Provincial.

reverse the order of subjects on the notice paper , and call the attention of tho Prov . Grand Lodge to the report of Bros . Lyall and Symonds on the Masonic charities . He believed a copy of that report hael been forwarded to all the members of the Provincial Grand Lodge , and therefore they were prepared to give an opinion upon it . Ho had himself road it with great attention , and he must state that it met his approval in every way . Much credit he considered was due to Bros . Lyall and Symonds for the maimer in which the report had been drawn up . Their lirst duty

, as . Masons , was to look well after thoir charities ; they ought to be careful to see that their funds should be equal to meet tho desired expenditure . Tho proposition ofthe brethren referred to in their report in regard-to the provincial committees , he thought most desirable ; and he felt it incumbent upon them to endeavour to increase the funds of all their charities as much as laid in their power . He was convinced that the 'Roys School was most My conducted ; they were all educated according to their individual ability , and ho was happy to find that none had left

but who had done credit to their important society . Tliey received a most superior education , aud it had given him exceeding great pleasure to sec some of them receive thoir prizes for proficiency in learning . He had witnessed one boy ' s success iu obtaining three or four prizes for his improvement in mathematics , Greek , Latin , and particularly French a , ucl penmanship : this was one boy alone—but others were also conspicuous for their progress , though not to the same extent . These boys , when put out , made respectable and honourable members of society . He

was sorry to say he could not speak with the same satisfaction in regard to the Girls School . For himself , ho saw no reason why the girls should bo left in a stato of ignorance , while the boys received such a superior education , lie did not mean to go so far as to say tho girls should learn mathematics ancl the dead languages ; but he thought the girls should lie trained according to their capacity , so that they may go out in tho world and rise as their merit deserved . No doubt many of the girls might possess a talent for music , singing , and drawing . AA'here these talents were found let them be cultivated , so that such girls may go out as teachers ancl governesses . At present the girls in their school received no better

training than was given to many national , charity school children—they were prineipally ' taught to scrub , make beds , and wash pots and kettles . He did not mean to say that the domestic training of any girls should be neglected ; such instruction was very needful , especially that they should be taught tho -useful forms of needlework . He thought that no disgrace to tho highest lady in the land ; and , further , no lady could properly conduct her household without domestic abilities . He had referred to these things because he thought the girls of their school had not been brought up as they ought to havo been . Ho thought their

charities were very good , and the chief ornaments of the Order ; and he hoped to see them always studying , in preference to their own comforts , how far they could alleviate the wants ancl distresses of their poorer brethren . Sir Lucius said he need not go through the whole of the report , bub ho might add that he most cordially agreed with the suggestions for obtaining moro efficient ancl combined ' support from the provinces on behalf of tho charitable institutions . Bro . PerkinsWM . No . 152 said it had struck him thatin forming the local

, , , committees for the charities , the Master of each Lodge should be included ex officio . That the representatives should be selected by the brethren themselves—he quite agreed with , but the Master might be added . The Master of a Lodge naturally took a vast amount of interest in all business transacted within it , and it would generally be found an advantage if the Master were added as he suggested . Bro . Stebbing called attention to a resolution on the minute book , whicli almost met Bro . Perkins's views .

Bro . the Rev . G . R . Portal alluded to a meeting at Southampton , where a similar resolution was unanimously agreed to . He might as well state that , in drawing up the report , it had been thought some plan was possible under which all members ' could have facilities for subscribing , according to their means , to the institutions , and this was by the use of the charity box handed round at every banquet . There was an impression amongst Lodges in favour of their having the management of the contents of their own charity box ; and therefore he was willing to give up that one part of the resolution referring to the same . AVith regard to the AY , M , of a 2 U 2