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Past G . Chap , of England , his Grand Officers , both Present and Past , and the representatives of the subordinate lodges . The financial and statistical reports were satisfactory , that of the Prov . Grand Treasurer in particular , showing in respect of the capital account a total of upwards of , £ 2393 . The address of the Prov . Grand Master must have been equally gratifying , both to the distinguished brother who delivered it , and who , during his brief

tenure of office , has proved himself so worthy of the honour conferred upon him , and to the brethren who formed his audience . The events to which it referred were for the most part of an agreeable character , the solitary exception being the death of Bro . E . D . DAVIS , of Newcastle , who at the time of his demise was one of the Grand Standard Bearers of England , and to whose memory Bro . Sir H . WILLIAMSON paid a well-conceived

tribute of respect . Indeed , it must be evident to all who know anything of the Craft in Durham that Freemasonry in this early province is in a most flourishing condition , and we have no doubt that under the auspices of its present popular ruler its future will be to the full as prosperous as its past and present . We must not miss this opportunity of congratulating Bro . ROBERT HUDSON , who for some years past has been the Grand Secretary of thelProvince , on the honour paid him by his brethren in presenting him with

a full suit of Grand Lodge clothing on his appointment by the M . W . GRAND MASTER at the recent Masonic Jubilee gathering to the brevet rank of Past Grand Sword Bearer of England . Bro . HUDSON has successfull y performed the many and often arduous duties with which he has been entrusted during his Masonic career of a quarter of a century , and he is now reaping the reward of his labours . May he be spared many years to enjoy the honours which he so fully deserves !

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

The October Quarterly Court of the Subscribers and Governors of this Institution was held last Saturday in the large hall of Freemasons' Tavern . Bro . Horace Brooks Marshall , Past Grand Treasurer , presided , and he was supported on the dais by—Bros . Frank Richardson , P . G . D . Pres . B . G . P . ; Richard Eve , Grand Treas . ; Thomas Fenn : E . Letchworth , P . G . D . ; James H . Matthews , P . G . Swd . Br . ; Robert

Grey , P . G . D ., President of the Board of Benevolence ; Edgar Bowyer , P . G . Std . Br . ; C . Hammerton , P . G . Swd . 3 r . ; J . L . Mather , A . G . D . C . ; J . A . Rucker , P . G . D . ; C . F . Matier , P . G . Std . Br . ; H . A . Hunt , and F . R . W . Hedges , P . G . S . B ., Sec . There were also present among' others Bros . Henry Smith , P . G . D . Deputy Prov . G . M . W . Yorks ; W . F . Smithson , Leeds , Chairman VV . Yorks Charity Committee ; W . Harrop , Vice-Chairman Charity Committee W . Yorks ; Herbert Green , Prov . G . Sec .

W . Yorks ; John Wordsworth ; J . A . Birch , Chairman East Lanes . Chanty Committee ; G . P . Brockhank , P . G . Std . Br ., Deputy Chairman East Lanes . Charity Committee ; John Chadwick , Prov G . Stc , and Secretary Charity Committee , West Lanes . ; J . P . Piatt , Cheshire Charity Committee ; G . Russell , Henry Venn , George Kenning , Vice-Patron ; F . D . R . Copestick , C . H . Driver , Lt .-Col . Haldane , Geo . Button , F . Adlard , Geo . Laurie , C . j . Perceval , George Cooper , C . F . Hogard , W . Lake , ar . d others .

After the reading and confirmation of the minutes , the report of the Committee as to the alteration of the dates of the Quarterly Courts was adopted . Bro . J . A . BIRCH moved that as the alteration of the dates of election would necessarily involve some alterations in the Laws of the Institution , the Committee already appointed continue their services until the alterations are effected .

This was seconded and carried . The Centenary Committtee ' s report , which appeared in the Freemason of the ist instant , was taken as read , and on a motion of Bro . THOMAS FENN , seconded by Bro . EDGAR BOWYER , was ordered to be received . The following were the other motions of which notice had been given by Bro . Thomas Fenn ¦ . —

2 . That Scheme A be adopted , and be referred to the House Committee to carry out at a cost not exceeding £ 2000 . 3 . That Scheme B be approved , and that the Craft be and are hereby earnestly solicited to furnish the necessary funds at the forthcoming Centenary Festival to enable this Scheme also to be carried into effect . 4 . That the windows of the Institution be inspected forthwith , with a view to the

provision of a means of egress in case of fire . 5 . That in addition to the Premium Votes conferred under Clause 1 , Law 24 , every Steward at the Centenary Festival shall he entitled to Premium Votes in proportion to his personal donation , as follows , viz .: —Two in consideration of the first Ten Guineas , and one for every Five Guineas beyond that sum . 6 . That for the purposes of the Centenary Festival , Clause 3 of Law 24 be suspended ,

and that in lieu of the " List Votes conferred thereunder , every Steward at this Festival shall be entitled to two Premium Votes for every Twenty Guineas on the gross total of his List . 7 . That in the case of Annual Subscriptions commenced on the List of a Steward at the Centenary Festival , and continued at intervals of not less than 12 months , the completion of every Six Guineas so subscribed shall entitle the contributor to all the privileges of a donation of £ 5 5 s ., paid in one sumnotwithstanding he shall

, have received Votes as an Annual Subscriber in the meantime . S . That the ' •' Centenary " Premium Votes be so distinguished yearly in the printed List of Subscribers . 9 . That application be made for permission to wear the Stewards' Badge as a Centenary jewel in perpetuity , and that it be of a special design selected for the cccasion , to be submitted to the G . D . of C ., and approved of by the M . W . The Grand Master .

Bro . THOMAS FENN , in rising to move the adoption of No . 2 , above given , said , as he was given to understand that there might be , he would not say , opposition to , but , some discussion relating to the third proposition , he would propose all the others first and separately , and leave No . 3 for discussion after the others had been disposed of . With reference to No . 2 , he thought all the brethren present would agree with him , that having

purchased the two extra buildings adjoining Lyncombe House they would be stultifying themselves altogether if they did not avail themselves of these two houses and put them in a condition which would enable the Committee to extend the Junior School and make , in fact , a proper use of the purchase . The moderate expense of £ 2000 would greatly add to the accommodation

of the School ; 35 more children could by this means be accommodated , and the alteration would very vastly increase the convenience of the building in other respects . Bro . ROBERT GREY seconded the motion . The motion was carried .

Bro . FENN , in moving the adoption of No . 4 , said he did not anticipate any objection to that . On the examination of the building necessary for the purposes of the Commiitee it was discovered that the windows having iron frames were perfectly unable to be opened to an extent even to admit of the egress of a child . He thought no one would object to this being seen to at once . Bro . ROBERT GREY seconded this motion also , which was then put and carried ,

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

Bro . FENN then proposed , and Bro . FRANK RICHARDSON seconded , the adoption of No . 5 . Clause 1 , Law 24 , having been read by the SECRETARY , at the request of Bro . Money , Bro . MONEY said he did not agree with this proposed resolution , because he did not think it fair to the old subscribers of ten guineas and five guineas . He would suggest that every one who served for the first time on this centenary occasion should first qualify himself as a previous

donor ; otherwise he would be put on a level with old subscribers , though he had never before done anything for the Charities . The votes were reall y going a great deal too cheaply , and some restriction ought to be imposed . He would move as an amendment " That no one who has not alread y qualified as a Life Governor by the donation of ten guineas shall be allowed these extra votes . ' Bro . GEORGE BOLTON seconded the amendment .

The CHAIRMAN said he should like to inform the brethren with reference to the last Boys' election that subscribers received double votes , and those who were wise enough qualified before hand , and had four times the votes . That was not proposed by this Committee , but every one who was wise would put his name for ten guineas .

Bro . FENN said the object of the Committee was to get as many new Stewards as possible . The amendment was lost and the original proposition carried . Motion No . 6 was moved , seconded , put , and carried . Bro . FENN moved , and Bro . GREY seconded No . 7 . Bro . C . F . HOGARD hardly saw the necessity of putting in the words

" at intervals of not less than 12 months . Bro . FENN said this was a misprint ; it should have been "not more than 12 months . " The correction was made in the motion , and the motion as altered was carried . Nos . 8 and 9 were also moved , seconded , and carried " nem . con . "

Bro . FENN then recurred to No . 3 , but before asking the Chairman to put the resolution to the meeting he would like a letter read which had been written by Bro . Tew , Prov . G . M . of VVest Yorkshire , to the Secretary in his official capacity . He thought Bro . Tew could have no objection to its being read . His ( Bro . Fenn ' s ) name was mentioned in the letter , and a certain imputation was cast upon the Committee , oi which he ( Bro , Fenn )

was Chairman , and he thought it should be read and answered . There were certain misconceptions in that letter , so extraordinary that if the brethren in the provinces misconstrued them in the same manner the Committee would have to give the scheme up altogether , for they could not do without the assistance of the provinces . The misconceptions were marvellous and should be explained .

The CHAIRMAN said this was a very important letter , and he thought it should be read . Bro . J . A . BIRCH protested . It would be establishing a very inconvenient practice if letters were to be read at these Courts from brethren who

happened to be distant , and who did not attend . It would take up a long time . If a brother had strong views to represent he should attend . If he could not attend he should have sufficient confidence in those who did attend to leave them to settle the question . He believed it would be the initiation of a most inconvenient practice . He moved "That the letter be not read . "

Bro . FENN quite agreed with Bro . Birch as to the inconvenience of the course he proposed , if it were generally adopted . But Bro . Tew represented brethren of one of the largest provinces in England , and his remarks were of very great importance , and if the misconceptions of Bro . Tew were shared by other members in the provinces , he thought it was right they should be removed . It was quite an exceptional case . The reading of the letter would not take lony .

Bro . C . F . HOGARD thought the difficulty of Bro . Birch was that Bro . Tew , the Prov . G . M . for We = t Yorkshire , was not present . He would remind him that the D . P . G . M . was present , and he could adopt the letter of Bro . Tew . Bro . FENN said perhaps it would remove the difficulty if the letter were not read in its entirety , and if he refetred to the misconceptions of Bro .

lew as he went on . Bro . Tew and he were old personal friends , and he had great respect for Bro . Tew , having known him well for many years . But Bro . Tew said , mentioning his ( bro . Fenn ' s ) name— " \ ask you to present this my protest to Bro . Fenn and to the Court against the haste with which this scheme is to be pushed through the Court and upon the Craft generally . " Now , he ( liro . fenn ) protested against this assumption

that ttie Committee desired to push the report through the Court . Ihe Committee , of which he had the honour to be Chairman , had to perform certain duties which they were asked to undertake b y the General Committee . They did so , and as quickly as they could , and made their report on the first available opportunity . They could do no more , and in the discharge ol their duty they could do no less . It was not the

fault ot the General Committee or the Quarterly Court that the General Committee met about one week before the Quarterly General Court . The Committee could not publish their report betore it was made to the General Committee , and the Secretary had a number of them printed and in the hands of the General Committee , and they were sent out the next day to the Provincial Grand Secretaries . There was no desire on the

part of any one to force it through the Court . The proposition he had lo bring under their notice meant very little ; it did not commit the Court to spend £ 20 , 000 ; the matter must come belore another Quarterly Court , and therefore the haste of which Bro . Tew complained did not exist , and there was no necessity for haste . Bro . Tew wrote of the great cost of the buildings which were proposed to be pulled down wholesale— £ 63 , 000 ( with the land ) .

What were they proposing to pull down ? The north-west wing , which cost some £ 1400 . They also proposed to pull down the kitchen and some useless sculleries and store rooms . The kitchen was becoming of very little service , because it was built for 68 children , and it had now to provide for over 200 and a proportionate staff . That cost perhaps another £ 1400 , because the kitchen was only of one storey . There was no building over itand instead

, of this cost of £ 63 , , if Bro . Tew knocked off £ 60 , 000 , £ 3000 would be found to be much nearer the mark . Then Bro . Tew said the new buildings were to cost £ 30 , 000 . There was nothing in the report to justify tna assumption . The sum mentioned was £ 20 , 000 . As he went through tn proposition of the Sub-Lommitlee he would mention the various item extr ¦

which made up this £ 20 , 000 . Bro . Tew said there would be £ 12 , 000 He ( Bro . Fenn ) did not know where Bro . Tew got his £ 12 , 000 . I hat w in connection wilh C scheme , which the Committee did not Tecomme ! la ' The first part of the recommendation of the Sub-Committee was t new kitchen offices , with matron ' s room , cooking class room , 110 dining room , and servants' bed rooms be built on the site of the