The Quarterly Courts.

THE QUARTERLY COURTS .

WE , generally , are prepared for a quiot timo of ifc at tho July Quarterly Courts of our Scholastic Institution , and , notwithstanding the excitement that has lately prevailed as to the working of tho system of management in vogue , tho meetings of lasfc week may bo said to present no special features .

The Royal Masonic Institution for Boys hold its Quarterly Court on Friday , thc 26 th ult ., when there was a fair attendance . Bro . Eve P . G . Treasurer was elected Chairman . Among those present were Bros . E . Terry

G . Treasurer , J . D . Langton , W . Lake , Bourne , Plucknetfc , Smithson , Cubitt , Scurrah , Brett , Cohen , Jones , Marwood , Hastings Miller , Mather , Hogard , Carter , Kidder , Dicketts , Morgan , J . Terry , Powell , Dr . Morris , John Stevens , Hemming , Soppet , Paas , Storr , Still , Blytb , Spaull , Dixie ,

Webb , Cumberland , Binckes ( Secretary ) . The advertisement convening the meeting , and the minutes of the last Quarterly Court were read and confirmed , after which the minutes of the Special Court of Gth Juno wore read and passed as correctly entered . Minutes of

the General Committee of 4 th May , Gth and 29 th June , and Gth July were also read . One petition , deferred by the General Committee for further information was considered and accepted , making a total of 70 candidates ,

for the election in October , from which 16 boys are to be elected . The Chairman , as a member of the Provisional Committee , and as their Chairman at the meeting held that afternoon , had only further to state , in addition to

the report already presented , which was in print ( and which he now moved mighfc be taken as read ) , that the Provisional Committee had appointed as Matron , to enter on her duties on 1 st August , Miss Harcombo , Matron of the

Royal St . Ann s Society , Red Hill . They had also made an ad interim appointment of a doctor for two months , during which time advertisments would be issued for applications for the post . The gentlemen appointed pro tem was Dr .

John Joseph Lock , who practised in the neighbourhood of Wood Green . Further , in accordance with tho authority conferred on thc Provisional Committee , they had conferred with Bro . Binckes in regard to the terms on which he should retire , and that matter was still under consideration . It

was proposed by Bro . Bovir , Prov . G . Sec . Wilts , and seconded— " That the report of the Provisional Committee bo received , and that its proceedings and recommendations do receive thc sanction of this' Quarterly Court , which authorises the Provisional Committee to carry the same

into effect . Iho motion was opposed by several brethren , who considered the Provisional Committee should complete their report on all matters before them before asking

the approval of tho Committee ; but , after some discussion , Bro . Bcvir ' s motion was put and carried . The usual vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings .

Thc Royal Masonic Institution for Girls Quarterly Court was held on Saturday , 27 th tilt ., at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . Horace Brooks Marshall P . G . T ., Treasurer of the Institution , was in the chair . There were also present Bros . George Powell , J . S . Cumberland , Herbert Dicketts , James Brett , C . H . Webb , Charles G . Hill , H . Massey , W .

M . Bywater , Col . F . Gadsden , J . Terry , Arthur E . Gladwell , and F . R . W . Hedges ( Secretary ) . After the reading and confirmation of the minutes of the meeting of 27 th April , and the reading of the minutes of the Special Court of 30 fch May , and summaries of minutes of General

Committees , for information , the Court agreed to the recommendation of the General Committee , that the 32 eligible candidates remaining from tho last election , together with tho 17 whose petitions have been since approved , be

placed upon the list for the October Election , and that nine vacancies , caused by girls leaving the School , be declared . On the motion of Bro . Herbert Dicketts , Vice I ' resident , seconded by Bro . C . H . Webb , tbe following alterations were made in the laws of the Institution :

in Law ' 65 , omit words " nucl audit . " fn l , lic first headinjr , on page 32 , omit Iho words " and audit . " fn Law i " , in first line , substitute " twelve " for " nine . " in third and fourth lines , niter thu word "finance , " omit words " and audit . "

In sixth lino , Mtb .-tilut . c " threo " for " two . " In Law 10 , after word " meet" in first line , omit words " iu the months of January , April , July , and October , " and substitute " monthly , or ol ' tcner , if necessary . " After word " payment" iu sixth lino , omit all up to thu word " report " in the twelth Hue .

Vdd , as a fresh paragraph , headed " Audit , " " tho accounts ot thc Institution shall be annually audited bv a Chartered Accountant to be elected annually by the ( . isiwr . il Committee , at tlw wco ' . hg in ilay .

The Quarterly Courts.

In Law 79 , sidd , after word "Trustees , " " anil bo annually examined by thc Accountant . " On tho suggestion of Bro . James Terry , tho words " and audit , " occurring in Law 43 , wero also struck out . With

reference to the new paragraph respecting tho auditing of tho accounts by a chartered accountant , Bro . Cumberland said ho hoped tho auditors would go through tho accounts quarterly , as well as yearly . Perhaps they might not be

ablo to examine thorn monthly . If there were errors , they would bo moro easily discovered in a tri-monthly investigation than in a yearly . Bro . Hedges said it was in

contemplation that there should be a quarterly examination . Bro . Dicketts said the accounts would bo audited monthly . Bro Cumberland observed that he did not mean examined

by tho auditors—he meant audited by the chartered accountant . Ho wanted that the accountan t ; should go through tho accounts quarterly , aa well as annually . Bro . Webb said that , anyhow , the chartered accountant would

bo responsible . Bro . Marshall intimated that they might now carry these resolutions , and then afterwards mako au additional regulation . Bro . Cumberland moved that fche

auditor go through the accounts quarterly , and once a year make out a balance sheet , and examine thc documents of the Institution . Brother Marshall : And securities .

Brother Cumberland : Yes , whatever is in the bank concerning the monetary affairs of the Institution . Brother Dicketts : In law 79 ifc says : — " All deeds and securities shall be deposited for safe custody with the bankers of the Institution in the names of fche

trustees , " and add to that , " and annually examined by the accountant . " The motion having been seconded , was carried , and a vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the meeting .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Essex will be held on Tuesday next , the Gth inst ., iu tho Library at Easton Lodge , Dunmow , the seat of the Right Hon . tho Lord Brooke , M . P ., Provincial Grand Master .

Tho meeting is called for 2 o ' clock , Prov . G . Lodge being opened punctually at half-pasfc , but previous to this ( at T 30 ) the Finance Committee will meet to audit the Provincial Grand Treasurer ' s accounts , and report

thereon . The business to be transacted is of the usual character , and will embrace the reception of various reports , of the auditors , of the Charity Committee , and in regard to the publication of the Provincial Calendar . A motion

will be made that a Committee be formed to revise tho By-laws of Prov . G . Lodge , and another thafc a grant bo

made to one or other of the Royal Masonic Institutions . We anticipate a very pleasant day ' s meeting for our Essex brethren , many of whom have for some timo pasfc looked forward to this visit to the home of the Provincial Grand

Master ; all that will be required is fine "weather to ensure a thorough success . Easton Lodge is four miles from tho Dunmow Station on the Great ; Eastern Railway , and carriages will be provided to convey the brethren to and fro .

Admission to the library will be by ticket , and must of necessity be restricted to members of Provincial Grand Lodge , but the extensive and picturesque Park , Pleasure Gardens , & c , will be thrown open to all members of Lodges in the Province , who may also be present at the

banquet . A band will be in attendance , and the grounds will be illuminated in the evening . The Great Eastern Railway Co ., besides consenting to issue return tickets

at single fares to brethren attending the meeting , on production of summons , have kindly made special train arrangements , running additional trains to and from Dunmow Station , in connection with regular trains on both the Colchester and Cambridge lines .

In connection with this meeting there is one matter we may refer to . On the last occasion when Prov . Grand Lodge assembled , a keen competition arose when the question of re-electing tho Prov . Grand Treasurer waa

brought forward . A section of the members of Prov . Grand Lodgo Avere decidedly in favour of a change ; not thafc they were dissatisfied with the way Bro . Andrew Durrant ( who has been re-elected year after year ) has

discharged his functions , but they claimed tho honour of Provincial rank should be conferred on as many worthy Craftsmen as present themselves , having due regard to tho limit ; that binds thc Prov . G . Master . We aro told that the question will again bo brought forward on Tuesday , and we can but express the hope that the question will bo considered in , a fraternal and truly Masonic spirit ?