Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

rpHE Quarterly Court was held on Saturday last , at - - Freemasons' Hall . Bro . H . Marshall , CO ., Past G . Treasurer occupied the chair . There were also present Bros . Egbert Grey , H . A . Hunt , F . Richardson , C . Hammerton , C . H . Webb , H . Massey , Henry Smith D . P . G . M . West Yorkshire , Stanley J . Attenborough , J . Bodenham ,

E . M . Money , J . K . R . Cama , J . M . McLeod , and F . R . W . Hedges ( Secretary ) , & c . After the verification of the minutes of 25 th October , Bro . Hedges read a letter from Bro . J . A . Rucker , expressing his wish to retire , on account of ill-health , from bis trusteeship of the General

Fund of tho Institution . Bro . Robert Grey , in moving that Bro . li . jker ' s resignation bo accepted with regret , said he thought it would meet tho wishes of the brethren if tho Secretary were to write a letter to Bro . Rucker , acknowledging tho many servicos Bro . Backer

had rendered to the Institution for many years past , and expressing the brethren ' s very great regret that the state of Bro . Rucker ' s health necessitated his tendering his resignation . Bro . Henry Smith secouded the motion , which was carried nem con . Bro . C . H . Webb moved that

the name of one girl be omitted from the list of candidates for the April Election ; he thought the case should receive further consideration , for several reasons . The case had been recommended by the Petitions Committee by the narrowest majority . When first considered

by that Committee it was decided not to recommend it , but , after some further correspondence , by the casting vote of the Chairman the General Committee recommended it for place on the list . In this case there were seven children of the deceased brother , but some were grown up .

The father was described as a " gentleman . " When the mother died , £ 6000 capitalised was left for the children , who were now living together ; one acting as housekeeper of the family ; the others were of an age which should justify them in seeking to obtain their living . The

invested £ 6000 brought in £ 190 a year , which in the Provinces was equal to £ 300 , or £ 350 in London . Therefore he thought the case was such as ought not to come forward for this Institution . The father did not appear to have done anything for the Institutions .

If this case was elected , a stronger and much more deserving case would be kept out . Bro . Money , in seconding tlio motion , said it was shown to the Inquiry Committee that two or three of the girls of this family were over

20 years of age . If they were not working they had had a good education , and thoy ought to teach the younger children , and not appeal for charity . Tho object of the Committee was not to have too largo a list of candidates . Bro . Hedges said he communicated with the brother who

brought forward tbe case aftor Bro . Webb gave notice to tho General Committee , and that brother tolegraphod back : — " No further information . Was afraid tho income would be fatal . " The father of tho child was initiated in Warwickshire , and joined a Lodge in Berks and Bucks .

Bro . Henry Smith said that the qualifications of the father and the child being correct , the General Committee could not help putting the child on ; but it was for the Quarterly Court to say whether or not it should be kept ou . Brother Attenborough , in supporting tho motion , said the reason he

acted as he did on the Committee was that there were a largo number of children who were totall y dependent on their parents , or one parent , who had no iucome whatever . In one case there were ten children dependent on one woman ; and when they considered this case , where thoy

were able to support themselves , he thought it ought not to be put on . Bro . Richardson on that occasion in giving 1 • • If O O ins casting vote pointed out that cases which nearly approached this case had been accepted , and he did not think he shonld be justified in opposing the case . It was

then decided that this name , together with ono other , be omitted , and tho list of candidates for election next April was declared to be 43 , while the vacancies will be 21 . Bro . C . Hammerton P . G . S . B . brought forward tho following motion , as Chairman of the Centenary Committee : —

" Any Lodge , Chapter or Society having contributed upon the List of a Steward at the Centenary Festival of tho Institution shall , in recognition ( hereof , be entit ' ed , on the payment . oE the sum of , C 13 to cover tho cont , to place ( under the superintendence of the

Aiclntect of the Institution ) a Memorial iu one of the lights of the AVindotv i or on tho Wall framing of the Centenary Hall . And shall VI-I further entitled , in raspact of the same , to two Vu cs in perpetuity , or to four Yotes in perpetuity , should the Lodge , Chapter

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

or Society be a Vice-President of the Institution prior to tho tunc of such payment . " The right to place a Memorial under this resolution shall cea-o at such time as the Centenary Committee by resolution shall determine . "

He said there was a desirability in having windows decorated with coats of arms from different Lodges , as they would materially assist the beauty of tho building . The hall itself , when finished , would look very handsome , but painted windows would add to tho effect .

What was worth doing at all was worth doing well , and putting these windows in at such a cost would bo a very moderate way of finishing it off . Many Lodges had already intimated their desire to put in windows , but he wished now to alter his proposition as printed ,

because as it now read it excluded Lodges which ho was of opinion should be included . A letter had been received , stating that it precluded some coming iu bec . iusu the

money did not come out of the Lodge on the Centenary List , one Lodge sonding something like £ 300 contributed by tho members of the Lodge , and not by tho Lodge , so that it would exclude them . Bro . Hammerton then altered his

motion to tho following form : " Any Lodge , Chapter , or Society having been represented by a Steward at tho Centenary Festival of the Institution shall , in recognition thereof , be entitled , at the discretion of the Centenary Committee , on the payment of the sum of £ 13 for each

memorial light to cover the cost , to place ( under the suporintendance of the architect of the Institution ) a memorial in one ov more of tho lights of the windows or on the wall-framing of the Centenary Halj . And shall be further entitled , in respect of tho same , to two

votes in perpetuity , for each sum of £ 13 so paid , or to four votes in perpetuity , should the Lodge , Chapter , or Society be a Vice-President of tho Institution prior to the time of such payment . The right to place a memorial under this resolution shall cease at such time aa tho

Centenary Committee , by resolution , shall determine . Bro . C . H . Webb seconded the motion . He thought the proposition quite correct . It would not prevent the completion of the work or the opening of the hall when finished , which lie hoped would happon at no distant period . It

would enable every Lodge to contribute . In answer to questions , Bro . Frank Richardson said if they had more applications than space , the Committee would have to decide when to stop . If there was a Lodge which had hover

contributed a penny piece , it ought to stand out . Bro . Henry Smith , in supporting the resolution , said the Provincial Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire would he ono of those bodies whioh would have been excluded

but for Brother Hammort ' ju ' s suggoted altjiation ia the wording of the resolution , although altogether West Yorkshire contributed about £ 3000 . Tho resolution , as altered , was then carried . Bro . Frank Richardson P . G . D ., Patron , moved— " That the Trustees of the Institution bo

and are hereby requested and authorised to sign a petition to ouch Hutiso of Parliament against the ' Various Powers Bill' presented by the London Brighton and South Coast Railway , so far as the same relates to the Royal Masouio Institution for Girls , aud to make such opposition thereto

as Counsel may advise , or may bo necessary for the protection of the property of tho Institution . " The bill of the Brighton Railway was a very iaiportaut one . Thoy

had scheduled the new gates which had been put up at a cost of £ 100 facing the Common ; they proposed to take 12 ont of IS feet of land at the side of the main building , and lia'f of the Jnnior School itself and the whole of tho

frontage to the high road . Iho House Committee had retained Bro . Samuel Pope , Q . O ., aud he ( Bro . Richardson ) thought thoy should bo on tho safe sidy , and petition against the Bill , for , if carried , the railway would coma within six feet of the building . It would be iu a cutting

twenty-hve feet deep , aud it would be absolutely dangerous to the structure . If the railway damaged the place like that , they would have to take it altogether , and it was worth a quarter of a million . He then moved his resolution , which was put and carried . A vote of thanks to the Chairmau closed the proceedings .

Birth.

BIRTH .

AVOODFIELD . —On the 31 st nit ., at 35 Hnddlo 3 ton Road , Tufncll Park , f o wife of G EO . W . WoodFiELD of a daughter . DEATH . KIDDER . —On 3 lst January , at 20 Chiremont Square , N ' ,, KDWMUI Enwirf IUHKATT Kinuiiit , solicitor , aged 11 ytars , only son of W . 0 . KIDDUK , E-. q ., solicitor .