Dublin Masonic Schools.

severe . Their girls had taken exhibitions and prizes , and their boys the same , to an extent for which full credit would not be given , except by those who knew that in schools such as theirs , where they did not touch the higher accomplishments or the very advanced subjects , it was not possible to figure in the prize list in the same proportion as in the pass lists , owing to the system by

which the awards were made . But they would observe that in all the fields that were most useful in the commercial and practical subjects , the boys of their School scored high marks and distinctions of every kind . And it was the same in the Girls School . Of the two tallest girls remaining in the school now one had got an exhibition and the other a high prize . Now , as

regarded the alleged " wastefulness " in these two Institutions , he was very glad they had had an opportunity of examining and prying into the housekeeping of the Institution ; for they maintained , that no Institution did better practical work for the money than they did , aud when they got a hard-headed audience to talk to they liked to give figures . They had a capital account and a

maintenance account . For the capital account they were thankful to those that gave it to them—the house and all its belongings and 12 acres of land , which was the free gift to the Masons of to-day from the Masons of yesterday and the day before . Some £ 28 , 000 or £ 29 , 000 had been spent in its erection , and for it now they had no charge to bear and no rent to pay

But in return for the self-sacrifice of those who went before them and gave them the house , they were . bound to use it to the full by maintaining it as those donors would wish to see it maintained . Of those who deserved their profound gratitude for what they had done in many years there was none that stood higher than the County Down Past Provincial Grand Master Colonel Forde ,

one of their most generous helpers , and one who in his own little Lodge in the country had seen that his Brethren should join in helping it . They wanted his example made know , and were grateful to him for setting that example . He was not content with getting life votes in that Institution , for he gave them a generous annual subscription besides . Again , among their most active workers throughout the country was their present Provincial

Grand Master , who also , he believed , was the organiser of the present meeting . Their Deputy Grand Master also should get credit for the exertions he made . As to the figures of their maintenance account , for housing , clothing , feeding , and teaching , giving in every department the very best that money could provide , combined with economy , the expenditure upon each of the children was less than £ 24 in the twelve months . He

thought these figures would satisfy the most particular and economical of even Ulster housekeepers . They had seen the house and the way in which everything was kept . The work was done by the girls themselves , for one of the most useful lessons they sought to teach the girls was to be practical , good housekeepers themselves in the time to come . Many and many

of them had had to fight their way through life to the end , with the aid of the education they received by the aid of the Masonic Order . Many and many others were themselves happy wives and happy mothers who had to exert in life in keeping happy households around them the domestic lessons they learned in that place . And , if there was one lesson that they sought to

teach from start to finish in all their dealings with the children , it was that the School was their family home , that they were in charge of those who were bound to them by a tie almost as dear as the tie of blood * and that , as members of their own family , they were looked to to do credit to those who had done their best to bring them up well . The boys had also won for

themselves through the world good positions . Hard-working , well-behaved , and well-taught young men they believed them to be . Now that so many callings were thrown open to girls , they in that School taught them everything likely to be useful in a commercial life : shorthand , type-writing , Civil Service work ; and the pupils of their School were foremost in winning good

places . He desired to impress upon them that this School was for the whole of Ireland , and that so far from its being a merely Dublin Institution , those pupils from the country parts far exceeded those from Dublin . They had actually in the school twelve orphans of Brethren who were members of Down Lodges in their lifetime . In conclusion , he expressed his sincere and

hearty thanks to them for visiting and inspecting the School , and a hope that when they returned to the country they would give a favourable account of the work which was done there for the good of the whole country and the Order to which they belonged . The Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Down also spoke , and expressed his regret at the absence , through illness , of the Deputy Grand Master of Ireland , whose genial presence and

cheery words were always so welcome in any gathering of Irish Freemasons . He had to thank his Brother Lord Justice Fitzgibbon for the admirable address he had just delivered , and there need be no apprehension that the Masons who came to see their magnificent Schools that day would not take it to heart and double their exertions to maintain those noble Institutions of which the Order in Ireland was so proud .

Dublin Masonic Schools.

This terminated the proceedings at the Girls School , and cheers were given for the visitors by the children . A start was then made in brakes for the Boys School , which is picturesquely situated at Bichview , Clonskeagh . The pupils were drawn up on the lawn in front of the School building , their appearance being indicative of health and strength . They were

in charge of Brother J . Moore , M . A ., Head Master , Brother M . Hamilton , and the other assistant masters . The visitors were received by Brothers Oliver Fry Hon . Secretary , Thomas W . Kinahan , M . A ., J . P ., Joseph H . Woodworth , Arthur S . M'Cormack , and other members of the Committee , and were

entertained at luncheon . . Subsequently several photographic groups were taken of the visitors , and the party then proceeded to inspect the various sections of the building , class rooms , dormitories , play room , & c . General admiration was expressed for the completeness of the School equipment . The visitors returned to County Down in the evening . — " Irish Times . "

The weekly meetings of the Brondesbury Lodge of Instruction , No . 26 9 8 , were resumed on Wednesday evening , at the Earl Derby , 155 High Road , Kilburn , N . W ., and will be continued there each Wednesday during the winter , at 8 o ' clock . The Masonic Charities Association

formed in connection with the Lodge meets on the last Wednesday in the month , after the usual business of the Lodge has been disposed of . Bro . Harry Willsmer 1567 is the Secretary , and he will be pleased to give any further information that may be desired . The Lodge is under the

Preceptorship of Bro . A . F . Hardyment S . W . 2698 J . W . 1500 S . D . 14 S 9 , with Bro . R . J . Campbell P . M . P . Z . 1489 W . M . 26 98 as Assistant Preceptor and Treasurer , and Bro . A . E . Horstead i 8 g 7 as Organist . This latter office is

somewhat of a novelty in a Lodge of Instruction , but all who have experienced the difference there is in the rehearsal of the ceremonies with a little music introduced will agree with us that this appointment alone is recommendation for any Instruction Lodge .

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