An Anxious Outlook.

AN ANXIOUS OUTLOOK .

IT is not often that English Freemasonry has had before it such a critical outlook as seems to present at the present moment , when the actual future of the Masonic Institutions may be said to hang in the balance . It may be urged that the anxiety of the hour does not really concern the Masonic system as a whole , as it applies only to an offshoot of Ancient Freemasonry ; but if we regard the

Masonic Charitable Institutions in their proper light , we can hardly describe them now as anything but an important part of English Freemasonry , and , as a consequence , the gravity of the situation makes itself immediately apparent when we come to recognise , as it seems imperative we should do , that the future of the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Bovs . and .

indirectly , the other Institutions , depends on the result of the Anniversary Festival to be held on Wednesday next . We have had critical moments in the history of the three Institutions before this , but seldom , if ever , have circumstances so worked together as to produce such an aspect as now presents itself in connection with this coming celebration .

The management of the Institution has been called in question , grave charges have been made , radical changes have been suggested , and all , or nearly all , of the proposed alterations having been carried into effect , we now stand face to face with the crucial test of " actual results , " to show how far the Craft will

endorse the changes which have been made . The Boys' School , and through it the entire system of Masonic relief , must rise or fall in comparison with the result of the Festival on Wednesday . The Institution is in such a position as to be likely to exemplify to the fullest extent the truth of the oft

repeated remark that " nothing succeeds liko success ; " equally , anything ; like failure will at . once produce the very worst results , but happily we have confidence enough in the present t condition of affairs to feel that there is every ^ prospect . of a satisfactory issue to this momentous Question

We imagine the three central Masonic Institutions will never be what they were a few years ago , then they were the principal , and the only recognised channels possessed by the Craft for the systematic distribution of Masonic relief , now they certainly stand at the head of the charity funds of English

freemasonry , but they occupy a somewhat insignificant place in many of tho Provinces , at least so far as number of those benefited is concerned . The recent experiences in connection with the Boys ' bchool has not only caused the breaches which formerly existed to be very considerablv widened , but

nave also created . others , which , though small at present , will certainly increase in years to come , and may ultimately shake the very foundations of the institutions itself , and with them the whole structure ot English Masonic Benevolence .

An Anxious Outlook.

No system , however healthy it may be , however strong , or however much respected , can ever wholly recover from such severe treatment as has been meted out to the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys during the past few years . The present generation

may pass away , and the new men who will take their places will know little or nothing of the troubles of 1889 and 1890 ; but the effects of that disturbance will remain , and will probably be much more in evidence then than they are now . Charges of wasteful extravagance and expensive management have been

raised , and we believe the best supporters of the Institution have come to the conclusion that economy is next to impossible in connection with such establishments as are apparently necessary for our Masonic Schools , or at least economy of such a character as to favourably compare with similar work undertaken

in local centres by brethren who are personally interested in the cases they wish to support . As a consequence , loccal funds have been started , or supported in such a way as to create the idea that it is to those that the future sympathy of the Craft will be devoted , rather than to the great central Charities , which some urge are so liable to abuse and general

misunderstanding . This is the rock , as we have often pointed out , on which the Masonic Schools will meet disaster , and anything which shows the local funds to advantage , as the recent Boys' School troubles have done , as compared with the central Charities , will hasten on the end , which seems inevitable .

As we have said , however , it remains tor the Festival of Wednesday next to give tangible proof of the present feeling of the Craft in these matters . If the result is a great success—and we hope that will be the outcome—then we must regard the troubles as happily tided over , at least for a time ; but if the

opposite should happen , then we shall know that the opinion of English Freemasons , upset by the arguments of the past , has not wholly recovered from the shock , and probably never will da so ; and it will become necessary to . seriously consider what is best to be done' under the altered circumstances in which the Institutions would find themselves .

But while we have thus far spoken of the drawbacks which have arisen to create an unfavourable impression on Wednesday ' s celebration , we must not forget to look at the other side of the picture . There we find much to be thankful for , and it would almost seem that as many blessings have arisen as there are evils to contend against , so that we are perfectly justified in hoping for a favourable outcome . The Festival will be held under almost the most

distinguished patronage the Urait could secure . The Institution has not secured the Grand Master himself to preside , but it has the next Official in order in Pro Grand Master the Earl of Lathom . Then there is the fortunate circumstance that the Institution has a new Secretary at its head . No matter where we go we are sure to find numbers who delight in working