Superintendents Of English Buildings In The Middle Ages.—I.

heartily concur . Of course , neither of these two excellent authorities credit the appointment of Wykeham as Grand Master of the Freemasons in 1357 and 1377 ! I entirely accept Mr . Pap worth's mature decision that " the Master Masons were generally the Architects during the medieval period in England . " The Master of the works ( he also says ) may have been so , and probably the Clerk of the Works was so in the latest times .

The portion of the Paper devoted to " Master Masons and Masons is so suggestive and exhaustive that it would be absurd to attempt anything like a sketch of the abundant material accumulated and duly arranged and explained on that deeply interesting subject . From the 13 th century downwards , it appears as if every possible source had been called upon to furnish facts towards making this part perfect and complete . The research indicated proves Mr . Papworth ' s fitness for the heavy task . Fortunately , Bro . Gould has made a free use of much of the items mentioned—with due

acknowledgment—and has , moreover , examined them from a Freemasomc standpoint . The same may be said of the next division , viz ., " Workshop , Residence or Lodge , " which begins with the " tabu latum domicialem" in 1200 , at St . Alban ' s Abbey Church . These and others of the kind have been noted by Bro . Gould , and as to their importance , to my mind , it would be difficult to overestimate them .

Then , as to "Gilds and Companies , " Mr Papworth believes , as we all do—that " a Guild of Masons was -undoubtedly in existence in London in 1375 , " but thinks that " there was not any Supreme Gild in England , however probable the existence of such a body may appear , " a decision I fully agree with . " Statutes relating to workmen" are next in order , duly

noted from the year 1349 . On the " Legendary History , " Mark's " Designations in Trade and Bridge Builders" I shall offer a few words on concluding my brief review of this most instructive and valuable Paper . " The Customs , Remuneration , and allowances" also form a very interesting division , deserving of a careful stud }' . W . J . HUGHAN .

The History Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Girls

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS

FROM ITS ORIGIN , 1788 , TO ITS CENTENARY , 188 S .

{ Continued from page 608 ) . A ready and ever increasing support was given hy tlie lodges and brethren . Grand Lodge contributed 25 guineas annually , and many lodges adopted the plan inaugurated by the Shakespeare Lodge of paying a fee of five shillings for every fresh initiate . The

anniversary Festivals—which at this epoch always included ' a sermon by some eminent divine or by a clergyman who was distinguished in the ranks of Freemasonry—were sufficiently productive , and the girls themselves contributed by their needlework to the support of the School . But undoubtedly among the most generous subscribers to the funds of

thc Institution in its early days was the Shakespeare Lodge , to whose contributions reference is constantly being made in the minutes . It helped in f urnisliing the new School-house in St . George ' s Fields , and subsequently we find it voting considerable sums . Thus in May , 1797 , the Treasurer announced that a few of its members had

subscribed amongst them £ 80 17 s ., and m the following November that at the commencement of the new season it had voted £ 52 10 s . In December , 1798 , we read that four members contributed 10 guineas each , and that 11 sum of £ 30 from " A Friend to the Charit y " was remitted through another member . In April , 1801 , notice is taken of

the fact that during the previous year the lodge had contributed £ 243 15 s ., and a vote of . thanks was passed to it accordingly ; and the year following a like compliment was paid the lodge for donations amounting to £ 339 . In April , 1809 , it received a vote of thanks for its liberality in general , and in particular for its latest donation of

£ 149 10 s . ; and in 1810 and 1 S 11 there arc records of moneys contributed amounting to £ 235 15 s . and £ 74 15 s . respectively . Such generous support as we have noted in these instances , and which was repeated on other occasions , well deserved the hearty thanks accorded by the Committee , and the knowledge that it aided so largely in

promoting the success of the School at the outset of its career , we doubt not , must be , and is . remembered with pride by its members of the present day . Among other lodges which followed this admirable example may be mentioned the Caledonian , which seconded the idea suggested by the Shakespeare as to paying a capitation fee for

initiates , the Lodge of Antiquity , which contributed half a guinea for every initiate , the Somerset House Lodge—now incorporated in the Royal Inverness and Somerset House , No . 4—which at a single Festival—that of 1813—sent up 14 Stewards and contributed £ 189 ; sundry lodges in the West of England ; the Province of Essex

which in the days of Bro . Dunckerley had , as we have already seen , rendered important services on more than one occasion , and which , at the installation in 1797 of his successor , Bro . George Downing , raised over £ 107 ; and the Lodge of Perfect Unanimity , Madras , and the Prov . G . Lodge of the Coast of Coromandel , which were constantly remitting contributions to the funds of the Charity .

We have seen that many of the leading brethren in the country , or rather in the metropolis , took an active part or interest in the government of the Institution . Lord Macdonaklwas one of the first Trustees appointed , Lord Dudley and Ward was one of the earliest Treasurers of the Institution , and Bro . Sir Peter Parker , Bart ., D . G .

Master of England was first Treasurer for several years and then a Trustee . Lord Moira , Pro Grand Master , was also a Trustee and President and never lost an opportunity of rendering a service to tlie Charity , and Bro . Dunckerley , who was Grand Master of many

Provinces , was an active promoter and supporter of its interests . So , too , were Bro . William Preston , author of the "Illustrations of Masonry , " who for years served on the General Committee , Bro . James Heseltine , Grand Treasurer , Bro . W . Birch , Bro , W . Forsstecn subsequently

The History Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Girls

Prov . G . Master of Hertfordshire , and Bro . the Rev . Lucius Coghlan D . D ., G . Chaplain , who with many others were never weary of doinowhat service lay in their power . But it will , no doubt , awaken a strong feeling of surprise among our readers to learn that the General Committee included some of the more conspicuous members of

the " Ancient" Fraternity of Freemasons , Bro . Robert Leslie , G . Secretary of that body , Bro . W . Comerford Clarkson , its G . Treasurer , and above all Bro . Thomas Harper , the Deputy of R . W . G . Master the Duke of Atholl being of the number . All these were " Modern " as well as " Ancient " Masons , and in their former

capacity were , of course , eligible to serve on the Committee , if it pleased their fellow governors and subscribers to elect them . But the case of Bro . Harper is the more conspicuous from the fact that his expulsion from the "Moderns" in the early part of this century does not seem to have affected his eligibility to

serve as stated . On the contrary , Ave find him , to his great credit , one of the most active members of the House Committee , and exerting his influence at all times to promote the success of the Charity . It seems to have been chiefly through his instrumentality

that the proprietors ol : the Royal Circus very generously permitted sundry benefits to be held in their establishment " in aid of the funds , and in more than one instance Ave find Bro , Harper tlie recipient of a special vote of thanks for these or similar servicers .

But the central figure in the group of worthy brethren who presided over the fortunes of our Girls' School during the first 25 years of its existence was its beneficent founder or "Institutor "—the Chevalier Ruspini . With , increasing years and the infirmities which increasing years bring Avith them , it Avas impossible he could continue

that active participation , in the management of the School which younger men than he Avere able to give . But , though his attendance at Committee Meetings and Quarterly Courts became gradually less frequent , his love for , and interest in , the Charity Avere undiminished to the very last . Early in . 1796 , one of the Girls who had completed

her term in the School was apprenticed as a domestic servant to the Chevalier , and in June of the same year thanks Avere voted to him . for placing his carriage at the disposal of the House Committee to convey them to a concert at Croydon in aid of the Institution . In 1801 it Avas arranged , at his request , that his name should be entered in the list of Governors and Subscribers as "Institutor" of the

Charity . In 1803 a full length portrait of the Chevalier , by Theophilus Clarke , was presented to the Governors by the artist , to Avhom a vote of thanks for the gift and the privileges ol a Life Governor were accorded , while early in January , 1804 , Ave read in the minutes that " the Thanks of the Court were

unanimously voted to the Chevalier Ruspini for the supply of styptic Avhich he furnished for the service of Jane Middleton , and Avhich afforded her so much relief in her dangerous situation , " and it Avas at the same time agreed that the beneficial effects Avhich it had had on the girl should be made public . In 1807 he attended the

House Committee for the purpose of ascertaining if there Avere a girl suitable to undertake the duties of a domestic servant at the house of Lady Beeehey , in Harley street . He took part in the proceedings of the Quarterly General Court in October , 1810 , and in May of the following year the General Committee , at Avhich he was present ,

unanimously passed a vote of thanks to him , to Bro . the ReA \ Dr . Coghlan , G . Chaplain , and Bros . Thomas Carr and Siffken "for their kindness in attending with the children Avho -were confirmed at St . Saviour ' s Church , on Tuesday tlie 14 th instant . " His last appearance at any meeting in connection Avith the School , appears to

have been at the Quarterly Court held in October , 1811 , and on the 23 rd December , 1813 , it is minuted that "the Secretary reported that the Chevalier Bartholomew Ruspini , the Institutor of this Charity , had died on the 14 th instant , and that the children of the

Charity had attended at his Funeral on Monday last . " And thus died in the fulness of years and enjoying the love and respect of all classes and conditions of people , but especially of his brother Masons , one of the kindliest and most beneficent characters of his or

any age . He may be accounted fortunate in having so long survived the foundation of his beloved Masonic Charity . It had pleased the G . A . O . T . U . to spare him to see it grow slowly but surely form a comparatively insignificant home for 15 poor children , in a small house in Somers ToAvn , to an Institution of considerable

proportions , in premises centrally situated and large enough and rich enough to accommodate more than four times the original number of inmates . He had Avatched and taken part in its government , and had the satisfaction of knoAving tbat the majority of the children AVIIO had been trained in the School he had founded were earning an

honest and honourable livelihood . But , above all , he had the best grounds for believing that through the Aviso economy Avhich had characterised its financial management there Avas every liklelihood of the Charity being permanently established . Its anntial income , derived partly from dividends on invested capital and the earnings

of the children , and partly from voluntary subscription , was considerable . It had gone on increasing in favour Avith the Society for Avhose benefit it had been instituted , and , humanly speaking , there were no grounds for anticipating that that favour was ever likely to diminish . Indeed , it Avas more likely to grow than to wane , for the schism Avhich

had so long split the brotherhood of Masonry into tAvo rival factions was all but healed . The articles for a union between the tAvo had been signed , and the prospect that Avas sure to follow its consummation must have been regarded as a happy omen for the future of his Girls School by the dying Chevalier , and must haA e gladdened even in death the heart of so good and kind a man . ( To ho continued . )