The Masonic Female Orphan School, Dublin.

Orphan School havo been carried into effect upon terms which , they trust , will prove beneficial to the Order . By these arrangements the Committee of the Cork Asylum have transferred £ 110 capital , together with all the annual subscriptions they could influence , to the Masonic Female Orphan School . The governors

believe that the effect of this union will be greatly to augment the future revenue of the latter school ; and they acknowledge the valuable services of Brother Anderson Cooper , the former treasurer of the Cork Asylum , in bringing about this union , and using all his influence to induce the brethren in the county

Cork to transfer their subscriptions to the institution into which it was merged . It is with sincere regret the governors have to report that during the early part of the past year the school was visited by scarlatina , although , through the merciful providence of God , only one of its little inmates ( Bessy Beech ) was

removed . Ihe governors feel that it is duo to tho eminent medical gentlemen who gratuitously afford their valuable services and assistance to the institution to state that their unremitting care and attention mitigated the sufferings of the children , and , by the will of God , restored their little patients , with a single

exception , to convalescence , The governors have likewise to report that the maternal kindness of Mrs . Noble , the matron ; the attention of Miss Cuthbert , the resident governess ; and the warm sympathy of the girls towards each other , tended much to alleviate their sufferings . The , effect of this malignant disease

was to suspend the education of the girls for a considerable time , and to arrest the introduction of ' an advanced and improved system of education , which had been in contemplation . In consequence of it the annual meeting for the distribution of prizes could not be hold in 1868 , and the annual revenue was not

only thereby diminished , but the girls were deprived of those stimulants to learning which competition creates . Upon the 1 st of January , 18 G 9 , there were thirty-eight girls in the school , including the two elected in December last ; and the governors have the satisfaction of reporting that they are in good health .

Five girls left , the school during the past year . Of these two have been sent to the Balham School for governesses , one to the Hackney branch of the same institution , one has been placed as an aoprentice at a respectable place of business in Dublin , and one has been provided for by her friends . The accounts

received of the conduct and progress of former pupils have been satisfactory and encouraging . Ono of them has gone to Yverdon , in Switzerland , to fill the same position formerly occupied by two of the former pupils successively , who had obtained good situations ; and another , who had been for some time a teacher iu a

school at Scarborough , has gone , as an English and music teacher to a school in Switzerland . The governors consider that these facts will bo not onl y interesting to the friends of the institution , butevidence of the efficiency of the training and education which the girls receive to qualify them for the honourable

position of teachers , or the no less important occupations of business or trade . Some of the friends of the institution will be pleased to learn that notwithstanding tho advanced and improved system of education imparted in the school , the old and vital principles upon which it was founded have not

been abandoned , and the girls are still trained to perform all household duties consistent with their age and sex . Xhey arc trained in habits of obedience and subordination , and aro taught that they must depend for their livelihood upon their own industry and integrity , and not upon the inlluenee or favour of

their friends . The governors cannot conclude their report without referring to the severe loss which the institution , and , indeed , the Masonic Order , has sustained during the past year by the deaths of several of its wannest supporters , and especially of two brethren who wero Masons not only in name , but in deed and

in truth . The unostentatious benevolence of the late George Hoyte , and the deep interest which he took in the school for half a century , during the last twentyfive of which he was a vice-president , cannot easily be forgotten , and the clear judgment of the late Thomas Mostyn , Grand Treasurer , in determining what was

for the true interests of the institution , and his zeal and energy in carrying it into effect , will long be remembered . The resolutions of the board of governors , at their meeting last October , attest the estimation in which those brethren were held , and the sincere sorrow which was felt by tho governors at

their death . In conclusion , the governors fraternally appeal to their brethren on behalf of this beneficent aud meritorious institution . They invite the cooperation in this labour of love of those who have not previously contributed to its funds and espoused the orphan ' s cause , if they , upon investigation and inspection , find the institution worthy of support . They

recognise with gratitude the services and assistance of their old friends and supporters , and solemnly adjure them to continue their benevolence , and not to close the hand of charity until they have placed this institution upon a foundation more worthy of the great Order to which they belong , and of the princi ples of love and charity which vivify its indissoluble and mystic bonds . "

The Masonic Female Orphan School, Dublin.

The Right Hon . Lord Dunboyne , Provincial Grand Master of North Munster , said the Committee had done him the honor of placing in his hands the first resolution . He regretted that it had not fallen into the hands of an abler speaker than he was ; but it could not have fallen into the hands of any one who

had at heart a deeper feeling of love and aflection towards the Masonic Order , or the orphans which they cherished , than he possessed . He had to congratulate the Order and its friends on the flourishing state of the funds of the institution . Still there was

scope for a great deal ot exertion , in order to enable them to augment the number of their pupils . He also congratulated them on the union of tho two schools of Cork and Dublin , which , he believed , would cause both to llourish and do better than before . It was a

great source of pleasure to them all to be able to present so good a report that evening . After paying a tribute to the merits of Mrs . Noble , the matron , and Miss Cuthbert , the resident governess of the institution , and observing that no complaint had once been made with respect to the subseoucnt career of any

child educated in that school ; his lordship concluded by moving the resolution as follows : — " That the report be adopted and circulated , and that the thanks of this meeting are due to the members of the Ladies' Committee , and the several other committees of the institution , for the zealous and

efficient manner in which they have discharged the duties devolving upon them , and for the livel y interest they manifest in everything conducive to the prosperity and progress of the pupils of the Masonic Female Orphan School . " The Hon . David Plunkct , Q . C ., Past Master , on

rising , was loudly cheered . He said : Before I ask you to adopt the resolution with which I am entrusted 1 have to make an apology to you . I am sure there are an immense number of persons in this room who will not hear a single word that I am saying , and that scarcely any person will hear a word distinctlv , partly

owing to the splendid success of the meeting this evening ( hear , hear ) , and partly owing to the misfortune in which I am afraid that many of you have lately been in a position to sympathise with me namely , that I am swamped with influenza . I see I catch your sympathies at once ; and , besides that , I

have the satisfaction of knowing that as soon as I become intolerably stupid and inaudible , you will be very easily able to sneeze or cough me down , whichever you like ( laughter ) . However , I have one great advantage , in addressing you this evening , and that is , that i need say but . very little , indeed , in

commendation of the resolution which has been so ably proposed to you . The resolution commends itself to all your hearts . Ladies and brethren all , this evening ' s display is the greatest triumph of the Order in this country , which , I believe , it has ever seen ( applause ) . You who sit down there , none of you individually can

have the smallest idea what a beautiful , picturesque , romantic effect you all produce to us hero ( hear ) . If you can imagine the largest and most beautiful flowerbed that ever was exhibited , and each flower in that bed the loveliest that ever grew , it would not give you the smallest idea of what 1 have the pleasure of

looking upon now ( hear , hear ) . That is only part of the success ; but when I look round on each side of me , and behind me , I sec the results of the institution which has worked so well , and I see those who have led and still lead the institution which does its work so well . Ladies and brethren all , I am not going to

tell you secrets ( laughter ) , though , I have no doubt , you have a hope that some little bit of the mystery may peep out from under the skirt of the proceedings of tins evening . I am not going to tell you any mystery , because I am under an oath not to tell you , and the Most AVorshipful tho Grand

Master would do something to mo that I would not even like to suggest if 1 said a word ( laughter ) . Perhaps if I get you , or , rather , if you get me in private , something might be extorted out of me . However , I cannot tell you any secrets ; and I am only going to say a few words which may lead you to

agree with us that there is something in Masonry besides the mere salutation which you have just seen , and that the ornaments which adorn this room convey something more than the mere glitter and splendour of the hour . I tell you they have reference to events , and circumstances , and truths in connection with this

old Order that render it not only the most ancient , but the most honorable institution that the world has ever produced ( hear , hear ) . You ask mo how can I tell you that this is an old or an honorablo Order ? J cannot tell you the proofs that wc have—the grand old stories and traditions that are filtered into our

minds as Masons ; but I can tell you this convincing proof , that the old principles , the old influences , the old advantages , the old reciprocal kindnesses , the old reciprocal affections that were founded before the Pyramids were built , are still to be found

in existence , not merely in this land , but in other distant lands where the European languages are unknown—ay , they have been proved to exist , within the last few years , where before European foot had never trodden ( applause ) . Is not that a proof ? AVhat proof more convincing that this , that when the un-

The Masonic Female Orphan School, Dublin.

fortunate European wanderer finds himself overtaken in the wilds of Central Africa—surrounded—his life in the hands of his enemies—by some wonderful recognition the black arm of the intended assassin falls powerless at his side , and instead of being the murderer he is the host , the charitable host , of his

white brother ( applause ) . Is not that the true test of Masonic brotherhood ? Does not that prove my point ? And if you ask me why this institution has lasted so long , I will tell you that , it is because those who built it up at first were great Masonsgreat free Masons in the truest sense ; because they

built it upon principles that can never fail and foundations that can never give way . They appeal to principles of the human heart , which are the grandest , and therefore the most lasting ; whit * h pervade all ranks and all nations of men , and which , therefore , never fail to solicit a response . AVliat are the

princip les upon which they built up this glorious agency which has lasted for thousands of years ? They built it on such principles as these—reverence for Him whom we Masons humbly recognise as the great Architect of the universe ; reverence for Kings and Sovereigns in due authority , and loyalty on the part of

their followers ( applause )—loyalty to their sovereigns ; loyalty to their Order ; loyalty to the oaths they have taken ; loyalty to one another ; loyalty to the great brotherhood of man . Thus they founded it ; and in order to adorn it and make it sure for ever they added this more all-pervading principle to hallow it through

all ages—they said , " You shall all be governed by universal charity" ( applause ) . In the name of charity we appeal to you hero this evening . We show you what charity has done . I have told you how old the Order is . I tell you how new it is ; and I appeal to this meeting , is it not a proof that it now flourishes ,

old as it is , as it it wero now in its first primeval manhood 1 ( Applause . ) AVell , they say a great many harsh things about us ( laughter ) . I assure you I am not going into anything like polities , or anything of that kind . It is a delight to me beyond measure to find myself for once in my life in a

p lace where I have not to talk politics , or to abuse anybody ( applause ) . It is a first principle—and this is not exactly a secret—of tho Masonic Order , that we leave politics outside the door ( hear , hear . ) I believe that is the reason why our entertainments arc so popular . Politics may not be disposed to leave

us alone , but we are determined that they shall not persuade us to interfere with them ( hear , hear ) . They accuse us of being merely an eating and drinking society . AVell , 1 stand here iu the midst of a school , which tells you that we do something more than eating and drinking . But I mean to say this , that

every man must eat , and , as far as I have had any experience , most men will eat and drink ( laughter ) . And if you must eat and drink , which is the more Christian , civilised , human thing , to eat in company with good fellows , or to cat in wretched lonely monotony every day of your life ? Therefore I am not

ashamed of our eating aud drinking ; but I will tell you this , that while we do that , I hope cheerfully , brothers never dine together and forget to say a word and to fill a glass for poor distressed but deserving brethren ( hear , hear ) , and that if the glass passes round on these occasions something else also passes

round , which makes those poor , distressed and deserving brethren mindful even of our festivities ( hear , hear ) . I need not say anything in defence of the Order here . We have passed through fiery persecutions in other days and other lands and have come through triumphantly and survived them . If a paltry

little persecution be attempted now , I say it may do us some good , but it cannot do us any harm ( cheers ) . Do you want proof of this V—look round you . The Ball was a great success ; this is twice as great a success . Now , then , 1 have told you what we do . AVe preserve an old institution , wo eat and drink , wc keep up charity , and some of you ladies know that

some of us can dance too . AVell , besides all that , we have this School , and I have wandered so far from the resolution that I have been honoured by being permitted to second , that I must now come back to it , and ask you to agree with me that we arc deeply indebted to the ladies' committee and the other committees that have so kindly carried out this good work . A famed writer said of old—I don ' t know whether ho

was a i rcemason or not—perhaps ho was , " Kxcgi moiiiiinciituin cere pereiuiius . " lie said— "I have raised a monument more enduring than brass . " But have we not reared here , and has not this committee established a monument far more enduring than brass ? Have they not established a

monument m the gratitude , m the good fortune , in the prosperity , in the future happy lives of those little girls that will last long—long after this Ladies' Committee and other committees , all of whom aro here assembled round me this evening , shall have passed

away for ever ? Surel y this is something that wo may commend to you all in this festive season , on this festive occasion—tho quiet work that has been done by charity , by economy , through evil report and through good report , through sickness , and , as you have heard through death . AVe present to you this evening the fruit—I will say the beautiful blue and