Our Girls.

OUR GIRLS .

THEEE are but a few days to elapse ere the Graft will know the result of this year ' s Anniversary Festival on behalf of the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Girls , which will be celebrated on Wednesday next , at Freemasons' Tavern , under the presidency

of the Deputy Grand Master of England , the Eight Hon . the Earl of Mouht-Edgcumbe ; but in those few days there will be a considerable amount of anxious speculation as to the fate that is in store for " Our Girls" on this , its one hundred and seventh

anniversary . It would be somewhat out of place at this late season to dilate at any length on the necessity for cordial support on the pait of the Stewards of the year , and hearty sympathy from

Brethren generally—both facts are fortunately fully recognised by the parties concerned , and , as a result , we may look forward with pleasurable anticipation to the outcome of the appeal that will be announced next week . The position of the Institution

tells the tale far more forcibly than any words of ours could dothere being upwards of two hundred and sixty girls in the School , all receiving maintenance , clothing and education as the result

of the free will offerings of the English Craft , and it is on behalf of this large family and those who will come after them that the Festival is held .

We have from time to time spoken of the efforts that are being made in order to ensure success for this year ' s celebration , not the least important in this respect being the position the Chairman occupies as Deputy Grand Master of England , a

position that should ensure for him sympathy and support from all parts of the country , for there is probably no Lodge meeting held under the English Constitution without a kindly reference to his lordship ' s position and work as a part of the

proceedings ; but above all this is the fact that the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Girls is pledged to a very heavy annual outlay beyond the sum realised from its invested

capital , and those who have the management of affairs have a very natural dread of any falling off in receipts , so as to necessitate an intrenchment on that capital .

We have little doubt as to the result of next week ' s festival being sufficient to prove the cotitinued interest of the Craft in the good work ; we hope it may go far beyond , and

not only be ample to ptovide for the expenses of the year , but even allow of a small increase being made to the investments of the Institution .

We must not omit another reference to the distribution of prizes and annual visit of the Stewards to the Institution on Monday next , commencing at 4 o ' clock . We expect the accommodation of the Institution will then , as usual on such occasions ,

be taxed to its utmost resources , but let us hope a large number of visitors will mean an extended band of supporters , for really ^ is hardly possible for a Mason to see the happy children at -Battersea , and note how they are cared for by the Institution , Without desiring to do something on its behalf .

Consecration: Benevolentia Lodge.

CONSECRATION : BENEVOLENTIA LODGE .

THIS , the latest of the new Lodges , and numbered ido-iy on the roll , was consecrated on Tuesday , at Mrs . Gladstone ' s Convalescent Home , South Woodford , by Brother Edward Letchworth Grand Secretary , who was assisted by Bros . Eobert Grey President of the Board of Benevolence as S . W ., Henry Garrod P . G . P . as J . W ., the Eev . J . S . Brownrigg P . G . C . as Chaplain , J . H . Matthews P . D . G . D . C . as D . C , Sutton Abbott as I . G .

The other Brethren who attended wero Bros . Edgar A . Gibbs S . W . 1804 , Walter Latter 704 P . P . G . Org . Essex , J . Sutton Abbott jun . J . D . 2077 , T . R . Foreman 1804 , W . J . Hewett W . M . 1185 , C E . Lloyd P . M . and Sec . 1185 , Robert J . Scriven S . D . 1489 , W . J . Tylorl 598 , J . S . Henderwett WM . 1625 , J . E . Skipper 2396 , W . R . Shipman 2396 , J . I . Skellom Stewd . 1185 , Louis Alfred Pearce J . D . 1185 , Henry Perks P . M . 209 , George Chuter 1373 , Alfred

Ford 171 , W . C Fames 73 , R . A . Harris 1421 , W . Lucas P . M . 1669 , Fred G . Bishop 1056 , W . H . Jones Treas . 2077 , Thomas Ringroso P . M . 2184 , John Sulley J . D . 1804 , W . Chappel Stwd . 1804 , G . Hooper P . M . 1486 , J . Holland J . W . 1804 , H . R . Moffatt Stwd . 1805 , F . A . Slater 1804 , Ed . Holland I . G . 1804 , W . G . Holland 2291 , Otto Polenz S . D . 238 , 0 . Featherstone S . D . 1540 , F . Ranger 1278 , W . F . Keddell P . M . 1185 , H . B . Holland P . M . 1076 , W . J . Scrivener 1489 , G . Chatterton P . M . 1185 , R . E . Fairclough W . M . 1365 ,

J . W . Neave P . M . 1228 , Arthur F . Phelps 1891 , J . H . Howell 2206 , E . Graypoint 65 , H . T . Nell P . M . and Sec . 45 , W . Banks J . D . 1365 , A . D . Timbrel ! P . M . 1598 , J . H . Merbett 19 , A . R . Green P . M . 1804 , J . Prentice P . M . 1185 , O . Meyer jun . 145 , Henry Thorn W . M . 1839 , A . W . Weston P . M . 1278 , H . Massey 160 P . M . 619 and 1928 . H . Sadler G . T ., J . Powles West 1804 , Henry Times W . M . 165 , Alfred Buck P . M . 453 P . P . G . S . W . Essex , Edward Mileson 2484 , H . Brack 1804 , H . Lloyd 2501 . The Founders of the Lodge were Bros . Charles J . E . Tijou P . M . P . A . G . P . W . M . Designate , H . W . Lee P . M . S . W . Designate , H . Ffrench Bromhead P . M . P . P . G . Supt . of Works Essex J . W .

Designate , J . Taylor , J . W . Gibbs P . M ., Ben Johnson , J . G . Hammond jun . P . M ., A . Glaeser , E . Logan , Sutton Abbott , W , Maxfield Mead , J . Wilson , H . Grimsdall , J . W . Tyler , Basil Stewart , W . P . Griffiths , Alex . H . Stokes , H . A . Lee , S . Barfoot , H . Lindus , W . J . W . Cole , J . A . Osborn , H . E . Herman , G . S . Manuelle , E . Purkess , and A . G . Shenstone .

The musical arrangements were under the direction of Bro . T . H . Lloyd , who was assisted by Bros . A . Westou , H . Thorn , and A . Scrivener ; the Organist and accompanist being Brother Walter Latter , E . A . M ., P . P . G . Org . Essex . The chairs and pedestals , which were very massive and

handsome , were presented to the Lodge by the Clapton Lodge , that Lodge having removed to quarters where all the furniture is provided . The Benevolentia Lodge desired to buy the furniture

of the Clapton Lodge , but , as Bro . Fairclough the W . M . said in the course of the evening , the Brethren of the Clapton Lodge thought it would be acting in a truly Masonic spirt if they gave it , and so help a young Lodge on its career .

Bro . Letchworth , after the opening formalities , said it was unnecessary to occupy the Brethren ' s time for many momenta with any words of his . They were all aware of the purpose for which they wore met . It was a most interesting and solemn occasion , for they wore there to start into existence a new Lodge ,

to constitute it , and to dedicate it to tho service of Almighty God , and he would express tho hope that this new Lodge might have before it a very prosperous future , that it might be the means of advancing the interests of Masonry in that part of the county of Essex , and that the members a fit might be distinguished by their

¦ chanty , their good-will and their benevolence . He thought the name they had selected for the Lodge was a very happy one , and he was pleased to think there were so many connected with the Lodge who were connected with the Board of Benevolence ,

the President of which had honoured him and the Brethren by coming on this occasion . He was sure he was expressing the wish of those who were associated with him in this ceremony , when he said he hoped the Lodge would have a most happy and prosperous future .

The Eev . J . S . Brownrigg delivered the Oration , in which he dwelt particularly on the practice of benevolence and the work of the Board of Benevolence , which he was sure in many cases