The Festival.

masonry continually burning , dipped their hands as deeply into their pockets as did the Brethren of the present day . Gradually the number of pupils and the income of the Charity grew , until in 1888—at the celebration of the Centenary— . £ 51 , 500 was collected , and it was found possible to raise the number of girls in the School to 200 . They had not stood still since , as the numbers were now

274 . That was briefly the history of the Institution , but a far more important matter for ' them to consider that night was the present position and the prospects for the future . At the prize distribution on Monday the results of the different examinations in which the pupils had taken part were announced , and he thought the figures showed that the " mens sana" of the girls had been well attended

to . Next came an equally important point—the - corpore sano " — and he felt the Brethren who went clown to the School on Monday would agree with him when he said there was little fear as to the " corpore sano" of the girls . He thought that women were better judges of such matters than men , and he had accordingly asked his wife her opinion of the School . She had replied that the pupils

were about as nice looking , about as healthy , and about as happy a body of English g irls as one could hope to see . They had subscribed the money but he felt they could not have obtained the ends he had briefly outlined without the help of those who had managed the Institution and he took that opportunity of congratulating them on what they had achieved . Thanks were specially her

due to the matron Miss Buck , to the head mistress and assistants , and , last but not least , to Bro . Hedges their Secretary , whose exertions on behalf of the Institution were so well known as not to need reiteration at that moment . The Institution was a credit and an honour to the great Brotherhood to which they all belonged .

The toast was most heartily received , and then Bro . Hedges announced the results . There were 680 Stewards—the largest but one . of the ordinary Boards of Stewards the Institution had ever known . It included fourteen Ladies and three Lewises . After g iving the totals from the different Provinces the Secretary announced that London had sent up £ 10 , 266 17 s , and the Provinces and Foreign Stations £ 16 , 253 os - \ d , a total of £ 26 , 519 17 s 3 d—an announcement which met the heartiest approval .

Sir John Monckton acknowledged the toast , and said those on the Board of Management cheerfully did the work they were set to do and they were pleased to hear his lordship say it had been well dealt with . He had much pleasure in proposing the toast of the Chairman . No better Mason than his lordship could be found anywhere , and he was quite sure the Brethren of his Province of in the world

Kent would not change him for the best man . A word as to the presence of the Countess at the Institution on Monday . The speech of Lady Amherst was an object lesson for the girls , and was really a splendid effort . from a woman's point of view , and the Committee had determined to have copies of it printed so as to give one to each of the pupils and to any others who might desire a copy . After delivering the prizes to the children in the

Hall the Countess learnt that one prize winner was absent in the infirmary , and nothing would suit her ladyship but to gather up the three prizes for that little girl—she would not allow him or any other member of the Committee to carry them even—and take them up to her with a few kindly words and advice . He felt under such circumstances the Brethren would heartily drink the health of the Chairman , with an extra bumper for the Countess . The toast was ' most heartily received , and accorded musical honours .

Earl Amherst acknowledged the greetings . He assured the Brethren it gave him the "reatest pleasure to be there on behalf of one of the Masonic Charities . He thanked all who had come up , and especially his Brethren in the Province of Kent . They had been good enough on that occasion to surpass all previous efforts and he . hoped the Institution would be able to put some of the large amount subscribed away for the possible lean years that

might come in the future . As Freemasons they showed their utility to the outside world by the noble Institutions they were enabled to keep up . He felt it was worth any man ' s time and trouble to help to maintain such an Institution as the one whose Anniversary they were that night celebrating . He always found cordial support among Freemasons and that was an encouragement to him to endeavour to continue in the good work of the Craft .

Bro . Lupton , Mayor of Bradford , rose to propose " The other Masonic Charities , and success to them . " The present was an era of record breaking . As Chairman of the Charity Committee of West Yorkshire he had had the pleasure of bringing up £ 6 , 150 for one of the Festivals , which was at the time a record for an individual Province ; now that sum had been improved upon by IOnt ,

and he had to go back to West Yorkshire to announce their defeat . But they were engaged in friendly rivalry and he had already formed the intention of stirring up his local Brethren to try and excel what Kent had done that night . The toast was really that of " absent friends "—those not at present with them , and if the others had not all the sentiment on their side they were at least equally deserving of support .

Bro . J . M . McLeod Secretary of the Boys School responded . He was somewhat staggered at the splendid figures which had been announced , and took the opportunity of tendering his congratulations to the Chairman and his Province on the result . There

was nothing like establishing records in connection with the Festivals , as it at once became an incentive to others to break those records . In February Bro . Terry announced a large sum on behalf of the Old People , and although not a record it exceeded £ 2 : 5 , 000 . That night a larger amount had come in , and thev hnd

a total of £ 52 . 000 with yet another Festival to be included in the year . Some years ago—he forgot how many—the Boys School established a record , and since then the Brethren had given them of their means . They plaved no second fiddle to any other School - ^ -whether of boys or girls—and he hoped the Stewards for the Festival to be held in June would sec if they could not collect

The Festival.

another record amount , and so complete the trio for the year . They were to be presided over by one of the finest Masons of the country , Bro . W . W . Bramston Beach , who , in his own Province , he might even venture to say in the Craft generally , was almost as much

revered as the chief of Kent , the honoured Chairman of that night . He had hoisted his flag on behalf of the Boys School , " had nailed it to the mast , and hoped the Brethren would assist him in carrying it to successfully break the record of the most successful Festival they had just participated in .

The usual concert followed in the Temple of Grand Lodge . AT the moment of going to press we understand the following additions have been made to the returns as published elsewhere in this issue : Bro . A . Wellington Jones ( 2661 London ) £ 196 ,, C . -E . W . Boughton-Leigh ( 2716 London ) 26 5 o ,, Lt .-Col . G . L . Le M . Taylor ( 18 99 Berks ) 10 15 o

,, Ruthven Finlayson ( 1415 Middlesex ) 220 ,, A . J . Herbert ( 2414 Oxford ) 1 4 o ,, Fredk . C . Lambert ( 516 Suffolk ) 5 5 o ,, Arthur Grace ( 2521 Surrey ) 7 70 The amount collected by Col . Francis Wm . Frigout ( £ 126 ) should be apportioned , £ 28 8 s on account of his representation of Chapter No . 25 , London ; £ 35 14 s from Lodge No . 171 , London ; and £ 61 iSs from Lodge No . 2041 , Kent .

Bros . Arthur Stanley and M . J . A . Bentley should be added as Stewards of Lodge No . 1851 , Surrey , their contributions being included in the £ 122 6 s 6 cl already set down to Bro . Bratt , of that Lodge .

\ r \> xr \ r V tr *> -, t \ r \ r < , + r tt \ t \ i +, t * ti TCWlTlTTtfrTMl A flTITTl * WTTTPlTTr Payment of Lodge representatives for attendance at the stated meetings of Provincial Grand Lodge is an innovation just unanimously agreed to by the Grand Lodge of Fife and Kinross , the idea being to make an allowance from

the General Funds of the Province to its Lodges , to defray the railway fare of one representative from each to the Quarterly Communications of Prov . G . Lodge . This sounds strange to us English Masons , where the rule is to fine Lodges unrepresented at Prov . G . Lodge meetings , rather than to pay them for sending a delegate .

Entertainment Notes.

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES .

— : o : — Military Exhibition . —The Grand Luminary of Nature shone with meridian splendour over the grounds of Earl ' s Court last Saturday , and auspiciously attended the opening by H . R . H . the Duke of Cambridge of the Military Exhibition there , which we

venture to predict will become a popular resort during the ensuing six months . The Committee boast that they have succeeded in organising a very effective and interesting display , which embraces everything pertaining to military matters both as regards this country as well as foreign nations . The Exhibition is divided into four sections , and contains Historical and Relic Loans , Munitions

of War , Military Commerciial Exhibits , and the Army Medical displays . In the Queen ' s Hall are two very artistic tableaux typifying the British and French armies , and Captain Delacour ' s unique collection of arms , & c . The German Emperor has sent some paintings of the uniforms in vogue in that country during the last four centuries , and the gallery of war pictures will prove

of exceptional interest . The beautiful grounds will daily increase in brightness , and the finest military bands have been engaged to perform at intervals throughout the afternoon and evening . But the special attraction , to the general public , will undoubtedly be the truly magnificent spectacle of the thrilling incidents connected with the relief of the Pekin Legations by the Allied Forces . Bro . Imre

Kiralfy's thoroughness as a Freemason is well known , and he has applied this characteristic to his present production . The manipulation of the great crowds employed in the spectacle is marvellous , and- shows the expert skill of a master , and Bro . Kiralfy may certainly be congratulated upon presenting the very finest military spectacle even produced in London . The management of the vast scenery is wonderful ; everything works smoothly and expeditiously

throughout . The Committee , while administering to the pleasure of the public , have not forgotten the necessities of those who have borne the arms of this country in recent wars , and a portion of the proceeds will be handed over to the Military Charities for distribution while a Bazaar is being organised to take place in the grounds next month , at which several distinguished Ladies have promised to take stalls .

Pavilion . —This handsome theatre was packed with an appreciative audience enjoying Brother Frank Glenister " s liberal programme when we paicf a recent visit . Nearly thirty items were presented , comprising some of the most popular names in the Music Hall profession , and several new aspirants for popular recognition . Among the former are the veteran Harry Randall , as full of fun as

ever ; the eccentric George Robey and the grotesque Brothers Griffiths . The novelties embrace " The Pretty Maidens , " who are accompanied by tlje handsome Gentlemen , from the Lyric Theatre , who sing that most successful conserted number from " Florodora , " while Miss Edith Housley contributes the two songs " Tact" and

"An Inklins ? " from the same opera . There are also Master Bernard Crook , the talented treble soloist ; Mr . Franco Piper , a clever banjoist ; Miss Elfie Fay , whose facial contortions rather belie her name ; and Mr . Mark Melford ' s company , in a new farce entitled " Desperation , " A capital evening ' s entertainment ,