China.

CHINA .

— : o : — THE MASONIC SCHOOL FUND . FBOM THE NORTH CHINA HERALD .

rilHB sixth annual Court of the contributors to the Masonic School J . Fund was held recently at the Masonio Club , China , Bro . J . Morris ( President of fche School Council ) occupying the chair . The Chairman said—The printed report and accounts for the year ended the 31 st December 1891 were issued to contributors some days since , and may be taken as read . The accounts are simple .

There is only one donation recorded , that of the Doric Lodge , Chinkiang . The outlay is correspondingly small . The balances in possession of the Bank and Treasurer amount to Tis . 30 . The fnrniture account is reduced by 50 per cent , written off for depreciation , and now stands at Tis . 941 * 93 . The debit balance of the working account is Tis . 4 , 406 * 82 , and these two items show the cost

to the fnnd of founding the school . In return for this expenditure the children appointed by the contributors are receiving , one , free board and education , and two , free education . Tbe Tis . 1 , 000 voted by the ratepayers was received from the Secretary of the Municipality and gratefully acknowledged by the Head Master , whose accompanying report shows the advance made by the School . The stirff and

premises have been increased to meet the larger attendance of pupils . A distribution of prizes took place in October last , when the Chairman of the Municipal Council ( Mr . G . J . Pardon ) kindly presided . In his opening address on that occasion he remarked , " The title of Public School ia a misnomer . It is true that it receives a grant from the Municipality , but the public derive no advantage from that , and

have no voice in the management , and I think that whilst that grant is continued the Municipal Council , as representing the public , should have a voice in the Council of the School , " and he looked forward to the existence of a really Public School maintained entirely at the public expense and open to all . Rome was not built in a day . It was well to bear a sentiment of this sort from the worthy and esteemed

Chairman of our City Fathers , and we hope he will live to see the realisation of his wishes . Meanwhile the Masonio Fraternity have laid a foundation upon which the public can raise the complete structure . I have pleasure in informingyou that following the expressionsof opinion of the ratepayers at tbeir last meeting , to increase the School grant to Tis . 3 , 000 , the Municipal Council , with the vi « w of paying the

increased grant this year , appointed a committee to take over tbe management of the school from the 30 th June last to the end of the year . The report of the Committee will be laid before the ratepayers at their annual meeting , to enable them , should vhey be so inclined , to make the school a municipal institution and a public one in deed as well as in name . We have agreed to the school being

so taken over by the ratepayers , reserving to the contributors to the Masonio School Fund the privilege now accorded to them , the right of free education for four children . The scholar , ships and prizes provided by the various Masonio bodies and individuals show the increase of public interest in the school , the latest additions being the Colin Jamieson scholarship for the

encouragement of the study of Chinese by foreign children , and a special prize for shorthand by Bro . Jansen . It will be seen from Bro . Landing ' s report , that the redaction in fees from prospectus rates during the year amounted to over 2 , 000 dollars , and that without the municipal grant it wonld bave been impossible to maintain the efficiency now existing . The death of our worthy and

Worshipful Brother Donaldson was a great loss to the Council ; he had been a member from its formation , and bis minute knowledge of detail and his untiring zeal made him ever active on behalf of the interest he represented . The Lodge Cosmopolitan appointed Worshipful Brother Mieleuhausen to succeed him as their representative . The Council , except the permanent Vice-Presidents ,

retire from office , and this Court will select a President and six other brethren to serve during the present year . Rt . W . Bro . 0 . Thorne Vice President then proposed that the report and accounts be received and adopted . W . Bro . L . Moore seconded this , and it was agreed to ntm con . Upon the motion of W . Bro . L . Moore , seconded byW . Bro . J . H .

Osborne , W . Bro . J . Morris was re-elected President . Proposed by Rt . W . Bro . Thorne and seconded by W . Bro . F . M . Grattou , the name of W . Bro . J . M . Cory was added to the Council . Upon the proposal of Bro . J . D . Clarke , seconded by Bro . W . Van Corbaoh , fche following were re-elected to the Council : —Lodge Cosmopolitan , No . 428 , S . C , W . Bro . J . W . Mieleuhausen ; Rising

Sun Royal Arch Chapter , No . 129 , Comp . J . H . Osborne P . Z . ; W . Bro . E . Bois , W . Bro . L . Moore , W . Bro . F . M . Gratton , W . Bro . J . Frysr , and Bro . A . W . Danfortb , Hon . Secretary and Treasurer . The adoption of a vote of thanks to the obair , proposed by Righb Worshipfnl Bro . 0 . Thorne , seconded by Bro . J . M . Corry , concluded the proceedings .

The following ia the Report of fche Council for the sixth year , ended 31 st December 1891 : — The last Court of contributors was held at tho Masonio Hall , on Tuesday , 18 th November , when the report and accounts for the fifth year , ended 30 th September 1890 were duly accepted . It is the Council ' s pleasant duty to report the successful working of the school

daring the past year . Ifc will be seen on referring to the accounts that there ia a credit balance of Tis . 30 * 83 . During the past year the Masonic School Fund has boarded and educated one orphan , and educated two . As will be seen by Mr . Lanning ' s report , other children , sons and daughters of Masons , have been educated by him

ab low rates . Referring to subscriptions and donations for the past year , the Council regret to find the total so small . The Doric Lodge of Chinkiang has subscribed 20 * 00 dollars . The School returns for the past year are satisfactory , showing a steady improvement in the number of pupils and net income , proving that the Institution is gaiuing popularity ; still there mast be a very great advance *

China.

ment before there will be any surplus income for the Masonio School Fund to participate in . The furniture and books have been revalued , a reduction of 50 per cent , being written off the furniture . Grant from the Municipal Council . —Acting npon suggestions , steps were taken to obtain a grant of Tis . 1 , 000 . 00 , which , through the kind offices of the late Mr . R " . E . Wainewright , who propoied , and of

Mr . R . W . Little , who seconded the propositiou at the Annual Meeting of Ratepayers , were successful . The Ziou Royal Arch Chapter has set aside Tis . 600 * 00 , the interest of whioh will form a Scholarship for the sons of Masons , subject to rules drawn up and to be administered by the Trustees and the Head Master of the School . The Thorne Testimonial Scholarship .--This

promises to be a valuable one . It will be fresh in the memory of all Masons that an amount was collected for the purpose of presenting a testimonial to R . W . Brother Thorne . He requested that the money be invested to establish a Scholarship to be kouwn as the Thorne Testimonial Scholarship . The value of the above will be made publio when ascertained . Tho St . Andrew ' s Society haa

established a Bursary at the School . Tbe Council now retire from office , and the Court of Contributors , in accoidince with the bye-laws , will elect a President and six brethren to serve during the ensuing year . J . MORRIS , President . C . THOBNE , Vice President . A . W . DAN * ORTH , Hon . Secretary aud Treasurer .

Shanghai , 31 st December 1891 . The abstract of the Head Master's report for the year ended the 30 th September 1891 was as follows * . —The advance made by tha school during the past year makes my task a very pleasant one . Increase of staff and accommodation has paid its hoped for resultsgreater efficiency , and a large attendance . The numbers have grown

nntil all the rooms are nearly full , and to meet the continued demand on our space , a third story is being added to the school . This will be used as sleeping quarters for boy boarders , and will fro j two rooms on the second floor for other purposes . Miss Auten has lately joined the school staff , and has principal charge of tbe upper classes of girls . Mrs . Von Fries has undertaken the French , Gorman , and

Art branches . Tbe Zion Chapter Scholarship , won in December 1890 by Charles Fryer , was devoted to the purchase of a microscope and a box of mathematical instruments , which were formally presented to him by Righb Worshipful Brother Miller D . G . M . The firs * St . Andrew ' s Bursary was presented to tbe winner , Harry Stewart , by Dr . Henderson , at the lasb prize distributiou .

For the present term a new Scholarship for the encouragement of the study of Chinese by foreign children is to be given . Ib will be known as the " Colin Jamieson " Scholarship . A special prize for shorthand is also promised by Bro . Jansen . I have again gratefully to acknowledge the help given by tbe Lodges to the Prize Fund . The usual charitable work in connection with the School has

been continued during the year , and in recognition of the large reductions from prospectus rates ( over 2 , 000 dollars per annum ) the Municipal Council has kindly continued tbeir grant of a thousand taels towards the school expenses . Without this assistance it would still be impossible to maintain such an efficiency as now exists . It is

hoped that the want of new and appropriate school buildings will be kept prominently before the community . The following is the staff at present : — Mr . John Northey , Miss Auten , Mrs . Von Frier ? , Miss Silvertborne — Ue & ident . Mr . F . L . Crompton , Miss Belbin ; Keh , Chinese Master Uuung , Wong , Pekinese Masters—Visiting . G . LANNINO , Head Master .

Bro . James Stevens will lecture under the auspices of the Morecainbe Lodge , No . 1561 , at Morecambe , Lancashire , on Tuesday , the 27 th instant , and probably at other Lodges in that Province dnring the same week . The Loyal Lodge , No . 251 , Barnstaple , Devon , has extended

him an invitation for a second visit to thafc Lodge for the 3 rd October , and we hear of several other engagements pending . The purpose and quality of our worthy brother ' s lectures on Ritual , Ceremonial and Symbology are , we are glad to notice , becoming better understood and more justly

appreciated . They convey a fond of information which every Mason ought to possess , and no opportunity for hearing Brofcher Stevens' interesting discourse should be neglected by such as really desire to be the " wiser for their learning . "

The 13 th of October next promises to be a very notable day in fche annals of Rossendale Freemasonry , as the Centenary of the Samaritan Lodge , No . 286 , held at the Green Man Hotel , Baoup , is to be then celebrated . It was on the 13 th of October 1792 , thafc fche warrant for the Samaritan Lodge was granted . The meetings were held for some years afc Keighley , but the Lodge was afterwards removed to Accrington , and on the 13 ch October 1837 , the warrant

was transferred to Bacup , where it has remained ever since . A Centenary Warrant will be granted by the Provincial Grand Master of East Lancashire , Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie , and on the day of celebration ifc is intended to have a church parade , to be followed by a banquet . Ifc may be mentioned that the warrant for the Lodge of Harmony , ! No . 288 , formerly meeting afc Bacup , but now at Todmorden , was also granted on the same date as that of the Samaritan Lodge .