Contents.

CONTENTS .

EDITORIAL : THE OLD MASONIANS AND OUR BOYS' SCHOOL 11 !) MASONIC "POET ' S CORNER" 120 TEACHING IN LODGES OF INSTRUCTION 120 PROVINCIAL NOTES 121 & 123 ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE 122

GOULD TESTIMONIAL FUND 122 COLONIAL CLIPPINGS 123 OUR TRESTLE BOARD 123

THE "OLD MASONIANS" ^ 123 THE EOYAL MASONIC INSTITUTIONS 12-1 METROPOLITAN LODGE AND CHAPTER MEETINGS 12-1 ADVERTISEMENTS Front cover , 118 , 125 , 120 , 127 , 128

The Old Masonians And Our Boys' School.

The Old Masonians AND Our Boys' School .

COMPARATIVELY small social gathering was held in London on the 13 th inst ., in respect of which it may he said the best interests of English Freemasonry are

concerned in a far greater degree than might attach to many more pretentious masonic assemblages . It was the third

annual festival of a society entitled " The Old Masonians , " which originated with , and is upheld by , young men who have started into business life from the portals of our

Royal Institution at Wood Green , and who have , for the most part , attained their majority . These youths and young men are practically carrying out some of the tenets

which form the loundation of our masonic system , and which their elders who have " seen the light" are never tired of inculcating . These are principally the cultivation

of unity , brotherly love and affection , social enjoyment and mutual assistance . With the details of the operations by which they promote their beneficent designs we need not

concern ourselves . It is sufficient to say that they are praiseworthy in the highest degree , and merit the earnest and cordial support of such of the members of our fraternity

as desire to see a younger generation qualifying themselves for continuing in after years the goodiworks of their predecessors . For assuredly , in due course of time and opportunities ,

these " Lewises " of our order will enlist under our banners , and fill up vacancies in rank and file to continue the

battle for the good and welfare of mankind , for which the veterans in the masonic army have heretofore so stoutly contested .

In another column of this number of our journal we briefl y report the proceedings on the occasion referred to . Our present purpose , in this article , is to connect those

The Old Masonians And Our Boys' School.

proceedings with the institution which was the Alma Mater of the young men who are more immediately concerned therewith . Their action is an indisputable testimony to

the important benefits which education in the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys confers on those who gain their elementary instruction and preparation for the battle

of life within its precincts . And whatever may be the nature or anticipated outcome of criticism in the present day in relation to that institution , the fact cannot be

gainsaid that its power for good has been very great , and has been attended by highly beneficial results . As was very justly enunciated by Bro . Godson , in submitting , as

President , the toast of the evening , they are such as should deeply interest every member of our ancient craft , and assure them that , Avhatever may be the minor points of

difference in respect of present management , the important objects of the institution , in properly training the youths committed to its charge , have never been forgotten , nor

the trust its managers have from time to time undertaken been betrayed . So also most worthy of remark were the observations of the Grand Treasurer , Bro . Barfield , and

Bro . Augustus Harris , both of whom forcibly maintained , in the course of their able addresses , that the institution had done more good in Freemasonry than the outside

world could possibly imagine . It was pleasant to hear Bro . Major Lambert , first acknowledging that in earlier days lie was more antagonistic than friendly to the

institution , but had , years ago , seen the error of his ways , endorsing with evident sincerity , those observations Truly , there -is more joy over one sinner that repenteth !

Subsequently , in response to a toast in his honour , Bro Binckes—speaking as , when the interests of the institution are the subject matter , Bro . Binckes alone can

speakdeclared that the formation of the society of " Old Masonians , " the earnestness of its members , and the meeting itself were an answer to all criticism as to the

good which the school has done . And to a very considerable extent it is so . Nevertheless , we maintain our expressed opinion , and that of many of our correspondents ,

that the late criticism of some of the details of management during recent years , which criticism has been termed censorious , and most inappropriately so , inasmuch as its

object has not been to blame , but to enquire and correct , is not altogether unwarranted . Further , we believe it will be of ultimate benefit to the Institution , and in its

results prove advantageous rather than detrimental to its best interests . As to this , we shall not further remark . The enquiry is still suh judice , and the report thereon

cannot be anticipated . A word or two more in the way of encouragement to the young men who are so laudably persevering in the advance-