Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

glad that the practice has been clone away with , and I hope it will never be renewed . This Institution was founded in 1798 , and I believe that tbe Institution now contains 103 boys . Before 1863 it was really not established in a building sufficient forthe requirements of those children whose parents had become unfortunate in their circumstances , or from losses in business

over which lie had no control , and which ifc was impossible for him to prevent In such cases his children became more or less dependent upon others . I will not use the word " charity " again if I can help it , but this Institution was founded to meet such cases , anel I cannot think it has been unsuccessful , as I shall show from facts . Since the Institution was founded in

1793 , 1 , 057 boys have been educated in it . They received their education in it , which comprises a thorough English education , and what is almost necessary as a concomitant with ifc , the acquirement of some foreign language , and more or less some mathematical knowledge as well . Ifc has been been brought

before us that some brethren think fche education we give these boys is of a class that unfits some of the recipients for that position in society to which they may be called . Now I have taken some little trouble to ascertain how far this assertion is correct , and I find that although they receive instruction in the high grades , the boys in question are not rendered incapable

of taking situations which may more readily offer for youn g men in their position in life . After , too , more than half or three-fourths of tbe nineteenth century have passeel over , I do not think it will be admitted that any amount of education can be looked upon ns a hindrance to any kind of work , and I only wish that education was more easy and generally attainable ,

and more national than it is afc present . I will now show some of the fruits anel the value of this Institution , when I say that last Juno two candidates were sent up from this School for the Oxford local middle-cbiss examination for tbe junior classes , and the number of nniiditl : itps entered for fixarmnfifcinn was

1 , 012 , and of the total number entered 663 passed , and 379 were rejected . Those candidates were divided into three divisions in the order of merit . Fifty-seven were ranged in the order of merit , and the rest alphabetically , and amongst tbe fifty-seven ranged in the order of merit I am happy to say that both of the candidates from this Institution were included , one stood 45 anel the other 57 . There is , I believe , a fund in

the course of formation for founding additional scholarships at Oxford anel Cambridge , which will , of course , give further means of preferment to the boys of this Institution . At present , as far as the School is concerned , there are , unfortunately , not funds enough to carry on the thing as wo could wish , as there is a debt of £ 10 , 000 which absorbs an annual interest of £ 500 ,

and the School could accommodate thirty more boys than are at present in the Institution , but the funds at present will not permit us to receive them . I think I have nothing further to say , anel it only remains for me to drink " Prosperity to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , " coupling with the toast the name of the Treasurer , Bro . Benjrmin Bond Cabbell .

The toast was most enthusiastically respondeel to . In the absence of Bro . Benjamin Bond Cabbell , Bro . HEAD rose to return thanks on behalf of the officers of the Institution , and sail it woulel have been a great pleasure to him had their esteemed Treasurer , Bro . Benjamin Bond Cabbell , been able to be present , but although ho was not , his hoart was

with them , trusting that they would go on witli the good work . For his ( Bro . Head ' s ) part , he would never leave it , and as long as the G . A . O . T . U . gave him health and strength he woulel elo all in his power to assist the School . He truated that they would have their boys second to none in a good education , and in conclusion , be congratulated tire master of the School on the

progress they had made , for since he had held the office he had done wonders amongst them . On the part of Bro . Benjamin Bond Cabbell , he thanked them for the honour conferred upon bim . The SECRETARY then read the lists of subscriptions , but in consequence of the very hurried manner many of the amounts

could nofc be caught . Amongst them were the Queen ' s annual donation of ten guineas ; the Earl of Zetland , ten guineas ; Bro . Benjamin Bond Cabbell , forty-third donation of ten guineas ; the chairman , ten guineas ; Bro . Winn , fifty guineas -,. Bro . Algernon Parker , ten guineas ; Lodge of Antiquity ( No . 2 ) , £ -11 '; Eoyal Somerset House and Inverness , £ 21 . 3 s . ; Sfc .

George ana Corner Stone , £ 850 8 s . ; Westminster and Key Stone , £ 58 6 s . 6 d . ; Robert Burns , £ 45 15 s . 6 d . ; Carlisle Lodge of Harmony , £ 26 17 s . Sfc . Alban ' s Loelge , £ 43 10 s . ; Britannic Lodge , £ 103 Ss . 6 d . ; Strong Man Lodge , £ 4113 s . 6 d . ; Temple Lodge , £ 94 10 s . ; Caledonian Lodge , £ 94 10 s . ; Sfc . Luke's ,. £ 35 ISs . ; Cadogan Loelge , £ 61 10 s . ; St . James ' s Union , £ 77

14 s . ; Percy Lodge , £ 50 8 s . ; Sfc . Andrew ' s Lodge , 222 , £ 82 19 s . ; . Salisbury Lodge , £ 31 13 s . 6 el . ; Bros . Muggeridge anel Pratt , £ 105 ; Lewis Lodge , £ 108 13 ; Bro . Meggy , for Mark Lodges , £ 160 ; Province of Kent , £ 323 , und fifteen guineas additional by the Steward ; East Lancashire , £ 103 19 s . ; West Lancashire , £ 394 ; North and East Yorkshire ( Bro . Walker , W . M . 57 ) , £ 140 14 s . ; Old Concord Lodge ( Bro . Emmens ) £ 65 ; Maybury Lodge , £ 45 3 s . The Secretary announced that the total receints

were £ 4 , 890 , with six lists to come in . Bro . Colonel BOWYER said he had been called on at a minute ' s notice to propose a very extensive toasfc , which was " The Vice-Presidents , Trustees , General Committee , House Committee , and Auditors of Accounts , " who were all officially employed for the benefit of the Institution , and deserved the approbation of

the brethren . To them they were mainly due for the prosperity of tbe Institution , and he thought they ought to thank them for their services . He coupled with the toast the name of Bro . Algernon Perkins . Bro . A . PERKIXS returned thanks , and alluded to the debt of £ 10 , 000 which was still on the Institution . He desired to

throw part of it on the next generation , but that course was nofc agreed to by the major ifcy of the committee , and that being so he felt inclined to give in his adhesion to the decision to which they had come , and get the debt off their shoulders as soon as possible . THE CHAIRMAN next gave " Success to tbe Eoyal Freemasons '

Girls' School and the Benevolent Annuity Funds , " and coupled with the toasfc the name of Bro . Patten , Secretary to the Girls ' School . ( This toast was well received ) . Bro . PATTEX returned thanks on behalf of the Girls' School ,, and congratulated Bro . Binckes on the result of that evening ' s collection . The festival for the Girls' woulel take place on the 13 th of May , when Bro . Lord Kenlis , Provincial Grand Master , would take the chair , and when be hoped to receive the support of tbe brethren .

Bro . FARXHEID , Secretary to the Royal Benevolent Institution , in tbe first place thanked the brethren for the support they bad given to the festival which took place on the 29 th of January , upon which occasion Bro . Dobie , Provincial Grand Master , took the chair . The subscription then announced amounted to £ 5 , 300 , and he thanked the Craft heartily for such

a large contribution . In consequence of the liberality of the brethren , the committee of management had that day resolved out of the twenty-seven men who were candidates for admission to tbe Institution , to receive twenty annuitants ; and from the seventeen women who were candidates , to receive eig ht of them ,