Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

piece of ground lately purchased by the Institution , and bounded by the public road . It was necessary for him to state that part of the recommendations was the conversion of the drill room into a dining room , and therefore the position of the kitchen near the dining room was the best p lace for it . The estimated cost of this would be £ 7000 . This was not only the kitchen , but the Matron's room , cooking class rooms , and

bed rooms for all the servants , which would be a very extensive building . The next proposition was for converting the present large Schoolroom in the Alexandra Wing into a Dining Hall . That cost nothing . 3 . —Converting the present Dining Hall and Cooking Class-room into one large Schoolroom , by removing the intermediate wall , and thus enlarging the Dormitory over , and gaining space for eight more beds . 4 . —Building a new large

Schoolroom about 7 6 feet by 22 feet adjoining the last with—5 . — -Large Dormitories over , capable of affording sleeping accommodation ( with 45 feet superficial area to each ) for 76 children , with the necessary Lavatories , & c , & c . The estimated cost of all that was £ 5000 . Then covering the present asphalte court with wide and airy passages , day lavatories , latrines , and boot-room . That would be a very great advantage , affording

a covered connection with all parts of the building . That would cost £ 1400 . The building of the Centenary Hall , under scheme B , would cost £ 5000 . If the Committee had adopted scheme C , it would cost £ 7000 , because the building would stand by itself and there would be certain architectural requirements which would add very considerably to the expense . He would now allude to the Medical Officer's Report , the principal part of

which was in the hands of the brethren , and it showed the absolute necessity that something should be done . Now that the Report had been put before the Committee , it threw a vast responsibility upon them . The School was overcrowded ; and if an epidemic should break out there , the Committee would be responsible after this notice had been given them . This School was crowded far more than any building under the direction of Government

Officers , and of those who had the superintendence of those buildings . The Committee felt it was a great responsibility . It was therefore absolutely necessary to make the alterations , for unless they carried them out they would have to stop any more children coming into the'school until they came down to such a number as to be within the requirements of the Medical Officers . These alterations amounted altogether to £ 19 , 000 , so that they

would see that Bro . Tew was far beyond the mark in his apprehensions . Bro . Tew also said the expense of £ 30 , 000 was to be incurred for an additional 75 girls ; but this was another misleading statement , because it was really for over 100 children , which was reduced to 75 if you took 30 off to g ive the requisite space to be allowed to each child . Bro . J . A . BIRCH said it was ^ 19 , 000 , in addition to the £ 2000 for the Junior School .

Bro . FENN said that was so . He might say that although this scheme proposed the addition of bed-rooms and dormitories , it was not imperative on the Committee that these should be filled directly ; it was only necessary that they should be filled as occasion might require . But having the future before them , and judging of it by the past , it seemed requisite to provide for extending the usefulness of the School as Masonry increased . It would be folly ,

while they were about it and had the means of increasing the dormitory accommodation , that they should neglect that opportunity . Of course they could do without the new dormitories proposed to be built over the schoolroom , and where the kitchen was . But as it stood between the great hall an d the other part of the building , the expense was so small that , as he said before , it would be folly in them not to avail themselves of the opportunity

of building these two rooms . Just one more remark . He had heard some say that it would be a great deal better to remove the School further out into the country , than to go to this expense at once . He hoped that no such suggestion would be made . He had been a member of this House Committee a short time , but long enough to know how ably it conducted the affairs of the School , how devoted the members of the

Committee were to the Institution's interest , running down on all occasions , when wanted , or not wanted —( laughter)—on week days or Sundays ; whenever they found a convenient moment they would go down there and see what was going on . The Chairman of the month was almost always there ; he was at the beck and call of the matron , and Miss Davis , the head governess , and everyone else . Now it would be impossible to do this if

the building were 20 miles away from London . Now , all the subscribers had the greatest security for the proper conduct of this School in the constant supervision of the House Committee—( hear , hear ); moreover , why should the Institution go to the country ? It was at present in the most healthy part of London ; they could not have a more health y place ; it could not be enclosed any more than it was now , and there was olenty of

room for the School even in its expanded form . If it would meet the objection which had been made or shadowed forth by Bro . Tew , he and others might possibly feel more assured that the Committee were not rushing this report through the Quarterly Court if he stated he had no objection to add to his motion , the rider " subject to any modification which after due consideration may be deemed desirable by a future

Quarterly Court , " so that no money might be spent without the consent of a future Quarterly Court , which could make any alteration in this scheme at a future date . It was brought on now because it was necessary at once to come before the Craft with some proposition for celebrating the Centenary of the Institution . Bro . C . F . HOGARD asked Bro . Fennwhetherhe would repeat the fi .

gures Bro . HENRY SMITH , Deputy Prov . G . M . West Yorks , submitted that it was for want of full information that the misconception which had been alluded to had arisen in the provinces . Bro . Tew , like any other brother who could not come to the meeting , wrote a letter for information . He | Bro . H , Smith ) did not come there to complain ; on the contrary , he came to support the Committee in every possible . The report was practicall

way y read because all items were referred to by Bro . Fenn ? But it was impossible L ' understand the plan which was annexed to the report . He knew that the eds in the dormitories for years had been overcrowded , and that at least 30 \ vt ' ? ^ COme 0 Ut * therefore it was a very wise thing at this time vhen there was a chance of getting extra funds to take advantage of the Pportunity to bring the present state of things into a satisfactory condition .

ne desire of the Committee should be to make the Institution equal if not upenor to any other institution in the country . The subscribers did not ant them to waste money , but only to see that the Institution was second a none . A plan which could be more easily understood which would , give an j ° P dlstI"ihution of the rooms , and on a larger scale , should be sent out , the rn */ 00 £ '" Was Sent 0 ut the better - There was nothing would disabuse miss I P eop ! e who had not been associated with the Committee of any acaiiF ?^" - 011 so nluch as a P P P > and then making them fully Minted with the whole circumstances . Eventually , however much that

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

money might increase from time to time , at present it was not intended to exceed the amount asked . Bro . FENN said Bro . Hogard had asked him to explain the figures of which the £ 19 . 000 was composed . They were new kitchens , £ 7000 , corridors , £ 600 , new schoolroom and two dormitories , £ 5000 , lavatories , passages , & c , £ 1400 , large hall , £ 5000 , making £ 19 , 000 .

Bro . FRANK RICHARDSON , P . G . D ., in rising to second the proposition of Bro . P ' enn , said alter the able manner in which that brother had put it very few remarks were necessary from him . This was no sudden scheme ; Those members of the House Committee whom the brethren had from time to time elected to govern the Institution had seen the disadvantages under which they were labouring , and it had been a matter of consideration with

them from week to week how those disadvantages were to be cured , not only in the domestic offices , but in the teaching department , because the number of the children had been continually increased without the establishment being increased concurrently with them . At the time the Institution was increased it was only sufficient for the time being . Now there were so many children there that it was inadequate for the proper teaching of them .

Therefore , it was felt by the House Committee that they must see how the difficulty could be remedied . The different matters affecting the School had not been the subject of consideration by one or two meetings , but 20 or 30 . The scheme propounded they thought was one that would not only ensure the present requirements , but enable the subscribers to deal with

enlargements of the Institution at a future date . Something must be done . If this scheme was not accepted by , and acceptable to , the general body of the subscribers , some other scheme must be propounded , because it was an impossibility that the establishment could reall y be carried on as it was . ( Applause . )

Bro . RUSSELL ( Kent ) entirely approved of the scheme , yet wished to make a few remarks . The very hard line that Bro . Fenn had drawn between the £ 30 , 000 and the £ 20 , 000 or £ 19 , 000 caused him to ask which sum they proposed to spend . Unless the brethren and their Committee in their corporate capacity were more fortunate than individuals in their private capacity , they knew they would not complete the scheme for the sum

mentioned . There was always something cropping up . What he wished to do was to place on record that day a remark on this subject , because he thought it would be extremely valuable at a future day . He did not wish them to cross the river , and then burn their boats . It might happen at a future day they would be told that when they asked for £ 19 , 000 they said they did not want £ 30 . , and the quebtion might be asked which was right and which was wrong . ( Hear , hear . ) He thought they should bear in mind that if

they asked for £ 20 , 000 they might want £ 25 , , and then they would be in a much better position now than if they started on the hypothesis of wanting ^ 30 . 000 . He did not think that the brethren who were going to act as Stewards would want any spur to induce them to make the collections . They were all going to start on that endeavour , and he would say it was probable that something more than £ 20 , 000 would be wanted . Bro . ROBERT GREY thought a time should be fixed in this motion .

Bro . FENN said the Committee would undertake to bring it before a Quarterly Court . Bro . J . A ' . BIRCH asked whether the Quarterly Court in April would not be soon enough ? Bro . FENN said the Festival would not have . been held so soon , and they would not know then what money the Festival would produce .

Bro . BIRCH said the modifications , it any , which might be made in the propositions at the April Court need not be final . Bro . FENN said he would name the Quarterly Court in April . The motion with the rider was then put , and carried unanimously .

Bro . PRANK RICHARDSON moved that an additional child should be elected , in consequence of tne death ot Florence Weber . There was a bed vacant , and he knew it was against the wish of the subscribers that there should be any bed vacant . The motion was seconded and carried .

The CHAIRMAN then stated that there were four last applications on the list , one of which he was told was safe . He should divide his 400 votes among the other three . The Scrutineers were appointed , and the election of 16 girls out of a list of 30 candidates was proceeded with . At the declaration ot the poll the following was the result : - SUCCESSFUL .

Name . Votes . Name . Votes . Elsie Caroline Matthews 1958 Emma Edith Woodbridg-e 1 S 16 Florence Eleanor tSexfield 1 940 Winifred Emily Chinneck 17 S 1 Amy Harriet Turnell r . 939 Frances Ann Ace 1701 Henrietta Smith

Amy 1918 Ethel Clara Jolliffe 1738 Mary Elizabeth Rowe 1895 Kathleen Mabel Luke 1736 Jane Edmunds 18 47 Mary Baverstock 1725 Elsie Maudslay James 1 S 39 Maude Alice Walker 1651 Sybil Spalding 1 S 2 O Ida Wilkinson ... ., ' . ... 163 /

UNSUCCESSFUL . Name . Votes . Name . Votes . Lily Martin 1619 Mary Elizabeth Bruce 372 Maud Mary Freeman 1605 Sarah Bissett 234 Ruby Rosetta Webster 844 MoraGeach iSr

Kate Lilian Boning 48 , Ulga Katinka Tettenborn 145 Henrietta Ada Staff ... 444 Jane Rouikdge Wi'k . nson 125 Mary Melita Tink 441 ranny Clark Campoell iod Georgina Balch 384 Mary Elizabeth Hcrratt 30 A vote of thanks to the Chairman was carried by acclamation , and Bro . HORACE BROOKS MARSHALL returned thanks .

Tne Chairman of the Scrutineers , Bro . C . F . MATIER , in responding to a similar vote of thanks , gave some particulars ot the day ' s voting , which showed that there were 49 voting papers tor 80 votes not filled in ; 16 papers for 41 votes not signed ; and nine papers for 49 votes filled in tor more thaione candidate .

The total number polled was 36 , 024 ; lost votes , 170 ; not polled , 5937 3 an average of nearly 15 per cent ., which is higher , we believe , than at any previous election .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The October Quarterly Court of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys was held on Monday at Freemasons' Tavern , Bro . Richard Eve , G . Treas ., presiding . The Chairman was supported by Bros . Raynham W . Stewart , P . G . D . ; Edgar Bowyer , P . G . Std . Br . ; J . L . Mather , A . G . D . C . ; and F . Binckes , P . G . Stwd . and P . G . S . B . ( Secretary ) . Among the other brethren present were—Bros . G . Gardner , W . Roebuck , S . J . Parkhouse , Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , Geo . VV . Dixon , J . Wordsworth , W . H . Spaull , M . Tennant , I . Keelson , H . Smith , D . P . G . M .