The Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

children in the main building , 50 , or nearly onefourth of the School , have been sent up for public

examination , and 47 of these secured certificates . The other examination to which these figures refer

was that of the College of Preceptors , when 30 competed and 29 passed . In connection with other public examinations we may mention that of the

Eoyal Academy of Music , when two competed , and both passed , with honours ; the Science and Art examination , when 50 competed and 38 passed ; and the Drawing ( 2 nd Grade ) examination , when 40

competed and 29 passed . With such results before us we may fairly claim that the work of the Institution

is efficiently done , and we think the Craft will admit it gets fair value for the funds subscribed . Reverting now to the question of the coming

i estival , the real object of which is to secure funds to continue this -good work , there is one point we should like to impress on our readers , as it not only coincides

with remarks we have made in years gone by , but offers a ready means of increasing the regular income of the Institution , a feature at all times

desirable , but especially so whenever a permanent increase of pupils , such as is now contemplated , is being made . We allude to the matter of annual subscriptions . Of

course it is very nice for the Masonic Institutions to receive donations of five , ten , twenty or more guineas at time

a , out nttie nsh are sweet , and annual subscribers of a guinea or upwards are not to be despised ; indeed we should like to see a considerable

increase under this head . It may be in the memory of our readers that one of the special inducements offered in connection with the Centenary had this

object in view , and it would be well for Stewards and others to remember this at the present time , as by so doing they may add considerably to their own lists ,

and at the same time place the Institution in a far better position . The special inducement to which we refer was to the effect that Annual

Subscriptions commenced on the List of a Steward at the Centenary Festival , and continued at intervals of not more than 12 months , should , on the

completion of every six guineas so subscribed entitle the contributor to all the privileges of a donation of £ 5 5 s , paid in one sum , notwithstanding he shall

have received Votes as an Annual Subscriber in the meantime . This is really a considerable concession , and should produce a good return for the coming and

future i estivals , for there was a very large number of single guineas included in the total of last year , most of which should be capable of being repeated , if only

their donors were properly approached on the subject . With this small item of special moment , and our

general survey of the work of the Institution , we dismiss the subject for the present , with the hope that all who read these lines will hp . ar in mind what ws

have said , and cheerfully avail themselves of any opportunity which may arise in the future to benefit the Institution to which we refer . WR bn . vp nmi +. t . prl

to state that the Festival of the present year will be held in May next , under the presidency of the Eight

Hon . the Lord Henniker , Provincial Grand Master of Suffolk , a Chairman well worthy of receiving all the support the Craft can afford . Let us hope he , and the management of the Institution , will not be

disappointed when the result of the Festival comes to be announced , but that the grand success of last year may be followed by a fair return for the present one .

Masonic Lessons Drawn From The Vegetable Kingdom.

MASONIC LESSONS DRAWN FROM THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM .

An Address , delivered by Bro . Liggins , at the Floral Lodge Meeting of Lodge St . Leonards Samaritan , North Shore .

IN > . o ! t . ing hi- < Floral Lodge it is not our intention to make any innovation in our Masonic edifice or

Masonic Lessons Drawn From The Vegetable Kingdom.

principle ? , inasmuch as we are too deeply imbued we hope with love and reverence for our noble and anoient Craft to attempt to introduce into our Lodge room anything that

could possibly bo construed into a cause of offence to the brethren . Last November we held a similar festival to this , and so much real enjoyment and , we trost , Borne instruction resulted , that we determined this year to repeat

the experiment . On that occasion , as m the present

instance , we had cleared off all arrears of work , and determined prior to recommencing our labours , to devoto one evening to beautifying our handsome Lodge-room with an abundance of the lovely products of the garden and the

field ; to feast our eyes upon rich combinations of colour and inhale the delicious fragrance which kindly mother nnture lavishes upon us at this season of the year . In doing this we are not actuated entirely by selfish considerations ,

for to-morrow morning these beautiful flowers will be conveyed to one of our hospitals , where many of our fellow mortals are lying upon beds of suffering , and we hope the sight of our simple though lovely offerings will gladden the

hearts of some poor stricken bodies , and incline them to waft a grateful thought to the Masons meeting here to-night for having remembered them in their dreary hours of pain and anguish . Such a thought adds lustre to our gathering , and awakens the best feelings of our common nature . If

this alone were the object of our meeting we think it would be sufficient justification for this somewhat novel gathering . But , putting this consideration aside , we

contend that flowers in a Masonic Lodge are not out of place—they are as much the work of the Great Architect of

the Universe as the glorious luminary of nature or the queen of night , tho stars which bespangle the vast canopy of heaven or the wondrous globe which we inhabit . The lovely blossoms which beautify our gardens and do so much to

render our homes attractive , are entirely fashioned and coloured by the Grand Geometrician , and though man can plant and cultivate , it is beyond his power to create a single blade of grass , make the smallest atom of soil , or implant

tho germ of life in the meanest weed that grows . We then regard flowers as the handiwork of our Creator , and may draw lessons from and discern hidden meanings and moral truths in these beautiful annual offerings of all-bounteous

nature . In this respect , therefore , our Floral Lodge is in thorough harmony with the principles of Masonic teaching , and the closer we investigate the working of nature in sowing the seed , quickening the hidden germ , producing

the leaf and developing the blossom , the better shall we be able to marvel and admire , and estimate the wonderful works of the Almighty Creator . The vegetable kingdom offers a rich field for investigation , in the pursuit of moral

lessons akin to those which run so plentifully throughout our Masonic teachings . Trust in T . G . A . O . T . TJ ., for without His sustaining power and protection we are like the tiny plant , helpless . Our life we derive from Him , the air

we breathe , the food which nourishes our frames , and the power of growth and development all come from the same great source . The principle of progression is implanted alike in the man , the Mason , and

the tree : there is no such thing as stagnation animate or inanimate objects are ever changing—we are impelled continually onward—the sun never stands still—the earth constantly revolves on its axis , and all

things are obedient to this great law—bearing this in miud it is essentially necessary for the proper development of our higher nature that as Masons we should ever seek to cultivate the noblest thoughts , the loftiest aspirations ,

and strive to attain the highest ideal—by so doing , every step will lead us into fairer regions , will enable us to survey a grander prospect and lead ns nearer and nearer to that perfection which the best men in all ages have

unceasingly striven to reach . The plant endeavours to make the most of its possibilities—it sends out its roots in search of the best nutriment within reach , and expends it in forming the bud , the leaf , and the flower , handing

the fruits of its labours in seed for the benefit of succeeding generations . So the Mason ' s work should go on , gathering nourishment and strength from every available quarter , not storing his gains as the miser hoards bis

gold , but putting everything to its best use , and expending his energies for the welfare of those around him , to be handed down to posterity for the advantage and

improvement of those who follow . We are frequently told that nature abhors a vacuum , stagnation is equally forbidden , for deterioration or death ensues . Masonry is a progressive science , and unless this principle be ever kept in view ,