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our Benevolent Funds , which only serves to create a fictitious standard of demand and supply , which only leads to undesirable applications , and which may result in a few years in grave financial embarrassments . MANY of our readers will be pleased to hear that Bro . CLIFFORD P .

MACCALLA , the able editor of the Keystone , Philadelphia , has been recently elected Junior Grand Warden by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania . The ability Avhich our brother displays in the literary arrangement of the

Keystone , and the intelligent and Masonic and scholarly view he has taken of all leading questions affecting the Craft , have won for him many friends . We congratulate him sincerely on his well-merited honours .

Twelfth Night Entertainment At The Girls' School.

TWELFTH NIGHT ENTERTAINMENT AT THE GIRLS' SCHOOL .

The annual Twelfth Night Entertainment at the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , Battersea-rise , to those of the pupils who have remained in the School for the Christmas holidays , was given on Friday night last , when several members of the Order and their families attended to assist in making

a pleasant evening for the pupils . There were also present many members of the House Committee . The list of the company who signed the visitors ' book included the names of—Joshua Nunn , Mrs . Nunn , H . A . Dubois , Frank Richardson , A . 'F . Triggs , Shadwell H . Clerke , St . John Clerke , A . Clerke , W . J . Murlis , Mrs . Dicketts , Miss Venn , Herbert

Dicketts , jun ., Percy Dicketts , Mrs . Murlis , Mrs . Bowyer , Edgar Bowyer , R . B . Webster , Louis Hirsch , Mrs . Hirsch , Mrs . Foivnes , Miss Alice Foivnes , John A . Rucker , J . H . Matthews , Robert Grey , Mrs . Dubois , H . G . Dubois , Miss Dubois , E . Chartres , Charles Stevens , F . R . VV . Hedges , Mrs . Hedges , G . S . Peachey , Charles Hammerton , E . C . Massey , Miss Massey , Colonel James E . Peters , Dr . Strong , Mrs . Strong , J . Mason , Herbert Dicketts , Henry Venn , John Faulkner , and H . Massey ( Freemason ) .

The Company assembled shortly after five o clock and found the building presenting a most comfortable and cheerful appearance , which was rendered the more comfortable and cheerful by the miserably wet weather outside . The halls and passages were decorated with Christmas and New Years ' emblems and mottoes , and the bright , happy faces of the children gave practical effect to the " Welcome " which was exhibited on the walls .

Miss Davis , the Head Governess , was away for her well-earned Christmas relaxation , but Miss Jarwood ( the Matron ) , Miss Shepherd , and the remainder of the staff of governesses , and Bro . Hedges , the Secretary , received all the visitors on their arrival . The company sat down to tea at half-past five , and at six o ' clock the

celebrated Lieut . Cole gave his well-known ventriloquia ! entertainment in the schoolroom—an entertainment which convulsed the children and visitors with laughter . This part of the evening's entertainment took place at the early hour of six , in consequence of the professional engagements of Lieut . Cole , to which he had afterwards to attend . Dancing in the large hall was

then engaged in for an hour , and at eight o ' clock the pupils had their refreshments , including wine , fruit , cake , nuts , and a beautiful Twelfth cake , presented by Bro . Louis and Mrs . Hirsch , which was surmounted by a pretty moving figure of a girl . At a quarter to nine Dr . Lynn gave his clever conjuring entertainment in the schoolroom , and elicited the wonder and applause of the company .

The proceedings closed with an ample programme of dancing , without which the periodical visits to the Girls' School are not considered complete . The popularity of these visits and entertainments among the Craft may be judged of by the large attendance of visitors , which it will be seen from the above list was numerous . The weather , however , was so bad that had the number been smaller it would have been very excusable .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The General Committee of . this Institution met on Saturday last at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . Raynham W . Stewart , P . G . D ., in the chair . There were also present : Bros . Donald M . Dewar , Frederick Adlard , John L . Mather , C . F . Matier , William

Roebuck , James Moon , Edgar Bowyer , A . J . Duff Filer , Rev . Richard Morris , D . D . ; Brackstone Baker , Arthur E . Gladwell , G . P . Festa , VV . Mann , C . H . VVebb , Henry Young , George P . Gillard , VV . Maple , George R . Ousey , VV . Paas , VV . H . Saunders , A . F . Godson , George Motion , Robert Martin , H . Venn , John Palmer , F . Binckes , Secretary , and H . Massey ( Freemason ) .

Alter the reading and confirmation of the minutes of the former meeting and the reading of the House Committee ' s minutes for information , two presentation cases were examined and accepted . Eleven petitions were afterwards examined , out of which two were rejected . The remainderAvere p laced on the list for the April election . App lications for outfits for four former pupils of the School were then granted—one conditionally .

The list of candidates for the April election was recommended to the Ouarterly Court of next Monday , as containing sixty-seven candidates . The vacancies recommended to be declared were twelve . Bro . B INCKES said that at the October election there would probably be

twenty-two vacancies . Bro . EDGAR B OAVYER called the attention of the Committee to a letter printed in the Freemason of that day , signed ' * S . X ., " in Avhich the writer made complaint of what he considered incivility and rudeness on the part of

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

officials of the Institution on a visit he paid to the School at Wood-green . Bro . Bowyer enquired what would be done to ascertain the truth or falsehood of the statements in the ietter , as it was the first time during his lonnacquaintance Avith the Institution that any such complaint had been made ? Bro . BINCKES said the letter in question Avas not properl y before this

Committee . 1 he proper course would be to lay it before the House Committee on the 19 th inst ., and enquire into the matter . The letter would then be read in the minutes of that Committee at the next meeting of the General Committee on the 3 rd of February , and Avould then be properl y before the General Committee .

Dr . MORRIS said the letter was thoroughly censorious , ill-tempered , and petty , and it Avas false on the face of it . The Avriter , who said he Avas ten minutes at the School , wrote about the awestruck appearance of the boys . The boys were admitted to have been in school at the time of the visit . Did the writer expect them to be mirthful at such a time ? He ( Dr .

Morris ) at first felt inclined to answer the letter ; but it was so petty , he resolved not to answer it . If the Committee thought fit to do so they might . During the eight years he had been at the School he had never received such indignity , except on one occasion , when he had to threaten to have a man turned out , he Avas so rude .

The CHAIRMAN was of opinion that the more dignified course for the Committee to adopt Avould be to treat the letter with contempt . Bro . BINCKES said the letter had appeared in print , and there Avere certain charges made in it . The House Committe might enquire into the matter . 11 Avas hardly Avorth while to remain under these charges if they could get rid of them .

Bro . C . F . MATIER said the letter was an anonymous letter , and as such might be treated Avith contempt . The Avriter should Avrite to the Committee and give his name , and the charges could be enquired into . A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The monthly meeting of the Committee of this Institution was held on Wednesday afternoon at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . Colonel Creaton , Grand Treasurer , in the chair . There were also present Bros . Charles A . Cottebrune , John Buhner , VV . March , Edgar Bowyer , John J . Berry ,

Louis Stean , William Stephens , George Jones , Raynham W . Stewart , J . E . Gordon Robbins , A . H . Tattershall , Charles Lacey , VV . H . Goodall , C . H . Webb , John M . Stedwell , VV . J . Murlis , Thomas VV . C . Bush , Charles John Perceval , Nathaniel Geo . Philips , F . Adlard , W . Wilton , J . R . Gallant , G . L . Moore , J . Ouitmann , James Terry ( Secretary ) , and H . Massey ( Freemason ) .

After the reading and confirmation of the minutes , Bro . TERRY reported the death of two annuitants , and one approved candidate . One of the deceased annuitants had arrived at the advanced age of ninety-five .

The Warden ' s report was read , and a vote of thanks was afterwards unanimously passed to the donors of the various gifts towards the New Year ' s Entertainment to the old people , reported in our last issue . The report of the Finance Committee was adopted , and authority was given to the Chairman to sign cheques for amounts named therein .

Sixteen petitions were examined . Two of these were not accepted ; three were deferred ; and the remainder were passed . Bro . TERRY , in answer to a question , said that at present there were 131 candidates—80 widows and 51 men—for the next election in May ; and that there were but 13 vacancies . The number of candidates might be sli ghtly increased next meeting . A vote of thanks was passed to the Chairman , and the proceedings , which had lasted considerably over an hour , terminated .

The first meeting of the brethren who have accepted the office of Stewards of the forthcoming festival was held at Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen-street , on Thursday , the 4 th inst . The following brethren were present : Bros . Edgar Bowyer , P . P . G . S . W . Herts ; A . Clarke , P . M . 1227 ; Don M . Dewar ,

BOARD OF STEWARDS .

P . M . 1627 ; Albert Escott , P . M . 1593 ; Henry Glenn , VV . M . 19 ; " G . Lambert , W . M . 720 ; William Stephens , W . M . 14 S 9 ; G . P . Festa , W . M . 1900 ; John P . Hale , P . M . 1414 ; William Clarke , P . G . Purs . ; T . F . Peacock , 21 ; James S . Fraser , S . W . 174 Chas . Belton , VV . M . 777 ; R . T . Elsam , P . P . G . D . C . Surrey ; James Salmon , J . i / 1339 ; G . Anderson , P . M . 11 ; T . Bull , P . M . 145 ; Samuel G . Bake , P . M . 1157 and 13 S 3 ; and I . Mason , P . P . G . S . D . Middx .

Bro . Edgar Bowyer was elected President , and Bro . W . Stephens , Treasurer of the Board of Stewards , and the amount to be deposited b y each Steward to the festival fund was fixed at £ 2 2 s . The following were appointed on the Musical Committee : Bros . W . Clarke , J . Salmon , J . S . Fraser , G . P . Festa , W . Stephens , Chas . Belton , S . G . Bake , and G . Anderson . The meeting was adjourned to February 151 I 1 .

GLOVES . —The giving of gloves was an old custom of the operative guilds , when , either on admission to the Lodge or once a year , gloves and aprons were given to the workmen . In Scotch Masonic Lodges of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries it was a rule that intrants should present so

many pairs of gloves on their admission . The custom is still said to be retained Masonically in foreign countries ; but we have no traces of the custom in speculative Masonry , except that Freemasons are expected to wear white gloves in Lodge meetings . There are many , payments recorded for gloves to Masons in the old Fabric Rolls . —Kenning ' s Cyclopedia .