Anniversary Festival Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

It was , therefore , quite clear that not only at the present time was it necessary to support the School and to make up the deficiency he had mentioned , but it was also necessary to form a permanent investment fund in order that the School mi ght not be subject to fluctuations from time to time , or in bad years , or in

any way have its position crippled for want of funds .. He only hoped , however , that this year they might raise a sum not only sufficient for the requirements of the year , but also a sufficient sum to put by to increase the Endowment Fund , and make a larger permanent income , which might be useful

for the School . The School was splendidly supported by every province in the kingdom . As far as his own province was concerned , he might say it had six boys in the School , and Cheshire was perfectly satisfied with the administration of the School . ( Hear , hear . ) He did not wish merely to speak of the School

in the abstract ; he should like to speak of it as one who had visited the School on Tuesday last , and he felt quite certain that anyone who had visited the School must see that it was an Institution which was well managed , that the boys had a good tone about them , that they looked thoroughly healthy and happy ,

and quite alive to the advantages they received at the . School in many ways . ( Cheers . ) Now every child in this country had the benefit of free education , but the brethren wanted Masons ' children to have a superior education—a good education—next to the university , and they would like to see the best of

those boys kept at the School long enough to compete for scholarships at the universities . ( Applause . ) Understand , that the examinations by the Cambridge Local Examination bodies had been very satisfactory to all those who visited the School on Tuesday , who saw under what good

discipline the boys were , and how many of them carried off prizes , , which he had no doubt were well deserved . One prize , which was a novel one to him , was for the boy who was most popular among his fellows . Now , the most popular boy might not be the most lively boy ; but it showed that the boys were sensible

of the advantages offered to them , and that they had the highest respect and esteem for those who made the most of their advantages . ( Applause . ) He should add that there were very admirable dormitories equal to the high sanitary requirements of such an establishment ; he had seen many similar , but none better .

He was also glad to see that the range of instruction covered a wide field , and went down to carpentering , printing , and various other things . His wife , the Duchess of Buckingham and Chandos , and himself were struck with the way the boys were instructed , and he was quite certain they knew their parts so

well that they must eventually succeed in life whatever the position they might be called upon to fill . In conclusion he could only trust that the Institution would go on and prosper and be enabled to educate and keep as large a number of sons of Masons as might be found desirable .

( Hear , hear . ) There was only oue drawback to the Institution ; it seemed not to have sufficient grounds about it . It seemed unfortunate that 40 or 50 years ago a larger site was not secured . Still they must not forget the boys at Westminster had not got so much ground , and he had no doubt they

would be able to get a sufficient distance so as to carry out the games properly that boys delighted in . He had the greatest possible pleasure in wishing success to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , coupling with the toast the name of Bro . C . E . Keyser , Patron and Trustee of the Institution , and President

of the Board of Stewards . Bro . C . E . K . KYSER , P . G . D ., in acknowledging the toast , said he esteemed it no small honour to be called upon to respond to that toast , as the Boys' School was the Institution they were all met to honour that night . He was sure the company would

allow him to make a few remarks in response to the very kind statement which had been made by the Chairman , because Bro . McLeod would not be ready to announce the lists for some little time . The R . W . Chairman had given some statistics of the Institution , and , therefore , it was not necessary for him ( Bro .

Keyser ) to explain these again : but he might emphasise one or two statements the Chairman had made , and show the great necessity there was to keep up a constant and unremitting support to this great Institution . ( Hear , hear . ) They had now about 250 boys in the School , who were receiving their

education at the hands of the brethren . He believed that the amount required in order properly to maintain and educate them was now approaching £ 14 , 000 a year . That was a very large sum , and , as had been proved , the invested funds of the Institution were not sufficient to provide the education . A very small part

of that £ 14 , 000 came out ol the investments ; the rest had to be provided annually . It was , therelore , necessary to look to their friends and brethren , and also , he was proud to say , to the ladies . ( Cheers . ) Personally , he was glad to feel that the ladies were proud to take an interest in these Charities , and their number was increasing every year . There were a good many ladies

Anniversary Festival Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

serving as Stewards that day , and it was getting now a regular thing at all the Masonic Festivals . The lady Stewards brought a large amount to the Institutions , and they greatly popularised them . ( Hear , hear . ) His lordship had mentioned that in the year 18 90 there was a considerable change made in the management

of the Institution . He was not going to say that before that date the Institution was not well managed ; he believed it was and those who managed it did their best ; but somehow or other things went out of gear , and it was thought wise to have a change in the administration . Since then the Institution had

been regarded with the highest favour by the members of the Craft . A series of splendid festivals had been held , which he hoped would be repeated . He was' not in a position to prophesy what would be the result that day , but he hoped it would be gratifying to all those who had attended . Anyhow , the present Board

of Management had done the best they could with regard to the minutest details of the Institution , They met on many occasions ; the Committees met once a week and they went most minutely into any detail , and if any people were to blame the blame could not rest on the shoulders of the Secretary

or the Head Master ; but anything which was wrong must be shared equally by the members of the Board of Management . That Board at the present time were most fortunate in their two principal officials ; they had a treasure in their Head Master , and a splendid fellow as

Secretary , unremitting in his exertions on behalf of the Institution . Without any reflection on the members of the Board , he might say it was in a great measure due to the Secretary ' s able management that the Institution had had since 1890 such a splendid series of Festivals in aid of the Institution . Twelve

months ago , at a very largely-attended meeting , his services were duly recognised , as he ( Bro . Keyser ) thought most strongly they ought to have been , and he . was placed , as regarded his remuneration , on the same basis as the Secretaries of the two other Institutions . That was as it should be . ( Hear , hear . )

With regard to the School itself , his lordship had said what pleasure it gave him and the Duchess of Buckingham to go to the Institution ; they were pleased with the way the establishment was kept up—with the building , with the regime , with the appearance of the boys , with the tone which was ordinarily

observed . The Head Master told them the result of the management— he went into the question of the education of the boys , which was most important , showing there was a certain curriculum to be gone through . He also went into small details as to the provision made for the

amusement of the boys , their athletic instruction , among which was cricket wherein one boy made 50 runs . Where boys under 15 could do that he was sure the School need not be discouraged . ( Hear , hear . ) The Board of Management supported the Head Master in his endeavours to increase the health of the

School . He hoped that those who had not been to the School would take an early opportunity of going there . The brethren were proud of it , and should be proud of it . On behalf of the managers , he thanked the brethren and ladies for attending in such large numbers ; and he thanked Lord Egerton of Tatton

for taking the chair and bringing his province to support him so strongly . ( Hear , hear . ) Even in this time of agricultural depression the provinces were going to give a splendid account of

themselves that evening . If the amount fell below the expecla tions of any one present , it would not now be too late to con tribute a litte more . ( Laughter . ) Bro . MCLEOD then read the following

STEWARDS' LISTS

LONDON . Lodge £ s . d . 1 Bro . Thomas Dinwiddy ... 15 15 o 2 „ Wm . H . C . Payne ... 37 16 0 3 „ John Cooper 35 14 0 4 „ W . Kesbury Few ... 21 o o 5 „ Aubrne S . Read ... 40 19 0 0 „ Alex . Henderson ... 2100 8 „ John H . Jenks ... 13 13 o 10 „ Henry L . Floornee ... 26 15 6 15 „ Charles James ... 44 12 6 IS „ George Burt 20 9 6 21 ,, C . Swinfen Eady , Q . C . 31 10 0 23 „ Charles Martin ... 80 17 0 2 G „ W . E . Clifton ... 10 10 o 28 „ Frederick Clark ... 3 G 15 0

29 „ John H . btark ... 34 13 o 30 „ W . S . Wri ght ... 15 15 o 30 „ A . E . Remington ... 90 o o 34 „ E . A . Ebblewhite ( see also Somersetshire ) 46 40 60 „ Otto Polentz ... ... 120 o o 65 „ Wm . C . Thomas ... 110 5 o 72 „ George Horton ... 42 5 o 90 „ J . H . Ubtnar ... 52 10 0 92 , ; E . U . Oppert ... 34 8 0 141 ,, A . C . White 45 3 o 173 Mrs . Ceo . E . Fairchild ... 320 o o 17 O Uro . William Kirkness ... 24 3 o 1 S 0 „ Frederick Jas . Street 40 5 o 97 » Hy- Lipton Wynne 22 10 198 „ James F . Cartwright 50 o o 2 59 1 , E . de Q . Quincey ... 21 . o 0

Lodge i s . d . 534 Bro . Henry Birkbeck ... 18 17 ° G 57 i > William Maple ... 19 19 ° 700 „ Henry Tufnell ... 141 ' 5 ° 754 „ Benjamin Stacker ... 122 ' 7 ° 706 „ Robert C . Wilson ... 64 1 « 862 „ G . H . Wavell ... 60 7 6 901 „ Frederick Eade ... 120 15 ° 1017 „ Henry A . Tobias ... 32 16 ° " 39 » William Hamsher ... 89 5 ° " 55 » James S . Mountford 33 1- ° . 1201 „ J . H . Hawocth ... 54 ' ° 1259 » John Lusty go 5 ° 1201 „ Henry W . Pritchett 37 5 ° 12 G 1 „ A . F . Roberts ... 21 ° °

1278 „ A . Weston 2 S 17 - 1287 „ George Ridout ... 17 s 10 1305 » R- Wright 1319 <> W . S . Penley ... ite ' 5 ° 1328 „ R . Philip Upton ... 63 ° I 13 G 5 „ R . Eaton Fairclough 54 ' ° 1366 „ R . Pain Walkden ... bi > ° ? 1381 „ Dr . Geo . B . Millson 5 S S u 13 S 3 „ Edward Devas ... 9 n 0 1 4 21 „ Frank Evans ... 89 5 144 6 „ Geo . Wm . Perry ... 45 ° . 1475 .. Chas . I . Hayes ... i ° 'l ° 1538 ,, G . J . Reading ... i 0 ' « ° 1540 >> Victor Cahn ... 53 " 1571 „ Arthur Watts ... Go 0 Ib 07 „ W . Berkeley Vaile ... 73 , a r , 1632 „ W . Robt . Barr ... 26 7 1635 » J- M . Pritchard ... 3 ' *