The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

we are now , bufc the large building outside these walls . The laying of that stone was a most important era in the prospects of our great Institution , and I am quite certain that that Institution will last so long that it will be able to turn out from Wood Green some thousands of boys before a great number of years , who will have reason to bless ifc as one of the best that

can anywhere be found . I believe that from this School numbers will go out and be a credit to society ; some , no doubt , as the ordinary useful men we meet with , and others as the great public men in the political world . But whatever position in life they may fill , they will look back with pleasure on this Institution , and confess that the laying of its first stone was a

material feature in their own advancement . Should they in after life visit the scene of their school days , they will look on tho memorial stone which we have placed outside , and remember ¦ with gratitude the efforts of our venerable Bro . Algernon Perkins on their behalf . He it is who laid the first stone four years ago , and I am sure the scholars will bless Wm , years and

years hence , for what he then did . I know that at the present moment there is not anybody in this room but feels the kindness , urbanity , and truly benevolent disposition of my respected brother in the chair , and you will , I am sure , quickly rise and drink his good health , and wish him many , many years of happiness . His is a most useful life ; it is spent in advancing

the interests of every society that has a benevolent tendency , but particularly of Freemasonry , and those excellent institutions peculiarly its own , the Boy « ' School , the Girls' School , and the Institution for the old people . I ask you , then , to drink his health , and I am certain you will be aided by the cheers of those boys yonder , whose voices will resound in praise of their best friend , Bro . Algernon Perkins . The toast was drunk with great applause , the ringing cheers

of the boys telling with great effect . The CHAIEHAN : It is very difficult , after so flattering a speech , for the object of it to return thanks with becoming modesty . My feeling is that Bro . Head has exaggerated my services too much . If I had to return thanks for the Institution I should have felt less difficult y than I do now that I have to

speak only of myself . It is very gratifying to me to think that I laid the first stone of this building , and it is additionally gratifying to find myself surrounded by such a numerous body of friends , assembled to celebrate that event four years afterwards . Ladies and gentlemen , I return you my most sincere and affectionate thanks for your kindness .

The CHAIBMAN : I now propose the toast of tho day , and , in- giving it , I may say it is , as it were , a supplement to the speech I just now made , because I could not return thanks properly without saying something about this School , the building in which it is conducted , and the perfection at which it ; has arrived . The brethren know ( and onl y brethren know )

how tho school was conducted up to ten years ago , when we had no school-house , when what was called the Boys' School was really only the giving a certain sum , sometimes sending it to the other end of England to the parents or guardians of children to have them educated and clothed . I do not think that wa ever could have then any satisfactory knowledge of

how that money was employed , how the children were going on , or whether the money was or was not applied to the purposes for which it was given . But , very luckily for us—and it always happens , and always has happened , I believe , in the history of Masonry—there were a great many energetic brethren , brethren who have the courage to adopt and work out the

suggestions of others , who , directly they see there is a good object in view , fear not to lay out money which is not their own , but which they know the brethren , who give the money will approve

of . By these energetic brethren , then , the school was feigned ,, and in its building it has cost a great deal of money , part of which is not paid ; and the debt on it is £ 10 , 000 . But tlte building is a large and valuable one , and could be mortgaged for double that amount easily , as any insurance- company would ' lend the money ou ft . Ifc is mortgaged , and it m for us to pay

that off year by year . I do not think we ought to pay it ailoff in one year , but that we should take some t 5 r » e about it . The brethren who had the management of the building of thisschoolhouse have so dose their work that nothing else will be wanted to be laid out upon it , for as the-School now stands ifc will accommodate double the number of boys ifc has nwf in ifc .

All we have got to do , then , is to provide foi them , and io pay off a small sum yearly as long as the debt lasts . A small debt , I think , is a wholesome thing . Do not let us be too fest in paying it off . Do not let us starve the education , merely to pay the debt off . Let us increase the number of scholars ¦; fetus increase their education ; but let us keep a small debt few

those who come after us to discharge . I cannot do more than ; express for myself , as I am sura every one here will do , my great admiration of the building and the way it is carried on ,, and I must also express my thanks to those brethren ! who have so boldly and energetically , and with the true spirit of Freemasonry , carried out what fifteen years ago no one of us would

hare even dared to think aboufc . I now give you " Prosperity to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , " and I shall couple - with the toast the name of Bro . Binckes ,. The toast having been drunk ,

Bro . F . BINCKES said : I could hardly expect that ,, in so ' numerous a gathering of distinguished Masons as tin ' s , myname ' should have been selected in connection with the toast whichyou have just drunk , because , looking around these various ' tables , at which we see so glorious a gathering of our very , verybest friends there are others who might , with far more-

propriety , have been called upon to reply to your chairman ' s * kindness than myself , because I look round me and see brethrenhere who cheerfully and gratuitously have rendered valuableservices , sparing neither toil or trouble , nor shrinking from a-nyexpense in their endeavours to bring this School into that sbateof prosperity which , I think , all its friends will agree with me

hasbeen its lot since the great event which we are met here to-daytocelebrate . Bufc I am perfectly sure of this , that there is nobrother present who can more gratefully return thanks oubehalf of this Institution than myself to all those good friendspresent , and to all those good friends absent , represented so . larerelv and well by those present , for the splendid munificence ,.

the Masonic liberality—for that is the only term that can fitly express it—that has been used audi extended during the last fewyears to this glorious Institution . May I ask you to recall what we were , comparatively speaking , a few years sirxie , when . a very few thought they were taking a great step in advancein laying out £ 3 , 500 on a house small when compared with

thepalatial residence we now have ?¦ We never thought then whatthe Boys' School would achieve . But a gigantic uiver commences with a small spring , and as little could I imagine in my younger days that the seven little bubbling springs -apon which . I gazed could result in the magnificent river which bears on its . ample bosom to our noble metropolis tbe commerce of the

world , as could the originators of this Institution ! look , forward to such a result of their efforts as has fortunately been achieved-From small beginnings has our School expandedv . Founded in 1798 , I believe , if the spirits of its founders could visit it , they would admit that they never calculated- upon its , becoming what it now is . In the words of iieir original prospectus , their object was to protect , in the tfiat way they coulcL .