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WE congratulate the EMPEROR WILLIAM of Germany , Protec-G ™ rmany ° s tor of the three Grand Lodges of Prussia , and honorary member Birthday . Q { thg Qrana Lodge of Scotland , on having celebrated , under such auspicio is circumstances , and amid such universal manifestations of loyalty and affection on the part of his subjects throughout Germany , the qoth Anniversary of his birthday . Indeed , the whole of Europe , and the rulers

and people of many states outside its limits have heartily combined in offering their felicitations on the event to the venerable monarch , and it would ill-become his brethren in Masonry to be behindhand in fulfilling so obvious and p leasurable a duty . The family of Hohenzollern of which his Imperial Majesty is the present head , has done much to

promote and protect the interests of the ancient Craft . FREDERICK the GREAT of Prussia was the first- of its members to join our Society , having been initiated under the auspices of the Lodge of

Absalom of Hamburg , in the city of Brunswick , on the 14 th August , 1738 , or about a year later than our own FREDERICK PRINCE of WALES received his first insight into our mysteries at his palace at Kew . Since then , several other members of the Prussian Royal Family have joined us , the present

King and Emperor of Germany , and his eldest son and heir FREDERICK WILLIAM , Crown Prince of Germany , and brother-in-law of the PRINCE of WALES , Grand Master of England , being the most conspicuous examples of the last 50 years . His M AJESTY was initiated at Berlin on the 22 nd May , 1840 , and at once became Protector of the three Prussian Grand Lodges , while his

son Prince F REDERICK . WILLIAM underwent the same ordeal on the 5 th November , 1853 , and is Deputy Protector of the same Grand Lodges . Thus it clearly devolves on us as a duty to congratulate this illustrious Mason on the anniversary which has been so brilliantly celebrated this week in Berlin , throughout the length and breadth of the German empire , and wherever

else among civilised or barbarous peoples , two or three or more of his loyal subjects may have been gathered together . And it is almost needless to say that this duty is one of which the fulfilment carries with it an amount of

pleasure second only to that we are experiencing in connection with the Jubilee celebration of her MAJESTY ' S reign . May his Imperial MAJESTY ' life be yet further prolonged to the benefit of that empire , which owes its existence to him , and which he has laboured so continuously and successfully to strengthen and confirm !

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

A Special General Court of the Subscribers and Governors of this Institution was held on Monday last , at Freemasons' Hall , for the purpose of considering some motions of which notice had been given by various brethren . Bro . Horace Brooks Marshall , P . G . Treas ., occupied the chair , and there were also present among other brethren Bros . Robert

Grey , Ralp h Clutton , Fredk . T . G . Keeble , G . Adamson , Fredk . Wood , John A . Rucker , W . Carter , Chas . F . Hogard , George Sadler , Charles F . Poupard . Thos . Massa , Fredk . Binckes , R . G . Barton , Chas . Daniel , J . Mason , H . Massey , S . H . Parkhouse , John French , W . Vincent , Peter De Lande Long , C . H . Webb , R . Eve , Russell , C . Hammerton , and F . R . W . Hedges , Secretary .

Bro , RALPH CLUTTON , J . G . D ., Vice-Patron , brought forward the following motion upon the recommendation of the House Committee , " That the negotiations between the House Committee and Mr . William Evill for the purchase of the two houses and grounds adjoining the Junior School of this Institution for the sum of - £ 2500 be approved , and that the Trustees be

authorised to carry the same into effect . " He stated that from the plan of the property which the brethren had before them they would see that it abutted on the property of the Institution now owned , and if it was acquired it would add to the value and size of the premises in the Wandsworth-road . The House Committee for some years had had in their minds that this

property , if it could be acquired , should be acquired whenever a favourable opportunity offered . That opportunity had now arrived . Mr . Evill , the owner of the property , had approached the Committee , and the House Committee had been able , after some negotiations , to enter into a provisional contract , subject to the approval of this Court , to purchase from that gentle-The two

man his two houses for the sum of ^ 2500 . houses were substantial well built houses , and contained considerable accommodation . As they adjoined the Junior School the Committee thought they could be added to that building at not a large cost , and made available for the purposes of the School , thus extending the accommodation of the School without any

large outlay in the way of bricks and mortar , which would have to be incurred if they had to build elsewhere . He did not think there was any other point he need bring before the Court except this , that the price the House Committee considered , the Court would concur with them , was between a willing purchaser and a willing seller , a fair one . For himself he certainl y did not think the price excessive , and he should recommend the purchase of

the property . Bro . C . F . HOSARD , P . M . and Sec . 205 , seconded the motion , and con curred in the observations which had fallen from Bro . Clutton . Bro . J . S . CUMBERLAND wished to know what was abutting on the pre mises , or whether there was nothing but an open space ,

Bro . RALPH C LUTTON said it was a detached house . Bro . CUMBERLAND thought that in that case a boundary wall would have to be built . Bro . R . CLUTTON said there was the original wall there , as described on

the plan before the brethren . Bro . CUMBERLAND enquired what jvas the total size of the piece of ground they were going to buy for ^ 2500 ? Bro . T . MASSA replied that it was about the fifth of an acre . In reply to another Brother , Bro . CLUTTON said it was freehold .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

Bro . J . G . STEVENS asked what was the rental value of these houses ? Bro . CLUTTON said one was put up to let at ^ 75 and one at 70 guineas The owner , perhaps , might not be able to let them quite so high ; but thai was the rent he was asking for them .

Bro . J . G . STEVENS reminded Bro . Clutton that he had put the price as one which was fair as between a willing purchaser and a willing seller , ir it was £ 75 a year , it was a good purchase for £ 2500 ; but , as a matter of fact , the house which was empty would not let for £ 75 .

Bro . R . CLUTTON said that was a question . Bro . HUNT said he had been over one of the houses in question . Thev were very well built , and he valued them to let at £ 65 a year each . If J was right in that , the purchase money asked was moderate ; it was under 20 years' purchase .

Bro . T . MASSA said no doubt it was very desirable that this propertv should be ac quired by the Institution ; but it seemed to him that they Were going to pay a very large price for it . The houses mi ght be substantiall y built . He had not been over them , but Bro . Hunt had , and he said they were well built . They were built in 1 849 , and he thought they could not be

built to stand very longj they were built to pull down . They were paying £ 10 , 000 or £ 11 , 000 an acre for this ground . When Lyncombe House and the other land were bought they had no choice whatever . In the present

purchase he thought they were giving 20 per cent , beyond the market value of the houses , and he should therefore , for the purpose of affording an opp 0 r . tunity for discussing the question , move as an amendment that the Trustees purchase the property for - £ 2250 .

The amendment not being seconded fell to the ground , and the ori ginal motion was put and carried . Bro . R . GREY , President of the Board of Benevolence , Patron , for Bro . F . A . Philbrick , Q . C ., Grand Registrar , Vice-Patron , moved to add to Law 29 the words : " Provided that no candidate shall be disqualified by reason

of her age exceeding 11 years ac the time of election in cases where such excess would not have arisen had the election be held on the second Satur . day of April of that year . " Bro . Philbrick , he said , had taken some little pains about this old law , because of the particular case of the child that stood No . 3 on the list of candidates for the next election , who , if the

election had taken place on the usual day , would have been qualified ; but because this year the day was appointed a week later , on account of Easter , would be disqualified , as she attained 11 years of age the day before . Her rejection on this account would have been such a hard thing for her , that Bro . Philbrick had formulated this proviso that she mi ght not be injured .

Bro . S . H . PARKHOUSE seconded the motion . The motion was put and carried . The CHAIRMAN said that Bro . W . P . Brown , Vice-President , who had the next motion on the paper , was unable to be present ; but he had written a letter expressing his deep regret at the circumstance , and asking him

( Bro . Marshall ) , as Treasurer of the Institution , to move his resolution for him . This resolution was— "That in commemoration of her Majesty ' s Jubilee five further vacancies be declared for the election in April next , thereby admitting of the election of the whole of the candidates on the list without contest . " He had great pleasure in submitting this resolution to

the generous consideration of the brethren , for they all knew that these candidates were not only eligible according to the laws of the Institution , but every case had been carefully investigated b y the General Committee , and was well worthy of being received for the benefits of the School . He was sure there was no better mode of celebrating the Queen ' s Jubilee than by

admitting these children without all the work , worry , anxiety , and trouble of a contested election at the next Quarterly Court . This was carrying out the grand principle of the Order—Charity ; and it would make the widow ' s heart leap for joy . The friends and subscribers of the Institution would respond generously to such an act b y answering the appeal that was now

being made to them for support to this invaluable Institution at the next Festival in May . He felt convinced that they would respond by supply ing additional large funds , which would enable them to utilise the large houses

agreed to be purchased , and also enable the House Committee to take in a larger number of children and maintain them in future years , which would involve an extra expense . A BROTHER having seconded the motion ,

Bro . J . S . CUMBERLAND said that he did not rise to oppose it , but he agreed with the Chairman that it would necessitate a large increase of funds yearly for some time to maintain the extra children , but he thought nevertheless it was a bad precedent to be constantl y taking all the candidates into the School . The brethren were all determined as far as they could to celebrate the

Jubilee of her Majesty as worthily as possible , but when they were dealing with the money of other subscribers than themselves , who could not be present at this meeting , it behoved them to be very careful . Now , he considered the price of the land and houses they had just agreed to purchase was exorbitant . But if they took in these five extta children it meant so much

more money required every year capitalised . He did not intend to move an amendment , because he should be very sorry if it should be thoug ht he was opposing the motion in a captious spirit . No doubt , if brethren thought that the present proposition was going to be made there would have been plenty more candidates on the list , but they might rest assured there

would be plenty more next year , on the chance of a similar act being pr ° " posed to celebrate the Centenary of the Institution . If this system was carried on it would disarrange the whole plan of balloting . He happened

to have a candidate from North and East Yorkshire when all the candidates were admitted once before , and a great deal of annoyance was occasioned . An appeal had to be made to ascertain what was best to be done . There were objections on the face of it . It looked on paper very nice , but he