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Article THE GIRLS' SCHOOL CENTENARY. Page 1 of 2 Article THE GIRLS' SCHOOL CENTENARY. Page 1 of 2 →
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The Girls' School Centenary.
THE GIRLS' SCHOOL CENTENARY .
THE time and space at our disposal last Saturday were so heavily taxed that we had little or no opportunity of speaking generally in reference to the all-engrossing event of the week , from a Masonic
point ol view , —the celebration ol the Centenary ol the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Girls . We were able to give a brief record of the actual proceedings at the Festival , and at the distribution of prizes which
took place on the preceding Monday , but we were unable to do anything like justice to either event , to say one-half of what we should like to have recorded of the success which attended the two gatherings , or
to express our gratification at the result of the Stewards' efforts , and the admirable manner in which the whole of the programme was carried out . As our readers may imagine there were many items
of interest in connection with the two meetings which deserve more than the passing notice afforded by a general expression of approval , and doubtless there is much more worthy of being recorded than what
came under our notice ; still , as we lay no claim to perfection in our record , we offer no apology for shortcomings . If we fail to praise where praise is deserved , it must be understood that the omission is
accidental rather than intentional , for with so much to approve of it is difficult either to choose the most deserving , or to award a just tribute to all who merit it .
For some months previous to the celebration it was known that the actual Centenary Festival would be of a most exceptional character , but it was not until a comparatively recent date that any reliable estimate
could be formed of the probable number who would attend , and for whom accommodation would have to be provided at the banquet . When the number could be estimated it was known that the difficulty would be
to imd a place to accommodate the Stewards and their friends , rather than to find a company to assist in the celebration , and the work from this time became even more trying than was generally
anticipated ; not , however , irom a lack ol sympathy , but rather from an excess of it , coupled with a general desire to satisfy everybody , and please all who evinced an interest in the proposed methods of celebrating the Centenary .
Like all other great events , the grand success of last week had a small beginning ; indeed , it seems only the other day that we heard of Bro . B .
Kauffmann , the representative oi the Jimg s ( Jross Lodge of Instruction , No . 1732 , giving in Ms name , and becoming No . 2 on the list of Stewards for the Festival ,
which list , at the actual dinner , was closed by the addition of the name of His Majesty the King of Sweden and Norway , who became No . 1465 on the
roll . Although only a lew months elapsed between these two events—apparently so widely apart—an immense amount of good resulted , evidenced by the
The Girls' School Centenary.
announcement made by H . E . H . the Prince of Wales , at the Festival , that upwards of ^ 50 , 500 had been collected by that band of Stewards , and , as may be imagined , a vast amount of work devolved upon the
Secretary of the Institution m connection therewit As this work appears to have been carried out and completed without a hitch , we think it but fair that a word of thanks should be accorded Bro . Hedges and
taose who assisted him m preparing lor the great events . Theirs was no easy task , as anyone who has had to arrange a gathering of even much smaller dimensions can testify , and it must not be forgotten
that the organisers ol the recent gatherings at the Albert Hall had no past experience to guide them , nor any similar undertaking from which to borrow a pattern . Theirs was a maiden attempt , and it must be particularly gratifying for them to know that in
every respect their arrangements were perfect . It was but natural to find something which was not all that was desired ; and the weak point of the celebration was , without doubt , the lack of proper provision
lor the enjoyment ol those who attended as guests , and who were supposed to have light refreshments provided for their comfort . Experience proved the refreshments to be very "light , " and a considerable oi
amoum ; grumDimg nas ueen indulged m m consequence , but we believe the Institution was powerless in this matter . The Festival had to take place at the Albert Hall , and the provision of refreshments for
the visitors had to be left to the regular caterer for that establishment , who certainly cannot be said to have won laurels by his achievement pn this occasion . The Stewards and those who dined with
the Grand Master were much better off , as the catering for them had been entrusted to Messrs . Spiers and Pond , who did everything possible to ensure satisfaction , and added not a little to their reputation
by the perlormance . As we said last week the arena and stalls of the Hall had been filled with tables , the Royal party being accommodated in front of the organ , with the Grand Officers ranged behind them , and the
remainder oi the company m Iront . The sight was a magnificent one , and it is doubtful if the Albert Hall ever presented a more imposing spectacle ; the white table cloths bringing into bold relief the
purple , gold and blue oi the Masonic collars and aprons which were everywhere visible . The work of arranging these tables was no mean undertaking , and
the task which presented itself to Bro . Madell ( Messrs . Spiers and Pond ' s Manager at the Freemasons' Tavern ) , when he was instructed to provide
lor as many as could be accommodated was sumcient to strike terror in the heart of anyone less experienced than he . Bro . Madell , however , proved equal to the : n n L _ j ? j . 1- . J » .. __ . occttaiuiiami oi
, no sman pan T , uay s success was due to the care and attention he bestowed on the part of the arrangements allotted him , and the ability he
displayed in superintending the actual banquet . The entrance of the Royal party was the signal for
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Girls' School Centenary.
THE GIRLS' SCHOOL CENTENARY .
THE time and space at our disposal last Saturday were so heavily taxed that we had little or no opportunity of speaking generally in reference to the all-engrossing event of the week , from a Masonic
point ol view , —the celebration ol the Centenary ol the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Girls . We were able to give a brief record of the actual proceedings at the Festival , and at the distribution of prizes which
took place on the preceding Monday , but we were unable to do anything like justice to either event , to say one-half of what we should like to have recorded of the success which attended the two gatherings , or
to express our gratification at the result of the Stewards' efforts , and the admirable manner in which the whole of the programme was carried out . As our readers may imagine there were many items
of interest in connection with the two meetings which deserve more than the passing notice afforded by a general expression of approval , and doubtless there is much more worthy of being recorded than what
came under our notice ; still , as we lay no claim to perfection in our record , we offer no apology for shortcomings . If we fail to praise where praise is deserved , it must be understood that the omission is
accidental rather than intentional , for with so much to approve of it is difficult either to choose the most deserving , or to award a just tribute to all who merit it .
For some months previous to the celebration it was known that the actual Centenary Festival would be of a most exceptional character , but it was not until a comparatively recent date that any reliable estimate
could be formed of the probable number who would attend , and for whom accommodation would have to be provided at the banquet . When the number could be estimated it was known that the difficulty would be
to imd a place to accommodate the Stewards and their friends , rather than to find a company to assist in the celebration , and the work from this time became even more trying than was generally
anticipated ; not , however , irom a lack ol sympathy , but rather from an excess of it , coupled with a general desire to satisfy everybody , and please all who evinced an interest in the proposed methods of celebrating the Centenary .
Like all other great events , the grand success of last week had a small beginning ; indeed , it seems only the other day that we heard of Bro . B .
Kauffmann , the representative oi the Jimg s ( Jross Lodge of Instruction , No . 1732 , giving in Ms name , and becoming No . 2 on the list of Stewards for the Festival ,
which list , at the actual dinner , was closed by the addition of the name of His Majesty the King of Sweden and Norway , who became No . 1465 on the
roll . Although only a lew months elapsed between these two events—apparently so widely apart—an immense amount of good resulted , evidenced by the
The Girls' School Centenary.
announcement made by H . E . H . the Prince of Wales , at the Festival , that upwards of ^ 50 , 500 had been collected by that band of Stewards , and , as may be imagined , a vast amount of work devolved upon the
Secretary of the Institution m connection therewit As this work appears to have been carried out and completed without a hitch , we think it but fair that a word of thanks should be accorded Bro . Hedges and
taose who assisted him m preparing lor the great events . Theirs was no easy task , as anyone who has had to arrange a gathering of even much smaller dimensions can testify , and it must not be forgotten
that the organisers ol the recent gatherings at the Albert Hall had no past experience to guide them , nor any similar undertaking from which to borrow a pattern . Theirs was a maiden attempt , and it must be particularly gratifying for them to know that in
every respect their arrangements were perfect . It was but natural to find something which was not all that was desired ; and the weak point of the celebration was , without doubt , the lack of proper provision
lor the enjoyment ol those who attended as guests , and who were supposed to have light refreshments provided for their comfort . Experience proved the refreshments to be very "light , " and a considerable oi
amoum ; grumDimg nas ueen indulged m m consequence , but we believe the Institution was powerless in this matter . The Festival had to take place at the Albert Hall , and the provision of refreshments for
the visitors had to be left to the regular caterer for that establishment , who certainly cannot be said to have won laurels by his achievement pn this occasion . The Stewards and those who dined with
the Grand Master were much better off , as the catering for them had been entrusted to Messrs . Spiers and Pond , who did everything possible to ensure satisfaction , and added not a little to their reputation
by the perlormance . As we said last week the arena and stalls of the Hall had been filled with tables , the Royal party being accommodated in front of the organ , with the Grand Officers ranged behind them , and the
remainder oi the company m Iront . The sight was a magnificent one , and it is doubtful if the Albert Hall ever presented a more imposing spectacle ; the white table cloths bringing into bold relief the
purple , gold and blue oi the Masonic collars and aprons which were everywhere visible . The work of arranging these tables was no mean undertaking , and
the task which presented itself to Bro . Madell ( Messrs . Spiers and Pond ' s Manager at the Freemasons' Tavern ) , when he was instructed to provide
lor as many as could be accommodated was sumcient to strike terror in the heart of anyone less experienced than he . Bro . Madell , however , proved equal to the : n n L _ j ? j . 1- . J » .. __ . occttaiuiiami oi
, no sman pan T , uay s success was due to the care and attention he bestowed on the part of the arrangements allotted him , and the ability he
displayed in superintending the actual banquet . The entrance of the Royal party was the signal for