Our Scholars In After Life. Royal Masonic Pupils' Assistance Fund.

OUR SCHOLARS IN AFTER LIFE . ROYAL MASONIC PUPILS' ASSISTANCE FUND .

THE formation of a fund for the purpose of placing in situations the pupils who leave our Schools , or otherwise advancing them in life , has for many years past been a suhject that has exercised the attention of the Craft . Proposals have heen made from time to time with a view

of starting the desired fund ; among the most prominent Masons who have advocated the claims of the pupils being the Right Hon . Lord Leigh , who forcibly impressed on the Craft the desirability and real need of something being done ; Bro . Jabez Hogg , who suggested that some part of

the amount voted by Grand Lodge to commemorate the return of the Grand Master from India should be applied to some such purpose ; and Bro . Clabon , who has on more than one occasion mooted the question in Grand Lodge , in connection with the accumulated funds of the Lodsre

of Benevolence . Up till recently , however , no decided steps had been taken towards its actual foundation , if •we may except the discussions which have been made at various times in Grand Lodge . On one of these occasions —June 1868—on the subject being brought forward by

Bro . Clabon , there seemed to be a fair prospect of success , for the matter was then referred to a Special Committee appointed to report on the subject to Grand Lodge . As the report of the Committee , as well as the proposition of Bro . Clabon may be unknown to , or forgotten by , very many

of the present generation of Freemasons , and as the arguments then used are therein fully set forth , wo reproduce the Report in extenso . The proposition of Bro . Clabon , which called for the appointment of the Special Committee was brought before Grand Lodge in the following form : —

BKO . CLABON'S SCHEME .

Considering The large amonnt of the Reserve Fund of Benevolence , and the annually increasing surplus of that Fnnd ( as shewn by a table of the actual figures from 1810 to 1867 ) .

Considering That no reason exists for continuing this accnmnla . tion , and that , without diminishing the principal of the Reserved Fnnd , the annual surplus may be applied with advantage for the benefit of this generation .

Considering That there is no existing provision for apprenticing the children of Freemasons on their leaving the Masonic Schools , or in otherwise assisting them to commence life .

MOVE TO RESOLVEThat one-third of the annual surplus of the Fund of Benevolence be appropriated for the Boys' School , aud another third for the Girls ' School , in forming funds for snch apprenticeship and assistance .

That snch one-third parts respectively be invested , and tho Dividends paid to the House Committee of either School . That the House Committee for the time being of each School do apply the Dividends of the fund respectively appropriated to the School in their discretion for the benefit of ohildnn who have been at the

School—In apprenticing them to any business or profession ; In making annual payments for a limited period to those proceeding to any of the Public Schools , Colleges , or Universities ; In aiding them to establish themselves in any business or profession ;

With power to appropriate the snrplus of one year in like manner in future years ; and rendering to the Grand Lodge an annual account of their receipts and expenditure on account of the said funds . The Committee first proceeded to consider the general question of the appropriation of the Fund of Benevolence , and the mode of dealing therewith , making various sug .

Our Scholars In After Life. Royal Masonic Pupils' Assistance Fund.

gestions , which they considered necessary , and then presented the following report to Grand Lodge on Bro . Clabon ' s Scheme : — Your Committee have carefully considered the Scheme , and tho reasons prefixed to it . They learn from tho Grand Seoretary that the Table given in the Scheme is correct .

The investments of tho Fund of Benevolence at the ond of 18 G 8 were £ 9748 Three per Cent . Consols , and £ 19 , 000 lent on mortgage of the property of Grand Lodge , at Four per Cent , interest . The interest received in 1867 was £ 1053 15 s Id , but this was rather more than a year ' s interest ' , which , on the present fund , will be about £ 1025 . The accumulated fund in 1 SG 0 was £ 19 , 000 Three per Cent . Consols . Tho

subsequent increase has arisen from the investment of the annual snrplus of the fund . The fund pays £ 800 a year to the Royal Benevolent Institution for aged Freemasons and their Widows ( £ 500 to the male fund and £ 300 to the widows' fund ) , and your Committee notice that even if the £ 19 , 000 secured on mortgage wore paid off ) and invested in Throe

per Cent . CODSOIS , tho dividends of the whole fund would more than suffice to pay this £ 800 a year . The Committee observe that tho surplus of the Fund of Benevolence diminished from £ 88 S in 18 G 0 to £ 179 in 18 G 2 , since which time it has stoadily increased , having been £ 587 in 1863 , £ 915 in 1861 > ,

£ 1843 in 1 SG 5 , £ 1989 in 1866 , and £ 2372 in 1867 . The Scheme only proposes to deal with two-thirds of the Surplus of each your , thus leaving it in the power of the Lodge of Benevolence , of tho Grand Master on its recommendation , and of Grnnd Lodge , to apply the whole income of the Fnnd of Benevolence for distressed Masons or their families .

And it leaves one-third of any surplns of each year to bo dealt with , as is at present the case with the whole surplus , by accumulation . Yonr Committee , after full consideration , aro of opinion that tho timo has arrived when it is not desirable to continue the accumulation of tho whole of the snrplus , and that a portion of it may be applied with advantage in making provision for apprenticing the children of

Freemasons on their loaviiv . ' tho Masonic Schools , or in otherwise assisting them to commence life . Until the recent change in the Rules of the two Schools , there was no fund existing for such apprenticeship or assistance . The amended Rules of each School now provide that upon n child leaving tho School , if found deserving , and the General Committee shall bo

satisfied that there is a fair prospect of the child's obtaining by snch aid the means of permanent provision , such Committee may appropriate for his or her benefit , in such manner as may seem best , a sum not exceeding £ 15 . But tho Committees have no special funds for this purpose ; any aid to bo givon must como out of the general revenues of their School , if sufficient .

Yonr Committee have ascertained that about twolve girls leave school every year , of whom half at least require help , to the extent , en an average , of £ 25 each ; and that , on an average , from fifteen to twenty boys leave school each year , fall ono-half of whom require assistance to start tbem in life , to the extent of from £ 30 to £ 50 . The boys leave at the age of 15 and tho girls at 16 . They conld nob

be kept longer in the Schools , without a sorions limit to the numbers admitted . It is clear that , at this age , thoro ought to be some apprenticeship , or period of qualifying themselves to earn their own living . Another two years , with proper help , would finish the education of the girls , and qualify them to bo governesses ; or it would enable them to learn a trade . Another but longer period , with liko

holp , would enable the more clever boys to continue their studies , in the hopo of their rising to eminence , aud enable the othors to learn a trade , or otherwise aid them to becomo bread-winners . It is this help which the Schemo proposes to furnish to those children whose parents or friends cannot afford to give it . The Committee having very carefully considered the Scheme , passed tho first paragraph of it , which contains tho principle of the

Scheme , unanimously , adding words to recognise the power of Grand Lodge to stop the appropriation at any time . Thoy have made various alterations in the remainder of the Scheme , the most important being tbat , instead of leaving it to the House Committee of either School to give the aid , they place this dnty on the General Committee , on tho recommendation of the House Committee , and that no aid is to be given by the General Committee beyond £ 25 , except it be confirmed by a Quarterly Court .

The following is the Schome , as amended and adopted by your Committee : — ( a . ) " Until Grand Lodge shall otherwise direct , one . tJurd of tha