Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

Yorkshire , when it was discovered that 200 ladies could dine in the Albert Hall . The limit that was fixed was fixed by himself ( Bro . McLeod ) . He was happy to tell the brethren that the Executive Committee yesterday unanimously approved of the course he had taken as being in the best interests of the Institution . Bro . RICHARD E VE -. The matter of that incident is now ended . It is no part of the business of the Court .

The brethren then proceeded to elect 27 boys from an approved list of 49 candidates . The following are the unsuccessful .-

Name . Votes . Name . Vote . " . Johnson , Albert Edward 2 Downing , Lewis Wilfrid 376 Broben , Gerald Grant 5 Lomer , Heinrich John 43 * McLecd , Lew ' s Arthur Alexander ... iC Edridge , William Herbert 535 Price , Edmund Roy iS Halchwell , Leonard Douglas ... 5 S 9 Hailley , Bernard 25 Chapman , Harry Frank 73 '

Dale , Wellington Trevelyan ... 3 S Cay , Elliot 794 Stiles , Malcolm Chester 122 Moir , Sydney Herbert S 24 Sherman , Harold Mackenzie ... 134 Birt , Albert Victor 120 S Nichols , Hetbert Wilfrid 225 Delahaye , William Arthur 16 43 Dorrell , Gilbert Frederick 304 Hardy , Harold Richard 1748 Taylor , Ben Harold Yabsley ... 315 Bascombe , Edgar Hardy 1976 The successful candidates will be found in our advertisement columns .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

The April Quarterly General Court of Subscribers of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls was held last Saturday in the large hall of Freemasons ' Tavern , Great Queen-street , W . C . Bro . Henry Smith , Past D . P . G . M . for West Yorkshire , P . G . D ., Past Treasurer of the Institution , and Patron , presided , and the brethren who supported him were Bros . C . E . Keyser , P . G . D . ; William

Russell , A . G . D . C . ; Major Woodall , P . G . Treas . ; Frank Richardson , P . G . D . ; A . C . Spaull , P . G . Std . Br . ; Peter de L . Long , P . G . D . ; Herbert Green ; W . C . Lupton ; W . G . Kentish , P . G . Std . Br . ; and W . F . Smithson , P . G . D . Among the other brethren present were Bros . W . H . Spaull , C . H . Webb , G . WVerry , E . Letchworth , G . Sec . ; W . Lake , A . G . Sec . ; Neville Green ; James Stephens , Dep . G . D . C . ; Benjamin Stocker , H . E . Dehane , and A . Tisley .

Bro . HEDGES ( Secretary ) having read the advertisement calling the meeting and the minutes of the Januaiy Quarterly Court , informed the brethren that Bro . Sir Reginald Hanson , M . P ., LL . D ., P . G . W ., Patron , would preside at the forthcoming I ioth Anniversary Festival of the Girls' School , but that the list of Stewards for the occasion was not equal in numbers to the usual list of Stewards for the Festival of the Girls' School . lie , therefore , hoped the brethren would enrol themselves as Stewards to support the Chairman , and that the Festival would be a great success . ( Hear , hear . )

The CHAIRMAN having put the minutes for confirmation , and echoed the appeal and hope of Hro . Hedges , Bro . FRANK RICHARDSON rose ( o move that that portion of the minutes that referred to the acceptance by the Institution of 1300 guineas given by the late George Heaton , of Heckmondwike , for the perpetual presentation of a girl to the School , be not confirmed . He said he thought it was absolutely necessary to

nonconfirm that portion of the minutes , ani that resolution he should move . He was quite satisfied in his own mind that that resolution ought not to have been put at the last meeting ; it was ultra vires , because no notice of motion of it had been given , and it was impossible for one brother to take up another brother ' s motion without his permission and alter the tenor of it . It was also to his mind necessary to non-confirm this portion of the minutes , because the brethren were in this

position—that a Special Committee of the three Institutions had met , and had unanimously decided that 1550 guineas was the proper sum to be paid for a perpetual presentation . That resolution had been approved by the Benevolent Institution and by the Boys' School , and it would be submitted to the brethren of the Girls ' School that day for their acceptance or rejection . Now , if they confirmed the minutes as a whole and accepted the 1300 guineas they would be in a very curious

position if they afterwards passed a resolution that 1550 guineas was the proper amount , and , therefore , he felt bound to move the non-confirmation of that portion of the minutes . It would be open to anybody when the resolution was put forward for the adoption of the recommendation of the Special Committee that J S 5 ° guineas be the price , to bring forward another resolution as an amendment . Bro . C . E . KEYSER , P . G . D ., in seconding the motion , said it appeared to him

to be the logical outcome of the labours of the Special Committee . The members of that Committee had a good deal of discussion on the subject of perpetual presentations , and a great amount of argument was put forward to show that the smaller sum could be accepted by 'he Institution . But there was a strong feeling at the meetings against any perpetual presentations at all . They went into all the figures and duly considered whether there was anything to induce the

Institution to take a smaller sum than that which the report of the Special Committee recommended . They looked upon it in a purely commercial point of view as to what capital sum would be required . They had taken all three Institutions into consideration , and a compromise was effected . They were not in time for the monthly meeting of the Benevolent Institution , but at ths Quarterly Court of the Boys' School on Friday they decided that 1550 guineas was

the proper sum for a perpetual presentation , and 900 guineas for a life presentation to any of the three Masonic Institutions . That was what they were asked to do by a resolution which was to be brought forward later on to-diy ; and it would appear to be stultifying themselves if they confirmed the minutes no , v which accepted 1300 guineas , and later to decide that the sum was to be 1 « o

guineas . They were all anxious to promote generosity and to do all they could to support such a Province as West Yorkshire which had done so much for the Masonic Charities ; but they felt they ought to be consistent , and not to confirm this part of the miuutes . If the brethren did not agree to the 1550 guineas they would open the whole mafter again . They were desirous to prevent competition among the Institutions .

Bro . W . F . SMITHSON , P . G . D ., opposed the non-confirmation . The subject had been in the minds of brethren for some months . Hro . Keyser had just mentioned West Yorkshire , but it was not Ihe province oi West Yorkshire which presented 1300 guineas for the Girls' School . Thc sum was given by an individual brother of that province . The Province of West Yorkshire would ultimatel y become the presenter , but it was not a donation of the province . Thc presentation Wa « to enhance the position of some good brother who had done good work in his

province . It had not stopped one farthing from the Province of West Yorkshire . 1 his generous gift at first was 1000 guneas , but the broiher on being told it would cost more than that said he would give more . It was raised again when it was objected to by some persons , but ultiinitely it was accepted by one in authority of the Girls' Institution , Sir John Monckton , who was perfectly satisfied that 1100 was sufficient . Afterwards the question was raised between tha Institutions , and a Special Committee was formed to consider the subject . The Committee met in ime to report to the January Quarterly Court . In the meantime Bro . George

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

Heaton , of Heckmondwike , who was the donor , but who , unfortunately , was now dead , raised it to 1300 guineas , and that sum was now in his ( Bro . Smithson ' s ) bank waiting to be handed over . The amount was to his mind sufficient , and it was carried at the January meeting that 1300 guineas should be accepted . Since that time they refused 1300 guineas and said it should be 1550 in the future . He was perfectly consistent in his support of the Institutions but he did think it was wrong to refuse this sum because it stopped the flow of Charity . It was given by one individual . If a brother said he would give 1500 guineas could the

Institutions afford to refuse the gift . They could not . It was no extra expense to the Institutions ; they did not have to increase their staff or to add to their expense one iota . There was room in the School to take them in , and it cost about ^ 20 or £ . 2 $ a year . They only had to maintain and clothe the girl . They would not be increasing any cost , but actually would be lowering the cost per head . He had had that matter now in hand for 12 months . Bro . George Heaton had died , and he ( Bro . Smithson ) had their money in his hands . And now , if the brethren non-confirmed those minutes , the money must be returned . He submitted that that was the way to stop the flow of Charity .

Bro . WILLIAM RUSSELL , A . G . D . C , said he intended to support the nonconfirmation of the minutes , because he was of opinion that the part of the proceedings of last Quarterly Court which it was now sought to set aside was out of order , and that it was an error of judgment . The subject was brought forward in October , 18 97 , and it was manifestly against the wishes of the subscribers that the sum of 1100 guineas should be accepted . It was then resolved to discuss the whole question , and a Special Committee was appointed . The Committee

reported , but the report was not accepted ; it was not declined , but it was referred back for a more elaborate and enlarged report . It was entirely out of order for anyone to step forward and deal with Sir John Monckton ' s motion in another way and alter the method when the first figure had not been dealt with . That was the real reason why they must refuse to confirm those minutes . There were minor reasons . That offer was made at the tail end of the meeting , when there were only 21 present in the room . It was a very small meeting , and a great number of brethren had left . It was not before those

who were in the room at the beginning . It was highly necessary that the interests of the Institutions should be safeguarded , and all should bear in mind that those who wished to be charitable must be charitable in a broad sense , and not in a narrow businesslike way , because it would detract from the character of Charit y if they dealt with it so . If they wished the Institution to take a burden that was permanent it must be rewarded in a manner that would make it certain that the Institution should not be a sufferer by . reason of the lengthened obligation it had undertaken .

Bro . Ror . F . KT MANUKL , P . M . 1196 , wished to ask the Chairman whether the ruling of the Chair at the Quarterly Court was not final , or whether there was any machinery by which the ruling of the Chairman could be revised . Bro . HENRY SMITH ( Chairman ) , replied that on the motion that the minutes be confirmed a motion could be made to non-confirm them , and this meeting had power to reject any portion of the minutes which referred to thc matter in question .

Bro . ROBERT MANUEL said but he had heard that what was done at the January meeting was out of order . His point was that if the Chairman allowed the question to be put and it was then carried had the present meeting power to alter that ? Bro . HENRY SMITH : I do not see how you cin alter the fact that such a thing took place . Bro . ROUKRT MANUEL : As a point of order , I put it . Bro . HENRY SMITH •. I looked on it as in order at the time .

Bro . ROBERT MANUEL , Then has the present meeting power to alter it ? Bro . C . E . KEYSER , P . G . D .: The minutes are put for non-confirmation ; that means that we can undo at one meeting what was done at the previous meeting . Bro . ROBERT MANUEL : If there is authority to do that , I am in favour of what has been advanced by Bro . Smithson . 1 was at the meeting . I knew nothing of what was coming before the brethren , and my recollection is , that right throughout , as Bro . Russell has said , it was a small meeting that decided it ; at no

time was it a numerous meeting . There was an animated discussion on the point . Bro . Smithson was very warm on it , and was anxious some settlement should be come to . I thought it was a fair compromise with Bro . Smithson on that occasion . He told us he was authorised to submit 1200 guineas , and finally , he submitted 1300 guineas . 1 only hope this meeting will not refuse it . It would be particularly ungra -. ious to this generous brother to vary it . As to the figures suggested in the future , 1550 guineas , I have no objection , but I do submit to this meeting that it would be extremely ungracious of us to vary it .

Bro . S . H . PARKHOUSE , P . M . 1642 : I would respectfully submit that wo should accept Bro . Smithson ' s offer as it was made ; but I would suggest that on this question of confirmation we should allow it to pass , and then vote on the other resolution . Bro . W . F . SMITHSON : I would like to say that when the motion was brought forward by Bro . Russell they could not agree on the amount to be fixed for a

perpetual presentation in the future . Thit was vetoed at once , and they accepted Bro . Monckton ' s proposition up to 1300 guineas , and it was carried . Bro . Russell had said it was a very small meeting . I know it was . But there were earnest supporters at that meeting . I sympathised with it . I have the money , and I want to get rid of it . I do not want to hand it back . The meeting was a small one ; but five or six members were out in the lobby . The motion was carried by 1 ' against 10 . I had eight supporters of my motion out in the lobby .

Bro . FRANK RICHARDSON -. All I have to say in reply is this—vye are bound to do what is right and fair for the Institution ; but we must not look at the . privi'e individual . Whatever is fair we must take . If the Committee have settled whit is fair we must bow to it . One remark of Bro . Smithson ' s I was sorry to hear , because I thought it was an improper one . He said that this sum was agreed to by one member of the Committee—Sir John Monckton . Now , Sir John Monckton

is one of my oldest friends , and a brother that 1 have got the very highest respect for , because if I was in a difficulty and wanted advice 1 should go to him for 1 ' - ; but I object to one member dictating to the whole bjdy what they should accept and what reject . Sir John Monckton has no more power than I have , or a" )' other subscriber has , and therefore if you say because Bro . Monckton has agreeu to take that sum—if you are carried away by the idea that that is lawful I tell y ou

it is not . The brethren then voted and carried the non-confirmation of the minutes ^ far as regarded the acceptance of Bro . George Heaton ' s gift of 1300 guineas lor a perpetual presentation by 33 against iS votes ; and thc other portion ol ' minuies were afterwards put and confirmed .

Bro . Sir Reginald Hanson was re-elected Treasurer . . , Bro . HKIH - - read the Report of thc Special Committee on Life . " ^ Perpetual Presentations , and the letter from Bro . Terry , announcing the a' " ' ? * ance of it by the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution if the Boys' Institutiuand the Girls' Institution adopted it . He also announced that the Quarter y Court of the Boys' Institution adopted it on Friday . ¦ . Hro . FRANK RICHARDSON , as one ofthe Sub-Committee , moved to reC , ' 1

and adopt the report of the Special Committee ' . They had had a very . meeting and carefully considered the question . They worked out the '' 8 r s r ( , j what would be the expenses to pay Ior a child in thc Schools , or for an . 'K . ^ Mason or his widow , and they came to the decision that 1550 guineas was . ^ sum for a perpetual , and 900 guineas Ior a life presentation . It had been acc -p