The Boys Festival.

THE BOYS FESTIVAL

AS the day steadily draws near for the Anniversary celebration of the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys the feeling heightens that the Festival of 1895 will be a successful one , and will go far to prove , not only the

popularity of this particular Institution , but also the liberal spirit that still guides the Freemasons of England in the exercise of that greatest of Masonic attributes—Benevolence .

It has long been a recognised rule in regard to the Festivals of the three Institutions that no official statement shall

go forth as to the progress . being made in regard to promised subscriptions , but even if it were otherwise we believe the figures obtainable to-day would be of very little use in forming an estimate of the ultimate total . In a manner of speaking

the lists have not yet begun coming in—indeed , we hope there is not one of the Stewards who has yet cried " Hold , enough , " in regard to his efforts on behalf of the coming event . This being so we have nothing but surmise on which to base calculations as to the outcome .

At the present time there are five hundred Stewards on the Board , but a large number of these are unattached , and in their case , judging from previous Festivals , the majority of the lists will doubtless consist of a personal donation

only . Why is it these unattached Stewards rest content when they give their own ten guineas ? Of course the Institutions are very pleased to receive those amounts , but the custom is

not without its dangers , for it has now become quite a recognised feature to see a long list of " unattached" on each of the returns , and the impression appears to be growing that a Steward need not do more than this in order to

satisfy his conscience that he has done his duty . It is a difficult question to deal with , for any remarks that may be offered may be misunderstood , and do more harm than good ; all the same we venture to urge that influence among friends

and a willingness to approach them is of far more value in a Festival Steward than a personal donation of ten guineas , added to the usual Steward ' s fee , and if the unattached Stewards would make a desperate effort to secure ordinary

lists—say £ 50 or upwards—their exertions would probably be appreciated far more than they are now , when the average under this heading often runs little over ten or twelve guineas . We are aware that many of the unattached

Stewards are in the habit of giving year after year , and may 80 be excused from criticism , but we regard this fact as an even greater reason why they should endeavour to secure amounts outside their own—they are so well satisfied with

'he cause for which they work that they should not have much difficulty in inducing others to follow their example . ¦ However it may be , it is certain that here is a field open

° r more extended working , and we can but hope our remarks will lead to ultimate benefit—if they only induce future ^ attached Brethren to bring their Stewardship under the notice of their Lodge and fellow members they will have

The Boys Festival.

done good , as we are convinced such a course would be the first step towards raising the standard of this section of workers . Another feature that may lower the average amount

collected per Steward is the fact that several Ladies are included in the five hundred already on the roll , but their presence must not be objected to for a moment , no matter how small their contributions may total up , for we believe

that in the co-operation of the Ladies in this work we may look for a firm stronghold in years to come . The Craft has already had evidence—in the lists brought up by Mrs . Stephens and others—of what it is possible for Ladies to collect , and

if for some time to come the returns are not so very large in this direction there should be no attempt at discouragement ; rather let us urge the Ladies to increased efforts , and we are

convinced that in a very short time they will make an appreciable and welcome difference in the annual returns of the Festivals .

One weak point in connection with the Board of Stewards for the coming Festival is the London section , which is by no means so strong as might be expected , with such a large aggregate , and here , we fear , it is somewhat late to even

hope for any great improvement , so many of the Metropolitan Lodges being now out of session . This phase of the question has always been associated with a debateable point in regard to the three Festivals , it being sometimes urged that the Benevolent Institution and the Girls School have much the

best of it so far as London is concerned , their Festivals being canvassed for during the height of the Masonic season , whereas active work hardly commences on behalf of the Boys until most of the Lodges have closed down for the summer vacation .

But let us hope we shall be agreeably surprised in regard to this point , and that ultimately the London result may prove that a smaller number of Stewards working with energy in the great metropolis can secure as much as a larger number

less actively engaged . Here it seems is the chance for the unattached Stewards of the year , most of whom are doubtless London Masons—let each of them work with might and main during the next ten days , with the determination to secure at

least ten guineas on each , and we shall have such a result as will save the London total from any chance of being considered meagre , and will place the total of 1895 among the successes of English Freemasonry on behalf of its Institutions .

Although the Board of Stewards already numbers five hundred names there is yet room for more , and in saying this we may remind our readers that it is by no means too late to make a start , especially in view of the fact , just

referred to , that the London district is somewhat weak in the number of its representatives . There are many London Brethren , even at this part of the " off" season , who are in

touch with members of their Lodges and others who could be induced to subscribe something if the matter was only brought under their notice . A very respectable addition to the year ' s returns might be secured in this way , if everyone