Supreme Grand Chapter Of England.

The minutes of the meetings of the Council of January 28 th , February 23 rd , and March 20 th , were then read for information . Bro . RICHARD EVE next said that before entering upon the ordinary business of this Quarterly Court he felt that the brethren would all agree with him that they should pass a resolution with reference to the delivery of our M jst Worship ' ul Grand Master , his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , from the hands of a would-be assassin . They had not had an opportunity of meeting in Quarterly

Court until to-day , and they were pleased to find that the Grand Master was returning to his native land that evening . They trusted that he would return hale and hearty . They were all astonished at the attempt made on the Prin : e of Wales ' s life , for there was no gentleman in Europe more admired than the Prince of Wales , and there was a thrill of horror , not only in this country but throughout the continent , when the news of the attempt on his lile arrived . Every one was

glad that he had providentially escaped , and all trusted that he might have many long years of life , health , and happiness before him , to act in the way he always had done for the good of our nationality . He begged to move " That the hearty congratulations of this Quarterly Court be presented to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , Most Worshipful Grand Master , President of our Institution , on his providential escape from the hands of a would-be assassin . "

Bro . HAWKINS , 569 , had much pleasure in seconding the motion . He had the honour of commanding the last guard of honour to his Royal Highness previously to his going abroad . Bro . RICHARD EVE put the motion , which was unanimously carried , all the brethren rising . On the motion of Bro . J . S . CUMBERLAND , which was duly seconded , it was resolved "That a copy of that resolution be sent to his Royal Highness the Most Worshipful Grand Master , President of the Institution . "

On the motion of Bro . RICHARD EVE , seconded by Bro . BENSON , Bro . Charles Edward Keyser , M . A ., J . P ., F . S . A ., P . G . D ., was re-elected Treasurer of thc Institution .

The following 12 brethren , not being Life Governors , were elected on the thc Council , as representing the Life and Annual Subscribers : Bros . G . Chapman , Thos . Evans , Geo . Glover , E . A . B . Gough , E . P . B . Hallowes , E . Hewett , D . Jacobs , F . W . Levander , A . H . Maddocks , B . Matveieff , G . W . Hunt , and John Harris . The following 10 Life Governors were elected to fill vacancies on the Board of Management :

For London—Bros . Stanley J . Attenborough , George Everett , John Glass , William Alfred Scurrah , and James Willing , jun . For the Prov . Grand Lodges and Chapters—Bros . James W . Burgess , Major J . E . Le Feuvre , J . P ., William Fentiman Smithson , R . V . Vassar-Smith , J . P ., and Francis Beer Westlake .

Bro . RICHARD 'EVE next said he had to give an account of the progress that was being made on the building of the new schools at Bushey . He trusted that many of the brethren present had been in the neighbourhood , and that they would have seen for themselves the great progress which had already been made . The building was now becoming a very important one . He had the pleasure of telling the brethren what they were already aware of that on May 12 th next , the foundation stone would be laid by his Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught ,

and such arrangements had been made that if the weather was not . favourable , every protection would be afforded to the brethren , and their lady friends . A very large gathering was expected as many applications for [ tickets had already been made by those who were desirous of acquiring seats , seeing the laying of the stone , and having the luncheon . Early applications ought to be made by those who wished to be present . The last day named for applications was the 21 st

inst . However , brethren might still apply , and in their own interest as well as in the interest of the Institution , they should be made at once . The building spoke for itself , and therefore he need say no more on that subject . The management hoped to have it completed in the course of eighteen months from now , and to have occupation of it entered upon in two years . Scrutineers of votes were then appointed .

Bro . HAWKINS was thereupon called upon by the Chairman to ask the questions of which he had given notice to the Secretary . He said they arose upon the balance sheet . The first question was as to the cost of the hall of Freemasons ' Tavern , and of refreshments for the elections . He wanted to know the proportions each bore to the other . The second question was , asking for the details of the travelling expenses—two items , . £ 99 7 s . io 3 . and £ n 8 s . 8 d . The next was as to a sum of £ 87 17 s . 2 d . for thc office , but the next was of much more

Importance . Why was the sum of . £ 16 , 657 16 s . 6 d . placed on both sides of the balance-sheet when it appeared as an expenditure in the cash accounts ? He saw the auditor , Mr . Hobbs , present , and was quite satisfied he would give an answer , lt was placed on both sides of the balance as being a liability and an asset . Next he would ask—were repairs and refurnishing still necessary at Wood Green in view of the approaching removal to Bushey ? There was set down in the balancesheet 1 C . 100 odd under this head . The providing of the balance-sheet had not ,

perhaps , been kept in view by the administrative body of this Charity as recommended by the report of the Committee of Investigation 11 years ago , where they referred to the average cost of each of the boys in the Institution . Eleven years ago it was , £ 47 16 s . It was now said to be slightly above that sum . But really taking the £ 16 , 657 , 't came to £ 124 14 s . 6 d . per boy in this Charitable Institution . Then he would like to ' move a resolution arising out of that last question— " Tnat the average cost per boy in thc School with thc gross expenditure be published in

the annual accounts . " He thought that must commend itself to the brethren as being reasonable as it was recommended 11 years ago by the Committee of Investigation ; report signed by Bros . F . A . Philbrick , Q . C , John Derby Allcroft , Sir Reginald Hanson , Samuel Pope , Q . C , Col . Alfred Thrale Perkins , and Robert Wylie . He did not get an opportunity of having this balance-she Jt , so he wis compelled to come here to-day to waste the brethren ' s time . Wnat he thought

they should do was to adopt economy . Economy had not been adopted as an outcome of that recommendation . He begged the brethren to understand that he had not made these remarks or asked these questions in any captious spirit ; he had previously opposed the expenses incurred on the new buildings ; but he should be satisfied if those questions were answered . He would move his resolution .

Bro . J . S . CUMBERLAND , seconded . It was one of the things he had contended for in years gone by . He could not see why the brethren should not have such a statement . They ought to know what was the average cost per boy . They were all accountants , and they ought to know what was the cost compared with the money obtained . As to the other questions he did not agree that they ought to be put as no notice of them appeared on the agenda paper . It was one thing to have an oration , and another to keep a question until you got to a Quarterl y Court .

Bro . RICHARD EVE said he was very glad so far as he was concerned that all questions should be ventilated that disturbed thc mind of Bro . Hawkins , and il he could hc would endeavour to satisfy his mind , although it might not bc so easy to do so . As to thc first question , the hire of the hall and the cost ot refreshments , and the particular proportion one bore to ths other , he would answer

them—there were two elections a year , and the hall cost ten guineas , or five guineas each time . As to the cost of refreshments , there were a large number of Scrutineers ; to-day there would be from 40 to 50 of those brethren , scrutinising the votes of the election for boys , and the election of members of the Board of Management , If any of the brethren would go up to the Scrutineers' rooms they

Supreme Grand Chapter Of England.

would see that the scrutineers were well entitled to refreshment . Many of the Scrutineers came long distances , and from all parts of the country , and after the scrutiny was over and before they went away , they had a dinner . Thus the £ 84 was made up . They must have some refreshment during the day , and , therefore , the expense was incurred . If , however , the Court decided the expense was not to be incurred it should not be . ( Cries of " No , no . " ) Then as to travelling expenses , £ 99 7 s . iod , and £ 11 8 s . 8 d . The latter sum was for the head master ,

the matron , and other officers of the staff , and for boys whose friends were often too poor to pay their holiday fare . The sum of £ 8 7 183 . 2 d . for the office , he did not think was a large sum—it was a small sum—and it was principally for the Secretary who was travelling all over the country attending Prov . G . Lodges and assisting to get in subscriptions . Those who had seen him at these gatherings and witnessed the work he was doing would appreciate his services . Need he go further ? Referring to the other question about the £ 16 , 657 If 5 * . 61 . being placed

on both sides ot the balance sheet and appearing in the cash account , Bro . Hawkins probably did not know the interesting business of an accountant . The Accountant , Bro . Hobbs , was present , and was willing in two or three words to answer the question . The repairs at Wood Green were necessary . The building must be kept in good repair and the sanitation attended to for the sake of the health of the children . The Building Committee looked well after this and saw that wet and cold were kept out . As to the cost per child , the accounts spoke for

themselves ; but in future , without any resolution being passed , the Board of Management would publish the accounts every year . The cost per year was £ 50 6 s . 8 d . ; compared with 1888 , this showed an increase of £ 3 16 s . 7 d . per boy . The increase was due to the additional expense incurred by the larger number of hands required in the Secretary ' s office consequent upon the increased subscriptions . Take the centenary year and the £ 140 , 000 then collected ; the labour on that occasion was enormous . He was delighted to find they were increasing the

expenses with reference to the income of the Institutian . Last year it was larger than usual , and it showed that it was by means not only of advertising , but by the work of the Secretary in sending out to lodges the book of subscribers . He asked the brethren to look at that book for the last year and compare the fatness of that year with the leanness of the book of 1888 . Could the printing of that book be done for nothing ? The charge of printing that book was enormous . Then

there was the printing of the voting papers , more than double what it was a few years ago . He had not the figures . ( Cries of " Agreed . ) The Board were doing their best to keep the expenses down , but they could say , this , that even if the expenses should be slightly increased they challenged any other institution of a similar kind to do more for the money to make the boys strong , healthy and happy and well educated . If the Board could do it cheaper they would . ( Hear , hear . )

Bro . HAWKINS said that after that explanation , and on the promise that the accounts should be furnished in future , he would with Bro . Cumberland's assent , withdraw his motion . He would not require to call on Bro . Hobbs . Bro . W . C . LUPTON said he should like to hear Bro . Hobbs . Bro . W . RUSSELL did not think it quite fair for Bro . Hawkins to raise the question he had raised , and then on the reply of the Chairman to drop them for 12 months .

Bro . HAWKINS said he did so at the absolute request of a member of the Board of Management . If Bro . Russell objected to his withdrawing his motion he was ready to go on with it . He waited tor the reply , and the reply cut the ground from under him . Bro . Houus , in reply to loud calls , said with regard to the £ 16 , 000 odd , it was put down , as all accountants would put it , as capital outlay . One must hive it in the balance sheet and include it in the capital account on the other side or exclude it altogether .

Bro . Hawkin s motion was withdrawn , and the election of 30 boys from an approved list of 42 candidates was proceeded with .

Thc following are the unsuccessful candidates at the election of the boys : Name . _ Votes . Name . Votes . Myers , Leslie David ... 2906 Moseley , Herbert Henry 1915 Logan , Morris Arthur Ransom ... 2801 Sear , Duncombe 1892 Downing , Lewis Wilfrid 2368 Case , Elliot Dryden i 1381 Williams , Hugh Cobbett 2362 Hartley , Bernard { last ) ... ... 711 Lawson , John Carrington 2244 Herapath , Cyril Alexander 323 Hall , Charles Frederick Arthur ... 2183 Roberts , Laurance Hume Dawson 115 The successful will be found in our advertisement columns .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

The usual Quarterly Court of this Institution ' s Governors and Subscribers was held on Saturday last , at Freemasons' Tavern , Great Queen-street , W . C . Bro . Henry Smith , P . G . D ., P . D . P . G . M . for West Yorkshire , occupied the chair . Among the members of the House Committee supporting him were Bros . A . C . Spaull , Frank Richardson , Peter de Lande Long , T . H . Gardiner , J . H . Matthews , and E . M . Money .

Bro . F , R . W . HEDGES ( Secretary ) was in attendance , and read the minutes of the January Quarterly Court , which were put to and conlirmed by the meeting . He also read for information the minutes of the three monthly meetings of the Committee , the most notable feature of which was the statement that Miss Redgrave had resigned the head mistresship of the School on account of ill-health ,

and that Miss Elizabeth Hutchinson had been appointed in her place . Tne resolution to contest the claim of the brother of a deceased testator in Montreal who left large legacies tothe three English Masonic Institutions was also communicated through these minutes , the sane decision having also been come to by the authorities of the Royal Masonic . Institution for Boys and ^ the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution .

Bro . Sir Reginald Hanson , M . P ., P . G . W ., Treasnrer of the Institution , was unanimously re-elected Treasurer , Bro . HK . VRY SMITH stating that the hon . baronet would have been present at this meeting but for an important engagement which he was compelled to attend to . The Scrutineers of votes for the half-yearly election of children into the School were then chosen , and the election proceeded . The following are the unsuccessful candidates :

Name . Votes . Name . Votes . Gray , Minnie Philippa 3688 Perry , Ada Emily 543 Harding , Honor Gertrude Morle ... 3 286 Delahaye , Josephine 43 6 Peace , Rosetla Jessie 2103 Gates , Alice May 413 Piggott , Maud Elsie 2058 Sheedy , Annie Martha ^ 203 Helen 1

Collins , Jessie 995 Lerpiniere , Lilian Irene 77 Spurgeon , Dorothy Maud 1952 Caine , Dorothy ... 13 Osborne , Phyllis Evelyn Kate ... 1091 Hodgkinson , Claticc Lillian ¦„ 12 Webb , Constance Eva Mary ... 981 The successful candidates will be found in our advertisement columns .

> SAILOR GUARD FOR LONDON . —Though London ii the capital of a maritime Power the fact is not demonstrated in any tangible for . Ti . Several suggestions hive now been put forward for remedying the defect . It has been proposed , for instince , that sailors should be stationed at Buckingham Palace alternately with the Guards , and that there should be a gunboat below Waterloo Bridge .