The Masonic Female Orphan School, Dublin.

THE MASONIC FEMALE ORPHAN SCHOOL , DUBLIN .

The annual distribution of prizes to the most successful competitors and the deserving girls of this admirable institution took p lace on Friday evening , in the Exhibition Palace , under circumstances more auspicious than on any previous occasion . Very nearly 6 , 000 of tho nobility , gentry , and most respectable

classes of the country were present , to evince their interest in an excellent school for the daughters ot deceased freemasons , as well as their sympathy with , and respect for , the principles of the order . The cardinal points of Freemasonry—which neither fulminate or denounce—are those which have adorned

Christianity , which have been disseminated by its ministers , made their influence felt and i-espected in the true sense of the word all over the world , and produced such glorious results for humanity . These

principles are included in the words , " Peace , brotherly love , harmony , and Christian charity , " which have ever distinguished the operations of the Order , and the object for which they met on Friday evening was in furtherance of them . In addition to the enormous

amount of private charity given to their poorer brethren , to near relatives of deceased Freemasons , and to the charitable calls made upon them as individuals outside the order , the scene presented on Friday evening in the Exhibition Palace was testimony of the fruits of their principles , and every member of the

Order may well be proud of it . Ihe . brethren have great reason to congratulate themselves on the result of the hostile edicts levelled against them by a high ecclesiastical authority , the most indignant protesters against which arc amongst his own religious followers . To the Masonic body , as far as the late eminently

successful ball and the demonstration of strength on Friday evening was concerned , the result has been most satisfactory . For years , nothing more successful iu connection with the Order has occurred in this city , and the Governors of tho Orphan School , as well as the brethren generally , have to congratulate themselves on the manner in which thoir institutions are

growing into public favour . The li ghting , decorations , and furnishing were the same , with some trifling alterations , as at the Grand Masonic Ball . On that occasion we gave a detailed description of them , and it is unnecessary to repeat it here . Sufliee it to say that the mottoes and Masonic

devices in gas jets , the profusion of national and emblematic Hags and banners draped and hung round the galleries and walls of the entire building , the imposing and brilliant arrangements of trophies of arms , lances , and bannerets , the luxurious furniture and hangings , and , above all , the gorgeous paraphernalia

and jewellery ef the . Masonic brethren , intermingled with the fashionable costumes of the ladies , and relieved again by the sombre evening dresses of gentlemen not belonging to the Order , combined to produce an effect as gay and enlivening as any ever witnessed in this beautiful palace . The grand Concert flail was

handsomely fitted up for the occasion , the large gallery at the farther end being set apart for the accommodation of the dignitaries of the Order and the male and female orphan children . The doors were opened at a quarter past seven o ' clock , and the hall was speedily filled with a large and highly fashionable

assemblage . Ihe promenade and galleries were also fiiirly filled , and it was found utterly impossible to accommodate anything like the number in attendance in the hall where the interesting proceedings of the evening were being held . About , thirty-eight girls were seated to the right of the platform , and occupying

seats to the left were five clean , healthy-looking , and well dressed boys—the first who have been admitted to the advantages of the MasouicOrphan Boys' School , which is about being erected . They formed a new and interesting feature in the proceedings , and represented another of the benevolent acts of the

members of this Order in Ireland . Although the school lias not yet been erected a large amount of funds has been subscribed for the purpose , and the governors have in the meantime wiseh resolved that the money shall not be idle . They determined to select a number of the most deserving orphans , and place them in a respectable school , to be educated and enabled to

fight the battle of life with some hope of succoss . Five were elected , and in a short time it is hoped that the number will be doubled . Before and after the meeting , those who promenaded the extensive nave were entertained by the splendid bands of the 14 th Hussars and the 9 th Foot , who played the following programme of music—the airs alternately : — 14 TII HUSSAKS . —Overture , "Zanetta" ( Auber ) . Selection — " Un Ballo in Masehcra " ( Verdi ) . Valse— " Ilebe "

The Masonic Female Orphan School, Dublin.

( Crowe ) . Coronation March— " Le Prophote " ( Meyerbeer ) , Grand Procession— " Stabat Hater ' ' ( Kossini ) . "Souvenir di Donizetti" ( Froneliert ) . Valse—'' Morgcnblatter" ( Strauss ) . Galop ( Vocal)— "Nimrod" ( Crowe ) . — A Gwyllyjno Crwne , band-master .

Urn RKGIJIEMT . —Fantasia— "Erin" ( Basquit ) . Selection — " 11 Trovatore " ( Verdi ) . Waltz— " Voice of Night " ( Francis Quin ) . March— "Freemasons' March" ( Ascber ) . Quadrille— " Royal Irish " ( Riviere ) . Aria— " Tutti in Maschera" ( Pcdrotti ) . Galop- ' Postman ' s Knock" ( Clarke ) . Waltz— " Kate Kearney " ( Coote ) . Bro . A . Vlacco , bandmaster .

Everywhere the scene was brilliant , artistic , and imposing . At eight o ' clock the Grand Oflicers , the Representatives from Foreign and Provincial Grand Lodges , the Masters , AVardens , and Secretaries of the several Lodges , and those Brethren to whom places

on the platform had been assigned , assembled m the small Concert Boom , and a procession having been formed , it moved through the Leinster Hall anil Glass Transept to the large Concert Hall in the following order , the bands playing a Masonic march : —

Stewards . Assistant Tyler , with Sword . Lodges , according to seniority , tbe junior lirst . Officers and Members of the Grand Master's Lodge . The Coinmittes of the Orphan School . The Vice-Presidents and Honararv Officers of the School .

The Tyler to the Grand Lodge . Representatives of Foreign Grand Lodges . Provincial Grand Officers . Two Stewards . Grand Organist . Grand Inner Guard . Grand Superintendent of Works Grand Stewards .

The Grand Deacons , with their Wands . The Grand Chaplains . The Grand Secretary . The Grand Treasurer . The Grand Wardens . The Grand Sword Bearer carrying the Sword . The Deputy Grand Secretary , carrying the Book of

Constitutions . The Grand Master , his Grace the Duke of Leinster . Past Deputy Grand Master . Deputy Grand Master . Past Grand Officers , £ c . The Grand Director of Ceremonies , with his Wand . Two Stewards .

On ascending the platform the brethren filed off , according to Lodges , and took their places as pointed out by the platform stewards . The Grand Master , having taken the chair , was then saluted according to ancient usage , with ' Eleven on the third coming down . " The pupils of the school entered the room in the following order , and occupied the seats provided for them on the platform : —

Two Stewards . The Hon . Secretary . The Assistant Secretary . The Pupils—Two-aud-Two . Two Stewards . There were about forty respectably-attired girls , who presented an extremely neatandintelligcntappearanee . They were under the care oftheirellicientinatron , Mrs . Noble , avid the aovevness , Miss Cuthbert .

Amongst those present were the Duke of Leinster , Grand Master : the Hon . Judge Townsend , Past Deputy Grand Master ; Lord Athluinney and Sir Edward Grogan , Bart , Grand Wardens ; the Revs . J . J . MaeSorley , lion . W . C . Plunket , Henry Westby , R . II . Wall , I ) . l ) ., and Simpson G . Morrison , Grand Chaplains ; Dr . Cameron , Dr . Elrington , Q . C ., and

K . 11 . Digues La 'louche , Grand Deacons ; Charles D . Astley , Grand Superintendent of Works : Alderman Manning , J . P ., Grand Director of Ceremonies ; Theophilus St . George , Grand Steward ; Geo . Hepburn , Grand Sword Bearer * Francis Quin , Grand Organist ; Stuart Nassau Lane , Grand Inner Guard ; Charles T . AA ' ahnislcy , Deputy Grand Secretary ; Dr . Smyly ,

Representative from the Grand Lodge of Prussia ; J . A ' okes Maekey , J . P ., Representative from the Grand Lodge of Canada ; Lucius II . Deering , Representative from the Grand Lodge of Louisiana ; Dr . Ringland , Representative from the Grand Lodgo of New York ; John II . Goddard , Representative from the Grand Ixidge of Portugal ; Hugh Lyons Montgomery ,

D . L . , Provincial Grand Master , North Connaught ; Andrew Browne , . LP ., Provincial Grand Master , South Connaught ; Mnjor-General the Right Hon . Francis P . Dunne , Provincial Grand Master , Midland Counties ; the Right Hon . Lord Duiiboyne , Provincial Grand Master , North Minister ; Sir John Marcus Stewart , Bart ., Provincial Grand Master , Tyrone and

Bermanagh ; Captain AVilliam E . Scott , J . P ., and George Cliattcrton , Deputy Provincial Grand Masters ; the Mayor of Sligo , Provincial Grand Warden ; Capt . A . L . Nicholson , J . P ., Provincial Grand Secretary ; Samuel B . Oldham , Secretary , Masonic Female Orphan School ; Captain Maxwell Harte , Secretary , Masonic Orphan Boys' School ; the Right Hon . the Vice

Chancellor , the Hon . Judge Harrison , the Hev . Louis Le Pan , LL . D . ; Charles 11 . AVoodroofe . Q . C . ; Dr . Porter , President of the Royal College of Surgeons ; Colonel Snow , Colonel AA ' ood , Major George Hill , Captain Gibton P . M . G . M . L . ; Captain Iluband , J . P .,

P . M ., 12 ; Captain Davoren , P . M ., 728 : Captain Pirn , P . M ., 620 ; Captain St . Vincent AVhitshed , P . M ., 11 ; Edward II . Kinahan , J . P ., P . M ., 143 ; Dr Hamilton , P . M ., 12 ; Dr . Kidd , G . M . L . ; Dr . Haflicld

The Masonic Female Orphan School, Dublin.

P . M ., 4 ; Dr . Minchin . P . M .. 50 ; Dr . Johnston , P . M ., 141 ; AV . S . Tracy , P . M . ; Rev . Joseph Galbraith , F . T . C . D . ; Inspector-General Crawford ; AV . IT . Englcdow , LL . D ., San try School ; Maurice JCeatinge , Dr . Beatty , Colonel Adamson , Dr . Robinson , Sir Arthur Guinness , Bart . ; Sir Arthur Bellingham ,

Bart . ; Sir AVilliam Wilde , Sir John Barrington , D . L . ; Edward C . Guinness , Captain Healey , Joseph Cassan , J . P . ; Captain Harris , 20 th Regt . ; Captain Mostyn , 9 Gth Regt . ; A . Fitzpatrick , Samuel Tudor Bradburne , AVilliam Roper , J . P .: Alexander J . R . Stewart , Dr . Maunsell , Dr . Hamilton , Charles II . Harte , Colonel

Lloyd , George AVoods Maunsell , D . L . ; Laurence Smith , Dr . John Norwood , J . P . ; AV . II . Smith , E . H . Kinahan , D . L . ; Major Howard St . George , D . L ., Kilkenny ; Arthur St . George , Thomas H . Sanger , J . P . Hamilton . Chairman of County Sligo ; Ormsby ; AVilliam II . Hillsworth , John Griffin , Professor AA

11-kinson , Rev . James Quintin , S . N . Elrington , Major L . E . Knox , John Healy , Edward M'Clure , George A . John , George AV . K . Drewett , Denis P . Browne , Alexander D . Kennedy , John Clare , James II . North , Joseph D . Cope , AVilliam James M'Coy , Henry Parkinson , Graham Lemon , Captain Alexander AV .

Bailey , Matthew Good , Maurice E . Solomons , AA ilham M'Gee , John AA'ilson , William Dooliu , Charles Meagher , Charles II . George Emerson , Thomas M'Govern , Charles C . Macnamara , AVilliam M . French , Edward J . Clifford , AVilliam Eykellosch , Robert F . Young , AA'illiam J . Bradley , Thomas F . Bergin ,

AA'illiam Edgar , Alexander AVeir , Samuel Pickering , Richard AV . Morgan , AA'illiam Brown , Thomas N . Dcane , Thomas W . Kinahan . Henry AV . Hopkins , John S . LongstalT , Joseph If . Woodworth , Alfred Falkner , M . D . ; John Carty . Arthur II . Robinson , James B . AA orthington , John Ilenrv Edge . Robert O .

Longlield , John Evans , jun . : George Alexander Stephens , Arthur George Iluband , Rev . Benjamin Gibson , Robert S . Greenhill , Thomas T . Maunsell , M . D . ; AVilliam AVhitsitt , Thomas AVylie , AVilliam H . Collier , Francis Reynolds , Thomas Morrow , Edward Hamilton , M . D . ; Rev . AA ^ illiam G . Boycc ,

John Shortt , M . I ) . ; James D . Knnggs , John Jennings , James M . Boon . AVilliam Roe , M . D . ; AVilliam Bell , M . A . Ward , M . D . ; AVilliam Joyce , Letablerc J . Litton . Philip C , SmyJy . M . D .: John Gallic , Samuel C . Oldham , John A . Hogan , C . A . Cameron , M . D . ;

James v . Maekey . Arthur II . Oldham , Henry R . Cleorc , T . II . Atkinson , AndrewMoir , Robert Thackcr , Thomas F . Eustace , Robert W . Shekelton , AVilliam Seott , Percival Jones , Joseph S . A \ ilson , George T . AAliitcstonc , William Allen . AVilliam F . Collins . Capt . Joshua Pim .

Ihe first two verses of the 100 th 1 salm having been sung , the meeting w ; : s opened with prayer by the Rev . J . J . MaeSorley , Grand Chaplain . Bro . E . 11 . D . La Touehe , Secretary , then read the annual report , as follows : — " The Governors of the Masonic Female Orphan

School report that , although the finances of the institution were never in so solvent a condition , they are still inadequate to provide for all the desolate and bereaved orphans seeking admission to the school . A reference to the abstract of accounts appended to the report will show that the total revenue of the year

ISGS amounted to £ - _ ' , 231 Gs . 8 < 1 ., and exceeded that of the year 1 SG" by five shillings . It is to be observed that the impossibility of holding the annual meeting during the past year deprived the institution cf a considerable port ion of its usual revenue ; and that the legacies received in 18 G 7 exceeded the legaeie .-i

received in 1808 b y the sum of £ 218 0 s 8 d . It will also show an increase in every other source of revenue , especially in annual subscriptions and life donations , which constitute the main support of tho institution . The expenditure during the . year 1808 , including £ 12 ") Is . Sd . for apprentice feff . outfits .

and expenses of pupils , entering or leaving the school , amounted to . £ ' 1 , 713 Is . fid ., and exceeded the expenditure of 18 G 7 by £ ; io 2 15 s . 8 d . This large increase in the expenditure was , however , mainly attributable to a sum of £ 287 0 s . 7 d . having been expended under tho supervision of tho Finance Com

mittee , in house repairs , furniture , painting , and other matters rendered necessary by illness which prevailed in the school during the early portion of the past year . The sum of . £ 208 was invested during the year 18 G 8 in the purchase of £ 300 Great Southern and Western Railway £ 1 per Cent Preference Stock . Twentv-eight

shares m the Masonic Hall Company ( Limited ) , of the value of £ 110 , were transferred to the school , and £ 1 G 0 18 s . 7 d . remained at the close of the year in the hands of the bankers of the institution , of which £ 1 ( 17 has been since invested in the Midland l ? ailway Preference Stock . The total sum now invested iu Government or other permanent securities , for the

benefit of the school , including that £ 1 G 0 , is £ 4 , 0117 2 s . 2 d . The governors feci assured that an investigation of the accounts will satisfy their brethren that the finances of the institution are managed with utmost economy and prudence , consistently with its efficiency and the character of the education imparted to the pupils . The governors have the satisfaction of reporting that during the past year arrangements for uniting the Cork Asylum with the Masonic Female