Candidates For The Schools And Their Parents' Benevolence.

On tho other hand , it must be borae in mind that it is donations alone—as represented by votes—which secure the election of any candidate . If an applicant ' s father has not subscribed to the Charities it is very certain that his friends , or the friends of his family , must have done so

before it becomes possible to secure the election of the child , and such being the case it would be manifestly unfair to deprive a child of the sympathy of friends simply because its father neglected , or was unable , to subscribe to one or other of the Masonic Institutions , or even

to handicap their powers of election by affording additional advantages to those whose fathers had subscribed . Yotes represent money , and to suggest that the outcome of some thousands of pounds should be deteriorated in value to an appreciable extent because some particular individual

withheld a donation of five or ten guineas would be inconsistent , besides which it would be a matter of impossibility to determine how much each individual brother had subscribed to the Institutions . One brother might have given a donation of five guineas , and , provided -that was the qualification

decided upon , would have thus rendered the whole of his family eligible for the Schools ; wbile another who might have given double the amount in odd shillings would not have secured them similar advantages . Grand Lodge , with its long array of subscribing subordinate Lodges ,

might also be expected to protest against any restrictive regulations being adopted . The donations from these sources—and they total up to a very large amount each year—are given on behalf of tbe whole of the members of the several Lodges ; and , such being the case , it really

follows that every Mason has , directly or indirectly , contributed to our Charities . It would most certainly be very unwise to propose any alteration in existing rules which might lead to the alienation of the grants from Grand Lodge , and its subordinate Lodges ; indeed , we might say it

would simply amount to suicide were such a proposal ever entertained ; and for this reason alone , if for no other , it would be impossible to restrict the candidates for the Schools to those whose parents had personally qualified as subscribers or governors of one of the Institutions .

Taking the question in all its bearings , we are inclined to think it best to leave the matter as it stands . As

we have said , it is by subscriptions alone that a candidate s election can be secured , and whether these subscriptions come from a child ' s father , or from its friends , it matters very little : the Institution has had the money , and some one is entitled to the benefits arising therefrom . We have

heard other arguments and suggestions made , to secure some special advantages to certain candidates , but cannot on the present occasion devote more space to the subject . Moreover , we think our readers will be able , from what we have already said , and from their own personal

experience , to form an opinion one way or the other . Personally , we shall be very pleased to learn the opinions of our subscribers on the subject , and trust that such of them as are able will forward an expression of their views for publication .

Quarterly Court Of The Girls' School.

QUARTERLY COURT OF THE GIRLS ' SCHOOL .

FTIHE Quarterly Court of this Institution was held at •*- Freemasons' Hall on Saturday last . Bro . Colonel Creaton P . G . Treasurer presided , and the attendance was , as usual , numerous . The minutes of the preceding Court having been read and confirmed , and that of the General

Committee read for information , Bro . H . Tatfcershall brought forward the motion , of which he had given notice , to the effect that the three of the members of the Committee who had been longest on the Board shall not be eligible for re-election until after the expiration of twelve

months . This was seconded , and after a discussion , m which Bros . Bristow , Hopekirk , Raynham W . Stewart P . G . D ., and others took part , the resolution was defeated by a small majority . The proposition to grant the sum of £ 50 to the head governess , Miss Davis , in reimbursement of

the heavy medical expenses during her recent protracted illness was carried , after a brief discussion , without a dissentient voice . Scrutineers were then appointed , and the Court proceeded with the Election of eight , out of an approved list of thirty-two , candidates for admission into the School . The names of the successful candidates will be found in our advertisement columns ; those of the unsuccessful are

Quarterly Court Of The Girls' School.

appended , together with the votes polled for them , which will be carried forward to the Election in April of next year .

UNSUCCESSFUL . No . on List Narno Forward Polled Total 30 Harrison , Lucy 1664 1664 14 Weber , Florence Alice 1486 I 486 19 Johnstone , Eleanor Alice 1429 1429 25 High , Beatrioe Mary 1395 139 S

11 Tanner , Mary 1233 1233 32 Vowels , Rose Ethel 937 937 13 Motion , Florence Ann 858 858 2 Woodward , Minnie 333 425 758 26 Searle , Frances Alice 665 665 6 Hawortb , Sylvia Mary ( last ) 428 46 474

3 Hatchings , Jane Wheeler 38 393 431 17 Wheeler , May Amelia 410 410 24 Bromley , Maude Mary 355 355 27 Lee , Amy Margaret ( last ) 195 195 18 Lyon , Hilda Sophia 183 183 4 Ochsenbein , Annie Luoie 13 156 169 21 Heath , Fanny 141 141

31 Capon , Edith Daisy , 126 126 20 Graham , Catherine ( last ) 20 20 23 Owen , Amy M 17 17 8 Godfrey , Mabel Harriet 5 5 22 Betts , Edith Ellen 5 5 29 Hall , Emily Sarah Jane 3 3 28 Pinder , Emily 1 1

Quarterly Court Op The Boys' School.

QUARTERLY COURT OP THE BOYS ' SCHOOL .

rpHE Quarterly Court of the Boys' School was held at - *¦ Freemasons' Hall , on Monday , the 15 th instant , the chair being taken at the appointed hour by Bro . Colonel Creaton P . G . Treasurer . After the reading and confirmation of the minutes of the previous Court , a letter from the

widow of the late Bro . John Wordsworth , in which she expressed her deep thanks for the vote of sympathy which had been passed and forwarded to her , was read , and on the motion of Bro . Roebnck , seconded by Bro . Dr . Ramsay , ordered to be recorded on the minutes . A motion to the

effect that a letter of condolence be sent to Bro . Lord Homesdale , expressive of the Court ' s sympathy with his Lordship , in respect of the death of Lady Holmesdale , was passed unanimously . Brother C . F . Matter ' s motion that every donor of 200 guineas in one sum , or in suras of

not less than five guineas , should be dubbed a Patron of the Institution , and have eighty votes at each election , with the addition that Her Majesty should be styled Grand Patron , instead of as now Patron , was carried . Bro . Binckes announced that the sum of £ 9 , 000 had already

been funded in respect of the Preparatory Scool Building Fund , and that he hoped at the next meeting of the General Committee to be in a position to suggest an increase of this amount by funding a further £ 2 , 000 . Bro . Binckes thought it not improbable the Fund would reach

£ 12 , 000 before the close of the year , and in expressing himself hopefully of the scheme , thought the time had arrived when they might appropriately begin to think of forming their plans for the erection of the building . The

Court then proceeded to the election of twenty boys , whose names will be found in our advertisement columns . Those of the unsuccessful , together with the votes they polled , being appended , the said votes being carried forward to the next election .

UNSUCCESSFUL . No . on _ L , List Name Forward Polled Total 40 Whiting Robert Henry 91 2090 2181 14 Williams , Arthur Frederick 1095 1078 2173 15 Pratt , Alfred 1133 728 1861 18 How , John 153 1543 1696 23 Coleman . Frederick F 450 889 1339

48 Blunt , Arthur 1322 1322 20 Shaw , John 565 509 1074 12 Delafons , Richard William 593 456 1049 22 Walters , John Edward 480 407 887 27 Booker , Herbert Walter 164 592 756 32 Sea « rave , James Pullen 161 488 649 Kd . MnnVw . Lionel B J 633 633

25 Pawsey , Thomas Edwin 277 233 510 11 Gale , Horace 330 72 4 W 21 Beaumont , Reginald 218 172 «» yu 63 Gloster , Harry Percy O 245 24 & 56 Cooper , Charles Bernard 242 f * 61 Sharland , William F 219 *!* 31 Lilly white , Herbert J M 62 155 <"'