Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

WE are very pleased to be in a position to announce there is a possibility of all the candidates for the approaching election being taken on without the trouble of polling ; and although at present the matter is before the Quarterly Court only in the form of a proposition , made by Lieut .-Ool . Creaton , it may really be looked upon as an

accomplished fact . It is hardly possible that Bro . Creaton would make snch a proposition as that he submitted at the General Committee on Thursday unless he knew that the Institution was in a position to bear it ; much less that any brother wonld be found to oppose it , unless on very good

grounds . As will be seen from our report of the meeting pnblished elsewhere , his actual proposition is , " That the additional vacancy ( caused by the retirement of one girl through ill health ) reported by the General Committee , be filled at this election , and that six further vacancies be

declared . Should this proposal meet the approval of the Quarterly Court , it will raise the number of Girls on the establishment to 236 , We have to congratulate the several candidates , but at the same time would remind them that their election without a struggle is not certain : it

therefore behoves them to prepare , in case Bro . Creaton ' s motion is rejected . There is another question which will call for discussion on Saturday next , a notice of motion having been given by Bro . J . S . Cumberland , of York , to the effect that the

nays of election be altered to Thursdays . Doubtless Bro . Cumberland submits this proposition in the hope of its doing good , but we are of opinion that it will not be carried . As was pointed out some time since , it would be a great advantage to many brethren to have the election

for the two Schools on the same day , especially so to those who have to attend from the country ; and , therefore , we think any proposition to lengthen the lapse of time between

them will be rejected . We hope Bro . Cumberland will see the matter in the light we have mentioned , and refrain from pressing it . If he wonld withdraw his present lotion , and substitute one to fix both elections for tbe

same day , we think he would find many supporters ; and , althoug h he might be beaten on his first attempt , a little energy on the part of Provincial brethren wonld soon lead to the adoption of a change which would be beneficial to "jany , if not all , of them . The only objection to the ttlleration

that can be urged is , the unwillingness to " ' any change , however much it may be needed . The fatter is one that does not materially affect London " ¦ ethren , many of whom are imbued with the feeling that ! -jj not likel y to be carried unless those brethren who are 0 betl efit by ifc bestir themselves .

The Boys' School Election.

THE BOYS' SCHOOL ELECTION aB

^ resnlt which must of necessity be looked for afc the coming Boys' School Election , when out of sixfcyen candidates but fifteen can be admitted , and there-

The Boys' School Election.

fore fifty-two will have to be turned away , mnst , we feel sure , give rise to feelings of sorrow in the hearts of all true Masons ; yet if it be urged by those who have supported our Institutions that they cannot do more than they are doing afc present , we really should not feel justified in stating the contrary . What they and we can urge as a means of lessening , to a very great extent , the number of rejected claims made on the benevolence of the Craft , is that

the services of a greater number of brethren should be enlisted in the cause . We recently heard it stated , on very good authority , that out of the 90 , 000 Freemasons which it is said pay dues to the Grand Lodge of England , the nn . mfis nf not more than 20 . 000 annear on the books of the — j

u .. vu _ w- - - rjr Charitable Institutions of the Craft . This leaves a very large number by whom some little might be done to lessen the amount of disappointment which occurs whenever an election takes place for one or other of the Institutions . The Committee of the Boys' School have inaugurated a scheme for building a Preparatory School , which in a few years , should the plan receive the support of the

Craft , will go a long way towards relieving the ballot list of the day , bufc until the proposed new building is available , we see little chance of any enlargement in the number

of vacancies as compared with the number of applicants , and therefore the same amount of disappointment which has now characterised tbe Boys' School elections for some time past must continue . Tet if but a very small proportion of the 70 , 000 " unregistered" brethren referred to

above could be induced to work in the cause , a perceptible difference would speedily take place . The few who have and do now support our Charities can refer with pride to the result of their efforts ; and if these few can

shew so much , surely such a number as are still outside could in a very short time have something to boast of . Large as may appear the outlay to any one individual to place the School in a position to take on all the boys who

are at present deemed worthy , it would in reality be a very trifling matter if all of those who have nofc yet secured a place in our charity lists gave just what they could afford . We venture to think there would then be reason

for joy and rejoicing among all the families whose boys now seek admittance to the School , bufc we are afraid no such happy event is likely to take place , and for this reason we feel compelled to once again impress on every brother who has already given to do so again , if in his power , bufc

above all to try and induce some one or more to take the matter in hand . The present is a particularly favourable time to work for the Boys' School , as with a view of encouraging donations to the Special Building Fund , the

Committee have increased the number of votes to be given in return for money subscribed for thafc particular object . We trust the result that will follow will shew , even if ifc is that brethren have been somewhat led

urged away by additional advantages being offered , thafc the increased publicity given to the matter has had good effect on the Craft at large , as we are convinced thafc every brother who can be induced to work on behalf of our Institutions nofc

only does the amount of good actually accredited to his name , bufc by advocating the cause with others nofc unfreqnenfcly introduces one or more who , in time , follow his example . One very great feature in connection with our

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