Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

beautiful and graceful , and he would confide to them this secret , that if any of them ever felt disposed not to yield to the impulse of contributing to that Institution , he warned them never to go near it and see it . He did not mind who the man was who went there and witnessed those children looking so contented , so clean , so healthy , so happy , with the heartiest touch of sympathy which there is between the staff and the children , the obvious confidence between the children and

their teachers , if they let their mind and memories go back for a little while , and remembered that the fathers of those girls who often met within lodge under circumstances vastly different , he was quite certain that they could not resist the appeal that it makes to humanity by equipping them for the battle of life , with all the blessings of health

and sense , he felt sure the Institution never need fear it would ever be allowed to fail . The impression left upon him by his visit to those children was that they were deeply indebted to the Board of Management , to the Matron , to the staff of

teachers of that Institution . He believed it to be one which was excellent in administration in itself . It was doing a great and a good work , and he commended to their care those girls , and asked them to join him in devoutly hoping that the Great Architect of the Universe would continue to keep them in His care and guidance .

Bro . Hedges then read the list of subscriptions , of which the following is a summary : — 226 STEWARDS—LONDON £ 8 , 740 8 6 653 STEWARDS—PROVINCES , & C ... J 6 , 293 l 6 879 STEWARDS—GRAND TOTAL ... . £ 25 , 033 10 o

Bro . Henry Smith , P . G . D ., replied to the toast on behalf of the Treasurer , Bro . Sir Reginald Hanson , who was engaged in discharging a similar duty to an institution having a prior claim on him . As a former Treasurer , he desired to convey his sincere appreciation and gratitude for the munificent support accorded to the Institution by the

devoted services of the noble band of Stewards , to whom they were indebted for the splendid sum announced by the Secretary , whom , he was sure , they all rejoiced to see in improved health . He concluded by informing the brethren that the House Committee had been fortunate enough to

secure the extremely valuable services of Bro . the Hon . Alan de Tatton Egerton , M . P ., Provincial Grand Master of Cheshire , to preside at the Annual Festival in May , 1904 . "The Health of the Chairman" and other toasts followed , and the company then adjourned to the Temple , where , under the direction of' Bro . Robert Dennant , an excellent entertainment was given .

The annual prize distribution took place the previous Monday , and much as there is in the varied doings of Freemasonry to call forth the best and most generous emotions of our nature , we doubt whether anything embraced under its far-reaching scope can compare with the genuine pleasure and satisfaction which a visit to the

Girls' School evokes . This meeting was no exception to the rule , when the Hon . Mrs . Biddard , daughter of Lord Allerton , attended , accompanied by the Hon . F . S . Jackson , to present the prizes to the successful pupils . The proceedings opened by Bro . Sir Edward Letchworth

announcing that Lord Allerton , who had kindly undertaken to preside at the Annual Festival of the Institution on Wednesday , the 13 th of May , was , in consequence of his having to attend their Majesties on their journey to Scotland , unable to be present on this occasion , but they were fortunate

in having his lordship well represented by his daughter , the Hon . Mrs . Biddard , and by his son , Bro . Jackson , whose name was well known wherever the noble game of cricket was played . The pupils then went through a well selected programme of

music , as well as a display of calisthenics and marching , much to the delight of all present . The presentation of prizes then took place , the result of public examinations in 1902 , and in this connection it is satisfactory to note that during the past fourteen years no less than 440 , out of 4 66 entered , have passed the Cambridge Local Examinations .

At the close of the distribution , Bro . Sir Edward Letchworth proposed a cordial vote of thanks to Mrs . Biddard for having so kindly undertaken the duty of presenting the prizes . He was sure he expressed the feelings of all the children who had received the distinctions when he said they would always have pleasure in the remembrance that they had received the

prizes at the hands of the daughter of the Grand Master of the province to which the Institution owed so much . The vote was carried by acclamation . The Hon . F . S . Jackson acknowledged the vote of thanks on behalf of his sister , who had desired him to express her satisfaction at the success of the pupils and the hope that