The Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

to the enthusiasm which attended the great event in tho history of the Institution , of which so much has been said , and which seems likely to have a

somewhat different result than was originally anticipated . Tho Province of Middlesex , of which the respected Chairman for next month ' s Festival is the head , is

what we may describe as a good all round district . It is seldom backward in working for the cause of Masonic benevolence , and usually sends up some good amounts

year by year to aid the funds of the three Institutions , but it is hardly one of thoso districts from which to expect any thing like an exceptional return—nothing ,

ior instance , like the splendid totals that have been secured in years gone by from Lancashire , Yorkshire , Kent and other busy centres of Masonic work—while

as regards other Provinces we do not think there is one that is likely to come forward with any thing approaching a " grand " total . Local influences are at work in most of the districts that used to do the

lion ' s sharo of raising money for the Annual Festivals of the central Charities , and these local funds will not only continue to make themselves felt , but their work

at home will increase year by year , to the certain detriment of the London Institutions . In another part of our present issue we give some details of what is being done in North ancl East Yorkshire , where a local

Educational Fund is of recent formation . The second annual Festival of this Fund is announced to be held next month , and we are told that last year's

gatherings realised £ 1054 14 s lid . It would be wrong to say this amount was subscribed to the local Fund of the Province at the expense of the Central Charities , but to a considerable extent that is the ease : we _ — _ 7 ..

do not complain , because we consider that in many respects a local charity can do better than one far away , and the cosmopolitan character of which

necessitates that it should be all things to all classes of the community , but the continued and very rapid growth of these outside Masonic charity funds- will soon make itself felt on the London Institutions , the wnicn

supporters or will nave to do something ere long beyond passively recognising the increased rivalry which is being created throughout the country . There is not much fear , we imagine , that the Royal Masonic

Institution for Girls will wholly lose the support of those districts where local Funds are in existence , but the financial aid sent to London is very likely to fall off year by year , as the home Charities grow , ancl we may have to face—and that too at no distant

date—a very different state of affairs than what exists now . Some of the larger Provinces , that already have handsome Charity Funds of their own , also possess a large number of votes in perpetuity

for the London Institutions , and . if they choose to transfer their financial support to local charities , who will have to find the money to keep up . the

accomodation which will be demanded in return for these perpetual votes ? This , however , is a subject hardly necessary to discuss in connection with the Festival of the current year . We only refer to it as a

possible solution ol our surmise that no exceptionally large totals will be forthcoming from outlying districts at the Festival to be held next month .

If , then , we must not look for any large totals we must base our hopes on a large number of small ones , and , as we have shown above , it seems the Institution is not likely to have even this consolation , so that ,

after all , we must repeat that the outlook appears discouraging . It is not , however , yet too late to make up the quantity if we cannot make up the

quality of past years , and we have great pleasure in joining in the appeal that is being made by the officials of the Institution , both for new Stewards and

increased support for older ones . A noble work is being quietly and unostentatiously carried on at the Institution ' s School , at Battersea , and an incalculable

amount of good is resulting from the efforts there made on behalf of the orphan daughters of the Craft .

The Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

Such being the case AVO can fearlessly appeal to onr readers to do what lies in their power to relieve the Institution of it present troubles , bv helping to bring

abont a satisfactory Festival , and afterwards using their best efforts among their friends to ensure adequate subscriptions year by- year to continue the work .

Reform At The Boys' School.

REFORM AT THE BOYS' SCHOOL .

WE publish in onr correspondence column Bro . Hobbs ' a ultimatum in regard to our criticism on tho accounts prepared by him for the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , and while wo accept his decision not to enter into further controversy through the medium of our

pages as evidence that he is wholly unable to maintain tho position he has taken up , we venture to remind him and those for -whom he is acting , that any unpleasantness that has arisen is entirely of their own seeking . At the outset

we stated our comments were called for in consequence of certain remarks made in the outside press of the country . Wo did not then know who supplied the paragraphs for

publication , neither do we now know , but from inquiries made we think it safe to say they emanated from the Accountant cr the Provisional Committee . In

thoso paragraphs it was stated " the average cost per boy , per annum , has been reduced to £ 39 5 s , or a saving of £ 11 lis per boy per annum . An expression of opinion as to whether the accounts are now fully and properly rendered

to the public , is solicited by tho Committee . " In face of this latter paragraph wo consider we were justified in calling attention to certain discrepancies that exist in the accounts , and we are surprised that the Provisional Committee ,

having publicly invited criticism have not got the courage to answer it . We can bring quite as much dignity to bear upon the subject as Bro . Hobbs , and if he refuses to admit

his mistakes now , we have very little doubt but that a proper balance sheet at the 31 st December will prove them , not only to us and those who think as we do , but also to that section of the Craft who do not think it fair to criticise accounts publicly offered for criticism merely because fulsome flattery is out of the question .

A Dead Branch.

A DEAD BRANCH .

STATELY and beautiful is tho forest tree , clothed with foliage , which with its emerald crown stands out against the azure of tho skies . Wisdom and strength are typified by the trunk , and beauty by the limbs , with their leafage dancing in tho air .

A tree is a thing of life . It has its heart , and its lifeblood . It breathes the air of heaven through its foliage . It is refreshed by heaven ' s sunshine and rain . Its roots search tho earth for food and cling to it for support . It

is almost human ; the ancients believed it to bo divine . Littlo wonder that trees wero deified in primitive times by the uninstructed children of nature , for they aro miracles of power and glory .

There have been tree-worshippers as there have been sunworshippers . Both sun and tree aro the handiwork of the Divine Architect , but only the handiwork ; they are created , not the Creator . We admire , without worshipping

them , saying only , " the hand that made them is divine . " But where shall we look for perfection ? Tbe mountain has its scarred side , the river its turbid flow , tho tree its dead branch .

A dead branch ! How it mars the symmetry of a tree , how it impairs its strength , how it dulls its beauty ! Dead , but not buried , it stretches its gaunt , powerless arm into space , a gbost of itself . No leaves wave from it . No sap flows through it . . If tho wind sways it , it groans . It is fit only to be burned .

The Masonic Fraternity is a vigorous mountain pine , which for centuries has withstood the blasts of many a storm . It points to heaven , the station of the Grand Architect . It overshadows the earth , where its Lodges

aro gathered . It is ever green , and as deathless as trutn . But the Masonic Fraternity is not perfect . Like the earth it once had its Eden , but now mourns its loss . Wo lost a Grand Master—one of a famous triad . We lost a