The Red Cross Of Constantine In York Shire.

Red Cross" of Constantine , K . H . S . ar . d St . John the Evan ¦ relist , had better communicate at once with Bro . W . I ) Brittain , Alma Works , Sheffield , or Bro . Joseph Binney , Queen-street Chambers , Sheffield .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

The 87 th anniversary festival of this Institution was held on Tuesday evening - at Freemasons' Tavern , under the presidency of the Rt . lion , the Lord Mayor , Grand Junior Warden of England . About 500 brethren and ladies were present during the evening , and the

arrangements made fcr their comfort and convenience were of the most gratifiying description . Although , the hall was very full . no inconvenience was occasioned , and no brother lacked any attention that could be bestowed on him . The Stewards were unremitting in their exertions , and lost no opportunity of contributing to the general harmony of the

evening . Among the brethren on the dais supporting thc chairman were the Earl of Jersey , Col . Lyne , Sir Albert Woods , Bros . Monckton , Peter de L . Long , John Hervey , S . Tomkins , James Mason , W . Paas , Joshua Nunn , Brette , Capt . Wordsworth , John Sutcliffe ( Lincoln ) , 11 . Browse , Dr . Barringer , J . H . N . Vine , ( Lord Mayor ' s Secretary ) , J . A . Rucker ,

J . C . Parkinson , D . Jabez Hogg , Thomas , Fenn , John Symonds , Raynham W . Stewart , Rev . E . Thompson , Vicar of Wandsworth , N . B . Headon , Peter Matthews , A . II . Tattershall , George Kenning , A . J . D . Filer , Thomas Cubitt , C . A . Cottebrune , Joseph Smith , James Brett ; and a great many other present and past Grand Oflicers . At the conclusion of dinner grace was sung , and the

following speeches were delivered in proposing the toasts : — The Chairman : Worshipful Sirs and Brethren , the first toast that I ha \ e the honour to propose to you this evening is "The Health cf IIcrMajesty the Queen . " It is always a pleasure , and especially with Masons , to propose this toist , because wc are always prepared lo acknowledge in her the most powerful as well as thc most constitutional of

Sovereigns who has ever sat on the throne of this country ; and at the same time we are proud to look on her as being a bright example in every condition of life , and as the examplar of every private and domestic virtue . I propose to you "The Health of Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen . " After the National Anthem had been sung ,

The Chairman rose and said : Worshipful Sirs and Brethren , I have now the peculiar honour to propose to you the next toast . I believe this is the first time , at all events in this Institution , that the form of this toast , has been altered . I have now to propose it in this significant form , "His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , Most Worshipful Grand Master , " ( cheers ) , " Patron and

President of this Institution ; the Princess of Wales , Patroness ; and the other Members of the Royal Family . " Brethren , I think you will acknowledge that this is a proud occasion on which I have the honour to propose this toast to you . We feel all of us , I am sure , most deeply grateful as well as greatly honoured by the position to which His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales

has attained in Masonry . VVe have also the pleasure of knowing that he is the Patron and President of the Institution , which we have met here to-night to endeavour to do the utmost we can to promote the interests of . We are also glad to know that the Princess of Wales assumes her position of Patroness ; and I cannot help thinking vou will agree with me that this is an

opportunity when we may , among ourselves , acknowledge thc deep obligation we owe to the Prince of Wales and the Princess of Wales for thc good they have done for Freemasonry . It is not for me to enlarge more upon that subject , but it is only right for me to say as much as I have said . You will , however , concur with me in not only drinking to the health of the Prince and

Princess of Wales , but will also remember that the Duke of Connaught and Prince" Leopold are also Masons ; and that the Duke of Connaught did us the honour to be present at the Installation in the Albert Hall . When I say that , I think we arc coming back lo the right position in which Freemasonry ought lo stand . ( Hear , hear . ) Without saying more I will propose to you the toast ol

"I I . R . I I . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., Patron of this Institution , Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales , the Patroness of the Institution , and the other Members nf the Royal Family . " ( Cheers . ) Thc loasl having been drank with great enthusiasm , was followed by the song " God Bless the Prince of Wales . " The Chairman again rose and said : Worshipful Sirs

and Brethren , I have now the \ cry great pleasure of proposing to you "The Health of the Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , M . W . Pro Grand Master . " ( Applause . ) Brethren , Lam sure I have only to allude to the fact that on the recent occasion of the Installation of our M . W . G . M ., the Earl of Carnarvon should , for a short time , leave his sorrow to come among us to perform a most important

duty . I am sure you will all agree with me that he performed it in a way Which rendered Masonry illustrious . We feel deeply for him in his sorrow , and we trust that at some distant period he may appear among us in thai pleasant , and genial , and free ; and happy way in which he always has appeared among us heretofore . I need not say any more with respect to this toast , except that I am sure every Mason in this country appreciates and admires the

Pro Grand Master , the Right Hon . thc Earl of Carnarvon , ( Hear , hear . ) Afltr the toast had been duly honoured , Thc Chairman said : Brethren , I have now the honour to propose to you the next toast , which is that of " 'Fhe Right Hon . Lord Skelmersdale , R . W . D . G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Oflicers , present and past . " ( Applause . ) Brethren , I am sure that we are all proud to acknowledge

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

the services of thc Deputy Grand "Master . None of us who were present on a recent occasion but admired the great presence with which he performed his part in that ceremony . 1 should also feci inclined to pay him my earnest and warmest respects for that . We have also present today several of the Grand Officers in Freemasonry . I am proud to feel that so many of the Grand Oflicers are

present to-night , not so much on my own account , because it makes me feel rather bashful and timid as to thc mode in which 1 express myself before so august a body . I am very thankful indeed , and I am sure , brethren , that we all of us are grateful that we have so many brethren holding high offices in thc Craft now present . It is due to them to say that on every public occasion , and on every

occasion of charity , and whenever good can be done , wc always find our brethren , the Grand Officers past and present , arc always equal to thc occasion . ( Hear , hear . ) I will now ask you to drink to that toast , and I will connect with it thc name of my friend the Provincial Grand Master of Middlesex ( hear , hear ) , who is also the representative of the Grand Lodgeof Ireland in

Grand Lodge of England . I may remind you that , on the recent occasion 1 have before referred to , our Irish brethren shewed themselves very forward and very anxious to perform their part of thc duty incumbent on Freemasons , and we only accord to our brother , Colonel Burdett , thc honour due to him as Prov . Grand Master of Middlesex , and representative of Grand Lodge of Ireland , when we

drink his health with that of the Grand Oflicers . I propose to you the toast . Col . Burdett , who , on rising , was received with great applause , said : Right Honourable my Lord Mayor , and Brethren here assembled , I assure you it is a great gratification to me to have this opportunity of thanking you for the very kind manner in which you have received the

health of Lord Skelmersdale and the rest of the Grand Officers . I had almost wished it had fallen in other hands to respond to this toast ; but I can assure you that no other brother could do it with greater good wishes than I do it at the present moment . I may say that Lord Skelmersdale has been known to me a considerable time , longer than perhaps he has been known to any othei

brother now present ; and I have gieat pleasure 111 stating the manner in which he has always performed his duties . It is only very lately that he has been brought before the brotherhood in London , but ie has done his duties in the provinces iu a manner which must be commended by every brother of the Order . I am quite certain he would never have been placed in thc high and proud position be

llow holds unless his duties had been properly performed . They have beeu done properly , and they have been thoroughly appreciated by those around me . I have a great deal of pleasure also in returning thanks for the rest of the Grand OfHceoj ^ because most of you are fully aware how they have discharged their duties . These duties are not for them merely lo come before you at a festival of

this sort ; they are , as you well know , more onerous , perhaps , than they at first anticipate , when they undertake the position they hold . Thc duties they perform are for thc benefit of thc Order , and they are carried out in such a way that they are appreciated by the brethren of the Order in general . I will not trespass upon your time , but I will return thanks for Lord Skelmersdale and the rest of

the Grand Officers , as well as myself , for the kind manner in which you have received this toast . ( Cheers ) . The Earl of Jersey : Brethren , 1 have tlie great privilege , with the consent of our Worshipful President , to propose a toast , and I hasten lo do so , feeling sure every brother present is eager to respond to it . It is " The 1 lealth of our Worshipful Chairman , the Lord Mayor of London , "

( Great applause . ) Only a few words of mine will be required to bring this toast to your notice . 1 need hardly say that wc are under great obligation to our Worshipful Chairman for coming here to night in the midst of the numerous and heavy duties which belong to the high position which he holds in this great city , to plead the cause oi this charity , which we are all so anxious should succeed .

( Hear , hear . ) I know that every brother here feels under a great obligation to the Worshipful Chairman for being here to-night . But his lordship will have the consolation of knowing that not only do his brother Masons in this hall thank him for it , but also that many of these young girls whom we are anxious to bring up and send forth into the world prepared to perform their duty iu it , will thank him

with silent but equally heartfelt and as generous thanks as any man could possibly desire . Brethren , 1 shall not speak in any terms of panegyric of our worshipful brother in his presence , but I shall call upon you to respond to this toast , and to shew that you are thankful to him for having taken the chair to night . ( Cheers . ) The Chairman : My Lord , Worshipful Sirs and Brethren ,

I thank you , my Lord , for the very kind way in whicli you have introduced my name to this meeting of brethren , and I thank you , brethren , for thc very enthusiastic way in which yon have received the toast of so unworthy a Mason as myself . ( No , no . ) Brethren , I feel under the obligation to say that the honours which have been so recently conferred upon myself have been in recognition of the r .

ervices of the . Masons m the old City of London , ( I lear hear . ] if I may say so , the leader anil nurse of that illustrious and useful body , the Masons . It has been said on a recent occasion by our Bro . Parkinson that there was a time when the City of London did somewhat to assist in thc promotion of Freemasonry , when circumstances and occasions

were not so favourable as they are at present ; and therefore I do feel myself somewhat in a proud position as representing the old corporation of London to night . With respect to my duties as chairman this evening , I must say I entered upon them with a very large amount of diffidence , because I have not been—and I am free to confess if , and no man can do better than confess his fault—that I have not been of late years so constant an attendant on Freemasonry as 1 ought to have been . But now 1 shall endeavour

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

to amend my ways . I hope to become a better Mason , au .. you could not give mc a better opportunity than offering me the first chance of advocating thc cause of thc ladies ( Hear , hear . ) I can assure you , brethren and my ] or , j ' that 1 thank you very much indeed for the honour y 0 ^ have paid me . I think perhaps this toast is a little out 0 [ place , because it is usually given when thc chairman of

such festivals as this has said something for the purpose for which he takes thc chair . Well , now it may be that 1 may disappoint you , and , therefore , possibly you may have been too kind to me ; but at all events for the very great kind , ness and enthusiasm which you have shewn in receiving my name as the representative of the old City of London 1 thank you very much indeed . ( Cheers . )

Alter a brief interval , during which there was some more singing , The Chairman said : Worshipful Sirs , and Brethren , I have now the pleasure to rise to pro . pose what is termed very properly the toast of the evening ( hear , hear ) , and that is , "Success to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls . " ( Cheers . )

Brethren , 1 have advocated many a cause for charity , but I do not kno . v one which I have approached with more pleasure than I do this particular one . I do so , not because this institution needs any advocacy on the grounds of its juvenility ; but it needs this , that every brother who holds the position which I have the honour to hold on this occasion , should be able to say that that which has been

so munificently given has been as beneficially spent . ( Hear , hear . ) I am one of those who do not like to call anything by a wrong name , and I must therefore say that this institution for the daughters of distressed Masons is a successful institution . 1 am proud to say that I have had an opportunity of seeing , and that very recently , in what way this institution is conducted , and when you or

I have seen that , I think we shall all be prepared to say that not orly ourselves but those who have preceded us in Masonry did make no mistake whatever when they inaugurated and instituted a school like this . ( Hear , hear . ) VVe all have had the privilege of reading thc history of this school . VVe know how it was founded ; we knowthat at that time royal personages patronised Masoury , as

they do now , and we find that the first fruits of royal patronage was the institution and formation of this school , for we know as a fact that this school in its first formation was called " Thc Cumberland School for Girls , " and was so called after the late Duke of Cumberland , who , I believe we arc all pleased to acknowledge , even at this late date , was one of thc greatest

promoters and friends of Masonry . ( Hear , hear . ) Carried on as this school has been from that time to the present , aud gradually rising in numbers , in efficiency , and in good conduct , we find that during-that period something like 1000 girls have been admitted into it , have been clothed , and fed , and taught , and have been rendered useful members of society , and we know , as a fact , that if I may use a

commercial term , the girls of the Masonic Institution are at a premium . In sayinc ; that , I only speak from my own experience , for I had an opportunity on Saturday last , in distributing - the prizes to those girls , of knowing actually what a good institution it is , and what girls can be made when they arc admitted into and educated in an Institution like thc Girls' School in Masonry . ( Hear , hear . ) Now ,

it may be said , and no doubt it is said , why docs such au institution , which is so wealthy as this , require an annual festival lo increase its funds ? There is a very good answer to that . Rich as this institution may be , it is not licli enough . I , for myself , like to know this fact , that there may be times of adversity ; there may be limes when even the brethren may not be iu a position to come forward in

such an ample way as to fmd a sufficient income for the maintenance of this school ; and when we know that providing for 149 or 150 girls is no trilling cost , but does amount to a large [ revenue , although possibly upon the face of it it would not appear to be so , but when we take everything into account , it does requite a large revenue , it is most advisable and beneficial that an institution like

this should have a good nest egg laid by in the shape of a large investment , so that it may have an opportunity of something to fall back upon . But in addition 1 sec no reason why the school should be kept down to the number of 150 . This school may be raised by the same principles on which it has educated a small number of children to educate double the number ;

and therefore , there is no reason at all why we should rein- ; in our efforts to raise such a fund that wc may be enabled al a future lime not only to increase the number of the pupils , but to increase and enlarge thc building . ( Hear hear . ) Well , if that is so wc may do it by following the course that is now being pursued in this very school , viz ., that we may bring up children there for all sorts of good nurposes in life . In this way we may have girls there win '

may be converted into ladies . 1 saw on Saturday last , cue . two , or three girls who I say would be fit associates for any ladies in the land , ( Hear , hear ) , who by their maimers , education and appearance are fit for any society . Under tillable tuition of the chief governess one young lady , I call her a young lady , and it is quite right that I should so call her , delivered a recitation in German equal in pronunciation and diction to any German scholar . I also heard

other young ladies—I still keep to that term deliver a dialogue in French ; and I must say that I should be very proud if I could speak French as well-Then , we find that she has been enabled to impart a g' "* 1 ' musical knowledge , and experience , and practice among these girls . When you find twelve girls sit down to

piano * , and all of them keep that exact time that y " cannot detect a wrong note or a wrong time , I say tncitr must be great proficiency in that . Then comes this question , is it not a good thing when yon find K '" ' . that calibre , and of that brain that they can receive tins education , that they should receive it ? Why should they not ? There may be reasons on the other side no doubt ,