Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

for law charges out of pocket . Could they find tiny such institution where the law charges were of such an amount ? The only person who could tell them how all the rest was done for nothing was Bro . Frank Richardson . It had been said by cranks , and , he believed , by bachelors , that the

women of the future would be superior to men . He was looking for the banners from the gallery . He was told there was under discussion a question of out-education as distinct from that which they gave in the institution . For himself he only hoped that the question would be thoroughly thrashed

out for the benefit of those who either were not qualified for election , or could not be admitted within the walls . He asked all to drink to the toast , and as they drank let their hearts go with it . Let them not forget the great good that was done , and ask the Great Architect to prosper it and all its undertakings .

After the announcement of the lists , Bro . Sir J . Dimsdale , P . G . W ., returned thanks on behalf of the institution for the magnificent sum given . The Secretary of the Institution , Bro . F . R . W . Hedges , then announced the amounts of contributions from London

and the provinces as follows : — London . £ 12 , 109 J 3 6 Provinces 15 , 9 01 2 ° Total £ 28 , 010 15 6 After the toast of " The Chairman , " proposed by Sir E .

Letchworth , G . Sec , and that of the other Masonic Charities , proposed by Alajor A . H . Bowles and responded to by Bro . J . M . AIcLeod , Sec . R . M . I . B ., the company adjourned to the concert room , where an excellent programme of music had been provided .

West Yorkshire Educational And Benevolent Institution.

West Yorkshire Educational and Benevolent Institution .

AN interesting gathering of West Yorkshire Freemasons was recently held in the Victoria Hall , Halifax . It was held to commemorate the completion of the first investment of £ 10 , 000 made on behalf of the Educational and Benevolent Institution of the Province , to celebrate

which W . Bro . J . H . Whadcoat , P . G . D ., entertained the members of the Charity Committee , the members of St . James ' s Lodge , Halifax ( in which he was initiated in Freemasonry ) -, and the princijial officers of the sister Halifax lodges , to luncheon . Altogether the company numbered

about two hundred , and Lord Allerton , the R . W . Prov . Grand Master , jiresided . Lord Allerton , in afterwards jirojiosing " Success to the West Yorkshire Educational and Benevolent Institution , " remarked that there were some things that never came to

an end , and one of the things that never came to an end in West Yorkshire was the contributions for charitable jiurjioses . That was a red-letter day for the jirovince . When the Educational and Benevolent Institution was started , now about nine

years ago , they contemjilated the raising of a few thousand pounds for the purjioses of providing assistance within the jirovince for those who were connected , or had been connected , with the Craft ujion whom times of distress and destitution had fallen . Their object was not to start for the province any rival scheme to the great Masonic

institutions in this country , but rather , bearing in mind the old saying that " Charity begins at home . " they desired , at all events in the first instance , to make safe those people for whom they felt especially responsible . To him it was a matter of great satisfaction that those enthusiastic members

who dared to fix their ideals very high had proved to be sure , safe , and wise prophets . They were gratified to know , not only that the £ 10 , 000 they finally set themselves to raise had been reached , but that a considerably larger sum had been promised . Provincial Grand Lodge and the Province

of West Yorkshire might be justly proud , not only of those who governed the province , but of those who had preceded them in office , for a more remarkable instance of fraternal co-operation he thought it would be difficult to find in the

annals of Freemasonry . He must refrain from apportioning credit in a matter of this importance , because they must never forget that to the brother who contributed £ 1 is . it might be just as much sacrifice , nay , even a greater sacrifice , than it was to the brother who gave his 50 guineas or 100

guineas . They could truly say that , so far as the brethren in the jirovince were concerned , they had one and till assisted in this great movement . By this steji they had secured to those to whom disadvantage might come , or evil times might follow , not only relief and benefit , but the kindly and

sympathetic word of the committee responsible for looking after them , which gave double 'value to the contribution . He would remind the brethren that the fund cost hardly a fraction jier cent , in administration , so that the money contributed went direct to the jiurjiose they desired , and

thus gave the fullest and the largest benefit . To W . Bro . Whadcoat they were greatly indebted for the words of counsel , encouragement , and assistance he had rendered .

W . Bro . W . P . Raynor , chairman of the Charity Committee , resjionded . One of the most significant features , he remarked , in connection with this special fund was the number of small subscribers , showing that the movement was popular among .-ill sections of the jirovince . He was jileased to announce that the sum of £ 1 1 , 500 had been

subscribed to the fund , £ 4 , 000 having been contributed during the jiast year . During the ten years Sir Henry Edwards ruled the jirovince , from 18 75 to 18 S 5 , the sum of £ 22 , 211 was subscribed by the jirovince to the Royal Alasonic Charities . In the regime of W . Bro . T . W . Tew ,

from 1885 to 18 93 , £ 21 , 616 was the amount subscribed , or a total for the 18 years of £ 43 , 827 . Since September 27 th , 18 93 , the time Lord Allerton took command of the province , the sum of £ 4 6 , 500 had been subscribed to the Royal Alasonic Institutions , and £ 11 , 500 for the special West Yorkshire Fund , making a grand total in 12 J years of . £ 5 8 , 000 .

Afterwards the annual meeting of the Charity Committee was held , under the banner of St . James's Lodge , at the Alasonic Hall , St . John ' s Place .

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