The Approaching Election Of The Girls' School.

THE APPROACHING ELECTION OF THE GIRLS' SCHOOL .

XN common with Masonic journalists all over tbe world we frequently have to make reference in our pages to the assistance which Freemasons are able to afford to those of their number—and the widows and orphans of deceased brethren—who happen to be overtaken by misfortune , and while our readers may occasionally think the story is an oft repeated one they , as well as ourselves , never tire of the subject . To every true brother it is a source of gratification to learn what has been accomplished , what is being done , and what is contemplated for the future , in the furtherance of Masonic benevolence ; while a record of the good work is to many of us the wages we receive as a full

and just equivalent for our efforts in the cause—that reward , in fact , the hope of which has sweetened our labour in Freemasonry . At this season of the year we are accustomed to look for a practical exemplification of the

principle of Relief in the announcements made in regard to the half yearly elections of the two Educational Institutions connected with the English Craft , and this year , as usual , we are not disappointed , for we find that provision

has been made for the admission of sixteen children to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , out of a total of thirty-three who have been approved as worthy of going to

the poll . When we consider what is meant by the filling of these sixteen vacancies we can form a tolerably good opinion of what is being done at this one Institution in

carrying out the injunction of the Craft , —to clothe and feed the orphan . Sixteen children who are at present in needperhaps of the actual necessaries of life—will ere long be admitted to the benefits of that noble Institution , and

under its care will be clothed , fed , and educated until

they arrive at an age when they will be able to make a start in the world on their own account . They will be raised from a position of dependence to one of comparative luxury , and if they are blessed with an ordinary amount of intelligence , they will be in a position , so far as careful

training can place them , to maintain their independence for the remainder of their days . No better proof of the

sincerity of Masonic benevolence can be needed than this , and if we take it in association with what we shall be able to chronicle next week in connection with the Boys ' School , and then remember that the two merely represent

one-half year ' s Masonic liberality , as dispensed by the Educational Charities of the Craft , we have a picture which should gladden the heart of every member of the

Fraternity , and create the envy of those who have not yet been admitted within its charmed circle . Tet this picture is but one of many similar ones we have had occasion to draw , and we trust that we may have to portray , and even enlarge , manv more such in the future .

The contest to which we have this week to refer is the Regular half-yearly election of pupils to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , and it will take place on Saturday , the 9 th October nextat Freemasons' TavernGreat

Queen-, , street , London . As we have already said , there are thirt y-three candidates eligible for the poll , and of these sixteen will be elected . Of the total number , twenty-four

n ° w appear on the balloting papers for the first time , 8 even bave each made one previous attempt , and two have ta ken part in each of the two last elections . * our of the applicants now make their last application ,

The Approaching Election Of The Girls' School.

although there are only three so recorded on the form of particulars issued from the Institution , the other child whose age will preclude her from taking part in a later election being Martha Paulina C . Steng , No . 7 on the list . This child is one of a family of three who has

neither parent living ; she was a candidate at the election in April last , and on that occasion 250 votes were recorded on her behalf ; her father was initiated in the Old England

Lodge , No . 3790 , in 1881 , and remained a subscriber thereto until the time of bis death , in 1885 , at which time he filled the office of I . G . in his Lodge . The other last application cases are new to the present list . No . 13 , Mary Maude Marshall , is one of four children now dependent on a widowed mother . Her father was an initiate of the Royal Preston Lodge , No . 333 ( West Lancashire ) , and died last year , after a brief association with the Craft , extending over a year and three quarters . During this short time , however , he shewed his interest in the Charities of the Order by qualifying as a Subscriber to the Institution for the

benefits of which his daughter is now a candidate . No . 32 , Mary Johnson , is another child dependent on her mother , but in her case the family who have to be provided for is five in number . Her father was initiated in Royds

Lodge , No . 1204 , Worcestershire in 1881 , and , like each of the other cases already referred to , remained a subscriber thereto until the time of his death ( in September of last year ) . He also qualified as Subscriber to the Girls '

School , so that two of these last application cases have a satisfactory record in this particular , although the fathers of many others on the list may have been equally mindful of the claims of Charity , but preferring

to send their subscriptions through their Lodges or other " general " channel , their names do not appear among the individual subscribers . No . 17 , Mary Nicholson , is one of five children , both of whose parents are living . The

father is an old initiate of the Indefatigable Lodge , No . 237 , South Wales ( Eastern Division ) , and can boast of lOf years' subscriptions to his Lodge , wherein he was initiated as far back as 1863 . We feel we may safely

leave his case to the attention of the brethren of his Province , they being well known for the thoroughness of the help they afford to any case they take in hand . Three of the remaining candidates have neither parent living . No . 14 , Edith Melhuisb , being first among them

She has a brother tn the Boys School , but notwithstanding this there are still six children to be provided for by the friends of our deceased brother , who was initiated in tho

St . Peter ' s Lodge , No . 1125 , Devonshire , in 1873 , remaining a subscriber thereto for eleven years . He rose to the office of S . D . of his Lodge , and , if we may judge from the fact of his son's admission to the Boys' School , has left friends to mourn his loss . We hope similar fortune may

attend the daughter now seeking admission to the Girls ' School as fell to the lot of her brother when he was a candidate for Masonic assistance . Elizabeth Waspe , No . 23 , is another child who has a brother in the Boys' School ; in

her case there are three children with herself yet dependent on friends . Her father was initiated in the Nelson Lodge , No . 700 , London , in 1876 , and remained a subscribing member for 84- years , during which time he qualified as a

Life Governor of the Girls' School , little thinking , wo imagine , that within a few years one of his children would be seeking a participation in the benefits of that Institution . No . 22 , Gertrude Phenix , is the other parentless one ou the list , she and another child being dependent . Her