Yearly Presidents-Girls School.

We now subdivide the returns just given , and show the number of Presidents provided by each of the English Provinces , with references to the Festivals taken by them : Bedfordshire None . Berkshire None .

Bristol None . Buckinghamshire 1 Girls 1891 Cambridgeshire None . Cheshire 1 Boys 1895 Cornwall 2 Benevolent 1892 . Girls 1895

Cumberland and \ * j 0 Westmoreland J Derbyshire 2 Boys 1885 and 1896 Devonshire 1 Boys 1888 Dorsetshire None .

Durham 1 Boys 1881 Essex 2 Girls 1884 , Boys 1893 Gloucestershire 3 Girls 1881 , Benvt . 1885 , Boys 1892 Hants & I . of Wight 3 Boys 1877 , Girls 1883 , Benvt . 1887 Herefordshire None .

Hertfordshire None . Kent 2 Boys 1883 , Benevolent 1891 Lancashire East 1 Benevolent 1879 Lancashire West 4 i Benevolent 1876 , Boys 1880 and Lancashire West 4 | m ^ . ^ Leicester . & Eutland None .

Lincolnshire 1 Girls 1896 Middlesex . 2 Girls 1890 , Benevolent 1896 Monmouthshire None . Norfolk 2 Girls 1877 , Boys 1886 Norths , and Hunts . 3 Benvt . 1878 and 1889 , Girls 1893

Northumberland None . Nottinghamshire None . North Wales None . Oxfordshire 2 Benevolent 1877 , Girls 1880 Shropshire 1 Girls 1887 Somersetshire 3 Boys 1875 , Girls 1878 , Benvt . 1895 South Wales East 1 Benevolent 1888 South Wales West 1 Benevolent 1882 Staffordshire 1 Benevolent 1875

Suffolk 1 Girls 1889 Surrey 3 Girls 1886 , Benevolent 1883 & 1894 Sussex 2 Girls 1885 and 1892 Warwickshire 1 Boys 1876 Wiltshire None . Worcestershire None . North & East Yorks . 1 Benevolent 1880 West Yorkshire 4 J 5 ? s 187 , ' *< % * 1887 and 189 * ' 1 Benevolent 1881 .

Much more might be written in regard to the subject here touched upon , but we are now compelled to dismiss it , with the promise to revert to it on some convenient occasion .

Mark Grand Masters Instruction Lodge.

MARK GRAND MASTERS INSTRUCTION LODGE .

TipHE twelfth annual festival of this Lodge will be held at JL Mark Masons' Hall , on Wednesday , 22 nd inst ., at 530 p . m ., when the ceremony of advancement will be worked with musical accompaniment . The Lecture of the Degree will be given by Bro . John Smith W . M . 406 G . Stwd ., and the following Officers will work the ceremony : Brothers W . Vincent P . M .

P . A . G . D . C . W . M ., J . Beynolds Green P . M . P . G . Stwd . S . W ., C . J . Knightley P . M . G . Swd . Br . J . W ., J . S . Tamburini P . M . G . Stwd . M . O ., H . Sadler W . M . New Era Lodge S . O ., G . J .

Thomas P . M . P . Prov . G . O . Middx . J . O ., Eev . V . P . Wyatt P . M . Prov . G . Chap . Norths ., Hunts , and Beds . Chaplain , C . F . Matier P . G . W . G . Sec . Treasurer , E . M . Money P . M . P . G . Stwd . Eeg . of Marks , John Smith W . M . 406 G . Stwd . Secretary , G . E . Smith

J . O . 476 S . D ., Percy Cliffoid Probyn 476 J . D ., H . T . Lyon P . M .

D . C ., H . E . Eose P . M . P . G . Oig . Organist , W . Briggs I . G . Isaac Newton Lodge I . G ., E . J . Mills P . M . P . A . G . I . G . Grand Tyler Tyler . After the ceremony a banquet will be held in the Crown Eoom , at the Freemasons' Tavern , at 7 p . m ., at which Sir Eeginald Hanson , Bart ., M . P ., P . G . W . Dep . Prov . G . M . Middx . has kindly consented to preside .

lickets for the Dinner , including admission to the Lodge , 6 s , may be had from the Secretary , or at the office at Mark Masons' Hall . It is hoped that as many Brethren as possible will support the Eight Worshipful Chairman by inducing Mark

Masons to attend the ceremony and banquet , and so assist the Committee in promoting the prosperity of this most useful Lodge . Further particulars may be obtained of Bro . John Smith W . M . 406 G . Stwd . Secretary , 121 High Street , Bedford .

The Girls School.

THE GIRLS SCHOOL .

THE Quarterly Court and half yearly election was held on Thursday , under the presidency of Brother Henry Smith P . G . D . P . D . P . G . M . West Yorks . Vice-Patron and Treasurer of the Institution , when twenty-four Girls were elected from an approved list of thirty-one candidates , the names of those successful being given in another column , while the following were the unsuccessful :

No . on List . Name . Votes : Forward . Polled . Total . 2 Minns , Dorothy Leonore ... ... 215 1067 1282 1 Williams , Violet May ... ... 543 632 1175 27 Callander Margaret Alison ... — 1020 1020

17 Marohant , Edith ... ... — 852 852 18 Loveless , Margaret ... ... — 520 520 3 Dransfield , Laura Elizabeth ... 313 16 329 21 Ooekeroft , Annie Irene ... ... — 95 95

Notwithstanding the large number of vacancies in proportion to the number of candidates , the voting was very heavy , as is evident when the number of proxies polled by the lowest successful—1 , 901—is considered . There was then a drop to 1 , 282 , the highest total among the unsuccessful , six of whom will have

an opportunity of trying their luck again next election , but , most unfortunately , the other one of the seven , Violet May Williams , who was first on the list of candidates , has reached the age limit . Not only are the 1 , 175 voces polled on her behalf wasted ,

but she is now finally excluded from the benefits of the School , a condition of affairs in which we believe her friends will have universal sympathy—not that it will avail them much now that her final chance of election is passed .

Proposed New Chapter.

PROPOSED NEW CHAPTER .

A MEETING was held last week at the Eoyal Clarendon Hotel , Gravesend , by several Companions interested in the establishment of a Eoyal Arch Chapter for the district . Comp . William Eussell P . Z . Prov . G . T . was requested to preside . After considerable discussion it was decided that application be made to the Provincial Grand Superintendent Eai'l Amherst to

recommend a Warrant for a new Eoyal Arch Chapter to be held at Gravesend , to be called the Sympathy Chapter , No . 483 , under the banner of the Sympathy Lodge . It was further resolved that there should be four convocations during the year , the fourth Tuesday in the months of February , May , September and November .

A ballot was taken for the election of the first Principals , the result being that Comps . William Eussell , Henry Forss , and J . P . White were unanimously elected to the respective chairs . A detailed account of the proceedings , together with the Petition ,

were directed to be sent to the Prov . ScribeE ., who was requested to ascertain from the Prov . Grand Superintendent which day would be agreeable to him to cousecrate the Chapter , provided that a Warrant be granted .

H . E . H . the Prince of Wales will open the new municipal buildings at Croydon , on the 15 th May , and an effort is being made to organise in connection therewith a demonstration of the Surrey Lodges . In anticipation , the Mayor , Mr . Alderman F . T . Edridge , J . P ., is to be initiated in the Addiscombe Lodge , says the " Kentish Mercury . "

THE Midland Railway Company ' s list of Agricultural Shows for 1896 has just been issued , and contains an up-to-date catalogue of all Shows of any importance , in connection with which the Midland Company , with their far

reaching communications , are prepared to convey traffic . The design of the card is neatly executed in red and black , and the size is conveniently folded for the pocket . Copies may be had on application to the Company ' s principal agents , or to the headquarters of the Midland Railway at Derby .

THE history of the Stewart Lodge , No . 1960 ( E . C . ) , Eawal Pindi , written by Bio . J . H . Leslie , -with an introduction by Bro . R . P . Gould , will be published early in May . The history has been brought down to the end of 1895 , and will contain several Appendices ; a Facsimile of the Lodge

Warrant ; coloured Facsimiles of the Lodge Banner , and Past Master ' s Jewel ; the Lodge By-Laws ; and a Portrait of the late Bro . Colonel Anthony Stewart ( after whom the Lodge is named ) in Masonic Regalia . The price ( including postage ) is four shillings , and applications for copies should be made to Major 3 . H . Leslie , Royal Artillery , The Gables , Shoeburyness .

Ad00204

Bro . JOHN THOflAS SHAPCOTT , Proprietor of the NEW RED LION , 81 HARROW ROAD , W ., Has excellent accommodation for Lodges of Instruction .