Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

A Quarterly Court of this Institution's Governors and Subscribers was held at Freemasons' Hall on Saturday last . Bro . Horace Brooks Marshall , J . P ., Past Grand Treasurer , and Treasurer of the Institution , presided , and there were likewise present Bros . Frank Richardson , Arthur E . Gladwell , C . H . Webb , Charles J . Perceval , H . W . Hunt , E . Letchworth , G . W . Verry , George Mickley , Alfred C . Spaull , J . S . Cumberland , J . Clever , H . Massey , and F . R . W . Hedges ( Secretary . ) Bro . C J . PERCEVAL , Vice-President , moved

i . To amend Law 55 as follows : "That a Girl snail not be eligible for election unless the father has been a subscribing member to some lodge for seven years , but should death , or permanent incapacity occasioned by paralysis , blindness , fire , shipwreck or other calamity have occurred within seven years of his initiation , this rule shall not apply , providing , nevertheless , that at the time of such occurrence the father was a subscribing member to some lodge . "

2 . " That any candidate whose petition may be approved by the General Committee before this amendment of Law 55 may be confirmed , shall not be afflicted thereby . "

He said that with regard to the motion he made it pro forma , because the Boys'School had carried a similar one . He thought the rules governing the two Schools should be as far as possible similar . The Boys' School intended shortly to have a revision of the entire laws of that Institution , and

he hoped this Institution would do the same . The present rule in the book might be a little more explicit , but when he brought that rule forward it was because the other rule acted very unfairly . A child whose father had subscribed one or two months only ought not to be placed in the same position as a child whose father had subscribed 20 years .

Bro . A . C . SPAULL seconded , though he did not agree altogether with the remarks of Bro . Perceval , whose idea was that the Girls' School Rules should conform to those of the Boys ' , and the Boys' to those of the Girls ' . He agreed , however , with him that it was extremely desirable that the rules should all be revised .

Bro . J . S . CUMBERLAND wished to inform Bro . Perceval that on Friday he simply withdrew his motion in consequence of something which would shortly take place , and when this had taken place he should propose a revision of the rules , and that both Boys' and Girls' rules should be alike . Bro . WEBB remarked that there was a motion before the Boys' Committee , but it had been postponed . But he did not think they were wrong

in ventilating the question in order that they might see if there were any points to be considered when those laws were revised . The point as to the two or three years' subscriptions has been mooted , and although deferred it would arise hereafter . He advised Bro . Perceval to withdraw his motion for the present . The motion was withdrawn .

1 he next motion was a recommendation from the General Committee that 50 eligible candidates remaining from the last October election , with 24 whose petitions have since been approved , be placed upon the list of candidates for the April election , and that 17 vacancies caused by girls leaving the Institution be declared .

Bro . E . LETCHWORTH , P . G . D ., said the Court would be gratified to learn that the alterations and additions to the Junior School , thanks to Bro . Hunt , the architect , had been completed , and the Committee were now in a position to receive into that School an additional number of girls . At a recent House Committee , on the 24 th inst ., it was resolved to recommend that 20 additional vacancies , making 37 in all , be declared at the April

election , thereby raising the elected number of girls on the Institution to 257 . It was further resolved that , in the event of the above recommendation being adopted , the 20 candidates highest on the poll at the election in April be admitted at the' House Committee meeting next following the election , and the remaining 17 at the usual time . He begged to give notice of motion , on the recommendation of the House Committee , "That 20

additional vacancies for the April election , making 37 in all , be declared , thereby raising the number of the elected girls on the Institution to 257 . " and at the same time he begged to move that the 50 eligible candidates remaining at last election , together with 24 others whose petitions had been since approved , be placed on the list for the April election , and that 17 vacancies , caused by girls leaving , be declared . The result would be that 37 out of 74 would be elected , just half the number of candidates .

Bro . LETCHWORTH said now that he was upon his legs , perhaps the Court would permit him to say a few words in reference to a matter about which observations had been made out of doors , and on which it was desirable that a proper understanding should exist ; it was with reference to the financial position of the Institution in consequence of the Centenary Festival . He learned from Bro . Hedges that the amount declared at the

Festival was £ 50 , 500 , but , by additions since made , it had reached the total sum of £ 51 , 500 . Now , of this sum , speaking in round figures , about £ 1000 was received in the year 1887 in anticipation , in order that the subscribers mi ght have the benefit of the votes at the election . The receipts of the centenary year were £ 44 , 660 , and since the year 1888 had turnedduring January—Bro . Hedges had received about £ 600 more . Of the balance , something like £ 3000 was Association money , which , as the brethren

were aware , could only be realised as the donors were successful in obtaining their ballots from the Associations , and as these usually ran over several years , the payment of this sum was extended over that time . This left £ 2500 of what one mi ght call collectable money , all of which had been applied for in the usual way ; but it was payable at the convenience of the donors . He thought this a successful state of things , and he was glad to make these observations for the information of the brethren . He now begged to move the resolution .

Bvo . FRANK RICHARDSON seconded . The motion was carried . The CHAIRMAN said before he declared the business of the meeting concluded he thought it right to say , in reply to a question which had been Put to him , that votes were not issued in virtue of promised donations .

Bro . WEBB thought out of the large amount got at the festival last year here ought to be £ 10 , 000 placed as a permanent investment to meet contingencies for a further extra outlay . Ihe CHAIRMAN replied that the greater part of the amount was invested n aeposit ; it could not be permanently invested , because they did not Know the expenses of the alterations . Ihe proceedings then terminated ,

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The January Quarterly Court of the Governors and Subscribers of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys was held at Freemasons' Hall on the 25 th ult . Bro . W . Roebuck , P . G . Swd . Br ., presided , and there were also

present—Bros . W . Smithett , A . E . Barratt Kidder , Rev . Richard Morris , James Motion , J . S . Cumberland , C . H . Webb , Andrew Motion , Thomas Smith , Arthur E . Gladwell , H . Massey , W . Alpass , W . H . Saunders , W . Punnell , J . Bodenham , George Motion , John Glass , F . Gannaway , J . L . Dale , G . P . Britten , T . A . Motion , Joseph Boulton , H . Homewood , Alfred Thos . Layton , William Masters , and F . Binckes ( Secretary ) .

After the reading and confirmation of the minutes , Bro . W . H . SAUNDERS , L . G ., moved— "That Law No . 53 be suspended during next April election for the purpose of admitting Harold Gray as a candidate at such election . " According to the statement of the worthy

brother , this boy will at the April election be above 11 years of age , and consequently above the limit of age for admission to the School ; and he laid before the Court the hardship of the case , the boy having been unsuccessful at previous elections .

Bro . the Rev . Dr . MORRIS ( Head Master ) , for the purpose of having the question discussed , seconded the motion . Bro . C . H . WEBB opposed , stating that as the law stood the boy could not be admitted , that it was no use having laws if they were every now and then to be set aside to meet particular cases .

Bro . BINCKES pointed out that , according to Rule 34 , a motion could be made for altering or abrogating any of the laws ; but there was no provision for motions for suspending a law with reference to the question of grievance or hardship . Many , many boys had been declared off the lists of candidates who were only three or four days in excess oE the prescribed

age . Bro . GEORGE MOTION considered there were exceptional circumstances in the present case , and he supported Bro . Saunders . The CHAIRMAN did not think he could put the motion according to Rule

No . 34 , which did not provide for the suspension of a law , and , therefore , he refused to put it . Bro . SAUNDERS said he should then propose that they elect another Chairman , and he named Bro . Britten . Bro . G . MOTION seconded ; but Bro . Britten preferred to decline .

Bro . J GLASS thought they might discuss whether this motion was in order according to the by-laws , while not setting up his opinion against the Chairman's . The usual procedure had been taken , notice of motion

having been given according to tne laws . Bro . J BODENHAM , on the general question of order , asked whether if the law were suspended it would come into operation at once ? The CHAIRMAN said yes .

Bro . J . S . CUMBERLAND wished to explain to the brethren that the Law 34 , which provided for the giving notice of motion for alteration or abrogation of a law , referred to a permanent alteration or abrogation , and not for a temporary suspension . Do not let their feelings run away with them so as to lead them to break the law because they were ready to help a poor widow .

Bro . W . H . SAUNDERS said he should support the next motion b y Bro . Cumberland . Bro . J . S . CUMBERLAND , L . G ., had the following notice of motion on the paper : " That the laws of the Institution be referred for revision and correction to a Committee , whose recommendations shall be submitted to

the Quarterly General Court on 26 th April next , or to a special General Court to be convened in accordance with Law 31 . " He said , however , that as the report of the Committee of Inquiry into the Boys' School had not yet been made , he felt himself in a difficulty . The report might suggest alterations which would again come before the Committee , and it would be

much better that the whole thing should come on together , so as to make the matter final . On the abstract question of when it was necessary to alter the rules , they might , perhaps , be agreed , but , coming to details , there were certain things which would be much better if made clearer , and more

in harmony with the general working of the Institution ; that was the reason he gave his notice of motion , but he would defer -it till some report was made by the Investigating Committee , and then he was sure the brethren would be only too ready to come forward and consider the matter . The motion was then withdrawn .

Bro . ANDREW MOTION asked when the report of the Commissioners would be ready . The CHA ' IRMAN said he had not the slightest idea . Bro . CUMBERLAND thought the report would be presented to the Quarterly Court in April .

The brethren then adopted the following recommendation of the General Committee : " That 17 boys be elected at the Quarterly General Court , to be held on Friday , 26 th April , 188 9 , from an approved list of 72 candidates , subject to the decision of the Court on two cases in addition deferred for final consideration . " The Court was then dissolved .

HIGH DEGREES . —We have already said a good deal on this subject under Grades , High , and we do not think it needful to dilate upon it here again . Suffice it to observe that that the High Degrees , " Les Hautes Grades , " may all , we believe , be traced back to Chevalier Ramsay , though , such as they are , they are the amplification and development of his more modest addition to the Craft Degrees . At the same time , it is but fair to

observe that recent investigations seem to show that , before Ramsay , in England an Hermetic Society existed , though of its exact nature there seems some doubt . It may have been only an adaptation of the older Rosicrucian confraternity , the historical " Fratres Rosea ? Crucis ; " or it may even have been a quasi revival of the same . That the real Rosicrucians

existed , is , we apprehend , incontestable ; what their connection with English Masonic Hermeticism is , is another and very different question . We prefer , as we have said more than once , the simpler system of our English Grand Lodge , which limits true and ancient Masonry to the Three Degrees and the Royal Arch . —Kenning ' s Cyclopaedia of Freemasonry .