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Amongst "Our Boys" At Wood Green.

AMONGST " OUR BOYS" AT WOOD GREEN .

SELDOM , if ever , haa a more cheering and animated scene been witnessed at the Boys' School than that which was presented last Saturday—the day fixed for the annual fete , visit of the Festival Stewards , and distribution of prizes gained in the various educational departments during the year . This event is one that is

annually looked forward to with a vast amount of pleasurable anticipation by members of the Craft , not only in London , bnt also in the Provinces ; and Stewards ooming np to represent their respective Lodges in the country look upon it as no small item of their visit to town to participate in the festivities provided for the Boys in whom

they take so deep an interest . This year an additional inducement , if indeed any were needed , to be present was f nrnished by the intimation that Bro . the Right Hon . Lord Suffield , Provincial Grand Master of Norfolk , and Chairman of the Anniversary Festival , had kindly consented to attend and distribute the prizes . It was clearly

evident that the noble Lord had determined to see for himself the working of onr admirable Institution , so that when speaking on its behalf at tho Festival at Brighton he might be fortified with practical experience gained by a personal inspection of the building , and an insight into its management . More brilliant weather than that

with which we were favoured last Saturday could not have been desired for the holiday ; for , although Old Sol was more fervent than he had been on any day heretofore this summer , yet a " capful of wind" was astir to temper the otherwise oppressive heat . Soon after noon the visitors began to arrive , and each succeeding train

from the City brought fresh contingents to swell the numbers who were congregating on the neatly laid out grounds of the Institution . Bro . Lord Suffield arrived shortly before two o'clock , driving over in his brougham with postilions , after the time-honoured custom of the nobility , and was received by the House Committee ; Bros .

Edgar Bowyer , R . Stewart , C . F . Matier , Horace Brooks Marshall P . G . Treasurer , C . F . Hogard , Fredk . Binokes ( Secretary of the Institution ) , Rev . Dr . Morris ( Head Master and Chaplain ) , and many other prominent friends of the School . After partaking of refreshment , his Lordship was conducted over the building , with the whole of the

interior arrangements of which he expressed himself abundantly well pleased . During the assemblage of the invited guests the excellent band of the Institution , under the leadership of the bandmaster Bro . W . Whare , played selections of music within the enclosure ; and the aspeot of the ground , dotted with visitors in idyllic groups , was

picturesque in the extreme . The company consisted largely of ladies and children , attired in the lightest and prettiest of summer costumes , which lent to the scene an air of vivacity and animation perfectly exhilarating ; and the hour or so preparatory to the festivities of the day was spent in making a tour of the building , schoola ,

dormitories , laundry , & c , in whioh the visitors manifested a deep and pleasing interest . The principal entrance hall was embellished by a ¦ wealth of the most magnificent flowers and plants , which emitted a delicious fragrance ; and everywhere an air of comfort and admirable management prevailed . By two o ' clock—the hour fixed for the

commencement of the proceedings—the new and commodious schoolroom was densely packed with visitors , for whose accommodation seats had been conveniently arranged ; while at the end of the room , opposite the dais , the boys forming the choir occupied seats allotted to them in the gallery . The handsome interior of the schoolroom needed no

extraneous aid iu the way of decoration , and the only embellishment of the walls was an exhibition of drawings by the pupils , all of which gave evidence of careful and efficient tuition , and of considerable latent taste and skill . The platform was draped in crimson cloth , and behind it in an elaborate alcove were the chairs set apart for the

noble Lord and other members of the Craft who were to take a prominent part in the proceedings of the day . On the arrival of the president , accompanied by his escort , his Lordship was loudly cheered , and he was formally introduced to the audience by Bro . Edgar Bowyer amidst a fresh outburst of enthusiastic applause . The

Head Master then very considerately announced that on a warm day like that , they did not wish to weary the company with lengthy speeches , but they would all most cordially welcome Lord Suffield in the chair . Some years ago his Lordship did them a similar honour , and they were all glad to see him again . He hoped the noble Lord

would be able to make it convenient to remain and witness as ranch of their proceedings as possible . This , of course , was the signal for loud and continuous cheering , which having subsided , the choir sang in admirable style Eaton Faning's part song "The Vikings , " Bro . H . J . Dntton , of St . Paul's Cathedral Choir , officiating most ably as

conductor ; and Mr . E . Hann as accompanyist . Then came a humorous recitation by P . O'Doherty on " The Advantages of the English Law , " the youthful barrister acquitting himself in such a manner as to keep the " Court " in roars of laughter throughout the

whole of his grotesque pleadings . A well-sustained pianoforte Isolo "Iole" ( Dnfaure ) was then given by W . Conway ; and the choir came in for deserved expressions of approbation by their rendering of Midler's part song , "May Day . " The prizes presented by the Institution were then presented by the noble Chairman , as follows : —

PRIZES PRESENTED BY THE INSTITUTION . Fir-Bt Class . —Scripture , A . T . Howarth . Latin , P . O'Doherty , French , C . J . Johnstone . English , S . W . Richardson . Mathematics .

Amongst "Our Boys" At Wood Green.

A . J . Kennedy . General Improvement , F . Herring , H . A . Ecolestone , H . Knott . Second Class , —Latin , F . Lewis . French , C . C . B . Jones . Mathematics , T . W . Crabb . General Improvement , A . Blunt . Thirds Class . —Latin , French , and English , J . Bloomfield . Mathematics , H . P . Richardson and R . A . Sykes . General Improvement , G . C . Willett .

Fourth Class . —Latin , English , and Mathematics , J . P . Seagrave . French , H . R . Graves . General Improvement , A . Williams . Fifth Class . —Latin , D . F . McGill . French and Arithmeti c F . Coleman . General Improvement , A . Moore and J . E . Walters . Sixth Class . —( leneral Proficiency , T . R . Foord . General Improvement , C . J . G . Roddam .

Seventh Class . —General Proficiency , A . R . Warner , A . E . Astington , G . C . Huggett .

PREPARATORY SCHOOL . First Class . —General Improvement , R . L . Churohill , F . W . Higgison , and L . Shorrock . Second Class . —General Improvement , P . Neville . Then came a humorous sketch , the title of whioh did not appear

on the programme , but which was exceedingly funny , causing the audience to titter oonsumedly ; after which the choir sang Flotow's charming part song , " Come where flowers are flinging . " A march from " Tannhauser" was then played as a pianoforte duet by W .

Conway and W . Pringle ; aud F . 0 . Cairney was undeniably encored after singing Hatton's pretty song " The Lark now leaves his Wat ' ry Nest . " The special prizes were then handed to the successful competitors , as follow : —

SPECIAL PRIZES—PRESENTED BY THE HOUSE COMMITTEE . Writing , 1 st , G . N . C . Keighley ; 2 nd , C . J . Johnstone . Dictation , 1 st , A . J . Kennedy ; 2 nd , P . O'Doherty . History , 1 st , A . T . Howarth ; 2 nd , S . W . Richardson . Geography , 1 st , S . W . Richardson ; 2 nd , H .

Knott . Mental Arithmetic , 1 st , A . J . Kennedy ; 2 nd , F . Thomas . Elocution , 1 st , P . O'Doherty . Efficiency as Monitor , 1 st , P . O'Doherty ; 2 nd , G . N . C . Keighley . Proficiency in Drill , G . S . Jones . Tbe Band , F . Bladon , P . O'Doherty , F . Clarke , and W . E . Sissons . Vocal Music , F . TJnwin .

PRESENTED BY THE AUDIT COMMITTEE . The Band , 1 st , J . B . Green ; 2 nd , F . C Cairney . Pianoforte , Hewitt .

PRESENTED BY PRIVATE DONORS . By Bro . Edgar Bowyer ( Vice Patron ) , for Book-keeping , G . S . Jones . By Bro . Augustus Harris , Drury Lane Lodge , for English Essay ,

S . W . Richardson ; Dramatic Ability ( Decided on conclusion of Farce ) , P . O'Doherty . By Mr . Sylvester ( Drawing Master ) , for Freehand , W . J . Balcombe , C . Jones and Rocke ; Mapping , W . Sowden ; Painting , G . N . C . Keighley ; Shading , C . J . Johnstone .

Bro . F . Binckes said , in reference to the prizes given by private donors , others were presented by members of the House Committee , wh > gave a vast amount of time to the management of this great Institution , and assisted on such occasions as the present to make them successful and enjoyable . For many years Bro . Edgar Bowyer

had given prizes for that very useful branch of study for those entering on a commercial life , viz ., book-keeping . At all their anniversaries they had done something to show the dramatic abilities of the pupils , but as yet they never had had a prize for that subject . Now , however , their good friend , Bro . Augustus Harris , whose name was a

" household word" amongst them , had presented , on behalf of the Drury Lane Lodge , two prizes , one for an English Essay , and one for the boy who displayed the most histrionic ability in the farce with whioh the programme was to be concluded . The best essay , on " The Life of Brutus" was written by S . W . Richardson .

Another treat in the routine proceedings here took place , the choir singing the part song by Moscheles , entitled " The Village Chorister , " whioh was capitally sustained ; and A . T . Bowes and F . Unwin and others delighted the audience by singing Pinsuti's melodious serenade " In this hour of softened splendour . "

Bro . F . Binckes , referring to the special prizes for good conduct said , the silver medal presented by the Institution was always regarded as the blue riband of the School , and had been won this year by William Walter Lncas . With respect to the Canonbury gold medal , there was a little difference of opinion . It was instituted

some years ago by a very good friend of the Intitution , the late Bro . Edward Cox , V . P ., and was to be awarded to the boy who received the suffrages of his schoolfellows . It did not always follow that the boy who was the greatest favourite with his scholmates was received with the greatest amount of favour by his schoolmaster ; bnt

James Baker Green had evidently won his way to the goodwill and estimation of all amongst whom he laboured . They might indulge in the hope that as their friend Green had made good friends in early life he might make many more in his future career . The Supreme Council 33 ° annually presented a silver watch and chain

for general good conduct to a pupil leaving the Institution , and this had been awarded to Georgo Trowman Crozier Keighley . Donors of years gone by had given them an opportunity of investing 500 guineas , the interest of which ( £ 23 a-year ) was to be divided amongst those boys who acquitted themselves most creditably at the

University Local Examinations . This Fund was founded by Bro . W . Winn P . M . 657 , Vice Patron . Originally they sent boys both to Oxford and Cambridge , but lately only to Cambridge ; and the result of tho last Examination in December was that 13 boys passed successfully . Tho prizes were awarded to A . T . Howarth , H . Kennedy , G . N . C .