Grand Lodge Of Maryland, 1887.

country . The Grand Master regretted . that he had not "the honour of meeting the Prince of Wales , who takes great interest in . the work and progress of the Order , and to his energy and tact is due the immense growth of Masonic membership in England . " The Grand Master did not fail to particularise one or two of the more

memorable instances of Masonic Fellowship , e . g ., " At the Anglo-American Lodge I was accorded a brilliant reception , as also at York ; our brethren exerting themselves to show me the interesting antiquities of that historic place , its great Cathedral , and its Masonic monuments . It would tire you and seem vain in me to detail all the kindly attentions with which I was officially greeted and personally complimented . "

Then followed the inevitable banquet , at which " several hours were spent in a happy re-union and most enjoyable feast . " The Annual Communication was held on November 15 th , when Grand Master Shryock delivered an address of considerable length and conspicuous ability . Of

course , the centennial celebration was referred to , and such was the management on that occasion that it was rightly styled " an unqualified success . " This Grand Lodge completed its hundred years with the youngest Grand Master in America on its throne ; but youth and zeal combined achieved all that could be desired . The Grand Master thus referred to his receptions in England : —

"On September 21 st I received a special invitation , tendering me a reception at the Anglo-American Lodge in London ; the Master of this lodge is Bro . Brackstone Baker , the Representative of this Grand Lodge near the Grand Lodge of England [ Bro . Shryock was accompanied by three brethren ] ; we were handsomely received and entertained by the lodge and brethren present . This lodge was formed some time since for the purpose of furnishing a Masonic home to American brethren , who might be sojourning in London , and met with the greatest success from the

moment of its formation . The American brethren are greeted with a cordial and fraternal welcome . On the 25 th of October I was handsomely entertained by the Covent Garden Lodge of Instruction . I received an invitation , as your representative to visit the ancient Masonic city of York , and upon my arrival there was met by Bro . T . B . Whytehead , P . M ., who extended to me every courtesy and attention in his power . Eboracum Lodge and Ancient Ebor Preceptory also both tendered me receptions . I trust the Grand Lodge will take suitable action in acknowledgment of these fraternal courtesies extended to me as its representative . "

The " Committee on the Address' gracefully noted "the fraternal courtesies and attentions extended their M . W . Grand Master , " and gratefully accepted the kindnesses as " bestowed upon the whole Fraternity in Maryland , " besides recommending the adoption of resolutions expressive of the thanks of the Grand Lodge , which have doubtless been forwarded in due course .

In conclusion , I desire to state that the Grand Lodge of Maryland is both vigorous and healthy , Masonically speaking , and , though not a large body , its 5137 Master Masons form a compact Society of Free and Accepted Masons , to rule over whom any brother may well feel proud . The Grand Master is the Representative of our Grand Lodge at Maryland , and highly appreciates the distinctive decoration , sent by command of our Royal Grand Master , on his appointment to that honourable position . W . J . HUGHAN .

The History Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Girls

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS

FROM ITS OllIGIN , 17 S 8 , TO ITS CENTENARY , 1888 . ( Continued from page 181 ) . For the few years that immediately followed the death of the Duke of ( Sussex , the records contain hut little of general interest . The cixrions plan of multiple and cumulative voting at the election of children , which had been adopted at the instance of Bro . McMullen in

July , 1838 , was abolished , and the old plan reverted to in April , 1843 . In 1844 a piano was presented to the School b y Bro . Stephen G . Lee , to assist the children in learning to sing ; while later in the year a resolution was passed to the effect " That in all cases where a child shall be sent from the School on account of illness , without a definite

period being named for her return , that she cannot be again admitted without a certificate from a medical officer and permission from the House Committee . " An unusual application is entered in the Minutes of the House Committee in January of the next year , the father of a girl in the Institution requesting that another of his daughters might

be admitted on payment , but the Committee , having no power to grant such a request , refused it . It may well be , however , that from this circumstance , though so trifling in itself , the idea originated of receiving children into the School 011 payment of a sum to be agreed upon . In April , 1845 , a proposition was made that a portrait of the

Matron , Mrs . Crook , AVIIO had been in the employ of the Institution 45 years , _ should be painted and placed in the Hall as a memorial of her services , and a Committee was at once appointed to take tho necessary steps for the purpose . In July an honorarium of 50 guineas was voted to Bro . Crew , the Secretary , whose official conduct had

been above reproach , and the grant was confirmed in October ; but the fact of the money having been voted without previous notice of motion , was condemned , and in January , 1846 , the Court of Governors , on the proposition of Bro . Baumer , resolved , " That in future no gratuity be voted at a General Committee without previous notice

having been given at a Quarterly General Court or General Committee . " In the following year a vote of thanks was unanimously passed to Bro . Dv . Granville—who a short time previousl y had tendered his resignation as one of the Physicians of the Institution—for his valuable services during a period of 25 yearsand about

, the same time a similar compliment was paid to Bro . W . II . White , G . Secretary , who had found it necessary to resign his membership of the House Committee . In October , the Matron ' s conduct in receiving Agnes Kuspini again as an inmate on the completion of her apprenticeship , was approved under the special circumstances

ot the case , but " at the same time "—as the Minutes tell us—the Court felt it " necessary to declare that it is not competent to the Matron or any other officer of the Charit y to receive into the School any person without the order of the House Committee . " The year

1847 was likewise an uneventful one , the only noteworthy resolution ¦ being one passed by the Quarterly Court in April , constituting the Treasurer and Trustees ex-officio members of the House Committee , while in December , Bro . Hardwick , G . Sup . of Works , was requested to seek an interview with tho proper officer of the London Corpora-

The History Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Girls

tion for the purpose of consulting him as to the renewal oi the lease of the School premises , which would expire on Lady Day , 1853 . It is clear , however , that during these years it must have been gradually dawning upon the minds of the Authorities that the School was not quite keeping pace Avitli the times and the amazinn *

improvements that had been taking place in the social life of the people . At the Quarterly Court in January , 1848 , a Bro . Katuseli suggested that the scheme of education , which had been the same from the very foundation of the School , should be improved and enlarged to include sundry accomplishments so that the

girls , on leaving , might be fitted to undertake situations as nursery governesses or in other capacities above the rank of mere domestic servants . But the House Committee at its next meeting summarily rejected the idea on the ground that they did not " consider it expedient to make any alteration in the system of

education in force . '' Three months later a motion by Bro . Stephenson" That it is the opinion of this Court" —of Governors and Sub . scribers— "that the education given to the children should be improved by instructing them in French and Drawing , and that the House Committee be requested to carry this resolution into effect "—

met with a similar fate , it being urged that the School had beeii prosperous hitherto , and that such branches of education were not necessary , considering * the character of the situations to which the majority of the girls on leaving were appointed . It is not surprising that these resolutions should have been defeated . It is in the nature

of all governing bodies to move slowly and to abhor and indeed resist with all their might and main anything in the shape of an innovation , but the brethren who made them are none the less deserving of credit for their courage in suggesting such necessary improvements . Equally meritorious was the proposal laid before the House Committee in a

letter from Bro . Gaskoin , one of the medical officers of the School , in which he suggested that a vacation of two or three weeks should he allowed to the children , both in summer and winter , so that they might go home to their parents or friends , and that the girls who were unable to avail themselves of these advantages should have

picnics and other similar treats during tho absence of their schoolfellows . However , the House Committee , though it could not question the propriety of Bro . Gaskoin ' s advice , do not seem to have done more than continue the plan of more recent years of allowing the children for whom their parents or friends asked leave to go

home for a time , while the letter itself was entered on the minutes . * But , as will be seen hereafter , the advice so forcibly tendered hy their own medical officer was attended at no very distant date Avitli beneficial consequences . A minor change in the children ' s diet , proposed by the Matron , Avas more successful , and the House

Committee raised no objection to her proposal that " tea or coffee , Avitli bread and butter , " for the evening meal , should be substituted for " cheese and beer . " The experiment had been tried in 1847 , AVC presume Avith satisfactory results , and in September , 1848 , the House Committee resolved that beer should cease to be supplied to the children " until further notice . " ( To be continued . )