Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

and the large exercise room was fitted up for the exhibition . Nearly two hours of this excellent entertainment was provided , and visitors , matron , governesses , pupils , and servants of the institution participated in it . It was admirable in design and execution , and met with unqualified admiration . After this the children went to supper , when the twelfth-cake , wine , bonbons , and drawing for

characters occupied the attention of every one for another hour . Again , dancing , refreshments to visitors , bonbons , and characters , cheerful and happy conversation , reminiscences of the old school , always gratifying ( some of the expupils had comedown to join in the entertainment ) , and then more dancing and singing . In the last acquirement , Miss Josephine Mackay created great excitement by her

wonderfully beautiful execution of the song , " The Bridge . " Her careful singing and exquisite voice took the company entirely by surprise , and she was greatly cheered on her resuming her seat . Thus matters went on till ten o'clock at night , when London visitors , knowing " the perils that do environ " travellers by Clapham Junction , had to think of the principal peril of losing a train . On a wintry

night this was a weig hty consideration , and even the bright happy faces of the children , the hospitable reception , and the warm rooms of the building , could not induce them to stop . Therefore , after having spent a most happy evening , and wishing all the inmates a happy new year and

many of them , they took their departure . The amount of subscription to this institution during the past year is £ 8663 14 s ., £ 1600 more than was announced at the last festival . This is exclusive cf the grants made to the institution by Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter , and also exclusive of dividends on invested funds .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The monthly meeting of the Committee of this Institution was held on Wednesday last , in the library , Freemasons' Hall , Lieut . Col . Crcaton in the chair . There were also present Bros . S . Rawson , Benj . Head , Raynham W . Stewart , Charles Lacey , R . Wentworth Little , W . Hale , W . Hilton , lames Brett , W . Stevens , H . M . Levy , Geo .

Bolton , Joshua Nunn , Thomas W . White , John Newton , Henry G . Warren , John M . Stedwell , L . Stean , F . Adlard , Dr . Jabez Hogg , John Constable , H . Massey ( " Freemason " ) , and James Terry , Secretary . After the minutes had been read and confirmed , the Secretary reported the deaths of nine annuitants , five men and four women . The Wardens' report , which was also

read by the Secretary , informed the committee of the receipt of 5 O sacks of coals , the gift of Grand Lodge . The report also conveyed the thanks of the inmates for the very successful entertainment given to them on the 5 th inst ., and also for Bro . W . Hale ' s gift of lib of tea to each inmate , and for the gifts of tobacco , & c . The Financial Committee ' s report was received , to

which was appended a recommendation that on account of the Secretary ' s duties being so much increased an addition of £ s ° >' ear he made to his salary . ( This will come before the Committee at their next meeting . ) The brethren then proceeded with the consideration of the petitions , which occupied an hour . In the end it was found that 12 women and 6 men had been passed . One

case ( male ) was rejected , and one widow ' s petition foy half her late husband ' s annuity was granted . The petition of a widow , who some lime since left the asylum to live with her friends , to be allowed to return , was allowed , though the princip le was objected to . The petition of the friends of Louis Ilolberg , for the return of 50 guineas which he had given to the institution , was refused , the grounds

advanced for such return being decided to be totally insufficient . I'he list of candidates for next election was thereafter settled , the number being 59 , 26 men and 33 women ; 21 new male cases , and 5 brought forward ; and 17 new female cases , and 1 O brought forward . The Committee passed a vote of thanks to the Chairman , and adjourned till the Sth February .

ORGANS . —We have much p leasure in calling the attention of our readers to the many advantages offered by THE ESTEV AMERICAN O RGAN , and to this original and genuine nstrument the credit for superior excellence alone belongs . Among the numerous improvements introduced the Patent Vox Humana is deserving of special attention , a wonderful invention , imparting to the tone a charming wave-like

effect , hitherto unknown in instrumental music . In addition there arc numerous patents in connection with THE ESTEV AMERICAN O RGAN , among which wc select for notice the Patent Octave Coupler , and the Manual Sub-Bass , & c These organs are designed for the Drawingroom , Public Halls , Churches , Schools , Lodges , & c , in prices varying from 12 to 125 guineas , especial attention

being called to an eight-stop organ , 3 8 guineas , possessing sufficient power for the Drawing-room , with great variety and sweetness of tone ; and a ten-stop Instrument , with many patented improvements , 50 guineas—of the latter , no reed organ of its size and price will bear comparison to it . Wc strongly advise Masonic brethren visiting London , and those resident in Town , who are about purchasing ,

cither for private use or Public I lalls , Masonic or otherwise , Churches , etc ., to visit the E STEV AMERICAN ORGAN COMPANY ' Show Rooms , 0 , Argyll-st ., Regent-st ., where every attention and information will be afforded , and the several instruments can be seen . Every instrument made by the firm fully warranted , and so simply arranged , that the mott ordinary performer can manage it . Illustrated pamphlet and price-list on application and post-free .

The installation meeting of the Enoch Lodge , No . 11 , took place on Wednesday las t . A report of the proceedings will appear in our next .

Reviews.

Reviews .

"THE GOLDEN PHEASANT ; " "YOUNG FOLKS' WKEKM BUDGET . " —London . J . Henderson . We are struck with these evidences of the love of fairy tales which exist amongst us , nay , seems to be increasing amongst us at the present hour . In our young days even

fairy tales were going out , and realistic stories like "Sandford and Merton , " "The Boys' own Book , " & c , were coming in . Not that " Robinson Crusoe " was unknown , or the tales of the Genii unread , or the " Arabian Ni ghts " were strange to us then—no , they were duly perused , alike at a " scob" at Winchester , and on a wet day , and before the

fire . But the " Swiss Family Robinson Crusoe , " with its greater details of actuality , and the " Old English Baron , " and " The Seventh Champion of Christendom " gave way to Peter Parley ' s tales , and countless other useful and improving booklets for youth . And here we are after the lapse of how many years ?—well never mind—with a

fresh " outcome " of fairy literature before us . A profound writer who has been " discoorsing " eloquentlyand "elegantly " on fairy literature , in the " Times " newspaper , as they say , hardly seems to realize the immense amount of current productions of this kind , which find a ready sale , and countless young and trusting readers . He may be

aufait as regards the past , and he writes very well ubout it , but as to tre present he is certainly not " up , " and we must therefore deal with the subject as a subject " sui generis" ourselves . Well , we do not find fault with the taste for this fairy literature on the part of the young , though some have decried it , and

more have condemned it . And for this reason . Wc believe , that in this love of fairy literature , wc discern the traces of those nobler aspirations which still amid many weaknesses , much debasement , and patent evil , seem to cling , so to say , to our poor humanity . For in fairy tales we have vice , if triumphant for the moment , eventually

overthrown , virtue prevailing , and goad upheld , the base and the cowardly , and the crooked go to the wall , and the honourable , and the brave , and the upright , win the race , and conquer in the struggle . The good fairy always appears at the right moment , says the right thing , and does the right act . Why then is youth to be

blamed , if in an ideal world of its own it seeks to find the typical representatives of virtue and constancy , of right and faith , of trust and duty , of all that is fair , and loving in this darkened world of ours ? Wc do not , ourselves , much care how you implj . nt a love of these graces and virtues in the youthful mind , if only you do so . Some

minds are affected by the essay and sermon , others by the imaginative and mystical ; all in our opinion ought to be pressed into the moral education of the young , as then if ever , the admiration ot the true , the beautiful , the ri ght , is to be implanted in their tender breasts . King Pipp in and the Golden Pheasant , will be read , no doubt , by many trusting juvenile students , and we find no

fault with their tastes , neither do we frown on their love of the marvellous , because we firmly believe au contraire , that in their loyal hearts and loving sympathies they admire all that is gracious and noble , and beneficent and brave , and they contemn with their happy earnestness the lower teaching of that grovelling school , which delights to picture dirt , and is utterly reckless of dishonour , aal ignorant of mcral truth and beauty .

THE LADIES' TREASURY . Edited by MRS . WAIIKEN . — BF . MROSE & SONS . This is a most interesting magazine for what the intelligent foreigner called " our vimmius " and we have pored over its pages with much of mental admiration . Certainly the ladies are ahead of us , and if you may judge by the "Ladies' Treasury , " they are equally " au fait" of the

latest Parisian fashions , or of the last excursions into the ologies ; poetry , and romance , crochet work and cookery , sentiment and sobriety , all . ire " fish for their net , " and if the men don ' t look out , as old John Jones says , there'll be no " holding ' em in . " Nay , if our own domestic angel wishes to see how best she can be dressed , or how well she can be instructed , let her study the " Ladies' Treasury .

THE WESTMINSTER PAPERS . —W . KENT & Co . An interesting serial for proficients in chess and lover of whist . VVe commend it to both classes , as we think both games deserve to be cultivated amongst us , despite the opposition of some well meaning but fanatical persons .

THE ARTIST . —HARRISS & SON . This is a new weekly journal for the artistic world , and very promising it is .

WIIITTAKERS J OURNAL . This is also a new ventuie , and wc are dealing with No 1 . It seems to us very likely to be a success ; and wc wish it heartily a good " trade wind . " We are especially struck with " As Long as She Lived , " and shalljollow the story with interest and pleasure .

THE "ERA" ALMANACK . We wish that wc could g ive to this useful and interesting publication the space it deserves . We could linger a long time by it , for it is rendered doubly interesting by the autographs of actresses and actors , with whose names and features we are many of us so familiar . Among the former appear the well-known names of Marie 3 ancroft ,

Madge Kendal , Ada Swanborough , Ly diaThompson , Ellen Teny , Marion Terry , Adelina l ' atti , Charlotte Saunders , Ada Lester , Mrs . John Wood , Emily Fowler , Rose Hersee , Emma Albani , Genevieve Ward , Fanchita , Mrs . K . Crowe , Helena Ernstone , Adeline Billington , Caroline Hill , Ada Ward , Fanny Brough , Minnie Walton , Mynie Fairfax , and Ellen Meyrick . Among the latter we note the popular appellations of G . W . Anson ,

Reviews.

Dion Boucicault , Wm . Terris , George Conquest , Joseph Eldred , John Ryder , Henry Compton , Henry Howe , fohn Clark , Henry Sinclair , Frank Holland , Wm . Kendall , C . Santley , G . Clarke , Thomas Thome , and many more , all living representatives of the " poor actors , " who still can warm our sentiment , delight our sympathies , arouse our emotions , and excite our risibility . We are among

those who wish well to the stage and to those who play their parts so well , for the amusement of us ungratelul mortals . Let Mawworm denounce , letBartolo calumniate ctresses and actors the ornaments of the crowded theatre , may equally adorn private life , with unestentacious virtue , and kindly natures . That the stage has its pitfalls , and its snares , and its dangers , who will deny ? But so

has human life , and in our opinion , the prejudice which too often accompanies the word " actress " or ' actor , " is a . disgrace to civilization , and we will even say to religion . We look upon the stage as a great school of morals , and a passing if genial satire upon our follies and faults , our high flown pretensions and our baser developments ; and if it ever degenerates into licence , or is vitiated by a

forgetfulncss of propriety and decorum , the fault is not with the stage itself as a profession . If in order to raise the cachinnations of the gander , or to gain the applause of the anser , indecency and vulgarity mark its utterances , the blame is to be visited ,

not on those who live to please , but on perverted intellects , and debased sympathies , on the taste and temper of the age , on those who tempt only to betray , and who insolently patronize only to degrade . We thank the editor of the " Era Almanack" for a very readable and pleasant book .

Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

Having completed his University education , H . R . H . Prince Leopold has given up his residence at Oxford , known as Wykeham House , and has taken up his abode at Boyton , Codford , Wilts , where his goods have been recently removed . The installation of His Royal Hig hness as Provincial Grand Master of the Freemasons of Oxfordshire will , it is understood , take place on February 22 nd .

Ihe annual banquet and meeting of the Unanimity Lodge , No . 102 , was held on Monday last , the visitors including the Grand Master of the Province of Norfolk , Bro . Lieut . Col . the Hon . F . Walpole , M . P . At this

meeting Bro . the Rt . Hon . Lord Suffield , the W . M . elect , should have been installed , but , as his lordship is now in India with H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , that ceremony is postponed until his return . A fuller report of this meeting will appear in our next .

A quarterly court of tne Needlemakers' Company was held in the Guildhall , when a considerable number of the livery were present . The Master , Bro . J . C . Parkinson , Past Deputy Prov . Grand Master for Middlesex , J . P ., delivered an address , advising ihem to do all in their power to maintain the company ' s ancient rights and privileges , and presented to each liveryman a certificate , engrossed on vellum , of his admission to the freedom of the company .

The Royal ^ ork Lodge , No . 315 , held a private ball on Tuesday night , at tl e Pavilion , Brighton , in aid of the Masonic charities . The band of the Royal Scots Greys attended , by permission of Col . Nugent and the officers of the regiment , and the company numbered about 150 .

Bro . Alderman Stone has contributed £ 5 5 s . to the funds of the Gilford Hall Mission . The Town Council of St . Helen ' s , Lancashire , have bought the local gas-works for £ 131 , 000 . The members of the Benevolent Fund attached to the Lodge of Joppa met on Monday evening last , at Bro . Albert's , the lion . Sec , to elect a President for the ensuing

year . After a short discussion , owing to a member of the lodge being present who was not eligible to serve on the committee , the brethren proceeded to ballot , when Bro . Lewis Alexander , P . M . and Senior V . P ., was elected by a considerable majority . We regret to say that Bro . S . E . Hickman , I . P . M ., one of the trustees , was unable to attend in consequence of meeting with an accident the day before .

The Cestnan Chapter , No . 423 , will be consecrated on Monday next , the 17 th inst ., at the Grosvcnor Hotel , Chester , by the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Superintendent , Lord deTabley , for which purpose his lordship has given directions for a convocation of R . A . Freemasons to be summoned for 2-30 p . m . on that day . His

lordship will be assisted in the ceremonies of consecration of the chapter and installation af the Principals by his Provincial Grand Officers and Comp . Henry Muggeridge , Past Grand Standard Bearer of England . The Principals ( Designate ) of the chapter are Comps . Horatio Lloyd , M . K . Z . ; John Chesworth Robinson , H . ; and John Oswell Bury , J .

The Captain Superintendent of the Goliath , who has been so warmly commended for his kindness to the poor boys under him , and for the example of courage he placed before them in standing on the burning ship until the last ,

saying , when urged to leave , "That ' s not the way at sea , my boys , " is an old brother , and every Mason will rejoice that Uro . Captain Bourchier succeeded in rescuing so many of the poor boys . He was warmly supported by Bro . Jenkins , the Harbour Master of Gravesend .