The Boys School Centenary.

the country . With her proverbial good nature the Princess consented to distribute the prizes , and the Royal Albert Hall was again chosen for the meeting , with results of a most satisfactory character from every point of view , as the gathering on Tuesday proved to be one of the most

enthusiastic ever known in connection with Freemasonry , even in that historic building , associated as it is with most of the greatest events in the history of the Craft in modern times . The special feature of the gathering was the presence of a large proportion of ladies , who thus

gave tangible proof of interest in the work of an Order from which they have been—and are ever likely to be— ' rigidly excluded ; and at the same time disproved the assertion of some of our slanderers , that the Craft is hated by the wives of its members , on account of its taking their husbands so much from home .

A pleasant surprise was in store for the large assembly present on Tuesday , when it was seen the gracious lady who was to present the prizes to the pupils was accompanied by the Prince of Wales ; and a hearty outburst of enthusiasm welcomed their Royal Highnesses on their

entrance into the Hall , followed by another expression of loyalty when the National Anthem was sung by the entire audience . The second verse of the Anthem was given as a solo by Mr . H . Hilton , Music Master of the School , and formerly Assistant Organist at Sandringham .

The Royal party , attended by Lady Emily Kingscote and Major-General Sir Stanley Clark , arrived at the Hall shortly after noon , and was received by the Earl of Lathom , Lord and Lady Skelmersdale , the Earl and Countess Amherst , Lord and Lady Llangattock , Lord and Lady

Leigh , Viscount Templetown , Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., and Bro . E . Letchworth ( Grand Secretary ) . Lord Lathom escorted the Princess to the platform , where she accepted a shower-bouquet of cattleya and white picotees from Miss Keyser , daughter of the worthy Treasurer of the Institution .

Bro . Richard Eve P . G . T . Chairman of the Board of Management having expressed the appreciation of the Institution at the attendance of the Prince and Princess of Wales , gave a short address , explanatory of the purposes of the great gathering . All Freemasons , he said , were anticipating -with pleasure the

Centenary Festival on Friday , over which the Prince of Wales Most Worshipful Grand Master would preside . Not for the first time was it that their Festival had been thus honoured . So far back as 1870 his Eoyal Highness had beenwith them , and in speaking of Loyalty and Charity as the watchwords of

Freemasonry , had uttered words that would never be forgotten by the Brethren . He thought he might promise that the Centenary would witness an unparalleled opening of heart towards the Institution , which had begun with only ten little inmates , and had gradually grown till the present premises , of which Baroness

( then Miss ) Burdett-Coutts had laid the foundation-stone in 1862 , had become much too small for modern needs . The movement they were now starting would , he hoped , give them an Institution worthy of the Craft , not , as he might remind them , to help the sons of the wealthier Brethren , but those in need through the illness , misfortune , or death of their parents .

Bro . Bev . H . A . Hebb Headmaster of the School then came forward , and stood beside the Princess , to hand her the various awards . With a kind smile for every boy , her Eoyal Highness went through her long task with unflagging interest , looking at the title of every book she presented , and repeatedly making

special inquiry of Bro . Hebb , as , when two very tiny boys came up together for four prizes , she audibly commented on their likeness to one another , and was informed that they were twin brothers . The Princess also evinced particular interest in the Canoubury Gold Medal , given to the most popular boy on the vote

of his school-fellows , and won by E . Eichardson . Nor did the ponderous weight of the six handsome volumes given under the Eaymond Thrupp endowment , for history , deter her Eoyal

Highness from taking them out of Bro . Hebb ' s hands , and placing them in the arms of A . P . Shaw , their proud recipient . Loud applause followed as the Princess sat down at the conclusion of her duty , and Bro . Keyser proposed a vote of

The Boys School Centenary.

thanks , saying that the day would be remembered as a red-letter one in the history of the Craft , even as the Princess ' s visit ten years ago to the Sister Institution for Girls was still recalled . Their Eoyal Highness ' s presence would give encouragement alike to the masters and to those responsible for the management and direction of the School , The vote was carried with ringing cheers , first for the Princess , and then " three more for our Most Worshipful Grand Master the Prince of Wales . "

Both the Princess of Wales and the Prince were visibly touched by the warmth of the reception accorded them , the applause being renewed when the Most Worshipful Grand Master rose to reply . His Eoyal Highness said : Ladies and Brethren—Before we leave the hall , and this interesting ceremony , which we have witnessed , is at an end ,

the Princess desires me to return her thanks to Brother Keyser for the kind terms in which he has made this proposition . She desires me also to express the great pleasure it has given her to present the prizes to the boys of this excellent school . I think the Princess has set a good example , as the wife of a Freemason , in not attempting to penetrate the secrets of the Craft . But she

has at the same time taken a very great and philanthropic interest in all that concerns our works of Benevolence . That interest she has manifested to-day by giving away the prizes . "You have heard a long and interesting account of the growth of the Institution from Bro . Eve , Chairman of the Board of Management . I have also had an opportunity of looking at the report of the

Headmaster , and find the report very satisfactory . All of us , I think , are convinced that the School , which has now reached its 100 th anniversary , is in a very prosperous condition . The boys , as far as appearance goes , look very healthy and well , and , judging from the prizes , have received an excellent technical education . I hope that when they grow up , and become men ,

they will not forget what has been taught them in this school , and will become useful members of the community . I must thank you also for the kind terms in which you have alluded to myself . I need hardly say here , and to the Brethren , that I shall continue to take the deepest interest in everything that concerns the welfare of the Craft and the Institutions that are supported

by it . The Eoyal party then left , and the very interesting meeting was brought to a conclusion . We must not omit a special reference to the programmes for the day , which also included the Headmaster's Annual Eeport , a list of results of public examinations during the year , the prize list , and other particulars , all of which were printed by the

boysand with no little credit—thus giving a practical illustration of the value of the Technical Instruction imparted at the Institution , out of School hours , as the Head Master is very careful to note in his Annual Eeport . In other words , the boys are being wisely trained to regard their work as one of the pleasures of life , if we may so term it , rather than a means of punishment . The following is the

PRIZE LIST . FORM PRIZES . Form IB E . Webb , K . Griffiths . IA F . W . Button , F . G . Button . IIB F . H . Castle . 11 A T . Anderson . IIIc tt . A . Mostyn , J . W . Barnett . IIIB L . 3 . Worsell , H . S . Prinn . IIIA H . G . Todd , A . Crane . IVB H . Lord , A . Gray . IVA A . W . Huskinson , H . D . Maidment . IVAR W . Hills .

PRIZES FOR SPECIAL SUBJECTS . Mathematics—H . D . Maidment , W . L . Dallas . Latin ( Presented by Bro . H . Manfleld)—E . Richardson , L . W . Croft and H . A . Dodds , equal for second prize . French ( Presented by Bro . 0 . Pbillippe)—M . A . Grace . Honours in Cambridge Local Preliminary—W . L . Dallas , M . A . Grace , H . G . Todd .

Knowledge of the Australian Colonies ( Presented b } ' Bro . W . F . Lamonby , 1897)—W . E . 3 . Barker . Knowledge of the Australian Colonies ( Presented by Bro . W . F . Lamonby and Bro . W . Russell )—L . W . Croft , A . P . Shaw . English Composition ( Presented by the " Old Masonians' Society " )—A . P . Shaw .

Drawing ( Presented by Bro . H . Kemp)—H . L . Garraway , C . Morton . Best Copy Books—C . 3 . Callander , F . D . Cowlishaw . Sight Singing—W . Holland . Theory of Music—A . D . Rogers . Pianoforte , Senior—H . D . Pink .

Pianoforte , Junior—W . J . Tunnicliffe . Reading in Chapel—W . L . Kemp . Printing—B . H . Green , W . Hills . Bookbinding—W . L . Kemp , R . H . Evans . Carpentry—C . W . Bewsher , A . W . Huskinson , H . Tanner , B . H . Good . Field Botany Club—Best Collection of specimens . To be awarded later .

FUNDED PRIZES . Canonbury Gold Medal for the most popular Boy ( elected by his comrades ) —E . Richardson . Bowyer Prize for Shorthand—J . R . B . Niven . The W . Masters' Memorial for knowledge of Railways—E . J . Barker and E . Richardson , equal . Escott Prize for Mathematics—E . J . Barker .