The Season's Greetings.

THE SEASON'S GREETINGS .

ALTHOUGH we have had the pleasure in many previous years of tendering a hearty greeting to our readers at this season , the opportunity of doing so on the present occasion is by no means lessened ; indeed , it is rather enhanced by reason of the familiarity

with which we approach the task . The present is not a favourable opportunity for saying anything in regard to ourselves , but at the same time we cannot help an

expression of gratification that for the twenty-fourth year in our existence we are able to greet our readers , and in doing so tender them , in the most sincere and hearty manner , the

Our Rulers.

OUR RULERS .

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** TpHE Most Worshipful the Grand Master has been pleased" to " appoint the'Earl ' Ahiherst ; Deputy Grand ¦ ¦ Master of England and Prov . G . M . of Kent to the position of Pro Grand Master , in succession to the late Earl of Lathom .

It is also announced , that the Earl of Warwick Prov . G . M . Essex will succeed Lord Amherst in the position of Deputy Grand Master of England .

The Boys School Centenary.

THE BOYS SCHOOL CENTENARY .

• ""pHE old adage that nothing succeeds like success *¦ found a fitting illustration on Tuesday , when the final meeting of the Board of Stewards of the Boys School Centenary Festival was held in the large Hall

of Freemasons Tavern , London , under the presidency of Brother C . E . Keyser P . G . D . Treasurer of the Institution , and Honorary Acting Treasurer of the Board .

Mutual congratulations were the order of the day , and we think it is fair to say that every member of the Craft will hail with satisfaction the eminently gratifying results that have been achieved by the hard working

band of Brethren who , first and foremost be it remembered , succeeded in collecting the enormous amount of upwards of ; £ 140 , 000 to mark the Centenary of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , and , secondly , j _ ——y —; j . — *~ y J

were enabled to hand over that amount to the Charity free of any charges for collection . They even achieved the proud distinction of being able to present-the Institution with a surplus , from their own fees , more

than sufficient to repay the sum of one thousand guineas voted to the Secretary of the Institution , as well as the special grants to members of his staff , in

regard to both of which some considerable amount of unfavourable comment and severe criticism has lately been made in Masonic circles .

The Boys School Centenary.

Before dealing with the matter of these specia grants from the . Funds of the Institution , and in regard to which , as we said last week , a tempest may be expected to break over the Masonic Charity world

next month , when the minutes of the meeting at which the money was voted come up for confirmation , we will dispose of the meeting of Tuesday , which is best done by quoting the terms of certain resolutions which ,

amongst others , were unanimously adopted . These were to the following effect :

That the Statement of Accounts as audited by Bro . E . Hobbs , F . C . A ., Auditor of the Institution , be received and adopted . That the Balance of £ 1 , 834 zs * d be paid over to

the General funds of the Institution , subject to the outstanding liabilities for Printing , Postage and Reporting the final meeting , and Audit Fee , the total amount of which is estimated at about £ 50 .

That this General Meeting of Stewards of . the ; Centenary Festival R . M . I . Boys desires to record its entire approval of the recommendation of the Board of Management , approved by the Council and adopted by the Quarterly Court of Governors and Subscribers in

October last , in granting a substantial and well-earned * . .. recognition to the Secretary and his staff , for . their extra labours in connection with the Festival , and congratulate

the Subscribers to the Institution on the fact that , such gratuities being fully met from the surplus Funds of the Stewards' Fees , no extra charge whatever falls upon the General Funds of the Institution .

That a report of the meeting with the statement of Accounts be printed and circulated to each Steward of the Festival . Brierly—we may summarise the above as a most gratifying conclusion to an eminently satisfactory

undertaking , and we take the opportunity of most heartily congratulating the Board of Stewards , and particularly the Officers they elected to supervise the work of the year ' s Festival , on the truly splendid result which has followed the efforts they put forth on behalf of the Centenary of " Our Boys . "

Now a word as to the monetary recognition voted to the Secretary of the Institution and his staff . Last week we suggested that the Board of Stewards , provided they had a surplus in hand sufficient for the purpose , should themselves deal with the Secretary ' s

testimonial , by granting him one thousand guineas in place of the sum voted from the general Funds of the Institution , on the understanding that the latter amount was to be refunded , and we yet think that would perhaps have been the preferable course ; or ,

even better , the Stewards might have devoted the whole of their surplus of ^ 1 , 8 34 is id in recognition of the extra work and the sustained efforts on the part of the Secretary and his staff . Had the Board of Stewards adopted that course no one could have

challenged their action , as they had a perfect right to spend their own money—contributed quite independent of the Institution—in any way they chose . Indeed , they had numerous precedents to work upon which would have fully justified such a course , as it is not so