Consecration Of The Sarnian Mark Lodge ,No.425.

The Provincial Grand Master of Jersey , Bro . Col . Malet de Carteret , who js a P . M . of the Ca ; sarean Lodge of Mark Masters , came over to attend the ceremony , and his example encouraged a very strong contingent of the members of the Cesarean Lodge to brave the unpleasantness of a smart breeze and a choppy sea , and to come over also . It is almost needless to

state that in the hands of the Grand Secretary , Bro . C . Fitzgerald Matter , and with a Director of Ceremonies like Bro . R . Berridge , with Bros . Gordon Miller and Carter as Wardens , and Bro . Major Carroll guarding the portals , the beautiful ceremony lost none of its solemnity , none of its impressiveness . The musical arrangements were most ably conducted by Bro . Nicholls , and Bro . the Rev . G . V . Pickering acted as Chaplain .

Towards the conclusion the Consecrating Officer installed the W . M ., ] 3 ro . Balfour Cockbum , who at once proceeded to invest the following brethren as his officers : Bros . Geraghty , jun . ( Bro . Bichard unable to attend on account of a sad family bereavement ) , as S . W . ; Lovell , as J . W . ; Le Page , M . O . ; G . V . Pickering , S . O . ; VV . Stranger , J . O . ; Nicholls , Treas . ; Quick , Sec . ; Rowcliffe , S . D . ; and De Jausserand , | . D .

Before closing the lodge , the W . M . stated he had a most pleasing duty before him , and that was to propose a vote of thanks to Bro . C . Fitzgerald Matier , the Consecrating Officer , and to the other Grand Officers who bad accompanied him from London . It was useless for him to enlarge upon the manner in which the ceremony had been conducted . He felt assured that all present had been deeply impressed by it , and he could only say that as regards himself and as an old Mason he had never witnessed that ceremony

so charmingly or so faultlessly delivered as it had been that evening by Bro . Matier . In concluding , he begged that the Consecrating Officer and the other Grand Officers would allow their names to be inscribed on the roll of the lodge as honorary members . This was seconded by Bro . LOVELL , the J . W ., and carried unanimously . Bro . MATIER , in a few most appropriate words , responded for himself and the other officers .

On the lodge being closed , the brethren repaired to the banqueting hall below the lodge , where an excellent supper had been prepared under the direction of Bro . Brady , of the Channel Islands Hotel , and after which the usual toasts were given and received with enthusiasm . It is perhaps right to add that no less than 21 brethren of the Cesarean

Lodge were present , including Bros . F . Godfray , W . M . ; Stone , P . M . ; Bois , P . M . ; de Carteret , Le Cronier , Hespiradoux , Hamling , Secretary , and many others , whose names we were unable to obtain . Bro . Boucaut , Justice of South Australia , descended from one of the oldest insular families , and who had not visited the island for over 51 years , was present , as was also Bro . Rev . H . Holden , from Jersey .

Upwards of 50 Mark brethren sat down to supper—a very excellent gathering indeed for so small a place . The lodge was furnished by Bro . George Kenning .

With The Wearers Of The " Royal Blue."

WITH THE WEARERS OF THE " ROYAL BLUE . "

[ BY ONE OF THE " CRAFT . " ] We are indebted to the Kingston and Sttrbiton News for the following interesting and sympathetic sketch of the Prize Day at the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls ;—I was not among the privileged company who paid a visit last Saturday to Portsmouth Dockyard to witness the smartness of the wearers of the

royal blue there to be found ; but a few days previously I had the pleasure of seeing nearly a couple of hundred in royal blue dress go through a series of movements and manoeuvres which for precision could not be surpassed by any of her Majesty ' s navy . Though not found on board a ship , the wearers of the royal blue to whom I refer belong to a craft , which though " all abroad " is never " at sea , " and they are the objects of the solicitude of a host of friends in every

quarter of the globe . To be explicit : the sight to which I allude was witnessed at the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , situate so close to Clapham Junction that day by day thousands of eyes see the pile of buildings , and very many point to them with pride as "Our School . " In that Institution at the present time 26 3 girls , daughters of members of the Masonic Fraternity who have passed away , find a home , the like of which is hardly to be found in any land .

Four years ago the School celebrated its Centenary , and to mark that memorable epoch in its history no less a sum than - £ 5 1 . 500 was contributed , mostl y by members ol the Order on the occasion of thc Festival . It has been the custom to invite subscribers and their friends to thc School a few days prior to the Annual Festival , when the prizes awarded to the pupils are given to them . H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught was the

President of this year ' s gathering , which took place on the 18 th inst ., and on the 16 th he , with H . R . H . the Duchess of Connaught , attended at thc School , the latter having consented to hand thc awards to the successful ones . Many readers of the News are Masons , and 1 hope the majority of them help in one way or other to keep this School going . The Kingston lodges

have done their part nobly of late years , and the senior member of thc senior lodge is not only a Vice-Patron of the Institution , but his wife also stands in the same position , to do which she was stirred by a visit to the School on the occasion of a distribution of prizes . My hope is that this notice may induce others , if not to do likewise , at all events to qualify as Life Governors or become regular subscribers .

Ihree years had passed since I last visited thc School , and so on this occasion I saw for the first time the grand hall which has been built , and in which the ceremony took place . It is a noble edifice , and well named after the beloved Princess who is the consort of thc Grand Master of the Order " -Alexandra Hall . On either side of the floor space are recesses , with raised seats , which on the day of which I write were filled as to the greater

number by wearers of the " royal blue . " Each child wore a dress of that ••' olour , and snowy white apron and bib with cross straps behind , thc strictest uniformity being observed . Around the four walls of thc hall runs a gallery in bays , which was crowded with those fortunate enough to obtain he necessary tickets ; while all the available space on thc floor was filled With chairs , which quite failed to provide sufficient seats .

. On one side of the hall was a dais , in front of which stood a table loaded * ilh the prizes , and opposite were ranged eight pianos in crescent form , the necessity for which was clear by a glance at the printed programme . , Fully an hour before the time fixed for the opening of the proceedings ^ isitors began to arrive , and were marshalled to their seats by courteous Stewards bearing wands of office . Among them were many holding high ra pk in the Order , who exemplify in their life and actions one of its chief Princi ples—Charity .

With The Wearers Of The " Royal Blue."

Punctually at 4 p . m . the Royal visitors entered thc hall , and as they were escorted to their seats by the Earl of Euston , Sir John Monckton , and others , the children sang a verse of the National Anthem , accompanied on the piano by one of their number , and conducted by Mrs . Rowarth , the singing mistress , who handled the baton with an ease and a confidence

worthy of the veteran Barnby or Costa . That over , a little g irl was led to the Duchess to present her with a handsome bouquet , and I was told that she , though an inmate of the School , is a Life Governor , her father having so qualified his daughter during his life , and when in circumstances which permitted him to give the money . There is no parallel case in the Institution .

The programme proper opened with thc singing of the chorale " Now thank we all our God , " which was rendered with touching sweetness . Clear enunciation and pure pronunciation were most noticeable features in this and the other pieces sung by the children collectively . No sooner was the chorale ended than girls were seen coming from all quarters and seating themselves at the pianos—three at each 24 performers

, in all . There was no copy in front of any of them , but the music mistress sat on the right wing , sheets in hand , and all being still we heard "One , two , and" with a crash and a bang down came 4 S hands on the keys , and off they went into a lively trio by Kramer . The only guidance the young folks had was the counting of the beats at the opening of each

movement . The other pianoforte pieces were—quartette by 16 players , Chopin ' s Valse in E minor by 8 , and Haydn ' s Symphony No . 13 by 16 . It was not all rattle and noise , but really a skilful and tasteful performance , and before leaving the Duchess had the teachers of singing and piano brought to her that she might compliment them upon the proficiency of their pupils .

Recitations were given most effectively by four girls , who had to speak their lines in the presence of such famous elocutionists as Lady Monckton and Mr . Edward Terry . The distribution of the prizes made a break in the entertainment , and in that Bertha Dean was the heroine , carrying off the gold medal for proficiency , with £ 5 added by bequest of an old friend of the School , and

four other prizes . Bessie Locke was next , taking the silver medal for good conduct , with £ 5 added , and three other prizes . The award for amiability of temper , which goes by vote of the whole School , went to Jane Edmunds , who was greeted with applause from all the girls as she went " up to take the prize . A very effective little speech was made by the Duke of Connaught before leaving , in which he complimented and congratulated all round

, plainly stating that hc had riot expected to find such a school , and so high a degree of proficiency . Then came an interval for tea , and it was very nice to see mothers and daughters going about the place , while many old pupils revisited what had been to them a second home . Every part of the Institution was thrown open to inspection , and the girls who were not taken up with attendance on

relatives or friends were on the alert to offer to conduct ladies , and gentlemen too , through the dormitories and corridors . In ample proportion to the inmates there are bath rooms , while in the grounds is a spacious swimming bath . One of the sights on this day is to see the girls at tea in their own hall , but the meal is soon over , for there is much to be done .

I was particularly struck with the confidence and affection which appears to exist between those in authority and those under them . It was easy to recognise members of the teaching staff , even if they had not been decorated , as they were , with remarkably pretty sprays of pink bloom ; and around them clustered the " wearers of the royal blue " in a manner which showed the indwelling of a love which casteth out fear ,

But the interval for refreshments and promenade is over , and the well informed ones make their way back to the Alexandra Hall to secure positions whence they may view thc succeeding part of thc day ' s proceedings . The floor has been cleared , and across it go three of the girls under the direction of a governess , making mysterious lines and crosses with chalk , the purpose of which is made plain later on .

I he time-table says " 6 . 30 , calisthenics and marching , " and before then every inch of standing room which commands the area is taken up . The hands of the clock reach the half-hour . * there is a noise of feet without , some such a sound as was heard when the Pied Piper of Hamelin drew the children after him ; two young ladies seat themselves at a piano close to the entrance , and Miss Davis , the well esteemed Head Mistress—who has filled

that post for so long that I will not write the figures to denote the number of years—stands with her eyes on the dial . The hands denote 6 . 28 p . m . ; Miss Davis makes a sign , the sound of the piano is heard , and at either doorway is seen the leader of a column of " wearers of the royal blue . " On they come , a little dot leading through each door , stepping out firmly in slow time . The pace quickens , and in they come , increasing in stature , but

all erectand carryingthemselvesas correctly as the mostexactingdrill sergeant could desire . They form across the hall in rows of ten , each column working to the centre , every one falling into exact alignment at regular distances . The music ceases and there is just time to count 18 ranks of 10 each , in all 180 , before Miss Davis , standing at the head , utters in a low clear voice one word . Instantly all go through a series of movements which I cannot

describe without being wearisome . Sufficient to say that the spectators are treated for half-an-hour to a display of calisthenics and marching which repeatedly elicited their plaudits . The manoeuvres in close formation were simply marvellous to be exhibited by a regiment of girls , and cheer after cheer greeted them as , without audible word of command , they executed intricate evolutions with a precision that regular troops could scarcely

surpass . 1 he piano kept going all the lime . In this way a half-hour quickly passed , and then " liberty hall" was proclaimed . Thc strains of a waltz soon set the little feet , and bigger ones too , going in the mazy dance until 8 . 30 , when the children , having said their adieu to relatives and friends , once more formed up and marched off to their domitories , soon to be wrapped in slumber after the excitement of the day .

1 'his is a very brief sketch of what I saw at the Masonic School for Girls . I rejoiced to look on what was being done for the children of brothers gone before , and felt well repaid for what little I may have done in behalf of one of the three excellent Institutions of thc Order . The demand upon thc space of the London daily papers did not permit of the publication of much else beyond the Duke of Connaught ' s speech . At the Festival which

followed two days later due testimony was paid to the labours of the worth y brethren who have helped to make the School what it is , and to the zeal with which thc Secretary ( Mr . Hedges ) looks after the affairs generally . Thc amount of donations announced was £ 10 , 002 , and when it is remembered that already this year thc members of thc Order have contributed over £ 65 , 000 to thc Benevolent Fund , those outside its pale will perhaps admit that there is something more in Freemasonry than meets the eye .