-
Articles/Ads
Article ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS. ← Page 2 of 2 Article ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS. Page 2 of 2
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
Bnbsoribers , who found the funds , an opportunity of selecting a man . It was the course of publio bodies when electing any officers for n Sub-Committee to seleot a certain number , and they were to present their testimonials to the general body that elected the officer . If that had been done , Bro . Sonrrah would not have had any suspicion .
He did not say there was cause , but there waa just an element of suspicion , and keeping in view the recent history of this Institution , they were justified in encouraging that suspicion , and therefore should be given the opportunity ofeleotingone of three , or ouo of six . A Brother said several of the brethren understood that tho
qualifications of those applicants who reside b 9 yond tho raliu 3 of a mile were not considered at all by the Committee . Tho Chairman—Every one of them wa 3 . You had 15 , yon had 10 , yon had 6 . It waa reports-. ! to the Quarterly Court , and it is competent for the Quarterly Court to select out of the 37 . It was considered that whoever was appointed
ought to be within a mile . A Brother reminded tho Chairman of Dr . Hogg's remarks , and the Chairman said ho did not think tho Committee wished to have tho matter referred back to them , but thoy did wish to do justice to all . If one candidate had better qualifications than the other , by all means let him try . If any brothron felt
slighted , let them go before the Quarterly Court . Dr . Hog » s motion was seconded by Bro . W . M . Stilea . The Chairman then put the motion of Bro . Scurrah— " That a letter be sent by the Secretary to all those candidates for the office of medioal officer , telling them that their applications are not dismissed , and that thoir applications will
be laid before the General Court , and to send back their testimonials in order that they may be put before tho Quarterly Court . The Chairman put the motion again in these words "That these 37 candidates be requested to send in their testimonials , to be submitted to the Quarterly Court , " to this Dr . Hogg's amendment , that
the matter bo referred baok to the Provisional Committee . The Committee divided . On a show of hands , the Chairman declared there were none for the amendment . He then put the motion , which was carried . Bro . Alfred Durrant asked the Chairman whether tho meeting was going to be a party to the recommendation , the result of
whioh was that the head master should have no support . The Chairman said they had not come to that part of the report yet . Brother Binckes then read the House Committee's minutes , and the Finance Committee's report . Two petitions from the friends of candidates for election into the School were considered , and deferred for further
information by the Lodges in whioh the fathers of the candidates were initiated . Two grants of £ 5 eaoh for outfits for ex-pupils of the Institution were then granted . Bro . John Glass now said that following on the recommendations of the report of the Provisional Management Committee which was laid before the brethren in July
last , paragraph No . 6 of which was—" Tho Committeo has under its consideration the various recommendations of the Committee of Inquiry , with a view to carry them out as desirod by the General Court . It had not lost sight of the question of the Head Mastership , but deems it advisable to reserve this , with other
important subjects , for further deliberation . " Since Jnly the Committee bad devoted real and anxious consideration to this qnostion , aud afterwards they unanimously passed a resolution that this proposition should be laid before the brethren to-day . It was not his dnty to comment upon it in any way ; he only reiterated what
tho Chairman had already mentioned—that they had , in tho be 3 t iutorests of the Institution , given this grave matter their very best attention , and whether the brethren approved of it or not was
of course a matter for them . The Committee believed that they had in this instance done their dnty faithfully , fearlessly , and well , aud they asked the brethren to support them . He now moved" That the Provisional Committee be authorised to terminate the
appointment of Dr . Morris , the Head Master , in accordance with the terms of agreement dated 20 th August 1875 , and that the said Committee bo further empowered to take such steps as they may deem desirable to appoint another Head Master iu accordance with the laws of the Institution . " Bro . J . S . Cumberland rose to second
the proposition . Ho would go back to what he stated before , viz ., that they elected the Committee to submit to them certain recommendations , and this was one , and he might say one of tho most vital in connection with the Institution . He was not going to speak of the brother as a brother ; he was going to speak against the system
which had been carried on at the Institution , which had to some extent grown within his knowledge . He could not help thinking that all the matters which had cropped up from time to time , and come before the monthly meeting , showed that there had beon a great want of discipline . The position the Secretary had taken with
regard to the master , if the master was worth his 3 alt he would have at once bronght tbe question before tho Committee , and if thoy did not listen to his complaints and the explanations of the Secretary , and then bring the whole matter before tha Craft , ho ought to have" done so . He hoped the brethren would agree with
him . What he was doing was in tbe interests of the Institution . If they elected another Secretary they might havo a brother not acquainted with the commercial interests of tho Institution , and on that ground he would say they would want a still stronger master . Ho had no hesitation at all in seconding the resolution . Ha would
go further than that , and say that the brother elected to fill tho placo of the head master should be recommended to thorn as a general body . He would not bo elected by ihe Committee , and those to find the money would have tho appointment . Bro . Britr . en sail ho thought that the Provisional Committee was expressly npnoiuled to
carry out the report of tho Philbrick Commission , and that report was in favour of Dr . Morris . They said that tho discipline of the school under Dr , Morris was satisfactory , and he should move as au amendment that , in faco of the Philbrick report aud the questions 45 nnd 46 , "This Committee is of opinion that the s .: rvieo-i of
Dr . Morris should bo retained . " Bro . W . H . Saunders seconded the amendment . Tho Chairman said there was no nt : c- _ -ssity for the amendment , as it waa a direct negative . Brother Jones . thought that by the resolution passed at the , June Quarterly Court the whole of the administrative officers of
Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
tho Institution were to resign or tender their resignations . He could not conceive how thia Genera ! Committee could nps t ;\ resolution of the Quartorly Court . To his mind a Quarterly Court was of far more importance than thesi monthly ma-itm ;/ - * . At the Quarterly Court thoy had brethren who subscrib )! ihnir guinea
and their five guineas . At this tirno tb- * y had tha Life Governors . The Committee he contended , with all due respect to Bro . Britten , was appointed to carry out the resolution passed by the Qaurtorly Court , which was that the whole of the officers of the Institution should be got rid of . Iu the face of that resolution it was the duty
of the Committee to carry it out . There was not sufficient discipline in the School , more especially considering tho amount of money spent . He had had the expenses before him , and ho knew . He did not know how they oould refuse to get another Master ; it was a oonundrum to him that one Committee oould upset another .
He hoped this Committee would support the Provisional Committee to the very letter . Bro . Alfred Durrant oould not allow any statement to be made on this occasion or in any publio body reflecting on Dr . Morris . Ho had had many opportunities of seeing and knowing how discipline was maintained at the School , and he most
unhesitatingly said , and he was ready to bring evidence of it , that their School as far as its Head Master was concerned was woll managed , and that its discipline was exoellent . Bro . Spratling would like to say that the state of the School at the time when Dr . Morris became Master was very different to what it was now . Prom his own
knowledge , and from information of a friend of his who was seoond master in the School , he oould say this . The state of the School now , educationally , was very far higher than when Dr . Morris undertook it . As to discipline he thought that if the monthly reports wero gone over it would be found that John Jones was a naughty boy one day
and Tom Smith a naughty boy another day . It would be found to be the case in every school , but that did not prove the discipline waa bad . If Bro . Cumberland meant that , there was not muoh in it . Without throwing stones at anybody else , the difficulties must have increased if one thirtieth or one fiftieth part of what they heard was
true . He thought Dr . Morris held hia own pretty strongly and firmly . They were going to change a very important part of their administration ; in faot to alter the whole thing . If they wished to do so they should pause and consider what they were about , and let the Sohool feel its feet first . Dr . Morris might
not be the best man , but he was free to do what he liked . Bro . Hawkins—as one of those who joined in advooating the making of a clean sweep of the officers , and in the entire administration of the Sohool , and supporting various charges then found—said they were not oonsoious that Dr . Morris had been
inefficient as far as the discipline of the School was concerned , but that he had been weak in not coming to the House Committee to protest against the Secretary ' s control . This statement had been made , and they were told that when he had come to the House Committee he was not supported there . They never heai \ l
of that until he came before the Philbrick Commission , now , either Dr . Morris did go to the House Committee , and complain of interferenca with his administration , or he did not . If he did ho was right , if he did not he was wrong . The Philbrick Committee held that the educational condition of tbe School was good , he heard
practically the same Commission , consisting of tho same gentlemen , recommending unanimously that Dr . Morris should be dismissed . Did those gentlemen accede to that report ? Was any information obtained from Bro . Philbrick , or Sir Reginald Hanson or others , as to whother Dr . Morris had had the opportunity of carrying on the Institution with another staff . It seemed to him that Dr . Morris
had no real opportunity of being the Governor of the Sohool . Waa the Provisional Committee , after FO many years of Dr . Morris ' s services , going to give Dr . Morris a six months' notice or six months' salary only , when tbey were going to give another a
gigantic pension ? He was surprised at such conduct . There waa no reason in the thing . They recommended the pensioning of their officer at £ 50 a year more than the salary which they were going to give his successor . The Chairman—So long a 3 Brother Hawkins confines himself to Dr . Morris he is in order .
Bro . Hawkins said if Dr . Morris was to go , givo him some solatium j show the brotherly love they talked about . If Dr . Morris was such an incompetent master , such a bad Bcholar , how wa 3 it he ( Bro . Hawkins ) had read for years the reports from the Secretary and tbe
Committee extolling Dr . Morris . There must certainly ba some arguments in hi 3 favour . He did not say keep him permanently , but give him an opportunity of receiving something if they were soing to turn him away at once . The brethren then voted by show of hands on tha motion of Bro . Glass .
Por tho motion ... ... 45 Against ... ... ... 35 Bro . Durrant proposed that it be referred to tbe Provisional Committee to consider the advisability of granting a pension to Dr . Morris . The Chairman read several letters from individual
brethren , and on behalf of provinces . Some were in favour , and some in opposition to tho proposed pension to Bro . Bincko 3 . Bro . Britten—¦ Is tho resolution with regard to Dr . Morris to be acted ou by this Committee or by the Quarterly Court ? Tho Chairman—It will be acted on by tho Provisional Committee . Bro . G . Faulkner seconded
Bro . Durrant ' s proposition , which waa thou handed iu in writing . Bro . tho ltev . J . S . Brownrigg P . G . O . thought the proposition had better bo laid before the Provisional Committee . The motion was carried . Bro . Jones said the brethren would recollect that at the monthly meeting in Angus ' ; a recommendation ca-mo from tho Pro .
visional Committee—that this Committeo should confirm a proposition they made to give a pension of £ 350 a year to Bro . Binckes , He wished to ask tho Chairman to-clay , when tho question of
Bro . Binckes' pension was discussed , how many of tho Provisional Committee wore present ? After Rome further discussion Bro . Hiw . kins asked , whether it > 7 imltl be necessary to give notice of motion opposing the pension to Bro . Binckes ? to which the Chairman , answered , No . This closed tho proceedings ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
Bnbsoribers , who found the funds , an opportunity of selecting a man . It was the course of publio bodies when electing any officers for n Sub-Committee to seleot a certain number , and they were to present their testimonials to the general body that elected the officer . If that had been done , Bro . Sonrrah would not have had any suspicion .
He did not say there was cause , but there waa just an element of suspicion , and keeping in view the recent history of this Institution , they were justified in encouraging that suspicion , and therefore should be given the opportunity ofeleotingone of three , or ouo of six . A Brother said several of the brethren understood that tho
qualifications of those applicants who reside b 9 yond tho raliu 3 of a mile were not considered at all by the Committee . Tho Chairman—Every one of them wa 3 . You had 15 , yon had 10 , yon had 6 . It waa reports-. ! to the Quarterly Court , and it is competent for the Quarterly Court to select out of the 37 . It was considered that whoever was appointed
ought to be within a mile . A Brother reminded tho Chairman of Dr . Hogg's remarks , and the Chairman said ho did not think tho Committee wished to have tho matter referred back to them , but thoy did wish to do justice to all . If one candidate had better qualifications than the other , by all means let him try . If any brothron felt
slighted , let them go before the Quarterly Court . Dr . Hog » s motion was seconded by Bro . W . M . Stilea . The Chairman then put the motion of Bro . Scurrah— " That a letter be sent by the Secretary to all those candidates for the office of medioal officer , telling them that their applications are not dismissed , and that thoir applications will
be laid before the General Court , and to send back their testimonials in order that they may be put before tho Quarterly Court . The Chairman put the motion again in these words "That these 37 candidates be requested to send in their testimonials , to be submitted to the Quarterly Court , " to this Dr . Hogg's amendment , that
the matter bo referred baok to the Provisional Committee . The Committee divided . On a show of hands , the Chairman declared there were none for the amendment . He then put the motion , which was carried . Bro . Alfred Durrant asked the Chairman whether tho meeting was going to be a party to the recommendation , the result of
whioh was that the head master should have no support . The Chairman said they had not come to that part of the report yet . Brother Binckes then read the House Committee's minutes , and the Finance Committee's report . Two petitions from the friends of candidates for election into the School were considered , and deferred for further
information by the Lodges in whioh the fathers of the candidates were initiated . Two grants of £ 5 eaoh for outfits for ex-pupils of the Institution were then granted . Bro . John Glass now said that following on the recommendations of the report of the Provisional Management Committee which was laid before the brethren in July
last , paragraph No . 6 of which was—" Tho Committeo has under its consideration the various recommendations of the Committee of Inquiry , with a view to carry them out as desirod by the General Court . It had not lost sight of the question of the Head Mastership , but deems it advisable to reserve this , with other
important subjects , for further deliberation . " Since Jnly the Committee bad devoted real and anxious consideration to this qnostion , aud afterwards they unanimously passed a resolution that this proposition should be laid before the brethren to-day . It was not his dnty to comment upon it in any way ; he only reiterated what
tho Chairman had already mentioned—that they had , in tho be 3 t iutorests of the Institution , given this grave matter their very best attention , and whether the brethren approved of it or not was
of course a matter for them . The Committee believed that they had in this instance done their dnty faithfully , fearlessly , and well , aud they asked the brethren to support them . He now moved" That the Provisional Committee be authorised to terminate the
appointment of Dr . Morris , the Head Master , in accordance with the terms of agreement dated 20 th August 1875 , and that the said Committee bo further empowered to take such steps as they may deem desirable to appoint another Head Master iu accordance with the laws of the Institution . " Bro . J . S . Cumberland rose to second
the proposition . Ho would go back to what he stated before , viz ., that they elected the Committee to submit to them certain recommendations , and this was one , and he might say one of tho most vital in connection with the Institution . He was not going to speak of the brother as a brother ; he was going to speak against the system
which had been carried on at the Institution , which had to some extent grown within his knowledge . He could not help thinking that all the matters which had cropped up from time to time , and come before the monthly meeting , showed that there had beon a great want of discipline . The position the Secretary had taken with
regard to the master , if the master was worth his 3 alt he would have at once bronght tbe question before tho Committee , and if thoy did not listen to his complaints and the explanations of the Secretary , and then bring the whole matter before tha Craft , ho ought to have" done so . He hoped the brethren would agree with
him . What he was doing was in tbe interests of the Institution . If they elected another Secretary they might havo a brother not acquainted with the commercial interests of tho Institution , and on that ground he would say they would want a still stronger master . Ho had no hesitation at all in seconding the resolution . Ha would
go further than that , and say that the brother elected to fill tho placo of the head master should be recommended to thorn as a general body . He would not bo elected by ihe Committee , and those to find the money would have tho appointment . Bro . Britr . en sail ho thought that the Provisional Committee was expressly npnoiuled to
carry out the report of tho Philbrick Commission , and that report was in favour of Dr . Morris . They said that tho discipline of the school under Dr , Morris was satisfactory , and he should move as au amendment that , in faco of the Philbrick report aud the questions 45 nnd 46 , "This Committee is of opinion that the s .: rvieo-i of
Dr . Morris should bo retained . " Bro . W . H . Saunders seconded the amendment . Tho Chairman said there was no nt : c- _ -ssity for the amendment , as it waa a direct negative . Brother Jones . thought that by the resolution passed at the , June Quarterly Court the whole of the administrative officers of
Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
tho Institution were to resign or tender their resignations . He could not conceive how thia Genera ! Committee could nps t ;\ resolution of the Quartorly Court . To his mind a Quarterly Court was of far more importance than thesi monthly ma-itm ;/ - * . At the Quarterly Court thoy had brethren who subscrib )! ihnir guinea
and their five guineas . At this tirno tb- * y had tha Life Governors . The Committee he contended , with all due respect to Bro . Britten , was appointed to carry out the resolution passed by the Qaurtorly Court , which was that the whole of the officers of the Institution should be got rid of . Iu the face of that resolution it was the duty
of the Committee to carry it out . There was not sufficient discipline in the School , more especially considering tho amount of money spent . He had had the expenses before him , and ho knew . He did not know how they oould refuse to get another Master ; it was a oonundrum to him that one Committee oould upset another .
He hoped this Committee would support the Provisional Committee to the very letter . Bro . Alfred Durrant oould not allow any statement to be made on this occasion or in any publio body reflecting on Dr . Morris . Ho had had many opportunities of seeing and knowing how discipline was maintained at the School , and he most
unhesitatingly said , and he was ready to bring evidence of it , that their School as far as its Head Master was concerned was woll managed , and that its discipline was exoellent . Bro . Spratling would like to say that the state of the School at the time when Dr . Morris became Master was very different to what it was now . Prom his own
knowledge , and from information of a friend of his who was seoond master in the School , he oould say this . The state of the School now , educationally , was very far higher than when Dr . Morris undertook it . As to discipline he thought that if the monthly reports wero gone over it would be found that John Jones was a naughty boy one day
and Tom Smith a naughty boy another day . It would be found to be the case in every school , but that did not prove the discipline waa bad . If Bro . Cumberland meant that , there was not muoh in it . Without throwing stones at anybody else , the difficulties must have increased if one thirtieth or one fiftieth part of what they heard was
true . He thought Dr . Morris held hia own pretty strongly and firmly . They were going to change a very important part of their administration ; in faot to alter the whole thing . If they wished to do so they should pause and consider what they were about , and let the Sohool feel its feet first . Dr . Morris might
not be the best man , but he was free to do what he liked . Bro . Hawkins—as one of those who joined in advooating the making of a clean sweep of the officers , and in the entire administration of the Sohool , and supporting various charges then found—said they were not oonsoious that Dr . Morris had been
inefficient as far as the discipline of the School was concerned , but that he had been weak in not coming to the House Committee to protest against the Secretary ' s control . This statement had been made , and they were told that when he had come to the House Committee he was not supported there . They never heai \ l
of that until he came before the Philbrick Commission , now , either Dr . Morris did go to the House Committee , and complain of interferenca with his administration , or he did not . If he did ho was right , if he did not he was wrong . The Philbrick Committee held that the educational condition of tbe School was good , he heard
practically the same Commission , consisting of tho same gentlemen , recommending unanimously that Dr . Morris should be dismissed . Did those gentlemen accede to that report ? Was any information obtained from Bro . Philbrick , or Sir Reginald Hanson or others , as to whother Dr . Morris had had the opportunity of carrying on the Institution with another staff . It seemed to him that Dr . Morris
had no real opportunity of being the Governor of the Sohool . Waa the Provisional Committee , after FO many years of Dr . Morris ' s services , going to give Dr . Morris a six months' notice or six months' salary only , when tbey were going to give another a
gigantic pension ? He was surprised at such conduct . There waa no reason in the thing . They recommended the pensioning of their officer at £ 50 a year more than the salary which they were going to give his successor . The Chairman—So long a 3 Brother Hawkins confines himself to Dr . Morris he is in order .
Bro . Hawkins said if Dr . Morris was to go , givo him some solatium j show the brotherly love they talked about . If Dr . Morris was such an incompetent master , such a bad Bcholar , how wa 3 it he ( Bro . Hawkins ) had read for years the reports from the Secretary and tbe
Committee extolling Dr . Morris . There must certainly ba some arguments in hi 3 favour . He did not say keep him permanently , but give him an opportunity of receiving something if they were soing to turn him away at once . The brethren then voted by show of hands on tha motion of Bro . Glass .
Por tho motion ... ... 45 Against ... ... ... 35 Bro . Durrant proposed that it be referred to tbe Provisional Committee to consider the advisability of granting a pension to Dr . Morris . The Chairman read several letters from individual
brethren , and on behalf of provinces . Some were in favour , and some in opposition to tho proposed pension to Bro . Bincko 3 . Bro . Britten—¦ Is tho resolution with regard to Dr . Morris to be acted ou by this Committee or by the Quarterly Court ? Tho Chairman—It will be acted on by tho Provisional Committee . Bro . G . Faulkner seconded
Bro . Durrant ' s proposition , which waa thou handed iu in writing . Bro . tho ltev . J . S . Brownrigg P . G . O . thought the proposition had better bo laid before the Provisional Committee . The motion was carried . Bro . Jones said the brethren would recollect that at the monthly meeting in Angus ' ; a recommendation ca-mo from tho Pro .
visional Committee—that this Committeo should confirm a proposition they made to give a pension of £ 350 a year to Bro . Binckes , He wished to ask tho Chairman to-clay , when tho question of
Bro . Binckes' pension was discussed , how many of tho Provisional Committee wore present ? After Rome further discussion Bro . Hiw . kins asked , whether it > 7 imltl be necessary to give notice of motion opposing the pension to Bro . Binckes ? to which the Chairman , answered , No . This closed tho proceedings ,