The Forthcoming Festival Of The Girls' School.

THE FORTHCOMING FESTIVAL OF THE GIRLS' SCHOOL .

"TVTOW that the time is fast approaching for the One -L i Hundred and Fifth Anniversary Festival of the Boyal Masonic Institution for Girls it hehoves us to place before our reader some facts that will , we trust , prove not only interesting to them hut beneficial to

the Imtitution . As is generally known the Institution was fortunate enough to secure a Chairman for the Festival at an early date , and when it was announced that the Eight Hon . the Earl of Euston had consented to preside , it was unanimously agreed that a harder or more sympathetic worker for the Girls '

School could not have been wished for . Thus far the Institution has been fortunate , but it remains to be seen whether a sufficient body of Stewards will be forthcoming to make the present Festival a success . We would impress upon our readers the absolute

necessity of having a large amount collected for the Institution this year , for when we look at the amounts that have been forthcoming since 1888 , when the Centenary Festival took place , we cannot but feel that a considerable amount over what has

has been collected of late is absolutely necessary to make up the lee way and provide for exceptional expenses which have had to be incurred this spring . From one cause or another since 1888 the amounts ftollfiftted for the Girls' Sfihnol havfl not bflAn sn ] a , TP &

as could be wished for , but when we look at the great efforts that were made in the Centenary year , and the special calls that the Craft at large have had from the other Institutions we cannot wonder at it . But this year must be the Girls' year . No half-hearted work

will sulhce ; no sum that used to be deemed sufficient will do thiB year ; the Festival of 1893 must be a large and brilliant one , and for that object a band of at least 400 Stewards will be required . We are sorry to say that at the present time the number of Stewards does not come up to 400 , and unless Brethren

and Ladies send in their names faster than has already been the case the result will not be as it should . Every one knows what claims the Girls' School has upon the Craft , but as vear after vear the time

comes round when we feel it our duty to address our readers on behalf of that Institution Ave find it hard to say something that we have not already said . This year , however , we address our remarks to the younger members of the Craft , the older brethren

may or may not have read similar remarks beforefor it is the recruits of Freemasonry that we must look to for the additional support that is this year required . It will not , therefare , be out of place if we give a brief outline of what the Girl' School has do ™ .

It was founded early in 1788 , so that this year it will celebrate its One Hundred and Fifth Anniversary Festival . We are chiefly indebted to the establishment of the Girls' School'to the kindly and fraternal

enterprise of a certain Chevalier Bartolomeo Euspini , who was a most enthusiastic Freemason , and for a long term of years held the office of Grand Sword Bearer . At the time we are referring to , the Masonic

throne was occupied by a member of the Eoyal Family—His Eoyal Highness the Duke of Cumberland , Grand Master from 1782 till his death in 1790 , George Prince of Wales , afterwards George IV ., and

his brothers the Dukes of York and Clarence—the latter , years afterwards , ascending the throne as William IV . —were all of them made Masons in the year 1787 . It will thus be seen that when Brother Euspini had conceived the idea of establishing

a school for the daughters of indigent or deceased brethren , it was comparatively an easy task for him , having regard to his professional connection with the Court , to enlist the hearty sympathy and support of the Eoyal Craftsmen . Other prominent

brethren loyally assisted in the good cause , and it is hardly necessary for us to say that the ladies , headed by Her Eoyal Highness the Duchess of Cumberland , wife of the Grand Master , were very far from being

the least conspicuous among the patrons and promoters of the project . So warm a sympathy with Bro . Euspini ' s idea was excited in the mind , as well of the Duchess as of the Duke of Cumberland , that at

the outset of its career the Institution was publicly designated the Eoyal Cumberland School for the daughters of Freemasons . Under such brilliant auspices , it may well be imagined that funds were

forthcoming at once in such plenty that in the year 1793 a school-house was erected for the accomodation of the pupils on someleasehold ground belonging to the Corporation of London , and situate near the Obelisk in St . George ' s Fields . And here it remained , its

fortunes slowly , but on that account all the more surely , improving . With ever increasing means —all be it remembered the result of voluntary subscriptions unless we except the contributions of Grand Lodge—the number of inmates kept on increasing commensurately . The Prince of

Wales , who succeeded his uncle of Cumberland as Grand Master , was among the warmest patrons of the School . His brothers , and especially the Duke of Sussex , his successor in the Grand Mastership , followed his illustrious example . In short , from 1788

till now , all who have filled the office of Grand Master , the Grand Officers , the Officers and members of private Lodges , and a large number ' of Ladies and Lewises , have made it a point of honour and duty to support the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Girls .

When , in 1851 , the lease of the ground on which the original building was erected fell in , it was found impossible to renew it except at a largelyincreased rental , nor , having regard to the crowded state of the neighbourhood in which it stood , was

such , renewal considered desirable . Some freehold land wafc therefore purchased at Battersea Eise , and there was raised the present School-bouse . Not , however , in its entirety as we now see it . In the forty