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Festival Of The R.M.I. For Girls.
perform his dnties not only there , bnt in Grand Lodge . The other Grand Officers were also very able in the performance of their duties , aud they performed them to the satisfaction of the whole of tho brethren . Unquestionably tho present Grand Officers were eqiifil to those who had been appointed in the past . Ho therefore had
pleasure in proposing the toast . Bro . Tew P . G . D . Provincial Grand Master for West Yorkshire responded . There were one or two thoughts connected with the toast which suggested themselves . The brethren in West Yorkshire were closely attached in love and sentiment to the M . W . tho Pro Grand Mister and to the Deputy Grand Master . To these most illustrious brethren West Yorkshire
owed many feelings of gratitude and many obligations for the interest they had frequently shown in the Masonic affairs of West Yorkshire . It was with grief to them that they learned from the official journals of the day that the Pro Grand Master was not so well in his health as they could wish him to be , bnt they all hoped the Great Jehovah would restore him speedily , and that for years
and years to come Grand Lodge might have the benefit of his wise connsel , as well as that of the Earl of Lathom . Thero was one figure absent from among them , and he believed it was almost a unique occasion that when they did not see him . He referred to the Grand Secretary Bro . Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke . Colonel Clerke was present on Monday , at the distribution of prizes at the School ,
and thereby showod his interest in tho prosperity and progress of their most magnifioent Institution . That day he ( Bro . Tew ) was informed Colonel Clerke was not well , and that wivs the cause of his unfortunate absenoe . He ( Bro . Tew ) hopr > d with all his haart that Colonel Clerke might soon be restored to health again . There was another Grand Officer to whom thoy that night gave a cordial welcome ,
Bro . E . Terry P . G . Treasurer , who had jast retnrnod from India . A more popular G . Officer it would be hard to fiud in the ranks of Masonry . Bro . Edward Terry rose ; he really did not know why ho was placed in his present position . If ho had thought that that would havo been the end of his appearance there that evening , he shnnld have postponed his departnre from Calcutta for some considerable period .
He really did not know what he had to say or what he had to reply for ; but ho was very glad to bo homo again , and ho waa very pleased to think that during his short sojourn in India he found Freemasonry very powerfully in possession there . Ho was told to convey a message personally to the M . W . G . M . from the Cyrus Lodge , whioh was a Parsee Lodge in Bombay , expressing their fraternal feelings , and their
thorough loyalty to this country , and to the Prince cf Wales as a Mason , and to the English as Englishmen . It was a very pleasant feeling to him . Ho never felt the power of Freemasonry so mnoh aa he did on tbe evening when ho was invited to visit the Lodge Cyrns , of Bombay . It ivai , as ho had said , a Parsee Lodge , of which he believed a forerunner of himself in tho office of Grand Treasurer ,
Bro . Cama , was an original member ; he could assure tho brethren that when he went to that Lodge he Baw the Parsees , Mahomedans , the Hindus , the Jews , and tho Christians nil pitting down and working with that love and harmony which should always characterise Froemasonp , and he felt very prond of being a Freemason , and was quite snre what an enormous power Freemasonry was in India .
When they knew the sad occurrences that took place there many years ago , when he and many now present were boys , ho thought what a very grand thing it was to find all these different sects taking part in Lodge work with love and harmony . It showed a very grand point in favour of Freomasonry . He did not know that ho had any more to say . He was perhaps rather awkward in his parts of speech ; ho might prefer to address them in Hindustani ; he had been through
the country in about six weeks , and \ va 3 a thorough expert in all the dialects of India—but ho Would spare them much suffering , aud would- only say that ho could not thank them for calling on him to respond to the toast , but he was really very grateful to be among his brethren ' again , and he felt very much the kindl y . feeling they had shown by almost forcing him to address them . Bro . Sir John B . Monckton P . G . W . would now ask the brethren to
come home again for a few moments . They had been addressed by one who for a little time had been abroad , and who had shown the truth of the old proverb—Qui facit per alium facit parsee . He would now propose the health of the Chairman . The snecoss of their annual gatherings to keep up these Festivals of the Institutions —their beloved Institutions—mainly depended on the brethren they
conld secure as Chairmen . Oh that occasion many who took a deep interest in the welfare of the Girls' School thought themselves most fortunate when they got an old Master in the Craft and an old Provincial Grand Master to consent to take the chair ; that Brother was Sir Francis Burdett . Many of the brethren were present at the prize distribution at the Girls' School on Monday ; he ( Sir J . B .
Monckton ) was there , Sir F . Burdett was there ; and two ladies were there who oasfc Sir Francis entirel y in the shade . Those ladies wero Lady Burdett , the wife of Sir Francis , and Miss Burdett , their daughter , and they most gracefully and kindly perrornleil tho ooromony of giving the prizes . The brethren had much to be thankful for to their Chairman ; he was a veteran in the Craft , well-known
and much esteemed . He asked the brethren to rise as one man , and with acclamation drink to the health of their Chairman . Sir Francis said he felt it was almost impossible to express his feelings ou that occasion . He always had great pleasure in being among Freemasons , but he had no idea that he should be so enthusiastically received . It had beeu his object through life to meet the wishes of
all his brother Freemasons , whether Entered Apprentices or in the highest degrees ; and when he was asked by the Committee of the Girls' Sohool to preside at their One Hundred and Second Anniversary Festival he had the greatest pleasure in acceding to their request , though he felt there were many others who would bo much
more acceptable to the brethren . Still , his interest in the Institution they had met to support was suoh that he felt he could do something to advanoe its cause . He was sure they could not find a better one . Tho girls were well educated in it it was excellent in every possible way ; and ho must thank Bro . Sir John Monckton for the mention , and the brethren for their kind reception of , the names
Festival Of The R.M.I. For Girls.
of Lady Burdett and his daughter . It gave Lady and Miss Burdett the greatest pleasure and gratification to be present , and to be instrumental in the distribution of the prizes . The toast the Chairman had now to propose to the brethren was one of consider , ation nnd consequence , and he thoroughly felt he was not able to pnfc it before them in a way that it really ought to be put , and that
many brethren there present could do it better . Yet he was confident no one wonld do it with more good feeling to the Institution than he , for he was thoroughly convinced that no Institution was superior to the Masonio Girls' Sohool . Many of the brethren were aware of what took place two years ago at the Centenary Festival of the Girls' Sohool , which was held at the Boyal
Albert Hall , when H . E . H . the Prince of Wales the M . W . G . M . and the King of Sweden and Norway were present . That celebration made an impression on all . Those who were not present were aware from the newspapers of what took place . It was a Centenary that recalled to them ancient times , when the Institution was first formed —in 1788—as a childrens' Institution , under the patronage and
support of her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cumberland . ' In those days very little was thought of education , not half so much as now ; but as time went on advances were made , and in 1789 a school was established in the East-end of London , in Somers-place . That was the second they had , it was commenced there , and 15 girls were entered in it . He did not know what the education then was , or
how the girls were trained , but still it was a beginning , and a very good beginning , of what was now before them . In 1795 these girls increased in number to 30 , and the establishment was removed from Somers-place to St . George's in the Fields . There waB an improve , ment made , and in 1851 a grand movement took place , when the Institution got possession of the plot of land on which the present
Sohool buildings stood . At that time they . wei * e able to take in more children , and they took in from 68 to 80 wheu the building was opened at Battersea Rise in 1851 . Thoy now saw what had been done by tho generosity of tho brethren ; the subscriptions had been added to , and by the exertions of the Committee they had magnificent buildings , capable of holding 264 girls . That
alone spoke for itself . Not only was the building oapable of holding that number of girls , but as an acoompaniment they had every accomplishment t' : at could be taught—they had swimming-baths , lanndries , and everything else that could be expected ; and yet with all that it went on in the smooth and quiet manner it had gone on in - for the last ten or fifteen years . He trusted that the Sohool would
have as good a Committee for many years as it now had , and although some might come and some might go , he had no doubt that those who took the place of their predecessors would do their work equally well . There was hardly anything more he need say , but he could not do better than advise them to put their shoulders to the wheel and support the Institution , for they were all interested in it .
Ho trusted they would interest others in it . They had an oppor . tunity on Monday of hearing a moBt wonderful performance on the pianoforte , in whiob , though so many performers were at work at the same time , if any one had turned his back he might have imagined that only one pair of hands was playing . There was , too , the most perfect system of calisthenics he had ever seen . His friend Sir
Arthur Otway , an old soldier , who had served in several capacities , was present , and he was very much surprised to gee the accuraoy and precision with which everything was done , without a word of command . The girls worked like a piece of maohinery . He did not thiDk there was a single hand or a finger out of place during the whole of those calisthenic exercises . There were other departments
of life in which the childen received education—cookery and several other useful household accomplishments , which they could bring into use if there were no servants in their homes . The children were all insfcrncted in those branches which would make them either good mistresses or good servants . That augured well for their future , and he was confident they wonld turn ont in after life excellent women and excellent wives . He proposed Success to the Royal Masonio
Institution for Girls , and coupled with it the name of its Treasurer , Bro . Henry Smith Deputy Provincial Grand Master for West Yorkshire . Bro . Henry Smith said it afforded him very great pleasure to acknowledge the enthusiastic reception of the toast so ably put before the brethren by their distinguished Chairman . He was sure that- as fheir newly-elected Treasurer , they would scarcely expect him to be fully acquainted with all the requirements of the Institution ; with 264 children maintained within its walls and watched over and
educated by a staff of ladies who , he firmly believed , were second to . none in the kingdom . They were watched over by a Committee who were not to be surpassed by any Committee of any other Institution The brethren would perhaps forgive him for mentioning a few facts as to the annual Festivals , which might not be generally known . When he first became acquainted with the
Institution in 1859 , there were 70 children in the School , and he then . took a . dolight and interest in it , which had remained with him to the present moment ; with this addition , —it bad boou mtone'fiod . The Festival in 1859 , over which Lord de Grey and Ripou presided , produced £ 2000 . In 1864 , there were 100 girls in the Institution , and the Festival yielded £ 3300 ; in 1871 , when there were also 100 g irls
in the School , the Prince of Wales presided , and the Festival produced £ 5200 . In 1878 there were two hundred girls in the Sohool ,. and the amount collected through the Festival was £ 8350 . At the Festival of 1880 , the late Duke of Albany took the ohair , and the large sum of £ 13 , 759 was produced . The Dnke of Connaught presided in 1882 , and £ 13 , 232 was realised . At the Centenary Festival of 1888 , when the Prince of Wales again presided , there were 250
Girls in the School , and £ 51 , 516 was raised . He was quite sure that the presence of Sir Francis Burdett that evening was a proof that he took deep interest in the Institution , whioh he trusted might be snstaiued in its efficiency . He would like to have said much more , of its requirements , its necessities , its large expenditure , and the necessity for increased space for class rooms , which had been provided at very large cost , and which he was sure they would ft " approve of when they went over the Institution . It only remained
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Festival Of The R.M.I. For Girls.
perform his dnties not only there , bnt in Grand Lodge . The other Grand Officers were also very able in the performance of their duties , aud they performed them to the satisfaction of the whole of tho brethren . Unquestionably tho present Grand Officers were eqiifil to those who had been appointed in the past . Ho therefore had
pleasure in proposing the toast . Bro . Tew P . G . D . Provincial Grand Master for West Yorkshire responded . There were one or two thoughts connected with the toast which suggested themselves . The brethren in West Yorkshire were closely attached in love and sentiment to the M . W . tho Pro Grand Mister and to the Deputy Grand Master . To these most illustrious brethren West Yorkshire
owed many feelings of gratitude and many obligations for the interest they had frequently shown in the Masonic affairs of West Yorkshire . It was with grief to them that they learned from the official journals of the day that the Pro Grand Master was not so well in his health as they could wish him to be , bnt they all hoped the Great Jehovah would restore him speedily , and that for years
and years to come Grand Lodge might have the benefit of his wise connsel , as well as that of the Earl of Lathom . Thero was one figure absent from among them , and he believed it was almost a unique occasion that when they did not see him . He referred to the Grand Secretary Bro . Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke . Colonel Clerke was present on Monday , at the distribution of prizes at the School ,
and thereby showod his interest in tho prosperity and progress of their most magnifioent Institution . That day he ( Bro . Tew ) was informed Colonel Clerke was not well , and that wivs the cause of his unfortunate absenoe . He ( Bro . Tew ) hopr > d with all his haart that Colonel Clerke might soon be restored to health again . There was another Grand Officer to whom thoy that night gave a cordial welcome ,
Bro . E . Terry P . G . Treasurer , who had jast retnrnod from India . A more popular G . Officer it would be hard to fiud in the ranks of Masonry . Bro . Edward Terry rose ; he really did not know why ho was placed in his present position . If ho had thought that that would havo been the end of his appearance there that evening , he shnnld have postponed his departnre from Calcutta for some considerable period .
He really did not know what he had to say or what he had to reply for ; but ho was very glad to bo homo again , and ho waa very pleased to think that during his short sojourn in India he found Freemasonry very powerfully in possession there . Ho was told to convey a message personally to the M . W . G . M . from the Cyrus Lodge , whioh was a Parsee Lodge in Bombay , expressing their fraternal feelings , and their
thorough loyalty to this country , and to the Prince cf Wales as a Mason , and to the English as Englishmen . It was a very pleasant feeling to him . Ho never felt the power of Freemasonry so mnoh aa he did on tbe evening when ho was invited to visit the Lodge Cyrns , of Bombay . It ivai , as ho had said , a Parsee Lodge , of which he believed a forerunner of himself in tho office of Grand Treasurer ,
Bro . Cama , was an original member ; he could assure tho brethren that when he went to that Lodge he Baw the Parsees , Mahomedans , the Hindus , the Jews , and tho Christians nil pitting down and working with that love and harmony which should always characterise Froemasonp , and he felt very prond of being a Freemason , and was quite snre what an enormous power Freemasonry was in India .
When they knew the sad occurrences that took place there many years ago , when he and many now present were boys , ho thought what a very grand thing it was to find all these different sects taking part in Lodge work with love and harmony . It showed a very grand point in favour of Freomasonry . He did not know that ho had any more to say . He was perhaps rather awkward in his parts of speech ; ho might prefer to address them in Hindustani ; he had been through
the country in about six weeks , and \ va 3 a thorough expert in all the dialects of India—but ho Would spare them much suffering , aud would- only say that ho could not thank them for calling on him to respond to the toast , but he was really very grateful to be among his brethren ' again , and he felt very much the kindl y . feeling they had shown by almost forcing him to address them . Bro . Sir John B . Monckton P . G . W . would now ask the brethren to
come home again for a few moments . They had been addressed by one who for a little time had been abroad , and who had shown the truth of the old proverb—Qui facit per alium facit parsee . He would now propose the health of the Chairman . The snecoss of their annual gatherings to keep up these Festivals of the Institutions —their beloved Institutions—mainly depended on the brethren they
conld secure as Chairmen . Oh that occasion many who took a deep interest in the welfare of the Girls' School thought themselves most fortunate when they got an old Master in the Craft and an old Provincial Grand Master to consent to take the chair ; that Brother was Sir Francis Burdett . Many of the brethren were present at the prize distribution at the Girls' School on Monday ; he ( Sir J . B .
Monckton ) was there , Sir F . Burdett was there ; and two ladies were there who oasfc Sir Francis entirel y in the shade . Those ladies wero Lady Burdett , the wife of Sir Francis , and Miss Burdett , their daughter , and they most gracefully and kindly perrornleil tho ooromony of giving the prizes . The brethren had much to be thankful for to their Chairman ; he was a veteran in the Craft , well-known
and much esteemed . He asked the brethren to rise as one man , and with acclamation drink to the health of their Chairman . Sir Francis said he felt it was almost impossible to express his feelings ou that occasion . He always had great pleasure in being among Freemasons , but he had no idea that he should be so enthusiastically received . It had beeu his object through life to meet the wishes of
all his brother Freemasons , whether Entered Apprentices or in the highest degrees ; and when he was asked by the Committee of the Girls' Sohool to preside at their One Hundred and Second Anniversary Festival he had the greatest pleasure in acceding to their request , though he felt there were many others who would bo much
more acceptable to the brethren . Still , his interest in the Institution they had met to support was suoh that he felt he could do something to advanoe its cause . He was sure they could not find a better one . Tho girls were well educated in it it was excellent in every possible way ; and ho must thank Bro . Sir John Monckton for the mention , and the brethren for their kind reception of , the names
Festival Of The R.M.I. For Girls.
of Lady Burdett and his daughter . It gave Lady and Miss Burdett the greatest pleasure and gratification to be present , and to be instrumental in the distribution of the prizes . The toast the Chairman had now to propose to the brethren was one of consider , ation nnd consequence , and he thoroughly felt he was not able to pnfc it before them in a way that it really ought to be put , and that
many brethren there present could do it better . Yet he was confident no one wonld do it with more good feeling to the Institution than he , for he was thoroughly convinced that no Institution was superior to the Masonio Girls' Sohool . Many of the brethren were aware of what took place two years ago at the Centenary Festival of the Girls' Sohool , which was held at the Boyal
Albert Hall , when H . E . H . the Prince of Wales the M . W . G . M . and the King of Sweden and Norway were present . That celebration made an impression on all . Those who were not present were aware from the newspapers of what took place . It was a Centenary that recalled to them ancient times , when the Institution was first formed —in 1788—as a childrens' Institution , under the patronage and
support of her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cumberland . ' In those days very little was thought of education , not half so much as now ; but as time went on advances were made , and in 1789 a school was established in the East-end of London , in Somers-place . That was the second they had , it was commenced there , and 15 girls were entered in it . He did not know what the education then was , or
how the girls were trained , but still it was a beginning , and a very good beginning , of what was now before them . In 1795 these girls increased in number to 30 , and the establishment was removed from Somers-place to St . George's in the Fields . There waB an improve , ment made , and in 1851 a grand movement took place , when the Institution got possession of the plot of land on which the present
Sohool buildings stood . At that time they . wei * e able to take in more children , and they took in from 68 to 80 wheu the building was opened at Battersea Rise in 1851 . Thoy now saw what had been done by tho generosity of tho brethren ; the subscriptions had been added to , and by the exertions of the Committee they had magnificent buildings , capable of holding 264 girls . That
alone spoke for itself . Not only was the building oapable of holding that number of girls , but as an acoompaniment they had every accomplishment t' : at could be taught—they had swimming-baths , lanndries , and everything else that could be expected ; and yet with all that it went on in the smooth and quiet manner it had gone on in - for the last ten or fifteen years . He trusted that the Sohool would
have as good a Committee for many years as it now had , and although some might come and some might go , he had no doubt that those who took the place of their predecessors would do their work equally well . There was hardly anything more he need say , but he could not do better than advise them to put their shoulders to the wheel and support the Institution , for they were all interested in it .
Ho trusted they would interest others in it . They had an oppor . tunity on Monday of hearing a moBt wonderful performance on the pianoforte , in whiob , though so many performers were at work at the same time , if any one had turned his back he might have imagined that only one pair of hands was playing . There was , too , the most perfect system of calisthenics he had ever seen . His friend Sir
Arthur Otway , an old soldier , who had served in several capacities , was present , and he was very much surprised to gee the accuraoy and precision with which everything was done , without a word of command . The girls worked like a piece of maohinery . He did not thiDk there was a single hand or a finger out of place during the whole of those calisthenic exercises . There were other departments
of life in which the childen received education—cookery and several other useful household accomplishments , which they could bring into use if there were no servants in their homes . The children were all insfcrncted in those branches which would make them either good mistresses or good servants . That augured well for their future , and he was confident they wonld turn ont in after life excellent women and excellent wives . He proposed Success to the Royal Masonio
Institution for Girls , and coupled with it the name of its Treasurer , Bro . Henry Smith Deputy Provincial Grand Master for West Yorkshire . Bro . Henry Smith said it afforded him very great pleasure to acknowledge the enthusiastic reception of the toast so ably put before the brethren by their distinguished Chairman . He was sure that- as fheir newly-elected Treasurer , they would scarcely expect him to be fully acquainted with all the requirements of the Institution ; with 264 children maintained within its walls and watched over and
educated by a staff of ladies who , he firmly believed , were second to . none in the kingdom . They were watched over by a Committee who were not to be surpassed by any Committee of any other Institution The brethren would perhaps forgive him for mentioning a few facts as to the annual Festivals , which might not be generally known . When he first became acquainted with the
Institution in 1859 , there were 70 children in the School , and he then . took a . dolight and interest in it , which had remained with him to the present moment ; with this addition , —it bad boou mtone'fiod . The Festival in 1859 , over which Lord de Grey and Ripou presided , produced £ 2000 . In 1864 , there were 100 girls in the Institution , and the Festival yielded £ 3300 ; in 1871 , when there were also 100 g irls
in the School , the Prince of Wales presided , and the Festival produced £ 5200 . In 1878 there were two hundred girls in the Sohool ,. and the amount collected through the Festival was £ 8350 . At the Festival of 1880 , the late Duke of Albany took the ohair , and the large sum of £ 13 , 759 was produced . The Dnke of Connaught presided in 1882 , and £ 13 , 232 was realised . At the Centenary Festival of 1888 , when the Prince of Wales again presided , there were 250
Girls in the School , and £ 51 , 516 was raised . He was quite sure that the presence of Sir Francis Burdett that evening was a proof that he took deep interest in the Institution , whioh he trusted might be snstaiued in its efficiency . He would like to have said much more , of its requirements , its necessities , its large expenditure , and the necessity for increased space for class rooms , which had been provided at very large cost , and which he was sure they would ft " approve of when they went over the Institution . It only remained