Distribution Of Prizes At The Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

Cookery , Second Prizes ( Mrs . Homewood Crawford)—Emily Bushell and Gertrude R ° Usefulness in Domestic Duties ( The " Yates" ) , St . James ' s Lodge , No . 4 S 2-Maude Norris and May Vockins . Calisthenics and Deportment ( Bro . Sir Reginald Hanson , Bart ., M . P . )—Violet larvis and Kate Rath . J Swimming ( First Prize , Lady Monckton)—Grace Abbott . Swimming ( Second Prize , Lady Monckton ) .

J UNIOR SCHOOL . General Proficiency ( Bro . Frank Richardson)—Wilhelmina Green . Arithmetic ( The " Henry Levander "—Gladys Pate . At the conclusion of the prize distribution , Bro . Sir J MONCKTON proposed a vote of thanks to the Countess of Dartmouth , and said the more important part of the day ' s business being now happily ended , and the the

sun shining on the efforts of the managers , as it always did on prize days of the Institution , he was reminded of a joke he made that morning , that as they had a lot of daughters in the School they ought to have a little " sun . " But that joke only by the way , he was going to ask the company to carry by acclamation a vote of thanks to the Countess of Dartmouth for her great kindness in coming to perform so gracefully the distribution of Masonic Institution for Girls

prizes to the children of the Royal . ( App lause . ) He had personally had many times the very important privilege ot proposing such a vote , but this time it was on account of the ballot , he having been chosen as Chairman for the month of the House Committee , and he was placed in a more prominent position than his merits deserved . But he had the honour , the pleasure , and the privilege of moving this vote

of thanks , and he did not think it would be well to do so without saying how well content and satisfied they all were with the work of the children . The work had been done remarkably well , thanks to the staff of the Institution . He hoped they would hear from the mouth of the Earl of Dartmouth that he and the Countess had been gratified by what they had witnessed . Bro . R . LOVELAND L OVELAND , Q . C , seconded the motion , and it was carried enthusiastically .

The Earl of DARTMOUTH , in reply , said perhaps the company would allow him to acknowledge the vote on behalf of Lady Dartmouth . Most sincerely did he return her thanks for the enthusiastic manner in which her name had been received . But it appeared to him that their position and the company ought to be reversed , and that it was he and Lady Dartmouth who had had the honour and the privilege conferred on them . However , the

vote of thanks had been passed ; but still he hoped to be allowed to say that Lady Dartmouth and he had greatly appreciated the kind language made us . of by Sir John Monckton , and they thanked him very sincerely for the honour which had been done them , and he would like in a few words to express on behalf of Lady Dartmouth and himself the very great pleasure it had given them to be present

on this occasion . He was speaking of himself as well as of Lady Dartmouth , because he considered he was entitled to do so , as the duty of returning thanks was thrown upon him . There was a feeling of regret which they experienced , because of the girls who were not successful , but he wished them to take courage and to follow the example ol the girls who had been successful , and try to achieve success themselves on a future occasion .

At all events they mig ht congratulate themselves on having contributed to making a very pleasant and enjoyable afternoon ( Hear , hear ) . Perhaps the lirst thing that struck him was the seeing a very beautiful bouquet presented to Lady Dartmouth . He was informed that it was presented by a Staffordshire girl . Well , that fact showed him that those who came there from different parts of the country were reaping

the benefit of their support of the Institution , and he thought they might feel satisfied with what they had done . There was no doubt that they had been successful , and it was an encouragement for them to go on . This being so , the Institution must continue to increase . These Masonic Institutions were doing a rriost valuable work to the country , and while the brethren recognised the generous princip le which actuated those who founded them ,

they knew that there were many distinguished in Masonic work who were trying to carry out the princip les of Masonry by conferring to the full the benefits of the Institution . No doubt girls who had not prizes would see that those entrusted with the management of the Institution were prepared to offer them facilities for getting on in future life in various directions , and those who had founded the Institution ,

and those who were carrying it on , only asked in return that the children should take advantage of those facilities . Both he and Lady Dartmouth had had very great pleasure in attending , and he took the opportunity of responding for Lady Dartmouth to thank all those who were engaged in the management of the Insiitution . On behalf of himself , of Lady Dartmouth , and the Committee , he thanked Miss Buck , the matron , Miss

Hutchinson , the head governess , and Mrs . Roworth for what they had done . He did not think that anything could have been better done than the calisthenic exercises ; nothing could have been done with greater precisio n or mere quickness . Those who were volunteers knew how difficult it was fo perform evolutions correctly , arid with regard to the p . anoforte playing , it was remarkable how the girls , playing many at one time , kept in harmony . The result of the afternoon had been very instructive , and he

congratulated the ladies he had mentioned on the success of their efforts . He again expressed the thanks of himself and Lady Dartmouth for the pleasure they had experienced . They hoped to have the privilege of attending on many future occasions . ( Applause . ) . ' 1 he company afterwards partook of refreshments , and subsequently inspected the Institution , conducted by the prefects . At six o ' clock they re-assembled in the Alexandra Hall , where they were entertained with selections from the following music :

( Pianoforte Pieces on eight Pianos . ) p ait Song "lis Ours" ( from Cantata ) Roeckel . ¦ Juatteite "Ouveiiure des Marionettes" C . Gurlitt . "rt Song - Plantation Song" Behrend . ¦ 5 ul ^ " Papillons" Schumann . n ' •» ... " Entr'acte Gavotte from 'Mignon '" ... A . Thomas . Part

Song "The Lotus Flower' * Rijbenstcin , uuet "Alkgio Vivace and Minuet and Trio from Symphonic XIII . " Havdn . f , ° "II Moto Continue" Weber . '¦> " bong Chorus ( from Cantata ) Roeckel . w }^ ¦ " " Overture'Tancredi '" Rossini . Ihe National Anthem was sung at seven o ' clock , and tin . company ' ti dispersed .

h R , H * THE PRINCE OF WALES ( as Captain-General and Colonel of the corps ) , as presented a prize of the value of £ 20 to-be competed lor by the members of the » ° n . Artillery Company , on Tuesday , July 3 rd .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Mark Master Masons Of North And East Yorkshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF MARK MASTER MASONS OF NORTH AND EAST YORKSHIRE .

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Mark Lodge was held ( at the cordial invitation of the Streonshalh Lodge , Whitby ) , at the Masonic Hall , John Street , on Tuesday , the 15 th inst . It was fortunete for the enjoyment of the large number of brethren who came from a distance that the weather showed considerable improvement to what had recently been experienced , and the old town was seen under its most

pleasant aspect . The Board of General Purposts met at two o ' clock , and half-an-hour later the communication was held . There was a large gathering of brethren from the different lodges in the province , but it was a matter for regret that the attendance of local brethren was but small , varying circumstances accounting for their absence . The attendance of Provincial Grand Officers , too , was not so good as was hoped for .

After the Prov . G . Lodge had been opened , the Prov . G . Secretary ( Bro . F . W . Halliwell ) read a telegram from Bro . the Right Hon . Lord Bolton , Prov . G . Master , regretting his inability to be present owing to his Yeomanry duties at York demanding his presence , and the Dep . Prov . G . Master ( Bro . Col . R . G . Smith ) took the chair .

The PROV . G . SECRETARY said he had great pleasure in announcing a distinct increase in the number of Mark Master Masons in the province , and said that he trusted the zeal which had been displayed by the members of the various lodges during the past year would be emulated , and , if

possible , excelled in the forthcoming year . It had been decided by the Board of General Purposes to make a grant of £ _ to the widow of a P . Prov . G . Treas ., and it was further decided to recommend her case for the consideration of the Benevolent Fund of the Grand Mark Lodge .

The Dep . Prov . G . Master then appointed and invested the officers for the ensuing year as follows : Bro . J . H . Harrowing , W . M . 337 ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ W . M . Westerby , P . M . 281 ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ G . Rennard . W . M . 201 ... ... Prov . G . M . O .

„ J . H . B . Beman , W . M . 95 ... ... Prov . S . G . O . „ W . H . Winpenny , W . M . 281 ... ... Prov . J . G . O . „ Rev . C . E . L . Wright , P . M . York T . I . ... Prov . G . Chap . „ J . L . Spetch , J . W . York T . I . ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ F . W . Halliwell , P . M \ York T . I . and 95 ... Prov . G . Sec . „ H . C . Godfrey , S . W . 291 ... ... Prov . G . Re ? . „ A . Harrowing , S . W . 337 ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ D . Young , S . D . York T . I . ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ G . H . Anderson , S . O . 276 ... ... Prov . G . L of W . „ W . Ross , J . W . 2 Qi ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ C . E . Freer , J . D . 277 ... ... ... Prov . A . li . D C . „ T . Harding , Sec . 276 ... ... ... Pr-v . G . S . B . „ A . G . Fowles , I . G . 277 ... ... ... Pov . G . Sd ti „ J . Chapman , Org . 95 ... ... ... Prm . li . O , ; „ J . P . Gill , Sec . York T . L ... ... Pr . w . v . G 6 ,-„ H . H . Watson , S . D . 291 ... ... P-ov . G . . G . „ W . Stockdale , Tyler 277 ... ... P '* ov . ( j . !"* > « r . The Auditors , Bros . G . Lamb , P . P . G . W ., and J . Bi .-nkiu , P . PG . IJ were re-appointed .

A banquet was held , after the convocation had b en ci . < st-J , t ih Crown Hotel ( Miss Sleightholme ) , and a very sumptuous repa t « i , partaken of by the majority of the brethren who had oeen p e -m ... The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were duty honou- « d , bat owing to the inconvenient railway accommodation , the post-prandial proceedings had to be somewhat curtailed .

It is worthy of note that this is the first time the Prov . G . Lod >? e has met at Whitby , and that it was signalised by the W . M . of the local lodge being invested with the collar of S . W ., the first time in the hist > rv of Mark Masonry that a Whitby brother has been so honoured .

The Craft Abroad.

The Craft Abroad .

Sydney—Cambrian Lodge of Australia , No , 656 , E . C . The regu l ar monthly meet ' ng of this English lodge , louk p ' ace on Wednesday , the 4 th ult . 'There was a large attendance of membersand visicors , miny b ; in £ fro-n various lodges under the New South Wales Constitution , including a contingent fro-n H . M . ships now in port , attracted probably because a retired ofiicer of H . M . ship Penguin was to take his M . M . Degree at the request of the Lord Charles Beresford Lodge , No . 2404 , E . G ., he having been compelled to leave England shortly after initiation . The F . C . Degree had previously been given to the brother in question i last monthly meeting of the Cambrian Lodge .

Precisely at 8 p . m ., the lodge was opened by the W . M ., Bro . Capt . Tait , R . N ., who raised two candidates , assisted by the I . P . M ., Bro . Capt . Beresford G . Campbell . A pleasant hour was subsequently spent in refreshment , the meeting breaking up with " Auld Lang Syne . " Since last meeting the lodge has lost its S . W ., who has gone to South Africa , much

to the envy of several other brethren , who , although they bear on their breasts the honour of engagements of past years , are ready and willing to proceed once again to the front in defence of Queen and Country , but at present have to rest content with the honour of having fought their lodge's battle , and kept its colours nailed to the mast as an English lodge .

Before closing the lodge the names of two gentlemen were handed in as candidates for initiation at next meeting . There is every reason for believing that before long this lodge will be one of the strongest in Sydney , whilst at the same time profiting by the mistakes elsewhere , very strict supervision is observed in the admission of new candidates . <

BRITISH HOME AND HOSPITAL FOR INCURABLES . —The annual general meeting of Governors and Subscribers will be held at the Institution , Crown-lane , Streatham , on Thursday , the 24 th inst ., at 3 . 30 p . m . ( instead of at Cannon-street Hotel ) , when Bro . Earl Amherst will preside . At this meeting , in addition to the annual report of the Board of Management , the report of tbe Scrutineers giving the result of the election will be read . The railway stations for the home are West Norwood ( L . B . and S . C . Ry ) and Crystal Palace ( High Level ) ( S . E . and C . Ry . ) , from the latter an omnibus ruis direct to the Home .