Births, Marriages, And Deaths.

Births , Marriages , and Deaths .

DEA TIIS . CREW . —On the 3 rd instant , Bro . Francis Crew , for many years Secretary of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls . LAW " . —On the 13 th ultimo , at Edinburgh , aged 36 years , Bro . Charles Stuart Law , G . D . C ., Scotland .

M'EWAN . —On 4 th inst ., at 133 , Sydney-street , Glasgow , aged 2 , ] 4 . years , Rebecca , daughter of Bro . M'Ewan , M . M . No . 4 , Treas . 69 , R . A . " Mariner , Red + 69 , & c . WEAVER . —On the 30 th ultimo , in her 73 rd year , the Mother of Bro . James Weaver , W . M . of the Whittingtoii Lodge , No . 862 .

Au extraordinary press of matter has crowded out this week our review of Bro . Ilargrave Jennings' interesting work on the Rosicrucians , an article by Bro . Carpenter on the "Symbolism of Numbers , " and various important communications and reports . The article in last week ' s issue on " Joshua , " was by Bro . Carpenter—his name was omitted .

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The Freemason , SATURDAY , MAY 7 , 1 S 70 .

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THE FREEMASON is published on Saturday Mornings in time for the early trains . The price of THE FREEMASON is Twopence per week ; quarterly subscription ( including ; postage ) 3 s . 3 d . Annual Subscription , r 2 _ Subscriptions payable in advance . All communications , letters , & c , to be addressed to the EDITOR , 2 , 3 , and 4 , Little Britain , E . C . The Editor will pay careful attention to all MSS . entrusted to him but cannot undertake to return them unless accompanied by postage stamps .

Royal Masonic Institution Tor Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION TOR GIRLS .

THE third Chanty . Festival for the year is now approaching , and we cannot allow the occasion to pass without saying a few words upon the subject . In our appeal for the Boys' School we

were compelled to allude to the peculiar position in which that institution was placed , and to urge upon our readers the necessity of rallying round it , and by their liberal contributions extinguish the debt b y which its usefulness was curtailed , and its

progress impeded . Happily , the same remarks will not apply to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , inasmuch as its finances

are in a very flourishing state , and its future prospects arc most satisfactory . Still , it by no means follows that the English Craft should relax in their efforts to maintain the

prosperity of the institution at its present high standard ; on the contra ) ' -, the judicious way in which the funds arc managed , and the care with which unnecessary expenses are avoided , ought to be incentives to

increased exertions on the part of all who desire to see their money well and faithfull y applied . From the published statements of the

House Committee wc extract the following account of the origin and subsequent history of the school , and we commend it to the earnest attention of our readers : —

The Royal Freemasons' Institution for Girls was instituted on the 25 th March , 17 SS , at the suggestion of the late Chevalier Bartholomew Ruspini , Surgeon-dentist to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , for the purpose of clothing , educating ,

and maintaining a limited number of female children , orphans or otherwise , of brethren belonging to the Ancient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons of England , whose reduced circumstances in life-might prevent them offording their

female offspring a suitable education . His late Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , with other members of the Royal Family , the nobility , the clergy , and gentry , and many of the most influential and benevolent members of the Craft , gave the

project their warmest support , nnd by their united efforts established this institution , which has preserved numbers of children from the dangers and misfortunes to which females are peculiarly exposed , trained them up in the knowledge and love of virtue and habits of industry , and cultivated the

Royal Masonic Institution Tor Girls.

practice of social , moral , and religious duties as might best conduce to their temporal welfare ancl eternal happiness . A school-house was erected by the Governors in 1793 , near the Obelisk , St . George's Fields , on

leasehold ground belonging to the Corporation of the City of London , which lease expired in 1851 . When that building was erected , it stood in the midst of fields , and although situated in a low and damp position , yet such care had been taken with the

drainage , that the house was considered dry and liealthy . The original cost of the building was upwards of . £ 3 , 000 ; this amount , was much more than doubled by subsequent expenditure for repairing the foundation ancl altering the interior arrangements .

At the expiration of the term in 1831 , it was found that the lease could only be renewed at a very heavy increase of rent , and that a very large outlay would again be required to adapt the building to the modern requirements of such an establishment .

Under the advice of the medical officers , it was determined , instead of laying out a large sum upon this leasehold property , to purchase freehold ground in a locality more open and less liable to future obstruction . Means were consequently adopted for

finding such a situation , ancl eventually about three acres of freehold land were purchased on the high ground of Battersea Rise , adjoining Wandsworth Common , possessing all the desired recommendations—open country , pure air , gravelly soil , a

plentiful supply of water , near proximity to church accommodation , easy access by railroad , pleasant and healthful walks , sufficient room for play-grounds , and ample garden ground for supplying the institution with vegetables and fruit . Upon this land a

building has been erected , which contains all the appliances required for the health and comfort of its inmates , and is considered an ornament to the ncisrhbourhood in which it stands .

It is well-known that the "Girls' School , " as it is fondly and familiarly called , is the oldest of our Masonic Institutions—the first practical expression of that virtue which

should ever distinguish a true Mason . Eighty-two years have passed away since the commencement of the good work which has since borne such noble fruit . The

mustard-seed planted m faith lias grown up and become a mighty tree , whose branches afford shelter and protection to a large number of the female children of our distressed or deceased brethren .

Every sentiment of chivalry , and every feeling of honour and respect for the gentler sex are enlisted in such a cause , and cold must be the heart and stolid the soul

which can witness unmoved the appeal for help of those who have such peculiar claims upon our charity , and whom Providence in its wisdom has bereft of their natural

protectors . Let those who would fully realise the value of the institution visit the school itself , and sec the admirable character of its internal arrangements . Let them sec the

happy faces of the children at play , if they require evidence of the fact that kindness is the rule of government there ; and , again , to show that order and discipline arc maintained , let them behold thesamcchildren in the

school-room , at their lessons , or their cahsthenic exercises . Fortunately , in Miss Davis the institution possesses a governess of rare tact and ability , and the best proof of her power is the obedience with which her rules

arc observed , and the manifest affection with which she is regarded by the children . The excellent matron , Miss Jarwood—herself a former pupil of the institution—is

likewise a pattern of all that is good and amiable in the discharge of her responsible duties , and the entire staff of the institution arc evidently actuated by a sincere desire to promote the comfort of the children , and

Royal Masonic Institution Tor Girls.

to maintain the honour and prestige of the school . Nor must we forget the labours of the

House Committee , for upon their shoulders an onerous trust is reposed , and for the fulfilment of which we owe them our warmest thanks .

With executive officers like Bros . Patten , the Secretary , and Muggeridge , the Collector , nothing is left to desire ; both are so well-known for energy and zeal that comment would be superfluous .

We congratulate the Craft upon possessing such a noble institution , and we congratulate its officers upon the success which has hitherto attended their efforts . And

let us express the hope , that with one hundred Stewards , and under the genial chairmanship of Bro . W . W . Bramston Beach , Provincial Grand Master for Hants , the

festival of 1870 will surpass in its results for the charity all its predecessors ; that notwithstanding the recent herculean exertions on behalf of the Boys' School , and the

continued depression of trade , we shall be enabled not only to maintain undiminished , but if possible , to increase , the prosperity of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls .

Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

Multum in Parbo , or Masonic Notes and Queries .

—*—THE RED CROSS ORDER . Bros . Hughan and R . W . L . both seem to forget that the real point at issue is the claim made on behalf of the Masonic Order to a

descent and connection from and with the genuine Order , and that at present we are not making an inquiry into the authenticity or antiquity of the Masonic degree called the Red Cross . In reality it matters very little whether the Duke

of Sussex was Grand Master of a Masonic Order identical in every respect with the Red Cross of to-day , but it becomes a question of momentous interest when he is represented not only as this , but as the Grand Master of the ancient and illustrious Order of Constantine the

Great , and I think we are fairly entitled to draw the conclusion that he is so represented , from the remarks of R . W . L . on several occasions . If this can be proved , then the present Grand Master Lord Kenlis is necessarily , under the constitution of that Order , the titular Emperor of the

Byzantine Empire , and as such we are bound to show him every respect and consideration . If it cannot be proved , then let the chiefs of the Masonic Order come forward and say , " We have been in error when we claim a descent from the genuine Order , and we acknowledge

our mistake . " I think that in such a case , every brother Mason , would at once accord to them whatever honour they might be entitled to as representing a Masonic degree of some antiquity as those things go . Bro . Hughan evidently ( from the tone of his last article ) goes the length

of making this amende honorable , but I should like to know to what extent he is supported by his confreres in the " Imperial Council" and "Grand Senate ? " I have not the slightest hesitation in agreeing with this brother that the Masonic Red Cross Order is just as legitimate

as any of the other Orders in Freemasonry , but so long as the chiefs claim for it a Chivalric origin which is totally contrary to both history and common sense , so long will their pretensions be attacked and exposed . Let the

name and title of the Order be for the future " The Red Cross of liome , " dropping Constantine altogether , and make a sufficient alteration in the style of the insignia and the titles of the officers . I do not think any one will be inclined to