Perpetual Presentations Again.

PERPETUAL PRESENTATIONS AGAIN .

npHEBE is very little business , beyond the usual half JL yearly elections , to be transacted at the Quarterly Courts of the two Educational Institutions to be held next week—that of the Girls on Thursday , and the Boys

on Friday , but as we have already said , there is every probability of a keen contest for the several vacancies to be filled on the two occasions , in view of the large number of Provinces and other divisions of Freemasonry interested in the different candidates .

The agenda for the Girls Court provides for the transaction of the general business of the Institution , and the election of twenty-two Girls into the School , from a list of forty approved candidates .

For the companion Institution thirty Boys are to be elected , from an approved list of forty-three candidates , while in addition to general business the members of

the Court will be asked to consider a proposal , submitted on behalf of the Board of Management , in regard to the purchase of a right to perpetual presentation on the part of the Province of Kent . We have recently considered this question of

perpetuity of benefits , in association with the Benevolent Institution , and most of the arguments we then adduced hold good in the case of the Educational Funds . No

doubt similar considerations as those we laid stress upon have received attention in the deliberations of the Board of Management , who have increased the price of

purchase from £ 1 , 060 to £ 1 , 260—in view , it maybe imagined , of the decreasing return to be derived from the investment of capital , as well as the increased cost of several of the necessities of the Institution .

We are not surprised this question has come to the front again so soon , and we imagine that the principle of perpetual purchases will become increasingly popular as its benefits become more generally recognised . The

system is at present in its infancy , and on that account the most careful consideration should be given to its possibilities , and the terms on which the Institutions should bind themselves to permanent responsibility . We

are not prepared to say the different Funds should make a profit out of these transactions , but on the other hand it is a fair subject for consideration whether bargains should be entered into , which , on their face , appear to be inconsistent with strict financial laws .

The proposal now submitted for consideration is to perpetuate the name of Bro . J . S . Eastes , the very popular Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Kent , and here it is we at once recognise the value of these

perpetual presentations , as affording a ready means of paying a compliment to distinguished Craftsmen . If we consider the question of price in association with the services of the Brother after whom the presentation is to

Perpetual Presentations Again.

be named , we must at once acquiess in any arrangement that is made , for either of the Institutions might justifiably enter into a bargain and give more than could

reasonably be afforded , in honour of a Brother who has worked hard for the good cause in years gone by ; or in other words they might subscribe to such a testimonial as ia

here intended ; but it is not desirable to look at these contracts in such a light , they must rather be faced on

broad general lines , and even then we must not consider the possibilities in association with the single case under notice , but rather what would be the result if the different districts went in for the perpetual purchasing idea wholesale . While an occasional case occurs—say one

a year—there is not much need to weigh all the pos ? sibilities of the far-off future , but should it happen that the number rose to six or eight each year , then it would be very difficult to justify the continuance of the

system , except at a much higher figure than is now suggested . Eeverting to the particular case to be considered on Friday , we may express the hope that the Court will agree to the proposed bargain—and we have no doubt

they will do so , but in so agreeing it should be distinctly understood that the Institution does not bind itself to repeat such transactions , indeed it should be stipulated , if necessary , that all such contracts must be considered

on their merits , as necessity arises for doing so . The election of a Treasurer for the Boys School will be purely a formal matter , Bro . C . E . Keyser having alone been nominated , in succession to the Grand Secretary , who did not desire re-election .

Further details in regard to the two meetings will be found in our advertisement columns .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

THE monthly Council meeting was held on the 30 th , at Freemasons' Hall , under the presidency of Bro . Kichaid Eve Past Grand Treasurer , who was supported by Bros . Adamson , Barrett , Brett , Burgess , Cummings ,

Everett , Fairchild , Fitzgerald , C . W . Hudson , Kentish , J . E . Le Feuvre , Masters , Pulman , Bussell , Saunders , Scurrah , James Stephens , J . Strachan , J . J . Thomas , C . H . Webb , and J . M . McLeod ( Secretary ) .

After the usual routine business , the Chairman , in feeling terms , alluded to the loss sustained by the Craft in the recent death of Capt . S . G . Homfray , a Patron of the Institution ; and moved a vote of condolence with his widow and family . This was seconded by Bro . Everett

( who referred to the many years of excellent service rendered to the three Institutions by the deceased

Brother ) , and was unanimously adopted . Grants of £ 20 per annum were made to friends of four boys , for their Education and maintenance out of the Institution , they being for various reasons unfitted to enter the School at Wood Green ; and a like sum was voted for the apprenticeship of the boy Thaw , who left the Institution at Christmas last .