Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

Lloyd , Q . C . ; F . A . Philbrick , Raynham W . Stewart , Frederic Ledger , Joshua Nunn , John LI . Evans , John Hervey , Grand Secretary •M . J . MTntyre , the Rev . C . J . Martyn , the Rev . R . J . Simpson , " the Rev . J . Huyshe , the Rev . J . Edmund Cox , J . Van N . Bazalgette , Algernon Perkins , Samuel Tomkins , W . E . Gumbleton ,

Peter Matthews , Wm . Young , Frederick Binckes , Dr . Barringer , J . Cooper Forster , Chas . Watson , Collard Moutrie , John Boyd , E . Farthing , T . Meggy , Magnus Ohren , C . I . Paton , H . Empson , J . A . Rucker , Geo . States . Benj . Head , R . J .

Spiers , Conrad C . Dumas , and T . Fenn . At the conclusion of the dinner , grace was sung , and toasts were then proposed as follows : — The PRINCE of WALES : Brethren , the toast that I have to give you is " The health of the

Patroness of our Craft , the Queen , " and who has also identified herselfso far with Freemasonry as to extend her hand to all its charities . I call on you , brethren , to drink in bumpers "The Queen . "

Sir PATRICK COLQUHOUN : Brethren , His Royal Highness , your President , has been pleased to convey to me this emblem of authority ( the gavel ) and in virtue of that I call upon you to preserve the most exact silence while I

propose to you " The health of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , Most Worshipful Past Grand Master , the Chairman of the day , with thanks for his attendance ; the Princess of Wales , and other Members of the Royal Family . " It is

seldom that it falls to the lot of a subject to have this honour , and on the present occasion it has fallen tome , and I shah esteem it through the rest of my life to be the highest honour that could have been conferred upon me . The presence of

H . RH . here this evening has given you the opportunity of showing your loyalty and of exhibitingthose feelings of charity whicli are inseparable from the character of a Mason . ( Hear , hear . ) But this toast never stands alone : it is

always coupled with that of " the rest of the Royal Family . " Under the present circumstances , I would call to your attention that that family has been visited by a very serious affliction—an affliction which will never be forgotten

by the parents , and never forgotten by the nation over which a royal family rules . But happily time heals every wound , and I trust that it has healed it in the breasts that have once felt it so severely * at all events , it will be a satisfaction to

you all to hear that Her Royal Highness , the Princess of Wales , now enjoys her former health —( cheers)—and whatever afflictions it may have pleased the Great Architect of the Universe to visit upon her and her royal husband , at all

events He has been pleased to restore her to that perfect health which all the devoted subjects of her Majesty most ardently desire . ( Hear , hear . ) I should be trenching on tlie province of H . R . H . and abusing this emblem of authority which has been committed to my hand , if I

detained you longer , and therefore I call upon you with hearty enthusiasm , and due devotion , and perfect loyalty to drink "The health of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , the Princess of Wales , and the rest of the Royal Family . "

After the toast had been most cordially drunk , The PRINCE of WALES , who was received with the greatest enthusiasm , said : Most cordially , brethren , do I thank you , and from the bottom of my heart , for the kind reception .

you have given me , ai . d for the manner in which you have received my health . As regards myself you may he certain that i ' : gives me great pleasure to b ; here this evening , and to be surrounded by so many brethren of the Craft , and to assure

the brethren that from the day that I became one of your number , it has been a great pride to me . You may be sure that I shall always cio my utmost to be a worthy brother of this Craft . ( Great cheering ) . Allow me , brethren , on the part of

the Princess of Wales , to thank you , Bro . Colquohoun , for tlie kind and touching way in which you alluded to her name , and all the brethren for the kind way in which they received it . I am iglad | o be able to announce to you that the

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

Princess is now , I hope , quite restored to her accustomed health— ( cheers )—and that in a short time , I hope , she will be once more among you . Before sitting down , I have the pleasure to announce to you that she has consented to become Patroness of this Institution . ( Loud

and long-continued cheering . ) Once more , brethren , accept my heartfelt thanks for your kind reception . ( Cheers . ) The PRINCE of WALES : Brethren , it is now my privilege to propose to you the following toast , which I feel convinced you will receive

with enthusiasm : " The Health of the Right Hon . the Earl de Grey and Ripon , the Most Worshipful Grand Master , the President of this Institution and of the Board of Stewards . " ( Cheers . ) I feel sure , brethren , that all of us must miss him here this evening : we must regret

excessively that he is not among us , as he would have been if in this country ; but , as you are aware , brethren , he is on tlie other side of the water , engaged , I hope , in the most successful termination of a long dispute . I hope , however , the day will not be far distant when our Grand

Master will be once more among us , and at our hospitable board . I now call upon you to drink " The Health of the Grand Master , the President of this Institution . " ( Applause . ) The Rev . J . HUYSHE : Brethren , if you received the last toast enthusiastically , I am

quite sure that you will be equally ready to respond to that which I have been commanded by your Royal Chairman to bring before you . It is not the custom of a Freemason to forget past services and past kindnesses , and therefore I feel confident that when I propose to you the health

of that nobleman who presided over us for so many years , and who , by his wise and beneficent rule , gained the esteem , the love , and the veneration of every member of the Craft—I mean the Earl of Zetland—you will respond to it loyally and kindly and from the bottom of

your hearts . I give you " Tlie Health of the Earl of Zetland , Past Grand Master of England . " Bro . Col . SVKES , MP .: Your Royal Highness , lords , and brethren , the toast I have the honour to propose to you is the " Health of tlie Right

Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , the Right Worshipful the Deputy Grand Master , and tlie rest of the Officers , Present and Past . " As a Yorkshireman , I could speak with greater fervour of the merits of Lord Zetland and the present Grand Master , both of whom are Yorkshiremen , but I

can only say this , that if the Earl of Carnarvon fills his post of Deputy Grand Master as well as the present Earl de Grey and also Lord Zetland , I am sure no member of the Craft will have reason to find any fault with him . Your Royal Highness , I beg to propose " The health of

the Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , Deputy Grand Master , the Grand Officers Present and Past , " coupling with that toast tlie name of the Grand Registrar , Bro . MTntyre . ( Cheers . ) Bro AL J . M'I . VTYRE : May it please your Highness , my lords , and brethren , I assure you

that I have very great pleasure in rising to return thanks for the toast that has been proposed on this occasion . In representing now the Grand Lodge of England and its officers present and past , I cannot refrain from saying that those Grand Officers , with the Kail of Carnarvon at

their head , have shown that they are not onl y capable of being good Masons , but that they can do good suit and service to the realm of England as statesmen , as warriors , and as patriots . We have our own Grand Master , as a statesman , on a foreign ground doing his duty to

Ins country , and we do hope he will return crowned with those laurels which he will have won , and will have cemented that union between the Masons of America and the Masons of England which both desire . If we find that in our Grand Master , in his Deputy we find a worthy supporter ; for Lord Carnarvon , in

whatever he undertakes , adds lustre to the work which he does , for never does he touch any duty but lie adorns it . For the rest of the Grand Officers , they are also desirous of doing their duty . Whenever they have the opportunity of promoting the interests and advantages of the Craft , they are always to be found in their place ,

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

and they are represented on this occasion by a great number who have come to assist this great and glorious charity •and I am proud to be among them , and to assure you that we will now and upon every occasion do that which will

not bring discredit on you ¦ but tend to the benefit of the Craft . I beg to thank our Bro . Sykes for proposing , and your Royal Hig hness and the brethren for drinking this toast , and to assure you most sincerely that we deeply appreciate the honour you have done us .

The PRINCE of WALES : Brethren , it devolves upon mc now to perform the pleasing duty of bringing before your notice the toast of the evening , which is " Success to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , " and the ¦ ' Health of the Treasurer , Bro . Samuel Tomkins . " ( Cheers . ) I feel sure that you Will drink this toast most heartily . In addressing

so many brethren as are here to-day , I may state that I have always had some diffidence in calling upon them to subscribe , but I have not that same feeling here this evening , when I know that you are all brethren of the Craft —( applause)—and that one of the most important principles which is inculcated in the minds of Masons is charity —( cheers ) —and I feel equally convinced , when 1 see s <"

numerous an assemblage of Freemasons here , that they have come for one object , and that is , to support an excellent Charitable Institution . ( Hear , he . ar . ) I feel , however , brethren , some difficulty in addressing you when I see before me the excellent Report which has been drawn up , because I can

hardly find any fresh words to place before you the position of this Institution . At the same time , some of you may not have had an opportunity of reading it carefully through , and it may not be out of place that I mention to you briefly a few facts concerning it . ( Cheers . ) Its object is then ,

brethren , the clothing , the maintenance and the education of daughters of decayed and deceased Masons . That , in itself , almost sufficiently tells how good a charity it is . As I feel sure you would not wish that the children of any good , honest , trustworthy Masons should be left starving and unable

to obtain their livelihood . ( Hear , hear . ) Another important fact connected with the Institution is that it is entirely supported by voluntary contributions . ( Hear , hear . ) Since its foundation , in 1788 , as many as from 900 to 1000 girls have been educated , clothed , and maintained in it . To me also it is

especially interesting to be connected in any way with this Institution , when I have been told that my grand-uncle , the late King George IV ., and Prince of Wales also , took a great interest in its foundation . ( Cheers . ) It has been the great object , I understand , of all connected with it , constantly to

give these girls a good , sound , simple and useful education —( hear , hear)— not what has become the fashion a good deal at the present day called " cramming . " ( Hear , hear . ) The object is not teaching these girls what is almost an absolute necessity for them to know to have any success in

life , but also to give them some preparation for different situations which it may suit them to take charge of . In these days , education is so much thought of—far more so than it was 50 years agoa fact , as you are all well aware of , brethren , it is the great topic of the clay —( hear , hear)—and I think

I may say with justice—and I am also convinced that you , brethren , will back mc up in this statement—that we Freemasons were the first to set an example in education , and in establishing and starting good schools . ( Hear , hear . ) That example , brethren , has been followed by others , and , having

had that good name , let us keep it up . ( Hear , hear . ) The Council of this Institution , in order to test the standard of education which has been given in this school have entered the names of several candidates for the Cambridge Local Examinations ; and I believe I am not wrong in

stating that with very few exceptions they have passed those examinations with credit to their teachers and to themselves . I believe I may also state to you that the Institution is nourishing in every respect ; that during the past year as many as 100 girls have received instruction in it , and some

of them have gone forth to the world , we hope , provided for life . It has been found necessary , as you are doubtless aware , to build a new wing—an infirmary and a dormitory . Wc all know that in building—at least I know it myself —( laughter)—we cannot do it for nothing . It is , therefore , brethren , to defray the expenses of this building

that we have met here to-night , so as not to get this Institution into debt . I am convinced that there is no danger of inch being tlie case . 1 am convinced I shall not appeal to you in vain , for I am equally convinced that you will be glad to meet the sum of , £ 3 , , which will be the cost , I understand , of this increase of building . Brethren , I will not detain