Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Appro Ageing Festival Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.
THE APPRO AGEING FESTIVAL OF THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .
The first step in the way of preparation for the approaching Festival of the Rojal Masonic Institution for Girls was taken on Friday , the 5 th instant , when the brethren who have volunteered their services as Stewards for the occasion held their inaugural meeting , constituted themselves into a Baard with the usual acting and honorary officers , and made such arrangements as
they deemed necessary or desirable at so early a stage in the proceedings . 11 is gratifying to learn from what passed at the meeting in question , and what has reached us since , that the Board has been considerably augmented in point of numbers since we last drew attention to the subject , and that it now comprises over 260 ladies and brethren , with the certainty thit between now and
the 8 th May—the day appointed for the celebration—several further additions will be made . We may , therefore , anticipate that the total number of Stewards who will give their services in support of the Chairman , Bro . the Earl of MOUNT EDGCI'MM-:, Deputy Grand Master of England , and Prov . Grand Master of Cornwall , will be not far short of 300 , and if
only these brethren succeed in raising an average—the very moderate average—of . £ 40 per list , there will be no doubt as to a sufficiency of the ways and means being forthcoming for the maintenance of the Institution at its present strength , or rather let us say , that the governing body will be in a position to maintain it on its present footingwithout either incurring debt with
its bankers or trenching upon its very limited reserve of invested moneys . Thus there ought to be no difficulty in obtaining the requisite sum of between ^ 11 , 000 and ^ 12 , 000 which , as we have been at the pains of showing in former articles is required for the service of the current year . In the first place , the Institution is popular with
the Craft because of those whom it takes under its charge . Boys and girls of tender years are alike helpless to assist themselves in obtaining a livelihood . They must have some kind of education to begin with , and the better the character of that education , the more likely are they to make a good start in life . But the Girls , as the weaker sex , naturally appeal more
strongly to our sympathies . They are not framed so strongly as boys to encounter the difficulties which are the lot of all orphan children or the children of people in reduced circumstances . On this ground , then , the Girls' School appeals to our support , and the appeal is invariably responded to with alacrity , if not always to the extent that may be necessary . In the
next place , there can never be any question as to the manner in which the affairs of the Institution are administered . We had evidence of this only the other day when the results of certain public examinations , in which sundry of the pupils had presented themselves as candidates , were published , and it was found in the case of the Cambridge Local Examinations
that all had passed the prescribed ordeal , while many were placed in the Honours Classes , and still more of them had special distinctions awarded in one or more subjects ; and that in the College of Preceptors' Examination only a very few were unable to satisfy the Examiners of their proficiency in the prescribed subjects . But in addition to this particular and more
recent evidence of the excellence of the training at this Institution there is the general , and therefore the more important , evidence which has been regularly forthcoming for a long term of years—indeed , ever since the present Head-Governess was appointed—that there is no need for our Girls' School to look outside the limits of its own ex-pupils in order
to obtain the services of capable teachers and governesses . Whenever a vacancy occurs on the educational or domestic staff , there is always a pupil who has left , or who is on the point of leaving , who is ready and willing , and , be it added , thoroughly competent to fill it . This has been the case for a long time , and we have no doubt this plan of recruiting the staff of teachers
from the senior pupils , which has been found so beneficial , will be continued . At all events , the successes won by the girls in certain examinations which are open to the general body of our middle-class schools , and the fact of the educational staff being , with the exception of Miss D AVIS herself , composed entirely of former pupils , is evidence enough that whatever moneys are
contributed at our Festivals will be usefully and beneficially expended . There is yet another reason why the sum necessary to maintain this Institution should be regularly forthcoming , and that is , the very great increase in the number of children on the establishment which has taken place within the
last 20 years . In the year 1871 there were only about 100 Girls in residence at Battersea Rise ; now the number is 263 , so that in but little more than the Period mentioned , the number of children in receipt of the training which has been proved to be so excellent has been augmented by more than 150 Per cent . Under the circumstances we have described , we again most earnestly appeal to the Craft generally for that measure of support at the approaching
The Appro Ageing Festival Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.
Festival which is so necessary for the Institution , and which it so fully deserves . It is possibIe , and indeed most probable , that the Board of Stewards will ultimately consist of about 300 ladies and brethren , and , as we have said before , if these succeed in raising the modest average of £ 40 per list , the sum required for the year will be forthcoming . But the Returns have
fluctuated very considerably since the year 1888 , when the Institution celebrated the centenary of its foundation , and the immense sum of , £ 5 1 <>» o was raised . In 1889 , as was to be expected , the Festival yielded only -i . 5354- I ' ' 8 ( Jo there was a recovery , and the total announced and realised was ^" , 010 . fn 1 S 91 , however , there was a very serious
falling off , and the amount obtained was . £ S (> i 7 , while even in 1892 , when the Duke of CoNxAviiirr presided as Chairman , the Returns only just exceeded the sum of £ 10 aoo . That a greater recovery from the fall in 1891 was not achieved was no doubt owing to the occurrence of the Benevolent Jubilee in the February preceding the Festival of this Institution , but whatever tin
cause , the smallness of the total in 1892 , when compared with the average total attained in the years preceding 18 SS , was a serious disippointment to those responsible for the management of the Institution , who found that the beneficial results of the Centenary Festival were in a fair way to be neutralised by the diminished Returns which had since been obtained .
However , in 1 S 93 , under the auspices of the Earl of EUSTON , the hesiivil produced upwards of ^ , " 1 4 000 , while , last year , when the Earl or LVTIIO . M presided , a total of ^ 18 , 056 was realised . This has gone a long way towards restoring the fortunes of the School , but on comparing the average for the six years that have followed the Centenary year with thatof the six years which
preceded it , we find the advantage is on theside of the latter . The total for the years 18 S 9-18 94 was ^ 67 , ( 1 50 , giving an average per year of £ 11 , 175 ; for the six years 1 SS 2-18 S 7 , the total was , £ 75 , 759 , giving an average per year of £ 12 fi ? . 0 > . Hence , if there is a very serious diminution next month as compared with the total raised in May , 1 S 94 , the average for the years which have succeeded it
the Centenary will compare still more disadvantageous ^ now with the average for the years preceding it . Add to this that the School is stronger by 20 pupils than it was before 1 S 88 , and our readers will realise still more clearly the necessity for raising a goodly average total . The
permanent income is about ^ _ 'ooo , the expenditure over £ 13 , 000 . Let the deficit be made good , and we may be sure the authorities will be both satisfied and gratified not less than the distinguished brother who has undertaken to preside . and the Stewardswho are so loyallyworkinginsupportofhisadvocacy .
Progress.
PROGRESS .
During late years the Order of Freemasonry has had more attention paid to its outer expressions and visible signs than it ever had , and this is sure to continue . There is suspicion everywhere , and many clear-headed Masons fully recognise the fact that if we cannot stand fair criticism there is a screw loose somewhere . Beyond this , in these days , Societies cannot afford to
treat public opinion too cavalierly ; and if the avowed principles of any philanthropic Society be irreconcileable with the conduct of its members , it cannot avoid either the attack of enemies , or the effects those attacks may produce on that opinion . Meanwhile , Masons themselves express a belief
( in which , however , we do not shaic to anything like the same extent ) that Freemasonry is losing its character—inwardly suffering acutely , they say , from canker-worm , which is sapping its vitality and threatening its very foundations .
Writers , more or less qualified , both in this and o ' . her countries , have raised an alarm , and naturally the public papers around the seat of your Masonic parliament have not been slow to take it up . Masons , we are told , have joined in , and actually confirmed unfriendly criticism in those papers , thus drawing , unfairly , as we think , the attention of a curious but
indiscriminative public to matters it cannot even superficially understand without special knowledge . School-tales generally give but one side of a question is an old saying ; and whether this be literally true or wholly or partially false , such tales are best kept within the school ; for even in the playground they often lead to scrimmages .
After all , the physician who knows the cause of a disease is half way advanced towards its cure if that be possible ; and this may be said of ours , We have known all about both for eight or nine years , only , not very widely believing in thedisease , but a comparatively small section ever expected having it to cure . The " wise men " who poohpooh'd the warning in 188 7 , did so at
least honestly , and simply could not understand it at that time . Most of these have since done yeoman service by boldly dealing with the disease immediately it threatened to enter tlir-ir own lodges , which is a far more practical appreciation of the warning than any other they could show . We are now alluding , of course , to the indiscriminate admission of candidates .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Appro Ageing Festival Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.
THE APPRO AGEING FESTIVAL OF THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .
The first step in the way of preparation for the approaching Festival of the Rojal Masonic Institution for Girls was taken on Friday , the 5 th instant , when the brethren who have volunteered their services as Stewards for the occasion held their inaugural meeting , constituted themselves into a Baard with the usual acting and honorary officers , and made such arrangements as
they deemed necessary or desirable at so early a stage in the proceedings . 11 is gratifying to learn from what passed at the meeting in question , and what has reached us since , that the Board has been considerably augmented in point of numbers since we last drew attention to the subject , and that it now comprises over 260 ladies and brethren , with the certainty thit between now and
the 8 th May—the day appointed for the celebration—several further additions will be made . We may , therefore , anticipate that the total number of Stewards who will give their services in support of the Chairman , Bro . the Earl of MOUNT EDGCI'MM-:, Deputy Grand Master of England , and Prov . Grand Master of Cornwall , will be not far short of 300 , and if
only these brethren succeed in raising an average—the very moderate average—of . £ 40 per list , there will be no doubt as to a sufficiency of the ways and means being forthcoming for the maintenance of the Institution at its present strength , or rather let us say , that the governing body will be in a position to maintain it on its present footingwithout either incurring debt with
its bankers or trenching upon its very limited reserve of invested moneys . Thus there ought to be no difficulty in obtaining the requisite sum of between ^ 11 , 000 and ^ 12 , 000 which , as we have been at the pains of showing in former articles is required for the service of the current year . In the first place , the Institution is popular with
the Craft because of those whom it takes under its charge . Boys and girls of tender years are alike helpless to assist themselves in obtaining a livelihood . They must have some kind of education to begin with , and the better the character of that education , the more likely are they to make a good start in life . But the Girls , as the weaker sex , naturally appeal more
strongly to our sympathies . They are not framed so strongly as boys to encounter the difficulties which are the lot of all orphan children or the children of people in reduced circumstances . On this ground , then , the Girls' School appeals to our support , and the appeal is invariably responded to with alacrity , if not always to the extent that may be necessary . In the
next place , there can never be any question as to the manner in which the affairs of the Institution are administered . We had evidence of this only the other day when the results of certain public examinations , in which sundry of the pupils had presented themselves as candidates , were published , and it was found in the case of the Cambridge Local Examinations
that all had passed the prescribed ordeal , while many were placed in the Honours Classes , and still more of them had special distinctions awarded in one or more subjects ; and that in the College of Preceptors' Examination only a very few were unable to satisfy the Examiners of their proficiency in the prescribed subjects . But in addition to this particular and more
recent evidence of the excellence of the training at this Institution there is the general , and therefore the more important , evidence which has been regularly forthcoming for a long term of years—indeed , ever since the present Head-Governess was appointed—that there is no need for our Girls' School to look outside the limits of its own ex-pupils in order
to obtain the services of capable teachers and governesses . Whenever a vacancy occurs on the educational or domestic staff , there is always a pupil who has left , or who is on the point of leaving , who is ready and willing , and , be it added , thoroughly competent to fill it . This has been the case for a long time , and we have no doubt this plan of recruiting the staff of teachers
from the senior pupils , which has been found so beneficial , will be continued . At all events , the successes won by the girls in certain examinations which are open to the general body of our middle-class schools , and the fact of the educational staff being , with the exception of Miss D AVIS herself , composed entirely of former pupils , is evidence enough that whatever moneys are
contributed at our Festivals will be usefully and beneficially expended . There is yet another reason why the sum necessary to maintain this Institution should be regularly forthcoming , and that is , the very great increase in the number of children on the establishment which has taken place within the
last 20 years . In the year 1871 there were only about 100 Girls in residence at Battersea Rise ; now the number is 263 , so that in but little more than the Period mentioned , the number of children in receipt of the training which has been proved to be so excellent has been augmented by more than 150 Per cent . Under the circumstances we have described , we again most earnestly appeal to the Craft generally for that measure of support at the approaching
The Appro Ageing Festival Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.
Festival which is so necessary for the Institution , and which it so fully deserves . It is possibIe , and indeed most probable , that the Board of Stewards will ultimately consist of about 300 ladies and brethren , and , as we have said before , if these succeed in raising the modest average of £ 40 per list , the sum required for the year will be forthcoming . But the Returns have
fluctuated very considerably since the year 1888 , when the Institution celebrated the centenary of its foundation , and the immense sum of , £ 5 1 <>» o was raised . In 1889 , as was to be expected , the Festival yielded only -i . 5354- I ' ' 8 ( Jo there was a recovery , and the total announced and realised was ^" , 010 . fn 1 S 91 , however , there was a very serious
falling off , and the amount obtained was . £ S (> i 7 , while even in 1892 , when the Duke of CoNxAviiirr presided as Chairman , the Returns only just exceeded the sum of £ 10 aoo . That a greater recovery from the fall in 1891 was not achieved was no doubt owing to the occurrence of the Benevolent Jubilee in the February preceding the Festival of this Institution , but whatever tin
cause , the smallness of the total in 1892 , when compared with the average total attained in the years preceding 18 SS , was a serious disippointment to those responsible for the management of the Institution , who found that the beneficial results of the Centenary Festival were in a fair way to be neutralised by the diminished Returns which had since been obtained .
However , in 1 S 93 , under the auspices of the Earl of EUSTON , the hesiivil produced upwards of ^ , " 1 4 000 , while , last year , when the Earl or LVTIIO . M presided , a total of ^ 18 , 056 was realised . This has gone a long way towards restoring the fortunes of the School , but on comparing the average for the six years that have followed the Centenary year with thatof the six years which
preceded it , we find the advantage is on theside of the latter . The total for the years 18 S 9-18 94 was ^ 67 , ( 1 50 , giving an average per year of £ 11 , 175 ; for the six years 1 SS 2-18 S 7 , the total was , £ 75 , 759 , giving an average per year of £ 12 fi ? . 0 > . Hence , if there is a very serious diminution next month as compared with the total raised in May , 1 S 94 , the average for the years which have succeeded it
the Centenary will compare still more disadvantageous ^ now with the average for the years preceding it . Add to this that the School is stronger by 20 pupils than it was before 1 S 88 , and our readers will realise still more clearly the necessity for raising a goodly average total . The
permanent income is about ^ _ 'ooo , the expenditure over £ 13 , 000 . Let the deficit be made good , and we may be sure the authorities will be both satisfied and gratified not less than the distinguished brother who has undertaken to preside . and the Stewardswho are so loyallyworkinginsupportofhisadvocacy .
Progress.
PROGRESS .
During late years the Order of Freemasonry has had more attention paid to its outer expressions and visible signs than it ever had , and this is sure to continue . There is suspicion everywhere , and many clear-headed Masons fully recognise the fact that if we cannot stand fair criticism there is a screw loose somewhere . Beyond this , in these days , Societies cannot afford to
treat public opinion too cavalierly ; and if the avowed principles of any philanthropic Society be irreconcileable with the conduct of its members , it cannot avoid either the attack of enemies , or the effects those attacks may produce on that opinion . Meanwhile , Masons themselves express a belief
( in which , however , we do not shaic to anything like the same extent ) that Freemasonry is losing its character—inwardly suffering acutely , they say , from canker-worm , which is sapping its vitality and threatening its very foundations .
Writers , more or less qualified , both in this and o ' . her countries , have raised an alarm , and naturally the public papers around the seat of your Masonic parliament have not been slow to take it up . Masons , we are told , have joined in , and actually confirmed unfriendly criticism in those papers , thus drawing , unfairly , as we think , the attention of a curious but
indiscriminative public to matters it cannot even superficially understand without special knowledge . School-tales generally give but one side of a question is an old saying ; and whether this be literally true or wholly or partially false , such tales are best kept within the school ; for even in the playground they often lead to scrimmages .
After all , the physician who knows the cause of a disease is half way advanced towards its cure if that be possible ; and this may be said of ours , We have known all about both for eight or nine years , only , not very widely believing in thedisease , but a comparatively small section ever expected having it to cure . The " wise men " who poohpooh'd the warning in 188 7 , did so at
least honestly , and simply could not understand it at that time . Most of these have since done yeoman service by boldly dealing with the disease immediately it threatened to enter tlir-ir own lodges , which is a far more practical appreciation of the warning than any other they could show . We are now alluding , of course , to the indiscriminate admission of candidates .