The History Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Girls

•ted hy * Subscribers . There is , however , so far as we have able to trace , no evidence in the Minutes that the arrangement ever carried out . But the consideration which overshadowed all ^ i rs at this period had relation to the future local habitation of the T ¦ titution . Should it obtain a renewal of its lease of tho present

\ , from the Corporation of London , and remain whei * e it was ; or s j JCJ jf ; take up its quarters in some healthier and less crowded i ^ ility ? The inquiries of Bro . Hardwick , G . Supt . of TVks ., as to ? ' i erms on which the former plan could be carried out , cannot have 1 p ] i very encouraging . There is no doubt it would have necessitated

l-irire outlay , while the neighbourhood was overcrowded and by no a ans consp icuous for its healthiness , the drainage in particular T ' n" always either out of order or in course of becoming so . At 1 , iofli it was resolved at the Quarterly Court in October , 1850 , that tl Ahen House Committee and medical officers should be appointed

« is a Building Committee to communicate with and receive any •' norts from Bro . Hardwick and to take steps to find Freehold ground for the purpose of the School , and that they call Special Meetings •ihd report from time to time as soon as they shall hear of a suitable

sitc •" the Chairman and Deputy Chairman being Bros . TV . Stephenson and K- H . Patten , P . Gr . S . B ., respectively . Several eligible sites were soon found , and one near Wandsworth . Common , on -which the School now stands , from the healthiness of its situation , its gravelly

soil its facility of access from London , the moderate price demanded hy the owner , and other favourable conditions , was at once chosen , and it was resolved that "Bros . Hardwick and Giraud prepare on agreement for the purchase of such piece of ground , on the said Matthew Whiting "—the proprietor— " showing and making out

a food title thereto ; " and " that a clause be inserted therein that the said Matthew Whiting shall obtain from the Lord of the Manor ( Earl Sneucer ) a right of carriage-way to and from the said piece of land at his own expense . " In April , 1851 , plans were submitted hy Bro . Hardwick for the new Schoolhousc , and the Committee made choice

of one in the Mediaeval style ; and m the July following it was announced that the purchase of the said plot of ground , comprising 2 acres 2 roods 29 perches , had been completed for the sum of £ 1075 , and that the Lord of the Manor had granted the necessary right of carriage-way . It Avas further reported that from 11 tenders submitted hy different builders for the erection of the new School , that of

Messrs . Thos . and Will . Piper , of Bishopsgate-street , had been selected , the price tendered— £ 7272—heing not only lower than the rest , hut also nearly £ 230 within the estimate of Bro . Hardwick . On this the honorary solicitor , Bro . Giraud , was instructed to draw up the purchase deeds , and authority was given to the Trustees to sell

out £ 5000 stock and more from time to time as it might be required in order to meet the cost of purchase and erection . It was also arranged to invite the M . W . Grand Master to lay the first stone , and Lord Zetland , with his usual kindness and courtesy , was prepared to accede to the request , but as the Committee were anxious that the ceremony

should be deferred till the beginning of the next year , his lordship , considering it would be ridiculous to lay the first stone of a building which was half erected , proposed that he should consecrate it when finished , and the suggestion was gratefully accepted and carried out .

Operations were at once commenced , and the building progressed so satisfactoril y that in the spring of 1852 the authorities found themselves in a position to appoint a day for the ceremony of consecration and prepare the arrangements attendant upon so important an

occasion . The consecration took place on the 2 nd August , 1852 , a sum of £ 400 having been voted hy the Committee towards the expenses of the clay , so that everything might he done with becoming grace and splendour . From the central tower of the building floated the royal

standard , and in the grounds , which had been gaily decorated , were erected several marquees for the accommodation of the visitors , of whom , according to the estimate given in the Freemasons' Quarterly Review , there are said to have been at one _ time between 3000 and * W , and for Avhose entertainment several military and other bands had

been engaged . The proceedings commenced with Divine service "i the church of St . Ann , Wandsworth , the children of both our whool s being present , and a most appropriate sermon was preached b y Bro . the Eev . J . W . Gleadall , M . A ., Past Grand Chaplain , a wllecfcion being afterwards made in aid of the building fund . In the VWV VV V

„ --Q --,.. ....... — - - ~ . *— J-, ^ ^ '" rernoon a Special Grand Lodge was lield in one of the principal ^ oiiis in the School , at which Bro . the Earl of Zetland , M . W . G . M ., Presided in person , among the leading Masonic celebrities of the day Fesout

being Bros , the Earl of Yarborough , D . G . M . ; Lord Dudley p « S . G . W . ; Lord Suffield , P . G . Master Norfolk ; W . Tucker , •^•M . Dorsetshire ; Alexander Dobie , G . Registrar and Prov . G . M . oumey ; H . C . Vernon . Prov . G . M . Worcestershire : Col . Burlton .

y ° v . G . M . Bengal ; B . B . Cabbell , M . P ., P . J . G . W ., and Treasurer ?[ tho Institution ; W . H . Smith , P . J . G . W . ; R . G . Alston , P . J . G . W . ; 10 Kev . E . Moore , G . Chaplain ; the Rev . Sir W . J . Hayes , Bart ., and "l 0 « cv . J . W . Gleadall , M . A ., Past G . Chaplains ; W . H . White , £ secretary ; J . HodgkinsonS . G . D . ; B . LawrenceP . S . G . D . ; Dr .

, , p " * Rowe , P . S . G . D . ; S . C . Norn ' s , P . J . G . D . ; L . Chandler , wi , i \ n ' ' - ** . King , P . J . G . D . ; L . Thompson , P . J . G . D . ; P . Hardp , u > <* . Sup . of Wks . ; P * . W . Jennings , G . Dir . of Cers . ; E . H .

« en P . G . S . B . ; R . J . Spiers , P . G . S . B . ; J . Moore , Physician , and Stnnl n and W - Harvey , Surgeons to the Institution ; TV . J . J . gv S 0 n ' 0 nairman of the Building Committee ; Farnfield , Win i ^ ' ^ ete 1 ' ^ attBews i Tombleson , and others . Grand Lodge enieiV f ° P ened , a procession of the brethren was formed , and , on Consift ^ om the room , was joined by a supplementary procession , '*« ng 0 f the pupils of the Boys' Institution and the children ,

The History Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Girls

Matron , and other officials , with the House and Building Committees , of the Girls' School . Having perambulated the grounds , Grand Lodge entered the hall set apart for the ceremony of dedication , the girls , with their Matron and teachers , being conducted to a raised platform ,

carpeted with crimson cloth , on either side of the chair , while at the further end of the room was a similar platform for the accommodation of the ladies , some 60 in number , who were to present purses of five guineas and upwards .

Addresses were then delivered by Bro . Hardwick , G . Supt . of Wks . ; Bro . B . B . Cabbell , Treasurer ; and Bro . the Rev . E . Moore , G . Chaplain ; and Bro . Francis Crew , Secretary , having read the Report of the Building Committee , the ladies presented their purses

of money to the M . W . Grand Mastei ' , and Dr . Bryce ' s anthem , "Here shall soft Charity , " having been sung by the professional singers , one of the Girls , by name Rhoda Davis , recited the following verses coiiiposed for the occasion by : Bro . S . C . Hall : —

Here , from tlie home your mercies give , The voice of prayer and praise ascends ; Here , where in hope you bid us live , We thank our God and bless our friends . We thank and bless them , while we kuow

Who bade these generous hearts abound ; liid whence those streams of goodness flow By those Masonic signs around .

Signs that to manhood , age , and youth , Speak of Masonic claims , and call To learn the great eternal truth , That one Grand Master loveth all .

Here shall the weak sweet shelter find j Here , safe from want , and far from strife , We gather strength to meet mankind And arm us for the light of life .

You found us poor , you gave us wealth , That time may touch , yet ne ' er decay ; Knowledge and prudence , temperance , health , Such are the gifts you give to-day .

You plant with hope , and faith , and prayer , That the young trees may grow ; and yoa May know them by the fruit they bear ,

Grateful and healthful , pure and true . Such the reward , nor more nor less , To which your future hope extends , From children whom to-day you bless

With homes , protectors , teachers , friends . Asking the help of God on high To guide the young , the poor , the weak—Shall we not try , nor vainly , try , To give the recompense you seek ?

May the Great Architect , whose care For youth you imitate to-day ; May He , whose ministers you are , Hear our young voices as we pray ; And from His mercy-seat above ,

Bless you with all things pure and good ; With homes of plenty , peace , and love , And bless your bond of Brotherhood !

When the applause Avith Avhich the recitation of this ode AVUS received had subsided , the ceremony of consecration was performed by the M . W . Grand Master , and the Grand Chaplain offered the folloAving prayer : —

Almighty and Eternal God , the fountain of all wisdom , who saidst in the beginning , " Let there be light , and there was light , " we give Theo hearty thanks for all Thy goodness and loving kindness , especially in permitting us to meet together for tho dedication of this structure to the purpose of sound religious and virtuous education . To Thy mercy it is owing that Ave are enabled to

celebrate the completion of our designs . Fix in our hearts , Ave beseech Thee , a deep conviction that learning is valuable only as it leads us to a knowledge of Thee and of Thy will ; give grace to all who have been promoters of this Institution , that they may persevere in their endeavours to render it permanently

beneficial , and finally Ave pray Thee to be evermore its protector and defender ; do Thou bless it and keep it ; do Thou make Thy face to shine upon it , and bo gracious unto it . Lift up the light of Thy countenance upon it , and evermore crown it with Thy blessing . So mote it be !

The ceremony terminated with " God save the Queen , " and the Grand Master and Officers retired in Masonic procession to the Grand Lodge , AA'hich Avas then closed in the usual manner and Avith the accustomed formalities . After inspecting the interior of the building , with Avhich the

Grand Master and his Officers expressed themselves highly gratified , an adjournment Avas made to the refreshment marquee , Avhere a collation Avas laid , nearly 900 ladies and brethren sitting down to table under the presidency of Lord Zetland . And the customary toasts having been honoured , there folloAved a concert of A ocal and

instrumental music m the dedication hall , Avhile others promenaded the grounds or danced to the inspiriting airs of the military band and Bro . Adams ' s quadrille band , it being close on midnight before the last of the visitors on this auspicious occasion had departed for their homes .

The dedication over , and thanks having been voted to all AVIIO had taken a leading part in the ceremony or assisted in making it so brilliant a success , steps Avere at once taken to furnish and make habitable the building , and the medical officers having at length pronounced it ready for occupation , the children to the number of 61

—the four others being absent on account of illness—and the . officials AVere removed on the 9 th December following to the neAv School , Avhich oAving to the munificence of the Craft has been since so considerably enlarged , and which under the all-Avisc protection of the G-. A . O . T . U . has prospered so abundantly . ( To be continued . )