The Banquet.

part in this festive ceremony , which , as most of the outside world will suppose , was most indispensable to us , whom they regard as a gormandizing fraternity . ( Laughter . ) In an assemblage of English Masons it may seem absurd to talk about loyalty , but I can assure your Royal Highness that no Masons are more loyal than the Masons of the Emerald Isle ( immense cheering ) : which God grant may

never cease to be an integral portion of Her Majesty's dominions ; and we pray that the Emerald Isle may never bo woven in the crown of any stranger . In our Lodges we have no treason , no plot to conspiracies ; we form no such secret societies ; but we are remarkable for our fear of God , our fealty to the Sovereign , love to tho brotherhood and a friendship to all classes and creeds . Those are the

principles which are inculcated in Irish Lodges as well as English , and therefore it is absurd to speak of us in the way we have been spoken of . Yonr Royal Highness has been threatened with certain pains and penalties if you visit onr shores . I can assnre yonr Royal Highness , as far as that is concerned , we are only too happy to see your Royal Highness on any occasion , and I think there will he no necessity

to put the prerogative of mercy into operation if yon visit us . I have said that wo are loyal , and I say it on behalf of my impulsive countrymen , that they are loyal to the heart ' s core ; and that although wo have not had tho hononr of seeing tho members of the Royal family ss often as we would like , yet I know it is only necessary that they should be as familiar to us in Ireland as in England to bo equally

beloved as in England and in Scotland . ( Loud cheers . ) Brother Admiral Oscar 'Dickson ( who spoke iu a clear English accent ) said—Speaking in the capital of England , may it please your Royal Highness , Most Worshipful Grand Master , to receive the hnmblo thanks of the Swedish Grand Lodge for tho honour which you have conferred npon them . ( Applause . )

The Most Worshipful Grand Master : It is now my duty to propose to you the last toast which I shall have tho hononr of giving you . It is one which is always at this , our annual meeting , received most cor dially and enthusiastically . On this occasion the toast will be that of " The Pro Grand Master , the Deputy Grand Master , the Provincial Grand Masters , and the Grand Officers . " ( Cheers . ) I

regret very much the absence , from domestic affliction , of tho Pro Grand Master . ( Hear , hear . ) He is not able to be in his accustomed place to respond to this toast , but the Deputy Grand Master is here this evening , and I shall have great pleasure in coupling his name with it . ( Cheers . ) To the Provincial Grand Masters whom I Bee before me and around me this evening I beg to tender my sincere

thanks for their kindness in supporting me both this afternoon and now , and to assnre them what gratification and pleasure it has given me to see them muster so strongly at our ceremony of to-day . ( Cheers . ) I know that npon some of tho Grand Officers devolved the duty of making the arrangements for carrying out that ceremony , and I can only tonder them my sincoro thanks

and at the same time congratulate them npon the admirable manner in which thoso arrangements were carried out . ( Applause . ) This evening , during the dinner , I received a communication , datod at 1 35 , from Bro . Wentworth Cole , who was present to-day , in which he says that " after dismissing the polico and shutting tho doors , the report was that no casuality or mishap of any kind had taken place . "

( Loud cheers . ) There wero between 7 , 000 and 8 , 000 brethren at that Hall , and they all ^ entered and loft it without accident , which is a great thing to be able to say . ( Cheers . ) I beg of yon now to drink the health of those brethren whose names I have just mentioned . ( Loud applause . ) Lord Skelmersdale . —Moat WorshipM Grand Master and

Brethren , —In tho name of the numerous assembly on behalf of whom I have to respond , I beg to return you our hearty thanks . No one can regret more than I do tho absence of the Pro Grand Master , but I think you will agree with mo in saying that wo all owo him a deep debt of gratitude for having laid aside his sorrow and come forward to take part in tho ceremony of this afternoon , ( near , hear . ) need not dilate the

I on admirable way in which ho performed his duty . ( Cheers . ) He always does everything he undertakes in tho same way , and I repeat that wo owo him a deep debt of gratitude for what he has done for us to-day , ( Cheers . ) I only hope that he has happier days before him , and that he will long enjoy the honours which have been conferred upon him .

( Applause . ) I am suro yon will feel it is almost presumptuous in me to say anything on behalf of tho Provincial Grand Officers , being such a junior officer myself ; but perhaps I may do so having the hononr of holding the rank of Grand Master in ono of the largest provinces in the country . ( Hear , hear . ) I am sure all the Provincial Grand Officers will , equally with myself , feel delighted , honoured

, and gratified at seeing his Royal Highness placed in the position he now occupies —( cheers)— -and only wish that he may occupy it for many yoars to come . ( Applause . ) I assure him that we will do all we can to lighten bis duties and to make his task an easy one . ( Hear , hear . ) For my own part I can assure you that I feel deeply sensible of the honour which has been conferred upon mo this day . onl

I y hope that I shall be able to do the duty of the high office confided to me , and I trust to be able to do it with all my heart . ( Hear , hear . ) If anything would add to my anxiety to do so , it would be the invariable kindness I have personally received from his Royal Highness , and the invariable kindness and attention which he has given to Masonic matters . ( Applause . ) I can assnre you that

that attention has not been lightly taxed lately . ( Hear , hear . ) Brethren , in the name of the Grand Officers and those enumerated in the toast which has been so kindly proposed , I beg to thank you most heartily for the kind way in which you have received this toast , and to assure yon that we hope to do our duties to the best of our abilities . ( Loud cheers . ) The of

Marquis Hamilton ( Senior Grand Warden)—Your Royal Highness , my Lords , and Brethren , —The toast which I have now to propose to you is that of "The Stewards of this Festival , " and in proposing this toast I must claim your indulgence , as this is the first time that I have had the honour of addressing vou as an officer of Grand Lodge . ( Hear , hear . ) Although this toast is put down in

The Banquet.

the book as the last , I do not think it should be considered the least , and for two reasons . One is , that the brethren whose names are connected with this toast come from no less than 18 Lodges in the United Kingdom , aud among them are members of the highest and most important degrees connected with Freemasonry . ( Hear , hear . ) Another reason is that the brethren with whose names I couple this

toast havo had their attention this evening closely and carefully conneeted with our material , and , I might say , also onr interior welfare and happiness . ( Hear , hear , and laughter . ) Brethren , you witnessed this morning a magnificent spectacle in the Albert Hall—a spectacle which can never bo surpassed in the annals of Freemasonry in this country . ( Hear , hear , and applause . ) Every particle , every

mhvutiro of detail was most exactly and splendidly carried out . ( Applause . ) Those brethren who had the duty of carrying out that magnificent ceremony have had their names duly proposed and honoured this evening , and the festival which we celebrate to-night is only a sequel to the ceremony which you witnessed this morning , and I venture to think that the success of the

festival this evening is in no way inferior to that of the ceremony which preceded it . ( Cheers . ) Tho admirable manner in which this festival has been arranged and carried ont has , I am convinced , given satisfaction to all present , and that successful result is due to the caro and attention of the Stewards . ( Cheers . ) It is , therefore , with great pleasure that I propose to yon " The Health of

the Stewards , " and I am certain that you will all hononr it upstanding with three cheers . In giving you this toast I beg to couplo with it the name of Bro . Erasmus Wilson . ( Applause . ) Bro . Erasmus Wilson , President of the Board of Stewards , in responding , said , —Most Worshipful Grand Master , your Royal High - ness , and Brethren , —The Grand Stewards of the year are deeply

grateful to you for your generous recognition of our very humble but most cordially rendered services . ( Hear , hear . ) The Grand Stewards constitute a useful and somewhat curious link in the venerable and patriarchal chain of our Masonic organization ; and prominent among their functions is the very important one of engaging their brethren in the happiest and most necessary of the

ceremonies consequent on our sublnnary oxistence . ( Laughter . ) It is for the Grand Stewards in an essential degree to endeavour to please the brethren , and , in the beautiful words of our ritual , "to lead them to unite in tho grand design of being happy and communicating happiness . " ( Cheers . ) It is likewise for tho Grand Stewards to realise in the interests of the brethren that after labour should follow

refreshment —( hear , hear ) , —and although the labour of this great day has been in a supreme degree a labour of love , yet our convictions must have proved to us that love is none tho less active promoter of appetite . ( Cheers and laughter . ) I therefore trust that the poor efforts of the Grand Stewards to relievo that necessity of our nature , aided by tho practical help of our good brother Francatolli , may not

have proved labour in vain . ( Cheers . ) But as within our bosom our heart is next door neighbour to tho stomach , so may tho comfort and refreshments of the stomach further warm our hearts to a fervent congratulation on the oveuts of this most auspicious and never-to-beforgotton day . ( Applause . ) The only alloy of tho Grand Stewards

is that they should havo been obliged , in consequence of tho vastuess of Freo and Accepted Masonry , to havo prevented so many worthy brethren from tho enjoyment of this most gratifying and delightful evening . ( Hear , hear . ) Most Worshipful Grand Master , condescend to receive from mo onr humble thanks as woll as our Loyal and most hearty good wishes . ( Loud applause . )

After dinner the company retired to the Temple , where a splendid concert was given , undor the direction of Bro . Wilhelm Knhe , assistod by Miss Edith Wynne , Miss Annio Sinclair , Madame Patey , Bros . George Perren , Thomas Baxter , Carter , T . Distiu , and F . Penna ; His Royal Highness stopping for some time , Tho dinner was excellently ^ served , and reflected the lihesfc credit oa the management .

The Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

THE report just issued , for the year ended 31 st December , is eminently satisfactory . It proves , if any proof were needed , the value of the School as a charitable institution . It does credit to its promoters and the Craft generally—excepting those , of course , who , being able , are

yet unwilling to contribute to its support , and are , consequently , a disgrace to our Order . It explains the system of education pursued , and mentions the excellent results that have followed such system . Lastly , it most convincingly proves the excellence of the financial arrangements .

Having so recently brought under the notice of our readers all the salient points in the history of our Girls ' School , we need say nothing further on them here . We shall deal then only with the most important features in the repoi't . At the commencement of the introductory

address , we are told , " Since its establishment , one thousand and thirty-nine girls 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 invaribly so conducted themsalves as to deserve and receive the commendation of their employers . " As to the school building , the recent erection in the grounds of an INI"IEMABT ; "In-