Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

for eight children—you have done nothing scarcely which will bring up this Charity , as compared with past times in proportion to the general extension of the Craft—in proportion

therefore on the ' one hand to the number of brethren who may be expected to require its aid ; in proportion on the other hand to the numbei of brethren who may be able to aid it with

their funds . Now , brethren , it is not long ago since in this hall I had the pleasure of congratulating you upon the large increase of lodges , and of Masons , during the last few years . Well , but

if our lodges increase in number ; ancl if our members increase in number too if the wealth of the order is going on increasing ; if we see Masonic halls springing up in every part of the

country ; if we have before our eyes proofs that the wealth of individual members is increasing from day to day , then I say we should give practical proof that we have not forgotten the

principles of our Order by shewing" a corresponding increase in the power and extent of our Charities . ( Hear , hear ) . Those charities arc the chief proof , to the outward world , that we are animated by

the principles which we profess to observe . ( Hear , hear ) . I have often said that those charities ought not to be the only proofs that we tire animated bv those princip les . I have often had

occasion to remark that it is our bounden duty to see that those noble principles are shown forth in our lives ( hear hear ); but those principles are not matter of profession—are not

things to be spoken of with the lips , and forgotten in the heart . We have to show , if we value the Craft , that we are prepared to act upon those principles and to admit the pressure of the

obligations which they cast upon us . Wc are bound to shew that if we profess that we believe in the principle of brotherly affection , and are read y to put our hands into our pockets ancl to

give to those professions proof more substantial than is to be found in annual festivals— -proofs which will stand the test of public examinationproofs which show that when we boast of our

numbers , and congratulate ourselves upon our wealth , we are ready to admit the claims of those who look to us—ancl who tire entitled to look to us for brotherly assistance , to receive at the hands

of this great ancl wealth y community a large share of their superfluities . It is , then , in the name of this ancient charity , of which wc are sc justly proud , that I venture to appeal to yuu

tonight ; that I ask you to-night to uphold , and to upraise on hi gh the Standard of Masonic charity , and to shew to those who doubt our professions , and question , the reality of our principles ,

that this ancient Order is not a thing of gold and of purple , but that its principles arc impressed deeply in the heart of a Freemason , and he feels that he has upon him a peculiar claim , which at

the same time is a peculiar honour to aid , tc cherish and to uphold the great charities of our order ( Cheers . ) Brethren , I give you " Prosperity to the Girls' School , " and I couple with it the name of Brother Samuel Tomkins .

Brother lonikins , Grand Treasurer , said : — M . W . G . M ., and Brethren , as Treasurer of this noble Institution , I thank von , and very

cordially , for the feeling and eloquent address with which you have enforced the claims of the Charity upon the Craft generally , and I thank

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

the brethren for the kindness with which they have received your address , and the enthusiasm which they have expressed on this toast being proposed . You sir , have so touched upon the

various claims of the Institution , that it would be altogether superfluous if I were to go over the same ground . I can only say that to myself , and to every brother who feels an

interest in the Charity , a festival like this so well supported , is a matter of very great gratification ; ancl I am sure that when you come to hear the amount which has been raised on the present

occasion read out , you will be highly satisfied with the exertions of the Stewards ; ancl be assured that this year the claims of the Charity have been appreciated . All I would impress upon you

is , that if we should flourish in future years as we ought to do , we ought not to relax our exertions . As our Chairman has told us , our Craft is increasing in wealth , in numbers , and in claims upon

Stand we hold it is our duty to endeavour to provide funds for the necessities of future years , or they will not be adequately met . Hitherto , they have been provided for by the Craft , and I do not

doubt that the same right and noble feeling which now exists throngh our lodges will be handed down by the present members and brethren of those lodges , to those who succeed

them ; and 1 trust that those who in this hall , ninety or a hundred years hence , who may meet for these Anniversary Festivals , will find these charities—tenfold or a hundredfold more than

they are now—with larger funds invested , ancl larger annual subscriptions ; and that this great prosperity may be attained in future years , it is , necessary that we , one and all of u ? , should exert

ourselves during our present time , and endeavour to keep up the subscriptions of this year ancl stimulate those who succeed us as Stewards and Provincial members of the Craft to c ' o the

same . After the eloquent way in which his Lordship has put before you the claims of the Girls' School , it would be superfluous for me to sav more . I leave the matter , with great

confidence , m your hands , brethren , knowing you will do what is right . ( Cheers . ) Bro . IL * Muggeridge here read the Stewards ' Lists , which amounted in the total to . X ' 4 , 100 .

The Chairman : I rise now to ask you lo drink " The Health of the Vice-President , Trustees , various Committees , and Medical Officers , of this Institution ; " ancl well may you drink their health . If we have reason to be

proud of this Institution , it is because it has been well and zealously managed by those who have been at the head of it . ( Hear , hear . ) If it be . as we hope ancl trust , a credit to the Craft ,

it is due to them that it is so . Therefore , I need say no more , but will heartily propose to you this toast , with which I have very great pleasure in coupling thc name of Bro . Hnvshe , one of the

Vice-Presidents . Bro . Huyshe in responding , said it had always been his opinion that the female character of a nation tended to raise that nation in the scale of

humanity . remaies had more to do with humanising the world , and especially with humanising men , than any others being alive .

Theretore he believed that this school had more to do with the high character England hail maintained throughout the whole world , than even the Boys '

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School , or any other school whatever . He could point with singular satisfaction to this School , because he was present a few vears ago when the late Grand Master said what had

never escaped his ( Brother Huyshe ' s ) recollection , because he deemed it the proudest thing that could be said for a female school , that , for all the lengthened period it had existed no

girl who had been brought up in it had ever disgraced herself in her after life . If there was any fact which showed the value of the education given in this school , it was that fact . To the

Governess and her assistants , the Matron and her assistants , this was due , and the thanks of the Craft at large should be given to them , rather

than to the subject of this toast . Still , as it had bcen proposed , he , as one of the Vice-presidents , begged to return thanks . The toast of " The other Masonic Charitable

Institutions was responded to b y Brothers Binckes ancl Farnfield , and that of "The Stewards " by Brother Sir Bruce Seton . "The Ladies " were represented by the Grand Chaplain , the Rev . A . Bruce Fraser .

1 he company then adjourned to the Temple where a grand concert was given , under the able direction of Bro . Frank Elmore . The artistes who took part in the performance

were—Vocalists , Mdlle . Liebhart , Miss Alice Fairman , and Madame Florence Lancia , Brother Frank Elmore , and Brother Carl Stephan . The Instrumentalists were : —on the harp , Brother Oberthur : on

the flute , Mr . Churchlield Arlidge ; and on the Pianoforte , Madame Strindberg-Elmore . The accompanists were Brother Richard Limpus , and

Brother Henry Parker . Mr . Goodchild acted as toastmaster , after the banquet , which was admirably served by Brother C . E . Francatelli .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Craft IHasonrtj . METROPOLITAN .

ACACIA Lonoi ; ( No . 1 . 300 ) . —The first regular meeting for the season of this prosperous lotlge was held at Railway Hotel , Potter ' s Bar , Middlesex , on Wednesday Sth inst . Thc lodge was opened at eleven o ' clock in the morning by Bro . Frederick Walters , I . P . M ., who was

supported by Bros . J . H . Butten , S . W . ; W . Richardson , J . W . ; E . Sillifant , P . M ., Treasurer ; G . Cattel , P . Prov . ' G . S . D . Northamptonshire , P . M ., Sec . ; R . Limpus , Hughes , Scholland , Ferrier , & c . The minutes of the last regular meeting and several emergencies were read ancl

confirmed . The ballots were unanimous in favour of Bros . J . H . Butten , S . W . as W . M . ; and of E . Sillifant , P . M . as Treasurer ; Bro . J . Bawin , P . M ., Tyler was re-elected . It was arranged to hold the audit meeting in the City .

Bros . E . Sillifant , P . M . ; G . Cattel , P . M . ; E . Horsley , P . M . ; were elect hononary Past Masters of the lodge . The lodge was dul y closed , anel the members hastened back to town to attend the Girls' School Festival .

MAKKOW Lonc'i * ( NO . 1 . 310 ) . — i'he installation meeting of this well-established lodge was held at the Railway Hotel , Harrow , on Tuesday , the 7 th inst . J 5 ro . G . Pyiuni , W . M ., assisted by his oflicers opened , the lodge . The minutes

of the last meeting were read ancl confirmed ? unanimously . By desire of the members , anti , >* the kindness of the W . M ., Bro . Alfred Avery , P . G . D . Cer . Middlesex , ancl P . M ., took the . chair , and in a most able and impressive manner installed Bro . W . H . Green , S . W ., as the W . M .,