Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

committee of the Institution , aucl tho brethren generally , might join in mutual congratulations at the success which had . attended their endeavours . Bro . Binckes then presented the boys entitled to receive the prizes awarded in the classical department , which were presented to each recipient by tho chairman , Col . Francis Burdett ,

with a few appropriate words of commendation and advice in each instance . In the upper form prizes of the value of 21 s . each were awarded for Classics to G . W . Martin ; Mathematics , to W . Eumblow . G- "VV . Martin also took the prizes for Modern Languages and English .

In the first class , three prizes value 15 s . each , were awarded to "VV . B . Eedgrave for Classics , Mathematics , and Modern Languages ; and to A . F . Wallbridge for English . In the second class , J . Spicer carried off prizes for Classics ancl Modern Languages , while E . E . Earle took those for Mathematics and English .

Bro . Binckes then announced that to relievo the monotony of the proceedings , Madame Thaddeus Wells ( who had generously given her services gratuitously ) would sing the Eomanza , "Non o ver "—Tito Matci . Francis Treleaven , one of the pupils , gave a recitation , "The Arab to his steed . " Madame Thaddeus Wells then gave in excpiisito taste , Bro . Ganz's celebrated

"Nightingale's Trill , " and the interlude concluded with a recitation in French by two pupils—E . Price Jones taking the p art of La Eissole , and W " . A . Glass that of Martin . Their pron unciation was clear ancl woll-defined , and the humourous sketch was given with good effect , which showed that they had not only got the words by rote , but were able to enter into the s pirit of the author .

Bro . Binckes then came forward and announced that the prizes in the Commercial Department would now be distributed . He proceeded to explain the reason which induced the committee to separate the school into divisions—classical and commercial . This course , he said , was adopted to meet the views of different brethren , and also to give tho boys an opportunity of improving themselves in those branches of education for which ,

by their natural talents , they were best adapted . The prizes in the Commercial Department were then distributed as follows : | First Class . —Prizes 10 s . each . Those for arithmetic and writing- both fell to C . F . II . Palmer ; while two prizes for history and geography , and another for English were awarded to 0- Smith .

Second Class . —Prizes value 7 s . Gel . To . J . Marjasoii fell that for arithmetic ; to A . M . Barnes , two prizes for history , geography , and English ; and to J . E . Stead for writing . In the Preparatory Class , A . J . Walkington took the prize of os . for general proficiency ; and F . Treleaven the silver medal for good conduct ( presented at tho Anniversary Festival in March

last by H . E . H . the Prince of Wales ) . The prize for efficiency as a monitor , of the value of one guinea , was gained by a rather diminutive pupil , who had previously taken the prizes in the first class—W . B . Keclgi-avo . Bro . Chevalier de Kontski then took his seat at the piano , and delighted the audience with one of his truly wonderful performances on the piano , giving an " Andante " variation of Beethoven .

Bro . Braid , S . W . of Urban Lodge No . 1 , 19 G , sang the Death of Nelson , accompanying himself on the piano . E . P . Jones gave a recitation in German , " Bitter Paris . " Bro . Chevalier de Kontski again seated himself at the piano , and with Bro . Edersheim , P . M ., ijei gh Loclge No . 957 , on tlie violin , gave a most charming duet . Iu introducing tlie recipients of the special prizes , presented

by private donors , Bro . Binckes introduced H . Powell who had gained the " Canonhut-y Gold Medal , " value £ i 4 s ., the gift of Bro . Eev . Dr . Cox , ( presented at the festival ) . This prize it was explained was believed to bo unique . It is awarded by the boys themselves as a token of their respect and admiration of their fellow pupils , the election being entirely unbiassed . It was gained by the present recipient by a large number of votes .

E . P . Jones , then came forward to receive the prize of £ 5 5 s ., given by Bro . W . Winn , V . P ., to the pupil who passed with the greatest credit at the Oxford Local Examination in June ,. 1 S 70 . The same pupil also returned to receive Bro . Dr . Cox's prize of 21 s . for proficiency in German , and also two more prizes given by Dr . Goodwin for Latin ancl French respectively ,, value 21 s . each . Tho repeated approach of this youth to the chairman's table was greeted with cheers and applause both

from tho audience ancl from his fellow pupils . The prizes for drawing-, appropriately consisting of two boxes of colours , and a case ot drawing instruments of the value of 21 s . each , were awarded to li . Tippetts Richardson for painting , G . W . Martin ,, for shading-, and W . Dawson for architectural drawing . Bro . Binckes , drew attention to the specimens of the skill of the pupils with which the dining hall and school rooms were decorated . When it is taken into consideration that but

twoyears have elapsed since drawing was first taught in the school , aucl also that only two or three hours weekly are devoted to instruction in this branch of education , the whole of the specimens were creditable alike to master and pupils . Bro . Silvester the drawing master ; had informed Bro . Binckes that during the whole of his experience he never met with more apt pupils , and it was worthy of notice that tho drawing master himself gave these prizes . Among the water colour drawings the most

noticeable , were views of tho schools , copied from the chromolithographs , published by Bro . Lewis and M . Mason , by Hamson , Dawson ana Packer . A sea piece by Dawson , also attracted favourable notice . Some floral sketches were very well executed , as were some appropriate and tasteful mottoes and devices , to which the names of Graham , Isborn , Jones and Hanham , were appended . The prizes for writing , it was explained , were usually two in . number , of the value of 21 s . and 10 s . Gd . respectively , but on this occasion , it was explained , that so diligent had been many the pupils that the Master was unable to select the best from as

many as six specimens , landing himself in this difficulty he felt it would be better to refer to the committee , who were equally unable to make any award . It was , therefore , deemed that the only equitable way to get out of the difficulty was to award prizes of 21 s . each to the whole of tho six candidates whose specimens were selected . There wore accordingly awarded to E . C . Isborn , C . F . II . Palmer , W . E . Gondro . E . E . Earle , G . W . Martin , and W . B . Eedgrave .

E . P . Jones took the first prize of 21 s ., for dictation ; the second ( 10 s . Gd . ) failing to the share of E . C . Isborn . In history , A . T . " VVallbriclgc took first prize ; and E . P . Jones , second . Geography and mapping , Geo . Martin first , and E . P . Jones , second . Attention to studies , "VV . A . Glass took first prize , and J . 11 . Martin second . For general proficiency , E . P . Jones took the prize , and also first prize for mental arithmetic ; the second , being awarded to G . il . Denton . Two prizes were iven for

g proficiency in drill , which were awarded to J . 11 . Martin and 0 . Smith . Tlie selection of the various prizes reflected the greatest credit upon the taste and judgment of the committee , and being spread out on a table for the inspection of the visitors , elicited the admiration of all . After the prizes ( except that for elocution ) had been distributedClaudius J . Jones and W . E . Glass gave a recitation from

, Julius Ctesar , Act , i ., se . 2 , the former taking the part of Brutus , and the latter that of Cassius . Tho pr ' -ze for elocution , value £ 2 2 s ., presented by Bro . Capt . Wordsworth , V . V . , was then awarded . The selection of the winner was left to \ ' , ro . Binckes , who announced the name of Percy Banks , which was received with considerable signs of approbation . At the conclusion of the distribution , Bro . Binckes remarked

that amongst the list of prize takers there was one name more prominent than all others—that of E . P . Jones—who was just about to leave the Institution . Although his young friend had taken so many prizes , he felt assured that his success had ex-