Royal Masonic Institution For Girls

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS

SATURDAY , the 27 th June , ( the last Saturday in tho month ) , was , according to anoient custom , Ex-pupila * day , and the Institution was en fSte from 3 o ' clock . The weather was all that could be desired , and the Visitors enjoyed themselves for a few hoars with lawn tenuis aud croquet , on the spot they had so often played on in former days . About 50 ex-pupils turned up , together with several members of the House Committee , whom we

are glad to see still take a lively interest in all that concerns the Institution and its inmates . Amongst them were Bros . Sir John Monckton , Edward Letchworth , J . H . Matthews , Frank Eichardson ( Chairman for the month ) , & o . Tea was served at 5 , and a frugal supper at 8 * 30 , after which the Visitors departed , one and all expressing themselves delighted at once more returning for a few hoars to the old place where they had spent so many happy days .

On Thursday , the 2 nd inst ., the whole of the children speut the day at the Crystal Palace , the expense being defrayed out of the grant so kindly provided by the Stewards of the Festival . Notwithstanding the rain in the morning , a most enjoyable day was spent by all . The Manager of the Palace , with very kind consideration , provided seats for the party at a nominal figure to see the happy family of wild beasts perform , whioh gave infinite amusement to the

little folks , who were , after an hour ' s ride on the steam horses , all safely housed again by abont 9 o ' clock , rather tired and quite ready for bed . The children were in charge , during the whole day , of Bro . Frank Eichardson ( Chairman for the month ) , and amongst other members of the Committee present were Brothers Sir John Monckton , Charles Hammerton , J . H . Matthews , & o ., whilst , as Visitors , Lady Whiteway and her daughter went down , and most materially assisted in the day ' s amusement .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . All Letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications . — : o : —

THE BOYS' SCHOOL

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —It is none too early to open up discussion on the points touched upon by your correspondent who wrote under this head last Saturday , bnt I think whatever is said or done there should be an understanding to let bygones be byegones . We want no bitter recriminations , although personally I do not see room for any , bnt no

doubt critics will spring up who will endeavour to say much that can hurt the feelings of those who have done what they thought best in the past , even if all has not turned out just as they expected . I do uot think it is fair to blame tho men who arranged the premises ot the Eoyal Masonio Institution for Boys that tbey have proved unsuitable . No one of the original founders could have dreamt that within

so short a space of time such radical changes would have occurred . When the first portion of the estate was purchased Wood Green was right out iu the country , now it is a part of the great metropolis , and is rapidly being hemmed in on all sides by dwellings . Further than this , the Charity itself is very different to-day to what it was then , and he would have been a bold prophet who would have foretold , at the commencement of operations at Wood Green , that in 1891 the

School would have reaohed its present dimensions . I like the suggestion of your correspondent to draw up plans for the now buildings on the basis of providing for future development , and shall watch with interest to see what , if any , steps are taken to carry out the suggestion of the Pro Grand Master to find a new home for our Boys . Yours fraternally , LIIE GOVERNOR

NEW PREMISES FOR THE BOYS' SCHOOL

To the Editor ofthe FREEMASON s CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I believe in the old-fashioned principle of striking while the iron is hot , and am of opinion the supporters of the Royal Masonio Institution for Boys wonld do well to make an immediate movement towards providing tho new quarters for tho

School , whioh the Earl of Lathom suggested at the recent Festival . -There is no need for undue haste , bnt a matter of this description , if taken up at once , often runs much more smoothly than if allowed to linger on indefinitely . I have spoken to several brethren in regard to the remarks of Lord Lathom , and all agree it was a splendid point for the

Chairman of the Festival to make , and all urge that there is a great amount of enthusiasm in regard to the suggestion throughout No doubt we shall have to wait a considerable time before actual plans will be called for the erection of new buildings , but when the time pomes I should like the executive to consider the plan wbich I know 38 b

adopted y a somewhat similar Institution , at Watford I think , wnere a number of houses are built , and the children are aocommof fce « Jn these , in batches of 20 , 30 or so . I remember seeing an account or this Charity , and it struck me at tho timo theirs was a much bettor system than the one adopted in connection with the Masonic institutions , the largo buildings , of which , if handsome , aro also

Correspondence.

unwieldy in many respects . I should imagine a number of smaller houses , such as I refer to , would be cheaper , and more desirable from the point of health and many other respects , but on this point I only have my own opinion to work upon . It also strikes me that the idea of erecting a number of separata buildings would give the- different Provinces and other bodies

a special interest iu the work . A certain sum would pay for the erection and furnishing of a house , and any district raising that sum could have the house named after it . Thua the Institution might have Cheshire House , Hampshire House , Norfolk House , & c , going right through the Counties of England , and I would suggest in connection with thia idea , that at the outset the Institution offer to contribute a share towards the erection of each house for whioh

individuals might find a part of the funds . For instance , supposing £ 1000 was to be spent on each building , the Institution might offer to contribute £ 400 as its share , if Provinces and others desiring to " name " buildings would contribute the other £ 600 . The Institution will have a large sum in hand from the sale of the Wood Green property with whioh to do this , and I think it would be a happy way of starting our new buildings . I should be very pleased to see the

first honse ereoted as Lathom House , as a compliment to the distinguished nobleman who has made the first suggestion for a removal . Would it be possible to ereot this Lathom House aa a national testimonial to the Chairman , by limiting subscriptions to it to one guinea ? I think some special recognition of Lord Lathom's personal observations would be endorsed by the Craft , bnt perhaps it is too early yet to say anything on the point . When the time does come there will doubtless be no end of suggestions . Yours , & o . A PAST STEWARD .

We have been asked to insert the following : — THE MASONIO SCHOOL AT WANDSWORTH

To the Editor of the British Building Journal . SIR , —In the Boyal Academy there is a drawing of the new Centenary Hall , bearing the name of Mr . Knight as architect . I was at the meeting of Life Governors when it waa decided that Messrs . H . A . Hunt and Ralph Glutton should be architects of the

new building , and the name of Mr . Knight haa never been mentioned . This matter requires some explanation , aa it looks rather aa if two surveyors having been appointed , they got an architect to do the work . Lux .

The Birkbeck Building Society.

THE BIRKBECK BUILDING SOCIETY .

THE 40 th Annual meeting of the Birkbeck Building Society waa held on the 1 st inst ., at the Offices , 29 and 30 Southampton Buildings , Chancery Lane . The Keprt , adopted , states tint the receipts daring the yeer whioh ended 31 st March last reaohed £ 9 , 519 , 070 , making a total from the commencement of the Society of more than One hundred

and forty millions ( £ 14 , 1 , 766 , 177 ) . The deposits received were £ 7 , 993 , 047 , and the Subscriptions £ 244 , 927 . The gross profits amounted to £ 284 , 315 . The Surplus Funds have been augmented by £ 244 , 167 , and now stand at £ 5 , 098 , 507 , of whioh £ 1 , 628 , 240 is invested in Consols and

other Securities guaranteed by the British Government , and the cash in the hands of the Bankers is £ 317 , 929 . A further sum of £ 25 , 000 has been added to the Permanent Guarantee Fund , thus bringing up the amount to £ 150 , 000 , and the balance £ 134 . 315 , making together £ 284 , 315 in excess of tho

Liabilities . The whole amount being invested in Consols . The Subscriptions and Dep isits withdrawable on demand amount to £ 5 , 247 , 712 . The 13 th Triennial Bonus on Investing Shares has been allotted , and the amount placed to the credit of all Shares in existence at the

close of the 40 th year is £ 33 , 033 . The Surplus Funds ( whioh are invented in readily convertible Securities ) are sufficient to pay the Depositors 114 per 03 ut . on the amount of their Deposits .

The new accounts opjned during the year were 10 , 051 , and there are , altogether , 60 , 045 Shareholders and Depositors on the Books . Since its establishment , the Society has returned to the Shareholders and Depositors moro than One hundred millions ( £ 117 , 071 , 323 ) the whole amount having been repaid upon demand .

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