School Courts Next Week.

SCHOOL COURTS NEXT WEEK .

THE usual Quarterly General Courts of the two Educational Institutions will be held on Thursday and Friday of next week ; the Boys on the latter day , that of the sister Institution on Thursday .

A special feature in each case will be the consideration of proposals to admit children to the benefits of the Institutions without the usual election , in consequence of their respective fathers having lost their lives while engaged in active service with the forces in South Africa . It is

proposed to specially admit one girl and two boys under these conditions , and we are convinced the suggestions will be unanimously agreed to , as members of the Craft will gladly seize such an opportunity of showing- their patriotism , and sympathy with those who have lately gone through so much in defence of Queen and Empire .

The Court of the Girls School will also be asked to admit two girls from the outstanding list of unsuccessful candidates at the last election , to fill vacancies caused by the withdrawal of two pupils before the expiration of their terms ; and the

Boys Court will receive a report from the Board of Management respecting the progress in the building of the new Schools at Bushey and the disposal of the existing ones at Wood Green—further reference to which latter item will be found elsewhere .

LANCASHIRE CHARITY . UNDER the chairmanship of Bro . A . Shawfield 1013 , meetings of the Executive and General Committees charged with the arrangements in connection with the annual

Festival . and ball , which takes place at the Town Hall , Liverpool , on Tuesday , 15 th inst , in aid of the funds of the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution , were held on the 28 th ult , at the Craft Headquarters , Hope Street , where there was a numerous gathering of members .

The Honorary Secretary Bro . Douglas Greame read an autograph letter from the Lord Mayor ( Councillor A . Crosthwaite ) acknowledging the receipt of the letter of condolence which had been sent to him and his family in view of his brother ' s death in South Africa , expressing his gratitude for

the expressions of sympathy which were embodied in the communication . The general arrangements for the ball were advanced as the result of the meetings , and it was intimated that no fewer than 150 patrons and stewards had been

secured for the Charitable function . The President of the Committee the Earl of Lathom Provincial Grand Master and the Countess of Lathom are expected to be present at the ball , which promises to be most enjoyable and successful .

MASONIC BENEVOLENCE IN 1900 . BELOW we have much pleasure in giving summaries of amounts received by the three' Institutions of the Craft during the past year , the sum totalling up to £ 83 , 702 16 s id ,

which amount is nearly £ 2 , 500 in excess of last year ' s total which , it may be remembered , was about £ 10 , 000 in excess of any previous records , if we except the results of the special appeals made in connection with the celebration of the Jubilee or the Centenary of the different Funds .

The post of honour , in" point of amount received , is again taken by the Benevolent Institution , with a total of £ 29 , 587 13 s 1 id ; followed by the Girls School , with

£ 28 , 021 3 s 2 d ; and then by the Boys , with £ 26 , 093 19 s . If , however , we take the single item of Donations and Subscriptions ( excluding the grants from Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter , interest on invested funds , sundry receipts ,

School Courts Next Week.

& c ) , and this is regarded by some as the real basis on which comparisons of the year ' s work should be made , we find the Girls first , with £ 24 , 162 6 s nd ; followed by the Benevolent , and the Boys , with £ 21 , 671 14 s 6 d and £ 20 , 579 3 4 ^ "espectively .

But however the results may be considered they must be regarded as most satisfactory . The Craft of England has subscribed largely to patriotic and other outside funds during the past year , and yet is able to eclipse its previous records

on . behalf of its own Institutions , contributing the immense total of nearly eighty-four thousand pounds for their support . Members of the English Brotherhood must indeed be delighted with such a record . May like success attend the three Institutions year by year in the future .

THE following are full details of the income of the three Institutions of English Freemasonry , for the year 1900 :

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . Donations and Subscriptions ... ... £ 21 , 671 14 6 Dividends ... .. ... ... ... 5 > 67 i 1 2 Grand Lodge ... ... ... ... 1 , 600 o o

Grand Chapter ... ... ... ... 15000 Interest on Cash at Call ... ... ... 119 19 4 Re . Humfress' Estate ... ... ... 12 4 18 11 Legacy ... ... ... 250 o o

Total £ 29 , 587 13 11 Royal Masonic Institution for Girls . Donations and Subscriptions ... ... £ 24 , 162 6 11 Subscription from Grand Lodge ... ... 15000 Subscription from Grand Chapter ... ... 10 10 o

Interest on Investments ... ... ... 3 . 041 19 5 Interest on Deposits ... ... ... 1211211 Receipts for Musical Instruction ... ... 145 10 o Legacies 379 3 11 Receipts under Law 104 ... ... ... 10 o o

Total £ 28 , 021 3 2

Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . Donations and Subscriptions ... ... £ 20 , 579 3 4 Grand Lodge Subscription ... .. 150 o o Grand Chapter Subscription ... ... 10 10 o Dividends and Interest on Cash at Call ... 4 , 67113 7

Music Fees ... ... ... ... 52 10 o Science and Art Department ( Grants earned ) 39 5 5 Prize Funds .. ... ... ... 11 19 6 Sundry Receipts ... ... ... ... 65 9 o

Maintenance Refunded ... ... ... 10 50 Legacies ... .. 373 18 11 Balance 1900 Festival Fund—Stewards' Fees 56 15 3 The Richard Eve Memorial Fund ... ... 72 9 o Total £ 26 , 093 J 9 o

In acknowledging the toast of his health at his installation as W . M . of the Moira Lodge , No . 92 , Sir Norman R . Pringle , Bart ., said he was able to congratulate himself , not only on being in the chair of the Lodge , of which his father before him was an initiate and Past Master , but also on the

fact that one of his ancestors—Sir John Pringle—was elected Master of the Lodge at Kelso , in Scotland , in 1702 , and that Walter Pringle , Advocate , an uncle of the same Sir J ohn Pringle , was passed F . C . in the Lodge of Edinburgh ( Mary ' s Chapel ) , No . I , on 14 th Tune 1670 .