Plymouth Masonic Exhibition.

Masonic emblems , is of a similar design to one made at Worcester more than a century since . Bro . the Rev . T . W . Lemon supplied several works of interest , and sent a quantity of Masonic clothing , jewels , & c , not described in the catalogue , so as to add to the variety . Bro . Hope , of Exeter , forwarded specimens—plants—of the real and spurious Acacia , besides olher curious articles , and Bro . R . F . Gould , the Masonic Historian ( Hon . Mem . No . 1402 ) lent a number of Masonic Calendars

1781-1813 , of great value , besides later isssues , and various historical works which added much to the value of the collection . Bro . Le Feuvre also contributed several of the rare Calendars . Bro . Meyer ( Philadelphia ) , Hon . Mem . 131 , Truro , sent a few medals , and local brethren and lodges were not slow to do their part in lending curious , such as Bros . John Chapman , P . M . 1402 ; the Rev . G . E . Carwithen , P . M ., & c ; James McBryde , J . D . 1255 & c . Lodge 248 , Brixham , was also well represented .

, The Secretaries of the Exhibition , Bros . Goodall and Macey , vvere most assiduous in the discharge of their onerous duties , and I believe managed to satisfy everybody , as did also the energetic Curators , Bros . J . B . Gover and J . R . Lord . The printer and publisher of the Catalogue ( also an Exhibitor ) was Bro . W . F . Westcott , W . M . 70 , who turned the work out in

excellent style ; and the General Committee vvere constant in their attentions during the days devoted to the Exhibition , which , whilst it lacked the large support it deserved , has done much to promote the study of Masonic literature and antiquities , and , will I believe , result in financially aiding the sacred cause of Masonic Charity to the extent of 40 guineas . VVJHUGHAN

The History Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Girls

. . . THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS

FROM ITS ORIGIN , 1788 , TO ITS CENTENARY , 1888 . In the meantime , Avhile the negotiations for a School house Avere In progress , the Committee Avere steadily perfecting their other arrangements . It was settled that Mr . James Allen should receive an honorarium of £ 21 for his services as Secretary during the preliminary stages of the organisation , and a salary of £ 21 per annum for his regular duties in the same capacity , Avhile as Collector , a commission of 5 per cent , on Subscri p tions—Donations and

Subscriptions at an election being excepted—Avas assigned him . The salary of the person hereafter to be appointed Matron and Schoolmistress was fixed at £ 21 per annum , and the wages of the domestic servants at £ 8 8 s . each . The Treasurer and Collector Avere each of them required to furnish tAvo securities , and the bonds Avhen duly executed were lodged with the Trustees . It Avas also arranged that at Committee meetings three members should form a quorum , and at General Meetings , seven—exclusive of the Officers of the Institution .

As regards the qualifications of candidates , Bro . Hull , at the Committee held on the 13 th September , proposed that " in the Admission of Children , the preference be given to those of register'd Masons , " but at the Quarterly Court on the 4 th October he obtained leave to amend this proposal so that it should read as follows : " That a preference be giA ^ en to Orphans Avhose Fathers at

the time of their decease Avere register'd Masons and Members of a Lodge . And after those a preference to such Children whose Fathers are Members of a Lodge at the time of presenting their Petitions , but that none be admitted but the Children of register'd Masons ; " and the motion thus amended Avas agreed to It had also been previously determined that the limits of age should be from 5 years to 10 years , and that the children at

the time of presenting themselves for election should be 111 sound bodily health and free from infirmity . When , hoAvever , the applicants and their parents or guardians attended at the Committee Meeting on the 14 th October , it Avas found that they had not brought Avith them the necessary credentials , and , therefore , the following particulars Avere ordered to be printed and g iven to every person applying for the admission of a child : —

" ROYAL CUMBERLAND FREE MASON SCHOOL , Tnesday , 14 th October , 1788 . " Ordered by the Committee : " That any Person applying for the admission of a Child must , afc the Examination before the Committee , produce the following Particulars . " 1 st . A Petition from a Parent ; or if an Orphan , from a Friend , which Petition

must be addressed to the Trustees , Committee , and Governors , of the Royal Cumberland Free Mason School , setting forth the Occupation and Residence of the Parent or Friend who petitions , with the number of the Family and such other Particulars relative to the Child as may be thought necessary to excite Commiseration to tho Object ; and the petition must be signed by the Subscriber Avho recommends tbe Child for Admission .

" 2 nd . A Certificate signed by the Master and Wardens ot the Lodge for the time being , where the Father was made a Mason , or of any Lodge of which he had been a member . 3 rd . A Certificate from the Grand Secretary of the Father having been registered ' . 4 th . A Register of the Child's Age from the Parish where she was born . "

In accordance Avith these and the other Instructions relating to candidates , the petitions of 16 children Avere dealt Avith at meetings on the 30 th October and 13 th November and approved , Avith the result that 15 Avere received as pupils , and the remaining girl—Mary

Bagley , Avho Avas above the prescribed maximum limit of ten years" as an Assistant Servant , receiving her maintenance , clothing , and education in return . " The folloAving is a list of these first reci p ients of the benefits of our Girls' Institution , as compiled from the Minutes : —

1 . HARRIET ANN VINET , born 17 th April , 1782 . Recommended by Mr . Rouelle ; the father made a Mason before 1768 . 2 . SARAH JANE SITGRACE , born 23 rd January , 1780 . Recommended by Mr . Heseltine . 3 . ANN KANE , born 27 th November , 1780 . Recommended by Mr . Peter Reilly . 4 . MARGARET BURGESS , born Sth August , 1781 . Recommended by Mr . Watson . 5 . CATHERINE CHARLOTTE BASS , born 12 th July , 1783 . Recommended by Mr . Ruspini , inn .

The History Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Girls

G . SOPHIA RICHES , born 14 th April , 1780 . Recommended by Mr . Lavvford and others . 7 . MARY ANN RUSCOE , born 16 tli July , 1780 . Recommended by Mr . Cozens . S . MARY ANN FISKE , born 16 th October . 1782 . Recommended by Mr . Douuisou .

9 . FRANCES SANSUM . Registered 25 th December , 1780 . Has lost a leg - . Recommended by Dr . Valangin and 11 moro Governors . 10 . SIBELLA PROCTOR , born 27 th January , 1779 , an orphan . Recommended by Mr . Heseltine and three others .

11 . MARY ANN WOOLVERIDGE , born 5 th November , 1779 . Recommended bv A . Do Valangin and Mr . Heseltine . 12 . SOPHIA KEWNEY , born 29 tli January , 1780 . Recommended by H . Spicer . 13 . ANN MARTIN , born 6 th August , 1781 . Recommended by J . Allen , Esq . ; the father—Reeve Martin—in Lodge 60 , Mitre Tavorn , Fleet Street , 20 years previously .

14 CHARLOTTE RICHARDSON , born 1 st April , 1781 . Father made a Mason in Tuscan , No . 7 , on 16 th January , 1765 . 15 . ELIZABETH LOW , born 21 st August , 1782 . Father made a Mason 15 th January , 1784 . MARY BAGLEY- , daughter of Dudley Bagley , over 10 years , received , as stated above , as an Assistant Servant .

In order to obtain a competent person as Matron , the followiuu ' advertisement Avas ordered to be inserted in the dail y papers , tlie belief at the time being that the School would be located at Little Chelsea : —

ROYAL CUMBERLAND FREE MASON SCHOOL , LITTLE CHELSEA . "Wanted a Matron to reside iu the House and instruct the Children in Reading , Writing , Housewifery , and every necessary use of the Needle . She must bo of the Established Religion of tho Church of England . A Middle Aged , Well Educated Single Woman will be preferred . Proposals in writing to be sent to the Secretary , 121 , Pall Mall . "

As many as 20 persons answered this advertisement , among them being a Mrs . Mary Miller , of 18 , St . James ' s Place , who was hi ghl y recommended b y the Royal Patroness , Lady Eliz . Luttrell , and other influential personages , Mrs . Le Clerc , Mrs . Learmonth , Mrs . Douglas , and Mrs . Cartier , whose qualifications appear to have attracted the special attention of the Committee ; and it was arranged that thc

election should take place by ballot at a Special General Meeting to be held for the purpose at the Oxford Coffee House , in the Strand , on the 1 st November , when , notwithstanding the very strong bias of the Chairman ( Bro . James Galloway ) in favour of Mrs . Miller , Mrs . Le Clerc was elected b y 68 votes to 48 votes for Mrs . Miller , 9 votes for Mrs . Learmonth , and 4 votes for Mrs . Douglas .

The question of ways and means was also very full y and very carefull y considered . Owing to various causes it was some time before the liabilities in connection with Mr . Lochee ' s house at Little Chelsea could be ascertained , but the Committee keeping in mind the experience thus dearly purchased , very wisely resolved at their meeting

on the 21 st October , " that in future no expenses whatever bo incurred without the order of a General Meeting or Monthly Committee ; " and also " that all Bills be brought in and an Accompt bc made out of all expenses alread y incurred , " with a view to tlie same

being laid before the next General Meeting . " On the same occasion they " inspected the Amount of the Donations and Annual Subscriptions and compared the same with the probable expenses of the present design , namel y , the House at Walworth * and fifteen children , which they calculated as follows : —

House and Taxes , per annum ... ... ,,, pii jti £ 30 Fifteen children at £ 12 per annum each ... ... 180 Matron's Salary 21 Maid ' s Wages a

Matron and Maid s Board ... ... ... ... .,, ... 40 Secretary and Collector 21 Fire and Candles 20 Incidents—Books , Sopo , Mops , Brooms , ( ice , & c 24 Pew in the Church 3

£ 348 It was ordered that this estimate should be laid before the Special General Meeting to be held on the 1 st November , and ultimatel y it was adopted as the basis for the year ' s expenditure , the onl y change being that rendered necessary by the substitution of the house m

Somers Place East , at £ 35 per annum , for the Walworth house at £ 25 . On the 13 th November the Sub-Committee charged with the duty of taking the House and consisting of the Treasurer and Bros . Galloway , Hull , Spicer , and Broderip Avere likewise authorised to provide the " necessary furniture , household linen , & c , for the same ,

together with the Clothing for the Children and other Articles such as Coals , Candles , & c , which may be immediatel y required at their Admission . " On the 11 th December , Bro . Broderi p reported to thc Committee that the furniture had been removed " from the House at Little Chelsea to the House in Somers Place East , and that the

Clothing for the Children , Furniture of the House , & c , were in great forwardness , and the whole Avould be completel y read y for the recep - tion of the Matron , Children , & c , by the time appointed . " The Treasurer also reported that Mr . Leroux , " the Lessee or Contractor under the Lord Somers of the Ground and Buildings at Somers Place East , " had been " so obliging as to offer every accommodation in his

poAver to aid its Benevolent Purposes and particularl y to provide a proper place in Bethell Chapel for the Matron and Children to attend Divine Service free of expense to the Charit y ; " and a vote of thanks Avas unanimously passed to Mr . Leroux and ordered to be " inserted in the Public Papers . " It Avas also deemed advisable to have a Monthly or House Committee Avhich should take ' charge of the interior