Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Approaching Festival Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
THE APPROACHING FESTIVAL OF THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .
It is pretty generally known lhat the qqtli Anniversary Festival in behalf of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys will be held at the 1 Iotel Cecil on Wednesday , the 30 th instant , under the auspices of Bro . Lord HENRY CAVENDISH P . KNTINCK , M . P ., l ' rov .
G . Master of Cumberland and Westmorland , and as little more than a fortni g ht remains in which to complete ( he arrangements which have been more or less in progress since the autumn of last year , there is no need for us to apologise for reverting to a
subject which is of so much interest and importance to thc whole English Craft . The circumstances attending this particular Festival are of an unusual character . Everybod y is looking- forward to the Centenary Festival of the School , which
will be held some time during the summer of next year , and the eagerness with which this great Anniversary is being anticipated , has been very materially accentuated ever since it became known that his Royal Hi g hness the M . W . G . M . has graciously consented
to preside as Chairman on the occasion . Hence it is that Pro . J . M . MCLEOD , the Secretary of the Institution , when he goes about among the lodges in town and country , in the hope to obtain the services of a brother or brethren for this year ' s Festival finds
himself in a position of some difficulty . There is no objection on the part of his hosts to listen to his appeal for service , but they all want to render it in 1 S 9 S . But the needs of the Institution are as great now as they will be then . Thc yearly income
is , in round figures , about £ 2000 , the regular expenditure to which the authorities of the School stand committed is upwards of £ 13 , , and consequently there is a deficit to be made good of about / , ' 1 , 000 or / , " i 2 , 000 , and this need must be satisfied or
the interests of the Institution must suffer , before any regular steps can be taken in collection with the far more attractive Anniversary of next year . If the amount required for the current year is not forthcoming , the Board of Management will find
themselves under the necessity either of disposing of a part of their very limited capital , or electing fewer children than there may be room for al the October election . But this is not the only difficulty with which Bro . McLEOi ) finds himself confronted in his ( ravels in search of Stewards for this year ' s Festival .
As wc have pointed out on more than one occasion , the number of Diamond Jubilee Funds that are being raised in all directions and in behalf of every kind of charitable institution is legion . People are the reverse of unwilling to contribute towards the
support of an Institution which has proved itself so worthy of support , but they have been either wholly or partially relieved of their spare cash b y previous app licants for donations and subscriptions to other charities . It is their poverty , not
their will , which necessitates their withholding 111 this instance the- cheque which is forthcoming in ordinary years . Of course , the honours and distinctions and passes and certificates which the pupils of the School have won at the
more recent public examinations for which Ihey have been entered are a material hel p to the Secretary . There are few who du not recognise that the School is doing its work admirably , and that the boys whom it sends forth lo make their way in
the world have been carefull y trained and educated , and stand a fair chance of achieving success in the ' sphere of lile to which they may resolve on devoting themselves . All this is fully realised , as well as the fact lhat an Institution which can increase
its invested capital from £ 17 , 500 to upwards of £ 60 , 000—including ( he amount paid for the new site al Bushey—in the short space of half a dozen years , after providing for its ellicient maintenance , must be financially well managed . All this' we
repeat , is acknowledged ; but the special circumstances of the present moment , and the desire to figure al next year ' s celebration , are , we fear , operating to the disadvantage of Bro . MCLF . UD in his endeavours to increase tin- Board of Stewards
to a strength that shall lie worth y of the OL'EKN ' Diamond Jubilee year . Since our former article on the subject of ( his last of the three' great Festivals of ( he year was written ( here has been no appreciable inllux of Stewards such as we have been
accustomed to look for when the Benevolent and Girls' Festivals have been celebrated . We therefore again appeal most earnestl y to Provinces and lodges which have- not as yet sent up Stewards for ( he gathering at the Ilotel Cecil on the 30 th inst .
The Approaching Festival Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
to lose no time in doing so . For the present , let them be content to leave the Centenary of 18 9 8 to take care of itself . Let them keep in mind that the . suppl y of ways and means is as necessary ( his year as it will be next . ; above all , let them note the splendid
example which the ( hairman ' s Province , of Cumberland and Westmorland , with its limited array of 21 lodges , has set them , and we feel sure that , in spite of our present : misgivings as to thc result , thc Returns will not be altogether unworthy of comparison with those which have been obtained under the new regime .
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Somerset.
PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SOMERSET .
The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held on Monday , ( lie 28 th ult ., in the Assembly Room , Bath , and was very numerously attended by brethren from all parts of the province . The Prov . G . M ., Viscount Dungarvan , presided , and was supported by the D . P . G . M ., Bro . R . C . Else , P . G . D . Eng ., and a large number of Past Provincial Grand Officers .
The P . G . Wardens' chairs were filled by Bros . 'W . T . Baker , P . M . 291 , and B . Whitby , P . M . 329 , respectively . Bro . E . FRY WADE , P . M . 291 , P . G . Sec , having first read the roll 0 lodges , all those in the province being represented , next read the minutes of the Prov . Grand Lodge held at Bridgwater on the 28 th May last year , which were confirmed .
Bro . C . L . FRY EDWARDS , P . G . Treas ., then presented the accounts oi Prov . Grand Lodge for the past year , the receipts ( including Iodge dues , £ 128 12 s . 6 d . ; fees of honour , £ 2485 . ; and £ 15 195 ., amount of dividends on stock invested , £ 600 Contois ) , amounting to £ 226 14 s , gd . After payment of expenses and donations from Charity Fund , a balance was left in hand of £ 55 ns . 4 d . The financial report was adopted on the motion of Bro . RUBIE .
Bro . ASHLEY proposed the re-election of Bro . C . L . Fry Edwards as Prov . G . Treas ., and complimented him on the satisfactory and efficient manner in which the duties had been discharged by him in that capacity . Bro . P . H . WATTS seconded the proposition , which was agreed to with acclamation , the P . G . M . also expressing the indebtedness of Provincial Grand Lodge to Bro . Edwards for his past valuable services .
Bro . C . L . FRY EDWARDS , in response , thanked the brethren for once more reposing confidence in him , and assured them that it would not be misplaced . Bro . SCAI . LON , W . M . 437 , P . P . G . Purst ., next formally presented to the P . G . M ., for the use of Provincial Grand Lodge , a very handsome banner , accompanied with the following address written on parchment : " We , on
behalf of the whole of the lodges in the Province of Somerset , beg permission to ask you to accept this banner designed to be used on the occasions of the meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge , and we would ask you to regard it in the light of our Diamond Jubilee Commemoration gift . While on every hand we find manifestations of loyal intention to celebrate the prolonged reign of our Grand Patroness , we have felt similar means might well be
adopted in our Provincial Grand Lodge . After some reflection as to what form this sentiment might take we remembered that there was lacking in the equipment of our Provincial Grand Lodge the insignia of the office of Prov . Grand Standard Bearer , and also concluded th . it we could not do better than supply this deficiency . After a general conference among the ollieers and brethren of all the lodges of this province , and with thc
approbation of our W . D . Prov . G . M ., this proposal has been adopted . We trust that your approval will follow this selection and subjoin a list of the lod ges which have contributed towards the fund required to carry out this object . " The PROV . G . M . said he had very great pleasure , on behalf of the Prov . G . Lodge of Somerset , in accepting the very handsome banner . The want of a Prov . G . Lodge banner had been felt for some time past , and he did
not know any better way in which they could celebrate the record reign than by such a presentation . In the name ol the whole ol the brethren , as wtll as himself , he thanked very heartily all those who hid subscribed to it for their kindness . One thing he should like to say with regard to it was that those who had presented it came to him and asked what should be put on
the banner , and as at the present moment the county of Somerset h id n 3 arms , he placed himself in communication with Sir Albert Woods , w ' ia informed him that the arms should be those of the Grand Lodge with the name of the province underneath it , and he was glad to see it hid been placed there .
The PROV . G . M . ntfxt remarked that last year was the 21 st anniversary of the reign of his Royal Highness the Prince of VVales as Grand Mister of England , and it was then proposed that Past rank collars mi ght be given to a certain number of Past Grand rank officers who had done good service
to the Cralt in hreemasonry . He therefore , had received permission of his Royal Highness to give these to three Past Grand Officers of the province who had rendered such service , and would now have great pleasure in conferring them upon the brethren who had been selected for tlie special honour .
The brethren referred to ( who were personally thanked b y F . ord DUN - <;_ SRV \ N for their past services to Prov . G . Lodge ) were as follows : Bro . W . f . Nosworthy ( Crewkerne ) , P . M . Si 4 and 52 . ) , P . P . G . O ., P . P . S . G . W . ' ' " Bro . J . T . Dunsford ( Bridgwater ) , P . M . 291 , P . P . Asst . G . Sec , P . P . G . Registrar . Bro . B . Reed , P . M . 1 SS 3 ( Keynsham ) , P . P . G . Std . Br . The Prov . Grand Master next appointed and invested the Prov . Grand Lodge Officers for the ensuing year as follows
llro . C . Curd , P . M . 41 .. ; ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ P . Jackman , P . M . 53 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . 'I . IL J . Child , P . M . 1 / so ( re-elected ) ... ) u nru „ Rev . J . W . A . Sturdee , P . M . . 559 ... j ' " G " Chaps - ,, C . L . Fry Edwards ( re-elected ) ,., .., ^ rov . G . Treas ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Approaching Festival Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
THE APPROACHING FESTIVAL OF THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .
It is pretty generally known lhat the qqtli Anniversary Festival in behalf of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys will be held at the 1 Iotel Cecil on Wednesday , the 30 th instant , under the auspices of Bro . Lord HENRY CAVENDISH P . KNTINCK , M . P ., l ' rov .
G . Master of Cumberland and Westmorland , and as little more than a fortni g ht remains in which to complete ( he arrangements which have been more or less in progress since the autumn of last year , there is no need for us to apologise for reverting to a
subject which is of so much interest and importance to thc whole English Craft . The circumstances attending this particular Festival are of an unusual character . Everybod y is looking- forward to the Centenary Festival of the School , which
will be held some time during the summer of next year , and the eagerness with which this great Anniversary is being anticipated , has been very materially accentuated ever since it became known that his Royal Hi g hness the M . W . G . M . has graciously consented
to preside as Chairman on the occasion . Hence it is that Pro . J . M . MCLEOD , the Secretary of the Institution , when he goes about among the lodges in town and country , in the hope to obtain the services of a brother or brethren for this year ' s Festival finds
himself in a position of some difficulty . There is no objection on the part of his hosts to listen to his appeal for service , but they all want to render it in 1 S 9 S . But the needs of the Institution are as great now as they will be then . Thc yearly income
is , in round figures , about £ 2000 , the regular expenditure to which the authorities of the School stand committed is upwards of £ 13 , , and consequently there is a deficit to be made good of about / , ' 1 , 000 or / , " i 2 , 000 , and this need must be satisfied or
the interests of the Institution must suffer , before any regular steps can be taken in collection with the far more attractive Anniversary of next year . If the amount required for the current year is not forthcoming , the Board of Management will find
themselves under the necessity either of disposing of a part of their very limited capital , or electing fewer children than there may be room for al the October election . But this is not the only difficulty with which Bro . McLEOi ) finds himself confronted in his ( ravels in search of Stewards for this year ' s Festival .
As wc have pointed out on more than one occasion , the number of Diamond Jubilee Funds that are being raised in all directions and in behalf of every kind of charitable institution is legion . People are the reverse of unwilling to contribute towards the
support of an Institution which has proved itself so worthy of support , but they have been either wholly or partially relieved of their spare cash b y previous app licants for donations and subscriptions to other charities . It is their poverty , not
their will , which necessitates their withholding 111 this instance the- cheque which is forthcoming in ordinary years . Of course , the honours and distinctions and passes and certificates which the pupils of the School have won at the
more recent public examinations for which Ihey have been entered are a material hel p to the Secretary . There are few who du not recognise that the School is doing its work admirably , and that the boys whom it sends forth lo make their way in
the world have been carefull y trained and educated , and stand a fair chance of achieving success in the ' sphere of lile to which they may resolve on devoting themselves . All this is fully realised , as well as the fact lhat an Institution which can increase
its invested capital from £ 17 , 500 to upwards of £ 60 , 000—including ( he amount paid for the new site al Bushey—in the short space of half a dozen years , after providing for its ellicient maintenance , must be financially well managed . All this' we
repeat , is acknowledged ; but the special circumstances of the present moment , and the desire to figure al next year ' s celebration , are , we fear , operating to the disadvantage of Bro . MCLF . UD in his endeavours to increase tin- Board of Stewards
to a strength that shall lie worth y of the OL'EKN ' Diamond Jubilee year . Since our former article on the subject of ( his last of the three' great Festivals of ( he year was written ( here has been no appreciable inllux of Stewards such as we have been
accustomed to look for when the Benevolent and Girls' Festivals have been celebrated . We therefore again appeal most earnestl y to Provinces and lodges which have- not as yet sent up Stewards for ( he gathering at the Ilotel Cecil on the 30 th inst .
The Approaching Festival Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
to lose no time in doing so . For the present , let them be content to leave the Centenary of 18 9 8 to take care of itself . Let them keep in mind that the . suppl y of ways and means is as necessary ( his year as it will be next . ; above all , let them note the splendid
example which the ( hairman ' s Province , of Cumberland and Westmorland , with its limited array of 21 lodges , has set them , and we feel sure that , in spite of our present : misgivings as to thc result , thc Returns will not be altogether unworthy of comparison with those which have been obtained under the new regime .
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Somerset.
PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SOMERSET .
The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held on Monday , ( lie 28 th ult ., in the Assembly Room , Bath , and was very numerously attended by brethren from all parts of the province . The Prov . G . M ., Viscount Dungarvan , presided , and was supported by the D . P . G . M ., Bro . R . C . Else , P . G . D . Eng ., and a large number of Past Provincial Grand Officers .
The P . G . Wardens' chairs were filled by Bros . 'W . T . Baker , P . M . 291 , and B . Whitby , P . M . 329 , respectively . Bro . E . FRY WADE , P . M . 291 , P . G . Sec , having first read the roll 0 lodges , all those in the province being represented , next read the minutes of the Prov . Grand Lodge held at Bridgwater on the 28 th May last year , which were confirmed .
Bro . C . L . FRY EDWARDS , P . G . Treas ., then presented the accounts oi Prov . Grand Lodge for the past year , the receipts ( including Iodge dues , £ 128 12 s . 6 d . ; fees of honour , £ 2485 . ; and £ 15 195 ., amount of dividends on stock invested , £ 600 Contois ) , amounting to £ 226 14 s , gd . After payment of expenses and donations from Charity Fund , a balance was left in hand of £ 55 ns . 4 d . The financial report was adopted on the motion of Bro . RUBIE .
Bro . ASHLEY proposed the re-election of Bro . C . L . Fry Edwards as Prov . G . Treas ., and complimented him on the satisfactory and efficient manner in which the duties had been discharged by him in that capacity . Bro . P . H . WATTS seconded the proposition , which was agreed to with acclamation , the P . G . M . also expressing the indebtedness of Provincial Grand Lodge to Bro . Edwards for his past valuable services .
Bro . C . L . FRY EDWARDS , in response , thanked the brethren for once more reposing confidence in him , and assured them that it would not be misplaced . Bro . SCAI . LON , W . M . 437 , P . P . G . Purst ., next formally presented to the P . G . M ., for the use of Provincial Grand Lodge , a very handsome banner , accompanied with the following address written on parchment : " We , on
behalf of the whole of the lodges in the Province of Somerset , beg permission to ask you to accept this banner designed to be used on the occasions of the meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge , and we would ask you to regard it in the light of our Diamond Jubilee Commemoration gift . While on every hand we find manifestations of loyal intention to celebrate the prolonged reign of our Grand Patroness , we have felt similar means might well be
adopted in our Provincial Grand Lodge . After some reflection as to what form this sentiment might take we remembered that there was lacking in the equipment of our Provincial Grand Lodge the insignia of the office of Prov . Grand Standard Bearer , and also concluded th . it we could not do better than supply this deficiency . After a general conference among the ollieers and brethren of all the lodges of this province , and with thc
approbation of our W . D . Prov . G . M ., this proposal has been adopted . We trust that your approval will follow this selection and subjoin a list of the lod ges which have contributed towards the fund required to carry out this object . " The PROV . G . M . said he had very great pleasure , on behalf of the Prov . G . Lodge of Somerset , in accepting the very handsome banner . The want of a Prov . G . Lodge banner had been felt for some time past , and he did
not know any better way in which they could celebrate the record reign than by such a presentation . In the name ol the whole ol the brethren , as wtll as himself , he thanked very heartily all those who hid subscribed to it for their kindness . One thing he should like to say with regard to it was that those who had presented it came to him and asked what should be put on
the banner , and as at the present moment the county of Somerset h id n 3 arms , he placed himself in communication with Sir Albert Woods , w ' ia informed him that the arms should be those of the Grand Lodge with the name of the province underneath it , and he was glad to see it hid been placed there .
The PROV . G . M . ntfxt remarked that last year was the 21 st anniversary of the reign of his Royal Highness the Prince of VVales as Grand Mister of England , and it was then proposed that Past rank collars mi ght be given to a certain number of Past Grand rank officers who had done good service
to the Cralt in hreemasonry . He therefore , had received permission of his Royal Highness to give these to three Past Grand Officers of the province who had rendered such service , and would now have great pleasure in conferring them upon the brethren who had been selected for tlie special honour .
The brethren referred to ( who were personally thanked b y F . ord DUN - <;_ SRV \ N for their past services to Prov . G . Lodge ) were as follows : Bro . W . f . Nosworthy ( Crewkerne ) , P . M . Si 4 and 52 . ) , P . P . G . O ., P . P . S . G . W . ' ' " Bro . J . T . Dunsford ( Bridgwater ) , P . M . 291 , P . P . Asst . G . Sec , P . P . G . Registrar . Bro . B . Reed , P . M . 1 SS 3 ( Keynsham ) , P . P . G . Std . Br . The Prov . Grand Master next appointed and invested the Prov . Grand Lodge Officers for the ensuing year as follows
llro . C . Curd , P . M . 41 .. ; ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ P . Jackman , P . M . 53 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . 'I . IL J . Child , P . M . 1 / so ( re-elected ) ... ) u nru „ Rev . J . W . A . Sturdee , P . M . . 559 ... j ' " G " Chaps - ,, C . L . Fry Edwards ( re-elected ) ,., .., ^ rov . G . Treas ,