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Article THE GIRLS' SCHOOL CENTENARY. Page 1 of 2 Article THE GIRLS' SCHOOL CENTENARY. Page 1 of 2 →
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The Girls' School Centenary.
THE GIRLS' SCHOOL CENTENARY .
INDICATIONS are now before us of the elaborate and comprehensive arrangements that are in contemplation by which to celebrate the Centenary of this noble Institution , the oldest of the three benevolent establishments connected with the Masonic Craft . It is
unnecessary for us to enter into minute details as to the origin of the Institution , which has , within the hundred years ending next year , conferred such inestimable benefits upon thousands of children of deceased or indigent
Freemasons , upon families suddenly bereft of the breadwinner , or who had become reduced to low ebbs of poverty by circumstances over which they had no control . The history of the Girls' School has often been written , and it
is with its present and future that just now we are most concerned . Masons everywhere have failed to conceal from each other that there is a " sneaking regard " for the Girls' Institution , or it may be better put as a
sentimental kind of favouritism for an organisation which makes its special aim the care , maintenance , clothing and education of our " little daughters , " to shield them from the disadvantages , and perhaps dangers , to which those
who have been deprived of parental supervision might otherwise have become exposed , and not only prepare them for the stern realities of after life , but to watch that life , when they leave our School , with guardian solicitude and
affection . Such an object conld not possibly fail to enlist the cordial co-operation and support of every right-thinking individual , and there is little cause for surprise that the R . M . Institution for Girls has become the pride and boast
of our Fraternity , as it is the admiration of the world . The extensive premises at Battersea Rise , which periodically attracts the attention and inspection of so many of our brethren and their ladies , may be described , without fear of
contradiction , as the finest female academy in this or any other country . The pupils there are trained to such a degree of perfection that , no matter into what grade of society they may hereafter be called to move , they are in every respect
fitted to discharge their duties and responsibilities , and to display those accomplishments which may be required of them . It is but natural that the wives and lady connections of Freemasons should be drawn with peculiar force into
sympath y with such a movement , and probably that may account in some measure for the predilection which so many of the Craft display in favour of " Our Girls . " It is truly a great and glorious sight to witness the assemblageeither
, at their work or recreation , of over two hundred and fifty young girls , happy in the possession of a home where every comfort is at hand , and where they are provided with
the best means of present social and intellectual enjoyment , combined with such a system of tuition that must fortify them for the battle of life , when they have to meet it , outside the walls of the School .
We fear we should be tempted into a lengthy and unnecessary eulogium of this magnificenKsection of the Masonic enterprise but for the knowledge that the merits of the scheme are already fully known to , and ^ predated by , those who so gladlv contribute to its support . 6 it
Q , in the present instance , we merely glance at that part of the subject in outline , it must not be taken that onr interest in the past achievements of the School has iminished , but rather that we desire , in the most emphatic aT > ner , to call the attention of our readers to the measures
The Girls' School Centenary.
that are being devised for celebrating the Centenary with all that enthusiasm and substantial eclat which so momentous an eveut demands and deserves . During the present year , as is well known , the Executive pat forth exceptional efforts , and , aided nobly by the subscribers to the funds , they were enabled to mark the Jubilee of
Her Majesty's reign by admitting to the Institution all the applicants upon their list , without a contest . That most laudable achievement was hailed with universal satisfaction
amongst the brethren , though they may regard it as but a foretaste of what is to be done next year , in celebrating the Centenary of the Girls' School .
It will be recollected that some time ago a Centenary Committee was appointed , to consider and draw up a comprehensive scheme for the celebration of the Hundredth Anniversary of the existence of the Institution . These
gentlemen , with commendable promptitude and tact , set to work , and have produced a number of suggestions , which will be submitted for approval at the Qaarterly General Court to be held to-day ( Saturday ) , at Freemasons ' Hall . There is not a shadow of doubt that the motions of
which Bro . Thomas Fenn , President of the Board of General Purposes , has given notice will be unanimously carried , and the report of the Committee adopted . It is necessary , before further alluding to these resolutions , to give as
concise an outline as we can from the reports and plans before us , of what is intended to be done . The Committee , as a preliminary step , requested the House Committee to draw up a scheme for uniting Lyncombe House and the
premises recently purchased into an enlarged Junior School , with one general frontage , and also for any extension or improvements in the main building which they might consider necessary , and the construction of a Drill Hall
and Gymnasium . The House Committee appointed a Sub-Committee for that purpose , availing themselves of the valuable professional services gratuitously offered by Bros . Clutton and Hunt , architects . The scheme , which
the Centenary Committee " entirely concur with the Sub-Committee in strongly recommending , " involves the erection on part of the present site—in a line with what is now known as the " Alexandra Wing , " or Dining Room
—of a Drill Hall and Gymnasium , to be called the " Centenary Hall , " and for the re-building of the whole of the domestic offices , with large and necessaryadditions , on part of the strip of land purchased
about two years ago . Another scheme was propounded , but it was found that although less costly , it could not be carried out without virtually closing the Institution for a considerable time , and , as the result would be , in their
opinion , incomplete and unsatisfactory , the Committee do not recommend it . According to the approved plans , it is suggested that the new kitchen and domestic offices should be built first , on the strip of land abutting on the
Cornyn Road , as already referred to . This could be carried out and completed without disturbing the ordinary work of the Institution , which is obviously most desirable . The enlargement permitted by the removal of the . se nece-t .-ary
offices from their present position , between the Dining Hall and Play Room , would give accommodation for fori y more children in the main building , and at a future time further
accommodation could be provided without any great additional expense , so that the combined schemes now suggested wonld provide for seventy-five children beyond the number at present in the School . Besides these advantages , the alterations recommended would enable the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Girls' School Centenary.
THE GIRLS' SCHOOL CENTENARY .
INDICATIONS are now before us of the elaborate and comprehensive arrangements that are in contemplation by which to celebrate the Centenary of this noble Institution , the oldest of the three benevolent establishments connected with the Masonic Craft . It is
unnecessary for us to enter into minute details as to the origin of the Institution , which has , within the hundred years ending next year , conferred such inestimable benefits upon thousands of children of deceased or indigent
Freemasons , upon families suddenly bereft of the breadwinner , or who had become reduced to low ebbs of poverty by circumstances over which they had no control . The history of the Girls' School has often been written , and it
is with its present and future that just now we are most concerned . Masons everywhere have failed to conceal from each other that there is a " sneaking regard " for the Girls' Institution , or it may be better put as a
sentimental kind of favouritism for an organisation which makes its special aim the care , maintenance , clothing and education of our " little daughters , " to shield them from the disadvantages , and perhaps dangers , to which those
who have been deprived of parental supervision might otherwise have become exposed , and not only prepare them for the stern realities of after life , but to watch that life , when they leave our School , with guardian solicitude and
affection . Such an object conld not possibly fail to enlist the cordial co-operation and support of every right-thinking individual , and there is little cause for surprise that the R . M . Institution for Girls has become the pride and boast
of our Fraternity , as it is the admiration of the world . The extensive premises at Battersea Rise , which periodically attracts the attention and inspection of so many of our brethren and their ladies , may be described , without fear of
contradiction , as the finest female academy in this or any other country . The pupils there are trained to such a degree of perfection that , no matter into what grade of society they may hereafter be called to move , they are in every respect
fitted to discharge their duties and responsibilities , and to display those accomplishments which may be required of them . It is but natural that the wives and lady connections of Freemasons should be drawn with peculiar force into
sympath y with such a movement , and probably that may account in some measure for the predilection which so many of the Craft display in favour of " Our Girls . " It is truly a great and glorious sight to witness the assemblageeither
, at their work or recreation , of over two hundred and fifty young girls , happy in the possession of a home where every comfort is at hand , and where they are provided with
the best means of present social and intellectual enjoyment , combined with such a system of tuition that must fortify them for the battle of life , when they have to meet it , outside the walls of the School .
We fear we should be tempted into a lengthy and unnecessary eulogium of this magnificenKsection of the Masonic enterprise but for the knowledge that the merits of the scheme are already fully known to , and ^ predated by , those who so gladlv contribute to its support . 6 it
Q , in the present instance , we merely glance at that part of the subject in outline , it must not be taken that onr interest in the past achievements of the School has iminished , but rather that we desire , in the most emphatic aT > ner , to call the attention of our readers to the measures
The Girls' School Centenary.
that are being devised for celebrating the Centenary with all that enthusiasm and substantial eclat which so momentous an eveut demands and deserves . During the present year , as is well known , the Executive pat forth exceptional efforts , and , aided nobly by the subscribers to the funds , they were enabled to mark the Jubilee of
Her Majesty's reign by admitting to the Institution all the applicants upon their list , without a contest . That most laudable achievement was hailed with universal satisfaction
amongst the brethren , though they may regard it as but a foretaste of what is to be done next year , in celebrating the Centenary of the Girls' School .
It will be recollected that some time ago a Centenary Committee was appointed , to consider and draw up a comprehensive scheme for the celebration of the Hundredth Anniversary of the existence of the Institution . These
gentlemen , with commendable promptitude and tact , set to work , and have produced a number of suggestions , which will be submitted for approval at the Qaarterly General Court to be held to-day ( Saturday ) , at Freemasons ' Hall . There is not a shadow of doubt that the motions of
which Bro . Thomas Fenn , President of the Board of General Purposes , has given notice will be unanimously carried , and the report of the Committee adopted . It is necessary , before further alluding to these resolutions , to give as
concise an outline as we can from the reports and plans before us , of what is intended to be done . The Committee , as a preliminary step , requested the House Committee to draw up a scheme for uniting Lyncombe House and the
premises recently purchased into an enlarged Junior School , with one general frontage , and also for any extension or improvements in the main building which they might consider necessary , and the construction of a Drill Hall
and Gymnasium . The House Committee appointed a Sub-Committee for that purpose , availing themselves of the valuable professional services gratuitously offered by Bros . Clutton and Hunt , architects . The scheme , which
the Centenary Committee " entirely concur with the Sub-Committee in strongly recommending , " involves the erection on part of the present site—in a line with what is now known as the " Alexandra Wing , " or Dining Room
—of a Drill Hall and Gymnasium , to be called the " Centenary Hall , " and for the re-building of the whole of the domestic offices , with large and necessaryadditions , on part of the strip of land purchased
about two years ago . Another scheme was propounded , but it was found that although less costly , it could not be carried out without virtually closing the Institution for a considerable time , and , as the result would be , in their
opinion , incomplete and unsatisfactory , the Committee do not recommend it . According to the approved plans , it is suggested that the new kitchen and domestic offices should be built first , on the strip of land abutting on the
Cornyn Road , as already referred to . This could be carried out and completed without disturbing the ordinary work of the Institution , which is obviously most desirable . The enlargement permitted by the removal of the . se nece-t .-ary
offices from their present position , between the Dining Hall and Play Room , would give accommodation for fori y more children in the main building , and at a future time further
accommodation could be provided without any great additional expense , so that the combined schemes now suggested wonld provide for seventy-five children beyond the number at present in the School . Besides these advantages , the alterations recommended would enable the