Prospects Of The Boys School.

additions to invested capital in the case of the former being one material factor in producing this result ; for we must look upon the £ 40 , 000 put by during the last four years as a very large sum indeed to lock up for interest bearing purposes alone , and

although there are twenty-three more boys accommodated in the School now than was the case four years since , that is a comparatively poor return ; does not , in fact , show more than 3 per cent on the investment , although the sum probably

represents 8 , 000 or 10 , 000 votes , for each election , granted to those who contributed it ; and that being so it is very easy to account for 400 or 500 of the increase that has taken place in the voting average during the period we refer to , which

increase has the apparent effect of lessening the value of the scholarships , by making them much more difficult of acquisition , and must , we think , ultimately influence donors in dealing with the different Benevolent Funds of English Masonry .

We should certainly like to see some scheme formulated for the purpose of giving an immediate return for the very liberal support of recent years , being fully convinced the future of the Institution may safely be left to the Brethren of that

period , providing those who have the management of present affairs do not go recklessly to work , or create charges on the fund outside those primarily associated with the actual benefits conferred on the pupils . Whether the programme we have

hinted at—to provide a new and enlarged building for the whole School , —or some other arrangement is best suited for this purpose will require full consideration and discussion , but

on one point we think there should be unanimity—action should be taken to give an immediate return for money already received .

SINCE penning the above remarks we have received copy of a circular now being issued to the Craft , which we venture to think will have a considerable effect on the future of the two Educational Institutions , and the prospects

of the Boys School in particular , it being proposed to establish a Scholarship Fund to provide for the higher education of deserving boys after they have finished their School career . It is true small grants are frequently made to pupils on

leaving the Institutions , in order to provide them with the wherewithal to make a fair start in life , but the laws do not permit of expenditure in the direction now aimed at , although we are fully of opinion that all who are connected with the

Schools would willingly support any movement that sought to incorporate such a scheme with the existing rules , provided it was not possible to accomplish the work by a separate

organisation—but as such a division of beneficial work is possible , we hope , as we believe will be the case , that a fair amount of support will be at once accorded the proposal to which we refer .

Our sympathy with movements of the past having similar objects—the assistance of pupils leaving the Schools—is well known to our older readers ; suffice it to say the present project has our warmest sympathy , and we shall be pleased

to do anything in our power to advance the object aimed at . The proposal now before us emanates from the Committee Dinner Club , which , as is well known , consists of members of the Council of the Institution , the Brethren , in fact , who

by actual participation in the practical working of the School , are best able to judge of the need that exists for such a Fund as is suggested , and also qualified to arrange for its working . That they are in earnest is proved by the practical way in which

they support the project , many of the number being among the first subscribers to the contemplated Fund , the donations to which already amount to upwards of £ 250 , —a very satisfactory start , especially when * we remember the £ 60 , 000 nest egg to

Prospects Of The Boys School.

which we have previously referred , and in the work of securing which these same Brethren in most cases bore their share . It is not intended to found a large Scholarship , the main principle in view being to give just that help ( say about £ 30 per

annum ) to those clever boys which will enable them to enter for other scholarships , and so place thein on a more equal footing with their fellows who are happily circumstanced in having wellto-do parents . From this we may infer thafc the promoters of

the scheme aim at but one Scholarship ; but we hope the good work will not stop there , —to be of service the grant should be for two or three years , and it is far from desirable that the benefits should only be bestowed once in that period . The start ,

however , is the main thing ; once the idea has been launched there is little fear of its being allowed to droop for want of financial aid , the tendency of the age being to do everything possible to ensure the education of the masses , and the special instruction of those gifted with particular ability .

Further particulars of the scheme will be found in another column , or can be obtained of the Hon . Secretary of the Fund , Brother J . M . McLeod , at the Offises of the Institution , Freemasons' Hall , London .

We are again compelled to hold over a number of items , on account of pressure on our space .

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

"A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

A PROFOUND gloom has been cast over Tenby , by the sudden death of Brother Alderman W . H . Bichards , J . P ., CO ., P . M . 1177 , of Croft House . The deceased , who vacated the Mayoral chair of the borough on the 9 th , and was re-elected an Alderman for the borough the same day , was on his way to the Town Hall , to take part in the new Mayor ' s procession to church

shortly before eleven o ' clock , and , when opposite the Eoyal Gate House Hotel , was observed to stagger and fall in the road . Medical aid was promptly secured , but Bro . Richards expired in a few minutes , his death being due to apoplexy . Meanwhile , in ignorance of what had occurred , the Mayor ' s procession had been

formed , and proceeded to church , but immediately before the service commenced the sad intelligence was made knovvn , and the news spreading quickly throughout the town , created a painful and profound sensation . Bro . Eichards had for the last

twentyfive years taken a very prominent part in public matters , and was one of Tenby ' s most respected citizens . At the conclusion of the service , the choir filed out to the strains of the Dead March , in " Saul . " The Mayor ' s procession was not re-formed on emerging from the church . Bro . Eichards was the eldest son of the late

Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Eichards , of the 3 rd Bombay Light Infantry ; was born in 1844 , and married in 1872 Florence Antonia , eldest daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Antony Stokes , of St . Bofcolph ' s . He was educated at Exeter College , Oxford , was a J . P . for Pembrokeshire , High-Sheriff of Tenby 1858 ,

Mayor of Tenby 1881-7 and 1895 . He was President of the Tenby Conservative Association , P . M . of the Tenby Lodge of Freemasons , chairman of the Tenby Lifeboat Committee , a Charity Trustee for Tenby , a County Councillor for Tenby , and Alderman of the borough .

AMONG those lost in the recent disaster to the launch of H . M . S . Edgar was Bro . James Burtenshaw , a member of the South Saxon Lodge , No . 311 , Lewes , who , it is stated , bade fair to obtain higher rank than thafc which he held as leading signaller , and was a brave stalwart young fellow , well versed in

nautical matters and an expert swimmer and diver . When the Prince of Wales visited the Greenwich School he threw half a sovereign into the diving tank , aud young Burtenshaw was the successful one to recover it , the Prince at once telling him to keep the coin . He was also a clever telegraphist and signaller ,

being almost invariably included in the landing parties for these purposes when operations were in progress . The deceased was thirty years of age at the time of his death , and for the last fourteen or fifteen years had been continuously afloat , says the " Sussex Daily News . "

BEO . ALFRED BODLEY died on the 15 th , in his seventieth year . As a Freemason he rose to a prominent position , and in 1885 was presented with a silver cup in recognition of

" valuable and faithful services rendered to Freemasonry during his term of office , by Brethren of tbe Craft . " He was P . M . and Past Treas . of St . John ' s Lodge , 39 , and P . Prov . G . D . C . He was a P . M . and Treasurer of the Mark , and P . Z . and for nineteen years S . E . of E . A . Chapter 112 , and also P . Prov . G . S . N .