The Girls School Festival.

THE GIRLS SCHOOL FESTIVAL .

WHATEVER doubts or misgivings there may have been in the minds ot the Committee of Management of the Institution , or of the worthy Secretary Bro . F . R . W . Hedges in particular , musfc have been at once dispelled by the appearance of the Grand Hall of the Freemasons' Tavern on fche occasion of fche 109 th Anniversary Festival , which took place on Wednesday . It is true that the Board of Stewards was not quite so strong as usual , but those who volunteered for the duty had worked well and

arduously to achieve success , with a result that considerably surpassed the expectations of even a week ago . The Provincial Grand Master of South Wales Eastern Division Lord Llangattock presided , and was supported by a large number of Officers of both Grand Lodge and Provincial Grand rank . A very recherche banquet was served by Messrs . Spiers and Pond , and at its termination no time was lost in getting to the business of the evening , in view of tbe high class entertainment provided in the Temple .

The president , who was received with acclamation , proposed the health of the Queen , a toast that Britons were never tired of hearing , because as a lady Her Majesty had secured their love and respect , and as a Sovereign she had secured their respect and gratitude . " May the Great Architect grant her many years to reign over a happy and prosperous people . " Needless fco say the toast was drunk with enthusiasm .

In submitting the health of the Grand Master , Lord Llangattock said our Prince was constant and indefatigable in his duties , and had made for himself a lasting home in the hearts of the people , his Brethren in the Craft . Ho was not only heir to the throne , but be was more , be was their Brother Mason , tbe head of tbeir noble Order , and as such fchey reverenced and adored bim .

Bro . Thomas Fenn acknowledged the toast of the Grand Officers , who , he said , always took interest in the affairs of the Craft , and endeavoured to discharge their duties to tbo best of their ability . They were always ready to perform any duty that might be required of them , and he thought thafc their compliment was not altogether undeserved . Sir John Monckton in graceful terms proposed the Chairman , who was

one of the most estimable of noblemen , and the best of good-hearted Masons in the country . He had first made his acquaintance years ago afc a gathering assembled at his country seat , which was instituted for the benefit of the Old People . He had responded in an altogether hearty manner when asked to preside at the Festival , and his Province had responded most thoroughly to his call to alms . He and Lady Llangattock had attended at the Prize Distribution at the School , aud had thoroughly inspected the Institution .

Lord Llangattock , who was again received with loud applause , said he was always at a loss to respond when his health was proposed , but how much so on the present occasion , when their kind reception made it so much more difficult . He did not intend to say much about himself , but he was proud of being Provincial Grand Master of his district . He had twenty-one Lodges

in his Province , and was happy in their loyalty , for they all worked well together . He was pleased to bave the opportunity of publicly thanking his Deputy Grand Master , and also the Stewards who had helped to bring up such large sums , which he must acknowledge very much surpassed his expectations . It was a most difficult year , because so many calls were made upon their benevolence in consequence of Her Majesty's Jubilee .

The Chairman next proposed the toast of the evening , and trusted that success would continue to follow the Girls School . The toast was one thafc would recommend itself to the acceptance oi everyone present . He gave a short resume of thc history of the Institution . Founded in 1788 , by M . Chevalier B . Buspini , it had grown from a very small affair until now it was one of the most successful Institutions in the country . He had the pleasure of being present at the Distribution of Prizes last Monday . He had inspected

the building , and found to bis surprise there was no " switching room " ; he was informed there -was no occasion for it ; the girls were brought up with love and care , and their lives were made a blessing . The result showed itself in the excellent reports of the examinations . He could not speak too highly of Miss Buck and her assistants . It was a gladsome sight to see the girls as

they came up to receive their prizes , and be was glad to tell his Brethren from South Wales that one was a child from their district . The School resembled a happy family , and he trusted it would have a continuous and increasing prosperity . They were not present that evening merely to enjoy a good dinner , and to wear thoir clothing , but to do their best to carry out the principles of the Craft .

Bro . Peter de L . Long acknowledged the toast , and congratulated the President on the able manner in which he had spoken on behalf of the Institution—it was most gratifying to bear the School so highly spoken of , They all hoped that the brilliant and satisfactory career of the past would be continued in the future . He trusted that the result of the Stewards' labours would be commensurate with the deserts of tho Institution . He thanked his Lordship for the favour of his presence , which had conduced so much to the soccers of the Festival .

Bro . F . B . W . Hedges Secretary then read the Stewards' lists , printed in detail on another parje There were 395 Stewards , and four Ladies—London h ) ing represented by 182 , and the Provinces by 213 . Among the principal it ims were donations brought by Bros . Alderman Vaughan Morgan £ 105 , A . H . Bevan £ 126 , George Scott Miller £ 130 , Henry Hyde £ 157 10 s , W . A . Scurrah £ 170 , George Pidduck £ 233 . Sir J . B . Monckton £ 210 , Frank

Eichardson £ 210 , the total for London being £ 8 , 083 2 s 6 d . The Provinces also sent up large amounts - . —Derbyshire £ 327 , Essex £ 303 , Herts £ 399 , Kent £ 219 , Leicester and Butland £ 320 , Monmouthshire ( the native county of the President ) £ 316 , Surrey £ 622 , West Yorks £ 420 , Malta £ 115 , and Lord Llangattoek ' s list for South Wales £ 1 , 050 . making a total of £ 7 , 943 4 s , the two together amounting to the magnificent sum of £ 16 , 026 6 s 6 d .

The reading of the lists was greeted with considerable applause , but when the grand total was announced the hall re-echoed with cheers , hurrahs , and congratulations , as such a result vvas quite unexpected . Tbe President thanked them all on behalf of the School for their valuable assistance . When quiet was again restored Bro . Bichard Eve proposed tbe other

Masonic Charities , and congratulated the President upon the success that had resulted . The large sums collected astonished outsiders , who could not understand where the money came from . He hoped the Boys School would achieve a like success , for while thc Graft loved the Girls , they liked the Boys , and esteemed the Aged Masons .

Bro . McLeod , m responding for the toasfc , added bis congratulations on the evening ' s success , and considered it little short of wonderful that so large a sum could be collected in such a year , when innumerable calls were made upon benevolent Brethren . His colleague of the Old People ' s Institution had also done very well , while he had already 175 Stewards for the Boys Festival , and hoped that number would be largely increased before long . The Deputy Grand Master of South Wales Bro . Marmaduke Tennant P . A . G . D . C . proposed the Stewards , and paid a deserving tribute to their

The Girls School Festival.

noble efforts in the cause of charity . His Province had been called upon at short notice , but he thought it had liberally responded to the appeal . The grand result was no doubt owing to the great respect in which fche President was held , which had unquestionably inspired the Stewards to use their utmost endeavours . Bro . Edward Terry Chairman of the Board of Stewards acknowledged

the compliment in a humorous speech , and fche Brethren then adjourned to join the ladies in the Temple , where a very high-class entertainment was provided by Bro . Franklin Clive , who was assisted by Miss Esther Palliser , Miss Florence Bethell , Miss Lydia Care , and Miss Ethel Bevans , and Bros . Herbert Grover , Beginald Groome , Bobert Grice , and Turle Lee . This formed a happy ending to an altogether successful Festival .

Stewards Visit To The School.

STEWARDS VISIT TO THE SCHOOL .

THK annual visitation took place at the Institution on Monday , when the chairman of the year Lord Llangattock was accompanied by Lady Llangattock , who subsequently presented tbe prizes to the successful pupils . The meeting was in every way a success , and great satisfaction was expressed at the appearance of the pupils as well as the general arrangements of the Institution . The following is the Prize list :

PRESENTED BY THE INSTITUTION . Gold Medal for Proficiency ( with £ 5 by the late Bro . William Winn ) . — Constance Green . Silver Medal for Good Conduct ( with £ 5 by the late Bro . William Winn ) . — Selina Booth .

CAMBBIDGE LOCAL EXAMINATIONS . —( 41 entered , 38 passed ) . Senior . —Mabel Bohli , Class III . Honours , Distinction in Beligious Knowledge . Junior . —Constance Green , Class I . Honours , 1 st Division , Distinction in

English , French , and Beligious Knowledge . Agnes Anthony , Eleanor Blott , Alice Cash , Ethel Brine , Bose Davies . Preliminary . —Mabel Collins , Class III . Distinction in Beligious Knowledge . Gladys Jones , Distinction in English . COLLEGE OP PRECEPTORS' EXAMINATION . — ( 31 entered , 25 passed ) .

Jessie Eichards . Proficiency in Lower Glasses . —3 rd , Ada Mathew ; 4 th , Margaret Sims ; 5 th , Bertha Sanders ; 6 th , Agnes Bobinson .

PRESENTED BY FRIENDS OF THE INSTITUTION . Beligious Knowledge ( Bro . Bobert Grey ) . —Mabel Bohli , Constance Green , Mabel Collins . English Subjects ( Bro . A . 0 . Spaull ) . —Constance Green , Margaret Vivian . Arithmetic and Mathematics ( Bro . Thomas Fenn ) . —Eleanor Groombridge , Selina Booth .

Mental Arithmetic ( Bro . G . W . Kentish ) . —Catherine Castle . Music , First Prize ( Bro . J . H . Matthews ) . — -Gwendoline Bobson . Music , Second Prizes ( The " Wentworth Little " ) . —Mabel Messenger , Jessie Eichards . Singing ( Mrs . Bobert Brown ) . —Ethel Davis .

French ( Bro . Eugene Monteuuis ) . —Constance Green . French , Special Prize ( Bro . Oscar Philippe ) . —Mabel Bohli . Drawing ( The " John Boyd " ) . —Eliza Pether , Mabel Messenger , Mary Harrison , Mary Maslen . Shorthand and Type-Writing ( Bro . B . Loveland-Loveland ) . —Florence Gauntlett .

Needlework ( The Misses Tobias ) . —Selina Booth , Edith Morgan , Buby Butcher , Elsie Kilpin . Fancy Work , First Prize ( Mrs . Henry A . Hunt ) . —Lizzie Simcock .

Fancy Work , Second Prize ( Mrs . Homewood Crawford ) . —Edith Buck . Good Conduct , First Prize ( The Supreme Council 33 ° ) . —Jessie Codling . Good Conduct , Second Prizes ( Bro . Frank Eichardson ) . —Hilda Collard , Kitty Randall .

The Best Prefect ( Bro . E . Letchworth ) . —Florence Gauntlett . Order and Attention ( Bro . Balph Glutton ) . —Ethel Davies , Hetty Arkell , Jessie Hicks . Cookery , First Prize , £ 5 ( Bro . D . P . Cama ) . —Lizzie Simcock .

Cookery , Second Prizes ( Bro . Henry A . Hunt ) . —Mary Prince , Edith Winterbottom . Usefulness in Domestic Duties ( The " Yates , " St . James Lodge , No . 842 ) . — Emma Branthwaite .

Calisthenics and Deportment ( Bro . Col . James Peters ) . —Kate Bath . Swimming ( Lady Monckton ) . —Beatrice Turner , Clare Whettam , Voilet White . Amiability—Selected by her Schoolfellows ( Bro . John Faulkner ) . —Alice Cash .

JUNIOR SCHOOL . General Proficiency ( Bro . Frank Eichardson ) . —Gladys Hogg . Arithmetic ( The " Henry Levander " ) . —Noel Piatt .

A Masonic ball , under tbe united banners of Sfc . Peter Lodge , No . 1024 , and the Blackwater Lodge , No . 1977 , took place in the Public Hall , Maldon , on Friday , 7 th inst . The arrangements were made by a joint Committee of the two Lodges , of which Bro . C . E . Eush P . P . G . O . and Bro . Geo . A . Eustace P . P . G . Swd . B . were the Hon . Sees . The company numbered about seventy .