The History Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Girls

it became evident that more space would be needed . There occurred at this very time a visitation of measles and scarlet fever , and , in the discharge of their duties , tho medical authorities soon found that an Infirmary which had been built when the School mustered only 115 children was no longer sufficient for the requirements of twice

that number . For the moment the Committee contented itself with directin g the necessary steps to be taken in order to improve the ventilation of the premises , and at the same time a proposal was entertained for erecting a swimming bath , the cost of the former

being set down at £ 1300 and of the latter at £ 1500 . Precautions were also taken that , in the event of fire , there should be a full suppl y of water always available , and a sufficient number of hy drants and other fire apparatus , and that escape from the building b y door and window should be possible at any time and under any conditions .

In May , 1882 , H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught , P . S . G . W ., presided at the Annual Festival , and subscri p tions amounting to £ 13 , 232 were announced , while Bro . Lord Leigh , Prov . G . Master of Warwickshire , Avho had long been a warm supporter of the School , presided at the distribution of prizes . It was at the Festival of this year that the

Royal Chairman Avas graciously permitted by the Queen to make the Avelcomc announcement that her Majesty had deigned to accept the dignity and office of Chief Patroness of the Institution . In the August folloAving , the death of Bro . Patten , P . G . S . B ., and formerly Secretary of the School , Avas reported . A Yote of condoleAice with .

his daughter , Miss Patten , Avas passed unanimously ; and a few months later the death of the Chaplain , Rev . Mills-Ellison , was announced , and a similar mark of sympathy was shown to his family . In June , 1883 , Bro . Col . Creaton announced that the Whiting family

had offered for sale the adjoining field of nine acres at £ 4000 per acre , but the proposal Avas rejected , there being a consensus of opinion among Bro . Charles Belton and the other experts Avhom the Committee considered it adA'isable to consult that the price demanded was in excess of the market value .

In January , 1884 , a modified p lan of admission by purchase , arising out of a proposal by the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Association , Avas adopted , and it Avas agreed to admit children , in tho event of there being room , on payment annually of ; E 50 , a proper guarantee being giA en by tho purchaser for the continuance of the

yearly payments , the original plan of purchase by payment m advance of 170 guineas ( £ 178 10 s . ) being , hoAvever , still retained . At the same time the rank of Patron Avas instituted , the consideration being a minimum contribution of 200 guineas , or in the case of ladies and leAvises , half that sum , Avhile the Prince and Princess of

Wales were henceforth sty led Grand Patron and Grand Patroness respectively . In May , Lord Brooke presided at the Festival , the subscri p tions amounting to £ 13 , 037 , and the Baroness Burdett-Coutts very kindl y undertook ihe agreeable task of distributing the prizes . In December , however , the Institution had to lament the death of

its Treasurer , Bro . Colonel Creaton , who for a number of years had taken an active and important part in the administration , and Avhose services , especially in connection Avith the erection of the Royal Alexandra Wing and the purchase of Lyncombe House , may be described as of incalculable value . At the Quarterly Court folloAving

his decease a warm tribute of respect Avas paid to his memory by the Governors , and a vote of sympathy with Mrs . Creaton in her bereavement Avas passed , and in due course acknoAvledged on behalf

of that lady by Bro . Hopwood . The vacancy in the Ireasurerslnp was filled by tho election of Bro . H . Brooks Marshall , Avho at the time Avas Grand Treasurer , and Bros . J . A . Rucker and Joshua Minn succeeded to the vacant offices of Trustee of the General and

Sustentation Fnnds . In March , 1885 , it Avas decided that the gold medal awarded for General Proficiency , Avhich had hitherto been the gift of Bro . William Paas , should be presented by the Institution , and about the same time Miss Buck Avas appointed Acting Matron Avith a vieAV to

relieving Miss JarAvood—Avho had attained the age of 75 years—of the laborious portion of her duties . In May , the Festival , under the auspices of Bro . Sir W . W . Burrell , Bart ., M . P ., Prov . G . Master of . Sussex , as Chairman , produced £ 14 , 187 , including , hoAvever , the sum of £ 1050 paid by the Province of West Yorkshire for the right of a

Perpetual Presentation to commemorate the services of Bro . Sir Henry Edwards , Bart ., who had just resigned his office as Prov . G . Master , and has since died . A few months later , negotiations Avere entered into for the purchase of a strip of land , about an acre in extent , adjoining the School , and the provisional arrangement to

secure it for the sum of £ 5700 was confirmed at a Special General Court of Governors on the 6 th October . No doubt it Avas a stiff price to pay for so small a parcel , but considering that the A'altie of the School property as a Avhole was considerably enhanced , and that at the same time additional and more imposing frontage towards the

Wandsworth Road was obtained , the outlay , largo as it was , may be looked upon as justified by the circumstances . Moreover , Grand Lodge generously A oted a , sum of £ 1000 towards the purchase , so tliat the pressure upon the resources of the Institution Avas A ery substantially lessened . The immediate result of this transaction

was that the Committee found it necessary to erect a boundary Avail , and the opportunit y Avas at the same time taken to provide new entrance gates and a lodge , the dut y of Inmng all this done being entrusted to the House Committee and the cost fixed at £ 1300 ,

subsequently increased b y a further vote of £ 500 to £ 1800 . In 1887 , it was agreed to purchase the two houses and grounds attached , belonging to Mr . Evill and adjoining Lyncombe House , for £ 2500 , the double purpose being thus satisfied of securing property which it was undesirable should fall into other hands , and-of erecting a

The History Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Girls

neAV and more commodious Junior School , should it be found practip able , on the site of Lyncombe House and the houses thus acquu . f Indeed , stops have been already taken to this end ; the tender of £ 2377 to carry out the work Avas accepted in December last , and sue ] ,

progress has already been made that before the Centenary year ] ias run its course Ave may reasonabl y expect the building—which Avill henceforth be known as the Junior School—ivill be read y f 01 , occupation . ( To be continued . )

The Grand Master At Blackburn.

THE GRAND MASTER AT BLACKBURN .

LAYING OF THE FOUNDATION-STONE OF THE TECH NICAL SCHOOLS , AT BLACKBURN , BY H . R . H , THE PRINCE OF WALES .

Blackburn held high festival on Wednesday , the 9 th instant . It Was a day of universal holiday-making and rejoicing . Never in the history of the thriving North-East Lancashire borough have the streets resounded with cheers as they did for several hours ; never surely have they looked so bright and gay . The bells of the churches rang merrily at intervals from

early morn till night ; bands of music filled the air with stirring and pleas . ing sounds ; signs and symbols of rejoicing were seen in every quarter , The occasion was felt by the inhabitants to be all-important , and beyond question it was regarded as interesting in the highest degree , Royal visits to provincial towns are not events of every-day occurrence . The ioyai Blackburnians evidently appreciated this fact to the full , and they

determined to make the most of the honour conferred upon the town . Moreover this was the first time that Royalty had visited the borough , and who can wonder therefore at the excessive jubilation , and the extraordinary demonstrations of loyalty that were displayed ? Right nobly and worthil y did the town receive the Heir Apparent and his graceful consort , and their Royal Highnesses must have been highly gratified by the enthusiasm which was displayed on all hands .

An immense marquee had been erected upon the site of the new Technical School , at Blakey Moor . In the centre was a platform contiguous to the foundation stone that had to be laid , and the seating of the temporary pavilion was arranged with the object of affording a view of the ceremony to several thousands of persons . A broad gangway led from the entrance

of the marquee , flanked on either side by rows of benches fixed longitudinally tier above tier . To the left of the platform was an area reserved for the accommodation of the more favoured spectators , and the remainder of the space under cover was seated transversely . Scarlet drapery had been lavishly used in fitting up the place , and as there was in addition , a profuse display of flags and streamers of varied hues in festoons overhead and in

trophy-shaped groupings about the pillars of support , an effect was produced decidedly bright and festive . Ticket-holders began to take their positions in the tent as eaily as 10 o ' clock . An hour or so later the entry of a strong contingent of Freemasons , in full regalia , helped to swell the already numerous company . The Provincial Grand Lodge of East Lancashiremet specially in the Exchange Lecture Hall , and the brethren walked in Masonic order to the marquee .

At 12 o ' clock , the band of ihe 9 th Lancers was heard outside , and loud cheers told of the ? pproach of the august visitors themselves ; and when , very shortly afterwards , the Princess of Wales was led along the gangway by the mayor of Blackburn , Bro . Edgar Appleby , the shouts were taken up

by those within , and her Royal Highness had a mo ? t enthusiastic welcome . Whilst the Princess was still bowingher acknowledgments from the platform , a Masonic choir , stationed in a gallery close by , sang the National Anthem , the audience joining heartily .

H . R . H . the Most Worshipful G ^ and Master was received at the entrance by Bro . Coi . Le Gendre N . Starkie , Prov . Grand Master of East Lancashire , Bro . T . W . Tew , Prov . Grand Master of West Yorkshire ; and Bro . Col Shadwell H . Clerke , Grand Secretary of England ; accompanied by the following Present and Past Grand Officers , who acted as special reception Stewards , viz .: Bros . Edmund Ashworlh , S . G . D . ; Geo . Mellor , P . G . D .,

Dep . P . G . M . ; W . O . Walker , P . G . D . ; John Chadwick , P . G . S . B . ; 0 . P . Brockbank , P . G . Std . B . ; J . H . Sillitoe , P . G . Std . B . ; and Henry Sadler , Grand Tyler ; who , with the Prov . Grand Sword Bearer , Bro . Duxbury ; the Prov . Grand Standard Bearers , Bros . Bollard and Milton ; and the Prov . Grand Director of Ceremonies , Bro . W . H . Cunliffe ; P " ceded his Royal Highness to the dais .

The cheering having subsided , the MAYOR formally conferred upon the Prince the honorary freedom of the Borough of Blackburn . The scroll bearing the resolution of the Town Council relating to this was a beauutul specimen of the illuminator ' s art . It was enclosed in a gold casket 0 te

artistic design and fine workmanship . His Royal Hig hness having maj the first entry upon the Freemen ' s Roll , a formal request was made that lie would lay the foundation-stone of the Technical School , and then commenced the performance of the day ' s chief function . . A couple of verses of the Old Hundreth Psalm were sung , and u >

GRAND MASTER having delivered the address prescribed for such occasion , Bro . the Rev . A . PARKINSON , Prov . Assist . G . Chap ., offered prayer . W ° " J . CHADWICK , Prov . G . Sec , and Bro . W . NICHOLL , Prov . G . lrc ^ discharged their duties in connection with the inscription plate and ^ deposit ol coins , and then the Prince handled the trowel , and as the upp

stone was lowered the choir sang the anthem : — When the Temple ' s first stone was slowly descending ' . f After adjusting the stone with further Masonic ritual the Grand M ** declared it trul y laid , and on the architects , Messrs . Woodhouse ^ Willoughby , being presented to him , his Royal Highness looked & t . M plans of the superstructure to be raised and requested that the work m g be carried on without delay in conformity therewith . , j rf «

Bro . CODDINGTGN , M . P ., P . P . S . G . W ., afterwards presented an auu on behalf of the brethren of the three Blackburn Lodges . led On the ceremony being completed their Royal Hig hnesses vvere esc ^ to their carriage by his Worship the Mayor , and the same brethre n . received them ; and amidst the ringing cheers of thousands of s P Ln 0 f

were driven to the Town Hall , where a splendid luncheon was parw i eby by about 500 guests , who had been invited by the Mayor and Mrs . ApP ^ to meet their Royal Highnesses . Their Royal Highnesses left Black " special train at 3 . 15 , and arrived at Marlborough House at 8 p . " -