4 c ? ., an amount in excess of the former year to the extent of £ 1842 15 s . Sd .,

while the disbursements reached tbe sum of £ -1665 19 s . Sd ., in which is included the purchase of nearly two acres and a quarter of land , acquired for the purpose of securing the frontage of the property of the Institution from being occupied by buildings of an inferior description , and of avoiding interference with the system of ^ drainage , with the consequent annoyance and probable litigation ; and also the outlay for the completion of alterations in the present building , commenced two years since , and

imperatively needed , but postponed for want of means for their accomplishment . The additions and improvements thus happily effected have materially added to the comfort of all resident in the School , and to the efficiency of the general arrangements