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ROYAL FOREST OF EPPING . THE FOREST HOTEL , C II I N O 1 < * Oil D , Close to Chingford Station—Thirty-live . Minutes hy frequent Trains from Liverpool Street , City , and adjoining the ancient Hunting Lodge of Queen Elizabeth . THIS picturesque and sumptuously appointed Hotel stands amid the most beautiful scenery of Kpping Forest , is easily accessible from London , and its lofty and handsomely furnished Elizabethan Dining Hall is admirably adapted for Masonic banquets , while another room is appropriate for Lodge meetings . Tho great Banqueting Hall will accommodate from fifty to eighty persons , while for small parties one of a suite of artistically appointed private rooms will be specially reserved . In the Tea Koom , Table d'Hote , Luncheons and Dinners daily . Applications to Frank . fosse , Manager , Forest Hotel , Chingford , Essex .

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BBSg ^ W ^ VVWi ! p jrWtWlrW-ArWLTO H ^^^^^^^ a 23 GREAT QUEEN STREET , W . C .

New Masonic Orphan School, Dublin.

NEW MASONIC ORPHAN SCHOOL , DUBLIN .

ON Thursday afternoon , 24 th ult . ( St . John ' s Day ) , the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the new building for the Masonic Female Orphan School , Merrion-road , Ball ' s Bridge , was performed by the Most Worshipfnl the Grand Master ( his Grace tho Dnke of Abereorn , K . G . ) , in the presence of a fashionable aud extremely large assemblage . The Orphanage is intended for the reception of seventy girls , and will form a noblo mounment to tho

philanthropy of that great Order—universal in extent , and invested with so much mystery to the uninitiated—that has been happily described as a beautiful system of philanthropy veiled under the guise of allegory . Nearly nine decades ago the Irish Masonic Female Orphan School was established , a small house in Richmond-street being used for the purposes of the Orphanage till 1851 , when the

present buildings in Burlington-road were opened . Since that year , owing to the rapidly increasing number of pupils , the Orphanage has been several times enlarged , and at length it was deemed advisable to erect another and more extensive building . In May tho site on which the ceremony of yesterday took place was chosen . The school-house , with its infirmary ( a separate building ) , gate lodge , offices , and

gardens , will occupy a space of nearly ten acres , the cost being estimated at about £ 12 , 000 . Tho main building will form two sides of a quadrangle , one facing the Blackrock-road , and the other Simmon ' s Court Avenue , and will be built in tho style of architecture , freely treated , which prevailed about the reign of Queen Anne . The external facing of the walls will be of grey brick , with dressings of red

Dumfriesshire stone and red brick . The bnilding , which will consist of three storeys , will be 55 feet high , with a tower 100 feet in height from the ground , through which a winding staircase will extend from the lowest to the highest floor , large and spacious corridors running right and left from it , communicating with tho various tiers of rooms . On the ground floor tho tower will form a porch , entered by

an elaborate cut stone doorway , giving access to the grand staircase . On the west tho building will extend 96 feet in length , and on the north 120 feet . On the ground floor there will be school and class rooms , a large playroom , a dining hall , 44 feet by 21 feet , and boardroom , 13 feet by IS feet . The second storey will contain a dormitory , oi feet by 22 feet , class rooms , music , drawing , and other rooms .

The third floor will consist of three dormitories—one , 54 feet by 22 feet , the second 44 feet by 22 feet , and the third 34 feet by 20—and teachers' rooms . In order that the dormitories may obtain tho greatest amount of sun heat , the corridors in that portion of the Orphanage facing the north have been placed in tho front ; but in the western wing , for a contrary reason , the corridor runs behind tho

dining room , so as to secure for it shade and coolness . Care has also been taken to provide against danger arising from fire by the erection of a staircase in the rear . It may be added that all the baths will bo situate in the tower , so that should any of tho pipes burst , tho leakage will cause as littlo damage as possible , the Mineral Rock Asphalte Company having lined all the foundation walls with Fot troll ' s

Imperishable Rock Asphalte . Judging from the plans approved of hy the Building Committee , there can bo no doubt but that the Orphanage , when completed , will not only form a comfortable and happy homo for its young inmates , but will present a very fine appearance . Extensive recreation grounds will be attached to tho school , so as to afford the children every opportunity for healthful

exercise and amusement . Tho designs for tho buildings , it may bo mentioned , have been drawn up by Messrs . M'Curdy and Mitchell , and the contract for tho erection has been obtained by Messrs . G . Gahan and Son . Soon after three o'clock yesterday afternoon a large nnmber of visitors had collected on the field on which the ceremony of the day was to take place , and , as the hour grew later , the assemblage became rapidly larger and larger . Two large platforms had

been erected at opposite sides of the place in which the stono was to he laid , and long before four o ' clock , tho time appointed for the commencement of the proceedings , were well filled , while tho field itself was crowded by largo numbers of persons , tho light-coloured summer dresses of the ladies and the insignia worn by the gentlemen creatine an extremely pleasant effect , and rendering the scone to au unaccustomed beholder of Masonic celebrations at once novel and interesting . Just as tho seats on tho platform had been taken a heavy shower j

New Masonic Orphan School, Dublin.

began to fali , and in a few minutes , three canvas-covered tents erected on the ( -rounds woro prowled , although some of tho ocenpants of the Hands still retained their seats , notwithstanding tho rain , which eontintipil to fall with increasing violence . At length , however , the weather cleared up , and in a fow minutes afterwards the Lord Lieutenant arrived . The b ' -vs and girls of the Dublin Orphanages

belonging to Ihe Order wero drawn up on each side of tho footpath , and presented a healthy , happy , smiling appearance , that showed how urreat had been tho caro that had been bos towed upon thorn . His Excellency was accompanied by tho Countess Cowper , and attended bv Captain M'Calmont , and was received by the Deputy Grand Master , the Grand Officers , the Hon . Secretary , and tho Building

Committee , the . band playing " God save the Queen . " Both the Viceroy and Lady Cowper remained standing throughout tho ceremonies , and before they commenced remained in conversation for some time with tho Duke of Abereorn . By this time rain had attain commonred to pour , and fell almost withont ceasing during tho remainder of the afternoon , completely destroying the pleasnro of the occasion .

Had the weather boon fine , the display would have been most brilliant bnt as it was nothing was seen bnt drenched garments , dripping umbrellas , and the fast falling largo drops of the continuous downpour . Tho Officers of the several Lodges having assumed their collars aud jewels nf office , a procession was formed , and having- circumambulated tho site , halted at tho north-east angle of the foundation . Tho

brethren fell back right and left , and formed a line in open order , facing inwards . Tho brethren uncovered and allowed the Grand Master and Grand Oflicers to pass through . The Grand Master and Grand Officers then took their stations and places on the platform . The Grand Master having been saluted iu ancient form , the Eight Worshipfnl Deputy Grand Master ( Mr . W . R . Shekleton , Q . C . )

addressed tho Grand Master as follows : —Most Worshipful Grand Master , the Governors of the Masonic Female Orphan School having resolved to build on this site a new school for the orphan daughters of our deceased brethren , tho members and brethren are now here assembled for the purpose of witnessing the impressive ceremony of laying tho corner-stone of the edifice ; and I have to request you ,

Most Worshipfnl Sir , to perform this work . The necessary arrangements have been made by the Committee entrusted with their preparation , and I have now the pleasure to present to you the senior member of that Committee . Dr . Banks , the senior member of the Building Committee , then presented the following address to the Most Worshipfnl Grand Master : — " Mav it please your Grace , on the part of tho

Governors of tho Masonic Female Orphan School , we , the Building Committee , charged with the execution of the great work hore begun , desire first to express the deep feeling of gratitude with which we greet your Grace's presence and receive your assistance upon this occasion . Before we ask your Grace to lay the foundation-stone of out- new school , we may recall the history of the Institution which is

now about to enter upon a new and more conspicuous phase of its existence . The Irish Masonic Female Orphan School was established under the Grand Mastership of the first Earl of Donoughmore in the year 1792 . For moro than twenty years it was maintained with scanty means , until your illustrious predecessor , Augustus , third Duke of Leinster , was installed Grand Master in 1813 . He at once

became the steady supporter aud munificent President of the chanty , and under his care it won a secure , though as yet a restricted footing . For many years , in the small honso in Richmond-street , where the school was then held , a careful though comparatively humble training was civen to a number of pupils , raised by degrees ' to sixteen . When our Brother John Fitzhenry Townshend , " Past Deputy Grand Master

of tho Order , became the honorary secretary of the school , mainly through his exertions , and through those of our Reverend Brother Canon Westby Past Grand Chaplain , the Institution made its first great advance . In 1815 it was removed to the house still occupied in Burlington-road , and was opened there as a school , accommodating twenty pupils . Its means grew , and the demands for admission

multiplied . Three times the buildings wero enlarged , untd moro than forty children wero received . This number conld not be maintained without overcrowding . Tho business of the school became in consequence liable to interruption by illness , aud the Governors were compelled cither to further enlarge their buildings , or to remove to a moro extended site , meantime refusing admission to many deserving

candidates . The generosity of the Order had in fifteen years supplied an accumulated fund amounting to almost as many thousands of pounds . Tho medical officers warmly advised removal to a more open place . Tho governors saw no reason to fear for the worthy maintenance of the charity , and it was resolved to build anew school , setting apart a portion of tho capital as an auxiliary fund to secure

its completion . After careful consideration , tho site on which we stand was chosen , the plans wore prepared , and tenders were obtained foraschool which , with its infirmary , gate-lodge , offices , walls , gardens and other surroundings , will , when completed , occupy a space of nearly ton acres , giving ample accommodation for seventy girls , and which is estimated to cost about £ 12 , 000 . As the project advanced somo

brethren disapproved of any reduction of our capital , apprehending that the maintenance of tho extended institution might be endangered . Before April last the Building Fund had reached £ 0 , 000 , and in that month , with the approval and commendation of tho Grancl Lodge of Ireland and of other ruling authorities , the governors resolved to seek the unanimous support of the whole Order in a

determined effort to collect tho full sum required , and thus to save our capital intact . During tho last two months this project has - been most warmly taken up , the Dublin Lodges , notably Lodge 25 and your own , the Grand Master's Lodge , leading tho way in munificent rivalry . Since the works commenced tho subscription list has been raised to £ 8 , 400 . The urgency of the undertaking has , however ,

been sadly proved by tho circumstance that at tho last election wc wero able to admit but two of eighteen candidates , and therefore the orompt and liberal hoi ]) of the brethren , especially in the provinces , is needed for the speedy completion of our task . We doubt not that the work thus begun will , in due time , and with the favour of tho Great Architect , rise to its completion as a worthy monument of