The Approaching Election For The Girl's School.

THE APPROACHING ELECTION FOR THE GIRL'S SCHOOL .

THE ballot papers for the usual Half-yearly Election of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , which this year will take place on Saturday , the 14 th April , contains the names of forty-two candidates , while the number of declared vacancies is eleven . It will thus be seen that

only about one in four of those eligible to compete can hope for success at the coming contest , which may therefore bo expected to be a severe one . There are two candidates on

the list who will next month make thoir last application , No . 13 , Kate L . Boning and No . 24 , Melinda Alexandrine Marie . The former of these was a candidate in October

last , and on that occasion 487 votes were polled on her behalf , which number will have to be very considerably increased before her friends can even hope for success . She is one of three fatherless children : her

father was initiated in the Three Grand Principles Lodge , No . 441 , Cambridgeshire , in 1872 , subscribing thereto until the time of his death in 1884 . We are sure the Cambridgeshire Masons will do their best to secure the success of this

candidate , and are none the less certain they will fully appreciate any outside help that is rendered . It must be remembered that whatever votes are polled will help to win a place for a child who now makes the final

application her age permits . Much the same may be said of the child Marie , No . 24 on the list . Her father was admitted in the Prince of Wales Lodge , No . 1003 , Jersey , in 1882 , and also subscribed until death . His widow is now left

with the charge of this child , and appeals to her late husband ' s brother Masons to relieve her of a part of her burden . May she receive the support the ch * cumstances of her case deserve .

Fourteen of the remaining cases are associated with Metropolitan Lodges ; thirteen of the Girls being daughters of London Masons , while one is the daughter of a brother who was initiated in Norfolk , and afterwards joined a

town Lodge . Only four of these fourteen took part in the last election , the remaining ten being new to the present list . No . 3 , Maud Mary Freeman , only missed election in October last by

33 votes , her total on that occasion being 1605 , so that she should stand a good opportunity next month , but her friends must bear in mind that there were sixteen elected when they lost with 1605 votes , so that a much larger

number will be needed now , with only eleven vacancies . Her father , a P . M . of the Justice Lodge , No . 147 , as well as her mother , is alive , and they have eight children dependent on them , one only being partially provided

for , while another is in the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . We wish the parents success in their endeavours to secure election for their daughter . No . 5 , Sarah Bissett , is daughter of a brother "lost at sea between 1881 and

1882 ; " he was an initiate of Temperance in the East Lodge , No . 898 , and left a widow with five children , now dependent on her for support . She has already secured 234 votes on behalf of the daughter now before the

subscribers to the Girls' School , and will , it is to be hoped , secure her admission to the Institution ere long . No . 6 , Heurietta Ada Staff , is one of six children dependent on a

widowed mother . Her father was initiated in the Clapton Lodge , No . 1365 , in 1885 , less than twelve months before hisj death , but during his short association with Free-

The Approaching Election For The Girl's School.

masonry he qualified as a " contributor to the Benevolent Institution . His daughter ' s candidature for the Girls ' School has been so far supported that she now appeals , for the second time , with 444 votes to her credit . No . 7 , Olga

Katinka Tettenborn , is the case in which Norfolk and London are jointly interested , she being the daughter of a brother initiated in the Sincerity Lodge , No . 943 , who afterwards joined the Metropolitan , No . 1507 . She has had

a brother educated in the Boys' School , and is one of three children , one of whom is partially provided for , now dependent on their widowed mother . She has 145 votes to her credit . All the other London cases are first

applications . No . 32 , Mabel Margaret Edmeston , is one of nine children left by an initiate of the West Middlesex Lodge , No . 1612 , who was also associated with the Clapham Lodge , No . 1818 , in which , latter he passed the chair .

No . 23 , Adelaide Howetb Jane Harling ( Clapton Lodge , No . 1365 ) , No . 25 , Priscilla Minnie Swaebe ( Joppa Lodge , No . 188 , and Euphrates Lodge , No . 212 ) , and No . 26 , Hester Mary Burt ( Bank of England Lodge , No . 263 ) , are each members of families in

which a widowed mother has five children dependent on her . No . 38 , Dora Sims , is one of four children now dependent on the widow of the late Senior Warden of the London Lodge , No . 108 , wherein he was initiated in 1869 .

No . 19 , Lilian May Astingfcon , is also one of four left to the care of a widowed mother , but in this case one child is partially provided for . The father was initiated in Old England Lodge , No . 1790 . No . 21 , Laura Amelia Thaw , is one

of two children now dependent on her mother , the widow of an initiate of the Capper Lodge , No . 1076 ; she has a brother in the Boys' School . No . 33 , Annie Elizabeth Alice Sumner , is also one of two now dependent on their

mother . The father was made a Mason in the Royal Arthur Lodge , No . 1360 , and subsequently joined the Wanderers , No . 1604 . No . 27 , Ellen Anne Blanche Pooler , is really a parentless child , her father having died , while her mother was divorced . The case is accredited to

the Highgate Lodge , No . 1366 , in which the father was I . G . No . 37 , Frances Norah Wells , is the daughter of a brother who appears to have taken great interest in Freemasonry . He was initiated in the Panmure Lodge ,

No . 720 ; afterwards joined the Oak , No . 190 , and there rose to the rank of Senior Warden ; he also joined the St . Paul ' s , No . 194 . He had a record of 20 | years Masonic membership , and during that period was not

unmindful of the Charities , to all of which he qualified as Life Governor . We hope the good he did during his lifetime will be repaid , with interest , on behalf of his daughter .

Devonshire , Kent , Cumberland and Westmoreland , and Hampshire and the Isle of Wight , aro each interested in three cases , although in the two latter responsibility is shared with other districts . No . 4 , Norah Geach , is the

daughter of a brother initiated in the Devon Lodge , No . 1138 , and is an only child dependent on her widowed mother . She was a candidate in October last , and on that occasion 181 votes were recorded on her behalf . No . 9 ,

Fanny Clark Campbell , is also an only child dependent , but in her case both parents are living ; the father , however , is insane . He was initiated in the Pleiades Lodge ,

No . 710 , and subsequently joined the St . John the Baptist Lodge , No . 39 . His daughter has 106 votes to her credit , and will , we hope , receive such support at the coming contest as will entitle her to a place in the School . The other