The Coming Festival Of The Boys' School.

THE COMING FESTIVAL OF THE BOYS ' SCHOOL .

NEVE R has the result of one of the Annual Charity Celebrations of Freemasonry been looked forward to with greater anxiety than is the case

at the present time , in connection with the Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , which is fixed to take place on Wednesday week , the 3 rd July . It is quite unnecessary to tell our readers , or

for matter of that to tell any one just now , that the Institution is passing through a most severe ordeal , for the ' general as well as the Masonic press has made frequent reference to the matter during the past few

weeks . Suffice it to say its management has been inquired into , its organization has been scrutinized , and its general efficiency has been investigated . An unfavourable report has been issued bv the Committee

appointed to conduct these examinations , and the report itself has led to such a torrent of bitterness and ill feeling as has , happily , been unknown in connection wich Masonic affairs for many years past , even if ever before the doings of the Craft called forth so much adverse criticism .

We do not propose to say much on the present occasion as to the justice or injustice of the Committee's report , but we believe it is becoming generally recognised that much more has been made of the

verdict than was anticipated or intended by the Judges , and in the minds of many well able to form an opinion a reaction is already setting in—an opposition to the violent antagonism that was rife a few

weeks ago , and which would have led its votaries anywhere and everywhere , provided it produced a change from existing arrangements . Things may be very bad , but they cannot be improved by making

out they are worse than they really are , and some of the strongest among the objectors are beginning to ask themselves whether more advantages are certain to arise after the most severe and most radical of

changes than are to be anticipated from a thorough and consistent reorganisation ? The Festival to be held on the 3 rd of next month will , in a measure , set these doubts at rest , for on that occasion we shall have gathered together a large

and influential body of Masons—men who are actual supporters of the Institution , and who , by their donations during the present year , have won for themselves the right of a first voice in its present

management . But above all this , there is another and a far more important consideration : —On the result of the coming Festival may be said to hang the future of the Institution itself . A satisfactory Festival will restore confidence in the Charity , while an

"unsatisfactory one will give additional cause for anxiety among those who regard disagreement and strife as almost the worst surroundings possible to be met with . If next month ' s Festival shows a falling off as compared with previous years , those who are to be

entrusted with the reorganization of the Institution will be doubly fettered , and it is not too much to say that success will be almost impossible on their part . No matter how the management may be reformed , or what new features may be introduced into the conduct

of the Charity , the first work to be accomplished will be to find the funds to meet current expenses , and this is what is actually required from the Festival

of next month . We have been told that the funds have been spent most extravagantly , but it will be some time before any appreciable

difference in the outlay can be made apparent , no matter who undertakes the work of reformation , or how zealously they may work to secure economy . There is no getting over the fact that every

boy in the Institution must cost a given sum to maintain , and if the average of the past has been a high one . that of the next year or two will not be

materially lessened , for reforms of such a nature as are here deemed necessary are not capable of immediate adoption , much less productive of immediate

benefit . Besides all this , the Craft will have to be very careful to convince themselves , before they make any change , that what they are about to attempt is certain ,

aye , even likely , to prove beneficial , for it is not every change that results satisfactorily , and with such an Institution as our Boys' School at stake , it will never

do to make fresh and greater blunders in attempting to remedy existing ones , which , on mature , careful and impartial consideration , may turn out to be more

apparent than real . Then again , who are the men to whom is to bo entrusted the work of reform ? We already have a

Provisional Committee , whose powers may be said to be supreme , but will they care to continue the work ; or will it be possible to secure other competent men to

take their place , it the institution is in such a state as regards finances as to render it impossible for the management to carry out the reforms they propose , or

devote the whole of their time to improvements , without being harassed to find the necessary funds to pay current expenses ? The only real way to secure a

speedy and satisfactory reform is to place the Institution in an easy position as regards funds , and then await the decision of the brethren who are now devoting their attention to the subject . The Festival will take place at the Alexandra Palace , Wood Green , as we have said , on Wednesday , the 3 rd July . The chair will be taken by Bro . Richard Eve , a Patron of the Institution , Past Grand

Treasurer , and Past Uranci bemor warden ot I-Jampshire and the Isle of Wight . Those who remember the election of Bro . Eve to the office of Grand Treasurer of England will agree with us that he is a most popular man among his brother Masons , as the hundreds who on that occasion attended Grand

Lodge and gave him their votes testified . Me will be supported in this new office by many , if not all , who then supported him , while his occupancy of the Grand Treasurership has made him even more widely known