The Girls School Festival.

THE GIRLS SCHOOL FESTIVAL .

ONE of the greatest events of the year in Masonic Charity affairs takes place on Wednesday next , when the uoth Anniversary Festival of the Royal Masonic

Institution for Girls will be held at Freemasons' Tavern , London , under the presidency of Sir Reginald Hanson , Bart ., M . P ., Past Grand Warden of England Patron and Treasurer of the Institution .

It is well known to the Craft that the result of this appeal is looked forward to with considerable concern , as a very small return is anticipated , in consequence of the strong counter attractions offered by the Centenary

celebration of the Boys School , but we sincerely hope the total subscribed will be greater than is generally anticipated , and that the management of the Institution will have a

feeling of relief after the announcement is made , in the knowledge that there is no real cause for anxiety as to the immediate future of the Institution—but such a relief can

only be afforded by a more liberal response to the Chairman ' s appeal than at present seems probable . The annual visit of the Stewards and distribution of

prizes to the pupils of the School takes place on Monday , when Lady Hanson has promised to attend , and will , we hope , be supported by a large number of those interested in this most deserving Fund of Masonic Benevolence .

The Old People.

THE OLD PEOPLE .

A NOTHER important event which will take place next - ' -- * - week is the , annual meeting of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , to be held on Friday , at Freemasons ' Tavern , London . The business includes the election of a Treasurer and Auditors , and the consideration of two notices of motion .

The first , on the recommendation of the Committee of Management , is intended to give official recognition to Masonic Charitable Associations , and allow them to acquire votes for their Executive Officers in return for amounts subscribed .

The second proposition stands in the name of Bro . W . C . Parsons P . M . 180 , who proposes an addition to Rule J 3 of the Laws of the Institution , so as to give two annuities each year on each fund to the two Candidates

who have been the longest on the list , if deemed worthy of the same ; failing the passing of which he proposes that any Candidate failing to obtain election after six years shall be removed from the list , but may be again re-nominated if considered worthy .

These suggestions of Bro . Parsons must be rejected . Under the first proposal it would be only necessary to get ° n the . list to secure an annuity—if one lived long enough . Under the second proposal a manifest injustice would be done , as votes recorded on behalf of a candidate during

The Old People.

his or her six years candidature would be forfeited , simply because the applicant's friends might not be strong enough to secure the annuity in the ordinary way . This would be

manifestly unfair , and we cannot understand how anyone of Bro . Parsons ' s known sympathetic nature could have suggested such harsh treatment . The usual election of annuitants for the two funds will next be proceeded with .

Church Service.

CHURCH SERVICE .

WE again direct attention to the Service to be held tomorrow ( Sunday ) at the church of St .-Martin-in-the-Fields , Charingj Cross , on behalf of the Centenary Fund of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , on which occasion the ' Venerable Archdeacon of London Past Grand Chaplain will preach the sermon . Miss Bessie Spells will sing '' With

Verdure clad , " from Haydn ' s ^ " Creation ;"| and " O , Divine Redeemer " ( Gounod ) . Among the Grand Officers , present and past , who have promised to attend are Bros . Sir F . Dixon-Hartland , Bart ., M . P .,. S . G . D ., R . J . Mure J . G . D ., Lieut-Col . H . W . Kiallmark J . G . D ., E . Luxmore Marshall

D . G . D . C , J . T . C . Winkfield A . G . D . C , J . H . Rutherglen

D . G . Sw . B ., J . W . Woodall P . G . Tr ., J . M . McLeod P . G . Sw . B ., E . M . Money P . A . G . D . C , E . Valeriani P . G . St . B ., R . St . Aubyn Roumieu P . G . S . of W ., & c , & c . Every preparation is being made by Bro . E . W . Browning W . M . of the St . Martin's Lodge , No . 2455 . and those who are

working with him to ensure the comtort of all who attend , and we hope a satisfactory result will follow their efforts . The Service will commence at 3 . 30 p . m ., accommodation being provided in the Crypt of the Church for Brethren to " clothe . " The necessary dispensation has been obtained from Grand Lodge .

West Lancashire.

WEST LANCASHIRE .

SATURDAY will rank as a red-letter day in the annals of Blackpool , inasmuch as the first public function attended with Masonic ceremonies took place . The proceedings commenced at one o'clock in the Poulton-le-Fylde Parish Church , when the Right Hon . Lord Skelmersdale P . G . W . Past Prov . G . W ., by command of Earl Lathom ,

unveiled a handsome stained glass window which had been erected to the memory of Dr . John Winn P . Prov . G . D . C . His Lordship was attended by the Provincial Grand Chaplain Rev . R . S . Y . Bradshaw , of Blackpool , who delivered a short and appropriate address . At the conclusion of the service the Brethren travelled

by special train to Blackpool , and attended Provincial Grand Lodge , which was opened in Christ Church Schools , after which they were marshalled into procession , and , headed by the 1 st Volunteer Battalion , North Lancashire Band , they proceeded to the site of St . Paul ' s Church on North Shore . At St . Paul ' s Lord Skelmersdale laid the north-east corner

foundation stone with the accustomed Masonic ceremonies . The foundation stone of the new Masonic Hall , to be erected in Upper Adelaide Street , was next laid by his Lordship . Lord Skelmersdale was the recipient of two handsome silver trowels with ivory handles , and two

magnificent mallets made of oak from Nelson ' s flagship , the Foudroyant , that was wrecked at Blackpool in June of last year , all of which bore suitable inscriptions , those on the mallets being engraved on copper bands , also obtained from the Foudroyant . In the evening a banquet was held at the Lane Ends Hotel .