Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

THE ancient Guildhall has seldom been more prettily peopled than on the afternoou of Saturday last , when the Lord Mayor ( a member of the House Committee ) and the Lady Mayoress invited the children to be their guests in the City for a few hours . Un route to the ot tne

Mansion House , the girls , wno , with tne members staff accompanying them , numbered some 200 , were taken over the Guildhall , the Museum , and the Art Gallery , entirely novel sights to them all . Before leaving the new Council Chamber , they sang , with heart and voice , " God

save the Queen , " in honour of its being the eve of the birthday of Her Most Gracious Majesty . By the friendly aid of the City Police , the whole party wero then carefully escorted to the Mansion House , which was reached at 4 o ' olock . The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress received

their little guests in the Saloon , and cordially shook hands with each one . His Lordship then conducted them over the whole of the Mansion House , arriving , finally , at the Great Egyptian Hall , where several long tables were laden with a substantial tea , to whioh most

ample justice was done . The little girls in blue were then introduced to Mr . Charles Bertram , the prince of conjurors , who , for upwards of an hour , puzzled and entertained them to their heart's content . Two or three nart songs were then charmingly sung , under the able baton

of Mrs . Boworth , the singing mistress , and the Lord Mayor , having kindly and feelingly addressed the children , and , with the Lady Mayoress , received their hearty and appreciative thanks , they were taken home to ponder at their leisure over some of the wonders of The Great City

of London . Miss Davis and Miss Buck , with several members of the staff , were present with the children , as were Bros . C . Hammerton ( Chairman of the month ) , Sir John Monckton , Edward Letchworth , Peter de Lande Long , J . H . Matthews , Col . James Peters , Prank Richardson , and James Moon .

Lord Methuen is seriously ill , at his residence , Corsham Court , Chippenham , Wilts , and , in consequence , has resigned his position as Provincial Grand Master of Freemasons of Wilts . Tho resignation has caused much

regret , as Lord Methuen was the oldost P . G . M . in England , with the exception of Lord Leigh , of Warwickshire , having been appointed in 1853 , Earl Radnor , of Longford Caatle , Salisbury , will be Lord Methnen ' s successor .

The installation of Bro . Vassar-Smith as Provincial Grand Master of the Mark Masons of Gloucestershire and Herefordshire has been arranged to tako place on Friday , 2 Gth June . The ceremony will be performed by tho Most Hon . tho Marquis of Hertford , Deputy G . Master , assisted by other Officers of Grand Lodge .

The papers now being circulated respecting the Masonio elections illustrate the difficulty of knowing what is a safe " minimum " to poll , and prove how near were several of the " misses " to becoming successful . The elections for the aged Freemasons and widows occur only once a year , so that the defeated candidates have to wait until May 1892 before they can try again . There were 66 malo

candidates , and the vacancies having been increased from 14 to 20 , the lowest successful won with 2553 votes . The highest polled only 3537 , so there was not a thousand difference between all tho score elected . There were fonr candidates from Devon—two from No . 218 ( Brixham ) , and one each from No . 159 ( Plymonth ) , and No . 202 ( Dovonport ) , the last mentioned being elected as No . 6 , with 3067 votes . There were 81 widows anxious to soenre the 16

vacancies , 12 having been tha original number first indicated . Again tho votes ran wonderfully close , the maximum obtaining 4261 , and the minimum successful having 2943 , There were seven candi . uatos from Devon , viz ., one each from No . 39 ( Exeter ) , No . 106 ( Exmouth ) , and No . 159 ( Plymouth ) , and two each from No . 249 ( Brixham ) and No . 372 ( Bndleigh Salterton ) . None wore supported ny the Province . For Cornwall , there were three applications , one

« acu nailing from 75 Falmouth , 977 Fowey , and 450 Hayle , the latter of whom received the full snpport of the Province , bnt owing -o the difficulty of procuring votes on loau , not more than 2804 wero secured , which though a large number failed to obtain a place , two lost by still narrower differences , ono polling 2930 , and tho other " , ° votes - Four of the aged Freemasons polled over 2000 each , ana lost m like manner . —Western Momin < i News .

St. John's Lodge, No. 795.

ST . JOHN'S LODGE , No . 795 .

THE first regular meeting of this summer Lodge was hold at the Ray Mead Hotel , on Wednesday , the 17 th instant . Present—Bros . Fenton W . M ., Custance S . W ., Allen P . M . acting J . W ., Tnckor S . D ., Kennally I . G ., Sohonten D . of C , T . Meeks ; P . M . ' a Capt . Finch Treasurer P . P . G . Sword Bearer Berks , Linscott , Greenfield Senior P . G . Sword Bearer Berks , F . Foxley Seoretary , Dearing P . M . 1602 ' Sheppard Tyler . Visitors—Bros . Foote ( Kimberley , S . A . ) , Biggs W . M .

1566 , Capt . Sankey 1566 , Batting W . S . 1566 , Osborn P . M . P . P . G . Sword Bearer Middlesex 1602 , Wilton 1566 , Napier Fulton ( of Montreal ) Eoyal Savoy 1744 . Lodge having been duly opened and minutes read and confirmed , a ballot waa taken for Mr . John Billing Kilby , Hotel Proprietor , Cookham Bridge , and for Mr . Wm . Thomis Ashley , which was declared nnanimons in their favour . The former

was then duly initiated into the mysteries of ancient Freemasonry by the W . M ., in a very able and impressive manner . Several pro . positions were brought forward for initiations at the next Lodgo meeting . Lodgo having been dnly closed , the brethren were invited by the W . M . to a trip on the river , in the Ray Mead Eleotrio Launoh . Refreshments on a liberal scale wero provided on board by the W . M .

who , with the brethren , thoroughly enjoyed the lovely scenery at this part of the Thames , whioh is not to be surpassed in the world . On return to the hotel a plain dinner was well served by the proprietor , Bro . Bowen . The usnal toasts were given . The Worshipful Master proposed the health of the initiate Bro . Kilby , who responded in a neat speeoh , to the purpose . Bro . Greenfield responded for the

Province of Berks , expressing his great delight in seeing the W . M ., as the first initiate who had for many years attained to that honourable position , so ably disoharge his dnties . The W . M . having exerted himself in every possible way to gratify the brethren , the latter departed by early train , reaching town before ten o ' clock , and

carrying with them renewed feelings of love and affection for their W . M ., whioh will long endure . The faot that local members are now coming to this compaot little Lodge , whioh hitherto has been com . posed almost exclusively of town brethren , augurs well for its prosperity , doubtless owing to the popularity of Bro . Fenton the W . M . throughout the Province of Berks .

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