Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

situated m a salUDrious metropolitan suburb , opening wide its doors to admit the children of our distressed brethern whose means are scanty , and who receive from beneficienfc hands , those priceless blessings , food , raiment and education ; in a word , fche combined comforts of a happy home . I am told that there are already about 103 pupils in this Institution , and that there is room within its walls for perhaps twenty more , if only the heavy debt of £ 10000 anel the consequent charge of £ 500 annum

, per for interest were removed . This debt , as you are aware , operates as a heavy incubus upon the Institution , and paralyses , in a great degree , the energies of all concerned . in its management . May I ask you , ladies and gentlemen , how long is this debt to continue ? I do not profess to have the gift of prophecy , bufc I think that I dare venture to predict that the year 1869 will witness its extinction . Thank God , it is doomed i A decree to

that effect has gone forth ! East Lancashire has already proclaimed her readiness to raise something like one-fifth , and West Yorkshire , I trust , although her Lodges and Members are less numerous than those of East Lancashire , will nofc be far behind . And when I remember that in England alone we number nearly 35 , 000 brethren , surely this debt may be easily extinguished Let every brother , who bears my voice to-day , let fche fair sister ,

hood , whom I see in such numbers before me , and whom I have now the honour of addressing , determine , and in earnest of that determination , commence to-morrow morning to devise means for expediting the completion of this great work . We have , all of us , more or less of influence ; let it be exercised in every legitimate way for the benefit of this Institution , and I firmly believe that the money will be raisedthe mortgage

, cleared off , and that our school will be free . I hope you will excuse me alluding to this matter so strongly as I do , but I feel very much its importance . Ladies and gentlemen , I have just a word or two to say upon another topic . The course of instruction of the pupils here , I think you will be well satisfied , is most admirable . In the prizes awarded to-day , we had ample proof of it . I have been informed that the school has been

• lately formed into two divisions , the upper and the lower ; the ¦ former to embrace classics , the latter arithmetic , mathematics , and other cognate branches of study required for a sound commercial education . By this arrangement ifc is intended that

every boy should have a fair chance iu each department , according to the measure of his talent and ability . For instance , a boy may be an excellent English scholar , a good arithmetician , and even a clever mathematician , but a bad classic . Under the old system , the boy would be in the third or fourth class probably , whereas , under the new system , he will certainly be found in the first class of the lower division . Again , another boy who may mainlexcel in classicswill have justice done to

y , him by his being placed in the first class of the upper division of the school . Then again , a boy may excel in all these branches of study—if so , be will most likely be found in the first or second classes of both upper and lower divisions of the school—so that every boy will have a fair chance of making progress in that particular department for which he is intellectually qualified . This appears to me an excellent way of

managing the school , and I hope it will be productive of good results . In awarding the prizes , I am told , that fche plan adopted is to connt up the marks obtained by each boy for ¦ work done during the year , and in lieu of private examinations , some of the pupils have been subjected to the university middle class examinations . Tbe first examination of this kind , occurred in June of last year . There were two candidates afc Oxford ,

both of whom passed in honours . In December last , at Cambridge , there were six candidates , one of whom passed in honours , and two of whom " satisfied the examiners . " In June , of the present year , four candidates underwent examinations afc Oxford , the result of which I have not yet learned . It is not yet made known . I think it is highly desirable that fche examinations should be conducted on as large and wide a scale as possiblebecause we must hear in mindthat it is not the

, , amount of reading we may accomplish , bufc the amount of 'knowled ge we may retain—to be applied when wanted—that constitute the real value of the progress they have made . There is another point . Ifc is very highly desirable , that fche boys who distinguish themselves in this school , should have an opportunity of advancing themselves in some higher school , and in the universities of the country . I hope that this will not be lost si

ght of , for I should be very glad indeed to see that day ; and I think that no effort should be spared in order to speed its coming . I feel that the House Committee are deserving of great praise for having eliminated from the management of the

school every vestige of the Charily element . The boys are not now allowed to attend the annual festival ; but it is gratifying to find that the greatest attention is paid fco their health and comfort ; to their physical , as well as to their moral and mental training , in fact , every pains are taken to infuse a highly manly tone of feeling , and strong , sound , moral principle . I think I have finished what I have to say . The only thing I would venture fco notice is this : —That it is very desirable , that when

the boys leave school , they should nofc be thrown upon fche wide world unheeded and untended . It is very important that some influence or other derived from or connected wifch this institution should still attend them in their future career . At all events it would be better that they should be cared for until thoroughly able to take care of themselves , and until positions of independent action are acquired . I am very glad to see that a movement has latelbeen made in Grand Lodge

y , by a very worthy and excellent brother ( Bro . Clabon ) . I am not able to say how far some of his beneficent proposals could be carried out ; but I do say that many of them are worthy of our most serious and most careful consideration . I fear I may have tired you . I will only trespass further upon your attention , while I say a word or two to the boys ; and first of all , to those who have been successful in carrying off the beautiful prizes which they have received to-day . I congratulate you

upon the victory you have won . No doubt you have worked very hard during the pasfc year . I am sure you are well satisfied to-day that you did so , because you now reap the reward , nofc only in the beautiful prizes awarded fco you , but in the approbation of your teachers and friends , all of whom are delighted that you have done so well . I hope you will persevere in the path of duty , and go on to effect still higher achievements . To those who have not been fortunate enough to carry

off a prize , I would say , do not despair , do not be discouraged . Try again—resolve well and persevere , and success will yet attend you . There is one feature in this day ' s proceedings , which has pleased me very much , and that is , the generous spirit which has been manifested by fche boys who have nofc received prizes , towards those who have . I was much pleased with the generous cheers wifch which the unsuccessful boys hailed the victors ; they gave them quite an ovation . This

showed that they do not envy them their prizes . Ifc showed also , that the training of this school is what it ought fco be , as regards unselfishness and manly kindness . I hope and trust that all of you , both fche successful and the unsuccessful ones , will go to your homes and have a happy holiday , and return again to school determined to work still more if needs be . Ladies and gentlemen , I thank you all most sincerely for the very patient hearing you have given me , and in conclusion , I wish all fche boys happiness and prosperity to the end of their lives .

Bro . Browse said : Brother chairman , ladies and gentlemen , it now becomes my pleasing duty , as chairman of the House Committee , at the present time , to propose that which I am sure must be the highest and greatest of all our pleasures today , that of presenting a cordial vote of thanks to our excellent and worthy Brother Shaw , Deputy Grand Master of West Yorkshire , who has so kindly presided here to-day , to give the prizes to those boys who have so gloriouslattained them .

y Bro . Shaw , I am pleased to tell you , is in every respect perfectly satisfied aud pleased with this Institution and its management . A greater compliment cannot be paid , I am sure , to a body of men who have such an establishment under their charge , than his approbation . The House Committee , I believe—nay , I may say I am certain—are most handsomely repaid for their labours of love in discharging the duties that devolve them b

upon y the approbation expressed by our very excellent and worthy Bro . Shaw . He has been pleased to tell you that the brethren in Yorkshire and Lancashire will help us to cancel the debt now existing upon the Institution . It removed a large amount of anxiety from us when he almost pledged himself that East Lancashire and West Yorkshire would undertake to redeem

twofifths of that incumbrance . I feel that I am only speaking the sentiments of Freemasons generally , when I say that the debt will shortly be paid , in consequence of the very excellent pledge we have this day received the assurance of . That being the case ifc is only necessary for me to return on behalf of the House Committee , and the ladies and gentlemen here assembled , their best thanks to you , Sir , for the honour you have done ns in coming here , and the higii and complimentary address you have been pleased to deliver . We all feel greatly indebted to you . Having witnessed the progress of this school , I can bear fceati-