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Article THE BOYS' SCHOOL. ← Page 2 of 3 →
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The Boys' School.
we hope , will be numerously supported ; and we further trust a handsome addition will be made to the funds of the School—for the brethren must remember that , the greater the improvements introduced into it , the greater will become tho necessity for it being efficientl y
supported . EEPOET . At a mooting of thc General Committee of thc Freomasons' Boys' School , hold at the offices , 16 A , Great Queenstreet , on Saturday , January 5 , 1861 , Bro . J . S . S . Hopwood , P . G-. D ., in thc Chair , it was
resolved , —¦ "That a Committee of five subscribers to thc Institution , not being members of the House Committee , bo appointed to inquire into the whole management of the Boys' School , and especially with regard to certain allegations relativ thereto , made from time to time , in the various Committees ; and that the Committee now to be appointed have power to
request the attendance of such members of tho House Committee , ancl call for the attendance of such of the officers or other persons , as they may deem desirable , and further , to call for tho production of such hooks and papers as may appear necessary in conducting their investigation . " _ The Committee appointed pursuant to the above resolution , having had various meetings , and made the fullest
inquiries into the several allegations brought before them , are happy in being enabled to report that they have come to the unanimous conclusion that nothing has over taken place in the management of thc school which reflects , in the slightest respect , on tho honom- OT honesty o _ any of tho officers of thc Institution . It is true that some time since slight irregularities occurred in thc manner the contracts with one or two of the
tradesmen were earned out . These irregularities wore most frankly explained by Mrs . Woodward , ancl it appears that immediately that lady ' s attention was directed to them , as irregularities , they were stopped . In liko manner it seems that Bro . the Eev . Charles Woodward , the Head Master , having had a pony presented to him by a friend , caused a stable to be constructed on the
grounds of tho Institution , in thc erection of this stable , a couple of gates and a few boards , the property of thc Charity , were made use of ) but in such a way that they can at any time he rendered available for other works if desired . Thc irregularity in this instance , it appears to the Committee , mainly consists in tho fact that our Eev . Brother did not first ask the permission of tho House Committee prior
tothe stable being erected , and which this Committee have every reason to believe would have been readil y given . With regard to tho charge of using hay , thc property of the Institution , the Committee find ' that'it resolves itself into this : —A small portion of thc " rowings , " or second crop , of little intrinsic value , ivas used for the pony , Bro . Woodward allowing in . return what ho considered to bo an equivalent—the employment of the manure in the garden
of the Institution . These transactions were readily and frankly explained by tho Head Master , and do not , in tho opinion of your Committee , demand any further notice . Ib will be in the recollection of the General Committee that ono of the charges brought against tho Eev . Bro ' Woodward ivas the allowing , if not encouraging , smoking amongst the pupils in the School . This the Committee have
great pleasure in being enabled to contradict , it having been proved that immediately lie heard of smoking by two or three boys he severel y reprimanded the offenders in open school , and threatened , if he again found any ofthe pupils using tobacco , to report them to tho House Committee . M . rs . Woodward also explained the 'circumstances under whicli her sou , whilst labouring under delicate health , resided ior short
a time in the school-house , in contravention of Ecgulalion 11 laid down by the House Committee ; and this Committee , having called attention to the fact , whilst pointing out the impropriety of the violation of any rule without the express consent , by resolution , of tho House Committee , no not consider that it calls for any further comment . As regards the school itself , thc Committee are bound to . report that it docs not present- that satisfactory appearance
they could desire , principally , as they believe , from the want of sj'stem in the management , and there appearing to be no regular , defined duties for the various servants ; and , in the opinion of this Committee , many of the duties assumed by the Matron should properly be discharged by her servants , by the Assistant Master , or by monitors . As respects the course of education pursued in the School
, your Committee , after the fullest inquiries , have reluctantly come to the conclusion that much modification is required in order to place the Institution in a position equal to other commercial schools ; and to prepare the boys , who necessarily have to conclude their school education at a comparatively early age , for the active duties of life , in which the majority of them will probably have to work out their
own sphere of usefulness . On this point , however , the Committee are spared the necessity of dilating , having been informed by the Chairman of the General and House Committees that ho has received from tho Head Master a letter giving formal notice of his intention to retire from the Institution . The resignation of Mrs . Woodward as Matron
accompanying that of our Eev . Brother as Head Master , the Committee-feel thoy would be doing an injustice to that lady and gentleman wore they not to express an opinion that the thanks of the Governors and subscribers to thc School are due to them for the anxiety ivith which they have endeavoured to discharge their duties to the Institution ; and if the result has not been altogether such as could
have been desired it would seem to arise from their having been unable to adapt themselves to the requirements of a new Institution , or to introduce that system of order and regularity so essential to success . The offices of Head , Master and Matron being vacated , this Committee believe the work of reorganisation will be rendered comparatively easy ; and they would recommend
that in filling up tho vacant offices it should not be rendered indispensable for the Master and Matron to be husband and wife—but that the efficiency of the candidates for either office should bo the sole recommendation to appointmentthc experience of various institutions showing how rarely
the qualifications required for the two offices are found combined in thc persons of husband and wife . The Committee would further add that with an active Head Master , assisted by a competent Second Master , a Pupil Teacher , and Monitors , they have every reason to believe , in a very short time , this School will take a rank second to none amongst similar institutions . And here thc
Committee would suggest that it is desirable , so soon as circumstances will admit , arrangements should be made by ivhich boys whose guardians believe they can better promate their interests by a more extended education may be kept in the school for somo period exceeding the fourteen years of age—such indulgence , however , to be regarded as a special privilege , consequent on tho reports of tho Masters
and Examiners . 'The Committee ivould also express an opinion that the Head Master should , in order to preserve harmony in thc school , be consulted upon thc appointment of any future Assistant Master , who must all times bo subordinate to the Heail Master . The Committee having made their inquiries as wide as
possible , feel constrained to report that owing to thc growing importance of thc School , and the increase of duties '' thereby devolving on thc Secretary , the office business has not been conducted with that regularity which could be desired ; and in recommending the introduction of younger blood , and an improved system of keeping tho books , they also feef bound to record their opinion that the claims of Bro . Thiscltbn
, who has honestly and zealously served the Institution for a period of thirty-live years , should be met by the subscribers in as liberal and generous a spirit as is consistent with the dignity of the Craft , and the economical administration of tho funds .
The Committee would further recommend that the duties of Collector be confined to the collecting of subscriptions ami the keeping of such books as may be ordered b y thc Committees , in connection with such collection ; as by tho present arrangement much valuable time is lost by his attendance at the School , whore he has no duties to perform , on the Meetings of thc House Committee .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Boys' School.
we hope , will be numerously supported ; and we further trust a handsome addition will be made to the funds of the School—for the brethren must remember that , the greater the improvements introduced into it , the greater will become tho necessity for it being efficientl y
supported . EEPOET . At a mooting of thc General Committee of thc Freomasons' Boys' School , hold at the offices , 16 A , Great Queenstreet , on Saturday , January 5 , 1861 , Bro . J . S . S . Hopwood , P . G-. D ., in thc Chair , it was
resolved , —¦ "That a Committee of five subscribers to thc Institution , not being members of the House Committee , bo appointed to inquire into the whole management of the Boys' School , and especially with regard to certain allegations relativ thereto , made from time to time , in the various Committees ; and that the Committee now to be appointed have power to
request the attendance of such members of tho House Committee , ancl call for the attendance of such of the officers or other persons , as they may deem desirable , and further , to call for tho production of such hooks and papers as may appear necessary in conducting their investigation . " _ The Committee appointed pursuant to the above resolution , having had various meetings , and made the fullest
inquiries into the several allegations brought before them , are happy in being enabled to report that they have come to the unanimous conclusion that nothing has over taken place in the management of thc school which reflects , in the slightest respect , on tho honom- OT honesty o _ any of tho officers of thc Institution . It is true that some time since slight irregularities occurred in thc manner the contracts with one or two of the
tradesmen were earned out . These irregularities wore most frankly explained by Mrs . Woodward , ancl it appears that immediately that lady ' s attention was directed to them , as irregularities , they were stopped . In liko manner it seems that Bro . the Eev . Charles Woodward , the Head Master , having had a pony presented to him by a friend , caused a stable to be constructed on the
grounds of tho Institution , in thc erection of this stable , a couple of gates and a few boards , the property of thc Charity , were made use of ) but in such a way that they can at any time he rendered available for other works if desired . Thc irregularity in this instance , it appears to the Committee , mainly consists in tho fact that our Eev . Brother did not first ask the permission of tho House Committee prior
tothe stable being erected , and which this Committee have every reason to believe would have been readil y given . With regard to tho charge of using hay , thc property of the Institution , the Committee find ' that'it resolves itself into this : —A small portion of thc " rowings , " or second crop , of little intrinsic value , ivas used for the pony , Bro . Woodward allowing in . return what ho considered to bo an equivalent—the employment of the manure in the garden
of the Institution . These transactions were readily and frankly explained by tho Head Master , and do not , in tho opinion of your Committee , demand any further notice . Ib will be in the recollection of the General Committee that ono of the charges brought against tho Eev . Bro ' Woodward ivas the allowing , if not encouraging , smoking amongst the pupils in the School . This the Committee have
great pleasure in being enabled to contradict , it having been proved that immediately lie heard of smoking by two or three boys he severel y reprimanded the offenders in open school , and threatened , if he again found any ofthe pupils using tobacco , to report them to tho House Committee . M . rs . Woodward also explained the 'circumstances under whicli her sou , whilst labouring under delicate health , resided ior short
a time in the school-house , in contravention of Ecgulalion 11 laid down by the House Committee ; and this Committee , having called attention to the fact , whilst pointing out the impropriety of the violation of any rule without the express consent , by resolution , of tho House Committee , no not consider that it calls for any further comment . As regards the school itself , thc Committee are bound to . report that it docs not present- that satisfactory appearance
they could desire , principally , as they believe , from the want of sj'stem in the management , and there appearing to be no regular , defined duties for the various servants ; and , in the opinion of this Committee , many of the duties assumed by the Matron should properly be discharged by her servants , by the Assistant Master , or by monitors . As respects the course of education pursued in the School
, your Committee , after the fullest inquiries , have reluctantly come to the conclusion that much modification is required in order to place the Institution in a position equal to other commercial schools ; and to prepare the boys , who necessarily have to conclude their school education at a comparatively early age , for the active duties of life , in which the majority of them will probably have to work out their
own sphere of usefulness . On this point , however , the Committee are spared the necessity of dilating , having been informed by the Chairman of the General and House Committees that ho has received from tho Head Master a letter giving formal notice of his intention to retire from the Institution . The resignation of Mrs . Woodward as Matron
accompanying that of our Eev . Brother as Head Master , the Committee-feel thoy would be doing an injustice to that lady and gentleman wore they not to express an opinion that the thanks of the Governors and subscribers to thc School are due to them for the anxiety ivith which they have endeavoured to discharge their duties to the Institution ; and if the result has not been altogether such as could
have been desired it would seem to arise from their having been unable to adapt themselves to the requirements of a new Institution , or to introduce that system of order and regularity so essential to success . The offices of Head , Master and Matron being vacated , this Committee believe the work of reorganisation will be rendered comparatively easy ; and they would recommend
that in filling up tho vacant offices it should not be rendered indispensable for the Master and Matron to be husband and wife—but that the efficiency of the candidates for either office should bo the sole recommendation to appointmentthc experience of various institutions showing how rarely
the qualifications required for the two offices are found combined in thc persons of husband and wife . The Committee would further add that with an active Head Master , assisted by a competent Second Master , a Pupil Teacher , and Monitors , they have every reason to believe , in a very short time , this School will take a rank second to none amongst similar institutions . And here thc
Committee would suggest that it is desirable , so soon as circumstances will admit , arrangements should be made by ivhich boys whose guardians believe they can better promate their interests by a more extended education may be kept in the school for somo period exceeding the fourteen years of age—such indulgence , however , to be regarded as a special privilege , consequent on tho reports of tho Masters
and Examiners . 'The Committee ivould also express an opinion that the Head Master should , in order to preserve harmony in thc school , be consulted upon thc appointment of any future Assistant Master , who must all times bo subordinate to the Heail Master . The Committee having made their inquiries as wide as
possible , feel constrained to report that owing to thc growing importance of thc School , and the increase of duties '' thereby devolving on thc Secretary , the office business has not been conducted with that regularity which could be desired ; and in recommending the introduction of younger blood , and an improved system of keeping tho books , they also feef bound to record their opinion that the claims of Bro . Thiscltbn
, who has honestly and zealously served the Institution for a period of thirty-live years , should be met by the subscribers in as liberal and generous a spirit as is consistent with the dignity of the Craft , and the economical administration of tho funds .
The Committee would further recommend that the duties of Collector be confined to the collecting of subscriptions ami the keeping of such books as may be ordered b y thc Committees , in connection with such collection ; as by tho present arrangement much valuable time is lost by his attendance at the School , whore he has no duties to perform , on the Meetings of thc House Committee .