The Recent School Elections.

the number issued for this election was 95 , 279 votes , making a total available of 109 , 44 8 . Tbe poll mustered altogether 101 , 423 votes , so that , omitting those brought forward , there were 8023 votes unused or spoiled . We are glad to note in

conclusion that our urgent appeals on behalf of the six boys , who if they failed on this occasion would have their names removed from the list , were so far successful that five succeeded in winning places , while only one failed . -We should have gladly

seen the whole of them included among the winners of vacancies , but even the incomplete success which has been achieved amounts to a result with which we have every reason to be gratified . The election of children into

THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS took place on Saturday last , the poll closing precisely at 3 p . m . There were in all 26 candidates , of whom one-half had stood one or more ballots and the other half were new applicants , and

15 vacancies , London furnishing six of the former , and having a part interest in the success of three others , while the Provinces and Abroad contributed the remaining 17 . The girl who headed the poll with 5247 votes , all obtained on this

occasion , hailed ,-in the lirst instance , from Kent , but had , likewise , claims upon Malta , London , and Hants and the Isle of Wight , while the second in order , who was also fresh to the experiences of the ballot , was wholly Provincial , but with claims on thc two

Provinces of Dorsetshire , and Hampshire and the Isle of Wight . She was a long way behind No . i , but her votes reached the high figure of 4 6 43 . One of the two applicants from Essex took the third place , with 4 641 votes polled at this meeting , and was

followed by one of the six London girls , who brought forward 2561 votes from the elections in 18 97 , and increased that total to 4590 . The next on the list hailed from the District of Bengal . She was a candidate at both elections last year , obtaining 2522 j

votes , her ultimate total being 4535 ; had she failed , her name j would have been removed from the list . Thc sixth in order , who came from North and East Yorkshire , made her first attempt on Saturday last , and as she polled 45 I 9 votes , her name will be

transferred from the list of candidates to the list of pupils . The winner of the seventh vacancy had the large number of 28 73 votes in hand from three previous elections , and , as she had only this chance remaining , the brethren from North Wales and the Western Division of South Wales—who had charge of her

interests—raised a further 165 , and augmented her total to 450 S . The girl who stood eighth hailed from Shropshire , and had thc good fortune to succeed at her first attempt wilh 4206 votes , the Suffolk girl immediately following , who brought forward

8 7 8 votes , polling in all 4149 . A new London candidate was close up wilh 4114 votes , and was followed by the girl whose case has recently formed the subject of sundry letters in our correspondence columns . She had claims on brethren in Bengal , Kent ,

Northumberland , London , and Essex , and , as this was her last chance , her friends worked wilh so hearty a goodwill , that thc 808 votes standing to her credit at the opening of the proceedings , were altered to 4107 by the time the voting was over .

Nos . 12 and 13 , both new candidates and both from the Provinces , polled respectively 4064 votes and 4005 votes , tlie former hailing from Leicestershire and Rutland , and the latter from South Wales ( E . D . ) No . 14 , from the Western Division of

South Wales , brought forward 8 77 votes from the two elections of last year , and finished up thc day with 3770 votes , while the last to secure a vacancy was a London applicant , who started with 1080

votes in hand , and finished with 3 609 votes . Another London girl who had 1555 already to her credit when the poll was opened was very close up and heads thc list of unsuccessful children with 3349 votes , there being three girls from

Northumberland and Durham , Essex , and Kent and London , who polled upwards of 2000 votes , vwhile four polled under 2000 but over lono , and the remaining three 9 89 , 726 , and 494 votes , respectively . Thus three out of llie six Jjondon girls and two out of

the three in which she had a part interest have secured vacancies , thc remaining 10 who succeeded being all of them from the Provinces and Abroad . As regards the last cases they were four in number and we rejoice that all will be received into the

The Recent School Elections.

School in due course . Our appeal , therefore , was not in vain . As for the votes , there were 14 , 247 brought forward from October last and 75 , 892 issued for the election , making a total of 90 , 139 available , but only 68 , 912 of the votes issued passed the scrutineers , the remaining 6 9 80 being unused or spoiled .

Perpetual And Life Presentations.

PERPETUAL AND LIFE PRESENTATIONS .

It is satisfactory to know that the question of Perpetual and Life Presentations has been virtually settled . It had long been felt that the prices originally fixed for these two classes of Presentations were no longer a fair equivalent for the privileges

secured . In 1870 , when Perpetual Presentations were sanctioned , 1000 guineas was not an unreasonable sum to pay for thc privilege of having perpetually one duly qualified boy or girl maintained , clothed , and educated in the Girls' or Boys'

Institution . The rate of interest was higher and the advantages secured not as costly as they are now . A few years since , the Boys'School raised thc amount payable to 1200 guineas , and quite recently the Girls' School followed suit and were prepared

to accept 1300 guineas . In 188 7 Perpetual Presentations were instituted in connection with the Widows' Fund of the Benevolent Institution , the amount accepted for an annuity of £ 32 in perpetuity to one duly qualified widow being 1060 guineas , while a

few years later a similar privilege in connection with thc Male Fund was secured on payment of 1200 guineas . It was , however , generally felt lhat these amounts were insufficient , while at thc same time it was recognised as most undesirable that

anything in the nature of a competition among our Institutions for these perpetual or life privileges should be allowed . When , therefore , a short while since an offer of 1100 guineas was made to the Girls' School for a Perpetual Presentation , it

was wisely determined to refer the subject of Presentations to a Special Committee , to which the other two Institutions were invited to send representatives . The Report of this Committee was not deemed satisfactory , and

the whole question was referred back to them for further consideration and report , the terms of reference being in this case enlarged so as to include Life Presentations as well . The result of their further deliberations was laid before the Quarterly

General Court of the Boys School on Friday , the 15 th instant , and on motion duly made and seconded it was unanimously agreed that for the future , " until further resolved , the amount lo be accepted by either of the Institutions for a Perpetual

Presentation should be 1550 guineas , and for a Life Presentation 900 guineas , and that in the latter case it should not be granted upon a Life under 21 years of age . " A similar resolution was unanimously adopted at the Quarterly General Court of the Girls '

School on Saturday last , while at the meeting of the Committee of Management of the Benevolent Institution on Wednesday , the 13 th inst , thc recommendations of the Special Joint Committee were accepted unanimously , but subject to thc condition

that the other two Institutions accept them likewise . Thus as each of the three Institutions is prepared to adopt the Committee's recommendations , wc may reasonably look upon the question as being within measurable distance of being settled .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The Quarterly meeting of the Subscribers to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys was held on Friday , the 15 th inst ., at Freemasons'Tavern , Great Queensi reet . Bro . Richard Eve , P . G . Treas ., Patron and Trustee , was elected to the chair , and supporting him the following brethren had seats on the dais : Bros . 1 . E . Le Feuvre , Major Woodall , C . Hudson , Stanley J . Attenborough , Henry

Smith , . ] . Strachan , Q . C , E . Margrett , Major Oliver Papworth , C . E . Keyser , Harry llevin , Prov . G . Sec . Wilts ; A . C . Spaull , J . W . Burgess , W . Russell .

Prov . G . Treas . Kent ; and James Willing . The meeting was vciy numercusly atlended . Bro . J . M . MCLKOD , Secretary , having read the advertisement convening t " meeting , the minutes of the January Quarterly Meeting were also read by I ""' nd confirmed by the brtlhien . The minutes of Council meetings of June 2 ' '

February 25 th , and March 25 th were then read by Bro . McLeod for the ' formation of the brethren . . hat llro . MCLKOD announced , before liro . Russell proceeded with his motion , ' it would be as well to inform the meeting that he had received another letter lr b . .. . . . . the lu

Bro . Hedges th- > n the one he had already read , under date , April 14 W 1 _ j effect that he had just received from Bro . James Terry copy of a resolution arri