Annual Festival Of The Female Orphan School, Dublin.

ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF THE FEMALE ORPHAN SCHOOL , DUBLIN .

IN our issue of the 1 st ult ., wo announced that tlu Annual Festival of tin ' s excellent Masonio Charity would be held on tbe 28 th April , in tho Exhibition Palaco under the immediate auspices of His Grace the Duke oJ Abercorn , M . W . G . M . Ireland , who would preside on the

occasion , while his daughter , the Lady Georgina Hamilton , had graciously undertaken to present the prizes to the successful pupils . The 28 th ultimo was , accordingl y , a dies festus in the annals , not only of the Girls' School , and that for Boys' attached to it , but of tho whole Craft in

Ireland , who evinced their interest in Masonry and this particular form of Masonic Benevolence b y supporting their Grand Master in considerable numbers , and with nn enthusiasm that was even more considerable still . The

Daily Express of Dublin contains a full and most elaborate account of the ceremony , the following summary of which will be as interesting almost to brethren on this as on the other side of the Irish Channel .

On no previous occasion has there been so much interest exhibited on behalf of this School . Tho doors of the Great Concert Hall were thrown open at half-past seven p . m . In half an hour afterwards every available space was occupied , and even then there remained to be accommodated as

many more visitors , who were enabled , however , to promenade in the groan Glass Building and Leinster Hall , listening to the strains of the splendid band of the 17 th Lancers , under their able conductor , Bro . A . ITarfmann . while those in the Concert room had the great pleasure of

listening to a series of recitals on tho organ , by Bro . C . 0 . Grandison , G . O . All present wero in evening dress , and the scene was one of unexampled brilliancy , by reason of the gay dresses of tbe ladies and the insignia of tho Craftsmen . A platform , covered with crimson cloth , and

decorated for the occasion , had been erected in the centre of the hall extending to the orchestra . At half-past eight the Duke of Abercorn arrived , accompanied by the Lady Georgina Hamilton , Lords Ernest and Frederick Hamilton ,

Mr . Gustavus , Lady Fanny and the Misses Larnbart , and Colonel and Mrs . Bernard . At nine o ' clock , a , procession was formed , for the purpose of conducting the Duke from the Leinster Hall to the Concert Hall , and advanced towards the platform in the following order : —

Stewards . Grand Steward . Officers of Country Lodges being Governors . Officers of Dublin Lodges , according to seniority , tho jnnior first . Officers of the Grand Master's Lodge .

The Vice-Patrons . Honorary Officers and Committee of tho Orphan School . Provincial Grand Officers . Past Grand Officers . Provincial Deputy Grand Masters .

Representatives from Foreign Grind Lodges . Grand Inner Guard . Grand Organist . Giand Superintendent of Works . Grand Deacons , with their Wands . Tho Grand Chaplains .

Tho Grand Secretary . The Grand Treasurer . Tho Grand Wardens . Provincial Grand Masters . The Grand Sword Bearer , carrying the Sword . The Deputy Giand Secretary , carrying the Book of Constitutions .

The Grand -Master . Depaty Grand Master . Past Deputy O-and Masters . The RLht Hon . the L"id Mayor . Tho Grand Director of Ceremonies , with his Wand . Stewards . .

Annual Festival Of The Female Orphan School, Dublin.

On ascending the platform , the brethren filed off according to Lodges to thoir appointed places , and the Grand Master having taken his seat on tho throne , tho pupils of tho School , fallowed b y thoso of tlie Boys' School , entered and occupied the seats provided for them in front of the

platform . The Grand Master having been saluted , two verses of the Hundredth Psalm were sung . Bro . Dr . Elringfcon , Q . C ., tho Honorary Secretary , then read the report , from which it appeared that tho state of tho Institution was prosperous . Its income for the year just concluded was

in excess of that of the previous year . Four pupils had left , and nine been admitted , bringing the roll up to forty-five , the greatest number which , consistentl y with health and comfort , could possibl y be accommodated . It further appeared that Bro . Samuel B . Oldham , who had

held the office of Assistant Secretary of the School for eighteen years , had , on his acceptance of tho Deputy Grand Secretaryship of Grand Lodge , vacated his post , to which Bro . Richird L . Whitt y had been appointed . An address would , accordingly , be presented to Bro . Oldham , bv tho

Governors of the Institution , expressing their very high sense of the valuable services he had rendered to tho School . The Governors also expressed their satisfaction with the manner in which those entrusted with the conduct of the establishment had fulfilled their duties , and

coneluded by hoping that the difficulties arising from a proper want of accommodation in the School houses , would be remedied at an early date . The Duke of Abercorn then

rose , and after the applause with which ho was greeted had subsided , said a few words of congratulation at the state of tho School , and the ability and good conduct of the pupils . His Grace added : —

" Of all the enormous and important benefits which the brotherhood of Freemasonry has conferred upon mankind there is none more useful or more interesting than that by which it is enabled to support the orphans of its members , and to givo them an education and a teaching which shall show them those high social and moral

duties of which Freemasonry is tho earnest and incessant exponent . Ladies and brethren , on behalf of those children who have already benefited by this Institution , and on behalf of those who , wo hope , in future will have the advantage of benefiting by it , I thank yon for your presence here tn-n "ht . nnd for tho interest you have shown in the objects of the institution . " ( Applause . )

Bro . the Right Hon . the LHT ' Mayor then rose , and with a few appropriate remarks proposed the following resolution : — "That the report now read bo adopted , printed , and circulated , and that tho thanks of this meeting are duo to the members of the

several committees or the institution , and also to the medical officers of tho school , for tho zealous and efficient manner in which they havo d schurtred the duties devolving npon them , and for the lively interest they take in everything conducive to tho prosperity aud progress of tho pupils of the Masonic Femalo Orphan School . "

This was seconded b y Bro . the Right Hon . the Vice-Chancellor , and adopted with acclamation . The following election of p ianoforte music was then tilnyed by suridrv of the g irls : — Duet , A . M . Copehind , P . Sliegog , ' •Grand

Caprice Hougrois , " Ketterer ; solo , G H irte , " Les Couriers , " Bitter ; solo , G . Gill , " Pasquinade , " Gottschale ; duet , K . Baker and M . Bnrdge , " Chanson INapoIitane , " Forbes ; solo , Miss Williams ( pupil teacher ) , "Fantasia , Irish Airs , " Thalberg .

Then the National Anthem having been sung , the so ' o p'irts being admirab ' y rendered , the procession was reformed and the Grand Muster conducted to the dais n 'he Gi-iss Building , whore the prizes were distributed ' y the Lair Georgina Hamilton , as under : —