Читать книгу: «Speeches and Addresses of H. R. H. the Prince of Wales: 1863-1888», страница 36

NEW GYMNASIUM IN LONG ACRE

July 6th, 1888

The Prince of Wales, accompanied by Prince Albert Victor, opened the new gymnasium connected with the Central Young Men's Christian Association, on the 6th of July, 1888. The gymnasium is in Long Acre, in what was formerly the Queen's Theatre. The King of Sweden and Norway, Lord Aberdeen, President of the Gymnastic Club, Mr. J. Herbert Tritton, President of the Young Men's Christian Association, Lord Charles Beresford, Lord Kinnaird, the Earl of Meath, the Bishop of London, Lord Brassey, Lord Harris, and other distinguished persons were present. The Bishop of London offered a dedicatory prayer. The Earl of Aberdeen read an address, in which it was stated that the Young Men's Christian Association, which had its head-quarters at Exeter Hall, was founded forty-four years ago, and had at the present time nearly 4000 affiliated branches scattered throughout the Colonies and the civilised world (seventy-seven of which are in London), with an aggregate membership of 250,000. It formed a rendezvous for young men, and a centre for the development of a strong, healthy, religious life among them. In recent years the value of athletics had been more fully recognised, and the Committee of the Central Association had availed themselves of that valuable adjunct in the work. The Exeter Hall Gymnasium Team having won (in open competition) the 200-guinea Challenge Shield and Gold Medals offered by the National Physical Recreation Society, it would be deemed a circumstance of the utmost honour by the recipients to have received their medals at the hands of the Prince of Wales. Moreover, the Gymnasium was able to supply voluntary teachers who instructed children and others of the poorer classes in the exercises which they had acquired in that place.

The Prince of Wales said: —

"Your Majesty, Lord Aberdeen, my Lords, Ladies, and Gentlemen, – I am most grateful to you, indeed, Lord Aberdeen, for the address which you have just read to me. I can assure you all that by coming here I receive very great satisfaction, and I am glad to take part in a work in which so many of you are interested. From the account you, Lord Aberdeen, have given us of the Young Men's Christian Association, I have little doubt but that it is an association founded upon excellent and practical principles, and that it is an association likely not only long to continue in existence, but likely to be greatly augmented in its usefulness, as well as in the numbers benefited by it. I am glad that you combine with Christian education healthy recreation, which must, no doubt, tend to be of the greatest benefit to the community at large, and especially to young men who are exposed to so many temptations in a great city like this. It is a great advantage to all young men to have the opportunity of enjoying healthy and useful recreation. Thank you for asking me to take part in the proceedings of the day. And we must all tender our thanks to the King of Sweden and Norway for coming here to-day, knowing, as we all do, how deeply interested his Majesty must be in work of this kind, and of the important part drill has played amongst his people. I have now great pleasure in declaring this gymnasium open."

Mr. Herbert Gladstone, M.P., President of the National Physical Recreation Society, informed the King and Prince that the 200-guinea challenge shield offered by that Society had this year been won by the team of eight sent from Exeter Hall Club to the contest in Dundee, and he asked the Prince of Wales to do them the honour of presenting the shield and gold medals to the winners. Thereupon Mr. E. Sully, the instructor, at the head of the victorious team, advanced up the room, and, after receiving a gold medal each from the Prince, they shouldered the handsome and massive shield, and, at a run, raced away with the trophy.

Then followed an exhibition of drill by thirty members chosen out of 400 members of the Club. These were clad in flannels, and wore red or black stockings. They went through an exposition of musical drill, accompanied by the piano, the exercises consisting of those with dumb-bells, clubs, and bars, Mr. Sully giving the word of command. Occasionally the athletes sang as they drilled, at other moments they whistled as they swung their clubs or poles about.

At the close of the exercises the King rose and said: – "Your Royal Highnesses, I cannot leave this hall without expressing the satisfaction I have had in witnessing the exercises here. I wish also to add my good wishes for the progress and prosperity of this Association. I feel great satisfaction in witnessing the execution of the gymnastic exercises this morning – exercises which are very highly appreciated in my country."

The Prince of Wales summoned Mr. Sully, shook hands with him, and congratulated him upon the admirable display made by his pupils. The King of Sweden did the same, very highly praising the manner in which the drill had been executed.

The Prince of Wales, Prince Albert Victor, and the King of Sweden then left the hall amid the cheers of those assembled. The heartiness with which the Prince spoke, and the interest which he showed in the whole proceedings, greatly delighted all who were present.

THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTE FOR GIRLS

July 6th, 1888

The centenary festival of the Royal Masonic Institute for Girls was held on the 6th of July, 1888, in the Royal Albert Hall, the Prince of Wales, Grand Master, presiding. Between two and three thousand members of the Craft were present, amongst them being the King of Sweden and Norway, Prince Albert Victor, the Earl of Carnarvon, the Earl of Lathom, the Earl of Zetland, Lord Egerton of Tatton, Lord Leigh, and many other eminent Masons. The galleries were filled by a large number of ladies.

After dinner, the Prince of Wales gave the first toast, which was that of "The Queen and the Craft," and was received with the greatest enthusiasm, the whole of the vast audience rising and joining in singing the National Anthem.

The Prince of Wales then said: —

"Your Majesty and Brethren, – A very high honour and a very high compliment has been conferred upon us this night. At this great and important gathering, probably the largest meeting for a charitable object that has ever taken place anywhere, we have as our guest his Majesty the King of Sweden. I little doubted the manner in which you would receive this toast, because not only are we honouring a distinguished guest, but also a brave ally of ours, and we are further honouring the Grand Master of the Freemasons of Sweden. We all know the deep interest which his Majesty takes in our Craft, and what excellent Masons the Swedes are. In proposing this toast it is specially gratifying to me, for I have looked forward to this occasion for many years, because it was through the King and his late brother that, twenty years ago, I was initiated into the mysteries of the Craft, and I am proud to be one of you, and, still more, to be at your head. I am grateful to the King for having made me one of us. Brethren, I know you will drink this toast with cordiality, and at the same time I feel that it will be right to give this toast Masonically, for in doing so we do honour to our guest and to ourselves."

The toast was drunk with Masonic honours.

The King of Sweden, who was loudly cheered on rising, said: – "Most Worshipful Grand Master and Brethren, – The toast I have the honour of replying to I acknowledge, not only on my own behalf, but on behalf of all the foreign Lodges and Masonic congregations whose principles and constitution are in conformity with yours. On their behalf I would also express the great satisfaction I feel at the honour and distinction to-day conferred upon me by your Grand Master and by you in constituting me a member of your honoured body. I feel much satisfaction in being present at such an enormous gathering as this, and one assembled for purposes of so noble a kind. Patriotic feelings are always noble and honourable, and nowhere have they taken deeper root than in this country, for whose people, ever since my young days, I have felt the most profound esteem. But there is one feeling still more noble than patriotism, and that is the feeling which has its foundation in the Word of God, and unites us in love and charity to mankind. As we sing at Masonic gatherings in my own country, 'There is one God, our Father, so be His sons then, brethren.' This is the bond which exists between us, the rallying cry which unites us, and the lasting tie which binds us. I have the greatest pleasure in giving you 'The Health of our Grand Master, the Prince of Wales.'"

The toast was drunk with full Masonic honours. The Prince of Wales, in reply, said: —

"Your Majesty and Brethren, – You are well aware that during the fourteen years I have held the high office of Grand Master I have striven not to be unmindful of your interests and of those of the Craft, and, though I am prevented by my many duties from meeting you as often as I should like, still I hope that you are convinced that your interests are none the less dear to me. We have heard an address from the King of Sweden this evening which none of us are likely to forget, and I think, if he will allow me to say so, that we Englishmen have reason to envy his facility in speaking our language. It is, I believe, the first time that a foreign Sovereign has honoured a gathering of this kind. I think that we may look upon this as a red-letter day, and we are not likely to forget the King's presence, or the kind and useful words which he has spoken. Our watchword, 'Religion and Charity,' is one which has been inculcated in us ever since we belonged to the Craft, and it is one which we shall do well to remember. If we uphold those principles, and, above all, that idea of patriotism of which the King has spoken, there is little doubt that the Craft will remain as prosperous as it is now, and that our lodges and members will increase. I do not wish to allude to foreign lodges with whom we are not in accord; but I would ask that at any rate we should strive to pick out what is good in them, and remember that we are not only English Freemasons, but Freemasons of the entire universe. I trust that as long as I live, or as long as I may be permitted to hold the high office of your Grand Master, I may continue to do my duty to the Craft and to my country. I wish now to ask his Majesty the King of Sweden to accept the Steward's badge of this festival."

His Majesty was then invested with the badge, amidst loud cheers. The Grand Master then said he had much pleasure in reading a telegram from New York to the following effect: – "Grand Lodge in annual communication congratulates the fraternity in England on the one-hundredth anniversary of the foundation of the Royal Masonic Institute for Girls."

Again rising, the Prince of Wales said: —

"Your Majesty and Brethren, – I have now the honour to give you the last toast, though it may be safely called the most important, as the object with which we have met at this enormous and unprecedented gathering is to celebrate the centenary of the Royal Masonic Institute for Girls. That an institution should have existed a hundred years is one proof that it is a good one, and we have every reason to be grateful to those who, from the commencement up to the present time, have given their energy and their labours to keep going so thoroughly Masonic an Institution.

"As you are aware, the Institution was founded by the Chevalier Ruspini. King George IV. and King William IV. were patrons, besides many members of the Royal Family, and Her Majesty the Queen is patroness now. The school at first contained only fifteen children; it now contains 243, and they are educated up to a high religious standard, combined with education of a general character, including music. Particular attention is paid to needlework and cooking and domestic duties. Only a few days ago I was present here and saw the girls go through their marching exercise, and I never saw anything more satisfactory. There are many commanding officers who would be proud to see their men march and go through their exercise as we saw them performed. I may state the system was established by Miss Davis, who was appointed head governess in 1861, and I am glad to think that at this moment she retains her post. She has been eminently successful, as is manifest by the Cambridge Local, College of Preceptors, and the Science and Art Examinations. It is also satisfactory to notice that, with the exception of Miss Davis, every member of the staff has been educated at the Institution. The Head Governess of the Female Masonic School at Dublin and the Head Governess of the British Orphan Asylum were educated at our school, and during a period of eighty-four years there have been but two matrons, one of whom held the appointment over fifty-two years.

"As you are aware, the object we have in view in meeting here to-night is to make important additions to the present buildings, and provide accommodation for an increased number of children. These additions will cost at least £20,000. In 1838, on the occasion of the jubilee of the Institution, £1000 was subscribed at the annual festival, and in 1871, when I had the honour of presiding, as much as £5200 was collected. But I have now an announcement to make which I think will interest you beyond measure, and that is that I have received the assurance of the Secretary that we have obtained at this centenary festival over £50,000. I may safely challenge anybody to dispute the statement that so large a sum has never been subscribed at a charity dinner. It now affords me great pleasure to propose 'Success to the Institution,' coupled with the name of the Deputy Grand Master, the Earl of Lathom, Chairman of the Executive Committee, and an old and personal friend of my own."

The Earl of Lathom replied, and the proceedings terminated. The grand total of the subscription was £50,472, of which London contributed £22,454, and the Provinces, India, and the Colonies £28,018.

WEST NORFOLK HUNT

April 9th, 1888

Among the many memorial gifts of the Silver Wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales was one which would have delighted Sir Roger de Coverley or the Squire of Bracebridge Hall. The members of the West Norfolk Fox Hunt presented a handsome silver figure of Reynard in full gallop, mounted on a dark mahogany stand. A beautifully bound morocco album contained the names of the subscribers. The presentation was made on the 8th of April, the day of the Annual Steeplechase at East Winch, near Lynn. A marquee had been erected, and a large company assembled. The Prince and Princess of Wales and all the family were present.

Mr. Hamond, for many years Master of the Hunt, made the presentation, he having been the Chairman of the Committee who had carried on the Hunt during the past two years, in the temporary absence of the Master, Mr. A. C. Fountaine. He believed that the West Norfolk were the first pack of hounds that the Princess hunted with when she came to England. The Prince and Princess had entered into the sports and recreations of all classes of Her Majesty's subjects, and the sport which the members of the Hunt had enjoyed with their Royal Highnesses and their sons and daughters would long be remembered. He asked the acceptance of their gift by the Prince and Princess.

The Prince of Wales said: —

"Mr. Hamond, Ladies, and Gentlemen, – I can assure you that no present which has been offered for our acceptance has been received by us with more pleasure than the one which you have given us to-day – a model of the wily animal that we are all to fond of following. Norfolk has always been considered to be a shooting county; that may be so to a great extent, but I feel convinced that the hunting is quite as popular, and I sincerely hope that it will long remain so. There may be difficulties in preserving foxes, but I feel sure that where there's a will there's a way. For twenty-five years we have enjoyed hunting with the West Norfolk Hunt – both the Princess and myself; and our children have been brought up to follow that Hunt. I sincerely hope that for many long years we may be able to continue to do so. We have grateful memories of the mastership of one whose loss we all regretted, the late Mr. Villebois, and also of Mr. Hamond, then Mr. Fountaine, and next of the gentlemen of the Committee who have of late ably carried on the Hunt, whilst Mr. Fountaine was unfortunately away. Most sincerely do I thank you again, in the name of the Princess and myself, for the kind terms in which you have presented us with this handsome and appropriate gift, and most sincerely do I wish prosperity to the West Norfolk Foxhounds, which, I trust, may long continue to exist in this county."

AT BLACKBURN

May 9th, 1888

On the return from opening the Exhibition at Glasgow, it was arranged that the Prince and Princess of Wales should visit Blackburn, for laying the foundation-stone of the new Technical and Trades School in that flourishing Lancashire town. The borough was in high festival, the more so as it was the first time on record that it had been honoured with the presence of royalty. At the entrance of the town, the Mayor and Corporation met the Royal party, and conducted them to the marquee which was to be the scene of the ceremony. Here the Prince was presented with the freedom of the borough – being the first honorary freeman – and with an address, to which he replied: —

"Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen, – I can assure you that the Princess of Wales and myself feel very great pleasure in accepting your address, and we thank you warmly for the kind and cordial words of welcome with which you have received us on the occasion of our first visit to the important borough of Blackburn. We thank you most sincerely for your congratulations on our Silver Wedding, and we desire to take this opportunity of publicly stating how infinitely we have been touched by the affectionate tokens of attachment and regard which have universally been shown towards us throughout the whole country on the occasion of that event. We appreciate very highly your allusions to the interest which we take in all things related to the progress and welfare of the kingdom, and more especially to the interest we have taken in the subject of technical education; and I rejoice, therefore, to find that I am able to come here to-day to lay the foundation-stone of an institution which I trust will afford material assistance in maintaining and advancing the industries and commercial enterprise of your town. I have very much gratification in complying with your request that I would accept the honorary freedom of your borough, and I shall experience a feeling of pride in signing my name as the first honorary freeman of a town so loyal and prosperous, and that, I am persuaded, has so great a future before it as Blackburn."

To another address by the Freemasons of Blackburn the Grand Master expressed his sense of the compliment paid him by their words of fraternal friendship, and gladly acceded to the wish that the first stone of so important and useful an institution should be laid with Masonic honours, – which was done accordingly.

The Mayoress of Blackburn then, on behalf of the ladies of Blackburn, presented the Princess of Wales with a magnificent diamond brooch representing Industry. Her Royal Highness said a few happy words in acknowledgment. The Prince, it should have been mentioned, received the roll of freedom enclosed in a very handsome gold casket. The Royal visitors wore afterwards entertained at luncheon in the Town Hall, where numerous guests were present. In responding to the loyal toasts the Prince said: —

"You may be assured that we are not likely to forget our visit to Blackburn. The cordial and enthusiastic manner in which you have received us, the beautiful way in which your streets and houses have been decorated, and the wonderful order that was kept throughout will not be forgotten by us. It will afford me, also, great gratification and pleasure to acquaint the Queen with the loyalty which has been shown to the Princess and myself, who are the first members of the Royal families of England who have visited your borough. The objects we have had in view in coming here are, we are sure, excellent ones; and we rejoice that there has been afforded to us the opportunity of laying the foundation-stone of an institution which is likely to do so much good. As the Mayor has said, I do take a sincere interest in all that concerns technical instruction, because I feel convinced that, in a vast country like ours, where so many trades and different manufactures exist, nothing is of such great importance to the well-being of its manufactures and trades as a good sound technical education. We cannot erect too many schools or institutions of the kind in the various parts of the country. The school the foundation-stone of which we have laid to-day has been properly started as a remembrance of the Queen's Jubilee, and, as the special object of it is for the technical education of the operative classes, I sincerely hope that they also will show that they take a great interest in it, and will thoroughly support it. I am glad to hear that there is already existing in this borough a Technical and Art School, which for two years has been in existence. I am told that there are as many as 300 students, and those students who have gone up to London to be examined by the Technical Institute have, I understand, passed the very highest and best examinations. The interest which this town takes in the subject of technical education is a very gratifying one. You must remember that improved talent for the production of more varied and artistic designs in the staple manufacture is essential for the continued prosperity of the town, and the more artisans learn what is necessary to beautify the trade to which they belong, and vary the different specimens which they bring forward, the more likely the town is to flourish. Before sitting down I have a toast to propose to you, 'The Mayor and Corporation of Blackburn, and success to the Blackburn Technical School.' In proposing this toast I am glad to have this opportunity of thanking the Mayor for his kind hospitality and the cordial welcome he has afforded us. He may be assured we shall never forget the kind reception we have received at Blackburn."

The Mayor briefly responded to the toast. The Royal party afterwards proceeded to the Blackburn Railway Station, and left for London.