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Article FREEMASONRY IN 1889. ← Page 3 of 5 Article FREEMASONRY IN 1889. Page 3 of 5 →
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Freemasonry In 1889.
raised by a Board of Stewards , numbering 153 brethren , amounted to upwards of £ 2 , 084 , and as the result proved so considerable , the General Board determined to increase the number of children on its Educational Fund to 16 boys and 16 girls . Thus in all its branches the Mark Degree has been fortunate during the year now
virtually completed , and thoug h we cannot but regard the withdrawal from active duty of Bros . Canon Portal and F . Binckes—the one by death and the other by resignation—as being an undoubted loss , we have every confidence in the ability and devotion of their respective successors , and are confident that in their hands the prestige of the Mark will remain unimpaired .
CHIVALRIC AND HIGH GRADE MASONRY . Though many branches of our Masonic system are included under this head , our remarks will be necessarily brief . As regards the Order of the Temple , we believe we might employ almost word for word the language we used in reference to it last year . No progress has been made , but the position of Great Priory is sound , while many of the Provincial Priories show a commendable activity which
might be imitated with advantage by other Provincial Priories , which do not appear to exert themselves greatly , and of which , therefore , we hear but little . On the 21 st of June , the Great Sub-Prior , Sir Kni g ht Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke , had the pleasure of installing Sir Knight Lieut .-Col . G . H . J . Haldane as Provincial Prior of Kent and Surrey , and we venture to believe that Lieut .-Col . Haldane will take as active a part and render as important services in the new
sphere of labour thus opened to him as he has in those other fields to which his attention has been hitherto confined . Of the Order of Rome and the Red Cross of Constantine , as well as of the Royal Order of Scotland , we can record little else than that their condition has undergone no material change . They are no stronger than they were last year , but neither are they weaker . The Ancient ancl Accepted Rite has prospered
greatly , having added no less than five to its roll of Rose Croix chapters , of which two are located in South Africa , one in South Australia , and the remaining two in the provinces at home . Of these last the Magnus Chapter , No . 109 , was consecrated on the 20 th February , by Bro . Hugh D . Sandeman , Grand Secretary-General of the Supreme Council , 33 ° with Bro . Lieut .-Col . W . Newton as first M . W . S ., while the Cantabrigia Chapter , No . 112 , was consecrated by the same officer on
the 26 th April , with Bro . Josep h Bell as M . W . S . Both these chapters appear to be already well set up as regards members , and will doubtless prove successful in diffusing an ample and correct knowledge of the mysteries of Ancient and Accepted Masonry among the brethren in the towns in which they are situated . On the 28 th April the Supreme Council , represented by Bros . J . M . P . Montagu , Hugh D . Sandeman , Brigadier-General Adair , and Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , accompanied
by Bros . Frank Richardson and Major George Lambert , visited Bristol , for the purpose of holding a chapter of the G . E . K . H ., and conferred the 30 on several members of the Baldwyn , St . Paul ' s , and William de Irwin Chapters . The ceremony was performed by Bro . Sandeman in the presence of a numerous gathering of the brethren , and every hospitality was shown to the distinguished visitors , who were much gratified by the heartiness of their reception . As . regards the personnel of the Supreme Council , there have been sundry changes caused by the death of
Bro . General Brownrigg , who was Grand Prior , and has been succeeded in the office by Bro . the Earl of Limerick , while Bro . Brig .-Gen . Adair has been succeeded as Grand Captain of the Guards by Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke . The vacancies thus caused have been filled by the appointment of Bros . Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie and Frank Richardson , as Sov . G . Inspectors General . The financial condition remains as sound , the assets , including cash in bank , being very little short of £ 18 , 500 . The other Masonic bodies we have occasion to mention are the Rosicrucian
Society , the York and London colleges of which are regular in their meetings and diligent in their study of its mysteries ; the Grand Councils of the Allied Degrees and Royal and Select Masters , which both show a tendency to increase , but which , even to a greater extent than the Mark Degree , have suffered a very serious loss through the death of Bro . Canon Portal , who was at the head of both bodies , and who had been their guiding spirit—their guide , philosopher , and friend—from their
very constitution . Bro . the Earl of Euston has succeeded our late brother as chief of each council , and with Bro . Matier still at his post as Grand Recorder , will have no difficulty in conducting the affairs of the two sections . Lastly , we have the Order of the Secret Monitor , which has made great strides during the year , having added five to its roll of Conclaves , and generally strengthened its prestige , as well as the favourable opinion which has existed towards it from the very beginning of its organisation .
OUR INSTITUTIONS . It cannot be said that our Institutions have pursued the even tenour of their way during the year . The youngest of the three—the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution—was subjected for several months to a heavy fire of criticism on the ground that its expenditure was by no means as economical as it was represented to be , while the management of the Boys' School , in consequence of the report of
the Committee of Investigation , is still in the extremely unpleasant position which is known in the language of the old P . R . as being in Chancery . The Girls ' School alone has escaped attack , though in the early days of 188 9 , when it was found that the receipts in respect of subscriptions and donations for 1888 were short by some thousands of pounds of the total announced at the celebration of the Centenary Festival in the Royal Albert Hall , it seemed not improbable that its
executive would find itself in hot water . Care , however , was taken to explain how and why it was that the returns received were less than the returns announced , and that in time the latter would be fully realised , and with this explanation of the apparent deficit the critics would seem to have been satisfied . As regards the Festivals , taking them together , the amount they yielded , when compared with the
totals of former years , is perhaps disappointing , but considering the immense success of the Girls' School Centenary in 1888 , we consider the result satisfactory . It is undoubtedly gratifying to know that the two Institutions which were most in need of support received it , while that accorded to the Institution for Girls must , after last year ' s magnificent total , be regarded as in some measure equally acceptable .
Taking the Institutions in the order in which their Festivals were celebrated , we note that the Anniversary of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , was held in Freemasons' Tavern on Wednesday , the 27 th February . Bro . the Earl of Euston , Provincial Grand Master for Northants and Hunts , presided , the Board of Stewards numbered 361 as against 27 6 in 1888 , and the total announced in the course of the evening by Bro . James Terry , the Secretary , was £ 13 , 055 , which was
subsequently increased to £ 13 , 508 , as compared with £ 15 , 296 the year previous . However , we have already indicated the reasons which , in our opinion , are accountable for this diminution ; at all events , as we have said before , such fluctuations in the wrong direction must be expected occasionally . After all , the sum total was an excellent one , and the credit of having raised it must be shared pretty equally between London , whose 18 9 Stewards obtained £ 6847 , and the provinces , from
which 172 Stewards raised £ 6661 . In one sense , however , it is to be regretted that so large a Board of Stewards was unable to do more ; it did not allow of the Committee of Management recommending in their annual report that any fresh annuities should be granted , and consequently , when the Annual General Meeting of the Governors and Subscribers was held on the 17 th May , though the number
of candidates for election to the benefits of the two Funds was larger than it had been at any previous meeting , it was only possible to elect sufficient to fill the vacancies which had occurred during the year , together with the three deferred annuitants in each . Thus out of the 61 male candidates , 20 were elected , and from the 79 widow candidates 13 were elected , so that the number standing over
Freemasonry In 1889.
for a further chance or chances of election was 107 . Since then the average number of fresh candidates has been approved , and , therefore , we may reasonably expect that in May next the lists will be still more formidable . In other respects this Institution has fared pretty much as usual . The New Year and Summer entertainments were given to the inmates at Croydon , the former earl y in January , and the latter on the 25 th July . Grand Lodge also voted its usual gift of £ 70 towards
providing the Old People in residence with coals . In May the Committee announced at the annual meeting that it had purchased a strip of land adjoining the Asylum , over which the owner of the field rented by the Governors had retained the ri ght of way , and arrangements are now in progress with a view to laying out the ground thus acquired as a garden . The effect will be that the privacy of the Asylum will be preserved
while the inmates will have more spacious ground in which to enjoy themselves . Lastly , we remark that as a consequence of the somewhat bitter attacks which were directed against the management and expenditure of the presiding Committee during the earlier half of the year , a Committee of Inquiry into the working of the Secretary ' s office was appointed in September , and at the regular meeting of the Committee of Management held on the 13 th November this Committee
handed in their report , which was to the effect that the duties of the Secretary ' s office were ably and faithfully carried out , and that the emoluments received by the Secretary , the Collector , and the Clerk were in accordance with the terms and conditions of their several appointments in the first instance , and with such subsequent changes as had been made in the rate of salary paid to the Secretary . The
Committee did not inquire into the system of accounts in force in the office , because the Grand Lodge Auditor had previously expressed his belief that the system was excellent , and could not be improved upon . Thus the various loose charges which had been made b y irresponsible , and in some cases very ignorant , critics are shown to have been groundless , and the Governors and Subscribers need have no fear that the money they contribute or raise will be spent extravagantly .
The 101 st Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls was held in Freemasons' Tavern on Wednesday , the 22 nd May . Bro . Lord Henniker , Prov . G . Master of Suffolk , had kindly undertaken to act as Chairman , but his lordship was prevented from fulfilling his engagement by a family bereavement , which occurred a few days before the date appointed for the gathering . Under these circumstances , his place was taken b y Bro . the Rev . C . JMartynPast G
. , . Chaplain of England , and his lordshi p ' s Deputy in the Province of Suffolk . The Board of Stewards numbered 156 , and the total of the donations and subscrip . tions , as announced b y Bro . F . R . W . Hedges , the Secretary , was £ 5355 . London , with 80 Stewards , contributing £ 2981 , and the [ Provinces , with 7 6 Stewards ] £ 2 274- So small a result had not been recorded for many years in connection with any one of the Institutions , but it must be remembered in explanation that after
the glorious success of the Centenary , it was felt that , in common justice to the other two Institutions , but especially to the Boys' School , whose returns had been seriously affected by that success , no special efforts should be made during the present year . Indeed , at one time , we believe it was contemplated to hold no Festival at all , but wiser counsels , as we think , prevailed , and the result , as we have said , was a small but satisfactory supplement to the enormous total of 1888
But if the authorities have not bestowed their usual attention on what is ordinaril y the chief event of the year , they have not been unmindful of their other duties and responsibilities towards the Institution . The distribution of prizes , which took place the day preceding the Festival , and at which the Rev . Bro . Martyn presided , though less numerously attended than usual , was a great success . The report of the Head Governess as to the condition of the School and the progress made
b y her pupils during the year was in all respects satisfactory , nearly all the girls who had attended the Cambridge Local and other public exanimations having obtained certificates of passing . The calisthenic display was as perfect as ever and as much the theme of admiration among the visitors . Moreover , much has alread y been accomplished in the way of re-arrang . ing and enlarging the old premises , while the erection of the new hall intended to
be a memorial of the Centenary celebration of 1888 , has been making considerable progress . The outlay on those works , as ori g inally estimated , was not to exceed ^ " , 000 , but the plans have since been amended and a Special General Court of the Governors and Subscribers was in consequence summoned , in order that the altered scheme and the increased outlay it involved mi ght receive the approval of the general body . This court was held on the nth May , when the necessary authorit iven to the
y was g Building Committee to expend on the proposed works a sum not exceeding £ 31 , 000 . The elections took place as usual , in April and October , 37 girls being elected at the Quarterl y General Court held in the former month , from a list of 73 candidates , while in October , nine were elected from a list of 49 . The larger number admitted in April is explained by the fact that a resolution had previously been agreed to for increasing the number of girls on the establishment b 20
y , in consequence of the largeness of the Centenary contributions , so that the School now maintains , educates , and clothes 26 4 g irls , the daughters of our more necessitous or deceased brethren . That it should ' have increased to such an extent since its foundation is most creditable , but that the increase should have been so great since its removal from St . George ' s Fields to its present site in 1852 , when the number of children maintained was only 65 , is amazing and almost as difficult to believe as a fairy tale .
As regards the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , the picture it is our dut y to place before our readers is the reverse of a pleasant one . The 91 st Anniversary Festival was held at the Alexandra Palace on Wednesday , the 3 rd July . Great difficulty had been experienced by the Secretary in obtaining the services of a distinguished and influential brother to preside as Chairman , but at the last moment , Bro . Eve , Past G . Treas ., came forward and expressed his willingness to undertake
a duty which had been declined by so many others . The offer was but too readily accepted , and there can be no doubt that Bro . Eve acquitted himself in what , under the circumstances was by no means an enviable position , with much credit to himself and distinctly to the advantage of the Charity . The Board of Stewards , consisting of some 335 brethren , exerted themselves manfully to ensure the success of the meeting , and though their canvass was not as productive as it mi ght and would have been
had the times been more propitious , the total they obtained was announced in the hall as £ ' 13 , 183 , which b y sums subsequentl y received was increased to ^ 13 , 604 . The London Stewards were 153 , while the Provinces were represented by 182 , including the Chairman ; the contributions of the two sections of the Craft being as nearly as possible equal . The result showed an increase of about £ 4 800 on the total obtained in 1888 , and so far we have every reason to
congratulate the School authorities on having obtained the wherewith to make good the deficiency of the previous year . But it is almost the universal belief of the brethren that a much hi gher total would have been obtained had the confidence formerl y reposed in the authorities remained unimpaired . The distribution of prizes , which may be looked upon as forming part , and a by no means unimportant part , of the Annual Festival was held on the 27 th June , the chair being on this occasion also occupied by Bro . Eve . The report of Bro . Dr . Morris the
Head Master , was satisfactory , nearl y all the boys who had attended the Cambrid ge local and other examinations having passed , in several cases with honours , to the satisfaction of the examiners , while the standard of merit throughout the School had been well maintained . But the interest taken in this event , which ordinaril y brings together such crowds of enthusiastic visitors , was this year wanting as clearly as it was a few days later at the Festival itself , and those in charge of the arrangements must have been heartil y glad when the Festival and its complementary gathering at Wood Green had passed . So far , it strikes us , the reader will have no fault to find with our record , which if not all that mi g ht have been expected , is not entirel y unsatisfactory . But on the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In 1889.
raised by a Board of Stewards , numbering 153 brethren , amounted to upwards of £ 2 , 084 , and as the result proved so considerable , the General Board determined to increase the number of children on its Educational Fund to 16 boys and 16 girls . Thus in all its branches the Mark Degree has been fortunate during the year now
virtually completed , and thoug h we cannot but regard the withdrawal from active duty of Bros . Canon Portal and F . Binckes—the one by death and the other by resignation—as being an undoubted loss , we have every confidence in the ability and devotion of their respective successors , and are confident that in their hands the prestige of the Mark will remain unimpaired .
CHIVALRIC AND HIGH GRADE MASONRY . Though many branches of our Masonic system are included under this head , our remarks will be necessarily brief . As regards the Order of the Temple , we believe we might employ almost word for word the language we used in reference to it last year . No progress has been made , but the position of Great Priory is sound , while many of the Provincial Priories show a commendable activity which
might be imitated with advantage by other Provincial Priories , which do not appear to exert themselves greatly , and of which , therefore , we hear but little . On the 21 st of June , the Great Sub-Prior , Sir Kni g ht Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke , had the pleasure of installing Sir Knight Lieut .-Col . G . H . J . Haldane as Provincial Prior of Kent and Surrey , and we venture to believe that Lieut .-Col . Haldane will take as active a part and render as important services in the new
sphere of labour thus opened to him as he has in those other fields to which his attention has been hitherto confined . Of the Order of Rome and the Red Cross of Constantine , as well as of the Royal Order of Scotland , we can record little else than that their condition has undergone no material change . They are no stronger than they were last year , but neither are they weaker . The Ancient ancl Accepted Rite has prospered
greatly , having added no less than five to its roll of Rose Croix chapters , of which two are located in South Africa , one in South Australia , and the remaining two in the provinces at home . Of these last the Magnus Chapter , No . 109 , was consecrated on the 20 th February , by Bro . Hugh D . Sandeman , Grand Secretary-General of the Supreme Council , 33 ° with Bro . Lieut .-Col . W . Newton as first M . W . S ., while the Cantabrigia Chapter , No . 112 , was consecrated by the same officer on
the 26 th April , with Bro . Josep h Bell as M . W . S . Both these chapters appear to be already well set up as regards members , and will doubtless prove successful in diffusing an ample and correct knowledge of the mysteries of Ancient and Accepted Masonry among the brethren in the towns in which they are situated . On the 28 th April the Supreme Council , represented by Bros . J . M . P . Montagu , Hugh D . Sandeman , Brigadier-General Adair , and Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , accompanied
by Bros . Frank Richardson and Major George Lambert , visited Bristol , for the purpose of holding a chapter of the G . E . K . H ., and conferred the 30 on several members of the Baldwyn , St . Paul ' s , and William de Irwin Chapters . The ceremony was performed by Bro . Sandeman in the presence of a numerous gathering of the brethren , and every hospitality was shown to the distinguished visitors , who were much gratified by the heartiness of their reception . As . regards the personnel of the Supreme Council , there have been sundry changes caused by the death of
Bro . General Brownrigg , who was Grand Prior , and has been succeeded in the office by Bro . the Earl of Limerick , while Bro . Brig .-Gen . Adair has been succeeded as Grand Captain of the Guards by Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke . The vacancies thus caused have been filled by the appointment of Bros . Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie and Frank Richardson , as Sov . G . Inspectors General . The financial condition remains as sound , the assets , including cash in bank , being very little short of £ 18 , 500 . The other Masonic bodies we have occasion to mention are the Rosicrucian
Society , the York and London colleges of which are regular in their meetings and diligent in their study of its mysteries ; the Grand Councils of the Allied Degrees and Royal and Select Masters , which both show a tendency to increase , but which , even to a greater extent than the Mark Degree , have suffered a very serious loss through the death of Bro . Canon Portal , who was at the head of both bodies , and who had been their guiding spirit—their guide , philosopher , and friend—from their
very constitution . Bro . the Earl of Euston has succeeded our late brother as chief of each council , and with Bro . Matier still at his post as Grand Recorder , will have no difficulty in conducting the affairs of the two sections . Lastly , we have the Order of the Secret Monitor , which has made great strides during the year , having added five to its roll of Conclaves , and generally strengthened its prestige , as well as the favourable opinion which has existed towards it from the very beginning of its organisation .
OUR INSTITUTIONS . It cannot be said that our Institutions have pursued the even tenour of their way during the year . The youngest of the three—the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution—was subjected for several months to a heavy fire of criticism on the ground that its expenditure was by no means as economical as it was represented to be , while the management of the Boys' School , in consequence of the report of
the Committee of Investigation , is still in the extremely unpleasant position which is known in the language of the old P . R . as being in Chancery . The Girls ' School alone has escaped attack , though in the early days of 188 9 , when it was found that the receipts in respect of subscriptions and donations for 1888 were short by some thousands of pounds of the total announced at the celebration of the Centenary Festival in the Royal Albert Hall , it seemed not improbable that its
executive would find itself in hot water . Care , however , was taken to explain how and why it was that the returns received were less than the returns announced , and that in time the latter would be fully realised , and with this explanation of the apparent deficit the critics would seem to have been satisfied . As regards the Festivals , taking them together , the amount they yielded , when compared with the
totals of former years , is perhaps disappointing , but considering the immense success of the Girls' School Centenary in 1888 , we consider the result satisfactory . It is undoubtedly gratifying to know that the two Institutions which were most in need of support received it , while that accorded to the Institution for Girls must , after last year ' s magnificent total , be regarded as in some measure equally acceptable .
Taking the Institutions in the order in which their Festivals were celebrated , we note that the Anniversary of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , was held in Freemasons' Tavern on Wednesday , the 27 th February . Bro . the Earl of Euston , Provincial Grand Master for Northants and Hunts , presided , the Board of Stewards numbered 361 as against 27 6 in 1888 , and the total announced in the course of the evening by Bro . James Terry , the Secretary , was £ 13 , 055 , which was
subsequently increased to £ 13 , 508 , as compared with £ 15 , 296 the year previous . However , we have already indicated the reasons which , in our opinion , are accountable for this diminution ; at all events , as we have said before , such fluctuations in the wrong direction must be expected occasionally . After all , the sum total was an excellent one , and the credit of having raised it must be shared pretty equally between London , whose 18 9 Stewards obtained £ 6847 , and the provinces , from
which 172 Stewards raised £ 6661 . In one sense , however , it is to be regretted that so large a Board of Stewards was unable to do more ; it did not allow of the Committee of Management recommending in their annual report that any fresh annuities should be granted , and consequently , when the Annual General Meeting of the Governors and Subscribers was held on the 17 th May , though the number
of candidates for election to the benefits of the two Funds was larger than it had been at any previous meeting , it was only possible to elect sufficient to fill the vacancies which had occurred during the year , together with the three deferred annuitants in each . Thus out of the 61 male candidates , 20 were elected , and from the 79 widow candidates 13 were elected , so that the number standing over
Freemasonry In 1889.
for a further chance or chances of election was 107 . Since then the average number of fresh candidates has been approved , and , therefore , we may reasonably expect that in May next the lists will be still more formidable . In other respects this Institution has fared pretty much as usual . The New Year and Summer entertainments were given to the inmates at Croydon , the former earl y in January , and the latter on the 25 th July . Grand Lodge also voted its usual gift of £ 70 towards
providing the Old People in residence with coals . In May the Committee announced at the annual meeting that it had purchased a strip of land adjoining the Asylum , over which the owner of the field rented by the Governors had retained the ri ght of way , and arrangements are now in progress with a view to laying out the ground thus acquired as a garden . The effect will be that the privacy of the Asylum will be preserved
while the inmates will have more spacious ground in which to enjoy themselves . Lastly , we remark that as a consequence of the somewhat bitter attacks which were directed against the management and expenditure of the presiding Committee during the earlier half of the year , a Committee of Inquiry into the working of the Secretary ' s office was appointed in September , and at the regular meeting of the Committee of Management held on the 13 th November this Committee
handed in their report , which was to the effect that the duties of the Secretary ' s office were ably and faithfully carried out , and that the emoluments received by the Secretary , the Collector , and the Clerk were in accordance with the terms and conditions of their several appointments in the first instance , and with such subsequent changes as had been made in the rate of salary paid to the Secretary . The
Committee did not inquire into the system of accounts in force in the office , because the Grand Lodge Auditor had previously expressed his belief that the system was excellent , and could not be improved upon . Thus the various loose charges which had been made b y irresponsible , and in some cases very ignorant , critics are shown to have been groundless , and the Governors and Subscribers need have no fear that the money they contribute or raise will be spent extravagantly .
The 101 st Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls was held in Freemasons' Tavern on Wednesday , the 22 nd May . Bro . Lord Henniker , Prov . G . Master of Suffolk , had kindly undertaken to act as Chairman , but his lordship was prevented from fulfilling his engagement by a family bereavement , which occurred a few days before the date appointed for the gathering . Under these circumstances , his place was taken b y Bro . the Rev . C . JMartynPast G
. , . Chaplain of England , and his lordshi p ' s Deputy in the Province of Suffolk . The Board of Stewards numbered 156 , and the total of the donations and subscrip . tions , as announced b y Bro . F . R . W . Hedges , the Secretary , was £ 5355 . London , with 80 Stewards , contributing £ 2981 , and the [ Provinces , with 7 6 Stewards ] £ 2 274- So small a result had not been recorded for many years in connection with any one of the Institutions , but it must be remembered in explanation that after
the glorious success of the Centenary , it was felt that , in common justice to the other two Institutions , but especially to the Boys' School , whose returns had been seriously affected by that success , no special efforts should be made during the present year . Indeed , at one time , we believe it was contemplated to hold no Festival at all , but wiser counsels , as we think , prevailed , and the result , as we have said , was a small but satisfactory supplement to the enormous total of 1888
But if the authorities have not bestowed their usual attention on what is ordinaril y the chief event of the year , they have not been unmindful of their other duties and responsibilities towards the Institution . The distribution of prizes , which took place the day preceding the Festival , and at which the Rev . Bro . Martyn presided , though less numerously attended than usual , was a great success . The report of the Head Governess as to the condition of the School and the progress made
b y her pupils during the year was in all respects satisfactory , nearly all the girls who had attended the Cambridge Local and other public exanimations having obtained certificates of passing . The calisthenic display was as perfect as ever and as much the theme of admiration among the visitors . Moreover , much has alread y been accomplished in the way of re-arrang . ing and enlarging the old premises , while the erection of the new hall intended to
be a memorial of the Centenary celebration of 1888 , has been making considerable progress . The outlay on those works , as ori g inally estimated , was not to exceed ^ " , 000 , but the plans have since been amended and a Special General Court of the Governors and Subscribers was in consequence summoned , in order that the altered scheme and the increased outlay it involved mi ght receive the approval of the general body . This court was held on the nth May , when the necessary authorit iven to the
y was g Building Committee to expend on the proposed works a sum not exceeding £ 31 , 000 . The elections took place as usual , in April and October , 37 girls being elected at the Quarterl y General Court held in the former month , from a list of 73 candidates , while in October , nine were elected from a list of 49 . The larger number admitted in April is explained by the fact that a resolution had previously been agreed to for increasing the number of girls on the establishment b 20
y , in consequence of the largeness of the Centenary contributions , so that the School now maintains , educates , and clothes 26 4 g irls , the daughters of our more necessitous or deceased brethren . That it should ' have increased to such an extent since its foundation is most creditable , but that the increase should have been so great since its removal from St . George ' s Fields to its present site in 1852 , when the number of children maintained was only 65 , is amazing and almost as difficult to believe as a fairy tale .
As regards the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , the picture it is our dut y to place before our readers is the reverse of a pleasant one . The 91 st Anniversary Festival was held at the Alexandra Palace on Wednesday , the 3 rd July . Great difficulty had been experienced by the Secretary in obtaining the services of a distinguished and influential brother to preside as Chairman , but at the last moment , Bro . Eve , Past G . Treas ., came forward and expressed his willingness to undertake
a duty which had been declined by so many others . The offer was but too readily accepted , and there can be no doubt that Bro . Eve acquitted himself in what , under the circumstances was by no means an enviable position , with much credit to himself and distinctly to the advantage of the Charity . The Board of Stewards , consisting of some 335 brethren , exerted themselves manfully to ensure the success of the meeting , and though their canvass was not as productive as it mi ght and would have been
had the times been more propitious , the total they obtained was announced in the hall as £ ' 13 , 183 , which b y sums subsequentl y received was increased to ^ 13 , 604 . The London Stewards were 153 , while the Provinces were represented by 182 , including the Chairman ; the contributions of the two sections of the Craft being as nearly as possible equal . The result showed an increase of about £ 4 800 on the total obtained in 1888 , and so far we have every reason to
congratulate the School authorities on having obtained the wherewith to make good the deficiency of the previous year . But it is almost the universal belief of the brethren that a much hi gher total would have been obtained had the confidence formerl y reposed in the authorities remained unimpaired . The distribution of prizes , which may be looked upon as forming part , and a by no means unimportant part , of the Annual Festival was held on the 27 th June , the chair being on this occasion also occupied by Bro . Eve . The report of Bro . Dr . Morris the
Head Master , was satisfactory , nearl y all the boys who had attended the Cambrid ge local and other examinations having passed , in several cases with honours , to the satisfaction of the examiners , while the standard of merit throughout the School had been well maintained . But the interest taken in this event , which ordinaril y brings together such crowds of enthusiastic visitors , was this year wanting as clearly as it was a few days later at the Festival itself , and those in charge of the arrangements must have been heartil y glad when the Festival and its complementary gathering at Wood Green had passed . So far , it strikes us , the reader will have no fault to find with our record , which if not all that mi g ht have been expected , is not entirel y unsatisfactory . But on the