Masonic Mems.

MASONIC MEMS .

THE MASONIC MIRROR . * a * All communications to be addressed to 19 , Salisbury-street , Strand , London , W . C .

LANARKSHIRE ( MIDDLE WARD ) . —We understand a vacancy has occurred in the Provincial Grand Secretaryship of this province , owing to the death , on the 14 fch ult ., of the late lamented Secretary , Bro . Robert Bruce , who , notwithstanding his long-continued ill health , discharged the duties of Provincial Grand Secretary with untiring zeal , and took a lively interest

in all appertaining to the weal of Masonry in the province . Bro . Bruce has been cut off quite a young man of only some thirty-years of age , consumption being , we understand , the fatal complaint . The province of the Middle Ward of Lanarkshire stands , in point of seniority , number six of the thirty home province's on the roll of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , and

includes twelve daughter lodges ,- two of these are in the palatial town of Hamilton , and the remainder are distributed throughout the the towns of Airdrie , Coatbridge , Motherwell Wishaw , and other important seats , in this province , of the great mining and metallurgical industries of this thriving part

of Scotland . The present Prov . G . Master is Bro . J . Merry 31 . P ., of Belladrutn , and he has an excellent Depute Prov . G . Master in the person of Bio . Major R . D . Barbor . BEO . VICTOR HUGO . —We are pleased to receive the assurance that tbe article entitled " Bro . Victor Hugo at Home , " which recently appeared in the MAGAZINE , has been warmly

appreciated by the distinguished poet . The article having been copied by the Guernsey Mail and TelegrapJi , our esteemed Bro . Frederick Clarke , editor of that journal , received from Bro . Hugo a portrait of himself , with his autograph and "cordial remereimenfcs . " It cannot but be equally gratifying to the writer of the article , as well as to the conductors of the

MAGAZINE to find thafc Bro . Hugo thus fraternally acknowledges the good-will of his brother Craftsmen . DEATH OP W . BRO . WM . GRAY CLARKE , G . SEC . OP ENGLAND . —We deeply regret to announce the sudden demise of Bro . W . Gray Clarke , Grand Secretary , which sad event took place on Wednesday afternoon last .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

Tho distribution of prises and annual summer / efe took place on the Sfch inst ., under the presidency of Bro . Bentiey Shaw , G . S . D ., D . Prov . G . M ,, West Yorkshire . None of the previous fetes have been entered into with more zest than that which was held this year at Wood-green , to celebrate the third anniversary of the opening of the new building , and to diminish the debt of £ 10000 owing bthe institutionAbout 450 ladies

, y . and gentlemen were present , and everything that was possible to be done to make the day ' s entertainment attractive was carefully studied . Noticeable among the brethren present was Bros . Bentley Shaw , G . S . D ., D . Prov . G . M . for West Yorkshire , John Udall , H . Browse , Algernon Perkins , J . G . Chancellor , G . Cox , E . Cox , J . Creaton , E . Earthing , C . Gosden , B . Head , A H . Hewlett , S . May , W . Paas , ft . Plucknett , P . Walters , P . H Ebsworth Stewart

, R . W . , W . Young , 11 . White , H . Empson , H . Glover , the Head Master ; Eiirrian , the Chaplain ; Woodward , P . Binckes , John Bead . The pupils of the institution began the sports of the day by engaging in flat-races , running in shackles , & c , all of whieh were loudly applauded . When these were finished , the prizes were distributed by the president as follows : —Prizes presented by the institution , first class , classics , mathematics , and English , three separate prizes , to H , W , Wildman ; and for Modern Languages , one to W . E . Henty . Second class , classics , mathe- [

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

maties , and modern languages , three prizes , to G . W . Martin ; and for English , ono to A . P . Pratt . Third class , Latin , G . S . Becknell : Mathematics , W . B . Redgrave ; Erench , E . H . Martin ; English , M . E . Clough . Fourth class , Latin , French , aud English , three prizes , to W . L . Crampfcon ; and arithmetic , one to C . J . Jones . Fifth class , proficiency , P . Maile . For efficiency as monitor , W . E . Henty . Presented by the House Committee . First writing pvize , to W . E . Henty ; second , to P . H . Read .

Dictation , first , H . W . Wildman ; second , W . B . West . History , first , H . W . Wildman ; second , W . H . Parkinson . Geography and mapping , first , W . E . Henty ; second , R . C . Wilson . General attention to studies , first , 0 . F . Turner ; second , John Lewi ? . General proficiency , H . W . Wildman . Mental arithmetic , first , H . W . Wildman ; second , W . E . Henty . Proficiency in drill , first , J . Lewis ; second , W . H . Parkinson , Personal cleanliness and general attention to neatnessfirstAlfred

, , Berkely ; second , G . S . Becknell . Presented by Dr . Goodwin . —Geometry , H . W . Wildman ; Arithmetic , R . F . Bees . The Chairman addressed the lads after this distribution , and commended the winners of the prizes for the exertions fchey had made in obtaining proficiency in the different branches of study in which they had been engaged . The distribution of prizes was mingled with a concert , given in the dining hall , and Bro . John Read performed on the organ , Mr . B . Chafcterton on the

harp , and Miss Kate Chafcterton on the piano . The scholars sang the glees , " 0 ! who will o'er the downs so free , " "The hardy Norseman , " and " The Lass of Richmond Hill . " When this portion of the entertainment was concluded , the company adjourned to the grounds , where they took part in croquet and bowling , and a number of other charming games , to the music of an excellent band provided by Bro . James Weaver . At four o ' clock the visitors sat down to an admirable repast

, whieh was provided by the cook of the establishment , and as by that time the outdoor games had provoked considerable appetite , ladies and gentlemen bestowed much attention of what was set before them . A staff of waiters from Freemasons' Tavern , men well skilled in their work , were in attendance , and the dinner consequently went off in excellent style . The Chairman in toasting the Queen , said ever since she ascended the throne she bad performed the duties of her station with great

grace and dignity ; and , in giving " The Prince and Princess of Wales , and the rest of the Rojal Family , " of course alluded to fche most recent addition to the domestic cares of the Royal household , and the late wicked attempt on tbe life of the Dukeof Edinburgh . When the chairman ' s health had been proposed by Bro . Algernon Perkins , the chairman , in a very able and . feeling speech , spoke of the various advantage the school possessedand thanked the company for the warmth with

, which they had drunk his health . Then he proposed the Grand Master ' s health , and aftewards " The Ladies , " who , when Bro . llaynham AV . Stewart had acknowledged the compliment , quitted the hall to exhibit their butterfly costumes where there was a better opportunity of tlieii- being seeen . Dinner over , ifc was followed by fresh speeches , in which the excellence of the institution , which now maintains 104 boys , and the great good

ifc was effecting were announced . The chairman , who had been eulogised by Bro . Perkins for what he had done for the school , replied , and Bro . B . Stewart , acknowledging how much the institution was indebted to the ladies , proposed "The Head Master , tbe Head Matron , and the Assistant Master of the School . " Bro . Furrian was absent at the moment , and the chairman gave "The Secretary" to the institution .

Bro . F . Binckes , in rising , said , the success of this fate , beyond all other previons / efos of the school , was the firsfc made known . Not nearly the number of visitors who had coaie had been expected , and nothing in future years would he adequate as a provision for their accommodation , short of covering the quadrangle with a Brobdignagian tent . There had been a plethora of success , which was not an evanescent but a lasting triumph . Honour to whom honour was due 1 He could not

sit down without acknowledging the exertions and the kindness of Bro . Samuel May , to whom so large a share of fche day ' s success was owing . Bro . May having replied , and the Chaplain , Bro . Woodward , having been called upon to answer for himself ; said he had spared no exertion to fit the boys so to " pass through things temporal that they might finally lose not the things eternal . " In the evening the hoys gave the senate scene from " Othello , " the forum scene from " Julius Ca 3 sar , " and the pro - logue and senate scene from " Cato . " Amateur theatricals are