History Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

he xvas the chief executiVe officer . The Minutes are silent as to the part . played by him , and all that can be stated xvith certainty is that the Institution xvas in no xvorse a position xvhen he resigned than when he accepted the trust reposed in him by the Governors . It xvould be unreasonable to infer that , because the Minutes contain . no evidence of special activity on the part of Bro . Rodber , he did not go out of

his xvay to exert himself on behalf of the Institution , or that , because Bro . Pollock ' s name is never included among those of the brethren xvho took part in the proceedings of the Committees , he did nothing xvhatever . Still , the fact remains , as stated in the beginning of this chapter , that nothing of a particularly eventful character occurred , during the period of close on six years xvhich folloxved Bro . Moore ' s retirement from office , which could

legitimately be ascribed to the exercise of any influence brought to bear on the governing body by his successors . The three events we have already specified—the restoration of the number of boys on the establishment to 70 , as in 1821 , the resolution to award a silver medal annually to the best xvriter , and the revision of the Rules—occurred too soon after Bro . Rodber ' s accession to office for him to have had any conspicuous share in bringing them about ; and beyond these there are very fexv matters that need engage our attention

for long . Notwithstanding the aforesaid numerical increase from 6 5 to 70 , it was determined that , though there was one vacancy reported in June , 1841 , and 22 candidates , there should be no election in July , as ' usual ; and though this resolution was non-confirmed , and an election arranged for October , the claims of the poor candidates xvere held over till January , 1 S 42 , xvhen 12 . —including , we presume , the five additional—out of a list of 20 were placed on the establishment . Most of the elections that followed this were without

ballot , there being , as a rule , more vacancies than approved applicants fo fill them , the Institution being six beloxv its full strength , x \* hen Bro . Sir David' Pollock so ungracefully laid doxvn the reins of office , and Bro . B . B . Cabbell was chosen to rule in his stead . ' As regards the institution of the annual prize , it xvas undoubtedly a step in the right direction , and , as frequently happens in such cases , xvas followed early in 1842 by a second step

in the same direction , it being announced at the February Committee Meeting in that year that the Board of Grand Stewards for 1 S 41 had presented the sum of 20 guineas , being part of their surplus remaining from the Grand Feslix'al , to be expended in executing a pair of dies for two medals , to be given annually "to such boy and girl as the Committees of the txvo Masonic Establishments consider deserving of the rexvard . " As to the revised Rule ' s ,

we need say nothing , it being . a necessity of such Institutions as these that their Rules must be carefully reconsidered from time to time , in order to make them fit in conveniently with the ever-varying circumstances of the hour . It xvill be as well to note , hoxvex'er , that in January , 1 S 43 , Bro . Giraud gave notice of motion for the next Quarterly Court to the effect that no Special General Meeting should be called on the usual requisition of five

Life Governors , unless the requisition was accompanied by a deposit of 10 guineas , to be paid over to the Institution , or returned to the said Life Governors , according as the Special Court might see fit to determine . The necessity for some such precautionary measure-appears to have arisen from one or txvo Special Meetings having been called , the requisitions for which

had been declared tobe " groundless , frivolous , and vexatious , " and xvhich , as a matter of course , had put the Institution . to unnecessary expense , and the Governors and Subscribers to unnecessary trouble . When Bro . Giraud ' s motion xvas agreed to , the annoyance arisingfrom these circumstances came to an end .

Of the other events that occurred during this period xve may mention that in March , 1841 , a resolution was passed for presenting each boy on leaving the Institution xvith a bible , and , in the event of his belonging to the Church of England , xvith a prayer-book likexvise . In January , 1 S 42 , the death xvas reported of Bro . I . J . H . Coe , xvhose name has figured so often and so creditably in these pages , and it xvas unanimously resolved " That this

General Court desire to communicate to the Widoxv and Family of their lamented Bro . Coe the expression of their deep and affectionate sympathy at the loss they had sustained , whereby this Institution has been deprived of one of its ' most efficient and zealous friends . " The resolution xvas ordered to be inscribed on vellum , Bro . Vinson had it handsomel y framed at his private cost , and Bros . Dr . Crucefix and Vinson , in accordance with the

request of the Court , presented it . Bro . Coe had been instrumental in raising considerably over ^ 1000 toxvards the funds of the Charity , and had . likewise taken a very actiye part in its government . His death , therefore , at a time xvhen the services of willing and large-hearted xvorkers were more than ever necessary , must have been a very serious bloxv indeed . Happilyj its force was less seriously felt in consequenqe of his xvork being continued

by a similarly indefatigable brother—Bro . Richard Barnes—xvhose plans for improving the funds of the Institution by some annual excursion ' or gala were xvell nigh as successful as Bro . Coe's . In April , 1843 , the Committee had to lament the still heavier bloxv caused by the death of his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex , xvho , though his policy may not alxvays have been unchallengeable , was resolute in his desire to promote to the utmost of

his ability the xvelfarc of the Institution . Such an event was , of course , not permitted to pass unnoticed , and the month following his death a resolution xvas adopted and ordered to be inscribed in the Minute Book , to the effect " That the . Committee have xvith great regret to record the death of H . R . H . the Duke of Sussex , the M . W . Grand Master and President of this Institution , xvho for many years presided over its proceedings , and xvhose patronage ,

high influence , and the deep interest he personally took in its welfare , have contributed so largely to its prosperity and to the more general extension of its benefits . " The Duke had presided over the fortunes of the Charity for close on 30 years , and during the xvhole of that period he enjoyed the respect of his contemporary brethren , even if he did not alxvays secure their sympathy xvith his plans and proposals . His Royal Highness xvas succeeded as President by the Earl of Zetland , his successor in the Grand Mastership .

What little remains may be soon fold . The Festivals appear to have become increasingly productive , the proceeds of that held for the year 1 844 being stated at a fraction over . £ 490 , while that of 1845 yielded over ^ 561 . As regards the inquiries made into the circumstances connected xvith the petitions and those who presented them , the Committee seem to have been increasingly careful , and in several instances xve find that the applications were ordered to stand over for further inquiries , or were rejected because

other children of the same , parents had been assisted by this or the Girls ' Charity , because the position of the parents xvas not such as to justify the admission of their sons into the School , or for some other and equally ¦ cogent . reason . It was also arranged during this period that the time the father of a candidate had been a subscribing member to a lodge or lodges should be inserted in the balloting papers , xvhile in one instance a brother's petition was rejected because he had already had assistance extended towards him on behalf of three other of his children—two boys and one

History Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

girl—and in yet another , a mother ' s petition was similarly treated , because one of her boys was already on the funds of the Institution . But these evidences of the care with xvhich thc Committee carried out their duties , though highl y commendable , are no more than wc hax-e a . right to expect . Still such as they are , they are abo . ut the only noteworthy circumstances in the history of the Institution during the six years from 1 S 41 to 1 S 46 , both

inclusive . It xvill be suggested , perhaps , lhat this absence of any stirring events is evidence that the School xvas pursuing an even and prosperous course , and lo a certain extent this xvas the case . But to us it seems likexvise to convey the idea that in the Treasurcrships ' of Bros . Rodber and Pollock things were left pretty much to themselves . At all events , it is not " a bright period in the history of our Boys' School , and we arc not sorry to have done xvith it . ( To be continued ) .-

The Boys' School Festival.

THE BOYS' SCHOOL FESTIVAL .

The last of our great Anniversary Festivals xx'ill be held at the Crystal Palace , Sydenham , on Saturday next the 28 th instant . Thc chair xvill be taken by the Right Hon . the Lord Mayor of London , Bro . Alderman R . N . Fowler , M . P .,- Grand Junior Warden of England , and Prov . Grand Senior -Warden of Wiltshire ; and from the fact that Bro . Binckes has secured about an average , if not an exceptionally numerous Board of

Stexvards ,-xve are justified to a certain extent in hoping that the proceeds of the S 6 th Festival of the Boys' School , if not as considerable as xvas th ' e case last year , xvill be approximately commensurate with thc heavy demands now ' to be annually made on the resources of the Institution . VVe cannot anticipate on this occasion a repetition of the magnificent triumph of 1883 , but seeing that the School , from the projected enlargement of its premises ,

and the great increase in the number of its pupils which will shortly folloxv , will require a larger annual income than heretofore , xve have a right to expect that the Craft xvhich has so generpusly applauded and supplied the means for this extension , xvill be equally generous in providing the necessary sum for its maintenance . It will be to little purpose that new buildings are erected and nexv inmates chosen to occupy them , if the funds to maintain

the enlarged school in a state of efficiency are not forthcoming from year to . year . Wc are not divulging any important statement , xvhen xve say that if an annual expenditure of ^ , " , 000 xvas necessary , xvhen there xvere only some 200 boys in the School , an additional sum must be forthcoming annually xvhen there are 250 or 300 boys . This is a simple matter of arithmetic ; but ils

simplicity must not lead us to forget its importance . More money than ever is needed , because more will have to be spent , and xve doubt not the Stexvards of Saturday next will practically illustrate their enduring sense of this simple truth by pouring a goodly sum in thc Boys'School treasury , and thereby making comparatively easy the xvork of thc Executive during the 12 months next ensuing .

We should have had fexv , if any , misgivings about the success of this year ' s festival had the arrangements originally made been possible ; but the sad and sudden death of Prince Leopold , Duke of Albany , xvho had so graciously consented to preside , must very seriously havc disturbed Bro . Binckes ' s calculations . Thc . presidency of lhat illustrious Mason would fittingly have - inaugurated the new era on xvhich the School

is entering , and his influence and his example could not have failed to make themselves felt at the banquet when the important point xvhether the 1884 Festival should take rank above or beloxv its predecessors was on the eve of being determined . It has , however , been ordained otherxvise , and the place of Prince Leopold xvill be taken by thc Lord Mayor , a most worthy brother and present Grand Officer , xvho thus far during his

mayoralty has shoxvn himself to be the peer of the best among his predecessors , and who , we may be sure , xvill leave no effort untried in order to secure to Bro . Binckes and his Stewards another equally substantial success , a success that xvould have been worthy of Prince Leopold himself had he been spared to fulfill his engagement . We may likewise be assured that as the Lord Mayor is Master of a' London Iodjfe the brethren of the Metropolitan lodges xvill support him liberally , and that , as he is also a Past

Master of a provincial lodge and a Provincial Grand Officer , the provincial brethren xvill shoxv respect for one of themselves , and vie with their . London brethren in the liberality of their contributions . Possibly Oxford , too , may ' prove as loyal . to the memory of their Chief , as they would have proved to that Chief himself . In any circumstances and lor the reasons xve have stated , xve trust when the time comes xve shall have a handsome result to chronicle xvith the ' celebration on Saturday next .

Board Of Benevolence.

BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE .

The monthly meeting of the Board of Benevolence xvas held on Wednesday evening at Freemasons' Hall . The President ' s chair xvas taken by Bro . ' James Brett , P . G ; P ., Seniot Vice-President j Bro . C . A . Cottebrune , P . G . P ., Junior Vice-President , acted as Senior Vice-President ; and Bro . Frank Richardson , P . G . D ., as Junior Vice-President . The other brethren present xverc

Bros . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , G . Sec . j II . G . Buss , Asst . G . Sec . •Alfred A . Pcndlo bury , W . Dodd , Y . R . Spaull , XV . Manri , | . W . Matthexvs , G . S . B . •E . J . Barron , P . G . D . ; Charles Dairy , P . M . 141 ; William Stephens , G . P . ; E . Letchxvorth , G . D . ,-Thos . Cull , P . M . 1446 ; Geo . P . Gillard , P . M . 657 ; Charles F . Hogard , P . M . 205 ; Alfred C Spaull , Fredk . Binckes , S . G . Bake , R . W . Hollon , P . G . S . B . ; H . Dehane , Stanley Robinson , Edxvard White , A . Nicols , Thomas Sanders , H . Massey , W . S . Hall ,

Christopher Welch , M . S . Larlham , Charles Robert Rivington , George D . Bundy , W . Doxvning , George Everett , N .. B . Headon , J . Mason , John L . Mather , VV . B . Crump , Charles Kempton , T . C . Walls , VV . Taylor , A . J . Bellis , W . Nicholl , C F . Matier , L . G . Langdon , John Reid , C H . Webb , James Stevens , W . M . Stiles , F .-J . Perks , J . R . Tolliss , Richard Jennings , J . W . George , R . A . Steel , F . A . Pullen , A . M . Broadley , G . Motion , and H . Sadler , G . Tyler .

GRAND SECRETARY announced the receipt of several letters from persons relieved at last meeting , thanking the Board for the relief extended . The brethren first confirmed grants , recommended at the May meeting , to the amount of . £ 190 . The hew list contained the names of 27 petitioners . The localities from xvhich the petitioners hailed were London , Guisborough , Hampton Court , Lowestoft , Dover , Kenilworth , Graaff Reinet , Paignton , Allahabad , Marple , Jersey , Urmston , Douglas ( Isle of Man ) , Manchester ,

Bruton , Twickenham , Carmarthen , Harroxv , Brightlingsea , Pietermaritz- . berg , York , and Ireland . Txvo of the cases xvere dismissed , and three were deferred . The remainder were relieved with a total sum of ^ 855 . One case got £ 150 , and one ^ 100 . Two cases got £ 75 each , four £ 40 each , four £ 30 each , three £ 25 each , three £ 20 each , three £ 10 each , and txvo £ 5 each . The Board xvas then closed , after a sitting of over three hours , •.