The Installation Of H.R.H. The Prince Of Wales.

THE INSTALLATION OF H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES .

AS might have been foreseen , the available space in the Koyal Albert Hall , considerable as it is , is quite insufficient to meet the demands of the Craft to " assist" at the installation of the M . W . Grand Master elect . It is just possible the Hall will accommodate some 8 , 000 or 10 , 000 members , but applications for over 20 , 000 have been

made . It is as clear , then , as the old arithmetical problem , that two into one will not go , that all who have sought admission will not obtain it . The magic " Open ! Sesame ! " will be the cry of many . Alas ! that obedience to only a

few is possible ! "We are by no means , then , surprised at the announcement Avhich has been current in all the daily papers during the week , that only one Master Mason per Lodge will be permitted to be present . The Masters , Wardens , and P . M . ' s of over a thousand

Lodges alone make tip a considerable number . Add to these Grand Lodge itself , including all the Provincial and District Grand Lodges , and representatives of foreign Grand Lodges , and we have at the very outset a most formidable array of Craftsmen . It will require no small amount of

managerial skill to compose these various atoms into one homogeneous body . But though- operative may , in a certain sense , long since have given rise to speculative Masonry , there are still among us very many who are quite equal to the fulfilment of this onerous task . Not only will

Grand Lodge be opened m ample form , but all the minor details of the ceremony will be strictly observed , so that , metaphorically speaking , not even the most insignificant part of the edifice will be inconsistent with the general

structure . As we have remarked already , this installation will be a cardinal point in the history of Masonry , and the day is not far distant when it will be our dut y , as it will certainly be a source of pleasure to us , to lay before our readers a full account of this most interesting event .

Of course great disappointment is felt at the restriction which the necessities of a limited space have made imperative . No modification however of this restriction is possible , and the Committee of Management are desirous this fact should be made known as widely as possible , as also that

any delay in replying to the mass of letters which pour daily into the office of our devoted Grand Secretary must not be imputed to any want of courtesy , but simply to the impossibility of meeting off-hand the present extraordinary

pressure of business . The wishes and convenience of every one are being consulted , as far as possible , but our readers are aware that there is a limit to the possible even in Masonry .

The Girls' And Boys' Schools.

THE GIRLS' AND BOYS' SCHOOLS .

IT is proper we should remind our readers that the elections to the vacancies in the Girls' and Boys' Schools are fixed for to-day in the case of the former , and foi Monday next , the 12 th instant , in the case of the latter . There are thirteen vacancies in the Girls' School , and

thirty-one candidates , while , in the Sister Institution are six vacancies , but , unhappily , the number of candidates is forty-eight . For a reason , the force of which must be apparent to our readers , we offer no opinion as to the merits of the several claimants . To do so would amount

The Girls' And Boys' Schools.

to an act of partisanship . We can only suggest that voters whose sympathies have not been already enlisted for a particular candidate or candidates , should give tho case of each claimant , and all the circumstances which surround it . their most careful consideration . As the

writer of a letter which appeared in these columns last week most conclusively points out , one fact or circumstance connected with the father of a boy or girl is not sufficient commendation of the case to the support of voters . Tho whole of his antecedents and all the

circumstances must be conjoined , and then only will a voter be able to form a just idea who is or are the worthiest claimants for his support . We can only express a hope that the most deserving candidates maybechosen , and that in their future career , both at school and afterwards ,

those elected may prove Avorthy of the patronage bestowed upon them . A voter who has supported an elected candidate , feels doubly gratified when he learns that the after-progress in life of his protege—or protegee as the case may be—has been an honourable one . A reflection—be it ever so

faintof this credit , shines upon him . On the other hand , the chosen candidate who plays his part honourably , in great measure requites the obligation he or she is under to the electors . But , though we are forbidden to speak of the

claims of these or those candidates , we are justified in saying a few words as to the Institutions themselves , the excellence of their government , of the course of study pursued , and of the educational results attained .

And first—Place au . v Dames !—as fo the Girls ' School , We will not weary our readers with a lengthy history of this admirable establishment , but a few facts may be of interest to them . It is not , perhaps , generally known that the merit of having originated this Masonic Institution rests

with a most worthy member of our Craft of considerable eminence in his day . To the Chevalier Ru . « pini belongs the honour of having laboured successfully towards the establishment of an institution having for its object the maintenance and education of the daughters of indigent

brethren , or such as bad died in indigent circumstances , The late Bro . Ruspini was surgeon dentist to the Court of George III . He held , therefore , a position which enabled him to obtain the ear of men of commanding influence , of , in fact , the members of the Royal Family . At that time

H . R . H . the Duke of Cumberland was M . W . G . M . —the first , be it remembered , of our reigning family who enjoyed that high distinction . Chevalier Ruspini besought the in . flnence of his wife , H . R . H . the Duchess of Cumberland , and successfully , He also enlisted the sympathies of the

Prince of Wales , Prince William ( afterwards William IV . ) , and other Princes , members of the Order , who promised , not only to lend the weight of their high position , but also actively to support the claims of the indigent orphan . The scheme was as successful as it was honourable , and on

25 th March 1788 was instituted the Royal Cumberland Freemasons' School , so named in honour of the wife of our then Royal and M . W . Grand Master . A house was

taken at Somers Town , in the New Road , and on 1 st January 1789 fifteen children were admitted into it . The School is now situated at St . John's Hill , Battersea Rise , while the number of girls is one hundred and thirty .

To enter into the details of the progress made in the course of the eighty and odd years that have passed since the Institution of this School is hardly desirable . But

having spoken thus briefly of its origin , it is incumbent on us to add a few words as to the care and skill displayed in its management . The proficiency shown by the young pupils is in the highest degree creditable to those charged