Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

ON Wednesday last , the Eighty-Eighth Anniversary Festival of this Institution was held at Brighton , under the presidency of Brother Lord Suffield , Provincial Grand Master of Norfolk , the occasion attracting , as usual , a very numerous assemblage of distinguished members of

the Craft , the representatives of various Lodges , both in London and the Provinces , who were accompanied by their ladies . The weather was delightfully fine , and the " Queen " of southern watering places appeared at its best ,

being crowded at this season with visitors . The banquet was served in the Dome of the Royal Pavilion , covers being laid for between 500 aud 600 guests . The President of the day was supported at the principal table by Bros .

Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke Grand Secretary , Captain S . G . Homfray P . G . A . D . C . ; George Plucknett , R . W . Stewart , W . Roebuck , Trustee , Grand Sword Bearer , J . L .

Mather , C . F . Hogard , Rev . Dr . Morris ( Head Master ) , Thomas Cubitt V .-Patrons ; Rev . Mortimer Heath Grand Chaplain , H . B . Marshall Past Grand Treasurer , Dr . Jabez Hogg P . G . D ., J . L . Thomas P . G . A . D . C , Colonel Peters P . G . Sword Bearer , W . H . Perryman Assistant Grand

Pursuivant , Frederick Binckes P . G . Steward Secretary of

the Institution , & c . During the afternoon a selection of music was performed by the band of the Boys' School , under the leadership of Bro . W . Whare , and in the intervals between the toasts an excellent programme of

vocal music was sustained by Miss Effie Clements , Miss Grace Damian , Brother Arthur Thompson , Mr . Harper Kearton , and Mr . W . G . Forington , under the direction of Brother Turle Lee . At the conclusion of the well-served

repast , the President proposed Her Majesty the Queen , Grand Patron of the Institution , in loyal terms , the toast being followed with the singing of the National Anthem . In proposing the Most Worshipful Grand Master , President

of the Institution , he said the Prince of Wales was known not only throughout this country but everywhere in Her Majesty ' s dominions . Only a few days since he ( the speaker ) accompanied His Royal Highness to Brighton ,

where he was most loyally and enthusiastically received . He then spoke at length on the interest which the Prince manifested in all that concerned the welfare of the Craft , and his readiness at all times to come forward for its good ,

especially when he was called upon to do that which he considered might confer a benefit upon his countrymen . Bro . Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke then proposed the health of the noble President , whom they welcomed with the

utmost cordiality . Lord Suffield had great and special claims upon every Freemason because of his long ancl brilliant services to the Order . He had been Provincial Grand Master of Norfolk for ten years , ancl had ruled over

that Province in a most exemplary and distinguished manner . That day they had special reason to feel grateful to the noble Lord for being with them , because he had other and most important duties to attend to in London ;

but he had said , I was determined to support your Institution to-day , and be at Brighton with you . Therefore they had reason to thank him for occupying the chair on that occasion . That was not the first time Lord Suffield had shown his interest in the Institutions by taking the

chair at the Masonic Festivals , for only four or five years ago he presided at the Girls' School Festival , which was attended with a remarkably good result . They might ,

therefore , congratulate themselves upon having so excellent , noble , and distinguished a President as Lord Suffield , and they would most cordially unite in drinking to his health , thanking him for his presence amongst them on that

occasion . The toast was received with immense applause , and His Lordship , in acknowledging the toast , tendered his heartfelt thanks for the kindly and flattering terms in which it had been proposed by the Grand Secretary . It was little indeed that he could claim of the merits of a

Freemason ; but he took an interest in the Craft because he had received nothing but kindness from the whole of the brethren . He recognised the vast amount of good that was done by Freemasonry , and he was glad and proud to

belong to the Order . Seeing there were other toasts to follow he would not trouble them with any further words more than to thank them once more for the hearty reception they had given to the mention of his name to-day . He then proposed the Earl of Carnarvon Pro Grand Master ,

the Earl of Lathom Deputy Grand Master , and the Prov

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

Grand Masters , and Present and Past Grand Officers , with which he coupled the name of the Grand Chaplain Rev . Mortimer Heath . In the course of his response the Grand Chaplain spoke of the interest taken by the Grand Officers

in administering the affairs of the Craft , and of the beneficial results of their deliberations . From the earliest history of Grand Lodge the Charities held a very large

place in its organisation and working , and as the Craft increased so had the anxiety of Grand Lodge increased for their well-being . As the Charities advanced , they had carried out , as the first principle of the Order , not only

that brotherly love , but also that which was the outcome

of the other , that relief which was shown in such institutions as that which they were then celebrating , ancl others of a kindred sort . He thought he might say that the Grand Lodge of England would never he wanting in promoting those great principles taught in our

Lodges—Benevolence and Charity . Bro . McKay , Prov . Grand

Secretary Cumberland , then gave " The Vice Patrons , Vice Presidents , Trustees , and Members of Committees , " with which he coupled the name of Bro . W . Raynham Stewart . The success of this noble Institution was in an

eminent degree due to the efforts of those brethren who were included in the toast . Bro . Stewart , after thanking the company for the cordial manner in which the toast had been received , said they had been brought together by

mutual good feeling , in the hope that they might be enabled to enhance the work they all recognised , and which they desired faithfully to discharge . Had it not been for

the ladies , many members of the Craft would not have thought it a proper thing to be Masons ; they took an interest in , and were anxious to do all they could to

get their special candidates into the Institutions . As far

as he was concerned , he was a trustee , and did his duty to the best of his ability ; the other brethren did the same , and he could simply say to those present , " Send us the money , and we will take care of the children . " The

noble President , in proposing " Prosperity to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , " observed that it was a very important thing that money should be forthcoming to support this Institution , but they wanted more than

moneythey wanted interest . They wanted the interest that is shown year by year still more and more , because the Instio tution which they were called here to assist was increasing year by year . He was not about to trouble them with

a report , or any statistics from the report , which had been in the hands of all concerned . He had the good fortune to visit the Institution at Wood Green on Saturday , and was extremely well satisfied with what he saw there . It was

not the first time that he had had such a pleasure ; he visited it four years ago , and it was his earnest hope that it should go on increasing . But it cannot do so without means , which he hoped would be

forthcoming that clay . There were other Institutions , but this and the Girls' School deserved , he thought , something more than the others . The Boys' Institution had been doing excellent work for the last 88 years , and it was a

monument to the wisdom and foresight of their predecessors . He felt assured they would never allow such an ancient institution to lack funds for its support . It was an ungrateful task to ask for money , but there was no shame

in it , because before them was an object worthy of their subscriptions . It was unfortunate for this gathering to take place now , on account of the dissolution of Parliament , which had deprived them of many who would

have been glad to come here , though he must say there were many kind faces there that he knew . However , it had given him extreme pleasure to see the noble hall so well attended ; an extremely pretty sight it was . He

could say with truth that he never presided at a more graceful assemblage . Bro . Plucknett P . G . D ., whose name was associated with the toast , observed that the Institution was doing really good work , and was pursuing its onward

career most successfully . His duty as Treasurer was to thank them for coming to Brighton to support the Institution , and to say that the funds subscribed were economically expended , having regard to the efficiency , comfort ,

and happiness of the boys . The Prince of Wales recently referred to the extension in the number of Lodges since his accession to the position of Grand Master . There were now some 500 Lodsre 3 more than were in existence

twelve years ago . That was a significant fact , indicating a large addition to the Craft , and also to the expansion of the Institution .

In recounting the lists Bro . F . Binckes remarked that