Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

A matter of very considerable importance , as affecting the interests of this Institution , will , pursuant to notice , be brought under the consideration of the Quarterly General Court on the 14 th inst . For the information of those of our readers who may not have visited the School at Wandsworth , we may state that its grounds are bounded on two sides by freehold meadowland about nine acres in extent , beyond which the neighbourhood , until recently for the most part open country , is being rapidly converted into closely-built streets .

The desirableness of acquiring a portion at least of this meadow has long been manifest , and indeed admits of no question . Hitherto the owner has , it is believed , declined to part with any portion of it ; but it now appears he has intimated to the House Committee that he is about to offer it for sale as a whole , and that he declines to divide it . The price asked , ^ 4000 an acre , will doubtless startle many of our readers , especially those unacquainted with the value of land in the vicinity of the metropolis .

Enormous as the sum appears , we are not prepared to assert that it is more than , under certain circumstances , it would be wise for the Institution to give . All that the House Committee have considered themselves justified in doing has been to obtain from the owner a promise that the land shall not be sold until the opinion of the governing body can be ascertained as to the advisability of acquiring it .

The House Committee have exercised sound judgment in abstaining from any expression of their own views and opinions until an authoritative report has been obtained both as to the value of the land as a whole , and particularly of those portions which might be re-sold . We understand that , pursuant to a resolution of the General Committee ,

the House Committee has been authorised to obtain a report from Messrs . Clutton , the eminent land agents , of Whitehall-place , a firm one of the members of which has recently been elected Vice-President of the Board of General Purposes , and all of whom are munificent supporters of the Institution .

In the meantime it is fully competent for any of our readers interested in the subject by an inspection of the property to form their own ideas as to the desirableness of entertaining the offer which has been made , and it is to be hoped that at the General Court the Governors may receive the benefit of the counsel and advice of all competent to form a proper judgment on the subject .

The Special Grand Lodge At York.

THE SPECIAL GRAND LODGE AT YORK .

The following notice has been issued by the Grand Secretary : "U NITED GRAND LODGE OV ANCIENT FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS oi-- ENGLAND . " W . MASTER , —Your attendance is requested , together with your Wardens and Past Masters , at a Special Grand Lodge to be holden at the Guildhall , York , on Wednesday , the 18 th day of July next , for the purpose of laying , in Masonic form , the foundation stone of the . New Institute for Art . Science , and Literature .

" The Grand Officers , Masters , Past Masters , and Wardens of lodges are to assemble at ten o ' clock a . m . "The Grand Lodge will be opened at a quarter-past ten o'clock precisely .

" The brethren will appear in black coats , trousers , and ties , and in full Masonic clothing . " By cotnmand of the M . W . Grand Master , "SHADWELL H . CLERKE , G . S . " Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , 4 th July , 1883 . "

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The following circular was issued to the Stewards of the recent Festival , having been printed before the corrected and augmented amounts were ascertained : — DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , — The unprecedented success of the recent Festival demands from the Committees and the Executive the warmest possible expression of gratitude to the numerous

friends by whose active and zealous co-operation , supplemented by a generous liberality , so magnificent a result was achieved . This expression is not prompted by any undue elation , but is merely the outcome of sincere gratification at finding that the work done by the Institution is thoroughly appreciated by the Craft with which it is indissolubly united , and that the governing bodies continue to retain the confidence of the brethren to whom they from time to time appeal for encouragement and sympathy .

It is possible that there are some to whom the idea has presented itself , that the amount realised on the recent occasion having so greatly exceeded the most sanguine anticipations , no further effort will be needed for some time to come , 'this is altogether fallacious , as once glance at the financial and general position of the Institution will prove . The permanent income is only £ 545 per annum , arising from dividends on invested capital of not quite £ 16000 .

, The annual maintenance of 215 boys , with official , educational , and domestic staff , may be taken at £ 10 , 000 . This is entirely independent of the amount necessarily disbursed annually under the head of "Special Expenditure , " which , whilst varying from year to year may be estimated at £ 1200 . And to this will have to be added the annual cost of the new "Preparatory School , " which , under the most economical system of teaching and management , cannot be taken at less than £ 1500 for 50 boys . Of the £ 22 , 1 500 , the result of the last Festival , it must be distinctly borne m mind

that a considerable portion has been contributed for a specific object—the building of a new Preparatory School . This amount may be taken at £ 7500 , which leaves £ 15 , applicable to the general purposes of the Institution . After defraying the expenses of the year there will bo asurplus to add to the invested capital , which will still contrast most unfavourabl y with the amount of invested funds possessed by the other Masonic Institutions . •_ By some , fears have been expressed that the success of the present may have been

achieved at the expense ot the future . I do not for one moment share in this apprehension . The wealth of the country never was greater . Commerce though not , Pe ^ "aps , in the most prosperous condition , is certainly better than it has been of late , and I believe promises further improvement . The craft is increasing in numbers and stability , and never in its history held so high a place in the estimation of the world at large as now . This should be sufficient stimulus to its members to render the maintenance of the Institutions of all kinds associated with it in thorough efficiency a well understood obligation ; and I have no doubt that such will be the case .

My personal thanks are due to the stewards for their ready compliance with my special requests for a return of Forms and Lists . Of the 403 stewards—the largest number ever associated—not more than eleven failed to return their amounts .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

The energy and active interest in all that could be thought likely to conduce to the success of the l < esliva evinced by thc acting-presidents , the ' Hon . Treasurer , and other . 1 TJ ?» of the Board , found a httmg supplement in the able and genial chairmanship of the K . vV . tiro . Viscount Holmesdale , so numerousl y supported by Brethren generally , especially by members of thc province over which his lordshir . sn PftV , pnH „ nr ™ il «

,, I he Festival of this Institution , to be held in June , 1 SS 4 , will be under the presidency of an illustrious prince whose talents and abilities are universally recognised , and whose services to the Order of which he is an ornament have been many and valuable—H . R . H . the Duke of Albany , K . G ., R . W . Provincial Grand Master of Oxfordshire I trust that each steward of the Anniversary Festival just celebrated will feel it his duty to persuade a brother to succeed him as representative on the forthcoming occasion „ ^ « , „ , „ FREDERICK BINCKES , P . G . S ., 25 th June , 1 SS 3 . Hon . Sec . Board of Stewards , V .-Patron , Secretary .

Consecration Of The Blackwater Lodge, No. 1977.

CONSECRATION OF THE BLACKWATER LODGE , No . 1977 .

On the 20 U 1 ult ., the Right Hon . the Lord Brooke , M . P ., paid his first official visit into the Masonic Province of Essex , since his installation by his Royal Highness the Duke of Albany at Colchester , in February last , the occasion being the consecration of a new lodge at Maldon , to be called the Blackwatcr , after the river upon which the borough stands , and numbered 1977 on the registry of Grand Lodge of England . As might naturally be supposed the event awakened a good deal of interest amon" - the of the

Masons province , and there was a large gathering both of present and past Prov . Grand Officers and members of the lodges . The Public Hall was set out as a lod ^ e room , and , being decorated with flowers and bunting , had a very pretty appearance The Right Worshipful Prov . Grand Master arrived at Maldon by train at 1 . 33 , and proceeded at once , in an open carriage , to the Public Hall , where lodge was shortly afterwards opened by his lordship , the following brethren acting as officers pro tern : Bros . A P ^ k . LP . M . 453 , P . G . S . W ., as S . VV . ; Fred . Wood , P . M . and Treasurer , 1000 , Thomas

P . P . G . S . W . as J . W . ; J . Railing , P . M . and Sec . 51 , P . G . Sec . as Secretary ; A . Lucking , P . M . and Sec . 1000 , P . G . D . C . as D . C . ; and J . F . Barratt , I . P . M . 1000 ! P . G . Reg . as I . G . His lordship then proceeded to consecrate the lodge in due Masonic form . In the course of the proceedings , an Oration , on "The nature and principles of Freemasonry , ' was delivered by the acting Chaplain , Bro . the Rev . E . H . Crate P M C 97 , P . P . G . Chaplain . At the conclusion of the consecration , the installation of thc first W . M . Bro . Thos . Eustace , P . M . and Treas . 697 , P . P . G . S . B ., took placethe ceremony being abl

-, y per formed by Bro . A . Lucking , P . M . and Sec . 1000 , P . G . D . C . The following were appointed and invested as the first officers : Bros . Thomas Rix , P . M . and Sec 607 P . P . G . S . B ., acting I . P . M . ; Alfred Richardson , S . W . ; Robert Smith , I . W . ; Rev ! E . H . Crate , P . M . O 97 , P . P . G . Chap ., Chap . ; J . H . Alliston , Treas . ; G . A . Eustace , W . M . C 97 , Sec . ; Samuel H . Ellis , S . D . ; Samuel Shawycr , J . D . ; R . Clowes , VV M 650 , 0 . 0 . ; Edmund Gowers , Org . 1024 , P . P . G . O ., Org . ; William Strutt , I . G .: D . J . Wright , I . P . M . 1024 , P . G . P ., and Hodson , Stewards ; and Edward Pairman , fylcr .

The business of the day being over , the newly-installed WORSHIPFUL MASTER proposed that a hearty vote of thanks be given to the Right Hon . the Lord Brooke , MIP ., for his kindness in attending to-day and performing the ceremony of consecration . Bro . Eustace remarked that the brethren of the new lodge esteemed it a very high honour that his lordship had come amongst them , more especially as it was his lordship ' s first visit to the province since his installation . The brethren trusted that his lordship would allow them to enrol his name as an honorary member of the lodge . The motion was seconded by Bro . RICHARDSON , S . VV ., and carried by acclamation .

The R . W . P . G . M ., in responding , thanked the brethren for the hearty reception they had given him . Having been appointed to preside over the province , he felt it a duty to be present on so important and interesting an occasion , and at the same time it had been a great pleasure . They were good enough , a short time ago , to assemble in such lar » e numbers , and to give him such a cordial welcome on his introduction to the province at Colchester , some time back—and he recognised many faces around him which he saw on that occasion—that he felt that any little inconvenience to which he might be put in

endeavouring to carry out his duties was but a small return for the great kindness he had received . His lordship congratulated the brethren of the new lodge upon the auspicious inauguration they had had , and also the W . M . upon being placed in the high position of lirst VV . Master . He understood that this was not the first time that Bro . Eustace had presided over a lodge , and he ( Lord Brooke ) trusted that under his rule , and those who might succeed him , the Blackwater Lodge would become one of the most influential in the province . His lordship then remarked that this would be an opportune time for him

to announce that he proposed to hold a Provincial Grand Lodge on Wednesday the ist of August , and carrying out the intention of their late respected P . G . Alaster . it ; would be held in the Borough of Harwich . His lordship concluded by again thanking the brethren for the cordial welcome they had given him and resumed his seat amid much applause . Votes of thanks were then passed to the Prov . Grand Officers who had assisted in carrying out the arrangements of the day ; to Bro . the Rev . E . H . Crate , for his excellent oration , and to Bro . Clowes for his

handsome present of the lodge banner . The banner , it should be stated , is a most beautiful specimen of needlework . It is of sky-blue silk , and in the centre is the arms of the Borough in heraldic colours , with the name and number of the lodge worked beneath while at tlie four corners are various Masonic emblems in silver thread ' the whole being edged with fringe and mounted on a handsome stand . The musical portions of the ceremony were ably rendered by Bros . lohn 1 . C Turner P . M . 51 , P . P . G . O . ; C . Osmond , W . M . elect , 51 . P . P . G . O .: Edmund Cowers . I . w '

Designate and Org ., 1024 , P . P . G . O . ; and A . B . Sparling , J . D . 607 . Thesame brethren also kindly sang various selections between the toasts at the festive board , in which they were assisted by Bros . J . P . Lewin , F . Bird , and A . F . Amos . At 4 . 30 between 90 and 100 brethren dined at the Blue Boar Hotel , a very excellent repast being served by Mrs . Hickford , the hostess . The usual Masonic toasts were given on removal of the cloth . In responding for the toast of his health , the R . W . P . G . M . repeated that he was most gratified with the kind reception they had given him , and expressed a hone that

he should be able to come often amongst the brethren of his province . His lordship spoke highly of the work which had been done in the lodge by the various brethren who had taken part in it , and said he certainly had never seen better performed anywhere His LORDSHIP proposed " The Health of the New VV . M ., " and wished him a prosperous and happy year of office , and again expressed a hope that the lodge would become an influential one in the province . His lordship and most of the visitors left Maldon by thc 6 . 57 train . The whole

proceedings passed off most successfully , and all concerned arc to be congratulated upon the happy inauguration of the Blackwater Lodge . Among the brethren present during the day , besides those already mentioned , were Bros . J . Nunn , P . G . S . B . England ; Andrew Durrant , P . M . and Treas . 27 C , P G . Treas . ; the Rev . F . B . Shepherd , P . M . 276 , P . P . G . C ; II . E . Dehane , VV . M . is 11 P . G . S . D . ; George Corbie , P . M . and Sec . 453 . P . P . G . J . VV . ; Frederick Wood , P . M . and Treas . 1000 , P . P . G . S . W . ; F . George Green , P . M . and Sec . 1024 , P . P . G . S . W . ; 1024

VV . Humphreys , P . M . , P . P . G . S . W . ; Edward Humphreys , P . M . 1024 , P . P . G . Reg . ; H . J . Sansom , P . P . G . J . D . ; D . M . B . Wheeler , P . M . 275 , P . P . G . f . W . •T . P . Lewin , P . M . 27 O , P . P . G . S . of Works ; J . F . Barrett , P . M . 1000 , P . G . Reg . ; D . J . Wright , P . M . 1024 , P . G . P . ; E . Shedd , I . P . M . 27 C , P . G . S . ; VV . Bloom , VV . M . 1 799 ; F . Bird , VV . M . 1024 ; J . J . Cavill , VV . M . 1312 ; A . Pertwee , VV . M . 433 ; C . Floyd , VV . M . 1 SG 7 ; VV . C . Bell , P . M . 1024 ; II . Darken , P . M . 51 ; F . Ouilter , 51 ; M . Jones , C 97 ; H . J . Everett , 6 97 ; VV . G . Siggers , C 97 ; L . F . Manley , 6 97 ; J . T . Bailey , 6 97 ; ^ A . F . Amos . GVtf ; J . G . Rcnshaw , 6 97 ; Clarke Abbott , C 67 ; A . ; Ward Frost

, C 97 ; C . , 6 97 ; J . Howe , 6 97 ; R . Helshain , M . D ., S . VV . 1 S 13 ; A . O . Stopes , 51 ; T . Elsey Bland , 1024 ; J . Taylor , jun ., J . W . 1 S 17 ; C . S . Blyth , 1024 ; R . A . Francis , 1024 ; E . J . Burstall , 6 97 ; F . C . B . Christie , 1024 ; VV . II . de Cean , 1024 ; F . D . Grayson , W . M . elect 1 G 0 ; C . H . Parker , 1024 ; John Huntley , 1312 ; J . R . Jarvis , 276 ; H . Harper , P . M . and Secretary , 160 ; and others . Letters of apology for their inability to attend were received from the VV . D . P . G . M . Bro . l \ A . Filbrick , O C P . G . D . ; VV . Bro . Colonel Sonierville Burney , P . M . G 07 , P . G . D . ; V . W . Bro . CoTone Shadwell If . Clerke , Grand Sec . ; VV . Bro . E . B . Florence , P . M . 214 , P . G . I . W . ; VV . Bro . J . C Earlc , W . M . 214 ; and others . The furniture and clothing were manufactured by Bro . George Kenning .