Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

The Quarterly Court of the Governors and Subscribers f this Institution was held on Saturday last at the Freemasons' Hall , Bro . Lieut .-Col . J . Creaton , Vice-patron , in ' cnair . There were likeyvise present Bros . Geo . Jeffery , W Grabham , Richard H . Forward , H . Browse , George 00 . '„ inhn Bovd . . 1 . L . Hine . C . A . Cottebrune , Isaac

Wilcox Samuel Geo . Alyers , John B . White , Thos . W . White , A . IL Tattershall , R . B . Webster , E . F . Storr , Thos . fames , W . H . Radley , Edivard Harris , Capt . John Wordsworth , W . H . B . Tomlinson , H . A . Dub ' . is , Thos . u Waterworth , Alfred Partridge , Edyv . Spooner , H . S . Tverman , E . H . Hewett , H . Hacker , J . Wordsworth , ricpnh Clever , John Bodenham , Dr . Ramsay , Charles

Godtschalk , Geo . Phythian , Hyde Pullen , George Kenning , , j ,. Russell , F . R . Eames , J . J . Berry , Thos . Francis Peacock , Charles Lacey , W . Adamson , John Johnston , Wm . Roebuck , Thos . J . Sabine . V . P ., T . Davies Seyvell , W . Alann , W . Buck , Joseph Smith , William Hale , Geo . Wilson , H . AI . Levy , F . W . It . Vine , James Terry , John G . Stevens , J . E . Walton ,

Wm . Lane , Jas . Horwood , John Vaughan , Heather R - n-g- ' , Wm . F . C . Moutrie , Dr . W . R . Woodman , T . Allen- Chas . Jardine , Henry Smith , J . Hamilton Townend , Herbert Dicketts , F . G . Baker , W . Mason , George Neall , A . Weston , John Thompson , J . Jonas , B . H . Swallow , W . H . G . Rudderforth , Frederick Adlard , E . Ludworth , John Faulkner , Vincent Ambler , AI . D ., F . B .

D . ivage , Brackstone Baker , Edw . Cox , H . Alassey (" Freemason" ) , John Read , R . W . Hedges , H . G . Warren , Benj . Head , H . Aluggeridge , E . S . Snell , John Emmens , Cipt . Philips , F . Binckes , G . M . E . Snow , 1 * . H . Ebsyvorth , Raynham W . Stewart , Alfred II . Diaper , H . Potter , D . Betts , Thos . Meggy , Chas . Greenwood , AI . S . Larlham , John Symonds , A . D .

Loeyvenstark , L . Finch , Rev . A . I-. A . Woodford , and R . Wentworth Little , Sec . After the minutes had been read , Col . Creaton said that the next business on the paper being a matter personal to himself , he would leave it to

some other brother to move in it . Bro . H . A . Dubois moved , " That instructions be given yvith reference to signing cheques in connection with the neyv Duildings , and that Col . Creaton be authorised to sign such cheques as Chairman of the Building Committee . " Bro . Samuel Rayvson seconded the motion .

A slight discussion , originated by Bro . J . Symonds , took place with reference to the Building Committee , yvhich Bro . Symonds contended was only a portion of the House Committee , nominated by that body . The discussion , however , came to nothing , and Col . Creaton said that there yvas no question as to there being a Building Committee , as it was resolved by the

I louse Committee that there should be a Building Committee . At a meeting of that Committee , he ( Col . Creaton ) yvas elected permanent Chairman . The motion was then put and carried . Col . Creaton said the next business yvas thc consideration of a motion , notice of which stood in his name . He believed it was yvell understood by all of the brethren that

the Collector of the Institution , Bro . Aluggeridge , had resigned his office in consequence of failing health . Bro . Muggeridge had held the office for a period of 20 years with very great credit to himself and also yvith very great satisfaction to the brethren . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) Now that he had become , he might say , older , and his health was failing , he ( Col . Creaton ) thought that the least thc

brethren could do yvas to give Bro . Aluggeridge some substantial mark of their recognition of his past services . ( Hear , hear . ) It " , was quite unnecessary that he should say much to thc brethren on the point , because they all knew liro . Aluggeridge as well as he did . He yvould therefore move , "That in consideration of the services rendered by Bro . II . Muggeridge , Collector , for upwards of 20 years

lie be awarded a retiring pension of £ 150 per annum . " ( Cheers . ) Bro . Raynham W . Stewart seconded the motion , and in doing so said he bad known Bra Muggeridge ' s good qualities and his efficiency in the discharge of his duties . I le had supported him in his election , and now felt great

pleasure in seconding Bro . Col . Creaton ' s motion , for nro . Muggeridge thoroughly deserved the proposed recognition of his efforts on behalf of the Institution . ( Great cheering . ) The motion was carried unanimously amidst great applause .

Lol . Creaton then proposed that the said pension should commence from 1 st January next . ( Applause ) . Bro . Muggeridge , yvho had left the room before the motion was brought on , was here called in , and was reccived with loud and long continued applause .

v-. <~ reaton , addressing Bro . Aluggeridge , said he had * y great pleasure , and he was sure every one in that id °° h d '" that P leasure * in informing Bro . MuggerwPi ! h ' / Court had unanimously carried the motion ™ icn he ( Col . Creaton ) had given notice of , that he ( Bro . 'Uggerid ge ) should receive Tiso a vear for the remainder

m ™ t aS a retirin S pension , and that it would comence irom thc 1 st of January . He did not think it was eessary to ask Bro . Aluggeridge to say anything . loud 1 h . S ? endge , who was quite overcome with the assUi 1 n " which fo " ° wed this short address , was then s " sted out of the room . rr- — " — - IUKUII

, ham w c ' business was * e consideration of Bro . Rayn-T Th Stewa " 's motion : an addiH " l of Co ! ' « tor be not filled up , but that Ami . 1 rk be a PP inted to assist the Secretary . " as tothe p . ? the Re P ° t ° f the Committee of Inquiry Bro H H eCt ° rsh , p ' naAy tor Presentation . 'nittee ' aln - f / f ad the iM ° ™ S report of the Comc-cr ^ ikKr subject of the ° fflce ot

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

1 st . That the office of Collector be abolished . 2 nd . That the duties of Collector be discharged in the Secretary ' s office . 3 rd . That a second clerk be appointed in the Secretary ' s office . 4 th . That the salaries of thc clerks in the Secretary ' s office be as follows : —Senior , £ 140 ; Junior , £ zo .

Bro . Raynham Stewart in bring on his motion said that the Committee had , without his knoyving it , come to nearly the same conclusion as he had himself . He thought that the collection of the subscriptions should be managed in the office , and be under the control of the Secretary . For this purpose they should have additional assistance , because there , was already a great deal of yvork in

the office . But his great object m giving his notice of motion yvas that there were very many complaints that he heard from brethren of commission having to be paid on large sums of money yvhich never passed through the hands of the Collector at all . Some £ 10 , 000 or £ 12 , 000 a year was paid in , and out of this only £ 2000 went through the Collector ' s hands . It was said upon that , by the brethren ,

why should they pay on the whole amount a sum as commission which might go for the benefit of the Institution ? He thought that the Collector's place should not be filled up , but that additional clerks should be nominated If £ 12 , 000 was paid into the Secretary ' s office there must

be additional labour in making out the receipts , sending the voting papers , & c . He hoped the brethren yvould agree with him , and make an experiment of his plan . If it did not at the end ofj " a twelvemonth turn out to their satisfaction , theyi-could then alter it . ( Hear hear . ) Bro . H . A . Dubois seconded the motion .

Bro . Dr . Ramsay thought it dcsi r able that the Secretary should tell them what the sums formerly paid into his office were . No doubt they had considerably increased . What also were the duties which would occupy the proposed additional clerk while he was not collecting . Bro . Little said he thought one of the greatest proofs of the increase of the work in the office had just been stated .

In the four years ending 1872 only £ 21 , 000 had been received , of which the Collector brought in two-thirds . During the subsequent , 3 *{ - years £ 33 , 000 had come in , and of this over £ 18 , 000 had passed direct through the Secretary ' s hands . He need scarcely say there was a vast amount of correspondence connected with the receipt of

such a sum . The lists had to be made up , and frequently 100 receipts had to be given for the sums on one list . All this work had to be performed in the office . It had been his impression for some years past that if he were to ask Steyvards to send moneys to him a large amount which was now received by the Collector yvould come to the office yvithout the intervention of the Collector .

Bro . B . Head asked whether the Secretary yvould be kind enough to say howmuch he had paid for extra work last year . Bro . Little replied that they paid for no extra work excepting for making out and sending the balloting papers , yvhich cost £ 5 . The other institutions , hoyvever , had the same expense .

Bro . Joseph Smith , P . G . P ., thought that before they made this proposed great change they ought to know hoyv it was made out that the salaries were to be paid to the additional clerk , how the change yvould work , and whether the same amount of money yvould be got in—yvhethcr the brethren would bring the money to the office which they were in the habit of paying the collector . For himself he did not

think they would get half the money they did before . A Collector yvho had nothing else to depend upon but his commission was very vigilant , and would call upon brethren several times . Brethren yvho did not want him to wait on them yvould send a cheque . But if the ncwlyrproposcd official yvas paid a salary instead | of commission he yvould not have the same inducement to be active . Where

yvould all the taxes be if collectors yvere not employed , and how much would ever be paid if they depended on people taking them to the offices . Before he voted for Bro . Stewart ' s motion he yvished to knoyv what the clerk was to receive , and what were his proposed duties . Bro . H . G . Warren thought the new step was suicidal . They had been informed that £ 18 , 000 had been paid into

the office , and £ 14 , 000 to the Collector . The Collector should be paid on what he received only . If it yvas found that the commission on this would not pay the Collector , let it be raised to a small extent , and let all assistance be given to the office that could be given by having an extra clerk if it was necessary . This yvas better than doing ayvay altogether with the Collector . Having a Collector yvould

produce greater results than brethren yvere aware of . It frequently happened when a Collector called that the brother on whom he called would ask him if he knew Bro . So and So , and if he did not know him yvould tell him to call on such brother and mention his name to him , and ask him for a subscription because he knew he would subscribe . He ( Bro . Warren ) had had considerable experience in

charities , and he had always seen that yvithout a Collector they never got their money in well . For seven years he acted as honorary secretary of an institution which was started with nothing a year , and which now had £ 5000 a year . They employed a collector , and what was the result ? He himself , as secretary , had to be out three or four mornings weekly , his mornings not being of any

value to him ; but that was not what they could ask the secretaries of any society to do , and especially the Secretary of a society of such magnitude as the Alasonic Institutions . He believed nothing could be worse for institutions than not to have a collector . Give all the assistance in the office they liked , * further , Jet them pay a commission

to a Collector , and when the Secretary wanted additional assistance in the office , let him call off the Collector and pay him for the assistance he gave in the office . But let them not do away with the Collector . The very name on the front page of their books was an advantage , and of greater necessity than they thought for . Every one knew

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

the name of the Collector ; but every man did not remember the name of the Secretary or the place to go to . . The Collector's name came before a man three or four times in the course of the year , his card being left each time he called . Even his ( Bro . Warren's ) oivn subscriptions would not always be paid if he did not get gentle reminders , and he yvas not singular in that respect . He said he should

conclude by opposing the motion . Bro . the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford wished permission to say a few words on the other point which pressed upon other brethren in the same way as it did upon him . He was formerly connected with a large province yvhich greatly supported the charities of the Order . Alany of the brethren present would confirm him when he said that one of

the great objections and complaints was , that where subscriptions were raised in the provinces , bona fide for the charities , a commission on them was paid to a collector in London , who had nothing whatever to do with the matter . Many brethren in the provinces gave great care and attention and spent much time in collecting money for our institutions ; and after they had paid the money

they were told that a commission on it yvas paid to the collector . ( A Voice : That clearly is -wrong . ) If by any arrangement that could be made this ( to use a vulgar expression ) system of " sweating" the provincial returns could be stopped , a great deal might be said in favour of the appointment of a Collector . It appeared , however , to him , with due submission to Bro . Warren that

the proposal of the Committee was good as a tentative measure . If it did not work , and the prognostications of Bro . Warren were found to be true , there would be no difficulty in going back to the old system . They might try it for twelve months . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) Bro . John Symonds said it had been a complaint for a long time past that commission yvas paid on money sent

direct to the office . If they would be sure of getting a Collector like Bro . Muggeridge , by all means let them have one . Bro . Aluggeridge took to the collection from the interest he felt in the Institution , and the Institution benefitted by it . When he took to it the subscriptions were small , but Bro . Muggeridge never complained . Noyv there was a growing tendency to send the subscriptions

direct to the office ot the Secretary . What was the result of that if they said the Collector was to have no commission on it ? Why , the Collector wonld have to go after all the single guineas , the difficult ones to collect , and while the Institution yvas increasing in prosperity , the Collector would have his emoluments diminishing . He would have all the trouble of calling three or four times to the

East of London to collect a single guinea ; after all , the guinea might be sent to the office , and the Collector would get nothing for it . He thought this might be remedied by the entire responsibility of the collection on the Secretary . It was not intended that the proposed additional clerk should be the Collector , but that he should be for the work of the office .

A Brother said it seemed an anomaly to pay commission to a Collector for work he had not done . Bro . Warren ' s proposition might be altered so as to make commission payable on London sums , but not on moneys sent to th * office . Bro . Warren ' s idea was that commission should be paid on the sums collected by the Collector , and for this

purpose it would be better to give him 6 or 7 \ per cent , than 5 per cent , on money with which he had nothing to do . If the Collector was done away with , in twelve months the Institution would lose £ 1000 . There would be no real authority if any and every clerk yvas delegated to do the

duties of Collector . Let it be one man , and there let it stand . Bro . Thos . W . White said that the intention of the Committee yvas to recommend that the collection should be put in charge of the Secretary , who was to send a clerk out to collect ; in other yvords , to arrange for the

collection . Bro . H . Smith ( West Yorkshire ) said his province sent up large sums , never less than a few hundreds . Was it right they should be taxed ? Let the Collector who really collected the money have 5 or 10 per cent , for it . He yvas in favour of the motion as a tentative proposal . In answer to the ouestion . Rrn . Little iairl rhe rVilli . ofn ..

now received commission on four different scales , and a great anomaly was created . The Chairman said the question now was as to the abolition of the office . The commission to be paid could be settled afterwards . Ultimately an amendment by Bro . Joseph Smith , seconded bv Bro . Lew . was carried that a . committee he

appomted to go into the whole subject and report to a Special Court . Bros . Raynham W . Stewart , H . G . Warren , John Symonds , Joseph Smith , W . Hale , D . betts , Dr . Ramsay , S . Rawson , and Col . Creaton were appointed as the committee . Bro . the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford moved , and Bro . Raynham W . Stewart seconded , that the reoort be made to a

Special Court , and this having been carried , the election of eight girls was proceeded with . The Scrutineers appointed were Bros . A . H . Tattershall , R . is . Webster , Thos . W . White , Major Finney , Raynham . W . Stewart , J . J . Berry , Dr . Woodman , Dr . Sewell , H .

C . Levander , L . S . Tyerman , S . Rawson , J . Jardine , Hyde Pullen , Capt . Wordsworth , and John Boyd , The names of the successful candidates will be found in our advertisement columns . Votes of thanks to the Scrutineers and Chairman concluded the proceedings .

After the ceremony of the presentation of the Elcho Shield at Guildhall on Saturday , there was a banquet at the Mansion House Station Restaurant , at which Mr . Wells , M . P ., presided . The toast of "The English Eights " was proposed by Captain Field , of the Hon Artillery Company .