The Dublin Masonic Schools.

THE DUBLIN MASONIC SCHOOLS .

DISTRIBUTION OP PRIZES TO THE PUPILS . rpHE Annual Festival of Masonic Charity was celebrated on ¦ i- Friday evening , the 18 th inst ., iu tho Exhibition Palace , Dublin , with a success alike worthy the cause and the influence of the Order . His Royal Highness tho Dnko of Connaught , Senior Grand Warden of tho Grand Lodge of England , presided . Round him was gathered tho cream of the Order aud of Irish society . That his Royal Highness has faith in tho principles of the Order ,

and desires initiation into all the arcana , tho fact of his advancement beyond the domain of Craft Masonry fnlly attests . In conjunction with Lord Pelham Clinton , of the Riflo Brigade , he has lately obtained , at the Freemasons' Hall in this city , the Mark Degree , the Royal Arch , and , the other day , he became a Knight Templar . His Royal Highness is now Great Prior Elect for Ireland , and would havo been in office ere this but for tho sudden death of tho Earl of

Shrewsbury , who was to havo come over specially to instal him . The sight which presented itself to his Royal Highness on Friday must havo confirmed his opinion of the power and utility of tho Order . Before him was arrayed a fashionable multitude of Freemasons aud their lady friends , numbering fully seven thousand . Of the Masons , tho number who displayed governors' badges was

remarkable , showing to the eye what a wide-spread interest there exists in tho cause of charity , ancl which tho figures in the reports likewise testified . During the year the receipts for the Boys' School amounted to £ 2 , 375 , exceeding those for the previous year by £ 493 , and making , after paying expenses , a total to credit of £ 8 , 869 . In this School 22 boys are maintained . Of tho Girls' School , the

account was still moro satisfactory . During tho year the receipts amounted to £ 5 , 315 , and the total to credit , after paying expenses , £ 8 , 850 . Forty-five Girls aro maintained . Freemasonry , the ignorant allege , is opposed to religion , social order and the rule of kings ! Yet Popes in past days granted the Masons bulls of protection ancl recommendations , as the percursors of religion ancl civilisation .

Kings and princes of tho present clay are tho chief rulers of the Craft . Its chaplains are , in most instances , eminent divines , ono of those of the Irish Grand Lodge being a bishop . For sixty-fonr years the late Duke of Leinster—clarum et venerabile nomen !—was head of tho Order in Ireland . There are thoso who will remember his Grace ' s testimony in tho House of Lords to its worth , obtaining

its exemption from the Illegal Oaths Act . Again , witness the testimony of Ireland ' s late popular Viceroy , his Grace the Dubeof Abereorn , the present Grand Master of Ireland , delivered tin ' s timo twelvemonths on an occasion similar to the present : — "It gives mo most sincere gratification ( said his Grace ) that my first public appearance in tho high position in which I havo been placed as Grand Master of the

Freemasons of Ireland has been an occasiou which so fully exemplifies the leading objects of our great and ancient Order . These objects are unity , benevolence , and charity to all men ; and in no way can these great principles bo better or more usefully carried out than iu contributing , as far as lies in our power , to the education and instruction of our rising generation in such a way as , by God's providence , may serve to rentier them both sincere and good

Christians , ancl also useful members of tho universal brothsrhood of mankind . " On that samo brilliant occasion , another speaker , Col . Ffolliott , who is remarkable both for his piety and loyalty , testified that the Charity in whose cause they had met was " tho noblest example of Masonry , iu wluuli cvcvytbing was carried out in the exercise of practical Christian feelings and principles . " Few there are , whatever they may think of Masonry , who will not regret that the cause of tho absence of the Duke of Abereorn from this ceremonial is

the continued indisposition of the Duchess . It may not bo amiss to mention here that tho present Viceroy , his Grace tho Duke of Marlborough , is also a brother of the mystic tie . Apologies for unavoidable absence wero received from tho Marquis of Headfort S . G . W ., the Earl of Bandon G . S ., the Most Rev . the Lord Bishop of Meath G . Chap ., the Hon . David R . Plunket , Q . C ., M . P ., S . G . D ., tho

Earl of Huntingdon Prov . G . M . of the Midland Counties , Viscount Powerscourt , K . P ., Prov . G . M . of Wicklow ancl Wexford , tho Marquis of Donegall , K . P ., Prov . G . M . of Antrim , Lord Harlech Prov . G . M . of North Connaught , and the Right Hon . Edward Gibson , M . P ., Attorney-General for Ireland . Both reports , which are given in extenso as read , afford a gratifying account of the state of the Schools

during tho past year . Tho children were healthy , and some of them launched into the world to clo for themselves . Miss Shegog , whoso brilliant execution on tho pianoforte at previous gatherings never failed to elicit warm appreciation , has been sent to Germany to finish her education . The girls who remain maintained the credit of the School last night for good musicians , their performance beine

characterised by accuracy aud expression . At present a question of momentous interest to the well-being of tho Schools is agitating the governors—no less than that of their amalgamation . It presents two points for consideration—the financial ancl the moral . Finandaily , some saving would doubtless bo effected in tho cost of management , while , on the other hand , many of the brethren who now

subscribe £ 1 to each School , would , in subscribing for both together , probably limit their subscription to £ 1 . Hence , even the financial gain is open to doubt . If that be so , tho moral side of the question scarcely merits attention , for none can gainsay that the children are in this respect better off separated from each other , especially as their ages range from seven to sixteen . The difficulties inseparable from the proposed system of amalgamation invest the

question on every side with such objections as might well deter the governors from the danger even of an expeiimeut . Tho experience of other institutions , conducted on the amalgamation plan , is diverse . However , three questions havo been submitted to the governors , whose answers , which are to be received on or before the 1 st prox ., will determine the issue . The questions are : —1 st . Are you in favour of the boys and girls being educated in buildings erected on the

The Dublin Masonic Schools.

samo site ? 2 nd . Are yon in favour of tho Schools being amalgamated financially ? 3 rd . Aro yon in favour of the Schools being under the management of a common board ? Accompanying the interrogatories is a summary of opinions expressed for and against

amalgamation at a meeting of tho governors held last February . It is no wonder that the question of amalgamation should havo arisen , having regard to the too limited accommodation in tho Girls' School , ancl the fact that the boys havo not yet the fabric of a School for themselves .

On the arrival of His Royal Highness tho Dnke of Connaught , at 8 . 30 , ho was received by the Stewards , the band playing the National Anthem . A procession was then formed , consisting of the Grand Officers , tho Provincial Grand Officers , Foreign Representatives , and the oflicprs of the Dublin Lodges , who conducted His Royal Highness from the robing-room to the dais in the Grand Concert Room ,

through an avenue composed by tho brethren ; Bro . Charles Grandison playing Gounod ' s " Marcho Romaine " on the oreran , and the combined bands of the 3 rd Dragoon Guards , under Bro . J . Brophy , and of tho fith Inniskilling Dragoons , under Bro . II . Murray , playing Mendelssohn ' s march from " Atbalio , " until tho processionists took their places on the dais . Then came the pupils of the Schools , two .

and-two , led by Stewards , the hon . Secretaries , Bros . J . F . ElrinGrton , Q C , Major L . H . Deoring , and the Assistant Secretary , Bro . Whitty , and some members of the Committee . The girls were dressed in blue and white , and presented a pleased and happy appearance . Thoy took their places on tho front tier of tho dais to tho left , tho boys occupying the right . Led by the Right Worshipful the Rev . John

James MacSorloy , Grand Chaplain , the 100 th Psalm was sung , " With oue consent , " tho ladies joining the brethren in producing a glorious volnmoof prai ' seful sound to the Almighty Architect of the Universe . His Royal Highness woro the collar of tho Senior Grand Warden of England , ancl on his left breast the stars of the Orders of tho Garter and St . Patrick .

Dr . Elrmgton , Q . C ., Hon . Secretary , read tho Governors report of tho Female Orphan School for tho year ending the 31 st December 1876 : — "Tho amount received from all sources , including the balance of £ 825 12 s 2 d from the former account , and proceeds of sale of stock , amounting to £ 1 , 772 17 s 8 d , was £ 5 , 315 12 s 3 d . The net revenue exceeds that of the previous year by £ 75 7 a 3 d . Tho

expenditure , including the purchase of a plot of ground adjoining the Schoolhouse , and £ 1 , 000 invested in Railway Securities , amounted to £ 3 , 746 10 s 3 d , leaving at 31 st December 1876 a balance of £ 1 , 569 2 s , out of which £ 1 , 046 2 s 5 d has been invested in India Four per cent . Stock since the commencement of tho present year . The increase in tho receipts of the School arises principally from the

annual subscriptions of individual and official governors , which is a very satisfactory source of increase . This class of subscription exceeds that of last year by £ 128 3 s 6 d ; while the donations of Life Governors of all classes presents a decrease in the whole of £ 47 2 s , which makes the net increase from donations and subscriptions amount to the sum of £ 81 Is 6 d for the past year . Tho Governors

have to congratulate the friends of the institution upon the fact thafc thoy havo nothing to report save the usual summary of the number and condition of tho pupils . During the year 1876 five of the girls have left tho School ; four have accepted situations as governesses , and ono has obtained employment in a business establishment in Dublin . Four new pupils have been elected into the School during

the year ; and the total number of girls in the School , including tho pupil teacher , is forty-five , a number which can only be accommodated by the expedient of converting one of the class rooms into a doraii . tory , as mentioned in report for last year . The health of the girls has been very good during the year which has elapsed , and the Governors have once again to express their thankfulness that they

are enabled to report so favourably upon the sanitary condition of the School . The Governors have again to report that they have every reason to bo satisfied with the couduct and efficiency of thoso to whom the management of tho School and the education of tho pupils have been committed , while the condition of the Schoolhouso remains the same , and the inconvenience already moro than once

pointed out , owing to temporary arrangements for first-class work and the accommodation of the girls , still continues to interfere with the efficient working of the School . The Governors trust that some plan may be shortly agreed upon which will relievo tho Institution of these inconveniences . They feel that tho blessings which they acknowledge with gratitude as having been hitherto abundantl y bestowed upon their labour should encourage all those interested in

the Masonic Orphan School to make the Schoolhouse and its arrange , ments moro fitted for tho requirements of modern education than ifc is ; and as tho School is generously supported , so should tho sphere of its usefulness be extended , so as to make tho Institution more worthy of tho support which the brethren have so long and freely given to it , and more capable of affording relief to the class for whom it is designed . " The following Report of tho Boys' School was next read : —

" The Committee of the Masonic Orphan Boys' School beg to present their ninth annual report to the Governors of tho Institution , and annex hereto tho usual audited statement of accounts for the year 1876 , from which it will be gratifying to observe that , during the year , the total receipts from all sources exceeded those for tho year 1875 by the sum of £ 493 19 s 5 d . During the same

periodtho year 1876—six boys left tho School , viz .: —George Macartney , Alexander Semple , Despard Humphreys , John Sayers , Richard Watson , ancl James Frazer . George Macartney is at present engaged in an establishment with the view of adopting the medical profession ; Alexander Semple has obtained the position of first-class clerk in the London and North Western Railway ; John Sayers that of clerk

in tho office of the Great Northern Railway of Ireland ; Despard Humphreys has joined his mother , who is at present residing in Germany , with a view of furthering his educational studies ; James Frazer , who only left the School at the commencement of the Christmas vacation 1876 , is preparing for the examination for entrance afc the Royal College of Surgeons , bat neither he nor Richard . Watson ,