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Article THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS. Page 1 of 2 Article THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS. Page 1 of 2 →
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The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .
WE scarcely know how to approach the task that this week devolves on ns , —to report in a suitable and explicit manner even a tithe of what has taken place iu regard to the future action to be taken as to the management of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . Unfortunately the unrulv element has prevailed , and the
welfare of the Charity we were all so proud of has been seriously , if not fatally , jeopardised . In writing thus strongly , we may , perhaps , be accused of adopting a pessimistic view of the situation . This is not our
intention ; we , however , cannot forget the fact that the demands on the funds of our several Charitable Institutions are of a very heavy character , and that the means for their supply do not rest on a permanent foundation , consequently the flow of occasional contributions should not be
checked or their passage diverted by any unwise agency or ill-considered verdict , whether arrived by individual members of the Craft , or Lodges in their corporate capacity . It is all very well to say , " we will not
subscribe , " or " not a penny piece shall leave my pocket ; " do those who thus express themselves know what this declaration means ? It is a recognised fact that last year the expenditure on behalf of the Boys' School exceeded
the receipts by a considerable amount , but this result had been discounted by the special efforts made to make the Girls' School Centenary a feature , and until this cloud had " lowr'd upon our house " every hope was entertained that the financial position would adjust itself , and that the Boys '
School coffers would bo replenished ere the year 1889 came to a close . The anticipations for the coming Festival were of an eminently satisfactory character ; a strong board of Stewards had tendered their services ; rumours were abroad of strong lists already made up , and every
phase of the scene looked hopeful and encouraging . But what is the situation now ? Doubt , Gloom and Misapprehension reign supreme , and some of the most sanguine of the Institution ' s supporters seem appalled at the hapless prospect before them .
Now , are all these woful prognostications and dreadful forebodings to be absolutely received ? Wo say , emphatically , —No . Let us take a glance at the situation . The Report of the Committee of Investigation appointed to
inquire into the discipline , expenditure and administration of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys presented to , and approved by , the Quarterly General Court which met on the 26 th April last . At that meeting a decision was arrived at that the said Report should be printed and
universally circulated amongst those who had subscribed to the Institution , and were interested in its welfare . We are bound to say a vast majority of those who studied the Report and the recommendations therein kid down , came
to conclusions , that from our point of view , were extreme ones ; while others , from motives we cannot solve , are striving by every means in their power to exaggerate the
evil . When the Committee of Investigation recommend " an entire change in administration , " it need not be construed that an entire change of management must result , or that those brethren who have so long given their
services and their time to the Institution should stand back and let their p laces be taken by the first recruits who fancy
The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
they have the seasoned experience of well-tried soldier ? . By all means strengthen your controlling forces , but do
not disband your veterans until your youngsters know how to carry and utilize their weapons . We will now , as briefly as possible , sum up the events of the week as regards the Institution under notice . On
Saturday , the 1 st instant , the Genera Committee of the School held their monthly meeting , at Freemasons' Hall . There was a very large attendance , but we regret to say very little business resulted . Bro . E . Letchworth P . G . D , presided , and after the minutes of the last meeting had been
read and confirmed , a strong discussion ensued . In the end , it was proposed that tbe meeting stand adjourned for four weeks . This proposition was eventually agreed to , and there for the present the matter rest ? .
We now come to the proceedings at the Special General Court , held at the Freemasons' Tavern , on Thursday , the 6 th instant . The meeting must be congratulated on having secured for its Chairman so experienced a President as tho Right Worshipful Bro . W . W . B . Beach , the
Provincial Grand Master for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight ; while the representative men who were in attendance testified by their presence that our Provincial brethren are fully alive to the magnitude of the issues that are at
stake . As in the case of the meeting on Saturday last , we are not disposed to give a detailed account of what transpired . Suffice it to say , many cruel assertions and unwarrantable charges were formulated ; but let us come
to issues . The Report was considered , and ordered to be entered on the minutes . Its adoption was then formally proposed , and this was unanimously agreed to . A long and stormy discussion followed , and this resulted in a
proposition being made by Brother Bevir ( Wiltshire ) that a Provisional Committee be immediately appointed to watch the interests of the Institution , such Committee
to consist of the following brethren : —Bros . Fred . A . Philbrick , Sir Reginald Hanson , John Derby Allcroft , Richard Eve P . G . Treasurer , Sir Robert Fowler , George
Corbie ( Essex ) , J . Glass ( Essex ) , Major George Lambert ( London ) , Lord Euston , Captain S . G . Homfray , R . V . Smith ( Gloucestershire ) , W . F . Smithson ( West Yorkshire ) , Col . Perkins ( Somerset ) , Alderman Harwood ( E . Lancashire ) , J . S . Eastes ( Kent ) , Gerard Ford ( Sussex ) , Le Feuvre ( Hampshire and the Isle of Wight ) , A . C . Spaull ( Salop ) , Bodenham ( Staffordshire ) , Wylie
( West Lancashire ) , and Edward Terry Grand Treasurer . The functions of this Provisional Committee will be to consider the Report , and advise as to tho best means to be adopted with a view to carry out the recommendations
therein contained . Ifc was also decided that the conclusions to be arrived at should be submitted to a Special Court of the Governors and Subscribers . Brother Philbrick here remarked it was his opinion that the brethren who
composed the Investigation Committee would best consult the interests of the Institution and their own feelings if the
present meeting would not ask them to discharge any further duty of an official nature . However , they would readily give any assistance that was needed in the way of explanation of the recommendations . Bro . Bevir ' s
proposition was seconded by Bro . W . F . Smithson , aud carried unanimously ; whereupon Bro . Philbrick said , if ib was the wish of the meeting , he would put aside personal
feelings and act as desired . The Chairman thought the matter might very well be left in the hands of the gentlemen whose names were embodied in the resolution , and so
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .
WE scarcely know how to approach the task that this week devolves on ns , —to report in a suitable and explicit manner even a tithe of what has taken place iu regard to the future action to be taken as to the management of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . Unfortunately the unrulv element has prevailed , and the
welfare of the Charity we were all so proud of has been seriously , if not fatally , jeopardised . In writing thus strongly , we may , perhaps , be accused of adopting a pessimistic view of the situation . This is not our
intention ; we , however , cannot forget the fact that the demands on the funds of our several Charitable Institutions are of a very heavy character , and that the means for their supply do not rest on a permanent foundation , consequently the flow of occasional contributions should not be
checked or their passage diverted by any unwise agency or ill-considered verdict , whether arrived by individual members of the Craft , or Lodges in their corporate capacity . It is all very well to say , " we will not
subscribe , " or " not a penny piece shall leave my pocket ; " do those who thus express themselves know what this declaration means ? It is a recognised fact that last year the expenditure on behalf of the Boys' School exceeded
the receipts by a considerable amount , but this result had been discounted by the special efforts made to make the Girls' School Centenary a feature , and until this cloud had " lowr'd upon our house " every hope was entertained that the financial position would adjust itself , and that the Boys '
School coffers would bo replenished ere the year 1889 came to a close . The anticipations for the coming Festival were of an eminently satisfactory character ; a strong board of Stewards had tendered their services ; rumours were abroad of strong lists already made up , and every
phase of the scene looked hopeful and encouraging . But what is the situation now ? Doubt , Gloom and Misapprehension reign supreme , and some of the most sanguine of the Institution ' s supporters seem appalled at the hapless prospect before them .
Now , are all these woful prognostications and dreadful forebodings to be absolutely received ? Wo say , emphatically , —No . Let us take a glance at the situation . The Report of the Committee of Investigation appointed to
inquire into the discipline , expenditure and administration of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys presented to , and approved by , the Quarterly General Court which met on the 26 th April last . At that meeting a decision was arrived at that the said Report should be printed and
universally circulated amongst those who had subscribed to the Institution , and were interested in its welfare . We are bound to say a vast majority of those who studied the Report and the recommendations therein kid down , came
to conclusions , that from our point of view , were extreme ones ; while others , from motives we cannot solve , are striving by every means in their power to exaggerate the
evil . When the Committee of Investigation recommend " an entire change in administration , " it need not be construed that an entire change of management must result , or that those brethren who have so long given their
services and their time to the Institution should stand back and let their p laces be taken by the first recruits who fancy
The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
they have the seasoned experience of well-tried soldier ? . By all means strengthen your controlling forces , but do
not disband your veterans until your youngsters know how to carry and utilize their weapons . We will now , as briefly as possible , sum up the events of the week as regards the Institution under notice . On
Saturday , the 1 st instant , the Genera Committee of the School held their monthly meeting , at Freemasons' Hall . There was a very large attendance , but we regret to say very little business resulted . Bro . E . Letchworth P . G . D , presided , and after the minutes of the last meeting had been
read and confirmed , a strong discussion ensued . In the end , it was proposed that tbe meeting stand adjourned for four weeks . This proposition was eventually agreed to , and there for the present the matter rest ? .
We now come to the proceedings at the Special General Court , held at the Freemasons' Tavern , on Thursday , the 6 th instant . The meeting must be congratulated on having secured for its Chairman so experienced a President as tho Right Worshipful Bro . W . W . B . Beach , the
Provincial Grand Master for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight ; while the representative men who were in attendance testified by their presence that our Provincial brethren are fully alive to the magnitude of the issues that are at
stake . As in the case of the meeting on Saturday last , we are not disposed to give a detailed account of what transpired . Suffice it to say , many cruel assertions and unwarrantable charges were formulated ; but let us come
to issues . The Report was considered , and ordered to be entered on the minutes . Its adoption was then formally proposed , and this was unanimously agreed to . A long and stormy discussion followed , and this resulted in a
proposition being made by Brother Bevir ( Wiltshire ) that a Provisional Committee be immediately appointed to watch the interests of the Institution , such Committee
to consist of the following brethren : —Bros . Fred . A . Philbrick , Sir Reginald Hanson , John Derby Allcroft , Richard Eve P . G . Treasurer , Sir Robert Fowler , George
Corbie ( Essex ) , J . Glass ( Essex ) , Major George Lambert ( London ) , Lord Euston , Captain S . G . Homfray , R . V . Smith ( Gloucestershire ) , W . F . Smithson ( West Yorkshire ) , Col . Perkins ( Somerset ) , Alderman Harwood ( E . Lancashire ) , J . S . Eastes ( Kent ) , Gerard Ford ( Sussex ) , Le Feuvre ( Hampshire and the Isle of Wight ) , A . C . Spaull ( Salop ) , Bodenham ( Staffordshire ) , Wylie
( West Lancashire ) , and Edward Terry Grand Treasurer . The functions of this Provisional Committee will be to consider the Report , and advise as to tho best means to be adopted with a view to carry out the recommendations
therein contained . Ifc was also decided that the conclusions to be arrived at should be submitted to a Special Court of the Governors and Subscribers . Brother Philbrick here remarked it was his opinion that the brethren who
composed the Investigation Committee would best consult the interests of the Institution and their own feelings if the
present meeting would not ask them to discharge any further duty of an official nature . However , they would readily give any assistance that was needed in the way of explanation of the recommendations . Bro . Bevir ' s
proposition was seconded by Bro . W . F . Smithson , aud carried unanimously ; whereupon Bro . Philbrick said , if ib was the wish of the meeting , he would put aside personal
feelings and act as desired . The Chairman thought the matter might very well be left in the hands of the gentlemen whose names were embodied in the resolution , and so