The New Grand Officers.

Patten ' s services , and subsequently , by the active part he played , as chairman of Bro . Robert Wentworth Little ' s committee , did much to secure the election of the present efficient

Secretary . Bro . Parkinson is the author of several papers on Freemasonry—notably an essay published by the late Charles Dickens in "All the Year

Round , "—and of . an interesting volume , printed for private circulation only , and entitled " Shakespeare a Freemason . " Bro . C . W . C . Hutton was initiated in Burlington

Lodge , No . 9 6 , in 1846 . His jubilee as P . M . , took p lace some two years back , and was kept as a memorable celebration by this well-known

lodge . Bro . Hutton is vice-President of the Boys' School , and Life Governor of the Girls ' School , and of the Royal Masonic Benevolent

Institution . He filled the high office of Sheriff of the City of London , in conjunction with Alderman Cotton , now M . P .

His services as Sheriff were marked by much geniality and liberality , as well as thorough efficiency .

Bro . Simeon C . Hadley , assistant G . D . C . was initiated in No . 55 , Constitutional , in i 860 . He is P . M . of 55 and of go . He is a Vice-Patron of the Gills' School and

the Benevolent Institution , and has served all the charities as Steward on several occasions . Bro . J . C . Collins , the Grand Sword Bearer , was initiated in No . 4 . 6 a , Lodgeof Light , in

1849 , he ' s now P-G-. P . ' Warwickshire , and is Vice-President of the Boys' School , and a Life Governor of the Girls ' . Wc cannot couclude this article without

congratulating our good Bro . W . J . Hughan on the distinction conferred'upon him by the G . M ., in giving him the rank of P : G . S . D ., in recognition of his many services to Masonic archaeology .

We feel that the compliment redounds on him who so Masonically offers it , as much as on the able brother who so properly receives it . We rejoice to see this open recognition cf

Masonic literary efforts , as it will tend , we feel persuaded , to encourage our brethren just in the one point where they are somewhat deficient , to think , and read , and study for themselves .

We congratulate Bro . W . J . Hughan on this public and honourable acknowledgment of his intellectual pursuits , and historical labours

and we trust he may long enjoy all health and happiness , in the enjoyment of tlie one , and in his laudable prosecution of the other .

The Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

We have perused with much interest the report of this excellent Institution , dated March , 1874 , as well as carefully gone through its balance sheet up to the close of 1873 .

We think that a few remarks on the leading features and figures of both may be acceptable to our readers , and we have , therefore , put together for them , with some little care and study ,

the following " resume ofj , the actual work and financial position of the Girls' School . In the first place we congratulate the House Committee on the recent alterations and additions ,

The Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

which we feel certain will be entirely approved of by the Craft at large . There is in our Order , for many reasons , the greatest interest in the Girls' School , and

anything that can conduce to its efficiency . , extend its utility , or develop its educational value , is pretty certain to receive the warm support and unanimous approval of our Brotherhood . There

were on the 31 st of January , 1874 , 130 girls in the school , of whom six were admitted by purchase , leaving 124 elected inmates . Of these 130 , the time of 13 expires in 1874 ,

but on the nth of April , 16 fresh candidates were elected , leaving at the time of the festival 144 children in the institution , the whole accommodation now available being for 145 .

The scholastic reports of the Girls' School seem very good indeed , and the amount of needle work done by them in 1873 is very remarkable .

We believe , that , we are not far wrong when we say , that , the Girls' School is not only a credit to our Order in every way , but may challenge comparison with every similar

institution in the country . We believe it was Lady Skelmersdale , the wife of the distinguished P . G . M . for West Lancashire , who said , when she saw the girls

and the school , that she " felt proud of being the wife of a Freemason , " and we , as an Order , may gladly remember , that , we have such an Educational Institution to boast of , as that comely

building , and that admirably managed establishment , which are open to the inspection of our brethren daily , on St . John ' s Hill , Battersea Rise . The financial position of the Girls' School is

also very good and encouraging , though the Committee have expended £ 2 , 766 in new buildings and improvements , and have added 15 to the number of inmates . They appeal , without

fear , as they may ^ fairly do , and safely do , to the liberal aid , and warm sympathies of our fraternity . From all sources , as well from previous

balance , donations ancl subscriptions , and funded property , the income of the society for the last year amounted to the large sum of £ 12 , 566 ijs . 6 d ., while the actual expenditure was £ 11 , 192

j 7 s . jd ., leaving an available balance at the bankers of £ 1 , 374 4 s . 6 d . Thus , this year the balance is nearly £ 2 , 000 less than last year , though this is accounted for

by the building expenditure of £ 2 , 766 , before alluded to , and b y the purchase of £ 2 , 000 stock at £ 1 , 855 5 s . The ordinary expenses of the institution seem

to run about £ 4 , 400 , in round numbers annually , and the extraordinary to about £ 700 , making in all an annual expenditure of over £ 5 , 000 . We must remember , that , this will be increased

this year , owing to the larger number of children , and we cannot therefore safely estimate the expenditure required under all heads at less than £ 5 , 500 for 1874 . Now to meet this , the

institution has something like " o 30 , 000 , funded property , exclusive of a sustentation fund of about ___? iooo , but such an amount , is of course , utterly inadequate to meet the wants of the

institution . We trust , that , these few remarks may interest our brethren , and lead them to give their most

The Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

hearty support to the Girls School , in order if needs arise , still farther to augment its almost unutterable value to those who are recipients of its advantages , and to our now world-wide

confraternity . And , therefore , whenjwe | look ] at the financial position of the Girls' School , and its requirements to-day , we must not merely consider the present , but we must carefully bear in mind the future .

We may observe further , that , as far as we can judge , such wants are likely to increase in the future , not decrease , as one thing is patent , our metropolitan charities must either meet the fast

increasing wants of the Order , or Provincial Institutions are certain to arise and satisfy many pressing local claims . As a good deal has been said lately about the

support given by the Craft to our metropolitan charities , we have put together carefully the following statistics from the Girls' School report . One hundred and fifty London lodges

contribute ' as Life Governors or annual subscribers , twenty-seven Lodges of Instrnction , fourteen Chapters , and ten High Grade Bodies , and

Mark Lodges . We may observe " en passant " 52 girls come from London , of whom one is by purchase .

Five hundred and twenty-nine Provincial Lodges contribute as Life Governors or annually to the School , about 60 Provincial Chapters , and 40 High Grade Bodies and Mark

Mason Lodges . The provinces which have the largest number of lodges subscribing are East Lancashire , West Yorkshire , West Lancashire , and Kent ,

East Lancashire having 49 , West Yorkshire , 39 West Lancashire 33 , and Kent , 35 . These figures suggest a good many considera

tions , but one thing is quite clear , as we have often said before , as regards the Girls' School , ht any rate , the margin of non-subscribing lodges is still far too large .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The General Committee of this School met on Saturday last , at the Board-room , Freemasons ' Hall , Bro . Joseph Taylor , V . P ., in the chair . There was a larger attendance of brethren than is ever witnessed , except at quarterly communications , there being at least thirty brethren

present . Among them were Bros . Benj . Head , Raynham W . Stewart , H . Browse , W . Roebuck , F . H . Ebsworth , G . Morris , Hyde Pullen , W . Paas , Collard , Moutrie , F . Adlard , S . llosenthal , Jesse Turner , John Symonds , H . Massey , H . A . Dubois , L . Ruff , H . Young , Richard

Motion , Robert B . Webster , T . H . Kent , Benj . Mallam , G . Plunckett , J . W . Dosell , George Angold , Thomas Young , J . C . Dwarber , D . Ramsey , Haig , and F . Binckes , Secretary . After the reading and confirmation of the minutes of last meeting , and the reading ofthe

minutes ofthe house and audit committees , Bro . John Symonds , Vice-Patron , rose to bring on thc motion , of which he gave notice at last general committee , that on account of the length and efficiency of the services of Bro . F . Binckes , Secretary , his salary be raised d 2 e , o

a year , to commence from ist January last . In doing so he said that at the last meeting of the General Committee he gave notice that he would bring forward this motion . It was entirely in consequence of his own action at the committee for the revision of the laws of the institution

that it became necessary to give any notice at all . At that time the General Committee had power to alter the salary of the officers whenever they choose , without any notice what-