Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

A Special General Court of Governors and Subscribers of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , was held on Monday last , at Freemasons' Hall , in accordance with a resolution ofthe General Committee , for the purpose of receiving the draft laws and adopting them as the laws of the Institution . The chair was

occupied by Bro . Robert Grey , President ofthe Board of Benevolence , and the following brethren were also present : Bros . Charles Fredk . Hogard , H . Massey , John Glass , Fred . Coles , J . M . McLeod , Sir John B . Monckton , Peter de Lande Long , W . G . Kentish , W . Morley , John Tidmarsh , H . F . Nash , T . H . Gardiner ,

and F . R . W . Hedges ( Secretary ) . Bro . Sir J . B . MONCKTON , in moving " That the draft laws , as now submitted , be and they are hereby adopted as the laws of the Institution , in amendment of and substitution for those now in force , " said that as he had addressed the Committee in some detail when these

draft laws were before them , it was unnecessary for him to go now into that detail . All the Governors of the Institution had had copies of the draft sent to them , and all who were present knew the contents . There being so few present showed that the other Governors approved of the alterations . There were one or two small

points he referred to on the former occasion , but he did not gather from Bro . Hedges that any corrections of what was then settled had been suggested . One point was with regard to Law 86 , and the other with regard to 8 9 . No . 86 provided that a properly qualified girl might be placed in the Institution b y any person ,

provided such g irl could be conveniently admitted , upon payment of 250 guineas in one sum , if she at the time of such payment be under the age of ten years or of 200 guineas in one sum , between that age and 11 . The Committee quite agreed that the old law that the amount should be 170 guineas was utterly inadequate . If a child was

admitted at eight years of age , the cost being £ 38 or 38 guineas , 170 guineas could not be a fair payment , and it would be an injustice to the whole body . A great deal of attention was given to the subject ; returns were got ; an actuarial calculation was made ; and the 170 guineas ' was found not to be the proper actuarial result . Then as regarded No . 89 , that had been

considered as a new rule of very great importance . It was that " No girl shall be elig ible for election or admission who has a sister in the Institution , except in the case of a family of at least five other children dependent , in which case a second child shall be eligible . " Old Governors would remember that in former times two children , sisters , could go in together , and he remembered a case where two sisters were in at the

same time . Colonel Creaton was then prominent on the Committee of the Institution ; he ( Sir J . B . Monckton ) was not then one . After a conference with Miss Davis , and looking to the benefits conferred in the Craft , they now thought this rule should be altered , and having made the alteration as stated , the only

point was whether the figure was too high , and whether it ought not to be four other children dependent . However they put it to the opinion of the majority , and left it now to the opinion and decision of the Court . He did not think any suggestions had been made or any difficulties raised about it .

Bro . MORLEY seconded the motion . Bro . C . F . HOGARD thought Rule 12 as to the nomination to the office of Treasurer was rather hard .-" Candidates for the office of Treasurer must be nominated in writing at the meeting of the General Committee next preceding the election by a meeting

of the Committee present . " If brethren in the North of England wanted to nominate a brother from the North they would have to attend to nominate him . Bro . MORLEY said any difficulty of that kind could be avoided by deputing another brother who was in London to do it .

Bro . HOGARD still thought with all due deference that there mig ht be an addition of words to make that clear . Two or three persons had spoken to him about it . After a discussion , in which Bros . GLASS , MONCKTON , MORLEY , KENTISH , HOGARD , and SL-AULL took part , the motion was agreed to .

The CHAIRMAN then said that having served on the Committee some little time he thought that the thanks of the Court were specially due to Sir John Monckton for the very great patience , attention , and courtesy which he had exhibited during the consideration of these laws . Some of the members did not work so hard as they ought to have worked . Those who had

the opportunity of being present were aware that Sir John Monckton had carried on the business of the Committee with adignity and business-like ability which were almost peculiar to him . That was saying a great deal , and this Court must feel very grateful to Sir John Monckton for the great trouble he had taken . He therefore moved a vote of thanks to Sir John B .

Monckton . Bro . HOC-ARD seconded the motion , which was put and carried . Bro . Sir J . B . MONCKTON , P . G . W ., in acknowledging the compliment , said he thanked the Court on behalf

not only of himself , but of the rest of the members of the Committee likewise . The whole Committee worked hard , and especially the President of the Board of Benevolence , who had rather let himself down , but who yet did so much work on behalf of the Craft . Bro . Grey might not have been always able to attend , but

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

he had many and great duties in the Craft to look after , and the same might be said of Bro . Frank Richardson , whom he had hoped to see present that day , but who was very punctual and regular in his attendance at the Committees . A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings . 4 .

ENTERTAINMENT AT THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

A most successful concert was given on the Sth instant by members of the Gavel Club at the above Institution . The Gavellers , together with their friends and the members of the Board of Management and their friends , met the boys in the large hall at seven o ' clock . A number of songs , some instrumental

performances , and a recitation , served to make up a most enjoyable programme . The audience proved highly appreciative of the endeavour that had been made to provide a pleasant evening , and the hearty way in which the boys responded to the invitation to join in some of the choruses , indicated considerable musical

ability on their part , as well as a hearty enthusiasm which was most refreshing to everyone within hearing of their harmony . The performances all round were exceedingly good , and it would be making unnecessary invidious distinctions to select any one item for special comment ,

although the comic songs certainl y brought forth the greatest amount of applause . . At the close of the evening , the Rev . H . HEBB , the Head Master , proposed a vote of thanks to the members of the Club for their kindness in giving the boys of the Institution such an excellent concert . He also wished

their special thanks to be expressed to Gaveller H . Pritchard ( Hon . Sec . and Treas . ) for promoting the concert , and to Gaveller R . Clay Sudlow ( Musical Director ) for carrying out the details and arranging the programme . The boys gave hearty and continued cheers in

response , and Gaveller PRITCHARD returned thanks , assuring the boys that if a , happy evening had been provided for them , the object of the Gavel Club in coming there had been attained , and he was sure everyone who had contributed to the programme was as pleased at being there as the boys themselves were

pleased to see them . The programme was as follows : Song , "The lads in red , " Gaveller H . Gardiner ; song , "The message , " Gaveller J . C . Mortimer ; duet ( organ and pianoforte ) , " Trovatore , " Gavellers Rutgers and Sudlow ; comic song , "The magpie said 'Come in , '"

and ( encore song ) " lo sea we will go , Gaveller J . W . Cooper ; song , " My friend , " Gaveller Ruthven Finlayson ; Hute solo , " La traviata , " Gaveller James A . Hamilton ; song , " A bandit ' s life , " Gaveller F . Bull ; song , " Death of Nelson , " Gaveller Edward Hall ; recitation , "The showman , " Gaveller G . E . Lewis ; comic song , "The

funny little fat grey man " and ( encore song ) "Ihe Lord Mayor's coachman , " Gaveller J . W . Cooper ; song , "The powder monkey , " Gaveller h . Pritchard ; piccolo solo , " Kinlock of Kinlock , " Gaveller James A . Hamilton ; song , "The admiral's broom , " Gaveller W . H . Kirby ;

song , " The old brigade , " Gaveller F . T . Rushton ; duet ( organ and pianoforte ) , " Der Freis ; hutz , " Gavellers Rutgers and Sudlow ; song , "The King ' s Own , " Gaveller H . H . Nuding ; and duet , "Excelsior , " Gavellers Edward Hall and F . Bull .

Gaveller R . Clay Sudlow ( Musical Director ) presided at the pianoforte , and rendered the various accompaniments with his accustomed brilliancy and fine execution .

? MASONIC LECTURE AT DOVER . At the monthl y meeting of the Peace and Harmony Lodge , No . 199 , held at the Masonic Hall , Dover , on the 7 th inst ., a very large gathering of members of the Craft assembled to hear a lecture on the Ritual and Ceremonial of the Symbolic Degrees in Freemasonry , delivered by Bro . James Stevens , P . M ., P . Z ., & c , a well-known London Freemason . Great interest had

been taken in the locality by Craftsmen who had had opportunities of hearing the Jecturer on previous occasions , and others who had heard the " tongue of good report , " so that , notwithstanding the violent storm then raging , the spacious hall was well filled b y members and visitors .

The lodge was opened at 6 p . m . by Bro . A . T . Dartnail , W . M ., and his officers—Bros . VV . Walker , S . W . ; E . Fielding , J . W . ; Rev . V . S . Vickers , P . M ., P . G . C , Chap . ; E . Lukey , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W ., Treas . ( to the great and earnestly-expressed regret of the brethren , Bro . James D . Terson , P . M ., P . P . S . G . D ., Secretary ,

was prevented by illness from attending ) ; H . H . Goodwin , J . D . ; F . Prescot , P . M ., P . P . S . G . D ., Dir . of Cer . s ; F . A . Clark , Org . ; W . Thomas , I . G . ; C . M . Overton and E . M . Stevens , Stwds . ; and J . Marsh , Tyler . Amongst the Past Masters were Bros . J . Falconer , I . P . M . ; W . Cassford , P . P . G . P . ; J . W .

Bussey , G . Church , G . J . Bussey , and J . J . Wright . Among the numerous members were Bros . J . Oxenham , J . G . Worwell , F . C . Swoffer , W . Stjarp , J . Beach , B . C . Morris , C . H . C . Marsh , J . Martin , L . A . Divis , J . Parsons , J . T . Hopper , J . B . Cass , G . Keen , H . W . Culpeck , and others . The visitors were Bros . C . Sims ,

W . M ., W . W . Baker , S . VV ., J . Cresswell , S . D ., D . H . Wilson , W . B . Sims , J . Risien , H . Warren , J . Hyde , G . N . Thorpe , and others , of 1208 ; T . Dartnall , P . M . 130 ; is . Davison , 1017 ; A . Boyle , 157 ; Capt . W . B . Baker , Sec . 2195 ; and others . There being no business before the lodge beyond the confirmation of the minutes of the previous meeting ,

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

Bro . STEVENS , after a brief introduction b y the ] W . M ., was speedily at work and attracting the closest attention of the brethren . It was past nine o ' clock before he hastened to close an address which was full of interest , instruction , and entertainment , and even then his audience would have listened further . We may

not particularise the lecture in detail in these pages , and can only therefore express our conviction that such of our lodges as have not yet heard Bro . Stevens ' s expositions of tne allegories and symbols of blue Masonry have much to learn before they can underhand "the reason why" for

a large portion of what is said and done in ritual and ceremonial . We commend the present opportunities for securing his services in this respect to their notice , for in no other manner do we think it likely the Craft can benefit b y his researches during many past years . A vote of thanks to Bro . Stevens was unanimously

carried , the proposer , seconder and other speakers respectively eulogising the efforts of the lecturer to expound the hidden mysteries and beautiful moral teachings with which the ritual of symbolic Masonry abounds , and expressing a hope that this second visit to their lodge might be supplemented by a third at

some early opportunity . The lodge was then closed . Between 50 and 60 of the brethren adjourned to the dining hall , and after supper spent a brief while in harmony and good-fellowshi p , separating at length with mutual expressions of satisfaction that a profitable evening in connection with Masonic instruction had been enjoyed by them .

Royal Ark Mariners.

Royal Ark Mariners .

MARYPORT . CpUin Lodge ( No . 151 ) - —The annual meeting of this young and flourishing lodge was held on the 17 th inst . at the Freemasons' Hall . Among those present were Bros . P . de E . Collin , P . W . C . N . of Keystone and F . R . Sewell Lodges , VV . C . N ., in the chair ; Jas . Gardiner , W . C . N . 213 . as J . ; Thos . Mandle , S ., W . C . N , elect ;

J . O . Scott , Scribe ; J . Abbot , D . of C . ; J . Nicholson , P . W . i . N . ; T . Atkinson , Guardian ; Geo . Dalrymple , S . 213 ; E . B . Pearse , R . Brown , J . Reed , J . Messenger , and others . The minutes of last regular meeting wers read and confirmed , when Bro . Thos . Mandle was ably installed W . C . N , by Bro . Geo . Dalrymple , whose well-known working of this

Degree , as well as the other Degrees in Masonry to which he belongs , is so well known in the Province of Cumberland and Westmorland . The newly-enthroned W . C . N , invested the following officers : Bros . P . de E . Collin , P . W . C . N . ; J . O . Scott , I . j J . Abbot , S . ; las . Gardiner , Treas . j Thosma Atkinson , Scribe ; Jas . Gandy , S . D . j Thomas Swainson , J . D . j J . Reed , D . of C . ; J . Smith , Org ; T .

Richardson , Stwd . ; T . Harrison , Guardian ; and J . Messenger , Warder . A hearty vote of thanks was recorded to Bro . Dalrymple for the able manner in which he installed the VV . C . N . Bro . Collin , P . W . C . N ., then presented the lodge with a R . A . M . apron , for which he received the thanks of the brethren .

After other lodge business was disposed of , with " Hearty good wishes " the lodge was closed , and at the invitation - > f the W . C . N , the brethren adjourned to the ante-room , where a banquet was held , presided overby Bro . Mandle , W . C . N ., supported by his officers , when the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and duly responded to . A very pleasant evening was spent .

Cryptic Masonry.

Cryptic Masonry .

CANTERBURY . Invicta Council ( No . 14 ) . — -The regular meeting of this flourishing council was held at the Masonic Temple , on Monday , the 14 th inst ., when there were present Comps . R . joynes Emmerson , P . G . P . C . of VV ., T . l . M . ; Sibert Saunders , P . G . Stwd ., D . M . and Recorder ;

Herbert Black , P . C . of W . ; Horatio Ward , P . T . I . M ., P . G . C . of C , Treas . ; Rev . H . M . Maugham , M . A ., Chap . ; A . H . Pilcher , Capt . of Gd . ; Dr . R . T . Wheeler , C . of C . ; J . Wood , Org . ; Andrew J . Crane , Marshal ; John Birnwell , Stwd . ; R . Blake , Sentinel ; J . E . Wiltshier , and S . Varren .

A lodge of M . E . Masters having been opened , the minutes of the last regular meeting were read and confirmed . The following brethren were unanimously approved as candidates , and were received as M . E . Masters : Bros . H . Morris , L . Seager , A . W . Southwell , C . Sims , Edwd . Hire , R . VV . Philpott , G . J . Bussey , and E . Lukey . The Council was afterwards opened in the several Cryptic

Degrees , and the before-mentioned brethren were duly chosen , acknowledged , and greeted as Koyal and Select and Super-Excellent Masters , the ceremony in all four Degrees being impressively performed by the F . I . M ., Comp . Emmerson , assisted by Comp . Ward , all the officers discharging their respective duties in a most efficient manner . The council proceeded to the election of T . l . M . for the ensuing year , and Comp . S . Saunders , D . M ., was

unanimously elected . _ Comp . Ward was nominited as Treasurer for the coming year . The council was closed in the Degree of Select Master , and the companions adjourned to dinner at the Royal Fountain Hotel , where the evening was pleasantly terminated , the newly-acknowledged companions expressing great satisfaction at their reception into the beautiful Degrees of the Cryptic Rite .

A grand ball was given at Hatfield House b y the Marchioness of Salisbury on the 17 th inst . in honour of the Prince and Princess Christian and Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein , then on a visit to the Marquis and Mirchioness . The invitations exceeded a thousand , and among

those invited were Bro . the Karl aad Countess Cowper , Bro . Rear-Admiral and Mrs . T . H . Butler-Fell > ve-i , Bro . Lieut .-Col . and Mrs . Daniel , Bro . I " . F . Halsey , M . P ., and Mrs . Halsey , Bro . J . Blundell Maple , M . P ., and Mrs . Maple , Bro . Abel Smith , M . P ., and Mrs . Smith , and Bro . Col . Stuart .