Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

A meeting of thc General Committee was held at the HaU , ou Thursday , the 27 th inst ., Bro . Col . John Creaton , in the chair . There were also present Bros . Joshua Nunn , R . Grey , John A . Rucker , Frank Richardson , H . A- Dubois , F . Adlard , J . H . Matthews , A . II . Tattershall , H . Venn , G . G . Brown , Raynham W . Stewart , J . S . Peirce , C . Hammerton , Edgar Bowyer , E . M . Money , H . J . Griffiths , and E . C . Massey ( Freemason ) .

The minutes of the last General Committee wcre read and confirmed , and those of the House Committee of 30 th March aud 20 th April , ol" the Quarterly Court of Sth inst ., and of the Audit Committee of 25 th March , were read for information . It was moved , seconded , and carried that tha sum of £ 1000 be invested and p laced to the Sustentation luind , which now exceeds £ 5000 .

Three petitions were considered , and being found in order were ordered to be received and placed on the list . The application on behalf of Ada A . Wright was mentioned , and the Secretary stated that he had received a letter from Bro . Molesworth , by whom the application to admit this candidate by purchase , had been made asking whether , as a sister of the child in question had } just been admitted to the institution , the present candidate was eligible .

The CHAIRMAN said he did not feel quite competent immediately to reply , but invited Bro . Stewart and the other brethren present to ventilate their views on the subject . Whereupon Bro . Raynham Stewart said that he thought that the admission was barred by law 56 : "No petition shall be received on behalf of any girl who has a sister in the institution , unless the number of vacancies is in excess of the number of candidates . " He

thought however there had been a case in the Boys' School , and he would like to refer to that before giving an opinion . He would therefore move adjournment of the subject . Bro . RICHARDSON thought that when an admission to the Institution was purchased , no election was necessary . Bro . N UNN held that Law 35 , taken in connection with Laws No . 50 and forward , rendered a petition necessary in every ( ase .

Bro . RICHARDSON said that he remembered being present on . the occasion when this law was passed , and he distinctly remembered that there was a discussion upon this very point , and it was determined that no two children of the same parents should be in the Institution at the same time . After some further conversation the CHAIRMAN said that there was

nothing in the laws to indicate that they could take two girls where one happened to be a purchase case . He did not see his way clearly for the moment , though he remembered the discussion which look place on the passing of the Law No . 56 , mentioned by Bro . Dickenson ; ancl he thought it advisable that further consideration should be deferred .

It was then moved , seconded , and carried that further consideration of the subject be deferred for a month ,, by which time Bro . Stewart would be prepared with information as to what had taken place with regard to the case that had occurred in the Boys' School . It was proposed by Bro . NUNN , and seconded by Bro . RICHARDSON , that the Salaries of Miss Davis and three assistant teachers be increased ; the whole of the several additions only amounting to /' 50 .

Bro . TATTERSHALL moved an amendment , that the subject be referred back to the House Committee , as there were very few members of that Committee present when the subject was discussed , and he thought it a matter that should be discussed by a full Committee . The amendment having been seconded , was put by the Chairman , and lost , after which the original motion was put and carried by a large majority . The next business on the agenda was thc nomination of the House and Audit Committee for the ensuing year .

Thc Audit Committee , as at present constituted , was proposed , and there being no fresh nomination , was declared duly elected . The House Committee was also proposed for re-election en bloc ; but the names of Bros . R . Grey , J . H . Matthews , and E . Montennis were also proposed , and there will , therefore , be an election . Bros . Dicketts , Money , Webster , and Bowyer were proposed as Scrutineers . ^

The Marriage Of The Duke Of Albany.

THE MARRIAGE OF THE DUKE OF ALBANY .

The Royal Wedding , which has been the subject of so much interest to the English public , and of special interest to the Craft of which His Royal Highness is so distinguished a member , took place at Windsor , on Thursday last . The morning opened in the most auspicious manner , the sun shining brightly in an unclouded sky .

The wedding guests assembled in the State Apartments of the Palace , all of which , including St . George ' s Hall , the Grand Reception Room , the Throne Room , Ante Throne Room , the Ruben ' s Room , the Vandyke Room , Guard Chamber , Zuccarelli Room , and Waterloo Chamber , were brought into requisition for the wedding festivities .

At a quarter lo twelve her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales left the Castle in a carriage drawn by two greys , and was preceded and followed by an escort of the 2 nd Dragoons . Following in the procession were the Duke and Duchess of Connaught , with whom were Princess Christian . The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh immediately followed . After a pause , during which the guard of honour was allowed to stand at case , the Queen's

procession left the Castle . Her Majesty was accompanied by Princess Beatrice and Princess Victoria of Hesse , and left by what is called the Queen ' s entrance of the Castle . There was a field officer ' s escort of the 2 nd Life Guards protecting her Majesty , who was loyally cheered along the whole line of route , and when ihe carriage , drawn by four greys , passed into King Edward ' s Gateway , leading to St . George's Chapel , a ringing cheer

went forth , in response lo which her Ma *| esty , who was looking well , graciousl y bowed her acknowledgments . Another brief pause took place , and then the sound of trumpels heralded the approach of the bridegroom ' s procession . It was preceded by an escort of thc Guards . His Royal Highness , who was accompanied by thc Prince of Wales and his brother-in-law , the Grand Duke of Hesse , was heartily cheered . The Queen did not enter St . George's Chapel till twanty minutes past twelve , and it was fully ten foliowed

minutes later before thc bride and bridegroom - . The Royal party were all vociferously cheered as they passed into the chapel , the bride receiving a special welcome . Inside St . George ' s Chapel , which was opened shortly after eleven o'clock , the scene from the organ loft was most beautiful . At a quarter past twelve a flourish of trumpets at the west entrance announced that the procession was formed . The organ pealed forth a Wedding March as the procession filed slowly up the nave . A second flourish of trumpets announced the Queen ' s procession , consisting of Her

The Marriage Of The Duke Of Albany.

Majesty , Princess Beatrice , and the Grand Ducal Princess Victoria of Hesse . Her Majesty was conducted lo the / mitt pus in front of the altar by the Lord Chamberlain . The bridegroom was received by the Lord Steward , and conducted to the choir , supported by the Prince of Wales , wearing the costume of a Field Marshal , ancl the Grand Duke of Hesse . Prince Leopold wore a colonel's costume , and walked with thc aid of a stick . Gounod ' s March was played whilst the bride ' s procession proceeded to the choir . The

Princess Helen was supported by her father , Prince Waldcck , and the King of the Netherlands . The Princess stood in front of the altar , where she was jomsd by the bridegroom , the Queen stepping forward and saluting the bride . The bridal party , formed into groups right and left of the altar , presented brilliant contrasts of colour , and formed a coup d ' ceil never seen but on rare occasions of hi gh State ceremonials , 'J'he Archbishop of Canterbury commenced the marriage service . Thc two psalms were sung to a double

chant composed by Sir G . Elvey . The ceremonial concluded with Beethoven's " Hallelujah " chorus , the united processions quitting the choir whilst the organ played Mendelssohn ' s " Wedding March . " At the conclusion of the ceremony the Queen embraced the Princess , and congratulations passed between all the Royal Princes and Princesses . On quitting the choir ihe order of . the processions was reversed , the Duke of Albany and his Duchess taking precedence for once of her Majesty at a ceremonial in her own dominions .

It was about twenty minutes past one o ' clock before the Roval party left St . George ' s Chapel . Her Majesty and the Duke and Duchess of Albany and other members of the Royal Family were loudly cheered on their way up Castle-walk , and immediately afterwards the immense concourse of spectators began slowly moving off . It is estimated there were about 20 , 000 strangers in the town .

Late . - m the afternoon their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Albany , attended by the Hon . Mrs . Moreton , and thc Hon . C . Yorke , left Windsor for Claremont , where they will spend their honeymoon . They drove by way of Castle-hill and High-street , which was thronged by an enthusiastic multitude .

Ihe following particulars of Prince Leopold ' s Masonic career may be interesting to our readers : The Prince received a part of his educa " tion at tbe University of Oxford , and hence his close connection with the Apollo University Lodge , 367 , of which he is a Past Master—having been installed Worshipful Master b y the Earl of Lathom , Deputy Grand Master of England , in February , 1 S 76 ; and with the Masonic

Province of Oxfordshire , of which he is Grand Master and Grand Superintendent , having been appointed to thc former b y his brother , the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., in 1 S 75 , and installed in 1 S 76 , and to the latter by his Royal brother and M . E . Companion , the Grand Z ., in 1 SS 1 . He was Grand Junior Warden of United Grand Lodge in the year 1877-S—his brother , His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught , being at the same time

Grand bemor Warden . On the 17 th December last , in the Friends in Council Chapter , No . 13 S 3 , he was installed M . EZ . of the Apollo University Chapter , No . 357 , Oxford , the chief part in the ceremony being undertaken by M . E . Comp . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , Grand Scribe E . On the 6 th December last he was installed Past Grand Mark Master Mason by

Grand Mark Master Mason Lord Henniker . He is an honorary member 33 ° of the Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite , and a Knight Grand Cross and Constable of the Great Priory of the Masonic Order of the Temple and Malta of England and Wales . He is likewise an honorary member of the Grand Lodgeof Scotland .

King's College Chapel And The Freemasons.

KING'S COLLEGE CHAPEL AND THE FREEMASONS .

BY BRO . T . li . WHYTEHEAD . In a quaint little book , published in 1769 , whose author was Henry Maiden , chapel-clerk of King ' s College Chapel , Cambridge , I find reference made to Freemasonry . The author was not a member of the Order , and his avowed object in producing his " Account of King ' s College Chapel " was personal profit . His description is very minute , and he gives copies of most of the agreements entered into with the Masons who constructed the

chapel . These are of course very similar to those which may be seen in the library of York Minster . The earliest indenture is dated 1476 , and is made with " John Wubrich , Maistr Mason of the Werks , John Bell , Mason Wardeyn of the same werks , " & c . The stone roof , the marvel of all ages , was , however , the work of John Wastell , Master Mason , whose Warden was Kerry Semerk , the first indenture of agreement with them havin ° * been made in 4 Henry VIH . Mr . Maiden , after describing the geometrical proportions and peculiarities of this roof , adds a foot-note as follows :

" The mystery of constructing roofs of this kind was the original secret of Free-Masons : of whom John Wastell , the Master Mason , contracted to employ not less than sixty for carrying on the works of this chapel . This note I am authorised lo add by a gentleman who has made the structure of many ancient Gothic buildings , and particularly that of King ' s Chapel , his favourite study .

"Of I ** REE-MASONS , as they were the builders of the chapel , I shall be <> - leave lo give the following account : ° '" A set of foreigners , who called themselves FREE MASONS ( because none were acquainted with the secrets of their trade except such as were Free and Accepted Members of their Society ) are said to have introduced the art of building wilh stone into England about the middle of the seventh

century . These were formerly divided into parties or companies . Each party was subject to a Master , a Warden , and other inferior officers : ( . names retained amongst Freemasons to this day ) . They assembled in one common room ( called a Lodge ) where they consulted about carry ing on the works which their Master and Warden had undertaken : for they were chiefly employed in raising cathedrals , chapels , ancl other buildings of the like kind of

. A company Free Masons ( as I am led to conclude from the second and third indentures ) , to their immortal honour , contracted for building different parts of thc chapel . They have left , 1 am told , in the course of their work , certain marks well known to all adepts of their Society . What these monuments of Masonry may bc I cannot declare : but refer my reader , if he is learned in the secrets of the fraternity , to an inspection of token about

every mysterious the building . One thing , however , I shall mention , which has been often observed : that in the South Porch of the chapel there are THREE steps , at the West Door FIVE , and in the North Porch SEVEN . These are numbers with the mystery , or at least with the sound of which Masons are said to be particularly acquainted . It is probable that thc person who was Architect of the chapel ( Nicholas Close , Bishop of Lichfield ) was a member of that Fraternity . '"