At Brighton on the same day was held the eighty-fourth anniversary festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys. The Lord Mayor presided at the dinner. It was announced that the subscriptions to the institution for the past year amounted to £11,588.
The Duke of Albany opened the new St. Peter's Hospital, in Henrietta-street, Covent-garden. Major-General Lord Abinger read an address giving a history of the hospital from its foundation in 1860, since which time it had afforded relief to 142,755 patients. The two principal wards have been named, by permission, "Leopold" and " Helen," as a memorial of the patronage of the Duke and Duchess of Albany. Donations in aid of the building fund, to the amount of £1200 were presented to the Prince.
A large gathering of the Girls' Friendly Society, from all parts of the county and diocese, met in Chester Cathedral, where a sermon was preached to them by the Dean. The girls, to the number of 1000, were afterwards entertained at tea.
A military musical fete and garden party, in aid of the funds of the Royal Army Coffee Taverns Association, took place at Chelsea Hospital in the afternoon. The Prince and Princess of Wales were present, and received a hearty greeting.
The Bishop of London presided yesterday at a meeting, held at the Westminster Palace, Hotel, to inaugurate the Charitable Dinner Society, its principal objects being to provide dinners, &c. to those needing them, and to increase the custom at the coffee taverns. Resolutions justifying the formation of the society and appointing a committee to carry out its objects were unanimously adopted.
Cardinal Manning presided at the annual meeting of the Cabdrivers' Benevolent Association, held at the Guildhall, which was numerously attended. The Cardinal, in his speech, counselled his hearers to be thrifty and temperate, and congratulated them on having been able, in eleven years, to put by £6500, and also on the fact that for the past twelve months not one of the members of the society had been summoned for any serious offence.
Several important meetings took place on Saturday last:—
The Princess Mary Adelaide and the Duke of Teck visited the Orphan Asylum at Slough, where her Royal Highness presented the prizes gained by the pupils in that institution during the last term. The Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol presided, and an entertainment consisting of recitations and vocal and instrumental music was given by the pupils.
There was a large gathering of ladies and gentlemen in the great hall of the London Orphan Asylum, Watford, on the occasion of the annual distribution of Prizes to the girls and boys of the asylum by the Earl of Clarendon. After the distribution of prizes there was a drill and march-past by 350 boys, and a selection of music performed by a number of the 200 girls.
The Lord Mayor received from the Mayor of Birmingham £1322, being the balance of the fund collected there for the relief of Russo-Jewish fugitives; £539 from the Lord Provost of Edinburgh; and £45 from the Mayor of Sunderland.
The Lord Mayor presided at the annual meeting of the Metropolitan Drinking Fountains Association at the Mansion House on Monday afternoon.
Norfolk House (the new East-End Home for Working Girls), situate at No. 50, Well-street, Hackney, was opened on Thursday.
The "Prince of Wales Wing" of the Metropolitan and City Police Orphanage, at Strawberry-hill, Twickenham, will be opened by the Prince and Princess of Wales, to-day (Saturday), on the occasion of the second annual festival and distribution of prizes.
Source: The Illustrated London News, July 8, 1882, p.47