The Girls' School Centenary.

House Committee to enlarge the space at present allotted to each child in the dormitories , which , acoording to the medical officer ' s report , on the overcrowded condition of these rooms , is imperatively necessary , as essential to the

preservation of the health of the children . A portion of this report is appended to the document to be considered at the Quarterly General Court to-day , and sets forth that for some time past the opinion had been

gradually growing upon him ( the Medical Officer ) that our dormitories were inconveniently crowded . To ascertain whether this were the case or not , he has lately taken measurements of all the dormitories in both Schools .

He summarises what different authorities consider to be the proper amount of cubic and superficial space for an individual , and concludes by giving calculations to show our present dormitory accommodation is deficient in floor

Bpace . Of course , this is a matter of vital importance , and although we have not hitherto heard any serious complaints as to the general health of our children , yet any

Alterations which will bring about an improvement in this respect deserves every consideration . It is urged that the scheme recommended would remove those defects of

the present building which have arisen from the additions made from time to time ; it would give separate access to all parts , thus avoiding the necessity which now exists of passing through one room to another , obviously to the

interruption and disturbance of the classes at work . It will also provide much-needed facilities for egress in case of fire . " That such means of escape at a time of conflagration—from which may the G . A . O . T . TJ . preserve us!—are

needed , is a matter which comes painfully home to us after many recent events ; and , at any rate , the subject is referred to by the Sub-Committee in their report on the defective condition of the windows , which , it is

recommended , should be rectified at once ; and they suggest that application be made at this Court for the necessary power to carry out that object . It appears that the windows , as at present arranged , are set in fixed iron frames , no part of

which can be opened sufficiently wide to admit of the escape of a child , much less an adult ! It is no wonder , therefore , the Committee recommend that the whole of the

windows of the Institution be inspected , with a view to meet this difficulty . We should think so , too ; and many of the brethren will share with us surprise that the " difficulty " has been allowed to be so long overlooked .

Probably , that which will be regarded by a majority of the subscribers as important is the provision of a Drill Hall and Gymnasium , an adjunct highly desirable to all public institutions , and especially to a ladies academy like that

now under consideration . For years past this has been a felt want at the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , the present hall , not giving room , during calisthenic exercise , for more than about 160 children . Those who have

witnessed the interesting evolutions at our School will be unanimous in their approval of any means by which the physical health and muscular development of our pupils may be improved , and to no better use could the " Centenary Hall" be devoted .

Should the report be carried , as there is every reason to believe it will be , the present Junior School and the two houses adjoining will be made into one large Junior School , with communications , & c , in accordance with

plans prepared by Bros . Clutton and Hunt . By this scheme a large extra school-room , dining-room , play room with lockers , extra dormitories to accommodate about thirfcy-five more children , greatly improved kitchen

arrangements , enlarged lavatories , baths , bed-rooms for extra staff , will be obtained , at an approximate cost of under two thousand pounds , which includes drainage , water supply , ventilation , & c . This the sub-Committee recommend should

be carried out at once , and Bro . Fenn will this afternoon move that the scheme be referred to the House Committee to carry out , at a cost not exceeding two thousand pounds . The larger portion of the scheme ( marked B on the

plans ) , and which is recommended by the Committee , is for the removal of the whole of the domestic offices to a convenient building on the new ground lately purchased by the Institution , and bounded by the public road . The new building will contain : ¦—

1 . New Kitchen Offices with Matron's room , Cooking Class-room , Honse Dining-room , and Servants' Bed-rooms . 2 . Converting the present large School-room in the Alexandra Wing into a Dining Hall ; this is urgently required , as at present the children are crowded into two rooms during meals .

The Girls' School Centenary.

3 . Converting the present Dining Hall and Cooking Class-room into one large Sohool-room , by removing the intermediate wall , and thus enlarging the Dormitory over , and gaining space for eight more beds .

4 . Building a new large Sohool-room , aboat 76 feet by 22 feet adjoining the last , with 5 . Large Dotmitories over , capable of affording sleeping accommodation with ( 45 feet superficial area to each ) for 76 ohil . dren , with the necessary Lavatories , & o . & o .

6 . Constructing new wide hard wood staircases , in place of a small ciroular staircase , and a stone stairoase with many winders . 7 . Building a large Hall for Drill assemblies of the whole School , and recreation .

8 . Covering the present Asphalte Court with wide and airy passages , Day Lavatories , Latrines , and Boot-room . The Main Entrance to the Building wonld lead through a Cloister direot into the new Drill Hall and Gymnasium , which would then be available

for the Stewards' Day and Distribution of Prizes , in lieu of the present most inadequate accommodation . This soheme would cost about £ 20 , 000 , without lighting and warming , bat will provide accommodation for about 40 additional children , besides giving increased space to the others .

Bro . Thos . Fenn , the President of the Board of General Purposes , will move that this scheme be approved , and " that the Craft be and are hereby earnestly solicited to fnrnisb the necessary funds at the forthcoming Centenary

Festival . The task of complying with this request will require all the exertions which the brethren throughout the Kingdom can summon to their aid ; though we have no apprehension that they will allow any considerations of

personal trouble or inconvenience to stand in their way . No less than two hundred and nine brethren have , up to this time , consented to act as Stewards for the Festival , and the Committee are persuaded that if their

recommendations are adopted , the inducements held out will result in such an unprecedented number of Stewards as to make it desirable that the Centenary Banquet shall be held at the Royal Albert Hall . In such an event , that fine

building , which has been the scene of some of our most imposing Masonic celebrations , would present an appearance of unusual animation , and we sincerely trust the hopes

and aspirations of the Committee may be realised in this , as in every other portion of their well-devised arrangements . The " inducements " mentioned no doubt refer to

the Centenary Jewels , Stewards' Badges , and other matters , of which there is plenty of time yet to speak . Meanwhile , we anticipate a very large attendance at the Quarterly General Court , at which the whole subject will be presented , and , we hope , be put into practical shape .

The Landmarks Of Masonry.

THE LANDMARKS OF MASONRY .

A CORRESPONDENT , in our issue of the 27 th ult ., under the well-known initials of " R . F . G ., " in reference to the use of these terms , seasonably calls attention to Bro . Parvin ' s remarks , anent Bro . Brennan ' s recent use of them , in the Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Iowa .

Bro . Brennan has truly " out-Heroded Herod" in this amusing and extensive application of our old words , the " Landmarks , " and fairly deserves Bro . Parvin's caustic critique on his revival of what practically may be termed ,

without offence , " retrograde obscurantism , in treating a question which , though confessedly difficult , we can surely discuss without the intrusion of extraneous considerations

and side issues , alike unmeaning and unrealistic . We must enter our editorial protest to-day against any such sciolistic and unhistorical use of pointless illustrations . Our old friend Bro . Jacob Norton will rub his eyes ,

like the sleeper awakened , when he reads Bro . Brennan s elaborate appeal to Bro . Mackey's well-known enumeration of the alleged Landmarks of Freemasonry . For Mackey ' s elaborate compilation and enunciation of these important and

ancient " pillars " of the Order , we feel bound to observe , are purely and emphatically his own , whether evolved from his own " inner consciousness , " or garnered out of the ideas , the lucubrations , the " fads " of others .

Bro . Brennan has not the slightest warrant , historically , arch geologically or critically , in thus claiming in respect of them universal acceptance , except so far indeed as any of us students can be affirmed fairly to be worshippers of

Infallibility , or such believers in Mackey ' s " postulates , as to claim for them one and all dogmatic definitiveness , and irrefragable authority . Mackey was no doubt a very able man , a painstaking compiler , a clear writer , a good scholar , and conscientious in his use of evidences as far as