Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

The Ninety-third Anniversary Festival of this Institution look place on Wednesday at Freemasons' Tavern . Sir Michael E . Hicks Beach , M . P ., Provincial Grand Master for Gloucestershire , presided . Among those present were Bros . Lieut-Col . Sir Francis Burdctt , Bart ., M . P ., P . G . M . Middlesex ; Lieut .-Col . Sir Henry Edwards , Bart ., P . G . M . West Yorkshire ; Maxwell C . Close , M . P ., P . G . M . Armagh ; Stephen Moore ,

Esq ., P . G . M . ( South Eastern District ) Ireland ; Lieut .-Col . J . Creaton , G . Treas . ; Rev . C . J . Martyn , P . G . C ; Col . Shadwell H . Gierke , G . Sec ; Rev . C W . Stanhope , P . G . C . ; Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , P . G . C ; T . A . Rucker , P . G . D . ; Dr . Jabez Hogg , P . G . D . ; Robert Grey , P . G . D . ; Peter de Lande Long , P . G . D . ; Thomas Fenn , P . G . D . ; J . M . P . Montague , D . L ., J . P ., P . G ' . D . ; F . Richardson , P . G . D . ; Col . H . S . Burney , P . G . D . ; Rev . W . J .

Mills Ellison ; Chas . Greenwood , P . G . S . B . ; Rev . Dr . Morns , Head Master Boys' Schpol , P . G . P . ; S . G . Foxall ; the Baron de Ferrieres , M . P ., P . G . Reg . Gloucestershire ; H . Godfrey , J . P ., P . G . S . W . Gloucestershire ; Edwd . Letchworth , P . G . Reg . Middlesex ; Griffiths Smith , P . G . Steward ; Lieut .-Col . J . Peters , P . G . W . Middlesex ; E . C . Mather ; J . Brook Smith ; J . Mullings ;

C . Tudnay ; C . Hammerton ; T . A . Tew , J . P ., M . A . ; Henry Smith , P . G . Secretary W . Yorkshire ; William Watkins ; J . G . Chancellor ; Dr . Howell , jun . ; Dr . Barringer ; Rev . P . H . Ernest Brette ; F . Binckes , Secretary ' R . M . I . B . ; and F . R . W . Hedges , Secretary R . M . I . G . After dinner grace was sung and the toasts were proposed .

The CHAIRMAN ; : Brethren , you will readily anticipate the first toast which I have to propose . It is " The Health of Her Majesty the Queen . " ( Cheers . ) Nothing could be more unmasonic to arrogate to ourselves the exclusive possession of any virtue ; but I will venture to say that among all the inhabitants of Her Majesty ' s dominions there are no more loyal subjects than those who enrol themselves in the numbers of our Order . ( Cheers . )

We revere the Queen as the best of constitutional Sovereigns , we admire the purity of her life as a wife and a mother ; but above all , on such an occasion as this , when we have met to advocate the claims of one of our great Charities , do we remember that which is Her Majesty ' s distinguishing characteristic—viz ., her true womanly sympathy with all that is poorest in her realms . ( Cheers . ) Brethren , I beg to give you "The Health of Her Majesty the Queen . " ( Renewed cheers . )

The CHAIRMAN : Brethren , the next toast which I have to propose is " The Health of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales and the rest of the Royal Family . " . Brethren , I feel sure that the genial character of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales adds not a little to the warmth of the loyally with which we Freemasons would naturally regard the heir to the Throne and the Grand Master of our Order . The "race of the Princess of Wales

is proverbial , while we cannot forget the kindness of both their Royal Highnesses , and the interest which they have shown in the Institution with regard to which we have met this evening . Part of the building of that Institution has been , as you arc aware , by permission of Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales , named the Alexandra Wing . lam confident that it is but a proof of the interest which she takes in its welfare . And , with

regard to other members of the Royal Family , no one in this room is likely to forget the efficient and able manner in which H . R . H . Prince Leopold was so good as to plead for the welfare of this Institution . The result was a success , perhaps exceeding the utmost anticipations of its friends ; and I am confident of this , that it will be long indeed before the action of His Royal Highness is forgotten by those connected with this Institution . ( Cheers . )

The CHAIRMAN : Brethren , the next toast is one of n very comprehensive character . It is "The Health of the Pro Grand Master , the Deputy Grand Master , and the rest of the Officers , Past and Present , of Grand Lodge . " I am sure that in the presence of so many brethren who have experienced the advantage which the Craft has derived from the wise counsels and high abilities of the Earl of Carnarvon , 1 need say nothing to recommend the Pro

Grand Master to your notice . ( Loud cheers . ) Lord Lathom , the Deputy Grand Master , is a name honoured among Freemasons—popular in his great province , the home of so many members of our Craft , and popular wherever his genial presence is known throughout the country . As to the rest of the Officers of Grand Lodge , I need say little . They are active workers in the interests of our Order . It is but a few days since I had myself to express my

warm personal thanks to no small number of them for the enthusiasm in Freemasonry which prompted their presence at my installation at a considerable distance from the ordinary scenes of their labours . But , brethren , their conduct then was but an example of their ordinary work , and I am quite sure that if the interests of Freemasonry demanded it , the Officers of Grand Lodge would be found ready , as in that case , to do their duty . ( Cheers . )

Sir F . BURDETT , Provincial Grand Master for Middlesex , in reply , said : Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master for Gloucestershire , and brethren / as your Worship ful Chairman has said , 'the toast I have to respond to is a most comprehensive toast , and I trust you will all feel with me the difficulty I have in responding to such a toast at the present time . Our Grand Officers , I must say , from the Earl of Carnarvon down to the

very Junior Grand Officer , have exerted themselves to the utmost of their power for an immense number of years , and I believe have done so without a single exception to the satisfaction of every brother in the Order . It is not only doing our duty to ourselves and the Order , but we are doing it to the utmost of our ability , and the Grand Officers always do it to the satisfaction of the feelings of the brethren around them . You may be quite sure

that the Grand Officers in every instance , wherever appointed , have been appointed to the satisfaction of every brother in the Order . We on certain occasions have had Princes of the Royal blood at our head . At other times we have had the highest people in the land ruling over us . We have at the present time the Earl of March as Senior Grand Warden , and a learned Judge as Junior Grand Warden . But I do not think any one would

wish for better brethren than those we have at the present time , and 1 feel confident that as long as the Order holds the position it now does , we shall never find any difficulty in finding brethren of their position to fill the offices in Grand Lodge . I am only too happy to reply for the Grand Officers , because I fed myself surrounded by the Grand Officers of England and Ireland , and we have also representatives of the Grand Lodge of Ireland in our Bro . Maxwell Close , who is a Past Grand Officer of England , and a

Provincial Grand Master in the Mark , and is one of those good working Masons who does not only come to see what is done on these great occasions , but , as he belongs to lodges in Ireland , does his duly as far as he can . I believe you will find that all Grand Masters spread over the country are doing their duty , and most of them are Past Grand Wardens ; therefore , they are thoroughly efficient in every possible way , and the work they maintain is carried out under their superintendence in a most perfectly satisfactory way , to the brethren in London

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

especially . Sometimes we have been apt to think in London that the work in the country is done in a slovenly manner , but I may say that the ceremonies as performed in London are now spreading throughout the country , and I feel that with the Provincial Grand Masters and Grand Officers we have wc shall ultimately see a system of working throughout the country which will be satisfactory , not only to us , but to all Masons . I have to thank you again for the kind manner in which you have drunk this toast , and I am very sorry I have trespassed so long on your time . ( Cheers . )

Sir HENRY EDWARDS , Bart ., Prov . G . M . for West Yorkshire : Ri ght Worshipful Master and brethren , I rise with some diffidence ' on this occasion to propose lo you a toast which I am sure will be acceptable—most acceptable —to every brother present . Our Chairman is a man well known throughout the kingdom , not only in his public capacity , but in his private life , and more particularly in his own home , where for years and years he has been

held up as a pattern for every man to follow . ( Hear , hear . ) I have had the honour of his acquaintance , brethren , now for a considerable time , I think since 1 S 64 . I think that it was in 1 S 64 w ' e m " st nlet < n the House of Commons , and from that time up to the present moment the kindest feelings , I believe , have existed between us , and I have every reason to be thankful that I have known the man so intimately . It is a credit to know a person who

has great distinction . He has been long a public servant . He was for many years , as you are all aware , " in the highest position in Ireland—Chief Secretary for Ireland—die duties of which position he administered to the satisfaction of all . I don't care what party I speak to when I say he administered his office in a satisfactory manner to everybody . After that he was Secretary to the Colonies for many years , and therefore his

experience as a public man is very great indeed , and we ought to consider it a great honour that he should come among us and preside on this occasion . Sir Michael Hicks Beach has long been , as you are all aware , abrother , and he takes the very deepest interest in Masonry , and always has done , as you are perfectly aware his cousin has , who is also very high in the Craft and justly esteemed by us all . ( Hear , hear . ) So long as we have men of this

class prepared to preside on occasions of this kind over such a numerous body as I sec before me I think we are most fortunate . Before I sit down I must congratulate myself as well as my friend on my right upon seeing such a goodly gathering from West Yorkshire . I believe West Yorkshire is represented at the centre table with Gloucestershire . I have no doubt that Gloucestershire and West Yorkshire will always

vie with one another , being now sworn brethren , which can do the most for Freemasonry . ( Hear , hear . ) I had the honour of presiding over a vast assemblage , very much the same as I see before me , in February last . It was indeed gratifying to me to see the vast assemblage from West Yorkshire I saw then before me ; but 1 ) 103 ' have come ' 1 cre to-night from north , south , east , and west . Brethren of West Yorkshire have come here not

only to congratulate you upon having such a Chairman , but to congratulate the brethren generally at the step Freemasonry is taking throughout the entire kingdom . ( Hear , hear . ) With those few remarks I beg now to propose the toast of " Our worthy President . " Long may he live , and may he do the good that he has hitherto done to Freemasonry so long . ( Cheers . ) The toast havintr been drunk ,

The CHAIRMAN said : Brethren , I . am , I can assure you , more than grateful for the kind way in which my health has been proposed and for the truly fraternal welcome which you have accorded me . My good friend and brother Sir II . Edwards has been good enough to remind you in terms far too flattering ( No ) to me of my conduct in other services , but , brethren , I remember , and I am sure that my friend will airrcc with me , that we came here to

night not as politicians ( applause ) , but as Masons ( hear , hear ) , and it is as a Mason that I accepted the invitation to preside at this gathering , believing that of all the virtues dear to the Craft , that of all the deeds which a man can do to show that he is a Mason , there is nothing better than the encouragement of charity . Brethren , I have to thank you for your attendance here this evening in such large numbers . I feared , remembering that I succeeded

His Royal Highness Prince Leopold in this chair , remembering my own unworthincss—I feared that perhaps the interests of the Charity might suffer through my presidency . So far , brethren , as your moral support is concerned you have satisfied me that we have that , and I do not doubt for a moment that your material support will complete the obligation . If I may venture for one moment I will mention my own province—1 would specially thank

in } - Gloucestershire brethren , my own dear friends and neighbours , for their kind attendance here in such numbers lo night , and for the liberal subscription to the Charily which will at a later period of the evening be announced . It does not become me as their Provincial Grand Master to boast of what they have done , but I believe it truly may be said that Gloster has done Ibis year for the Girls' School what she could , and I am convinced that if all

the Masons in England contributed as much the Girls' School would never want for heart } ' and sufficient support . Brethren , let me pass from thanks to you on my account , to pleading the cause in support of which wc have assembled here to night . I don ' t know , but it did occur to me that the toast of my health was somewhat out of order ; I thought it would have been more regular if I had tried to do my duty to the Charity , and then had

returned thanks according as I had done my duty . But you have thanked mc by anticipation . I ask you to spare me a few moments that I may urge the claims that this ancient Charity has upon your notice . I call it an ancient Charity . I do not want to make any brother feel many years older than he is , but this Charity is approaching its hundredth year of age . It has grown to be a

credit to the Order ; beginning with the education of a small number , it has educated 1254 children of members of our Craft . I am told there are 228 girls in receipt of its benefits . Brethren , I need not dilate to you upon the necessity for such an Institution as this . I need not remind you of the uncertainties of life , of the chances to which all are liable . You have but to look at the records of this Institution ; you have but to see the position in life

which some of these men once held whose children have since received its benefits ; you have but to look to these bitter facts , to feel that there is not one in this room who can be certain that in the time to come he ma )' , if he should have children , or his descendants may , have reason to be thankful for the existence of , and for his own support to , this Institution . Brethren , I will not trouble you with statistics . 1 took , at any rate , the duties of my

position , and I thought I ought so far as I could in a few hours to make myself acquainted with the circumstances of the Institution , with the character of the education given there , and with the tone of life there . Yesterday I presided at the annual distribution of prizes , and * if I may trouble you 1 should like to tell you the feeling that prevailed in my mind from what I saw . Brethren , 1 am quite satisfied of this , that you could not find a school throughout the length and breadth of England where a truly Christian , useful education is more thoroughly given than in " this Institution . I was deeply