Festival Of The Girls' School.

FESTIVAL OF THE GIRLS' SCHOOL .

THE Eoyal Masonic Institution for Girls does not appear to be occupying a very favourable place just now in the estimation of the English Craft , and the result of the Festival held on Tuesday , under the presidency of Lord Carrington , -would seem to prove that the Charity is not nearly so popular as it was a

few years back . How long this state of affairs will continue , or what is likely to occur if some change does not take place at an early date , it is impossible to say , but it is very certain the subscriptions announced as the result of this year's Festival—which totalled up to £ 8 , 911—will not allow of the work oi thn Institution bein

- —— o twelvemonths without a heavy encroachment upon the accumulations of the past , and once the Institution has to rely on its past savings to pay its current expenses , it is not unlikely that early disaster will result . On that account the most serious attention should be given to the present aspect of affairs .

Tuesday ' s celebration marked the 103 rd Anniversary of the establishment of the Institution , and if we go back a little time we find the following totals have been announced at the Festivals held since the famous Centenary Celebration at the Albert Hall :

1889—101 st Anniversary ... £ 5 , 354 15 s 1890—102 ud „ ... £ 11 , 019 14 s 1891—103 rd „ ... £ 8 , 611 0 s

These give a total of £ 24 , 976 9 s , or an average of about £ 8 , 325 for the three years , so that the total announced on Tuesday must be regarded as in keeping with the times . But what a falling off it

presents in comparison with the past , and what an effect it must have on the future of the Institution . The members of the Craft may reasonably ask , what is the cause of the falling off ? And it would be difficult to find any one cause which should account for the entire deficiency . There are a combination of

circumstances at work , which will explain much of the falling off , and we shall be surprised if those circumstances do not tend to increase the deficiency in the future rather than lessen it . First and foremost , we must give the principal Provinces credit for making strenuous efforts to support local funds , rather than the London Charities ; and very wisely so to too , it

may oe urged , lor by local combination they are enabled to relieve a dozen or twenty cases at less cost than three or perhaps four scholarships can be secured in one of the central educational institutions , lhen others are opposed to the policy at present

carried out by the executive of the Girls' School , who are sinking thousands of pounds in the erection of costly buildings in a district even at the present time not adapted for so large an establishment as is necessary for the pupils , but which a few years hence will be condemned as wholly unsuitable for its

Festival Of The Girls' School.

continuance . It may bo urged that it is absurd to now lament the awful cost of the new buildings and improvements effected as the result of the Centenary contributions , but tho members of the Craft do not deem it too late to protest in a practical manner

against them , and the present system of conducting the Institution . Immense sums have been spent in bricks and mortar , in opposition to the wishes of large

sections of the English Order , and tho members show their disapproval by stopping their contributions , preferring to devote then to other channels , where a more economical and less extravagant system is in vogue , and in this particular , at least , we predict that the future will witness further complications for tho London Charities .

Another combination of circumstances acting detrimentally for the Girls' School this year is the peculiar position in which the other two Charities stand at the present moment , as referred to by us in recent issues . The energy of the new executive of the Boys' School is expected to lead to a splendid

return tor that Chanty this year , while next year s Festival of the Benevolent Institution will mark tho Jubilee of that Charity , and will doubtless be well supported . There are other reasons which might no doubt be referred to as affecting this year ' s contributions for the Girls , but from whatever cause tho

deficiency has arisen , it is very certain the £ 8 , 611 announced on Tuesday is a disappointment to many , and must lead to complications for the Institution . We append full details of the Festival , and individual subscriptions .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

fTIHB one hundred and third Annual Festival of this - *• excellent Charity , was held at the Freemasons' Tavern , Great Qneon Street , last Tuesday evening , when a numerous company assembled under the presidency of the Right Hon . Lord Carrington , G . C . M . G ., P . G . M . New South

Wales , and Prov . G . M . of Bucks . He was supported by Bros . Chief Justice Way , of South Australia , Sir Francis Burdett P . G . M . Middlesex , T . W . Tew , J . P ., P . G . M . West Torks , Rev . R . J . Simpson P . G . C ., the Dean of Bath P . G . C .,

Rd . Eve P . G . T ., Edward Terry P . G . T ., Augustus Harris P . G . T ., Col . Shadwell Clerke G . S ., Dr . Lennox Browne , James Terry Secretary R . M . B . I ., J . M . McLeod Secretary Boys' School , & c . & o . The usual Loyal and Masonic toasts

were proposed by the noble Chairman , and received with acclamation . Chief Justice Way , of South Australia , proposed the health of the Chairman in an eloquent speech , which was enthusiastically received . Therein he referred

to the scene of the previous day , when Lady Carrington had distributed the prizes to the girls at Battersea . Lord Carrington had achieved a distinguished career in Australia , and he trusted that should he again be tempted

to leave these shores he might be selected as Governor General of the great Commonwealth of Australia . He had met with the approval of the Grand Master by his action in bringing about the unity of the Australian and Taamanian