Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

" Since its establishment , eight hundred and ninety-three children have been educated , clothed , and maintained within its walls ; most of whom , at the expiration of their term of residence , have returned to their parents or friends ; those who had no home have been provided with suitable situations , in which they have invariably so conducted themselves as to deserve and receive the commendation of their loyers

emp . - < A school-houso was erected in 1793 , near the Obelisk , St . George's Fields , on leasehold ground belonging to the Corporation of the City of London , the lease of which expired in 1851 . At the expiration of the term , it was found that the lease could only be renewed at a greatly increased rent , and that a large expense would be incurred to adapt the building to the modern exigencies of such an establishment . The bouse could scarcelv

accommodate the number of children already admitted , and had become hemmed in by other buildings ; and , as must necessarily happen in a crowded neighbourhood , the air had become more or less vitiated , that it was determined to remove to a locality more open and less liable to future obstruction . Accordingly , about three acres of freehold land were purchased on tho high ground of Battersea Riseadjoining Wandsworth

Commonpos-, , sessing all the desired recommendations ; open country—pure air—gravelly soil—sufficient room for play-grounds—a plentiful supply of water—near proximity to Church accommodationeasy access by rail or road—pleasant and healthful walks—and ample garden ground for supplying the institution with vegetables and fruit . Upon this land a building was erected ,

embodying all the appliances required for the health and comfort of its inmates , and the Committee have tho satisfaction of knowing that it is considered an ornament to the neighbourhood in which it stands . "An enlarged system of education has for some time past been in operation , and the benefits resulting from this extensiou can be referred to with the most lively feelings of satisfaction . In connection with this important subject , the committee take

the opportunity of stating that they have never been anxious to make a display of exceptional talent shown by individual children , being convinced that the real interests of the school are better served by the careful , solid teaching throughout , than by any effort to develop the ability of a few to the injury of the less talented . Nevertheless , for tho purpose of obtaining an additional test of the standard of instruction , it was resolved

that six of the elder girls should go up to the Cambridge Local Examination in January last . This step has been attended with the most gratifying result , all of them having passed to the satisfaction of the examiners—three of the number taking high honours ; and the perfect success of this experimental test will justify its adoption in future . " The children remain in the school till sixteen years of age

, and are employed by turns in all the domestic duties of the house , and great care is taken to make them expert in needlework , so that , whilst cultivating the moie purely educational branches , fclicy shall not lose sight of the humbler , but equally useful qualifications , so necessary to fit them for their several stations in life .

'lhe establishment consists of a matron ; a governess , and four assistants ; a gardener , and three female servants . The number of children domiciled in the school has within the last few years been increased to one hundred , and an additional wing was erected for that purpose . This , together with the maintenance of the number thus brought together , involved at the same time a serious outlay . Nevertheless , in order that the institution should be as perfect in every respect as passiblenew

, dormitories , affording increased space for sloeping room ; an infirmary , isolated from the general building and approached by a separate staircase ; a convalescent room ; additional baths and lavatories , etc ., have been constructed ; and the covered play ground , formerly a mere wooden structure , has been permanently walled in , and forms the basement of the new apartments . The cost of this work amounted to upwards of £ 3000

,, and however large the sum may appear , the committee , impressed with the full importance of the subject , declined the fearful responsibility of neglecting those precautionary measures of a sanitary nature so well calculated to ensure the health and safety of the children ; and they confidently appeal to the Craft to assist them with the requisite funds to meet this expenditure . "

At halt-past six o'clock a procession of Stewards was formed , who escorted the noble Chairman to his seat at the principal table , and , on passing up the hall , he was received with loud cheering . Amongst the numerous brethren present we

observed : —Bros , the Rev . J . Hnyshe , Prov . G . M . for Devonshire ; Stephen Blair , Prov . G . M . for East Lancashire ; Samuel Totnkins , G . Treas . ; Feim . P . G . Assist . Dir . of Cers . ; Spiers , P . G . S . B . and D . P . G . M . for Oxfordshire ; John Hervey , G . Sec . ; the Rev . C . Woodward , Chaplain to the Institution ; G . Cox , P . G . D . ; W . Farnfteld , P . G . Assist . Sec ; the Rev . R . J . Simpson , P . G . Chap . ; John Udall , P . G . D . ; Major General Mumbce , P . M . & S . W . 1222 ; J . W . K . PotterP . G . D . ; John Emmens , P . G .

, Purst . ; Robert J . Chnppell , J . D . 7 ; Peter Matthews , Hon .. Dentist to the Institution and P . M . & Treas . of the Fitzroy Lodge ; Wingficld , P . M . 1155 ; Patte , P . M . 147 ; J . Bolton ,. P . M . 1 G 0 , 117 , & c ; J . D . Jackson , S . D . 569 ; Dr . Barringer ,. P . M . 151 . and Surgeon to the School ; S . C . Hall ( the celebrated author ) , No . 10 ; Dr . F . E . Wilkinson , P . M . 181 ; H . Moore , P . M . 1155 ; StevensP . M . 9 ; Hereon 861 ; Benjamin Head

, , , P . G . D . ; II . Thompson , P . M . 177 & 1158 ; F . Binckes . P . M . 11 and Secretary to the Boys' School ; Pierce Egan , P . M . 231 & Z , of Enoch Chapter , No . 11 ; Charles Coote , P 3 I . of the Lodge of Israel , P . M . 23 ; Jaques , 1158 ; Buss , P . M . 27 ; R . W . Little , Rose of Denmark , 975 ; PemViebury , P . M . 1056 ; Hunt , W . M . 813 ; . Mann , P . M . 813 ; Crabb , 813 ; Capt . Field , P . M . 569 ; Meggy ,. P . M . 569 ; William PenroseP . S . G . W . MunsterIreland ;

, , , Massey , W . M . Beadon ; Charles E . Thompson , 1158 . On the withdrawal of the cloth , grace was sung by the professional singers . The Chairman gave the health of "the Queen , " aud said that she was deservedly beloved by all her subjects , but by none more than by the Freemasons of England . The Queen was a warm supporter of education , and although she was not a

subscriber to the Girls' School , yet she was a liberal supporter of " the Boys' School . He gave the health of " the Queen , and long ; life to her " ( drank with loud cheers ) , followed by the National Anthem , the solo parts by JIdlle . Liebhart . The Chairman next gave " the Prince and Princess of Wales ,, and the other members of the Royal Family , " and in doing so ,, alluded to the fact that he was a great traveller , and amongst

other observations , said he trusted that his Royal Highness would imitate his illustrious predecessor , the Duke of Kent , in . the support of our Masonic Institutions . Duet : " I know a bank ( Horn ) , Miss Fanny Holland and

Miss-Fairbairn . The Chairman gave "the Most Worshipful the Grand Master ,, the Right Hon . the Earl of Zetland , Patron and President of the Institution . " He had great pleasuie in proposing this toast as the first Masonic toast on the list , as it was the health of the ruler of the Craft , the Earl of Zetland , under whose reign , for more than a quarter of a century , the Masonic Charities had . flourished in a remarkable degree . He ( the noble chairman ) was

happy to hear that subscriptions were being raised to commemorate his twenty-five years reign over the Craft , and when he was consulted , in a true Masonic spirit , he expressed his intention not to take any of the subscriptions that might be raised ,, but it was his wish that they should be applied to a charitable purpose . He hoped that the money would amount to a large sum , and that it would be properly applied . He had great

pleasure yesterday in visiting the Girls' School , and in speaking to a lady who had for many years been connected with that institution , he mentioned the name of the Earl of Zetland , and . in . what he believed in a truly honest manner , she said she trusted that he was truly a good man , and that for many years he would continue to be Grand Master . That was a wish that he believed would he expressed by all Masonsand he

cor-, dially reiterated her wish , that the Earl of Zetland might long be spared to he Grand Master of English Freemasonry . The toast was most enthusiastically responded to , followed by the song of " Little bird so sweetly singing , " by Mdlle . Liebhart ,. which was encored . The Chairman gave " The Right Worshipful the Deputy Grand Masterthe Ut . Hon . the Earl de Grey and Riponand the

, , rest of the Grand Officers , past and present . " Bro . 1 ! . J . Simpson returned thanks , and alluded to the noble support the Masonic Charities had received . He was glad to iind . that the Stewards had come to a determination that a portion of the money should be so applied that , instead of members having to invest their contributions to the Board of Benevolenco on all occasions , that a fund should he raised to be applied to deserving

brethren in a similar manner to the Literary Fund . He thanked , the brethren and their fair sisters for the kind manner in which , they had received the toast of the Grand Officers , and on theirparfc he acknowledged the honour conferred upon them . Song— " Thou art so near and yet so far . " Bro . Reichardt .