The Forthcoming Festival Of The Boys' School.

THE FORTHCOMING FESTIVAL OF THE BOYS' SCHOOL .

THE ninety-fifth Anniversary Festival of the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys will this year he held at the Royal Pavilion , Brighton , on Wednesday , the 28 th of June , when Lord Brooke , the popular

Provincial Grand Master of Essex will preside . The result of the Festival promises to he most satisfactory , inasmuch as the Province of Essex is a strong one , the members therein are working hard , while London and the other Provinces aro sending up a

good number of Stewards . We trust the sum that the Secretary of the Institution will be enabled to announce will be a large one , for at the present time the Boys' School requires a large amount to keep the Institution going . There is one thing against the

Boys' School that should not be lost sight of . The permanent income is very small—about dGlOOO—so that it would be highly gratifying if strenuous efforts were made to increase this . When we look at what the Institution is doing it will be seen that a large

sum is required annually , for at the present time about 260 boys are being maintained , educated , and clothed ; this means at least an annual outlay of something like £ 18 , 000 . From these figures it will be seen what a large amount there is year by year to be made up , and unless a liberal response is

forthcoming the good work that is now being carried on will have to be curtailed . When we look at the vast good that is being done by our noble Institutions it certainly seems that no difficulty should be found in getting together tbe sum

that is required to keep them going . To see the sharp and well educated lads that are sent out into the world to fight the hard battle of life get on must be very pleasing to the Subscribers of the Institution , and thev must be thankful that bv their heln this or

that boy has been taken care of and given a good start in life . The Board of Management are doing all in their power to work the Institution on a sound basis , and money subscribed is sure to be made the most of .

As we have already said Lord Brooke will preside at the Festival , and is sure to he well supported by the Brethren of the Province of Essex . When it was announced that his lordship would preside , it was generally admitted that the choice was a happy one .

Lord Brooke is very popular m Essex , and the thirtytwo Lodges that comprise the Province are sure to support their Provincial Grand Master . We wish success to the Institution , and hope that the result of the Festival will be gratifying to every one concerned .

Prizo day at the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys has been fixed for Monday , the 26 th inst .

Masonry's Antiquity And Significance.

MASONRY'S ANTIQUITY AND SIGNIFICANCE .

Freemasonry is a Specidative and Moral Science , illustrated by an Operative Art . —From first to last , Masonry is work . —The candidate in Masonry is

ever advancing . —Light is to be sought until perfectly attained . —Address by Bro . Giles Mnmford Hillyer , Past Grand Master , at the Public Installation of the

Officers of the Grand Lodge of Freemasons in Mississippi , at its Fiftieth Annual Communication in Natchez , 2 Jf . th January 1868 .

( Continued from page 323 ) . GLORIOUS is the time when all , Christians devout , Israelites tied to the law , and those who are sceptical as to whethor God can ho triune in person , as He ia indisputably in attributes , can celebrate in earnest and in truth these great anniversary days . As I

have said , Masonry has nought to do with particular religious faiths . Its speculations are irrespective of the dogmas of any church or creed . Its operative influence is to practice friendship , to teach morality and exhibit brotherly love . Daily is it expanding

its limits , and occupying , as we believe , its legitimate domain . It builds its Lodge rooms , in which its members can work ; halls in which they can gather ; temples in which men of every creed and faith , of every party and of evory shade of opinian , can congregate to

offer up to the Great Creator of all their adoration , and to draw upon the trestleboard of life the grand designs that soul inspires and human , hands mnst execute . These Lodge rooms , halls and temples Masonry claims as its own . It superintends their erection ; it dedicates and

consecrates them ; and its spirit , we all trust , animates and blesses the assemblies that gather therein . Masonry is still as strong , aye , far stronger , then when philosophy waa taught in the schools of Alexandria and Egypt . It teaches thesame great truths that were known totheEssenes by the

shores of the Dead Sea , and taught by St . John the Baptist in the wilderness—truths gathered from the old traditions of the past and made glorious in the sunshine of the present . It looks forward to the realization of the vision of the Evangelist , who " saw the holy city coming down

from God out of heaven , prepared as a bride adorned for her husband ; and hoard a great voice out of heaven saying , Behold , the tabernacle of God is with men , and He will dwell with them , and they shall be His people , and God Himself shall be with tbem , and be their God .

And God shall wipe away all tears from thoir eyes ; and there shall be no more death , neither sorrow , nor crying , neither shall there be any more pain ; for the former things are passed away . " And while it thus waits and hopes , teaches and trusts , it continues to perform its daily mission .

" To shed On ears abnsed by falsehood , truths and power In words immortal—not such words as flash From the fierce demagogue ' s unthinking rage , To madden for a moment and

expire—Nor such as the ' rapt orator imbues With warmth of facile sympathy , and moulds To mirrors radiant with fair images , To grace the noble fervour of an hour ;—But words which bear the spirit of great deeds ,