The Girls School Festival.

THE GIRLS SCHOOL FESTIVAL .

DESPITE the favourable surroundings of this year s Anniversary Festival on behalf of the older of the three Charitable Institutions of the Craft , there was a feeling of disappointment manifest when the Brethren assembled on Wednesday around the festive board to

participate in the crowning event of the year so far as this Fund of English Freemasonry is concerned . This disappointment was occasioned by a notice which was circulated round the tables , to the effect that the Pro

Grand Master was unable to take his place as Chairman of the day , by reason of the sudden and lamented death of his sister-in-law , the Countess of Clarendon , and it cannot be denied that the spirits of the company at once

fell very many degrees , for most of those who were present had looked forward with most pleasurable anticipation to the presidency of Lord Lathom , who ia proverbial for his ability as a Chairman , never failing to

ensure enjoyment among all who assemble under his rule . However , the validity of his Lordship ' s excuse

could not be questioned and there was nothing to be done but to bow to the inevitable , and make the best of what was regarded on all sides as a grevious disappointment .

But like many other apparent calamities , the cloud caused by Lord Lathom ' s absence had a silver lining , as it brought to the front a nobleman who is undoubtedly

destined to take a leading place in English Freemasonry in the future—Lord Skelmersdale , the eldest son of the Pro Grand Mas , ter , who is rapidly winning the good opinion of all who meet him in the Craft , and whose

position as Grand Warden of the year must be regarded as but a stepping stone to higher and more permanent Masonic honours . It is true he could not command the same enthusiasm from his audience as might have been

expected had his father been able to carry out his original intention and occupy the chair , but when once the feeling of disappointment has passed off it was evident the Girls School had enlisted the services of a genial and

hearty substitute in Lord Skelmersdale , one whom we shall expect to see in a similiar position at no very distant date , when he will take the chair at one of our Charity Festivals on his own behalf , and not as a deputy for anyone else .

In due course the result of the lists received up to the time of the announcement was given , and hearty cheers went up from the assembled Stewards when it was known that the contributions of the year reached the

handsome total of £ 17 , 732 Os 6 d , which sum is the largest ever known in connection with any of the Festivals of this Institution , alone excepting its Centenary celebration , when , under the presidency of the Prince of Wales , the grand result of £ 51 , 500 was reached .

The Girls School Festival.

When we consider the universal complaints of bad times and distress in almost every branch of business , this result must be recognised as a truly grand one , and the marvel is where the handsome contributions come from year by year , or how it is that the flow of Masonic

Benevolence never seems to stand still . This total of close upon £ 18 , 000 cannot be said to have been gained at the cost of the other great Charity Funds , for we must bear in mind that the Benevolent Institution had

a successful Festival in February last , when about £ 13 , 000 was realised , and it is confidently expected that

the Boys Festival will likewise prove an exceptional success , mainly in view of the enthusiasm manifested by its Chairman ' s Province of West Yorkshire , the Brethren of which county will probably form the largest Board of

Stewards ever known from one district . The success of Wednesday was the outcome of the

efforts of 450 Stewards , which was also a record number , alone excepting the Centenary celebration already referred to . This year ' s Board included seven Lady Stewards , and comprised 193 London representatives and 257 from the Provinces and foreign stations . The results announced from the different districts were as follow : —

Province Stewards . Amount . London ... ... ... 193 £ 8 , 100 0 0 Bedfordshire ... ... - 1 43 1 0 Berkshire ... ... ... 7 196 18 6 Bristol ... ... ... 2 441 0 0 Buckinghamshire ... ... 4 122 4 0

Cambridgeshire ... ... 1 15 15 0 Cheshire ... ... . ... 1 10 10 0 Cornwall ... ... ... 1 131 5 0 Cumberland and Westmorland ... 1 178 10 0 Derbyshire ... ... ... 1 47 15 0 Devonshire ... ... ... 2 109 7 0

Dorsetshire ... ... ... 1 35 0 0 Durham ... ... ... 2 213 0 0 Essex ... ... ... 14 815 13 6 Gloucestershire ... ... 10 249 16 6 Hants and Isle of Wight ... 9 448 11 0 Hertfordshire ... ... 8 . 219 19 6

Kent ... ... ... 9 239 16 6 East Lancashire ... ... 13 . 292 19 0 West Lancashire ... ... 73 2 , 500 0 0 Leicestershire and Rutland ... 3 330 10 0 Middlesex ... ... ... 12 456 9 0 Monmouthshire ... ... 7 257 0 0 North Wales ... ... 2 73 10 0

Norths , and Hunts . ... ... 1 26 5 0 Oxfordshire ... ... ... 7 91 18 6 Shropshire ... ... ... 1 34 13 0 Staffordshire ... ... 2 173 10 0 Suffolk ... ... ... 7 300 10 6 Surrey ... ... ... 3 76 2 6 Sussex ... ... ... 17 581 16 0

Warwickshire ... ... 10 192 1 0 Worcestershire ... ... 1 10 10 0 North and East Yorkshire ... 3 106 8 0 West Yorkshire ... ... 14 300 0 0 Guernsey and Alderney ... ... 1 10 10 0 Isle of Man ... ... ... 2 4 G 4 0

South Africa ... ... 1 10 10 0 Malta ... ... ... 1 63 0 0 Cyprus ... ... ... 1 39 0 0 Bengal ... ... ... 2 21 0 0 Punjab ... ... ...1 ' 104 17 0 Scotland ... ... ... 1 15 7 6