Irish Masonic Charities.

little girls was opened in Domville ' s Lane , Prussia Street , which was the forerunner of our present Institution . In 1817 the Home was moved to Gloucester Place , and in 1827 to Jervis Street . In 1852 , after many changes and varying fortunes , Burlington House

was opened to receive pupils , and , from that time to the present the success of the orphanages has been a cause of thankfulness to those interested in good works . Much of this success was owing , under God , to the unvarying support of the third Duke of Leinster , Grand

Master from 1813 till 1874 . In 1853 there were twentyone orphans , and the expenditure was £ 500 . In 1864 there were forty orphans , and the expenditure was £ 1 , 384 . In 1879 the school at Ball's Bridge was undertaken , and the builder ' s contract for £ 8 , 800 signed in

1880 . The foundation stone was laid by the Duke of Abercorn , assisted by Earl Cowper , at that time Viceroy of Ireland . The movement on behalf of boys , possjjbly

not being deemed so urgent as the other , did not take practical shape until 1869 , when five male orphans were elected , and this number increased in 1872 to fifteen , and in August . 1879 , the Masonic Boys' School started oh its beneficent career , with twenty-six pupils .

The average cost of maintenance , clothing , and education of each boy for the entire year was slightly over £ 24 , which cannot be said to be an excessive figure . It may not be out of place to add here that sermons in aid of the Institutions are no new thing . As early as

1798 the Grand Lodge voted " that an annual sermon be preached in aid of the Institution . " And such sermons were regularly preached in the Dublin churches , and , in more recent years , the custom has , we are glad to see , spread all over Ireland . The expenditure in connection with the Boys Sohool was £ 2 , 008 in 1893 . The ordinary income of

the Girls School was £ 2 , 240 , and there were eightyseven pupils on 1 st January 1893 , and on 31 st December 1893 the number was ninety-six . . The Centenary Fund reached the total over and above all expenses of £ 21 , 878 , of which £ 15 , 000 will be retained as permanent capital , yielding an income of £ 600 , and from which it is intended to help not merely the schools , but to assist pupils leaving the orphanages by giving them a start in life . Eleven such grants of £ 10 each were made to out-going pupils in the year 1893 . We have , moreover , the Victoria Jubilee Masonic Annuity Fund to relieve distressed Masons and their

widows . Belfast has two Masonic Charities , one for distressed Masons and their families , and one for Masonic widows . During the present year we have started a Masonic Widows' Fund for Down , admirably conceived , and for which I hope there may be a

successful and prosperous career . In that scheme for the widows and orphans of Down we are specially interested , for we had a part in organising and perfecting the plan . The object is to afford help , by grants or loans , or in such manner as the Committee may deem advisable , to

the widows and families of deceased Masons , and the subscriptions to secure votes are fixed at the moderate sum pf 5 s a year . Such a charity must , I feel persuaded , appeal most strongly to the Brethren and friends of our Order , and the benefits are too obvious to need enforcing

from me . - It is a fund- calculated to meet the needs of the struggling and destitute in that hour of gloom and dismay -when " the breadwinner" is taken away , and when to the anguish of bereavement is added the bitterness of straitened means and threatened poverty .

I have dealt with facts more than theories , because I am desirous to provoke you to performance rather than to admiration or to mere professions of approval . We do not despise your approval . Far from it . Without protection from Church or State , scarcely tolerated in some countries , proscribed in others as illegal ,

oppressed and even persecuted by a dominant section of the Christian Church , our Society has spread rapidly over the world , has increased in power and influence , and

, by elevating to higher and purer views of life the minds . of its members , has considerably benefitted the human race . Speculative Masonry embraces within its scope everything that can build a man up in spiritual

purity . To accuse the system of failure because it has not succeeded in making all its members perfect in these respects is to accuse it of a failure equally true of religion

Irish Masonic Charities.

itself . We are often accused of supporting one another when merit is arrayed , in the scale against Masonry . There is no such rule known to the Craft . That Masons should support each other in difficulty is indeed an obligation , but Masons are free to exercise private judgment , and they are bound to act according to and not in

opposition to the dictates of conscience . Masonry struggles to attain moral perfection for the race . It does not endeavour to supercede religion . It supports the

civil government , being equally loyal and equally obedient to every form , republican or kingly , imperial or democratic . Such are our principles . And , in conclusion , I appeal to my Masonic Brethren ever to put in practice

these principles of our ancient and glorious Institution —'' Newry Telegraph . "

Should Be More Careful.

SHOULD BE MORE CAREFUL .

E VIDENTLY some of the Masonic orators and writers should be more careful in their expressions concerning Freemasonry and Freemasons . They forget that tradition is traditional and legends legendary , and they try to destroy the lesson and usefulness of each . They become so iconoclastic that nothing ideal ot poetic can exist in their presence and escape unsparing criticism

and ridicule . To them sentiment is dead and symbolism soulless . They see that some of the Craft are not just and upright in conduct—are not true and faithful exemplifiers of Masonic tenets and principles—and they judge all tho Brethren by the minority's practice and denounce them accordingly . If such orators and

writers were avowed anti-Masons nothing better would be expected of them . Standing within the Masonic portals and under the Masonic banners they should be more careful in their expressionsshould keep strictly within the due bounds of truth—and thus avoid giving aid and comfort to the enemy . They should remember

that they are to speak and write about Freemasonry and Freemasons in Masonic manner , that they are not to misunderstand , misjudge and misrepresent either , and that they are not to undermine and destroy , but to maintain and support the Institution and Brotherhood as faithfully and perfectly as did tho Great Temple Builder Hiram Abiff . — " Voice of Masonry . "

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CRITERION RESTAURANT . EAST EOOM , DINNERS & SUPPERS A LA CARTE . WEST EOOM , FROM 12 TO 3 , Academy Luncheon at 2 / 9 per Head , "Le Diner Parisien , " 5 / - ; Supper , 4 / - Instrumental Music . GEAND HALL , The Popular 3 / 6 Dinner Is Served at SEPARATE TABLES , 6 to 9 p m ., During which the Celebrated "SPIERPON" ORCHESTRA WILL PERFORM .