Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

TPIE Quarterly General Court of the Subscribers was held on the 31 st ult ., at Freemasons' Tavern , Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Provincial Grand Master for Hants and the Isle of Wight , presiding . There were over 200 Brethren present from all parts of the country . The minutes of the Quarterly General Court of October having been read by Bro . Binckes , Bro . Richard Eve , Past

Grand Treasurer , said that before the question was put that the minutes of the last Quarterly Court be confirmed , he was deputed by the Provisional Committee to make a statement to the Brethren . On the minutes was a motion for granting ^" 350 a year as a pension to Bro . Binckes on his retirement from the office of Secretary . It

had been felt by the Provisional Committee that the Institution's money might be saved if that proposition be not confirmed , and he was entrusted by that Committee not to press the confirmation of the minutes in that respect . Probably some of the Brethren might not be aware that they

were going to propose that the sum should be X 5 ° year > but it was not now their desire to make that proposition . He made that statement with a great amount of pleasure , and it was made in order to bring about a reunion among the Subscribers to the Institution , and to place the Institution on the firm basis of past years ,

while consolidating the good feeling of all the Subscribers . They were not going to propose that the ^" 250 be granted , and therefore they withdrew both propositions , trusting to the generous impulses of Masons to do their utmost for the Institution . They believed thoroughly in the good feeling of the Subscribers and in

their liberal desires generally , and therefore they did not propose to the Quarterly Court to give anything like a pension to Bro . Binckes . They had propounded a scheme by which they believed that the feeling of the Committee would be carried out liberally , and that they would be able to have placed at their disposal a sum of money which thej' could give to Bro . Binckes . By the next Quarterly

Court they hoped everything would be settled . He therefore proposed that those minutes be confirmed , with the exception of that part giving the pension to Bro . Binckes . The motion being seconded by Bro . Jones , the minutes of the last Quarterly Court were confirmed , with the exception of that portion proposing a pension

to Bro . Binckes . A division was taken upon the question of limiting the age of candidates for the office of Secretary to 45 , when there was 108 for the limitation and 8 3 against it , so that the motion of Bro . J . L . Thomas was carried by a majority of 25 . The motion of Major Durrant , " That in

consideration of the fourteen years' Head Mastership of Dr . Morris at the Boys' School , this Committee devote a sum of £ 450 in recognition of his valuable services to the Institution , " was fully discussed ; but , it having transpired that Bro . Morris had accepted a cheque for ^ 255 in full discharge of all claims he might

have against the Institution , the motion was rejected almost unanimously . After another motion , by Bro . E . V . Greatbatch , that the appointment of the new Secretary should be vested in the Provisional Committee , was discussed and lost , the proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the Chairman .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

THE Quarterly Court of Subscribers was held on Saturday last , at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . Horace Brooks Marshall , C . C ., Past G . Treasurer , presiding . Bros . Robert Grey , H . A . Hunt , F . Richardson , C . Hammerton , H . Massey , Henry Smith , D . P . G . M ., West Yorkshire ; Stanley J . Attenborough , J . Bodenham , J . K . R .

Cama , J . M . McLeod , and F . R . W . Hedges ( Secretary ) , and others were present . After the reading and verification of the minutes of the Quarterly Court of October 25 , Bro . Hedges read a letter from Bro . J . A . Rucker , P . G . D ., expressing his wish to retire , on account of ill-health , from his trusteeship of the General Fund of the Institution . Bro . Robert Grey , P . G . D ., President of the Board of Benevolence , moved ( hat Bro . Rocker ' s resignation be accepted

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

with regret , and the motion was carried nem . con . Bro . C . H . Webb , V . P ., moved that the name of one girl be omitted from the list of candidates for the April Election , and said he thought the case should receive serious consideration , for several reasons . The case had been recommended by the Petitions Committee by the narrowest majority . When first

considered by that Committee it was decided not to recommend it ; but , after some further correspondence , by the casting vote of the Chairman of the Committee the General Committee recommended

it to place it on the list . In this case there were seven children of the deceased brother , but some were grown up . The father was described as a " gentleman . " When the mother died , _^ 6 , ooo capitalised was left for the children , who were now all living together ; one acting as housekeeper of the family ; the others were of an age which should justify them in seeking to obtain their

living . The invested ^ 6 , ooo brought in £ igo a year , which in the provinces was equal to ^ 300 or £ z 5 ° in London . Therefore , he thought the case was such as ought not to come forward for this Institution . The father did not appear to have done anything for the Institutions . Whatever his resources

were there were ^" 6 , 000 invested , and those who were possessed of property should not be allowed to drive their children into the Masonic Schools . It was disgraceful to parents who occupied that position . If this case was elected a stronger and much more deserving case would be kept out , and if the brethren supported

such cases they encouraged similar cases to come on . Bro . Money , in seconding the motion , said it was shown to the Enquiry Committee that two or three of the girls of this family were over 20 years of age . If they were not working they had had a good education , and they ought to teach the younger children and not come for

charity . The object of the Committee was not to have too large a list of candidates . It was eventually decided that this name , together with one other , be omitted , and the list of candidates for election next April was declared to be 43 , while the vacancies will be 21 .

Bro , C . Hammerton , P . G . S . B ., having brought forward a motion as Chairman of the [ Centenary Committee , which was eventually carried , Bro . Frank Richardson , P . G . D ., Patron , moved : — " That the Trustees of the Institution be and are hereby requested and authorised to sign a petition to each House of Parliament against

the ' Various Powers Bill' presented by the London , Brighton , and South Coast Railway , so far as the same relates to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , and to make such opposition thereto as counsel may advise , or may be necessary for the protection of the property of the Institution . " The Bill of the Brighton

Railway was a very important one . They had scheduled the new gates , which had been put up at a cost of ^ 100 , facing the common ; they proposed to take 12 out of the 18 ft . of land at the side of the main building , and half of the Junior School itself and the whole of the frontage to the high road . The House Committee had retained

Bro . Samuel Pope , Q . C ., and he ( Bro . Richardson ) thought they should be on the safe side , and petition against the Bill , for , if carried , the railway would come within 6 ft , of the building . It would be in a cutting 25 ft . deep , and it would be absolutely dangerous to the structure . If the railway damaged the place like

that they would have to take it altogether , and it was worth a quarter of a million . He then moved the resolution , which was put and carried , and a vote of thanks to 'the Chairman closed the proceedings .

In the minute for June 20 , 1754 , of Lodge No . 35 , it is stated that a Brother Cryer was " hauled over the coals , " and that the members agreed that he " should not at any time hereafter have any vote in any matter , cause or thing whatever , for it was thought the said Brother Cryer behaved extremely ill , and absolutely broke through the laws in refusing to pay one bottle of wine for entering into the holy state of matrimony . "