Grand Masonic Fete.

GRAND MASONIC FETE .

DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES TO THE PUPILS OF THE MASONIC ORPHAN SCHOOLS , DUBLIN . The anmialy " - - /' 'on behalf of the Masonic Orphan Schools took place in the Exhibition Palace , Dublin , on Monday evening , the 19 th ultimo , under

the presidency of the Most Worshipful Grand Master , his Grace the Duke of Abercorn , K . G ., Viceroy of Ireland . It was marked by greater brilliancy than usual , chiefly because of the splendid decorations which remained since the Masonic Ball on the previous Friday night . There seemed also to

be a larger concourse than at previous anniversaries , for albeit the colossal size of thc building , promenading was a matter of tedious steering through the gaps made by those of the fashionable throng moving to and fro . Nearly 8 , 000 were present . Viewed from the galleries , thc sight presented was

one of singular beauty and magnificence . The many colours of the rich costumes set off with dazzling gems , together with thc glory of the decorations illuminated by ten thousand lights , seemed almost dazzling . Of course the brethren were arrayed in the panoply cf their insignia , except

the Knights Templar , who were not so conspicuous as they were last year , with their tunics and mantles adorned with thc Rose Croix . AU had donned thc jewels of their rank , from thc third to thc thirty-third degree . Many of thc ladies , too , wore Masonic emblems , quite innocent of their mystic significance .

But it was not unseemly for the ladies while secluded from the penetralia to adorn themselves with thc gems of the order or countenance it by their presence , seeing that those of their own sex arc chief objects of its solicitude , the school for orphan boys having only been established within the past few years . And here it will not be amiss to pay a respectful

tribute to the memory of the late Grand Master , Augustus Frederick Duke of Leinster ( who watched over the interests of the craft in this country with thc care of a father for his children , during half a century ) , since the cause of the Masonic orphans has sustained in him a very serious loss . The great interest which his Grace manifested in the female

orphan school mainly contributed to placing that institution in its present position . During thc early period of its existence his subscriptions were nearly as large as those of the rest of the order put together . Of late years , happily , ihis was not the case , as the brethren became aware of thc existence

of the school and tho duty devolving upon them to support it . His Grace the Duke of Leinster took special pleasure in presiding over the annual festival of charity , at which he distributed the prizes to thc deserving pupils . At last year ' s reunion , whicli took place in the month of May , he looked hale and

happy ; but a few months afterivards his health gave away , and lie was summoned hence amid thc sincere mourning of all the brethren , who felt that they could scarcely expect to " look upon his like again . " But thc darkest hour is that before dawn ; and thus , in common with their English brethren ,

who had also lost their chief , but under different circumstances , they found abundant cause to rejoice in thc successor to thc vacant throne of thc order . I n England , the Heir Apparent to the Crown of these realms became head ofthe Craft . Inlrclanditsgovernancc was undertaken by the Viceroy , who had been a

Mason since his college days in Oxford . Willi thc steadily increasing influence of the Order , the prosperity of the orphan schools will , in like manner , become assured , so that the clay may not be fatdistant when every deserving case will receive assistance . There are now 6 3 orphans maintained

by thc Order . Of those , 40 are girls . Unfortunately the governors were unable last year to admit any additional orphans to the girls ' school for want of room . However , it is anticipated that thc negotiations pending will enable them soon to begin the erection of a new school , which is to be

sufficiently commodious to accomodate double ( he number that thc present building does . In view of this , and the hope of greater aid from the order , four vacancies have been declared for the next election . During thc past year , some of thc pupils competed in the Royal Dublin Society's art

examinations , and one of them obtained a certificate from the Council of Education of South Kensington , while two others received certificates from thc Royal Dublin Society . There can be no doubt of the soundness of the education imparted , the institution being under thc constant supervision of thc

committee , includingthe Right Hon . the Vice-Chancellor , the Hon Judge Townsend , Rev . Lord Plunket , Rev . J . J . MacSorley . Dr . Ellington , Q . C , ; Messrs . L . II . Dcering , G . Huband , and C . H . Woodroffe . The boys , 23 in number , are at thc establishment of

Brother thc Rev . S . S . Skeen , Adelaide Hall , Merrion , and are making satisfactory progress , as was reported by some learned brethren , including the Rev . Dr . Haughton , F . T . C . D . ; Mr . Hugh Holmes , and Mr . G . V . Hart , who examined them at the request of thc Committee . Within the past

Grand Masonic Fete.

few days , one ofthe boys , James Brett , who will be shortly leaving , took first place at thc Apothecaries ' Hall arts examination direct from the school , though he was the youngest of the candidates . It is in contemplation , to establish an institute similar to that of thc girls for the boys , but the Committee ,

very judiciously considering the advantages of class education , have thought it advisable not to do so until they can support a sufficient number of pupils . Altogether both schools show hopeful signs of prosperity . It was evident last night that the cause of the charity had come home to the hearts of many ,

judging by the vast numbers who displayed governors' badges , and those included the distinguished and wealthy in thc land , thc nobility , the learned , the princely merchants , and the great middle classes . Owing to thc illness of a near relative , the Rev . Lord Plunket , Grand Chaplain ,

and thc Hon . David Plunket , O . C ., M . P ., Solicitor-General , were absent . During the evening the fine band of the Coldstream Guards , under the direction of Bro . Fred Godfrey , performed a choice selection of operatic music and some new pieces specially arranged for the occasion by thc talented conductor himself .

At a quarter before nine o'clock his Grace the Lord Ljeutenant and Lady Georgiana Hamilton , together with a brilliant retinue arrived , and were received by the Deputy Grand Master and the grand officers . The ladies were conducted to the place reserved for them immediately in front of the dais , while his Grace withdrew to the anteroom , where he robed himself as Grand Master . The

reception party included : —Lady Georgiana Hamilton , Hon . L . Gerald Dillon and Mrs . Dillon , Gustavus Lambart , Esq ., Lady Fanny and Misses Lambart , Sir J . M . and Lady Stewart , Colonel B . W ., Mrs . and Miss Bernard ; Lord and Lady Wallscourt , and others . At nine o'clock thc Grand

Officers , the Provincial Grand Officers , thc representatives from Foreign Grand Lodges , the Masters , Wardens , and Secretaries of the several Dublin Lodges , and thoscdistinguishedbrethrcn and governors of the schools , intended to occupy places on the platform , formed a procession and , led by a

host of stewards , under the direction of Worshipful George Woods Maunsell , D . L ., Grand Steward , conducted the Most Worshipful Grand Master to thc Concert Hall through an avenue composed of thc brethren , whilst organ ancl band pealed forth a srrand Masonic march .

On the procession reaching thc dais , the brethren filed off , and took thc stations assigned to them by the stewards , and thc M . W . Grand Master took his seat upon the throne amidst the heartiest p laudits . Then thc pupils of the girls' schools all neatly attired in white ancl blue , followed by that of the

boys ' school wearing blue neck ties , entered two and two , and took their places along thc lower tiers of thc orchestra . At the bidding of the Deputy Grand Master , all the brethren and even the pupils saluted the Grand Master according to ancient custom . The 100 th Psalm was then sung " with one consent . "

His Grace the Most Worshipful Grand Master then rose ancl said—Brethren , ladies ancl gentlemen , it gives mc the most sincere gratification that my first public appearance in the high position in which I have been placed , as Grand Master of thc Freemasons of Ireland , has been an occasion which so

fully exemplifies the leading objects of our great ancient order ( hear , hear ) . These great objects arc unity , benevolence , and charity to all men ( hear hear ) , and in no way can these great principles be belter or more usefully carried out than in contributing , as far as lies in our power , to the education

and instruction of our rising generation in such a way as that by God's Providence may serve to render them both sincere and good Christians , and also useful members of the universal brotherhood of mankind ( hear , hear ) . Dr . Ellington , Q . C , lion , secretary , read the

report , of which the following are thc salient parts "Thc Governors of thc Masonic Female Orphan School beg leave to present the following report for the yc . ir ending December 31 st , 1874 . The revenue of the School for the year from all sources , including thc balance from the previous annual account

^ of 7474 s . Sd ., amounted to £ 3 , 162 4 s . Sd ., shewing a decrease in the total revenue of , £ 349 2 s . 6 d . This decrease , however , is , to a great extent , explained by thc presence of some exceptional items in thc account for thc year 1873 . Of this sum , £ 1 , 903 18 s . 6 d ., was expended , while thc capital

was increased by an investment of , £ ; ooin Masonic Hall Company Shares , leaving a cash balance to thc credit of the Institution of . £ 1 , 158 55 . lid . Thc total amount appearing in thc stock account , invested for the benefit of the Institution , was £ 8 , 682 2 s . id . The annual subscriptions shew an

increase of , £ 40 over thc amount for 1873 , which , as mentioned in the report for tiiat year , was . £ 183 ios . less than that of thc previous year , so that there is no real improvement under this head . It is to be regretted that the explanation of this falling off in the subscriptions appears to arise from a loss of

Grand Masonic Fete.

subscribers , previously known as supporters of the School , ancl not from any want of new names in the subscription lists . From the number of pupils in thc Institution , and thc limited accommodation of the Schoolhousc , thc Board of Governors came to the determination of suspending the election of

candidates for admission during the whole of 1 S 74 . The Governors have reason to believe that thc withdrawal of some well-known names from the subscription list , arises from thc fact that admission has thus , of necessity , been refused to a number of candidates whose claims were undoubted , but for

whom there was no accommodation in the Schoolhouse , within the limits prescribed by thc medical officers of the Institution . Thc expenditure is slightly in excess of last year ' s total , but docs not call for any particular remark . The Governors are pressed by the importance of providing increased

accommodation for the School ; but they regret that they have not succeeded in completing negotiations for a new site suitable for the Masonic Orphan School ofthe future . Much anxious discussion has taken place as to thc quantity of ground required , the situation , and the amount which may be , with

prudence , expended on a new Schoolhousc . Thc Governors think that it would be better in the present state of the question , not further to allude to it than to say , that at the last special meeting of thc Board , called for that purpose , it was determined that the site ofthe present Schoolhousc was not

desirable for a School of the extent * which , it is hoped , the Masonic Orphan School will be , and that a new site should be secured , having space for the recreation of the pupils as well as a suitable situation for the house itself . It is probable that the arrangements for this purpose will be completed before thc

next Report ; but in any event the whole amount of available investments now to the credit of the School will not be more than enough to erect a building of suitable size and structure , and the expenditure of this capital will largely decrease the annual income . lt is hoped that the Masonic

Order in Ireland will assist the brethren to make the Female Orphan School an institution capable of receiving all those candidates for its benefits who arc now kept out of it by a cause which their liberality can at once remove . In other respects the School is without change ; the education is still

carried on as heretofore , and thc late examination has developed results which arc in the highest degree gratifying , as indicating the progress of thc pupils . The Education Committee has every reason tobe satisfied with the election of Miss Leech , as successor to Miss Cuthbert , whose removal upon

her marriage , deprived the School of services which , for many years past , have been acknowledged to be of great value to the pupils under her care . " The report concluded with a feeling allusion to the late Duke of Leinster , G . M . ; and acceptance of that office by the Duke of Abercorn , who thus

becomes President of tho School , under whose auspices the Governors confidently trust the Institution will still continue to prosper . The Right Worshipful Sir John Marcus Stewart , P . G . M . of Tyrone and Fermanagh , moved thc first resolution— " That the report now read be adopted ,

printed and circulated , and that the thanks of this meeting arc due to the members of the ladies , education , finance and apprentice committee of thc institution , and also to the medical officers of the school for the zealous and efficient manner in whicl . i they have discharged the duties devolving upon

them , and for the lively interest they manifest in everything conducive to the prosperity of the pupils of the Masonic Female Orphan School . " Thc Right Worshipful Anderson Cooper , D . P . G . M . of Minister , seconded thc resolution , which was carried unanimously .

Colonel Ffolhott moved thc second resolution , as follows : — "That , whilst acknowledging with gratitude thc liberal support and assistance which the institution has hitherto experienced , the governors would earnestly invite the co-operation of thc brethren in order still further to extend the usefulness of the institution . "

Bro , Robert Warren , High Sheriff of the city of Dublin ( in thc absence of the Hon . Judge Townsend , LL . D . ) , seconded the resolution , which was unanimously carried . In the intervals between thc speeches some of the pupils played a selection of music on the

pianoforte , their ability meriting much hearty applause . Thc "business" proceedings having terminated , tho National Anthem was sung , after which a procession was formed to grand dais , at the northern end of the glass building ; the Grand Master passed on to the throne , thc Grand Officers and Provincial Grand Masters in positions around him .

Lady Georgiana Hamilton gracefully distributed the prizes to both girls and boys . This was a novel and pleasing feature in the ceremonial . After thc prizes were distributed the M . W . Grand Master made some observations to the pupils . Shortly after eleven o ' clock his grace the Duke of Abercorn and the Viceregal suite left and were enthusiastically cheered .