Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

bc that they were given by persons who did not strictly understand what the words implied . If the institution was able to get a certificate t ' . iat a child of 9 years of age could read according to the standard of the educational department ' s code for a child 0 years old , then , following

that they could hardly go wrong . The chairman said this was a very valuable suggestion of Bro . Symonds , and it should not be forgotten at the next General Committee . A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the proceedings .

Entertainment At The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ENTERTAINMENT AT THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The Boys' School has never been in the rear of the other Masonic Institutions for keeping fresh in the minds of the children that Christmas is the time for mirth and merrymaking , and it has been the custom for some years past , to give to the pupils who remain in the school during

the holidays , a sttiall entertainment , which they may look forward to With pleasant anticipations , and remember with feelings of joy . These entertainments have been varied as much as possible , and on one occasion our late Bro . Samuel May , with the assistance of some other brethren , provided the requisites for a parlour theatre , and previously drilled the boys for performing the burlesque of

" The Maid and the Magpie . " The entertainment was very successful , and on that occasion a large party of the brethren were present with their families . But , subsequently less pretentious exhibitions were arranged , and Christmas and Twelfth Night festivities were provided . And very nicely done affairs they have ever been . Mr . Bridgman Smith has at times given some most pleasing

evenings with his dissolving views , done in the Polytechnic style , and in no way inferior to the stage amusements at that popular institution . Conjurers too have been a favourite pastime , and ftiagic lantern has also afforded endless amusement . Mr . Bridgman Smith has been at the Institution during the present season , and , on the 4 th inst ., gave the hoys , to the number of 30 , who remained in the

school , a charming evening with his well-known views . On Saturday last , M . De Vere , conjuror and humourist , who has been well-known at the Alexandra Palace , the Opera Comique , London ; Theatre de la Gaicte , Paris ; Theatre des Fantaisics , jardin des Eaux Mincrales , St . Petersburg ; and the principal English and Continental theatres and places of light entertainment , presenteda

selection | from his repertoire of prestidigitation , entitled " Modern Marvels , " and astonished the company by the wondeiful deftness with which he performed his sleight of hand tricks . What the entire portfolio contains we are unable to divine , but if what he gave on the occasion referred to was what it professed to be , a selection only , the collection , when given complete , must go far in involving

the spectators who are fortunate enough to see it , in a state of bewilderment , from which it would take them a long time to emerge . The professor commenced by displaying some feats with a silk handkerchief , which he made small and large at will ; produced a new laid egg in a glass when no one could see how it got there ; and after some tricks with a canary bird , showed the boys how

to perform a few legerdemain deceptions . Cards , which seem to be a staple commodity with jugglers , were not wanting , and though there was not the three card trick , the audience made their selection and were pointed out the cards they chose . The wondrous hat full caused immense merriment , more particularly on account of the quantity of babies'clothing that appeared

to be stowed away in the crown of the hat , and which were drawn out one article after another , ad libitum . 'I he serpent possessed considerable attraction , the professor having first mentioned 10 the boys that they had heard of magicians producing such reptiles . Out of a silk handkerchief twisted into a sort of cord , M . dc Vere formed a serpent of the same colours as the handkerchief , those of

the Belgian nag , and a very good imitation it made . The trick with a black bag consisted of producing a whole basket of eggs , one at a time , and as one of the boys was called on to assist in this and some of the other operations , they of course felt somewhat deeper interest in these tricks . The juvenile co-operator however , though his eyes kept following the professor , left the place

of operation no wiser than when he went to it . The flying cage and canaries , however , surpassed all the other feats , for it is , as expressed by our contemporary , the Era , " the very best feat of the kind we have yet seen . M . de Vere comes to the footlights holding in his hands a small cage containing a live canary . There is no covering it with a handkerchief , no use of a trick table ; one moment

we see the cage in the hands of the conjuror , the next , both have vanished . " Several of the other papers have spoken with equal favour of this trick , which is a testimony of considerable value to the ability of M . de Vere . But there were a good many other acts of prestidigitation , too numerous to give a detailed account of ; but it would be unfair not to notice one in particular , in which he

extracted a large number of lighted Chinese lanterns from a hat borrowed from one of the assistant masters . After having taking some score or so of these from the hat , he took another Chinese lantern , uniighted , from the same receptacle . These lanterns measured some yards in length . The amusements of the evening , which were repeatedly and most warmly cheered by the spectators , were concluded about nine o'clock . One of the daughters of Bro .

Binckes , the Secretary of the Institution , accompanied the prcstidigitatorial performances by some choice selections 1111 the p ianoforte , which she played with great skill and ability . The performances were witnessed by the whole of the establishment , including Dr . Morris the head master , Mrs . Morris and family , the assistant masters , Miss Hall , matron , Mrs . Walkden , and their assistants , the four daughters of Bro . Binckes , Mr . Frederick Binckes , jun ., and Bro . H . Massey ( Freemason ) .

Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

The Annual Festival of the Priory Lodge No . 1000 will be held on Thursday next , the 23 th inst ., when the Ceremony of Installation will be performed b y Bro . the Rev . C . J . Martyn , P . G . C ., V . W . Deputy Grand Master , Suffolk . V . W . Bro . Spencer Robert Wigram , Grand Chaplain , is the W . M . elect . The third of Bio . Abbott ' s series of lectures

on the History of the Craft will be given in the Confidence Lodge of Instiuction , Mason ' s Hall Tavern , Basinghallstreet , on Wednesday , the 24 th inst ., at 7 p . m . Masonry seems to be popular behind the footlights . In a very distinguished dramatic and literary lodge , Mr . Hare has just been received into the mystic Craft , and Mr . Toole i :, to be balloted for at the next meeting . Mr .

B . Webster , Mr . Chatterton , Mr . James , Mr . Thome , Mr . Henry Neville , Mr . John Clark , Mr . W . H . Kendall , Mr . Charles Harcourt , Mr . Arthur Swanborough , Mr . Edward Terry , Mr . W . H . Stephens , Mr . Charles Warner . . Mr . Andrew Halliday , Mr . C . Milward , Mr . H . J . Byronj Mr . James Albcry , and Mr . Charles Dickens , are all Masons , and the majority of them belong to the lodge alluded to . —Mai / fair .

LIFEBOAT SERVICES . —During the storms of the past year the National Lifeboat Institution contributed to the saving of 39 S lives from various shipwrecks and 19 vassels from destruction . It also expended £ 32 , 170 in the same period on its lifeboat establishments , including payments to its lifeboat crews . The institution has now 256 lifeboat stations under its management .

G ENEROUS C ITY G IFTS . —We learn that the British and Foreign Sailors' Society has recently received the following handsome contributions from the Corporation of the City of London : — The Fishmongers' Company , £ 52 10 s . ; the Drapers' Company , £ 21 ; the Clothworkers ' Company ( annual subscription ) , £ 10 10 s . ; the Skinners ' Company , £ 10 10 s . ; the Trinity Board , £ 10 ros . ; the

London Dock Company , £ 10 tos . ; the P . and O . Company , £ 10 ; and the London Assurance Corporation , . £ 10 . His Royal Hi ghness the Prince of Wales has sanctioned a donation of £ 30 from the Duchy of Cornwall towards the expenses of the Centenary Exhibition of the

Bath and West of England Society next June . Sir Watkin Williams Wynn , M . P ., is suffering from severe bronchitis , but Mr . W . H . Bennett , of St . George's Hospital , who was telegraphed for to Wynnstay , has returned to Loudon satisfied with his patient ' s progess . The Mansion House Inundations Relief Fund

now amounts to £ 7200 . Ihe Brig hton Town- Council on Wednesday discussed the question of sea defences , on a report brought up by the surveyor , with reference to the effects of the late storm , and it was resolved to build a new concrete groyne , 550 feet long , opposite Paston-place , at an estimated cost of £ 9000 .

COSMOPOLITAN MASONIC CALENDAR , DIARY , NI > POCKET BOOK . —As far as we can pretend to form an opinion from an inspection of the contents of this little pocket book , it fully deserves its title , and merits the praise of beir . g not only a comprehensive Masonic book of

reference , but of containing "full particulars of every grand Masonic body throughout the globe . "—Army and Navy Gazette . Roan , Gilt Edges , Elastic Band or Tuck , post free 2 s . 2 d . ; Bound in Silk , 3 s . 8 d . —ADVT . FISH IN PERFECTION—A LIVE FROM THE

OCEAN . —The difficulty 111 obtaining fresh fish , of prime quality , at a reasonable price , has long been experienced by residents in inland towns and country districts , and even in London , preservation in ice , and delay in transit , often destroy the original flavour . Messrs . Chas . Watson & Co ., Fish Merchants , Folkestone , Kent , have organized

a new system of supply , and send by express trains , free to any part of the kingdom , their family package of assorted fish—alive from the ocean—at wholesale price in 3 s ., 10 s ., and 20 s . parcels , prepaid in stamps or P . O . O . This will be found a great boon to families , schools , hotels , and the public generally .

Metropolitan Masonic Meetings.

METROPOLITAN MASONIC MEETINGS .

For thi Week ending Friday , January 26 , 1877 . The Editor will be glad to receive notice from Secretaries of Craft Lodges , Royal Arch Chapters , Mark Lodges , Prcceptories , Conclaves , & c , of any change in place or time of meeting .

SATURDAY , JANUARY 20 . Audit Com . Boys' School , at 4 . Lodge 713 , Panmurc , Cannon-st . Hot . „ 1329 , Sphinx , Bridge House Hot ., London Bridge . „ 1364 , Earl of Zetland , Old Town Hall , Hackney .

LODGES OF INSTHUCTION . Lily , Greyhound , Richmond . Manchester , 77 , London-st ., Fitzroy-sq . Star , Marquis of Granby , New Cross-rd . MONDAY , JANUARY 22 . Lodge 4 , R . Somerset Hot . Inverness , F . M . H .

„ 26 , Castle of Harmony , Willis ' s Rooms , W . „ 28 , Old King ' s Arms , F . M . H . „ 183 , Unity , Ship and Turtle , Leadenhall-st . „ 902 , Burgoyne , Anderton ' s Hot ., Flect-st . „ 907 , Royal Alfred , F . M . H . ,, 1608 , Kilburn , Queen's Arms Hot ., Kilburn Gate . „ 1 ( 131 , Stuart , Surrey M . H .

LODGES OF INSTRUCTION . Prince Leopold , Lord Stanley Tav ., Kingsland . Strong Man , Jerusalem Tav ., St . John ' s Gate . Sincerity , Railway Tav ., Fenchurch-st . Station .

Metropolitan Masonic Meetings.

Camden , Stanhope Arms , Up . James-st ., Camden To . Sastern , Royal Hot ., Mile-end-road . 3 t . James ' s Union , Union Tav ., Air-st ., Regent-st . Wellington , White Swan , Deptford . Perfect Ashlar , Victoria Tav ., Lower-rd ., Rotherhithe . Upper Norwood , White Hart Hot ., Church-rd . Marquis oE Ripon , Pembury Tav ., Amherst-rd ., Hackney .

TUESDAY , JANUARY 2-j . Audit Com . Girls' School , at 4 . Lodge 14 , Tuscan , F . M . H . „ 92 , Moira , Mansion House Restaurant . „ 143 , Prudent Brethren , F . M . H . „ 186 , Industry , M . H ., Basinghall-st . „ 203 , Israel , Cannot-st . Hot .

239 , Prince of Wales's , Willis ' s Rms ., St . James's . „ 1138 , Southern Star , Montpellier Tav ., Walworth . „ 1196 , Urban , Old Jerusalem Tav ., St . John's Gate . „ 1348 , Ebury , 12 , Ponsonb y-st ., Millbank . ,, 1441 , Ivy , Surrey M . H . Chap . 7 , Royal York of Perseverance , F . MH . „ 2 t , Cyrus , Ship and Turtle , Leadenhall-st . Rose Croix Chapter , Palestine , 33 , Golden-sq .

LODGES OF INSTRUCTION . Metropolitan , 269 , Pentonville-rd . Yarborough , Green Dragon , Stepney . Domatic , Surrey M . H ., Camberwell New-road . Faith , 2 , Westminster Chambers , Victoria-st . Prince Fredk . Wm ., Lord ' s Hot ., St . John's Wood . Dalhousie , King Edward , Triangle , Hackney . Prosperity , Hercules Tav ., Leadenhall-st .

Constitutional , Whcatsheaf Hot ., Hand-court , Holborn . Israel , Rising Sun Tav ., Globe Road . Royal Arthur , Prince ' s Head , York-road , Battersea . Beacontree , Red Lion , Leytonstone . Excelsior , Commercial Dock Tav ., Rotherhithe . St . John of Wapping , Gun Hot ., High-st ., Wapping . Metropolitan Chapter , Jamaica Coffee Ho ., Cornhill . West Smithfitld , New Market Hot ., West Smithfield . Loughborough , Warrior Hot ., Brixton .

WEDNESDAY , JANUARY 24 . Lodge of Benevolence , at 6 . Lodge 2 , Antiquity , F . M . H . „ 212 , Euphrates , M . H ., Basinghall-st . „ 507 , United Pilgrims , Surrey M . H . „ 754 , High Cross , Seven Sisters , Tottenham . „ 1036 , Victoria , Anderton ' s Hot , Flcet-st . Chap . 733 , Prince Fredk . William , St . John ' s Wood . „ 8 3 V , St . Mark's , Surrey M . H .

LODGES OF INSTRUCTION . Confidence , M . H ., Basinghall-st . Mt . Lebanon , Windsor Castle Tav ., Southwark-bdg .-rd . Pythagorean , Prince of Orange , Greenwich . New Concord , Rosemary Branch Tav ., Hoxton . Royal Union , Horse and Groom , Winsley-st ., Oxford-st . Mount Edgcumbe , 19 , Jermyn-st ., St . James's . Peckham , Maismore Arms , Park-road , Peckham .

Stanhope , Thicket Hot ., Anerley . Finsbury Park , Finsbury Park Tav ., Seven Sisters' -nl . Southwark , Southwark Park Tav ., Southwark Park . Duke of Connaught , Havelock Tav ., Dalston , E . United Strength , Grafton Arms , Kentish-town . Islington , Crown and Cushion , London Wall . Whittington , Black Bull Tav ., Holborn . Lewis , King ' s Arms Hot ., Wood Green . Langthorne , Swan Hot ., Stratford .

THURSDAY , JANUARY 23 . Gen . Com . Girls' School , at 4 . Lodge 22 , Neptune , Guildhall Tav ., Gresham-st . „ 34 , Mount Moriah , F . M . H . ,, 60 , Peace and Harmony , F . M . H . „ 65 , Prosperity , Guildhall Tav ., Gresham-st . „ 66 , Grenadiers ' , F . M . H .

„ 766 , William Preston , Cannon-st . Hot . „ S 71 , Royal Oak , White Swan , High-st ., Deptford . „ 1421 , Langthorne , Swan Hot ., Stratford . „ 1324 , Dukeof Connaught , Pownall-rd ., Haggerston . Chap . 5 . St . George's , F . M . H . „ 177 , Domatic , Anderton ' s Hot ., Fleet-st . „ C 34 , Polish National , F . M . H .

„ 8 34 , Andrew , Clarendon Hot ., Hammersmith . LODGES OF INSTRUCTION . Egyptian , Hercules Tav ., Leadenhall-st . Fidelity , Yorkshire Grey , London-st ., W . Finsbury , Jolly Anglers' Tav ., Bath-st ., City-road . Temperance in the East , Catherine-st ., Poplar . Ebury , 12 , Ponsonhy-st ., Milbank .

Highgate , Bull and Gate , Kentish-town . The Great City , 111 , Cheapside . High Cross , Coach & Horses , High-road , Tottenham . Salisbury , Union Tav ., Air-st ., Regent-st . Prince Frederick William Chapter , St . John's Wood . Southern Star , Crown Hot ., Blackfriars-rd . Great Northern , Berwick Arms , Berners-st ., Oxfonl-st .

FRIDAY , JANUARY 26 . Lod g e 5 6 9 , Fitzroy , Hd .-qrtrs . Hon . Art . Co ., City-rd . ,, 1601 , Ravensbourne , Dist . B . of W . O ., Catford-bg . „ 1602 , Sir Hugh Myddelton , Agricultural Hall , N . Encamp . 26 , Faith and Fidelity , Cannon-st . Hot .

LODGES OF INSTRUCTION . Union Waterloo , Thomas-st ., Woolwich . Robert Burns , Union Tav ., Air-st ., Regent-st . Belgrave , Constitution , Bcdford-st ., Covent Garden . Unions Emulation ( for M . M . ' s ) , F . M . H . Temperance , Victoria Tav ., Victoria-road , Deptford . Clapton , White Hart , Clapton .

Metropolitan , Portugal Hot ., Fleet-st . St . Marylebone , British Stores Tav ., St . John's Wood . Westbourne , Horse & Groom , Winsley-st ., Oxford-st . United Pilgrims , Surrey M . H ,, Camberwell New-road . St . James ' s , NewTanners'Arms , Grangc-rd ., Bermondsey . Duke of Edinburgh , Silver Lion , Penny-fields , Poplar . Doric , Earl Grey Tav ., Mile-end-road .