Girls' School Centenary Festival.

f 18 sent up 15 passed , whilst in the College of Preceptors Exaimation the avei'age is still better , for while 31 were entered , 28 assed . The pi'izes given by the Institution were the first to be distributed . The Gold Medal given for Proficiency , added to which is

£ 5 o'iven by Bro . Wm . Winn , was Avon by Mabel Osmond ; the Good Conduct Medal ( silver ) , also Avith £ o from the same donor , being taken by Agnes Stephenson . The 3 rd , 4 th , Sth , 6 th , and 7 th prizes for proficiency Avere taken respectively by Beatrice Knott , Bertha Dean , Mary Allen , Evelyn Conti , and Alice Smith .

Tn needleAVork Millicent Wootton , Louisa Johnson , and Edith

Hutton took prizes , Avhilst Emily Corruthers and Olive Hurst proved successful in the prizes for order and attention as proved by marks for conduct throughout the year . The came the prizes given by the friends of the Institution . That given by Bro . John Faulkner , the mize for amiability , the recipient of Avhich has to be chosen by her

school companions , fell to Maud Greethurst . As s ] qe accepted the jnft she was warmly cheered , more especially by her school fellows . The Religious Knowledge prize , given by Bx * o . Robert Grey , fell to Agnes Stephenson , and that for proficiency , Bro . Wm . Winn , £ 2 10 s . each to Fanny Oberdoerffer and Grace Bartruni . There were six

prizes for Music , the first two , given by Bro . J . H . Matthews , P . G . Std . Br ., falling to Agnes Stephenson and Florence Mason ; the next three , the " WentAVorth Little " Memorial , being gained by Georgiana Smith , Louisa Pineombe , and Charlotte McMillan ; while the third , the g ift of Mrs . Louis Hirsch , came into the possession of Mildred

Wrightson . The "John Boyd" Memorial prize for Drawing was divided between three girls—Fanny Oberdoerffer , Ruth Byers , and Florence Mason . Maud Hill obtained Bro . Brette ' s prize for French , and Athalinda Allison took Bro . Louis Hirsch's prize for German . Bro . Robert Grey ' s Elocution prize was awarded to Daisy Capon and

Mary Tanner . Ruth Byers came out first in Arithmetic , and therefore took Bro . Thomas Fenn ' s prize for that subject . The Supreme Council 33 ° gave the first prize for Good Conduct , which Athalinda Allison took ; -Avhile Bro . Frank Richardson ' s second prizes were taken by Beatrice Cookes and Lilian Shrapnel . Mrs . D . P . Cama ' s

gift of - £ 5 for Needlework came to Ruth Byers , and Florence Wright obtained the £ 2 10 s . from the "Yates" Memorial , St . James ' s Lodge , No . 842 , for usefulness in Domestic Duties . Three pi'izes ¦ were given for Cookery , Alice Cleaver , Beatrice Cookes , and Helen Foxall taking them . The Calithenics and Deportment prize fell to

Norah Besley , and Miss Godson ' s three prizes for Swimming came to Georgiana Smith , Louise Haigh , and Florence Popkiss . The Junior School had prizes for Proficiency and Aiithmetic ,-the former being given by . Bro . Frank Richardson and the latter being the "Henry Levander " Memorial . Ethel Craft and Florence Bexfield took that

for Proficiency , and Hilda Kemp took that for Arithmetic . The girls Avho passed the Cambridge Local Examination Avere : Senior Division—Mabel Osmond , Fanny Oberdoerffer , and Grace Bartrum . Junior Division—Athalinda Allison , Dorothy AinsAvorth , Ruth Byers , Ellen Delafons , Ethel Fallding , Helen Foxall , Hgnes Fyfe ,

Maud Hill , Augusta Nicholls , Georgiana Smith , Mary Sherington , and Lilian Sykes . After the distribution of prizes , there Avere recitations , part songs , trios , duets , and sobs by the pupils . They were selected from : recitations— " Our Folks , " " The Singing of the Magnificat , " and " The Signalman ; " part songs— "Oh ! skylark

for thy Aving " and " Spring and love ; " duets— " I Lombardi " and " Ungarische Tanze ; " solos— "Rondo Capriccioso " and "Studien Op . 3 ; " and one trio— " Menuet celebre . " " God save the Queen " was then sung , and the proceedings terminated , most of the pupils walking about the hall Avith the numerous visitors until it was time to be taken back to WandsAvorth .

The Avhole of the arrangements Avith regard to the attendance of fte pupils of the School at the Royal Albert Hall Avere under the direction and personal superintendence of Bro . Frank Richardson , P-G . D ., assisted , by Bros . Charles Hammerton , P . G . Swd . Br ., and J * H . Matthews , P . G . Std . Br .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Lancashire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WEST LANCASHIRE .

. . ^ sf > ecial meeting the above was held on Wednesday , the 30 th ult ., ^ Black pool , by order of the R . W . P . G . M ., Bro . the Earl of Lathom , AVIIO , Wh *! D unable t 0 attend , his place being filled by Bro . Sir Matthew brerh , . ! ey » P-S . G . D ., who acted as his deputy . A large number of wh-Ai" « L'verpoo 1 h V special trains , arriving at Blackpool at 12 noon , " . the Prov . Grand Officers went to the South Shore Hotelprevious to

„„ , ston c e lod K > the chief business being the laying of the foundationwas a "ew chancel t 0 Ho ' y Trinity Church . The Prov . Grand Lodge iho « 2 P ? in ^ e schools connected with the church , under the banner of tne Clifton Lodge , No . 703 . cer-A m 0 ng those who assembled at the South Shore Hotel previous to the lemony were

S . Gw Matthew White Ridley , acting * for the P . G . M . ; R . Wylie , P . G . D ., P . P , Newell' p Dc ^ f , P * * -5 T * H * Beswicke Royds , P . G . D ., as P . ^ G . W . ; John F . M « rrav p n'P ^ K ' , n 8 [ as P * J-G-W . ; W . Goodacre , P . G . S . B ., P . G . Sec . ; J . D . P . G . D C . ; G - ^ - act 1 ^ . 5 * * ' E * Lewis Littler - PG -P-J J * C . Mather . E * Std Rr k M i ? £ , ^* * * > David Jackson , P . G . Std . Br . ; W . Troughton , GSw ir lreas * 5 ata

^• . . r T i . ** ' "" „' , »^ ' , R * Downer , r . u . Br . ; D . Cangley , ? , * G . R H E . T . Everett , P J G . D . ; Dr . W . Y . Martin , P . G . Stwd . ; J . L . Lambart £ * Wes p - , r S ™ ^ : S * * - T * F * Hill , P . G . S . ; C . Bakery , P . S . G . D . P B / -. !? J " . I . G . D . ; Tcaar Tnrnar P C < 5 . TnUn 1 Xr ; ii : n „ DO C P n . 7 n-. i '

iM . Br . - -f & ' - P-G . S . B . ; E . ' Johnston , P . P . S . G . D . ' ; ' R . ' Cain . P . P . G ^ cer' / pp - ^ " - - * G . S . of W ; Rev F . J Whalley , P . G . C . ; Rev . T . Barton Wr ay , Ppr cS D 9 , - ? f { , * * * J ° hn Presh * p - . A . G . D . C ; John , P , G * Std- Br . > Henry Vollmer , P . P . S . G . D . j R . Burgess , P . G . Org .: rfenry

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Lancashire.

Marshall , P . P . G . D . ; A . Hall , P . P . A . G . Sec ; R . Foote , P . P . G . T . ; John Barro . v , P . P . G . W . ; T . K . Hughes , P . D . G . D . C ; W . Bowden , P . P . G . S . B . ; W . H . Wakefield , P . P . G . S . B . ; John Beesley , P . P . J . G . D . ; E . T . Enery , P . S . G . D . ; T . A . Hopewell , P . D . G . D . C . ( Bombav ); R . Pettigrew , P . P . S . G . D . ( Antrim ); John Houlding , P . P . G . Reg . ; Dr . Henry Pitts , P . P . G . S . B . ; Rev . H . G . Vernon , P . P . G . C ; John Sutton , P . P . A . G . D . C ; C . P . Richard ^ , P . P . A . G . D . C ; W . Whiteside , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; J . Sumner , P . G . D . C . ; W . S . Vmes , P . P . G . D . C . ; W . Harrison , P . P . G . D . C . ; and M . Shuttleworth , P . P . G . S . of W .

The Prov . G . Lodge left the South Shore Hotel , preceded by the band of the artillery stationed at Blackpool . On arriving at the schoolrooms the Prov . G . Lodge was received with the usual honours , the chair being taken by the acting P . G . M ., Bro . Sir Matthew White Ridley , P . S . G . D ., supported as above .

The following proposition , of which notice had been given by Bro . R . Wylie , P . G . D ., was considered : " That ioo guineas be voted from the Charity Fund to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls . " Bro . WYLIE , in submitting the proposal , said the Institution had attained its centenary . The Prov . Grand Master , the Earl of Lathom , would have presided over the Festival in London in the absence of the Prince of Wales , but the duties

of the M . W . G . M . had enabled him to take the position . At the same time , the Earl of Lathom was evincing such an amount of interest in the event , that he had consented to act as Chairman of the Stewards . It would not become the Provincial Grand Lodge to meet that day without expressing their unanimous approval of the interest taken by the P . Grand Master in

thecentenary , by voting something towards that Institution . In voting the hundred guineas the province would have the benefit of getting double votes in sending candidates to the Institution , and under the circumstances he regretted that the vote was not 200 instead of 100 guineas . If any brother felt inclined to move the former sum as an amendment he would be pleased to support it .

Bro . J . HOULDING , P . P . G . R ., in seconding the motion , said it must be remembered that the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls was started ioo years ago , when it was not thought very necessary to give girls the education they nowadays receive . In this age of progress , however , girls were taking situations which were not dreamt of years ago , and it was necessary that they shonld be educated accordingly . When they saw such an

Institution seeking for funds with which to enlarge its sphere of usefulness , it was their duty to make strenuous efforts to assist it . He would have been glad to second the proposal had it been for 200 instead of 100 guineas , ( Hear , hear . ) Bro . J . F . NEWELL ( ex-mayor of Bootle ) , P . P . S . G . W ., and acting P . J . G . W ., moved as an amendment , that the sum of 200 guineas be voted to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls .

Bro . BESWICK ROYDS , Prov . G . D ., acting Prov . S . G . W ., seconded , and' , upon the amendment being put , it was carried by a large majority . On the proposition of Bro . R . MARTIN , P . P . G . T ., it was decided to alter one of the by-laws of the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution , to enable the annual meeting to be held on a stated day , instead of waiting for the Provincial Grand Lodge yearly meeting .

The brethren then left the building , and proceeded to the site , where , upon arriving at the north-east corner of the building , The acting R . W . P . G . M . delivered the opening address , from the Masonic ritual explanatory of the principles and objects of the Order , and immediately afterwards called upon Bro . the Rev . F . J . Whalley , Prov . G . Chap ., to offer up prayer .

Bro . W . GOODACRE , Prov . G . Sec , then read the inscription on the plate , as follows : " This foundation-stone was laid by the Provincial Grand Lodge of West Lancashire , Sir Matthew White Ridley , Bart ., M . P ., acting as Prov . G . M ., 30 th May , 1888 . Holy Trinity Church , South Shore . S . Y . B . Bradshaw , vicar . " The cavity in the lower stone was filled up with a bottle containing a copy of the Freemason , a Masonic jubilee medal , and some coins , and the plate was fitted in .

The upper stone was lowered with three distinct stops , and the acting PROV . GRAND MASTER , after testing it with the plumb rule , level , and square , declared it to be truly fashioned and duly laid . Subsequently he scattered corn over the stone as an emblem of plenty and abundance , poured out wine as an emblem of joy and gladness , and sprinkled oil as a token of peace and unanimity . He concluded by trusting that prosperity , gladness , and goodwill might prevail amongst those vvho would assemble within the building , to the honour of the Most High , until time should be no more .

The architect , Bro . FREEMAN , advancing , presented the plans of the building to the acting Prov . G . Master , who , in entrusting them to his keeping , desired him to proceed with the work without loss of time . The hymn beginning " O Lord of Hosts , Whose glory fills the bounds of the eternal hills , " followed , with full band accompaniment , and the Masonic part of the ceremony was then brought to a close .

Upon the termination of the foregoing proceedings another stone was laid at the south-east corner of the building by the Mayor of Blackpool , Bro . Councillor Fish . The vicar of Holy Trinity , the Rev . S . Y . B . Bradshaw , handed to his Worship a document containing the names of the Building Committee , a Masonic Committee , and the officials connected with the borough of Blackpool . These the Mayor placed in the cavity of

the stone , which he laid with due form . After prayer had been offered up by the vicar , The MAYOR delivered a short address . He said the members of Holy Trinity congregation two or three years ago began to feel the necessity of increased accommodation , not only for the increasing population of the South Shore itself , but for the great number of visitors who regularly came down in the season . Hence it vvas decided that steps should be taken to

provide a fund for the erection of a new building . In the meantime the Committee and those interested in the work had been progressing slowly but very persistently . It was thought prudent that a large portion of the fund required should be raised by proceeding with the work , and he believed as a matter of fact that three-quarters of the first portion needed had been already raised . The Building Committee , after examining several plans ,

accepted those of Bro . Freeman , of Bolton ; and the contract , he believed , had been signed for building the eastern portion of the church for ^ ooo- 'or ^ 4800 . As he had stated , three-quarters of the money had been raised , and there was a balance of ^ noo required . He hoped the building would not only be an ornament to the town , but that it would prove to be a spiritual benefit to the congregation . The ceremony vvas then completed vvith the Doxology .

1 he chancel is to be of good proportions , raised sufficiently above the nave floor , and will be separated from the main body by a screen . The style will be perpendicular Gothic , and the principal aim has been to avoid obstruction by pillars . The exterior will be faced with Yorkshire stone , and the walls of dressed redstone from Rainhill .