The School Elections.

THE SCHOOL ELECTIONS .

EARLY next month the ballot papers for the half-• yearly elections of the two Educational Institutions will * be issued to the Subscribers to the respective Funds , and canvassing , will be actively engaged in prior to the

contests which will take place early in October—in connection with the Girls School on Thursday , the 7 th , and with the Boys School the following day , Friday , the 8 th .

For the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls there are twenty-six approved candidates , and fifteen declared vacancies , so that eleven will have to be rejected at . the poll , a somewhat larger number than was left over from

the April election , when of twenty-eight approved candidates only eight were unprovided for . The difference in the proportion of vacancies to candidates is this time somewhat wider than was the case in April , and as a

result a somewhat keener contest may be expected , and We are certainly of opinion such a result will be beneficial to the Institution itself , for it is a matter of positive disaster when , as was the case in April , proxies go a

begging , and cannot be lent at any rate of exchange . This question is one that requires more than a passing reference , and we shall take the opportunity of referring to it again at no distant date .

Among the candidates for the Girls School are eight accredited to London Lodges , while in another London is jointly responsible with other districts . West Yorkshire has three cases , and . with so little demand for scholarships

from other quarters will doubtless carry them all . The other cases are spread about , but it is certainly surprising to find so few applicants for what are generally regarded

as much coveted advantages . Can it be that the Committee are too exacting in regard to what they consider proper qualifications in a candidate ?

The Boys School list does not show such a dearth of applicants as has been noticeable in the other Institution of late . Here we have forty-nine candidates , of whom fifteen only , can be elected—so that there will be no

complaints from Provinces after this election that they could neither use nor lend their votes ; on the contrary , we may look for a healthy competition , and some hard work on the part of those who ultimately succeed in

" placing" the children on whose behalf they are working . London stands out prominently in connection with this election , no less than seventeen of the cases being accredited to metropolitan Lodges , while in two others

London shares responsibility with Kent , so that on this occasion London will have plenty to work for—and will probably succeed in fewer cases than usual , for the reason

that there is no efficient combination arranged for among its . members , and with several cases to work for its little stock of organisation will be so freely cut up . Among

The School Elections.

the Provinces Hampshire stands out prominently , with four cases to attend to , in one of which , however , responsibility is shared with Guernsey and Malta . Essex and Devonshire have each three cases , as also have West

Lancashire and Kent , but with them there is joint nomination—in the former with one case , and in the latter with two . Many other Provinces are interested , so that the election will probably show to the fullest the extent to which organisation is practiced in our midst .

East Anglia.

EAST ANGLIA .

THE Provincial Mark Lodge of East Anglia , which comprises the counties of Norfolk , Suffolk , Cambridge , and Essex , was held at the Masonic Hall , St . Giles' Street , Norwich , under the banner of Walpole Lodge , No . 92 , on Tuesday , 13 th ult . Many circumstances militated against a large attendance , particularly the fixing of the Provincial Grand Graft Lodge of Essex upon the same day . Before proceeding to the meeting several Brethren sat down to an enjoyable lunch prepared by Bro . Pritty , the chair being occupied by Bro . Barnard W . M . 92 .

In the absence of the Provincial Grand Master Lord Henniker and of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master Sir Francis G . M . Boileau , through indisposion , Bro . J . B . Bridgman was called to . the chair , and Provincial Grand Lodge was opened in due form . The Prov . G . Sec . read the minutes of the last meeting , held

at Cambridge , and they were duly confirmed . The Board of General Purposes reported that the number of members of Lodges in the Province was 331 this year , as compared with 852 last year . The Treasurer ' s report showed the Province to be in a satisfactory financial position .

The Brethren proceeded to the election of Treasurer for the ensuing year , and Bro J . W . Start W . M . of St . Nicholas Lodge , Harwich , was elected without opposition , in succession to Bro . J . J . 0 . Turner , of Colchester . The Provincial Grand Master in the chair then appointed the following Brethren to the Offices of the Province , and invested those who were present with their collars , on behalf of the Provincial Grand Master :

Bro . Benjamin Chennell 334 - - - Senior Warden Hugh W . H . Elwes 70 - - - Junior Warden G . W . G . Barnard 92 Master Overseer R . H . Unsworfch 70 Senior Overseer G . H . Lovewell Blake 317 - ' - Junior Overseer Rev . Donald Gotto 342 - - - Chaplain

J . W . Start 413 - - - - Treasurer Chas . H . Vincent 70 - ' - - Registrar of Marks C . D . Leech 105 - Secretary G . Ivers Bland 112 - Senior Deacon Henry Gardiner 205 ... Junior Deacon Thomas Shillitoe 105 - - - Inspector of Works R . H . Lyon 342 .... Director of Ceremonies

F . J . Snell 342 - - - - Assistant Dir . of Cers . W . G . Norman 467 - - - Sword Bearer George E . Theobald 92 - - Standard Bearer E . Sparke 105 - -. - Assistant Secretary P . C . Havers 92 - - - - Inner Guard R . F . E . Ferrier 317 Steward John Hewitt .... Tyler .

The formation of the Board of General Purposes was then proceeded with , and the following members representing the counties of the Province were elected : —Bro . Tracy , Suffolk ; Bro . H . G . Barwell , Norfolk ; Bro . Packford , Cambridge ; and Bro . J . J . C . Turner , Essex .

Before Lodge was closed an expression , of regret was recorded at the absence of the Provincial Grand Master and the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , and a message was communicated from the Prov . G . Master , through the P . G . Secretary , expressive of his regret at his absence , and of his appreciation on behalf of the Province of the kindness of Walpole Lodge in inviting the Prov . Lodge to be held under its banner .