Enlargement Of The Girls' School.

ENLARGEMENT OF THE GIRLS ' SCHOOL .

IT has long been evident that , -with the steady numerical increase which has marked the progress of our Order of late years , a considerable , if not a corresponding increase must be made in the benefits dispensed by our charitable institutions . Election follows election , and yefc

the number of candidates is invariably three or four , and occasionally five times as great as the number of vacancies to be filled . As regards the Benevolent Institution , the number of annuitants has been increased . The number of pupils in the Boys' School is greater every year- But in

the Girls' School , though the candidates are as numerous as ever , it has not been found possible materially to extend its sphere of usefulness , and this because the space at command will only accommodate the present number of pupils . It is not surprising then that with the greater energy now

shown in collecting funds for this Charity , and having regard to the increasing number of candidates , several schemes for the enlargement of the school should have been submitted from time to time to the governing body . At the Quarterly General Court of Governors and Subscribers held

on the 9 th October of last year , several motions were submitted , all having for object the extension of the school , the result being that these various schemes and any others which might be framed in the meantime were referred to a

Select Committee of Inquiry , in order that they might examine into and report upon the merits of the different plans . At tho Quarterly Court in January , Bro . Kenyon submitted a resolution for the establishment of a branch

school , and that for this purpose a freehold estate at Sunninghill should be inspected , and , if found eligible , purchased , and suitable premises erected thereon , the cost of the land and buildings not to exceed £ 12 , 000 . The next Quarterly Court will be holden on Saturday , the 8 th prox .,

when a number of rival schemes will be submitted for acceptance . First on the list comes that of Bro . Lieut .-Col . Creaton , who proposes the extension of the existing premises , so as to permit an addition to the number of pupils

of fifty-six . Lieut .-Col . Creaton ' s original proposition was for such an enlargement of the school as would admit ninety-four additional girls , but the cost of such enlargement was found to be too considerable . It would have

involved an outlay of over £ 20 , 000 , while the modified plan can be carried out for less than half that sum , the exact estimate being £ 9 , 400 . Number two is Bro . Browse ' s scheme , and differs but slightly from Lieut .-Col . Creaton ' s , provision being made for fifty additional pupils , while Bro .

TattershaU ' s may be placed under the same category , the further number to bo provided for being seventy-three , ancl the cost being estimated at £ 12 , 250 . Bro . Ravnham Stewart adheres to his original scheme of utilising the present infirmary for educational purposes , ancl building a

smaller infirmary . Bro . Nunn ' s plan is to purchase land at Claremont , at £ 180 per acre , or on Banstead Downs , supplied with gas and water at £ 300 per acre , or elsewhere , and build the nucleus of a new school . Bro . Kenyon renews his proposal for the purchase of 10 ! acres at

Sunninghill , at £ 530 per acre , and there to build the centre of a new school-house for the accommodation of fifty children , while Bro . Monckton proposes to purchase Richmond Hill House , and adapt the same for the purposes of a subsidiary

school , to accommodate eightv-two more children . Other schemes may be submitted at the General Court , but the ones we have specified are those which have engaged the attention of the Special Committee of Inquiry , and the re-

Enlargement Of The Girls' School.

sult of their labours is , that they recommend for adoption the first on the list—namely , Lieut .-Col . Creaton ' s , which will , as we have pointed out , cost less than £ 10 , 000 , and provide for fifty-six additional girls . Evidence was given before the Committee by the medical officer of the School

as to the healthiness of the present locality , so that any misgivings that may have occurred to any members of the Committee on this ground must necessarily be set at rest by the authoritative statement of this official . For ourselves , we have carefully weighed the several schemes , and the

conclusion we arrive at is , that the committee have done rightly in recommending for adoption the modified scheme proposed by Lieut .-Col . Creaton . The number of pupils will be sensibly increased , at a comparatively small outlay . The enlarged premises will suffice to accommodate over two

hundred girls , and if we reckon interest on the sum expended at 5 per cent , the cost , as regards the accommodation of the additional pupils , will but slightly exceed the very moderate average of £ 8 per girl . Circumstances , of course , may arise in the future which may necessitate the

provision of even greater space . As the Craft becomes numerically stronger , there is no doubt the number of applicants for admission into this Charity will be greater . In such case it may be found desirable to remove the School into the country . The Committee , however , after the most

careful deliberation , have dome to the conclusion that for the present , at least , no such need has arisen . They believe the existing premises can be made to accommodate over fifty more pupils at a moderate outlay , and very wisely

they content themselves with recommending the scheme propounded by Lieut .-Col . Creaton . We are glad of this , and we hope when the General Court meets , this day fortnight , that all who have a voice in the matter will heartily support the recommendation of the Committee .

We have assumed , of course , throughout these remarks , that all the plans submitted are submitted bond fide , or , in plain English , that no brother is interested , either directly or indirectly , in the success of his scheme . But should our

assumption be wrong , we trust that any brother who may be , even in the remotest degree , interested in bringing his scheme to a successful issue , will have the good sense and propriety to abstain from pressing it .

Masonic Portraits (No. 21.) A Pillar Of Masonry.

MASONIC PORTRAITS ( No . 21 . ) A PILLAR OF MASONRY .

" Wo know the gentleman To be of worth and worthy estimation , And not without desert so well reputed . " WHAT is the secret charm of Freemasonry ? Why is it able to attract within its mystic folds men of all

creedsand shades of thought , and of every conceivable variet y of disposition ? What can be the nature of that ethical teaching which is accepted without question by the Jew , the Christian , the Theist or the Mohammedan p Is it as broad as Christianity ? Is Masonry but the fundamental

basis of religion ? aud does it merely give expression to those feelings of awe and veneration for the Unknown which form the master truths of all tho religions of the world ? Questions such as these are often asked by candid

ancl reverend enquirers , who , without desiring to gratify their curiosity by entering the Craft , are yet anxious to know something of the nature of the tie which has linked 50 many ragged natures in its silken folds , a tie which has