Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

A special General Court of the Governors and subscribers of this institution Avas held on Thursday evening at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . J UDALL , V . P ., in the chair , to consider a motion of Bro . John Symonds , V . P ., " That the right to

a perpetual presentation of a properly-qualified girl for admission to this institution may be purchased on payment of one thousand guineas , no vote being exercised in virtue of such payment , and after the death of the contributor of such sum of iooo guineas , his or her right of

presentation shall be vested in his or her executors , administrators , appointees , or assigns , for ever . " The brethren present Avere H . BroAvse , W . Farnfield , John Symonds , John Hervey , James Terry , E . H . Patten , Major Creaton , and H . Massey .

Bro . SYMONDS said the object of his motion Avas to bring the laAvs of this Institution in conformity Avith those of the Boys ' . All the other laws corresponded , but as the Boys' School had recently adopted this rule , it Avas necessary for

the sake of uniformity that the Governors of the Girls' School should come to the same decision . Bro . H . BROAVSE seconded the motion , Avhich was carried unanimously . The rule Avill not include gifts by corporate bodies . It is intended for individuals only .

Bro . HERVEY proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman , Avhich Bro . SYMONDS seconded , and which was carried nem . con .

The General Committee of this Institution met for the last time in 186 9 , on Thursday evening , in the Board-room , Freemasons' Hall . Bro . Major Creaton , V . P ., took the chair , and Avas

supported by Bros . John Udall , John Symonds , H . BroAA'se , James Terry , E . H . Patten , H . Massey , J . H . Hemsworth , S . Noble , Thomas AV . AVhite , W . J . Adams , Edward Cox , and W . Farnfield .

1 here Avere eight cases of candidates to be placed on the list for election in April next , but two only were found to be eli gible . The other six Avere deferred . Cheques Avere signed for payment ofthe institution ' s accounts , and the Committee adjourned . There will be eleven vacancies at the next election .

Anniversary Of St. John's Lodge, Glasgow.

ANNIVERSARY of St . JOHN'S LODGE , GLASGOW .

The 812 th anniversary of thc Glasgow St . John ' s Lodge of Freemasons ( No . 3 bis ) Avas held in Carrick ' s Royal Hotel on the 27 th ultimo . The following office-bearers Avere duly installed by Bro . Donald Campbell , of Edinburgh : —John Baird , R . W . M . ; Thomas Ramsay , P . M . ; Robert Neilson .

D . M . ; James M'Millan , S . M . ; AVilliam Kyle , junr ., S . W . ; Thomas Fletcher , J . AV . ; R . D . Samuels , Treasurer ; Rev . T . B . W . Nivcn , Chaplain ; J . Anderson , Secretary ; James Adam , Architect ; John Dick , S . D . ; James Kyle , J . D . ; D . S . Henderson , Jeweller ; D . Walker , Director of

Music ; J . Sharpe , Assistant Director of Music ; James Keith , S . S . ; Dr . H . C . Moffat , R . Grange , and J . M'Owit , J . S . ; T . Ewing , I . G . ; J . Pollock , O . G . ; Bros . Park , Dawson , and Grange , Auditors ; Wm . AVaggett , representative Steward ; D . Bryce , jun ., Edinburgh , Proxy-master .

Immediately after the installation ceremony the brethren , to thc number of about one hundred , dined together in Mr . Carrick ' s spacious and handsome dining hall . The chair was occupied bv Bro . John Baird , the Right Worshipful Master , aiid the croupier's chair by Bro . Kyle , jun ., thc Senior

Warden . Amongst the company Avere — Bro . Walter Montgomery Neilson , Provincial Grand Master of Glasgow ; Bro . Donald Campbell , 3 bis ; Bro . M'Taggart , 27 ; Bro . Scott , R . AV . M ., 27 ; Bro . Stewart , R . AV . M ., 73 ; Bro . Hacket , R . AV . M ., 102 ; Bro . Granger , R . W . M ., 117 ; Bro . M'Intyre , R . AV . M .,

333 ! Nro . D . Murray Lyon , G . S ., Proxy Master of Scarborough , Island of Tobago , 488 ; Bros . Joseph Houghton and John Young , New York ; Bros . Thos . Ramsay , Jas . Watson , David Manwell , Robt . Neilson , James M'Millan , M'Aulay , Robb , and John AVhytc , 3 bis , & c , & c . After an excellent dinner had been partaken ofthe lodge was opened

, and the brethren having been called from labour to refreshment , thc usual introductory toasts were given from the chair . Bro . Captain Lees replied tor thc Army , and Bro . Neilson , P . G . M ., for the Volunteers . Bro . Murray Lyon , replied for the Grand Lodges of England , Ireland and Scotland ; and m the course of his remarks said thc Grand

Anniversary Of St. John's Lodge, Glasgow.

Lodge of Scotland meetings ought occasionally to be held in Glasgow , and in some town in the North . Such a proposal Avas made by the Lodge Mother Kilwinning , at the time the Grand Lodge Avas erected in 173 6 , but as it came from Avhat Avas then considered a provincial lodge , hailing from an

insignificant town in Ayrshire , it had little effect on the promoters of the Grand Lodge Institution . But the time had now come , he thought , for repeating it , ancl if the Masons of Glasgow and the West of Scotland Avent unitedly and properly about the matter , be had no doubt their immense influence

would have some weight . The R . W . M ., in giving "The Provincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow , " said the untimely death of Captain Spiers had occasioned great grief to all the brethren in the province . They had now , however , secured the services of a Provincial Master

who had the will and the energy to advance their best interests . ( Applause . ) The province had been increasing greatly in numbers of late , and , under the care of Bro Montgomery , he hoped to sec it increase still more , until it should be necessary to halve it . If the exertions of the Piwincial

Lodge were heartily seconded this result might easily be accomplished , for there was no reason Avhy every male adult in the community should not belong to the order . Bro Neilson , P . G . M ., thanked the company for the manner in which the toast had been receiA-ed .

He assured them that tbe Provinical Lodge was composed of brethren who did their duty to the utmost of their ability , and he trusted that in their efforts for the good of the order they would be supported by tbe other lodges in the West . A worthy brother had spoken of masonic influence in thc

West , and it Avas a fact that the brethren in the East Avere very jealous of tbat influence , and tbat this jealousy sometimes showed itself in such a manner as to give the Provincial Lodge some trouble and trial of patience . The brethren of Grand Lodge , however , had always conducted

themselves as Masons and gentlemen should , and he trusted that the jealousy be had alluded to would ultimately tend to the soldering of the two districts more closely together . He was quite sure that the proposed occasional holding of Grand Lodge meetings Avould not be conceded , and even if it were it

would hardly be a benefit , as thc Provincial lodges , which Avere just portions of Grand Lodge , Avere quite capable of discharging even the most important duties . The worthy Chairman had spoken of the increasing number of brethren in Glasgow , and of the efforts which should be made to add to their

roll of membership . He did not mean to hurt the feelings of any brother present Avhen he said that in gathering people into their Craft they ought not to go out into the streets and hail every one they met . His opinion was , that not every man was fit to be a Mason —( hear , bear)—tbat , indeed , there were many

men whom they ought not to admit to their body . Let them support thc influence ofthe Craft by keep ing up its dignity . ( Applause . ) Bro . Neilson proceeded to urge the . Alasonic body in Glasgow to at once set about thc erection of a hall which should bear their name , and be worthy of their position . It was not respectful , he thought , to ask the Provincial

Grand Lodge to meet in a back room , got at by a dirty close and four or five pair of stairs . He hoped they would all put their shoulders to the wheel , and that before long tbey would see tbe undertaking commenced . To see a beginning made Avould be one of his chief anxieties during his occupation of tbe chair to AA'bicb the kindness of tbe brethren bad called him .

Bro . ROBERT NEILSON proposed " The Lord Provost , Magistrates , and Town Council of Glasgow , " and the CROUPIER "The Incorporation of Masons , " to which ex-Deacon Shannon replied . The R . AV . M . proposed the health of Bro . David Manwell , which was cordially pledged .

Bro . NEILSON , P . G . M ., proposed "The Lodge of Glasgow St . John , " remarking that it had long been regarded as an honour to the Craft . He was pleased to see present so many of its old members , but even more pleased to sec that of late it had received a good deal of new and fresh blood , and tbat it

promised to be as flourishing in the future as in the past . ( Applause . ) Bro . BAIRD , R . AV . M ., replied . He stated that forty members had been added during the past year , besides six affiliations , and that generally the lodge was in a prosperous condition . Referring to thc

remarks of Bro . Neilson , he said that the Lodge St . John had set about the construction of a hall for themselves , but if it were shown thein that a scheme for a large general hall would be successful they would give it there hearty support . Thc remaining toasts were , " Absent Brethren and

Masonry over the AA ' orld , " "Thc Past Office-bearers and Bro . Ramsay , " " Our Right AVorshipful Master , " "The Visiting Brethren , " "ThcLadics , " and" Happy to meet , sorry to part , & c . " The proceedings were enlivened by some excellent vocal and instrumental music and thc brethren separated at a seasonable hour , all pleased with their entertainment .

Advice To Travellers On The Continent.

ADVICE TO TRAVELLERS ON THE CONTINENT .

( From London Society . ) For economical reasons , the present Avriter mostly travels long distances oii tbe continent third class , unless accompanied by ladies ; Your travelling companions are no doubt a " mixture , " which implies

that you often meet amongst them Avell-informed , Avell-behaved , and agreeable people , particularly persons , both men and women , engaged in commercial pursuits . Rudeness is very rare ; but is immediately put down by public protest . Tipsy men are less rare , but they are held in check by the

same restraint . On the other hand you get a capital insight into popular manners and ideas ( supposing you understand the language ) which you might have a difficulty ot acquiring else \ A'here . The great nuisance of French third-class railway carriages is

the abonnnal pipes and the still more abominable Iucifer matches . For this there is no remedy ; it must be borne . It is useless to attempt to stop it by appealing to authority . Smoking in thirdclass carriages , though contrary to regulation , is an admitted , tolerated , established fact . You

might as Avell beg your fellow-traveller not to breathe as not to smoke . " If you can ' t bear smoke , why don't you go second or first class ? " is the remark , spoken or unspoken , your request would give rise to . It is in the North of France , however , tbat the smoking mania attains its fullest

development . The further you go South the less you are annoyed by the filthy fumes of foul tobacco . It is understood that nothing short of necessity will induce you to pass a night , or even great part of one , in a third-class carriage ; but night travelling in any class does not enter our system . There are ,

however , what are called " direct" trains , intermediate in speed between thc express and omnibus trains , but going more nearly at the rate of the former than the latter , Avhich do take second and third class passengers , but under conditions so confined and troublesome as to render them of little

use to the general traveller . To avail yourself of them , otherwise than by first-class , you must take your ticket from Paris for enormous distances . At most stations along the road you cannot get into them except at the higher rates oj payment . Moreover , during thc present summer " direct "

trains are fewer than they were last year . So that , in fact , * it comes , as just stated , to the choice between an omnibus ( all three classes ) and an express ( first class only ) train . If you follow our advice , you will avoid cheap excursion trains , and confine yourselves to the ordinruy trains of the time tables .

True , thc saving is sometimes enormous ; but so also are thc discomfort and tlie fatigue . For instance , this season , excursion trains for the Exhibition have run from Marseilles to Paris , for thirty francs there and back . But fancy going all the way from Marseilles to Paris ( five hundred and

forty English miles ) by the slowest of trains , without stopping , day and night , closely packed in an oven on wheels , compelled to sleep in a sitting posture , with hard boards for your easy chair and no pillow but your neighbour ' s shoulder ! A pretty pleasure train to take your place in ! And then ,

after this , the sight-seeing in Paris ; and then the return home in exactly thc same style , not on thc day or at the hour you would choose , but when the knell sounds for the train to carry you off , precisely as a demon carries off a purchased victim when his time is up ! It is enough to kill , not a

horse , but a creature gifted with the strength of fifty horses . AA ' e also advise you to resist the temptation of circular tickets , available for a month or so , issued at professedly reduced prices , with a given itinerary at any point of which you may stop . The offer is plausible , and the scheme far preferable to

the preceding ; but we have calculated thc difference between several of these pretended cheap tours and the price of ordinary trains , and thc reduction made is very trifling compared with the loss of freedom it involves . With your route so laid out for you and your time so limited , it is very

like travelling in a strait-jacket accompanied by a keeper One of thc great enjoyments of travel is the feeling of liberty it gives ; not to mention the unexpected excursions and branchings-off made on the spur of the moment . But with one of these

book tickets stuck in your side pocket , you arc constantly reminded that you are not your own master ; you are given in charge to the care of thc railway officers . Post equiteni still sedel alra cunt , and your doctor has told you to leave all care On the other side of tbe water . Better far is it to

economise in some other way , and to know , on going io bed at night , that to-morrow morning ' the world is all before vou where to choose . "