Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

The Quarterly Court of Governors and Subscribers to » his Institution was held last Saturday at Freemasons' Hall . Bro Horace Brooks Marshall , J . P ., Past Grand Treasurer , « rp <; ided , and there were also present Bros . Ralph Glutton , & n % e Cooper , E . Letchworth , H . Massey , C . H . Webb ,

r I Perceval , W . Watkins ( Monmouth ) , A . li . Gladwell , Peter de Lande Long , W . E . Hottingham , 77 ; C Stratford P-M . 4 S 3 ; Thomas Fenn , W . W . Morgan , Wm , Russell ( Chairman Charity Committee , Kent ) , W . F , Masters , and F . R . W . Hedges ( Secretary ) . _ After the reading and confirmation of the minutes , and the reading of the minutes of General and House Comcandidates for the

mittees for information , the list of election of October next was settled , from which it was shown that there will be 64 candidates , 0 of whom are to Bro . E . LETCHWORTH , P . G . D ., then , for Bro . Frank Richardson , P . G . D ., moved " That a gratuity of £ 25 be made to Miss M . F . Goodridge , Assistant Governess , on

her retirement from the School for the purpose of being married , " Bro . Letchworth said Miss Goodridge had been Assistant Governess for some years , and she had given the greatest satisfaction to the Head Governess and to the Committee . She had also distinguished herself in her studies . She passed her examinations at the Royal Academy of Music , and she was a most accomplished musician ,

and he vvas sure all the supporters of the Institution would wish her , as the House Committee wished her , every happiness in her future life . Bro . P . de L . LONG , P . G . D ., in seconding the motion , said that on a similar occasion the Institution had presented another governess with a like sum , and they were now only following * a precedent . Bro . C . H . WEBB said he was not going to move an

amendment , but he merely objected to the funds of the Institution being disposed of in that way . The money vvas not g iven to the Institution for such purposes . No doubt Miss Goodridge was a very worthy young lady , but he opposed the motion on principle . Bro . H . MASSEy . —Hear , hear . Bro . LETCHWORTH said there was a feeling among the

Committee that the girls educated at the School , and who became governesses there , were , to a certain extent , children of the Craft and of the Institution . He had always thought that they , the Governors of the Institution , stood in the place of parents to the girls , and on those grounds he ventured to think they were not exceeding their powers in making these gifts .

The motion was carried , with two dissentients—Bros . Webb and Massey . Bro . W . RUSSELL , for Bro . J . Smith Eastes , P . G . D ., D . P . G . M . Kent , moved— "That this Court accept the sum of one thousand guineas from the Province of Kent in commemoration of the Centenary of the Institution , for the purchase of a perpetual presentation of one girl to the

School , to be called the 'Jubilee' Presentation , the right of such presentation being vested in the Provincial Grand Master of Kent for the time being , or other duly authorised person , in accordance with an agreement similar to those providing for presentations from West Yorkshire to this Institution . " Bro . Russell said that Bro . Eastes was not able to be present , and , therefore , asked him , when he

found that he ( Bro . Russell ) was going to be there , to make the motion for him . As Charity Representative of the Province of Kent , and , on behalf of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , he , therefore , moved the motion . There was no necessity for his making a long speech , because every one knew the interest the Province of Kent took in the Masonic Girls' School .

Bro . C . H . WEBB seconded the motion , which was put , and carried unanimously . Bro . C . J . PERCEVAL , Vice-President , moved— "That the following addition be made to Law 55 , after the word 'livelihood , ' in the sixth line , viz ., ' in any of which cases the father must have been a subscribing member of a lodge for three years . '" Bro . Perceval said he brought this

motion for this reason . At the last election a girl was returned at the head of the poll whose father had not been in Masonry three months , and had not taken his Third Degree ; and when he saw such a case overriding those of girls whose fathers had been sixteen-and-a half years in Masonry , 13 years , and 20 years , and had been doing good service to Masonry , if the length of service gave a claim ,

then a child whose father had done nothing , and had not even taken his Third Degree , had no claim . If the father had been taken away by death , and not done any good thing for Masonry , that was another thing ; they could not help that ; he had not had it in his power to do anything ; but he thought the benefits of the Institution should not be given to such children whose fathers had been so short a

time in Masonry . Bro . C H . WEBB seconded the motion with a considerable amount of pleasure , in this sense , that he quite agreed with the views of Bro . Perceval . It was not the first time they had had cases of that kind , and it was only by the generosit y of the brethren that they got put on the list and elected , for thev were all kind hearted and did not like to

refuse a case . If they had a law whereby the principle was la , o down that a case could not be entertained where the lather had not subscribed a certain time such cases could "ot come up . Many of these cases were passed by the General Committee ; it was not a question of merit , but a ? - . * r '' - ° ^ management . He thought the privileges of the Institution were largely abused . He vvould be ,

however , inclined to alter the three to two years . Bro . PERCEVAL intimated that he might be disposed to accept the two years' limit . Bro . GLADWELL said in 1 S 84 Bro . Godson , in the Boys ' '" slUiition , brought forward a motion to this effect , which nad been printed in the rules , but it was worded in such a "ay that it was nugatory by its own verbiage . It was that three years should be a necessary qualification . It was

accepted by the Quarterly Court at the day of election . w . ?| always Bro . Godson ' s intention lhat a three years ' hi ! k ' h ° u'd be necessary . In the present case it In i ! en su ? S ested that it should be modified to two years , n either case he thought it would be right and proper . Bro , WEBB said of course the rule might be relaxed in a treat catastrophe like the wreck of the "Princess Alice . " an 1 * - * HAIRMAN said it could always be moved to suspend Cou i ' * " " ^ carrlec ' 't t he confirmed by a General Bl * o . LETCHWORTH , P . G . D ., did not quite agree with

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

the brethren who had spoken , but thought that as soon as a man was a Mason he should be entitled to the same privileges other Masons enjoyed . It should be left to the subscribers to decide whether the case was a good one or not . Bro . W . RUSSELL ( Kent ) supported the motion . Election after election the number of candidates were very

large , and there was a tendency in it to grow . When a candidate was once on the paper they could not stop her . He thought Bro . Perceval ' s motion vvas right . They ought to take some care to guard the interests of those who had served a long * time in Freemasonry . In the other Institutions in the Craft it was quite right to impose some restrictions in order that those who had done great things in

Masonry misjhtbe preferred to those who had done nothing . Although they were taught in Masonry that they were all equal , this did not hold good in all circumstances . How was it possible to put an initiate on the same footing with a brother who had served Masonry 14 , 20 , or 25 years

The child of the Mason of 25 years' standing should be on a better footing than the child of a brother who had only just taken his Third Degree . He preferred the three years to the two years . At the Board of Benevolence it was two years , but that was for a solitary instance of relief ; but here it was for relief or benefit extending over a series of

years . Bro . FENN , President of the Board of General Purposes , said , with referrence to the remarks as to the qualification of the child of a brother who had been 20 or 25 years a Mason , he did not think it likely that a brother who had been all that time in Masonry would have a child young enough to be eligible for the Institution . ( Oh , oh . ) One Brother who had been 24 years a Mason said he had

nearly half a dozen children whose ages rendered them eligible . ( Laughter . ) Bro . FENN said as to a catastrophe like the loss of the " Princess Alice , " rules were then relaxed . The CHAIRMAN said that the relief at the Board of Benevolence was adminstered by the Board , who were really trustees of the general Masonic funds , but with the Charitable Institutions the elections were in the hands of

those who had paid their own money . Bro . PERCEVAL i , aid he should adhere to his three years . The motion was then put and carried . The brethren then adopted Bro . Fenn ' s advice to keep the funds which were invested in Consols in that security .

To adopt the Chancellor of the Exchequer ' s Conversion Scheme would be a loss to the Institution of £ 500 . The brethren afterwards considered the plans of the new buildings as explained by Bro . Glutton . A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the proceedings .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The Quarterly General Court of this Institution vvas held at Freemasons' Hall , on Friday , the 27 th ult . Bro . J . M . Clabon , Vice-Patron and Trustee , P . G . D ; , presided , and there were present Bros . J . W . Ramsay , M . D ., W . Smithett , W . Tunnicliff , E . J . Barron , Thos . W . Murley , VV . Watkins , C . F . Hogard , P . G . Std . B . ; C . E . Terry ,

Raynham W . Stewart , P . G . D . ; W . Masters , Henry Cox , H . H . Riach , R . H . Hulbert , James Stevens , W . VV . Morgan , Henry Venn , Joyce Murray , Philip Cheek , A . Durrant , Chas . Blain , H . M . Hobbs , James S . Fraser , A . F . Godson , M . P ., P . G . D . ; E . V . Greatbatch , Geo . Kelley , Belgrave Ninnis , Rev . R . Morris , M . A ., LL . D ., John L . Mather , P . A . G . D . C ; Alfred Williams , C . H . VVebb , C . Dearing , J . Bodenham , Geo . Brown , Charles J . Perceval ,

E . M . Money , A . E . Gladwell , Charles Daniel , Herbert Dicketts , J . Rayner , J . W . Imbert-Terry , F . R . Spaull , Samuel Ashton , W . Lake , W . L . Spratling , Geo . Corbie , and F . Binckes , P . G . S . B . ( Secretary ) . The minutes of the last Quarterly Court having been read and confirmed , and those of the General Committee read for information , the following letter from the Prov . Grand Secretary of Nottinghamshire was read and ordered to be entered on the minutes :

" Provincial Grand Secretary ' s Office , "Journal Chambers , Pelham-street , "Nottingham , 26 th July , 1 S 8 S . " To the Chairman Quarterly General Court of Governors and Subscribers to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . "Very Worshipful Sir and Brother ,

" I am directed by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Nottinghamshire to forward you a copy of resolutions which were unanimously carried at a meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge held this day at Eastwood : " 1 . 'That , in the opinion of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Nottinghamshire , the annual expenditure of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys is excessive , and , being so

much per head above that of kindred institutions , requires the closest investigation by an independent and representative Committee , and the reasons thereof explained , by circular , to its various supporters . ' " 2 . ' That a copy of this resolution be sent to the President , Vice-Presidents , and Chairman of the Quarterly General Court . '

" I am , Very Wor . Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , " HENRY R . HATHERLEY , " Prov . G . Sec . Nottinghamshire . " Bro . A . F . GODSON , M . P ., then rose , pursuant to notice ot motion , and moved the resolution standing in his name , but vvith the insertion of the word " expenditure , " so that the inquiry proposed should cover the whole ground of

"discipline , expenditure , and administration ; " and Bro . C . F . HOGARD , P . G . Std . Br ., having seconded , Bro . J . W . IMBERT-TERRY , moved an amendment which would have left the nomination of the brethren to be associated vvith Bro . Philbrick in the inquiry to the General Court , instead of vesting the selection in that brother . Bro . RAYNHAM W . STEWART seconded the amendment , and

Bro . J AMES STEVENS supported it , while Bro . W . SPRATLING opposed it , and Bro . GODSON having spoken in favour of his resolution , the amendment was put , and negatived by a large majority . Bro . Godson ' s resolution was then submitted , and Bros

E . V . GREATBATCH and VV . TUNNICLIFF having severally proposed and seconded , and Bro . GODSON having accepted a suggestion " that the members to be selected by Bro . Philbrick should be selected in equal proportions from London and the Provinces , " the motion was carried , and is as follows : " That , having regard to the charges recently

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

made against the management of this Institution , without recognising in the least that such charges are in any degree well founded , this Court is of opinion that in the interests of the Institution it is desirable that an impartial investigation into its discipline , expenditure , and administration be forthwith undertaken , and that the Grand Registrar of the Order ( V . W . Bro . F . A . Philbrick , Q . C , Vice-Patron ,

and Deputy Prov . u . M . of Essex ) be invited to associate with himself such members of the Craft , selected in equal proportions from London and the Provinces , being , at least , Life Governors of the Institution , as he may think proper for the purposes of such inquiry . The result to be submitted as a report to a subsequent Quarterly General Court . "

Bro . C . H . Webb's motion to expunge Law 71 , vvhich empowers the Committee to make grants towards outfit to boys who have lelt and obtained engagements was rejected , and Bro . James Stevens's proposed amendment to Law 55 was deferred . The name of a candidate having been removed from the list in consequence of an improvement in his circumstances

and an additional vacancy having been caused by the removal from the School of a boy who is to be educated at Harrow , the number of candidates vvas declared as 76 , and the number of vacancies to be filled as 21 . A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the proceedings .

Interesting Masonic Gatherings In Yorkshire.

INTERESTING MASONIC GATHERINGS IN YORKSHIRE .

The R . W . Provincial Grand Master of West Yorkshire , Bro . T . VV . Tew , J . P ., Past G . D . of England , of Carleton Grange , Pontefract , is , with his usual generosity , entertain * ing a number of members of ihe teaching staff of the Masonic School for Girls at his Yorkshiie seat , and during

their visit , which is to extend over a week , arrangements have been made for visits to be paid to some of the principal beauty spots of the shire ' ot Broad Acres . Tne visitors are Miss Davies , Miss Buck , Miss Kernot , Miss Redgrave , Mias Rumblow , and Miss Flintoft , and they reached lhe hospitable mansion of their entertainer on the 26 th ult . On Friday , the 27 th ult ., it was arranged that the

opening visit should be paid to Leeds , and the services of the Leeds brethren were readily enlisted in the attempt to make the stay of the ladies a happy one . Bro . Henry Smith , the Deputy Prov . Grand Masier , was in charge , owing to the unavoidable , but regrettable , absence ot Bro . aud Mrs . Tew . He was assisted by Bro . Herbert Green , the Prov . Grand Secretary , and Bro . Smuhson , Chairman of the

Charity Committee of the province , to whom 111 no small measure is due the unqualified success of the visit , for he made all the arrangements , and was unremitting in his attention to the ladies . Amongst the brethren and ladies included in the invitation were Bro . Dr . Smyth , P . G . C . Eng . ; Bro . Tudor Trevor , W . M . 2060 ; Bro . A . W . Williamson and Mrs . Williamson ;

Mrs . Smithson ; Bro . Dr . Spark , the Leeds Boro' Organist ; Bro . Dr . and Mrs . Dobson ; Bro . and Mrs . Crowe ; Bro . and Mrs . Fourness ; Bro . and Miss Bedford ; Bro . Aid . Fox ( Mayor of Dewsbury ); Bro . and Mrs . Watson ; Bro . and Mrs . Fretwell ; Bro . Craig ; Bro . C . L . Mason ; and many others . There was a reception at the Masonic Hall , followed by

a luncheon . Alter the meal , carriages had , through Bro . Smithson's foresight , been engaged to be at the duor , and the party was soon en route for Kirkstall Abbey . The splendid and picturesque ruin , which dates from the middle of che twelfth century , was thoroughly inspected . A move was then made to Adel Church , ihe route being through some of the prettiest bits of scenery around Leeds . Here

some time was spent in examining the ancient edince . Then , at the invitation of the Kev . Dr . Smyth , a short visit was paid to St . Chad ' s Church , Far Headingley , of which he is the vicar . Having duly admired this beautiful building a short stay was made at the vicarage , where the genial host dispensed his hospitality with heartiness and grace . Tne carriages afterwards conveyed the visitors to

the Leeds Town Hall , every part of which was inspected . Bro . Dr . Spark , Past Prov . Grand Organist , led the way to the grand Hall , and gave a short recital on the organ over which he so ably presides , and which is admitted to be one of the finest in the world . The pieces included an extempore introduction and Lefebuhr and Wely ' s " Fantasia Pastorale . " In this he introduced a storm , the singing of

birds , and a prayer after the storm . He afterwards played Mendelssohn's " Andante to a violin concerto , " which showed to perfection the beautiful and expressive stops of the instrument . He wound up with a few Masonic airs and the National Anthem . This musical treat , it is needless to say , was heartily enjoyed , and the doctor was accorded the heartiest thanks of the party for his kindness .

By this time tea was ready , so an adjournment was made to the Market Hall , where Bro . Tew ' s lavish hospitality was enjoyed . After tea , Dr . Spark and several of the lady visitors delighted their hearers with music , and Mr . Williamson also sang . It vvas then time to say good-bye , and a move was made to the station amid the best wishes of the Leeds brethren . The visitors enjoyed a thoroughly happy day , and , indeed , all joined in thanks to Bro . Tew , who , in

this matter , has made a " new departure" which must commend itself to all ouc readers . On Saturday , York vvas visited ; on Monday , Bolton Woods ; on Tuesday , there was a garden party at Carleton Grange ; and on Wednesday , Shedley Royal and Fountains Abbey were inspected . The visit throughout has been a perfect s . iccess , and Bro . Tew ' s hospitality has been unbounded , and largely shared by the brethren in this province .

The Scriveners Company have promised a donation of £ 100 to the Endowment Fund of the Polytechnic Institution in Regent-street . Bro . Lieut .-Col . H . S . Brownrigg , of the Rifle Brigade , has been appointed Commandant of the Defence Forces uf the Colony of Victoria , and will take over the command in September next .

RAPID TRAVELLING . —It is announced by the Great Northern and North-Eastern Railways , which form tne East Coast Express route to Scotland , that on and alter the Ist inst . a special first , second , and third class express will , on weekdays , leave King's Cross at 10 a . m . for Edinburgh , and perform the journey in eight hours , instead of eight-and-a-half hours , as before .