Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

The Quarterly Court of thc Subscribers and Governors of this Institution was helcf last Saturday at Freemasons' Tavern . The chair was taken by Bro Lieut .-Col . Creaton , Grand Treasurer , and there was a large number of brethren present , and among them—Bros . I . Wordsworth , Henry Smith , P . G . Sec . West Yorkshire ; Alfred W . Stanfield , C " . F . Matier , Thos . Hill , Thos . Ruddock , Don . M . Dewar , H . A . Dubois , Arthur E . Gladwell , James Batling , Thos . Edmonston , Charles Godtschalk , Walter Sowdon , Thos . Massa . ' Francis Newman . H . Losran . F . XV . Tverman , S . B . Wilson , W . F .

Smithson , J . B . Barnard , Robt . 13 . Wylie , j . P . Piatt , Geo . Brown , Edgar Bowyer , George J . Earncy , F . 1 . 1-Iutchings , Thos , Chesworth , J . S . Cumberland , Herbert Dicketts , 1 * . Adlard , E . !< ** . Storr , J . ' E . Shand , Alfred Williams , John A . Rucker , A . J . Duff Filer , William Nott , W . J . Murlis , T . Hastings Miller , G . Letchworth , Walter Hopekirk , G . J . McKay , F . W . Ramsay , M . D ., J . L . Hine , A . F . A . Woodford , Charles Pulman , Thos . Bradlev , E . P . Albert , S . Rosenthal , A . H . Tattershall , A . Middlemass , Jas . Teiry , Magnus Ohren , H . Dalwood , Charles Greenwood , XV . Roebuck , Constable , E . Coste , W . ' H . Adamson , Chadwick , Prov . G . Sec . East Lane . ; Wylie and J . L . Hine , Manchester : and II . Massey { Freemason ) .

After the reading and confirmation of the minutes of the July Quarterly Court , Scrutineers were appointed for the election . Bro . H . A . DUBOIS , in the absence of Bro . Joshua Nunn , _ Vice-President , brought forward the following motion : "That , in the opinion of the House Committee , it is desirable to erect a swimming bath for the use of the girls , and that application be made to the Quarterly Court to sanction the expenditure of a sum not exceeding £ 2000 for that purpose . " Bro . Dubois

said that Bro . Nunn was unable lo be present , and he had deputed him to make the motion for him . As one who sympathised with the object in view , hc had much p leasure in doing so . He believed the majority of the brethren taking an interest in thc Institution had visited it , and they knew the area of the grounds , at one end of which a few years ago they erected a laundry . Adjoining that building was a spare piece of land , which was

available for the purposes of a swimming bath . As thc laundry was close by , there would be a supply of water and other conveniences to accommodate the bath . It was a subject which now had engaged the attention of all gentlemen interested in public schools that swimming should be introduced as a part of education . Cleanliness they were told was next to godliness ; and the Committee considered that the time had arrived when a swimming bath should be introduced at the Masonic Girls' School . Bro . THOMAS RUDDOCK , Huddersfield , P . M . 275 and 17 S 3 , seconded

lhe motion . Bro . Ii . F . STORK , P . M . No . 22 , supported lhe motion , which he coi sidcrcd was one of great importance . A brother enquired whether in the absence of Bro . Nunn it was compe tent for another brother to move Bro . Nunn ' s motion .

The CHAIRMAN said it wns quite competent . Bro . CHADWICK , Prov . Grand Secretary of East Lancashire , said that hc had been requested to read lo the Quarterly Court a letter which had been addressed to him by a Past Master of No . 163 , a lodge which they all knew hnd been a large donor lo this Institltion . This brother strongly demurred to the expenditure of ^ 2000 for the purpose of a swimming bath . The letter was as follows * . " 10 , Birchin-lane , Manchester , " G October . 1 SS 1 .

"To tiic Prov . Grand Sec . East Lancashire . " Dear Bro . Chadwick , — 1 sec that on tlicStli the Subscribers to the Girls' School are to be asked to sanction thc expenditure of £ 2000 for a swimming bath for the girls . Now this , I presume , will , if allowed , be taken from tlie funds of the Institution , and , if so , I , as the duly appointed charity representative of Integrity Lodge , No . 1 G 3 , most respectfully enter my protest . Swimming is not a necessary , although a desirable part of a girl's

education . The word charity may be applied in a very many ways , but 1 have yet to learn that swimming is one . When we send our donations and annual subscriptions to thc Secretary , we do so with the firm belief that it will be applied towards the clothing , feeding , and educating tbe girls . If , however , the majority attending the Court think differently 1 must bow to their opinion , but it certainly will influence my future action . If a few brethren had thought fit to subscribe a sum of £ 2000 upon the express condition

that it should be devoted to the purpose of providing a swimming bath for the girls , then 1 should not have a fault to lind ; but to take it out of the money that was certainly never subscribed for such a purpose is wrong . As you are going up to London tomorrow , I trust 1 may not be troubling ' you too much by asking you to kindly convey my idea to the proper quarter , thereby obliging , "Yours fraternally , "JNO . SALMON * , " P . M . 1 G 3 , and P . P . G . D . C , East . Lancashire . "

Bro . CHADWICK said that , having read the letter , he had not a word to remark beyond this , that the brethren really considered this matter ought not to be entertained by the Court . The CHAIRMAN * put the motion , which was ' carried by twenty-seven votes against fourteen . Bro . HENRY SMITH , Prov . Grand Sec . West Yorkshire , took exception

to the wording of the motion , lhe Quarterly Court were asked to declare that in the opinion of thc House Committee it was desirable to erect a swimming bath . How could the Quarterly Court do such a thing ? And then , the Quarterly Court was to resolve that application be made to the Quarterly "' Court lo sanction the expenditure of £ 2000 for the purpose . The motion was badly worded , and was , in fact , all nonsense . ( Hear , hear . ) . Thc CHAIRMAN said the intention was to obtain the sanction of the Court

to thc erection of a swimming bath , and the expenditure of the money , and that was what thc Committee had decided . Thc subject then dropped . Bro . H . LETCHWORTH , for Bro . Frank Richardson , Vice-Patron , moved " That the rank of honorary Vice-Patron be conferred upon Bro . Charles Hammerton , in recognition of his valuable services to the Institution . " He said it might not be within the knowledge of all the brethren present that tor many years Bro . Hammerton , who was a very eminent brewer in thc

south of London , had by contract supplied the Institution with beer . Whenever he received a cheque , which generally amounted to , £ 100 or £ 150 for the beer , he always handed it back to the Institution . Since , however , Bro . Hammerton became a member of the House Committee , he was , of course , precluded from supply ing articles of any kind to the Institution ; but , nevertheless , hc had most generously presented the Institution with beer ( hiving the year . Thc brethren , therefore , thought some recognition of his ' kindness was called lor , nnd the present motion was put on the paper by Bro \ Frank Richardson . Bro . S . RAWSON , Past District ' - Grand Masler ' of China , seconded thc

motion . Thc motion was unanimously adopted . Bro . A . K . GLADWELL , W . M . 172 , moved that the following paragraph be added to Law XVI . : "The Secretary for the lime being of a Masonic Charitable Association ( such as those usually associated with lodges of instruction ) whicli lias paid to the Institution a

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

sum not less that one hundred guineas , shall , upon proof thereof , be entitled to the honorary rank of a Life Governor , and to all the privileges of the same ; and , further the Secretary of an Association which has paid tothe Institution during his Secretary ' ship a sum ot not less than two hundred guineas , shall , upon proof thereof , on his retiring from such office , or on the Association ceasing to exist , be entitled to ^ all the privileges of a Life Governor in his own right . " " * a

He said : Mr . Chairman and Brethren , the motion which is now submitted to you is , I think , onc which will commend itself to all of you . It is doubtless known to man } ' brethren present that of late }* ears a practice has arisen , principally in connection with lodges of instruction , of establishing a Benevolent Fund for the benefit of our three Masonic Institu . tions , but probably few of you are aware to how great an extent the Institutions

have benefited by the support thus given . ( Bro . Gladwell here read a statistical account , showing that the " Metropolitan" Benevolent Association alone , which commenced in November , 1875 , had already contributed . to the three Institutions no less than . £ 1106 ios ., and that the Girls ' School had received during the same period from nine such funds , some of which had only been established during thc last three years , the sum of £ 18 43 )

As these funds are formed b y small periodical subscriptions , usually at the rate of is . per week , it must be apparent that a very large amount of labour devolves upon the Secretaries , and many brethren with whom I associate are of opinion that the time has now arrived when some recognition should be made of their valuable and long continued services . This question lias been frequently discussed during the last two years , and after due

deliberation it is thought that the most suitable form of recognition is that now proposed . I feel warranted by precedent in submitting this proposition to you , for our code of laws ( see law 14 ) provides that " a brother who has rendered special services to the Institution may be elected an honorary Life Governor . " Also law 15 provides that "clergymen granting their pulpits or preaching in aid oi

the Institution shall be honorary Life Governors , & c . " Although we have now no need to seek aid to the Institution in this form , still tlie law provides that in case a clergyman takes a holiday while his pulpit is occupied by another who preaches in aid of the Institution , although neither put themselves to much expense or trouble , and although the result of an appeal to a congregation may be very small , boll * shall be honorary Life Governors , with

full privileges . It has been intimated to me by a few brethren that they would not object to confer the privilege of two voles to the Secretaries , but would withhold the privilege of attending the meeting of the General Committee ; but , in my opinion , this would completely spoil what was intended to be agraceful act of recognition b y this Court , and , as a matter of fact , the objection has no wei ght whatever , for nearly all of them are alread y

Life Governors by virtue of their own donations , and the others will shortl y become so , as they habitually contribute to the funds of which they keep' the accounts . I now confidentl y submit my proposal lo your consideration , and ask you , by adopting it , to encourage the formation of similar associations , and at Jhe same time encourage continued support to the Institutions b y

small periodical subscriptions from thc younger members of thc Craft , who cannot always be expected at first sight of a Steward ' s list to contribute largely to our Institutions , respecting which they may at the moment know little or nothing . Bro . KDMONSTON seconded the motion .

A brother rose to ask a question , not to object to the motion . Did the brethren who paid the shilling a week eventuall y obtain the position of Life Governors '" If so that would put a different feature on thc matter . Br . GLADWELL said they did . Bro . li . F . STORR , _ wished to know whether Bro . Gladwell intended his motion to be retrospective or prospective .

Bro . GLADWELL said it was intended where an association died out b } ' effluxion of time the rank should not be given . But thc rule was thai when onc association so dropped another was started by the same persons , and in that case the association could not be said to be at an end . Where they were in that way continuous up to the present time he proposed that thc Secretary should have the recognition named . Where thc associations had completely died out , and did not wake up , the rank was not to be given .

Bro . S . RAWSON said that one point had not been brought forward . A Steward who took up this money on his list already had votes for the same .

Bro . GLADWELL said the privilege acquired by the Steward was acquired in a different way . The Secretaries had thc trouble of collecting the sums in a shilling a week , or four shillings a month , which look a great deal of time . Bro . J . G . STEVENS , P . M . 554 , & c , said , for the information of the brethren , he might say he had been the President of one of thc

associations that had expired , and the Secretary of another . The first ont two years ago paid into the coffers of this Institution nearl y £ 1000 . The one that was going on would by May next have paid something like £ cpo-As to thc recognition proposed by Bro . Gladwell for thc Secretaries of such associations , hc humbly conceived the Secretaries did not require an ) recognition at all—for this reason , the Secretary of such an association

worked for the love of the thing , and not for the purpose of securing four oi six votes per annum . He was not carping at all at the observations of Or " GLADWELL . In his own individual case he ( Bro . Stevens ) should be ver ) sorry to think that the Court of Governors imagined that he required any recognition of that , the performance of which he humbly conceived to 1 " his duty .

Another brother said it was a small proportion of the expenses of l' , e Institution throughout the year to grant such a recognition as that asked for , and the honour obtained b y thc individual was much coveted . Bro . WYLLIE said it appeared to him that the practical result of t' , c discussion which had taken place was that these charitable associate " should arrange this matter among themselves . He believed the Institute "

did recognise the exertions of the brethren who raised the money , but *' recognised them in the way of giving thc Steward a vote , lt would be c . i = * j for these associations among themselves to give thc Secretary some of l '" - votes if they thought hc was deserving , without asking this Court to il **' - additional privileges lo those it had already given . That was the view it * * 1 '

presented itself to his minu . In the provinces they had no experience these associations , but he thought thc Institution gave sullicient votes " ¦ recognition of the money paid into its coffers . On being put to the vote the motion was almost unanimousl y rejected-Bro . EDMONSTON * gave notice that hcshould renew the subject at a fut * J

lime . The brethren then proceeded to elect fifteen girls , out of an approved l ' of twenty-five girls , into the Institution . At the declaration of thc poll tn following * was the result . * —