Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

were pleased also , and considered that such proficiency was a great credit to the School . ( Applause . ) He had , however , had more experience of elocution , and was much struck with the quiet modesty and good taste displayed by the children , and it gave him special pleasure , of course , to observe that one of the prize winners for elocution came from his own province of Gloucestershire . He should like to say a few words to the children themselves . To

those who had won prizes he would give a caution—not to be led thereby to think by this success the chief object in life was already gained . That was not so ; life was still before them , and they had still to press on , and must only look at this success as an encouragement for further effort . The unsuccessful would learn from their failure that there were ups and downs in life , and must still persevere , remembering the maxim that patience and perseverance conquer all things .

A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed this portion of the entertainment , and all adjourned to the tea rooms , where the tables , laid for some hundreds , were soon fully occupied , and a large and lively tea party were soon eating , drinking , and chatting to their hearts' content . After the rest and refreshment of the tea table , the company again assembled in the large

room , where they had spent the afternoon , to witness the calisthcnic exercises of the whole School . And a very pretty sight it is to see so large a number of girls , all dressed alike , and arranged according to their height , " from the tiny to the tall , " going through a wonderful variety of evolutions with the precision of old soldiers , but at the same lime with a gracefulness which is all their own . Three cheers for Miss Davis , the Head Governess , and the singing of the " National Anthem " brought the performances of the clay to a close .

The Constitution Of The New Lodge At Portsmouth.

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE NEW LODGE AT PORTSMOUTH .

In our last issue we gave a few particulars anent the constitution of the Prince Edward "f Saxc-Weimar Lodge , No . 1903 , which will take place on Wednesday next at the Lecture Hall , Soldiers' Institute , Portsmouth , at eleven o'clock a . m . The whole of the arrangements have now been most remarkably well completed . There are three entrances to the lodge—one in Penny-street , for Master Masons ; another in the High-street , for Past

Masters , Worshipful Masters , and Wardens ; and the chief entrance from the Officers' House , Grand Parade , for H . R . H . Bro . the Dukeof Connaught , Provincial Grand Officers , and the Grand Officers of England . All those who enter from Penny-street will be accommodated with scats in the gallery , whilst the others will be seated in the body of the hall , and no less than 800 brethren are expected to attend . A special fast train from Waterloo , only

stopping at Woking , will run to pick up H . R . H . Bro . the Duke of Connaught . On arrival at the Portsmouth Town Station , H . R . H . will be received by Bro . the Right Hon . Lord Charles Beresford , W . M . designate , and the three officers of the new lodge , and will then drive to the main entrance of the lodge . When the brethren have assembled in the lodge

room a march will be played , " Hail to our Prince , " which is composed by Bro . J . Winterbottom , Organist of the new lodge , after which the usual ceremony will be gone through . A choir , under the leadership of Bro . Winterbottom , will perform the choral portion , accompanied by Bro . G . Jones , P . G . O ., upon the harmonium .

In addition to those we have mentioned before , there are expected Bros , the Duke of St . Albans , F . arl Mount Edgcumbc , Lord Tenlerden , Admiral Sir Henry Keppel , Sir Henry Drummond Woolf , M . P ., Admiral the Hon . F . C . Foley , Captain Lord Albert Seymour , Montague Guest , M . P ., Colonel Reilly , R . H . A ., the Hon . C . G . Byng , and several officers of the Grand Lodge .

The entrances to the lodge will be guarded by a force of police , and that to the Drill Shed , Governor's Green , where the banquet will be held , by the military authorities . The banqueting room will be decorated with bunting and evergreens , and the tables with choice flowers and potted plants , most of which will be kindly lent by Major-General Sir Frederick Fitz Wygram , Bart ., from Leigh Park . On Tuesday evening , all the decorations having been completed , the rooms will be thrown open to the brethren to bring their

friends , which , no doubt , will be much appreciated . The gifts lo the new lodge by the various members amount lo a value of about £ 300 . The W . M . elect has made a magnificent present of the banner , 'jewels , regalia , including guantlets of a most superior workmanship . Up lo the present time over 600 tickets have been issued for the ceremony of constitution , but it is expected by the time the returns have been received b 3 ' the honorary Secretary ( Bro . A . L . Emanuel ) the number will be nearer Soo . The tickets for the banquet have been limited , and only a few more are lo be had .

Prov. Grand Lodge Of Gloucestershire.

PROV . GRAND LODGE OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE .

INSTALLATION OF SIR MICHAEL HICKS BEACH , BART . On Thursday , the 12 lh inst ., an event was witnessed in Gloucestershire that had not occurred for more than a quarter ol a century , viz ., the installation of a Provincial Grand Master . In 18 , 56 Gloucestershire became a province under the Right Worshipful Bro . the Right Hon . Lord Sherborne , who appointed Bro . George Frederick Newmarch his "Very Worshipful

Deputy , and under his guidance the province has flourished until the present time . Lord Sherborne , from increasing age and a desire for rest , recently announced his intention of resigning his high office , and his determination was speedily followed by the resignation of his Deputy , Bro . Newmarch . On Thursday , the 12 th inst ., the brethren assembled in great force at the Shirehall , Gloucester , to witness the installation of , and do honour to , their new

chief , Bro . the Right Hon . Sir Michael E . Hicks Beach , M . P . The assembly was a most brilliant one , and numbered from fioo to 700 brethren . Amongst the officers from the Grand Lodge of England were Bros . Col . Shadwell II . Clcrkc , G . Sec ; Capt . N . G . Philips , P . G . D . ; Frank Richardson , P . G . D . ( who , being President of the Board of Stewards at the festival of which Bro . Sir Michael Hicks Beach is to lake the chair , attended

on behalf of that body ); H . T . Somerville Burney , P . G . D . ; Rev . Chas . J . Martyr , P . G . Chap . ; H . C . Levander , G . D . C . ; f . B . Cook , G . A . D . C ; Edward Payne , P . G . D . ; Rev . C . R . Davy , P . G . Chap . ; Henry Tombs , P . G . D . ; K . l . etchwaith , G . S .-, Joseph S . Gee , P . G . S . of W . ; Frederick Binckes , G . S . ; and Bros . Russell lames Kerr , P . P .

G . S . ; George Rennie Powell , P . P . G . R . ; James Payne Curtis , P . P . G . D . C ; L . White , P . P . G . S . W . ; L . Millman , P . P . G . P . ; F . li . Sellors , P . P . G . P . ; Ralph Chandler , P . P . G . S . D . ; Frederick J . Blake , P . P . G . S . D . ; H . J effs , P . P . G . j . W . ; Baron de Fcrricres , M . P , P . P . G . R . ; Col . Basevi , P . G . R ., P . P . D . M . Punjaub ; W . P . Want , P . P . G . J . D . ; John Walker , M . A ., P . G . S . W . ; E . T . . Bryant , P . G . D . C . ;

Prov. Grand Lodge Of Gloucestershire.

William Warman , P . G . J . W . ; Edward Crossman , P . P . G . D . C . ; V . E Hudson , P . P . G . S . W . ; E . D . Worsley , P . P . G . S . of W . ; Frederick W . Fisher , P . P . G . S . of W . ; and H . S . Crump , P . P . D . C . In the unavoidable absence of the Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom , Dep . G . M ., whose attendance was prevented by domestic affliction , the ceremony of installation was performed b y Bro . W . W . Beach , M . P ., P . G . M . of Hampshire and Isle of Wisjht .

The Right Worshipful P . G . M . designate having been presented by the Board appointed , he was addressed by the INSTALLING MASTER in feeling terms . He stated the pleasure he derived from the fact that he had some twenty-five years since first initiated the Prov . G . M . designate into the mysteries of the Order . From a Masonic li ght , the address was an admirable one , and met with the unmistakeable approval of the brethren assembled .

The following were the officers appointed to take part in the proceedings at the opening of the Grand Lodge and filled the respective chairs : Bros W . H . Gwinnett , P . M ., Past Prov . G . S . W ., S . W . ; T . Nelson Foster , P . M ., Past Prov . G . S . W ., J . W . ; H . Godfrey , P . M ., Past Prov . S . G . W . ; S . D . ; W . P . Want , P . M ., Past Prov . J . G . W ., J . D . ; H . Kynaston ,

Past Prov . G . C ., Chap . ; Russell J . Kerr , P . M ., Past Prov . G . S . W .. Dir of Cer . ; E . H . Edgell . P . M ., Past Prov . G . J . D ., John Bryan , P . M ., ' Past Prov . G . J . D ., E . D . Worsley , P . M ., Past Prov . G . Sup . of Works , and Bro . C . Tudway , P . M ., Past Prov . G . D . C ., Asst . Dirs . of Cer . ; J . S . Oliver , P . M ., Past Prov . G . S . B ., Swd . Br . ; C . Harford Lloyd , Past Prov . G . Org ., Org . ; and T . Cadle , P . M ., Past . Prov . G . P ., Purst .

The Right Worshipful P . G . M ., Bro . Sir Michael Hicks Beach , M . P ., having been duly installed , was most heartily greeted . Having paid a most graceful tribute to Bro . George F . Newmarch ' , the Past P . D . G . M ., he proceeded lo obligate as his Deputy Bro . J . Brooke Smith , the appointment being most warmly received by the brethren .

Bro . G . F . NEWMARCH , P . P . D . G . M ., next proposed Bro . W . H . Gwinnett as Treasurer for the province , and Bro . RUSSELL KERR having seconded the proposition , it was carried unanimously . The Right Worshipful P . G . M . then proceeded to appoint the following officers for the ensuing year : Bros . W . E . Price , G . S . W . ; W . A . Sole , G . J . W . ; J . O . Millar ) G . Chap . ; Cranstown Kerr , G . R . ; E . Trinder , G . S . ; J . Brunton , G . S . D . ; Greenfield , G . J . D . ; J . Nayswith , G . S . Works ; E . Gregory , G . D . C . ; Peltifer , G . A . D . C ; C . H . Lloyd , G . O .: K . Kimber , G . P .

The roll of the lodges was then called . The province comprises : The Foundation , founded 1753 ; Royal Union , dated 1 S 13 ; Ro ) -al Faith and Friendship , 17 S 9 ; Royal Lebanon , 1 S 44 ; Colteswold , 1851 ; Sherborne , 1857 ; St . John , 1 S 58 ; Royal Gloucestershire , 1 S 61 ; Sympathy , 1 S 61 ; Si . George , 1862 ; Prince of Wales , 1863 ; Zetland , 1864 ; Royal Forest of Dean , 1866 ; and the Tyndall , 1871 .

The bye-laws having been approved and the Treasurer ' s account passed , the Charity Committee ' s report was read by the Hon . Sec , Bro . Col . BASEN , P . P . G . R . The report showed the province lo be in a flourishing condition , contributing so much as £ 1136 to the charitable institutions during the Masonic year . Gloucestershire now stands second in the average number of votes per lodge . It was announced that at the Festival of the

Girls' School , at which Sir Michael Hicks Beach will preside , the province will be represented by Stewards whose list already shows a sum of over / 700 towards that Institution , and on the motion of the V . W . D . P . G . M ., Bro . J . BROOKE SMITH , the sum of £ 35 was voted from the P . G . L . to the same object . A proposal was next made that a minute be made of the hi gh estimation held by the brethren of the Lord Sherborne and of George F .

Newmarch , the R . W . P . G . M ., and V . W . D . P . G . M . of the province ? The proposal was received with unanimous favour by the brethren . Before the close of the proceedings a formal presentation of an original copy of the Book of Constitutions , rebound in morocco , garter blue , and gold , and enclosed in a case of walnut wood , lined with purple velvet , was made by Bro . Henry Jeffs lo the Provincial Grand Master , which Sir Michael

Hicks Beach was pleased to accept . The book is scarce , and to bibliophilists valuable , being Anderson ' s and Desagulier ' s edition of 1723 , and of the first official issue sanctioned by warrant of Grand Lod ge . There was in 1772 an informal issue of the old regulations in a copy of a M . S . Constitution . The book presented to the Prov . Grand Master contained the following

, printed in old English , on a fly-leaf : — " Presented with the respectful and fraternal regards of Brother Henry Jeffs , Past Master No . 1005 , to Brother the Right Honourable Sir Michael E . Hicks Beach , Bart ., ' M . P ., on his installation as the Right Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master for Gloucestershire , 1 S 81 . "

1 he brethren , to the number of upwards of 300 , afterwards sat down to a banquet in the Corn Exchange , under the presidency of the P . G . M . The usual toasts were briefly proposed , that of " The Grand Lodge of England" being coupled with the names of Bros , the Rev . C . R . Davy and Col . Shadwell H . Clcrkc . Both responded , the reverend brother stating , in mat uranci i

a Humorous speecu , me . oclge always endeavoured to do its duty , but he believed that it never did ' it more thoroughly than when they appointed Sir Michael Hicks Beach to preside over the ' destinies of the Gloucestershire province .

1 he Provincial Grand Master , in response to the toast of his health , said that he was bound to admit that when first it was suggested to him that he might hope to succeed Lord Sherborne , lie shrank from the task . He did not forget that he had been before them as a member of one political party , and he trusted that as a member of that party he had never feared to speak his mind . He feared , therefore , that

his appointment might not have been satisfactory to all , and might not have conduced to that harmony which should characterise Freemasonry , but the kind expressions which had come from every side and party—( torn quarters from which he could not have anticipated any such kindness or welcome ¦ were such that he felt it his duly 10 accept the office of P . G . M . He felt from those evidences of good feeling- and from the large assembl y of brethren that he could ever rely upon their co-operation in ihc work of the

province . He should not forget the address of the Installing Master , and he should not forget that it was his duly to acquaint himself by visiting ' with the working of the various lodges . 1 Ic hoped during this and the following year to visit each and every lodge . He had set his eye on three , and they had better prepare . ( Laughter . ) They were the Dursley Lodge , the Royal Lebanon Lodge , and the Tyndall Lodge , Chi pping Sodbury . ( Applause . ) He again thanked the brethren for their reception , and sat down amidst loud cheers .

"The Installing Master , " " The Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Lord Sherborne , " "The Visitors , " and other toasts followed , and were all drunk with enthusiasm . The proceedings were considerably enlivened by a musical programme by brethren who were ccomoanied by the P . G . Organist .