West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution.

WEST LANCASHIRE MASONIC EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION .

SUGGESTED IMPORTANT EXTENSION OK ADVANTAGES . At a recent meeting of the Couit of Governors of the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution , held at Liverpool , an influential committee was appointed to

consider certain suggestions made by Bro . Richard Brown , P . P . G . Treasurer , formerly one of the lion . Secretaries of the Charity , with the view of greatly extending its scope and sphere of usefulness and beneficial working . The Institution has for many years done an amount of good educational woik in the cases of the children of distressed and deceased Freemasons not attempted by any other

Masonic province in England . Last year upwards of £ 1200 were spent in the education , clothing and advancement in life of no fe . ver than 165 children ( boys and girls ) , and the Institution , notwithstanding this outlay , is happily possessed of an accumulated reserve capital of nearly £ 17 , 000 . Bro . Brown , who has long taken the deepest and warmest interest in the " West Lancashire , " holds the

opinion that the governors are warranted in making an extension of its advantages , and the special committee met on Friday evening the iSth inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Hope-street , Liverpool , to consider the matter . There were present at the meeting Bro . R . Robinson , P . P . G . Reg . ( in the chair ) , Bros . R . Brown , P . P . G . T . ; R . Martin , P . M . 11 S 2 one of the honorary secretaries of the Institution

J . T . Callow , Hon . Treas . ; George Morgan , P . M . 1035 ; H . H . Smith , K . Bagot , and others . The scheme of extension which the special committee was organised to consider was mentioned in a letter written by Bro . Brown , addressed to the ofiicers and members of the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution . In this letter Bro . Brown said : — " Although I am no longer

officially connected with the Educati jnal Institution attached to this province , I naturally feel a- sincere interest in its future welfare ; and I desire to place before you a subject that has long occupied my thoughts , and which , had health been spared me , would probably ere this have been brought beforeyouby myself in my official capacity . I have thought for some time past , and my idea is suppoited by many of

the brethren , that it would be very desirable to extend the benefits of the charity by undertaking the entire maintenance of some of the children . You are aware that at present we educate and , where required , clothe these children . The part of our operations relating to the clothing of the children has only been arranged within the last year ro two , but it has been found to act most beneficially .

If anything could inspire al-reemason to action it would be the perusal of a telegram that I recently found on the floor of the Masonic Hall , Hope-street , dated iGth October , 1 SS 2 , which ran as follows : — " From Robert Wylie , Freemasons' Hall , London . To J . T . Callow , Masonic Hall , 22 , Hops-street , Liverpool . '

Bowes unsuccessful by sixty votes , including your proxy . " That the son of an active Freemason like the late Bro . Bowes , of Warrington , who , I have reason to know , devoted himself largely to the interests of the West Lancashire Institution , should be shut out of the Boys' School in London , is a circumstance that demands our serious consideration ; and I think I shall be able to show

that in this province wc have thc power in our own hands to prevent such a contretemps in the future . In further preface I should like to explain that if what I am about to say seem antagonistic to the London Charities , it will not be because I desire this should be so , but because under the peculiar circumstances referred to I think we should review our position , and , whilst not saying a word

against the operations of the London Charities , or thenmethod of conducting the business , put into the operation the adage we have adopted as pioneers in the greatest Alasonic Charity connected with a province , which tells us that * ' Charity begins at home . " In urging the adoption of a plan whereby we can maintain as well as clothe and educate our children , the first question that naturally arises is , " Can we afford it . ' " By the last report ( 1 SS 1 ) it will

be seen that we have , from invested funds , an income of £ 700 , and from subscriptions and donations of the brethren an income of £ 04 6 , making a total of £ 134 O for the year . Of this sum We spent in education and clothing £ 937 , so that we had remaining unspent £ 409 , which might have been applied to the maintenance ot a certain number of thc children had the rules of the Institution provided for such

outlay . It is quite true that this balance , like former balances , has been added to the invested funds . But these invested funds , which at the end of the present year will probably amount to nearly £ 20 , 000 , are large , and it is a question whether the donations and subscriptions of the brethren should not be spent for the purpose they arc given for , more especially as I am firmly of opinion that ,

with the increasing necessity , increasing revenues will come . It is , however , quite certain that we could not attempt at present to maintain all the children on the foundation . My proposition therefore is that the extended benefits I suggest should only be granted in certain and special cases , and witn such restrictions as would ( until the arrival of the time when such restrictions could be cleared away ) limit the extended

benefits tosuch proportions as could be met by the means at our disposal . Thus , we might begin by expending say £ 500 a year for the maintenance , clothing , and education of say ten or twelve children , at an outlay not exceeding £ 40 or , £ 50 each . In order to give an idea of the manner in wliich these special benefits could be restricted to special cases , I would suggest that they might be accorded only to orphans

that have lost both parents , or to fatherless children whose fathers have been subscribing members in the province for seven ten , or 14 years , as might be determined , or only to the children of deceased brethren that have filled one of the chairs , VV . M ., S . W ., and J . W ., of a West Lancashire lod"e . These , I should like you to understand , are only . auggestions . The amount 1 have mentioned as being increased decreased to

applicable might be or according the determination of the committee . But the / .. 500 a year named would not , as a matter of fact , be an additional / ' voo , as we already vote for the education in ten or twelve children at an average of £ « or £ 10 each per annum . It might also , if considered deirable , be arranged to devote only a certain description of the income of this spec . al purpose , say the income from invested funds alone , or the income from subscriptions and donations alone . Or a fixed

West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution.

sum might be determined upon , and in the event of there being more applications than the sum would cover , the votes of the brethren and lodges would be available , and an additional incentive to exertion on the part of the brethren and thc lodges would at once be formed ; and experience has convinced me that as soon as the votes become usable , and their value is appreciated , they will be sought for and purchased more largely than at present .

We are fortunately not without a precedent tor the course I am attempting to describe . Some years ago there was placed at a school in Waterloo one of the sons of the late Captain Mott , a former Secretary of the Institution . The Committee , remembering the good deeds done by our deceased brother , exceeded the usual expenditure , and voted £ 40 per annum for the maintenance and education of that boy . It is exactly the plan adopted in this case

that I wish to urge should be extended . The boy in question made great progress , and in a recent Cambridge examination took high honours ; and this is the very gratifying result of the first experiment of this kind . In connection with this subject many ideas may be gathered from a careful perusal of the reports of the Boys ' and Girls' Schools in London . I may briefly explain that thc Boys' Institution was established in the year 179 S , and that

the Committee ol that Institution at first only did what we are doing now , i . e ., provide for the education and clothing of their children . In the report for the present year , in which the history of the Wood-green Institution is set forth at some length , these words occur— " The children admitted to this Charity are clothed and put out to school in the neighbourhood of their residences at the expense of the Institution , the funds not being yet exhaustive enough

for the erection of a school-house , which object , however , by tlie aid of future voluntary contributions , the directors of the establishment hope hereafter to establish . " In another page the following words occur : * ' The Governors , anxious to render the benefits of the Charity as extended as possible , intend , as soon as a fund can be raised for the purpose , to purchase or build a stone-house sufficiently capacious to contain the children , and wholly to maintain

as well as clothe and educate them . I have quoted these extracts from the reports of the London Boys' School to show , as 1 have before said , that there is some precedent for further action . Whilst we have a good example set before us by the London School in extending the benefits of the Institution , we are fortunate in having also a good example of what to avoid , and nothing could be more remote from

my opinion that any idea involving the purchase or erection of a building such as the Institutions in London . I have considered the matter very carefully , and I feel sure that the system of placing the child in a good boarding school , where he will be clothed , maintained , and educated , is much bitter than the plan of building and maintaining an institution , paying officers , and spending money , as is inevitable in such cases , in various indirect ways not strictly for the

benefit of the children . Further perusal of the reports of the London School show that a house and land were purchased at Wood-green in 1 S 26-7 , since which time very large amounts of money have been sunk in buildings and land , which , if put out at interest as we treat our saved money , would form a large and important item . When 1 pointed out that thc estate account up to the end of last year is set down at £ 67 , 150 , the importance of my argument will be

seen . Whilst on this subject , and with a view of strengthening my case , I must quote some other figures . The cost of the pupils in the Boys' School is said to be £ 43 per head . Now , this is not strictly a fact , and is somewhat misleading , as no note is taken of the interest on the large sums I have before mentioned sunk in land and buildings , but the annual expenditure only is calculated upon . If we take into account the interest on the value of the estate ,

supposing it were put out at 4 per cent , interest , instead of existing , as it does , in the shape of bricks and mortar , the annual cost of each boy will be increasedby £ 12 to £ 13 . I do not want to trouble you with figures more than is necessary , but you will note on page 47 of the report that the ordinary expenditure is put down at £ 9304 per annum . The calculation of the cost per head is based upon these figure . * , but a reference to page 43 will show that this

expenditure is increased by several thousand pounds , and does not include repairs , salaries , and other items paid in addition to this sum ; nor is any note taken of interest on capital sunk or expended . I again wish to say that it is not from any disrespect to these schools in London that I have quoted these facts and figures . It is not because I love London less , but because I love VVest Lancashire more , that I have referred to them . I feel that this

communication is already sufficiently long , and will . thereforc conclude with a suggestion , which is , that a sub-committee be formed to confer as to the best method of carrying out thc suggestions I have pointed out . The change may not be wrought in a year , but the sooner we begin th ' .- better . It will give me the greatest pleasure to meet such committee , and to verbally explain my views in such a way as cannot well be done in the scope of a letter . I firmly believe that we have

in our own hands the means of doing a great good , and of rendering ourselves independent of the schools in London ; and I do not think that any any one will blame the brethren in West Lancashire for endeavouring to help themselves in a more extended form , seeing that they have before them a practical experience of the great good they have done for so many years in their own province in a more limited degree . I have no doubt that there are many suggestions

that may be possible improvements on my scheme . In this letter I have only done what I could to have the matter opened up so that a start may be made in a matter that has become a desirable necessity . " The suggestions made in Bro . Brown ' s interesting letter were carefully considered by the Special Committee at thc meeting on Friday evening , the iSth inst ., and after a long sitting it was unanimously resolved to express the opinion that the benefits of the VVest Lancashire Masonic

Educational Institution should be extended on the lines indicated in the communication from Bro . "Brown . It was further agreed that eight children should be selected for the purpose of being clothed , educated , and maintainedat approved schools at a cost not exceeding £ 400 annually , and that the qualifications of these selected children be considered at an adiuutned meeting to lie held at au early dale , when thc report to tlie General Committee on the subject will also be discussed and approved . The Duke and Duchess of Connaught witnessed the performance of " Much Ado about Nothing" at the Lyceum Theatre on Tuesday evening .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

ELECTION" OF HOUSE COMMITTEE . We publish the following by request : —In view of thc approaching election of the House Committee we give in our advertising columns a list of the 12 candidates nominated by Bro . Case , P . G . D ., detailing the various

services rendered by them both to the institution and to the Craft . This list it will be observed comprises 11 of the brethren who at present form the committee , all of whom have had practical experience in the management of the School for periods varying from one to 13 years . Although Bro . Edgar Bowyer , the twelfth nominated

candidate , has never yet acted on the House Committee of this particular institution , he has already served on that of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , and also the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . We have no desire to disparage thc claims of rival candidates , but we cannot refrain from expressing our satisfaction , that twelve brethren possessing in so eminent

a degree the special qualifications for the position should be willing to devote their time and experience to promoting the usefulness and prosperity of the institution . 'Those who have watched the career of the School duringrecent years cannot fail to have been impressed with the fact , that its high standard of excellence is due in no small measure to the fostering care of successive

committees whose aim has been to enlarge its sphere of usefulness and by maintaining its must cherished traditions to provide not only a happy home for the children of our less fortunate brethren , but a school , wherein an atmosphere of purity and sisterly love , they are trained to fight successfully the battle of life in whatsoever position their lots may be cast .

How well the committee have discharged their trust , and how completely their aims have been attained is fully attested by the unrivalled position our School holds among institutions of a like character—so long as it is managed by brethren of proved ability who have already established their claims to the respect and recognition of the Craft , the supporters of the School have the best possible guarantee

that its present hi gh standard of excellence will in every respect be maintained . No managing body can work smoothly or efficiently where the spirit of discord is present and it is satisfactory to be assured that among the 12 brethren to whom we have referred , the most perfect harmony prevails , and that at the

ensuing election each may rely on the loyal and hearty support of those associated with him in the candidature . VVe have already mentioned that these brethren took up one eighth of the amount subscribed in London at the last Festival . Thc election will take place at Freemasons' Hall on Thursday , the 31 st inst ., between the hours of 4 and 5 p . m .

Consecration Of A Mark Masters' Lodge At Gorleston.

CONSECRATION OF A MARK MASTERS ' LODGE AT GORLESTON .

CONSTITUTION OF THE PROVINCE OF EAST ANGLIA . Suffolk , fortunate in the number and position of its representatives in the various degrees of Freemasonry is making for herself a position in the Masonic world .

During the past few years great strides have been made in the Craft and Royal Arch , both of which have their province , consisting of the county of Suffolk , and both Orders are well represented and constantly increasing in numbers . Thc degree of Mark , however , until Monday had but two lodges in the county , one at Ipswich and the other at Bury St . Edmund ' s ; on that day , however , that little

corner of Suffolk , Gorleston , linked as it were to Yarmouth ^ aspired to the possession of its lodge , following its earlier aspirations of a Koyal Arch Lodge ; and a large gathering of Marks , and candidates for advancement , attended at St . Andrew ' s Hall . The fisher hamlet had a still greater honour thrown upon it by the day being selected for the constitution of a province , to consist of Suffolk ,

Norfolk , Essex , and Cambridgeshire , to be designated thc Province of East Anglia , and like Lord Waveney in thc Craft and the Rev . C . J . Martyn in the Royal Arch , to be presided over by a Suffolk man , Lord Henniker , who is also Most Worshipful Grand Mark Master of England . The local Mark Lodge , to receive the appellation of thc Youell , in compliment to its founder , Bro . E . P . Youell ,

of Yarmouth and Gorleston , becomes the sixth lodge in thc province . They _ arc as follows : Albert Victor , No . 70 J ; Walpole , No . 92 ; Freeman , No . 105 ; Isaac Newton , No . 112 ; Constantine , No . 145 ; Youell , No . 317 . There were present on Monday , at St . Andrew's Hall , Bros , the Right Hon . Lord Henniker , G . M . M . M . j the Rev . C . I . Martvn : VV . VV . B . Beach , M . P ., P . G . M . M . M . ; F . LongPM !

, .. P . G . D . C , G . S . B . England ; Wm . Dods , S . W . elect ; N . Tracy , P . M . ; C . Pulman , G . J . G ., P . P . G . J . O . Middx . and Surrey ; H . C . Casley , VV . M ., P . G . J . O . ; C . E . Bignold , S . W . ; Fredk . Binckes , Grand Secretary , P . G . S . W . ; D . M . Dewar , A . G . Secretary ; Thomas Cubitt , P . G . S . D . ; George Abbott , Henry H . Smith , S . R . Anness , S . W . ; A . Hanlon , 'Thos . Rix , P . M .: fohn W .

French , Alfred Cubitt , G . B . Mickleburgh , N . S . VV . ; W . Armstrong , S . W . ; J . P . Lewin , VV . M . ; James M . 9 * V _ ' . * i * ; A * Laughton , S . O . ; Thos . J . Railing , P . M . and Sec . ; Joseph Tomlinson , P . G . S . E . ; Edward Armitage , J . D . ; John R . Bridgman , J . VV . ; Jas . Dunsford , J . O . ; Charles F . Bond , E . Baldwin , M . O . ; George Baxter , Sec . ; Hy . George , P . M . ; John B . Pearce , Reg . ;

H . - " . Harwell , W . M . ; b . Maude , P . Chap . Mid-Surrey ; and about 20 other brethren who sought advancement . Lodge having been opened with Bros . Dewar as W . M ., N . Tracey asS . W ., and T . Cubitt as J . W ., the following candidates were advanced to thc degree of Mark Master Masons : Bios . Charles Diver , G . A . Ward , II . VV . Youell , II . II . VV . Ehves , George Bush , B . AI . Bradbcer , I . 1 .

Owles , II . II . George , R . Martins , IL F . Brooks , Joseph Iludspith , Wm . Sayer , Alex . Mitchell , John Hammond , C . 1 .. Chipperticld , V . VV . Rolfe , C . P . VV . Laing , and T . R . Elkington . The M . W . GRAN 11 MASTER was then received in the usual form and took the chair , expressing the great pleasure it gave him to witness the growth of Mark Masonry as evidenced by the increasing duties it put upon him , but