Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

Mr . F . G . Knight has been the superintending architect for the hall . The Alexandra Hall and one wing of the building were formerly the only parts artificially warmed . Every part , old and new , is now warmed to a temperature capable of

being raised to 30 ° above the outside air . All the old dormitories have been ventilated by placing tubes in the roof , connected with tho shafts , in whioh are placed gas cones . In the new part a system of ventilation of both class-rooms and dormitories has been carried out , by which

three atmospheres an hour is supplied by simply having the hot water cistern and a coil of pipes in a central tower . The fresh air being admitted and passing over the hot water coils , which are placed against the walls in the class-rooms , but in the middle of the rooms in the dormitories .

The boilers for the supply of hot water and for warming are placed in three different parts of the building , in order to diffuse the heat more regularly and economically . Tho warming and ventilating has been entrusted to Messrs . Haden , of Trowbridge , and 123 Cromer-streot .

The greatest care has been taken to prevent accident in case of fire . Hydrants are placed at frequent intervals both outside and inside the buildings , and a fireman is on

duty at night . Every dormitory can be approached from two staircases , and these staircases are of iron aud concrete covered with wooden finishings , and tho whole of the doors externally and internally open outwards .

The system of fire 03 cape has been carried out UDder the advice of an eugineer appointed by Captain Shaw , and the hydrants supplied by Messrs . Berry .

Tbe whole of the builder ' s work has been carried out by Mr . Nightingale , of the Albert Embankment , under the immediate supervision of Mr . Henry A . Hunt and Mr . Ralph Clutton .

A Lodge Banquet.

A LODGE BANQUET .

FROM time immemorial Freemasons have been called from Labour to Refreshment . Even the Fabric Rolls of York Minster , and the contracts made in the fifteenth century for the erection of certain parts of that edifice ,

prove this fact . Some years ago we pouned an article for THE KEYSTONE in which we quoted tho language of one of those contracts which provided for even an " after-dinner nap " as part of the mid-day refreshment of the Master Mason or architect of the Minster . Masonic refreshment

is as old as Freemasonry . Freemasons love Refreshment for the same reason that they Love Labour , because it is so enjoyable and Masonic . Refreshment is of two kinds , technical and substantial .

The substantial is generally preferred . The former is appropriate to the exercise of certain formal Masonic functions , but tho latter is the best of all possible climaxes for a Lodge meeting—not tho " ba all " but the " end all " of Masonry .

Lodge banquets are of many sorts and sizes . The sorts are as numerous as the letters of the alphabet , while the sizes run from a handful to a room full of Brethren . It is

possible for a Masonic banquet to comprehend so many of the higher species of enjoyment as to be absolutely peerless . On the other hand , it is equally possible for one to be as destitute of pleasure as a china nest-egg is destitute of meat . We have seen Brethren superlatively happy at a

banquet , and we have also seen them superlatively miserable . The wise Master of a Lodge arranges all of the details of a feast so as to ensure the happiness of the

participants , and avoid the misery which comes to many from failure . One thing is certain : a banquet will never ran itself , except on to the shoals of dullness and disgust .

Time is of the essence of this contract : the first ingredient of success is to sit down at a Lodge banquet at an earl y hour . If you have a late opening , the early closing movement is sure to follow . The refreshment that comes at eleven o ' clock at night , or after , does not refresh .

It involves a waste of money , of time and of energy . At that hour it is refreshment thrown to the dogs . No one is happy . Every one eats and runs . Pleasure is out of the question . It is almost a criminal misuse of Lodge funds to expend them for such a purpose—or lack of purpose . Tho golden rule of refreshment therefore is , Sit down to it at

A Lodge Banquet.

as early an hour as possible , and if you cannot sit down early , do not sit down at all . We will suppose that a master mind as well as a Master ' s mind has arranged the- hour of the feast , and that the brethren surround the mahogany . For a while no mistakes

can bo made except by the caterer . He should serve the dinner , which should not have too many courses , with method and despatch . All that the brethren have to do is to eat and be merry . Tho social pleasures amid and between courses are of a high character , but depend for

their enjoyment mainly upon the participants themselves . They entertain each other . But the end of the material feast comes by-and-by . Then it is that it becomos apparent whether a Master governs tho table or the table governs tho Master . Those are far from being adopts in

working the " knife and fork degree " who merely transfer the viands from tho table to their months . Auy dog could do that . Freemasons have minds as well as mouths , and they take both with them to the banquet table . For the

truo purposes of Masonic refreshment they might as well come without their mouths as without their minds . After the cigars are lighted , then comes , or should come , the most enjoyable features of all—the feast of reason and the flow of soul .

Order is the Master's first law when the material feast ends . To secure this the dismissal of every servant from the banquet hall is essential . Amid the clatter of dishes and the hurrying of feet there can be nothing but disorder and displeasure to the guests . At all events there can be no unity of enjoyment .

The master having proved his ability to preside at refreshment as well as at labour , by maintaining order and decreeing the succession of events , then follows the highest pleasures incident to a Lodge banquet—the apt and pithy speech , the telling story , the pathetic recitation , the amusing

song . We would not give a picayune for the Lodge banquet which is devoid of these . We all eat our three meals a day , and a fourth meal in itself is unnecessary , and is chiefly if not only valuable because it leads up to something higher and better—to humour , wit , sentiment and

song , the earnest appeal , the touching recital , the soulstirring melody , and that fellow-feeling , that true fellowship which comes from mind and heart , as well as stomach , sharing in the enjoyments of Masonic refreshment . This is the refreshment that refreshes , and the only refresh ment that is worthy of the name Masonic . —Keystone .

HULL MASONIC CLUB . —Tbe first annual meeting was held in tho Board-room of the Olub-houae on the 2 nd inst ., Mr . F . Blackburn occupying the chair . There was a large attendance of shareholder . " , including Messrs . M . C . Peck , T . II . Haller , T . Middleton , W . Thirsk ( secretary ) , H . J . Oldroyd , J . A . Brown , G . Leigh , Councillor Fillingham , John Mean well , T . Jackson , F . Eustace , A . E . Peasegood

F . Ennia , J . W . L . Whitfield , A . Soink , T . A . Haigh , H . Feldman , J . Hancock , G . D . Storry , H . Colbeck , W . G . Anfield , J . Y . Terr , James Strickland , & c . In calling upon the secretary to read the report , the chairman congratulated the shareholders upon the success of the club , and , as the report would show , they wero in u very satisfactory condition . The secretary ' s report , which was then read

and adopted , showed that after paying expenses and other charges , there was a profit equal to 20 per cent , on the paid-np capital , which the direotors recommend should be disposed of by paying 5 per cent , dividend , and carrying forward the balance ( 15 per cent . ) to a reserve fund . A vote of thanks to the direotors and officers for their services

was then aooorded on tho motion of Mr . J . A . Brown , seconded by Mr . M . C . Peck , who expressed his great satisfaction at the position which the club had attained in so short a time . Messrs . E . Fillingham , J . MeanweH , and J . Strickland were re-elected directors , and Mr . G . D . Storry was re-elected auditor . A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the meeting .

MASONIC CHARITY IN WEST LANCASHIRE . —Under the presidency of Bro . Dr . J . Kollett Smith , a meeting of the Court of Governors cf the West Lancashire Masonio Educational Institution was held , on tbe 6 th inst ., at the Masonio Hall , Hope-street , Liverpool . There was a numerous attendance of governors , and the various recommendations of the committee for the election of children on the foundation of the institution were confirmed . It was resolved , on the motion of

Bro . Molloy , seconded by Bro . P . M . Eowson , that the bye-laws of the Charity should be referred to the special committee for further consideration , that Bro . Mrrtin should be added to tbo committee , and that brethren be invited to send in any alterations or suggestions which they deemed desirable . The treasurer's balance sheet and secretary ' s report as to the work of the past year were adopted , and the proceedings closed with a oorditd vote of thanks to Bro . Smith for presiding .

Ar00303

FUNERALS properly carried out and personally attended , in London and Country , by Bro . G . A . HTJTTOM " , 17 Newcastle Street ! Strand , W . C . Monuments erected . Valuations made .