The Boys' Preparatory School.

every kindness in his power . I ought to avail myself of this opportunity of expressing my appreciation of the honours yon have accorded me in your programme of to-day , of being both the wife and the daughter of Mas > ns . I might , on that plea , have thmked yon , that , being a poor woman , I was entitled to your consideration . I

cannot do that , but I will put it in another form . Having been elected to preside over th- ' s interesting gathering , I will only make a few observations , because yon have mputioned in your records that , by the sanction of the Most Worshipful Grind Master , I am the only lady who has been present at a Lodge , sitting

but not working . Perhaps , therefore , I may say a little more than if I were an ordinary lady , and quite without the pale of Freemasonry . The advantages of an institution similar to this have some little chance of not being thoroughly estimated at the present time . It is 80 years since this School was brought into existence , and I think between

1 . 000 and 2 , 000 boys have passed through it during that period These little figures , however , represent very little of the real history of your School . When you think that these 80 years represent a very long average of human life yon will recognise that the boys who left the School at the beginning of its history have either passed

away , or , having fought the battle of life successfully , are still , at an extreme old age , living amongst ns . When you remember what those 80 years have been in your own history and in the history of the world , these little fignres do not at all represent what has been done through the refreshing and purifying influences that have passed from this School into the outer world . Nor do I think I shall be rash

in saying that the 1 , 000 or 2 000 boys who have left the School do not represent the influence for good that has been shed abroad by men who have actf-d nobly in life through the instrumentality of this School . We should be very much in the same under-estimate if we endeavoured to jndge of the influence exerted by each boy in the

workshop , or otherwise , for good . And when we think how much they may have influenced others for good , the amount of benefit which will have been conferred by this School before the century ends , of which the last eighty years have been the beginning , cannot be estimated by any human mind . It is known only to

Him to whom wo must render all honour , all reverence , and every kindly feeling we have in this world . At the present moment we want to observe that 80 years ago to be illiterate was not a discredit , certainly not a disgrace , and at times it was not

a great disadvantage . In those days there was many a Master , many a person , who would rather trust the ready wit , the willing hand , and the good conduct of a boy than his having been well taught and well informed . That is not the case now . It is a discredit and a

disgrace now not to be educated ; and the legislation of the country has made it so . Whether the legislation of the country carries out its laws effectuall y I do not know , but at any rate it provides that children shall be looked after up to the age of fourteen years , and properly edncnted . That makes an immense difference in the

position of tho children of tho present age over the means of education possessed by the boys of the time to which I have alluded , or by the girls either : because I had tho pleasure of seeing them under circumstances which will never bo effaced from my memory . That difference cannot be calculated by any one in the present day . There

is , however , great danger lest the education of the country may lead people to think that because a boy is put to a good school , and is being taught in such a place as this , nothing else is required . We havo in Board Schools able masters , who are most desirous of doing their work , but it is impossible in the Board Schools

of the country that the habits of home life can bo so cultivated as they are in an Institution such as this . There is many a good habit which has prevented a boy falling into bad company , or taking the wrong side of the road instead of the right side ; whereas , if he had been brought up in coarse or bad habits he would have been led into

grief and sorrow . Such is my estimate of your Institution here , which , by what is proposed in the f nture , and the support it is certain to receive—if not immediately , at no distant date—from such an influential body as the Masonic Craft will redound not only to the credit of the Order , but to the good of the country in general and

particularly to the good of the boys who are educated here . I can only add my own poor thanks for the honour that has been paid to me by yonr body on this and on other occasions , and to say how highly that honour has been valued by nie . Her ladyship resumed her seat amidst enthusiastic chpering .

Bro . Binckes then presented to her ladyship the four little Lewises who had borne the Bible which had been presented to the Lodge which bears her name—the Burdett-Coutts Lodge , No . 127 S . In doing so be said tbe boys shonld not be without some little memento of the event , and Bro . Cumberland P . P . G . S . W . had provided four

copies of the volume of the Sacred Law , which he hoped her lad yship would be kind enough to present to them . Each volume contained an entry in commemoration of the event , and they were presented respectively to George Octavius Fenron , Ernest Harold Anderson , Christopher George Barber-, and Salmon Almond Beavis .

In making the presentation , the Baroness said it had added much to the pleasure of the day to present those copies of the Bible . She hoped each of the boys who had received them would reach the ago of Sir Moses Montefioro , and would read those sacred words with the same comfort and consolation that he did . Tho pupils' choir then

sang "All people that on earth do dwell , " and the Chaplain and brethren recited "Except the Lord build the house , " the whole proceedings closing with the prayer , " May the Omnipotent and Merciful Father of all bless this neighbourhood and this land with corn , wine , and oil , and all the necessaries of life , and may the same

Almighty Power make us humble aud grateful for all His mercies . May he look down with benignity upon our present undertaking and crown the edifice of which wo havo now placed tbe corner stone ¦ with every success . —So mote it be . The Glorious Majesty of the Lord our God be npon us ; prosper Thou the work of our hands , upon us , O prosper Thou our handy-work . " Psalm xc . 17 . The band of the Institution , under the able direction of Bro . W . Whare , played some selections of music during the afternoon .

The Boys' Preparatory School.

The following is a copy of the inscription in each of the Bibles presented by Bro . Cumberland : — ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS . — : o : — To commemorate the Placing in position the corner-stone

of tho PREPARATORY SCHOOL BUILDINGS , at Wood Green , on Tuesday , 11 th August 1885 , by BARONESS BURDETT-COUTTS . This Bible is presented to

One of the four " Lewises " who assisted in carrying the Volume of the Sacred Law , b y Bro . J . S . CUMBERLAND P . M . P . J . P . G . W ., Life Governor , with best wishes for your future welfare .

Read , mark , learn , aud inwardly digest . Herein yon will bo taught the important duties you owe to God , to your neighbour , and to yourself . Be careful to perform yonr allotted task while it is yet day . And may God bless and prosper you in your work .

At tho conclusion of tho ceremony the company sat down to dSjeuner in the new assembly hall , under the presidency of Bro . A . F . Godson , who proposed tho usual toasts , introducing each with some well-chosen remarks . In the conrse of the evening Bro . Binckes

announced that the amounts subscribed that day totalled up to £ 1 , 100 ; these included a donation of one hundred guineas from the Baroness Burdett-Coutts , and a similar sum front Bro . Godson , the Chairman . VVe append a list of the Stewards of the day , together with particulars of the principal contributions received .

Adlard , Frederick P . M . 7 , & c , V .-Pat . - Baker , W . H . - - - - - 10 10 0 Berridge , Robert P . M . 21 , Ac , P . G . Steward , Y .-Pat . - 52 10 0 Belton , Charles P . M . 165 , & c , P . P . G . D . Surrey , V .-Pat . 5 5 0 Bennett , Frederick T . 33 , V .-Pres .

Binckes , F . P . M . P . G . Steward Secretary , V .-Pat . - 10 10 0 Bowyer , Edgar P . M . 1471 , & c ., P . G . Std . Br ., V .-Pat . - 21 0 0 Clever , Joseph P . M . 171 V .-Pres . - - - 27 6 0 Clowes , Richard P . M . 51 , & c , P . P . G . S . W . Essex , V .-Pafc . fCooper , George P . M . 214 , & c , V .-Pat . - . -550 fCnbitt , Thomas P . M . 157 , & c , P . G . Purs ., V .-Pres . -550

Dicketts , Herbert - - - - -550 District Grand Lodge , Hong Kong - . - 21 0 0 f Driver , Charles H . P . M . P . P . G . Snpt . Works Surrey - 5 5 0 * Godson , Aug . F . D . P . G . M . Worcestershire , V .-Pat . - 105 0 0 fGoodall IT . S ., L . G . ..... Grand Lodge M . M . M . - - - - - 52 10 0 Hill , Fredk . C . - - - . - 60 2 6

flloganl , Uharles V . P . M . 2 U 5 , & c , P . P . G . S . Works Essex , V .-Pat . 26 5 0 Humphries , T . Mount P . M ., L . G ., P . P . G . S . Works Staff . 26 5 0 Hunt , Henry Wallis P . M . 29 P . G . Steward , V .-Pat . . 5 5 0 Kempster , W . IT ., M . D ., P . M . 1420 , & c , L . G . - Kenning , Goorgo P . M . 192 1057 P . G . D . Middlesex , V .-Pat . Lake , W . P . M . ' 131 P . P . G . R » g . Cornwall Lambert , Captain G . P . M . 198 , & c , P . P . G . W . Herts

P . G . S . 15 ., Patron - - . . - 26 5 0 Layton , Alfred Thomas W . M . 1601 P . M . 181 , & c , V .-Pat . 10 10 0 fMann , W . P . M . 186 , & c , V .-Pat . Marshall , Horace B , C . C ., P . M . P . G . Treasurer , Patron - 94 10 0 * Mather , J . L . P . M . 65 , & c , P . P . G . D . Herts , V .-Pat . - 31 10 0 Matier , C . F . P . M . 645 , & i \ , V .-Pat , - - -220 fMaple , W . P . M . 657 , & c , L . G . - - - 10 10 0

Martvn , R * v . C . J ., D . P . G . M . Suffolk , P . G . Chap ., Patron 10 10 0 Miller , T . Hastings P . M . P . P . G . D . Middlesex , V .-Pres . - 10 10 0 * Moon , James P . M . 49 , & c , V .-Pres . - . - 10 10 0 Morris , Rev . Dr ., Head Master , V .-Pat . - Motion , George P . M . P . P . G . D . Essex Murray , Joyce P . M . 1703 , & c , V .-Pat . - - - 21 0 0 Paua , W . P . M . 28 , & o ., V .-Pres . .... Plucknett , George P . M . P . G . D ., V .-Pat ., Treasurer

Prestige , George 1900 , L . G . .... Ramsav , F . W ., M . D ., P . M ., L . G . Roebuck , W . P . M . 29 , & c , P . G . Steward , V .-Pat ., Trustee Rolls , Dudley P . M . 12 , & c , V .-Pres . Sanders , Charles , M . D ., P . M ., L . G .

fSannders , W . Harris P . M . P . P . G . D ., Middlesex , L . G . - Scurrah , W . A . 167 , & c , V .-Pat . fSoppet , Charles E . P . M . 1627 P . G . Steward , L . G . Soppet , Miss Eadith - . . . - 5 5 0 Stanley , H . - . . . . . 26 5 0

Stewart , Rarnham W . P . M . 103 , & c , P . G . D ., V .-Pres ., Stone , H . P . M . 723 , L . G . - . Storr , E . F . P . M . 22 , & c , V .-Pres . Taylor , E . T . 5 5 0 Thiellay , E . H . W . M . 2060 P . P . G . S . B . Middlesex , L . G . -

Torkington , A . W . M . 00 P . G . Steward , Y .-Pat . - - 5 5 O Tweednle , J . F . - - . . . . 2 ( 5 5 O Venn , Henry P . M . 23 P . G . Steward , L . G . Wallis , Percy P . P . G . W . Derbvshire , V .-Pres . -

Webb , Juba ! - . . . . - 15 15 0 Williams , Alfred P . M . 49 , etc ., V .-Pat . - - 15 15 0 Williamson , W . B . P . M . P . P . G . W . Worcestershire , L . G . Willing , James jun ., P . M . W . M . 1987 , V .-Pres . -550 * Members of Honse Committee . f Members Finance and Audit Committee .