Royal Masonic Schools for Girls This was actually the first masonic school in that it was instituted in 1788 (before the Boys’ School from last month) by Chevalier Ruspini, with the aim of maintaining the daughters of indigent Freemasons, unable through death, illness, or incapacitation to support their families. In 1788, Bartholomew Ruspini and nine fellow Freemasons met to discuss plans for establishing a charitable institution for the daughters of Masons who had fallen on hard times or whose death had meant hardship for their families. On 14 May 1788, a committee met at the Freemasons' Tavern in Great Queen Street to thrash out the details of the proposed institution. An advertisement for the position of Matron was put in the papers, and the committee set about finding suitable premises from which their charity could operate. The house at Somers Place East in Somers Town was a suggestion from Dr de Valangin, and was taken in October at a rent of £35 per annum to house 15 children. The property has since disappeared but was between the present day Euston and St Pancras stations, near where the British Library is today. The old school crest opposite is very masonic as to be expected showing a pentangle with the perfect ashlar in the centre, pillars and carpet. The motto (which was in Latin) was That our daughters may be as the polished corners of the Temple. Their famous drill routine is shown below. Currently situated in Rickmansworth, it had to move to larger remises twice due to the huge success. Since 1978, the school opened to the daughters of non-freemasons, and the name "Masonic" is a now just reference to its past. For a very interesting historical background to the Freemasons behind the school, see the PowerPoint: https://www.rmsforgirls.org.uk/userfiles/rmsmvc/documents/AboutUs/History%20Trails/RMS% 20House%20Names.pdf Or a full history on the dedicated site: https://rmsghistoryextra.wordpress.com/
Cross Keys March 2021
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