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Article THE GIRLS' FESTIVAL. Page 1 of 2 Article THE GIRLS' FESTIVAL. Page 1 of 2 →
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The Girls' Festival.
THE GIRLS' FESTIVAL .
"VTEXT week there will be a flutter of pleasurable excitell menfc amongst the "bonnie little lassies" down at Battersea Rise ; and equally stirred with agreeable emotion will be those brethren who have lately been occupied in working up their lists , and speculating as to the amounts
which they shall be able to take up to the Ninety-first Annual Festival of the Institution . In response to the invitation of the House Committee , Monday next will see the Stewards flocking away on a visit of inspection to the School on St . John ' s Hill , to mingle with the rosy-faced
little girls who have been the objects of their generous solicitude , and to witness the distribution of prizes amongst successful competitors in the various educational classes . It is on an occasion like this that the great value of such a charity is made most apparent , for then is seen the
numerous family of children who have been made happy by the untiring energies and assistance of the brethren , but for whose aid they might possibly have suffered sore
discomfort and privation . It wonld be a recapitulation of an oft-told tale to enlarge upon tho vast amount of benefit which has been conferred by our Masonic Institutions upon the children of those Freemasons whose circumstances have
been reduced through misfortune . And yet , when the annual Festival comes round , and Stewards , both in London and the Provinces , are straining every effort to swell the annual income to as large an amount as possible , it is refreshing to take another glance at what has been , and
what might yet be , done in aid of this educational establishment . Some few of our readers may nofc be aware that since its foundation nearly twelve hundred girls have been educated , clothed , and maintained within its walls , receiving such a training in the habits of industry and the
cultivation of domestic , moral , and religious duties as to fit them to take their rightful positions in society in after years . Those who had parents living have been restored to the home circle , after having received a thoroughly sound practical education—a source of pride and comfort to the
parents , and a living testimony to the practice of that Charity which is the distinguishing characteristic of a Freemason ' s heart . In the case of those who are orphans suitable situations are found for them ; and we know how eagerly girls from this Institution are sought after to fill
positions for whicb they have been specially fitted by the education imparted to them . Need wo tell of the vast amount of benefit thus conferred upon society by this Institution alone—in the first place by relieving the perplexities and ameliorating the distress of many a parent who has
seen " better days , " and then by providing for , and giving a fair start in life to , so large a number of young women , and preserving them from the dangers and misfortunes to which females are peculiarly exposed ? It is not our province here to narrate the history and progress of an
Institution which has been the planting of hope , if not the very raising of life , in so many a distressed home . Freemasons are pretty generally acquainted with the circumstances under which the first Schoolhouse was erected in St . George ' s Fields , how that establishment outgrew the
capabilities of its first habitation , and had to be transplanted to the beautiful and salubrious atmosphere of Battersea Rise . From time to time it has been necessary to extend the
accommodation afforded by the enlarged School , and all will cherish agreeable recollections of the effort which was put forth three years ago to complete the scheme of affording the largely additional accommodation that was
The Girls' Festival.
needed . That work was accomplished amidst the heartiest and most laudable congratulations of the Craft ; but the inevitable cost had to be considered , and we think we are correct in setting this down at very little short of fifteen thousand pounds . This amount had to be paid , and
althoug h the committee have not really sold out their invested money for this purpose , yet it has drained all their floating capital ; and , therefore , there is just as much ground on which to appeal to the continued activity of the Craft as in those days when the benefit was in prospective ,
and the building was in course of erection . It is an absolute necessity , of course , for an Institution of such a character to have a good invested capital ; the more its work is increased the greater becomes the necessity for that fund to be kept up and augmented . During the building
operations to which we refer the committee could not , as a matter of course , add to that reserve , and even had to draw upon their bankers , to wbom it would appear there is a sum of something like a thousand pounds still due ; but we have such faith in the 242 Stewards who have announced their
intention of attending next "Wednesday ' s Festival as to believe that the promoters of the School may fairly hope to have their hands strengthened in an unprecedented degree . Last year the aggregate amount subscribed fell a little short of £ 8 , 400 ; but , as we have taken occasion previously to
observe , considering the increasing strength of Freemasonry we should not rest content until the annual total is represented by five figures . This ought to be so , if we calculate the large addition that has been made to the ranks of Masonry during the last few years . It is most devoutly to
be hoped that on Wednesday evening Lieut .-Col . Creaton will he met by a large-hearted body of Stewards , and that the Festival may be altogether a brilliant success . In spite of some little delay in announcing a President for the occasion—caused by the delicate health of Bro . the Prince
Leopold , who it had been hoped would have lent his Royal presence to this as he does readily to many good workswe are perfectly sure that under Lieut .-Col . Creaton ' s genial direction the Festival will pass off happily aud well . The selection of a chairman has , for reasons that must be
obvious , to be treated as a matter of business policy , and it may not always be one of simple compliment . If the committee can secure the presence of a Royal brother on the occasion the circumstance must have great weight in inducing a large attendance , which means increased
support . Failing this , the next advantage to be sought is that of obtaining the help of the Master of an important Province , in which case the brethren of that Province naturally rally round their chief , and do their utmost to sustain their individual and collective prestige by raising as largo an
amount as possible . Of course , we have no one who holds a position such as Provincial Grand Master for London ; but we look upon it in such a case as the present that when the compliment is passed to a man who devotes so much of his time and energies to the practical advancement of our
Charities it is not only an honour which he eminently deserves , but is reflected from him upon all the metropolitan brethren . Therefore , although Lieut .-Col . Creaton works under certain disadvantages in nofc having a Province at his back , still we must regard him as a universal man ,
just as it would be had one of our Royal brethren found it convenient to have presided on the occasion . We hope that the Provinces will assist him liberally , and that
London will take upon itself the same duty as would an immense Province had its Grand Master accepted the position of responsibility . It can be done , and we sincerely trust it will . There ia some reason to regret that the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Girls' Festival.
THE GIRLS' FESTIVAL .
"VTEXT week there will be a flutter of pleasurable excitell menfc amongst the "bonnie little lassies" down at Battersea Rise ; and equally stirred with agreeable emotion will be those brethren who have lately been occupied in working up their lists , and speculating as to the amounts
which they shall be able to take up to the Ninety-first Annual Festival of the Institution . In response to the invitation of the House Committee , Monday next will see the Stewards flocking away on a visit of inspection to the School on St . John ' s Hill , to mingle with the rosy-faced
little girls who have been the objects of their generous solicitude , and to witness the distribution of prizes amongst successful competitors in the various educational classes . It is on an occasion like this that the great value of such a charity is made most apparent , for then is seen the
numerous family of children who have been made happy by the untiring energies and assistance of the brethren , but for whose aid they might possibly have suffered sore
discomfort and privation . It wonld be a recapitulation of an oft-told tale to enlarge upon tho vast amount of benefit which has been conferred by our Masonic Institutions upon the children of those Freemasons whose circumstances have
been reduced through misfortune . And yet , when the annual Festival comes round , and Stewards , both in London and the Provinces , are straining every effort to swell the annual income to as large an amount as possible , it is refreshing to take another glance at what has been , and
what might yet be , done in aid of this educational establishment . Some few of our readers may nofc be aware that since its foundation nearly twelve hundred girls have been educated , clothed , and maintained within its walls , receiving such a training in the habits of industry and the
cultivation of domestic , moral , and religious duties as to fit them to take their rightful positions in society in after years . Those who had parents living have been restored to the home circle , after having received a thoroughly sound practical education—a source of pride and comfort to the
parents , and a living testimony to the practice of that Charity which is the distinguishing characteristic of a Freemason ' s heart . In the case of those who are orphans suitable situations are found for them ; and we know how eagerly girls from this Institution are sought after to fill
positions for whicb they have been specially fitted by the education imparted to them . Need wo tell of the vast amount of benefit thus conferred upon society by this Institution alone—in the first place by relieving the perplexities and ameliorating the distress of many a parent who has
seen " better days , " and then by providing for , and giving a fair start in life to , so large a number of young women , and preserving them from the dangers and misfortunes to which females are peculiarly exposed ? It is not our province here to narrate the history and progress of an
Institution which has been the planting of hope , if not the very raising of life , in so many a distressed home . Freemasons are pretty generally acquainted with the circumstances under which the first Schoolhouse was erected in St . George ' s Fields , how that establishment outgrew the
capabilities of its first habitation , and had to be transplanted to the beautiful and salubrious atmosphere of Battersea Rise . From time to time it has been necessary to extend the
accommodation afforded by the enlarged School , and all will cherish agreeable recollections of the effort which was put forth three years ago to complete the scheme of affording the largely additional accommodation that was
The Girls' Festival.
needed . That work was accomplished amidst the heartiest and most laudable congratulations of the Craft ; but the inevitable cost had to be considered , and we think we are correct in setting this down at very little short of fifteen thousand pounds . This amount had to be paid , and
althoug h the committee have not really sold out their invested money for this purpose , yet it has drained all their floating capital ; and , therefore , there is just as much ground on which to appeal to the continued activity of the Craft as in those days when the benefit was in prospective ,
and the building was in course of erection . It is an absolute necessity , of course , for an Institution of such a character to have a good invested capital ; the more its work is increased the greater becomes the necessity for that fund to be kept up and augmented . During the building
operations to which we refer the committee could not , as a matter of course , add to that reserve , and even had to draw upon their bankers , to wbom it would appear there is a sum of something like a thousand pounds still due ; but we have such faith in the 242 Stewards who have announced their
intention of attending next "Wednesday ' s Festival as to believe that the promoters of the School may fairly hope to have their hands strengthened in an unprecedented degree . Last year the aggregate amount subscribed fell a little short of £ 8 , 400 ; but , as we have taken occasion previously to
observe , considering the increasing strength of Freemasonry we should not rest content until the annual total is represented by five figures . This ought to be so , if we calculate the large addition that has been made to the ranks of Masonry during the last few years . It is most devoutly to
be hoped that on Wednesday evening Lieut .-Col . Creaton will he met by a large-hearted body of Stewards , and that the Festival may be altogether a brilliant success . In spite of some little delay in announcing a President for the occasion—caused by the delicate health of Bro . the Prince
Leopold , who it had been hoped would have lent his Royal presence to this as he does readily to many good workswe are perfectly sure that under Lieut .-Col . Creaton ' s genial direction the Festival will pass off happily aud well . The selection of a chairman has , for reasons that must be
obvious , to be treated as a matter of business policy , and it may not always be one of simple compliment . If the committee can secure the presence of a Royal brother on the occasion the circumstance must have great weight in inducing a large attendance , which means increased
support . Failing this , the next advantage to be sought is that of obtaining the help of the Master of an important Province , in which case the brethren of that Province naturally rally round their chief , and do their utmost to sustain their individual and collective prestige by raising as largo an
amount as possible . Of course , we have no one who holds a position such as Provincial Grand Master for London ; but we look upon it in such a case as the present that when the compliment is passed to a man who devotes so much of his time and energies to the practical advancement of our
Charities it is not only an honour which he eminently deserves , but is reflected from him upon all the metropolitan brethren . Therefore , although Lieut .-Col . Creaton works under certain disadvantages in nofc having a Province at his back , still we must regard him as a universal man ,
just as it would be had one of our Royal brethren found it convenient to have presided on the occasion . We hope that the Provinces will assist him liberally , and that
London will take upon itself the same duty as would an immense Province had its Grand Master accepted the position of responsibility . It can be done , and we sincerely trust it will . There ia some reason to regret that the