R.M.I. For Girls.

R . M . I . FOR GIRLS .

MHHE Quarterl y Court of Subscribers and Governors was - * - he'd on Thursday , 7 tb insb ., at Freemasons' Hnll , Bro Frank Richardson P . G . D . in the chair . There wero also present Bion . J . II . "Mntlhews , James Brett , Alfred C . Spnull , H . Massey , W . G . Kentish , Peter do L . Long . C . H .

Wehb , Wm . Morley , J . S . Cumberland , G . Adamson , K . M . Money and 1 ' . R . W . Hedges ( Secretary ) . The Chairman said that the 10 guineas voted to the children ' s New Year ' s entertainment was well laid otit , for on Monday a mnBt enjoyable and successful evening was the

result , and the compp . ny , including Bro . Sir Joseph and Lady Savory , were much p leased with the arrangements of the Institution . After the reading of the various minutes . Bro . J . H . Matthews P . G . D . D . O ., Patron , moved : —

" That in consequence of vacancies caused by children elected in October not beinjr of age to be received into the School , that the four next highest unsuccessful candidates be admitted , under Law IX . " He said the object of the motion was that no bed should be racant . Another reason was that the fourth child to

he taken in was a last chanco case , and ho had , as all others had , great sympathy with last chance cases . He asked the Secretary to let him look at tho potition in this fourth case , and when he saw it he ascertained it was a good one all round . Bro . Morley seconded the motion , which was

carried . The following motion was then adopted : — " That the three eligible candidates remaining from the Inst election , tngethor with tho 20 whose petitions have beeD since approved , bo placed upon tho list of candidates for tho April election , and that 10 vacancies bo declared . " A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings .

The first meeting of the year of the Council of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys was held at Freemasons ' Hall on Saturday last . Amongst those present were Bros . John Glass , J . S . Cumberland , W . A . Scurrah , H . Dickey , Samuel H . Parkhonse , J . J . Thomas ,

W . Adams , J . W . Burgess , George Everett Grand Treasurer , H . Massey , J . E . Le Feuvre , Stanley J . Attenborough , J . H . Stock , James Brett , George Corbie , W . D . Church , Robert Martin , H . W . Green , John Barnet , jun ., Robert W . Bourne , Rev . H . A . Hebb ( Head

Master ) , and J . Morrison McLeod Secretary . The Council recommended to the Quarterly Conrt the adoption of thirty-eight candidates for the April election , and the declaration of twenty vacancies in the School . Bro . Eve moved a resolution of condolence with the widow and

family of the late Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke Grand Secretary . The Craft at large had sustained a severe loss by the death of the Grand Secretary , who brought to bear

on the decision of cases a judicial mind seldom found , while , as a rule , his judgments gave satisfaction to all . Bro . Scurrah seconded the motion , which was carried . The Council ' s proceedings were then closed .

The fourth annual ball in aid of the Benevolent Fund attached to the Barnato Lodge , No . 2265 , will be held at the Whitehall Rooms , Hotel Metropole , on Thursday , 11 th February , and will , no doubt , be as great a success as any of its predecessors . An efficient body of Stewards has

been formed , and a dispensation granted b y the M . W . Grand Master for brethren to wear either Craft or Royal Arch clothing . The price of the tickets , which includes refreshments , wines , spirits , and a champagne supper , are gentlemen £ 1 10 s , ladies £ 1 Is , double tickets to

admit lady and gentleman £ 2 5 s , and as the number will be strictly limited , early application should be made , to any member of the Lodge , or to Bro . Tom Honey , No . 1 Drapers' Gardens , E . C ., Hon . Secretary to the Ball Committee .

The Berkshire Freemasons held a special Provincial Grand Lodge on Wednesday afternoon , at the Masonic Hall , Reading , under the presidency of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master . Brother John T . Morland , for the purpose of considering the question of making a suitable

presentation to the Duke of Clarence Provincial Grand Master of Berkshire , on his approaching marriage with Princess May . The thirteen Lodges in the Province were well represented , and tho proceedings proved most heart y and unanimous . The Deputy Provincial Grand Master

R.M.I. For Girls.

proposed that an address of congratulation he presented b y the Fieemasons of Berkshire to tho Right Worshi pful the Provincial Grand Master , on his approaching marriage , and that such address be accompauied by a suitable wedding gift . Brother Tomkius Past Provincial Senior

Grand Warden , seconded the motion , which was unanimously agreed to . A resolution was afterwards adopted appointing an influential committee to carry out the arrangements . Before separating the Deputy Provincial Grand Master paid a hig h tribute to the personal qualities

unci official ability of the late Grand Secretary Colonel Shadwell Clerke , and a resolution was passed expressing the sense of the brethren of the great loss Masonry had sustained by his much lamented death , and sympathy with his bereaved relatives .

It was arranged yesterday that the Corporation of Edinburgh shall celebrate the wedding of the Duke of Clarence with Princess Victoria of Teck by providing a dinner for 600 poor people , and presenting the Princess with a gift , the nature of which has not yet been decided .

A general holiday will be declared , and the city will be illuminated . A great bonfire will be lighted on Arthur ' s Seat , which will form one of a series of fires from various hills illuminating the whole of the east coast of Scotland beyond Edinburgh .

The Old Folks At Croydon.

THE OLD FOLKS AT CROYDON .

nTHE Now Year ' s entertainment to the annuitants of the Royal Masonio Benevolent Institution resident in the buildings at Croydon was given on Wednesday , when those who tako an interest in these speoial gatherings left London in saloon carriages provided by the South-Eastern Eailway Company . Among those present were Miss Harriet Cotter , Mrs . Jennings , Dr . H . J . Strong , Mrs . Horsdail , Bros . Charles Frederick Hogard ,

Hngh Cotter P . M . 554 , Robert D . Cnmmings P . M . 2168 , and W . J . Crutch P . M . 1278 , Bro . John Oldis P . M . 1288 and Mrs . Oldis , Bro . Wm . Lawrence 2168 and Mrs . Lawrence , Bro . George F . Cook 1580 , Bro . J . T . Briggs P . M . 157 , Bro . Alexander Mnllord P . M . 1288 , Mrs . Mnllord , and Miss Alice Mnllord , Bro . W . H . Hnbbert P . M .

1625 , Bro . Edward James Anning P . M . 162 o , Mrs . Anning , and Miss Anning ; Bros . Henry Massey P . M . 619 and 1928 , and Charles Kempton P . M . 1287 , Miss M . E . Raiker , Miss L . Eaiker , Miss A . 6 . MoKenzie , Miss Terry , Bros . Dr . Wayte , Kobert GriggB , J . G . Stevens , John Mason , and Smart ; Bro . Bowyer and Mrs . Bowyer , Bros . Geo . Smith , W . M . Wheeler , J . Chudderworth , and W .

Sycklemore . Bro . Terry , who oame that morning from Dadley , received the party , and wished each " A Happy New Tear , " a greeting which was heartily extended to the annuitants a few minutes later when they assembled at dinner . Dr . Strong presided , with Bro . Terry in the vice-chair .

The feast , for such it deserves to be called , was followed by the toast of tho Queen , Patroness of the Craft and of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , proposed by the Chairman , who next proposed the Founders of the Feast ; he was sorry to miss the faces of many old friends who had assisted in these entertainments by their presence , by their pockets , and in kind . But they were not away in

spirit ; it was only in their person , through illness , the terrible influenza keeping several away , and doing no good to any one , —bat the dootors . It was an ill wind that blew nobody any good , so he supposed he must not say much about it . Bro . Mullord said it was a great treat to be able to minister to the happiness and gratification of one ' s fellow oreatures ; he and all

those who assisted at the day's enjoyment were only too thankful that they were able so to do . Success to the Institution and the worthy Secretary , Bro . Terry , was the next toast ; Dr . Strong said Bro . Terry had travelled all the way from Dadley in order that he might not be absent from this New Year ' s meeting .

Bro . Terry , in responding , said the present year was an eventful one in the annals of the Boyal Masonio Benevolent Institution . There were two great events which had taken place in 1891—one the Jubilee of this Institution , and the other the 50 th birthday of the Prince of Wales . He had not the slightest doubt that the Queen , if she knew this Institution was founded in 1841 , thought it right that

sho shonld present the nation with a son to celebrate its foundation . Therefore those two events certainly marked an epoch in history . What the result of the Festival might be which was to celebrate the 50 th year of the Institution conld not possibly be foretold , but np to that morning there was a list of 919 Stewards—the largest ever known at these Festivals . Well , if each of these Stewards brought up £ 40 there

would be nearly £ 37 , 000 . Of course it would be wholly out of place to think of having Freemasons' Tavern for holding the Festival ; and casting their eyes about for a suitable place there were to be found but two in London—one the Albert Hall , the other Covent Garden Theatre , which belongs to Bro . Sir Augustus Harris P . G . Treasurer . Which of the two would be chosen by the Committee lie could not say , but

whichever it was , ho hoped it would be for the benefit of the Institntion . As Dr . Strong had informed them , he ( Bro . Terry ) was the night before at Dudley , and when he told the brethren there that £ 16 , 000 was annually required to pay the annuitants who were on the books of this Institution ; that there were at present on the list of candidates for next year 150 persons , and only