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Article Original Correspondence. ← Page 2 of 2 Article MASONIC ORPHAN SCHOOLS, DUBLIN. Page 1 of 2 Article MASONIC ORPHAN SCHOOLS, DUBLIN. Page 1 of 2 Article MASONIC ORPHAN SCHOOLS, DUBLIN. Page 1 of 2 →
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Original Correspondence.
ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Will ycu permit me to direct attention to one incident of the election on Friday , the 18 th inst ., which may be considered not only as an act of injustice to a poor candidate , who has been deprived of the benefits of the
Institution , but as seriously damaging to the principle of election by the votes of subscribers . Briefly , the circumstances appear to have been these : — A brother representing a Prov . G . M . had been entrusted with a number of votes more than sufficient to ensure the election of a particular candidate , but in marking a portion of the proxies a tick was placed on one side of the
name and the number cf votes on the other , the number inadvertently being in the wrong column , so as to read opposite the name of another candidate , to whose credit the scrutineers ( after observing the contradiction ) passed the votes . A first appeal to the chairman was somewhat abruptly replied to by one of the scrutineers , and a subsequent demand for a scrutiny , after the declaration of
numbers , was ruled out of order . The consequence was a triplicate error , i . A candidate whom a large number of subscribers desired to elect Was excluded . 2 . A candidate , who friends had already polled sufficient proxies for his election , received a large number of votes to which he had no right , and of which he had no need . 3 . A candidate , for whose case
comparatively few votes were recorded , was declared elected . How can such a miscarriage ot justice be rectified , and a repetition be avoided at future elections ? The only possible rectification would now appear to be that the excluded candidate should be declared by ttie Committee elected 10 fill the first vacancy subsequent to the day of election ; and to prevent the recurrence of so serious a
mistake , the duties of the scrutineers should be more clearly defined . Cases of doubt or difficulty should be always referred by them to the chairman of the meeting , whose decision alone should be recognised . Had this been done in the case under notice , this unpleasant circumstance could not have occurred . The chairman would at once have referred to the brethren representing the interested cases : one of whom would have claimed , the other
repudiated , the proxies in question . The case is a chapter of errors , to which each of the parties—candidate , scrutineers , and chairman—have contributed a verse . It will not , however , prove altogether an evil , if it should result in an improvement of our election regulations , and it is with this object that I ask you to invite attention to the matter . I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , H . T . THOMPSON , P . M .
Masonic Orphan Schools, Dublin.
MASONIC ORPHAN SCHOOLS , DUBLIN .
The annual festival of Masonic charity was celebrated on the 8 ith May , in tlie Exhibition Palace , with a success alike worthy the cause and thc influence of the Order . His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught , Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of England , presided . Round him was gathered the cream of the Order and of
Irish Society . There were noble lords and landed proprietors , merchant princes , the leading members of the learned professions , and of the middle classes—all these representing learning , rank , wealth , and commerce assembled under the chieftainship of a Prince of the Blood Royal in proclaiming to the world that thc general outcome of Masonry is good will and charity . That his
Royal Hig hness has faithi n the principles of the Order , and desires initiation into all the arcana , the fact of his advancement beyond thc domain of Craft Masonry fully attests . In conjunction with Lord Pelham Clinton , of the Rifle Brigade , he has lately obtained at the Free , masons' 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 have becn in office ere this but for the sudden death of the Earl of Shrewsbury , who was to have come over specially to instal him . The sight which presented itself to his Royal Highness must have confirmed his opinion of the power and utility of the Order . Before him was arrayed a fashionable
multitude of Freemasons and their lady friends , numbering fully seven thousand . Of the Masons the numbers who displayed badges were remarkable , showing to the eye what a widespread interest there exists in the cause of charity , and which the figures in the reports likewise testified to those who heard them read . The figures may be repeated here . During the year the receipts for the Boys' School amounted
to £ 2313 , exceeding those for the previous year by £ 493 , and making , after paying expenses , a total to credit of £ 8869 . In this school twenty-two boys are maintained . Of the Girls' School the account was still more satisfactory . During the year the receipts amounted to £ 5315 , and the total to credit , after paying expenses , £ 8850 . Forty-five girls are maintained . The foregoing figures
demonstrate the thoroughness of the interest taken in this branch of the Masonic charity . Still they do not approach the sums contributed in England . At the annual Festival of Masonic Charity in London no less a sum than £ 12 , 000 is taken-, and thc liberality of the subscriptions may be inferred from thc ability of the Grand Lodge to grant for two lifeboats , the sum of £ 4000 , as a thank offering on the safe return from India of the Grand Master ,
his Royal Hig hness the Prince of Wales . The enlightened , who know that Masonry is " a beautiful system of morality veiled in allegory , " prize it and practise its tenets , while the ignorant question its principles and sneer at its mysteries . 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 and recommendation , as the precursors of religion and civilisa-
Masonic Orphan Schools, Dublin.
tion . Kings and princes of the present day are the chief rulers of the Craft . Its Chaplains are in most instances eminent divines , one of those of the Irish Grand Lodge being a Bishop . For sixty-four years the late Duke of Leinster—clarum et venerable nomen !—was head of the Order in Ireland . There are those who will remember his grace ' s testimony in the House of Lords to its
worth , obtaining , despite the ungenerous opposition of the emissaries of dogma and superstition , its exemption from the Illegal Oaths Act . Again , witness the testimony of Ireland ' s late popular viceroy , his Grace the Duke of Abereorn , the present Grand Master of Ireland , delivered this time twelvemonths , on an occasion similar to the present : " It gives me most sincere gratification ( said his
grace ) that my first public appearance in the high position in which I have been placed as Grand Master of the Freemasons of Ireland has been an occasion wnich so fully exemplifies the leading object of our great and ancient Order . These objects are unity , benevolence and charity to all men ; and in no way can these great principles be better or more usefully carried out than in contributinff 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 render them sincere and good Christians , and also useful members of the universal brotherhood of mankind . " On that same brilliant occasion another speaker , Colonel Ffolliot , who is remarkable both for his piety and loyalty , testified that the charity in
whose cause they had met was " the noblest example of Masonry , in which everything 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 the absence of the Duke of Abereorn from this ceremonial is the continued indisposition of the Duchess . It may not be amiss to mention here that
the present viceroy , his Grace the Duke of Marlborough , is also a brother ofthe mystic tie . Apologies for unavoidable absence were received from the Marquis of Headfort , Senior Grand Warden ; the Earl of Bandon , Grand Secretary ; the Most Rev . the Lord Bishop of Meath , Grand Chaplain ; the Hon . David R . Plunket . Q . C ., M . P ., Senior Grand Deacon ; the Earl of Huntingdon , Provincial Grand
Master of the Midland Counties ; Viscount Powerscourt , K . P ., Provincial Grand Master of Wicklow and Wexford ; the Marquis of Donegall , K . P ., Provincial Grand Master of Antrim ; Lord Harlech , Provincial Grand Master of North Connaught ; and the Right Hon . Edward Gibson , M . P ., Attorney-General for Ireland . All these noblemen and gentlemen , clerics and
laymen , including those who make the laws of the land and those who administer them , are responsible guarantees for the utter untruth of accusations that the Order is anarchical , anti-social , and anti-religious . The repudiation of the " facts and fictions" in a vile print published in Dublin , purporting to disclose the secrets of the Order , will be hailed with satisfaction by the public , who do not
doubt that Masons have their hearts in the right place . The Duke of Connaught , too , testified to the excellence of the Order , showing that " charity has ever been the first principle of Freemasonry , " and he also regretted the absence of the Grand Master , the Duke of Abereorn , " who takes a deep interest in the institution and in everything connected with Freemasonry . " It is needless to say that
his speech was cheered . The other speeches were characterised by ability and earnestness , vindicating " The Christian principles of Masonry . " The Solicitor-General was particularly happy in his speech of " thanks and hope . " inculcating the performance of the grateful duty of " protecting the orphans of those brethren who die by the hands of those who survive , "
and pointing out that the present meeting was an answer to the calumnies uttered against the Order . The fraternity , he said , was one not of crime and secret , but of love and charity—the love beginning at the throne extending to the poorest brother of the Order . His announcement that the Grand Lodge of England was at present governed by three brothers , the sons of our Most Gracious Sovereign
Lady the Queen , was greeted with prolonged cheers . On the arrival of His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught at 1 . 30 , he was received by the Stewards , the band playing the National Anthem . A procession was then formed , consisting of the Grand Officers , the Provincial Grand Officers , Foreign representatives , and the officers 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 thc brethren ; Bro . Charles Grandison playing Gounod's " Marche Romaine " on the organ , and thc combined bands of the 3 rd Dragoon Guards , under Bro . J . Brophy , and of the Cth Inniskilling Dragoons , under Bro . H . Murray , playing Mendelssohn's march from " Athalie " until the processionists took their
places on the dais , in proper order . Then came the pupils of the schools two-and-two , led by Stewards , the Hon . Secretaries , Bros . J . F . Elrington , Q . C , Major . L . H . Deering , and the Assistant Secretary , Bro . Whitty , and some members of the committee . Thc girls were dressed in blue and white , and presented a pleased and happy appearance . They took their places
on the front tier of the dais to the left , the boys occupying the right . Though absent , a salute , according to ancient usage , was given to the Most Worshipful the Grand Master , by a running fire of eleven " on the third coming down , " taking the fire from the Right Worshipful the Deputy Grand Master ( R . W . Shekleton , Q . C ) , who announced that the Duke of Abereorn is in the south of
France . His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught was then accorded a similar salute , the even cadence of the fire in both instances telling with fine effect . Led by the Right Worshipful the Rev . John James MacSorley , Grand Chaplain , the 100 th Psalm was sung , " With one consent , " the ladies joining the brethren in producing a glorious volume of praiseful sound to the Almighty Architect of the Universe .
Masonic Orphan Schools, Dublin.
His Royal Highness wore the collar of thc Senior Grand Warden of England , and on his left breast the stars of the Orders of the Garter and St . Patrick . The following brethren took part in the ceremonials ol the evening : —¦ GRAND OFFICERS—Right Worshipful Robert W . Shekleton , Deputy Grand Master ; Right Worshipful Marquis of
Headfort , Senior Grand Warden ; Right Worshipful Lord Dunboyne , Junior Grand Warden ; Right Worshipful Robert Warren , D . L ., Grand Treasurer ; Right Worshipful Earl of Bandon , Grand Secretary ; Right Worshipful the Rev . John James MacSorley , Grand Chaplain ; Worshi pful Alderman Joseph Manning Junior Grand Deacon ; Worshipful George A . Stephens , Grand Superintendent of
Works ; Worshipful Theophilus E . St . George , Grand Director of Ceremonies ; Worshipful George Moyers , LL . D ., Grand Steward ; Worshipful Harry Hodges , Grand Sword Bearer ; Worshipful Charles Ogilvie Grandiron , Grand Organist ; Worshipful Humphrey Minctiin , M . B ., Grand Inner Guard ; Worshipful Samuel B . Oldham , Deputy Grand Secretary and Treasurer ; Bro . Archibald St . George
Assistant Secretary ; and a large number of other dis . tinguished Provincial Grand Officers , Masters and Wardens of lodges and representatives of Foreign Grand Lodges . Amongst those also present were Bros . Lord Muskerry , county Limerick , G . M . L . ; Charles P . Cotton , Thomas K . Austin , Sir John Harrington , D . L . ; H . O
Barker , LL . D . ; Dr . Barker , Joshua Bewley , jun ., Wm . F . Black , J . P . Omagh , P . G . T . Tyrone ; Samuel H . Bolton , Wm . Keatinge Clay , George Crowe , Lucius H . Deering , Samuel H . Dobbin , Henry T . Dockrell , Thomas Drumin , George Drury , John Dunne , Mus . D ., P . G . O . ; John H . Elliott , Dr . Fitzgibbon , Rev . B . W . Gibson , Alderman Harris , R . W . Gamble , Q . C . ; G . A . John , Dr . Kidd ,
G . M . L . ; Dawson T . Knox , Rev . L . A . Le Pan , E . F . Litton , Q . C . ; Robert W . Lowry , J . P . Dungannon , G . M . L . ; J . H . Luby , LL . D . ; Alfred McDermott , J . W . Mangeon , Plato Oulton , G . M . L . ; Dr . G . H . Porter , G . M . L . ; Francis Quin , P . G . O . ; Richard S . Reeve ' s , John Rigby , John P . Ryan , George Tickell , J . P ., T . C . ; Edward D . Thorpe , W , Grove White , George T . Whitestone , Henry Wilson , J . L .
Dames , Q . C . ; R . Bourne , Joseph Henry Woodsworth , Thos . Wright , William Allen , Holt W . Archer , Major A . W . Bailey , A . M . Baird , John A . Baker , J . Guinness Beatty , M . D . ; Mons . P . Belin , Samuel Boucher , Rev . Wm , G . Boyce , Swords ; Jessop Browne , William J . Burnside , J . W . Casson , J . P .: James Charles , jnn ., Lieut .-Col . Colclough , D . G . M . Wicklow and Wexford ; Major Chas .
A . Cooper , Philip R . Patman , H . K . T . ; John Henry Edge , Thomas Fitzgerald , Andrew Fitzpatrick , P . M . ; Adam Fletcher , Charles Foot , J . Forsythe , Edward Hamilton , John Hodges , George H . Kinahan , James S . Kincaid , Philip T . Lysler , James H . Macauley , Major George Hill , Benjamin McDowell , M . D . ; Thomas M'Govern , J . C . Meredith , LL . D . ; Robert Mitchel ] , Echlin Molyneux , J . A ,
Scott , Fletcher Moore , James H . Neilson , W . J . O'Donovan . Samuel Parker , Thomas S . Pearsall , Thomas Rice , William Rigby , Charles J . Sidford , George H . Smith , W . J . Smyly , Maurice Solomons , Joseph R . Sutcliffe , W . G . Ternan , Robert Thacker , Davys Tuckey , Anthony Wilson , James Winstanley , B . Newport White , J . C . Atkinson , H . A . Johnstone , H . Hunt , Rev . S . F . Cresswell ,
D . D . ; Adolphe Davis , Wexford , William Draker , M . de Groot , Henry A . Dillon , Thomas A . Drew , Alexander Johnston , A . Fitzpatrick , Rev . J . J . Westby , Wm . Roper , Barrister-at . Law ; Martley , the Vice-Chancellor , Stewart Blacker , B . Mackay , Sir George Owens , R . C . B . Furlong , Sir John Arnott , Captain Harris , —Craig , Solicitor , and others .
Bro . Dr . Elrington , Q . C , Hon . Sec , read the Governor ' s report of the Female Orphan School for the year ending the 31 st December , 1876 : — "The amount received from all sources , including the balance of £ 825 us . 2 d . from the former account , and proceeds of sale of stock , amounting to £ ' 77 , . - Sd ., was £ 3313 12 s . 3 d . The net revenue exceeds that of the previous year by £ 75 ys .
3--The expenditure , including the purchase of a plot of ground adjoining the schoolhouse , and £ 1000 invested in railway securities , amounted to £ 374 6 10 s . 3 d ., leaving at 31 st December , 1876 , a balance of £ 15 6 9 2 s ., out of which £ 1046 2 s . 3 d . has been invested in In dian Four Per Cent . Stock since the commencement of the present year . The increase in the 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 J __ is . 6 d . fo r
the past year . " The report of the Boys' School J was next read , f ' which we learn that " The total receipts from all s ° " " exceeded those for the year 1875 by the sum of £ 493 19 s . n d . During the same period—the year 187 6— boys ' left thc school . The number of boys at present maintained in the Institution is twenty-one , and they af
still in the establishment of Bro . the Rev . S . S . - keen , at Merrion . The committee continue to have SDe ?' examinations of the boys at Midsummer and at < - ' nrls " mas '; and they are happy to be able to state that several examinations generally reported favourably on . results ofthe examinations . The committee cannot c i « uiw _ . »» - .. auiiiiouuim . tin __« ... * ....-- - _ . ^
. g their report without again urging th ; brethren i _ country to come forward and support the Instltu more liberally than they have hitherto done , and enable the committee to extend the benefits ofthe s s ol and to provide for a larger number of the orp han their deceased brethren . " _ U [ V The Right Worshipful R . W . Shekleton , Q . C , !* £ , ' , Grand Master : I ask the brethren to assist me ui ai ing the patron of the Order represented by the a *
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Correspondence.
ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Will ycu permit me to direct attention to one incident of the election on Friday , the 18 th inst ., which may be considered not only as an act of injustice to a poor candidate , who has been deprived of the benefits of the
Institution , but as seriously damaging to the principle of election by the votes of subscribers . Briefly , the circumstances appear to have been these : — A brother representing a Prov . G . M . had been entrusted with a number of votes more than sufficient to ensure the election of a particular candidate , but in marking a portion of the proxies a tick was placed on one side of the
name and the number cf votes on the other , the number inadvertently being in the wrong column , so as to read opposite the name of another candidate , to whose credit the scrutineers ( after observing the contradiction ) passed the votes . A first appeal to the chairman was somewhat abruptly replied to by one of the scrutineers , and a subsequent demand for a scrutiny , after the declaration of
numbers , was ruled out of order . The consequence was a triplicate error , i . A candidate whom a large number of subscribers desired to elect Was excluded . 2 . A candidate , who friends had already polled sufficient proxies for his election , received a large number of votes to which he had no right , and of which he had no need . 3 . A candidate , for whose case
comparatively few votes were recorded , was declared elected . How can such a miscarriage ot justice be rectified , and a repetition be avoided at future elections ? The only possible rectification would now appear to be that the excluded candidate should be declared by ttie Committee elected 10 fill the first vacancy subsequent to the day of election ; and to prevent the recurrence of so serious a
mistake , the duties of the scrutineers should be more clearly defined . Cases of doubt or difficulty should be always referred by them to the chairman of the meeting , whose decision alone should be recognised . Had this been done in the case under notice , this unpleasant circumstance could not have occurred . The chairman would at once have referred to the brethren representing the interested cases : one of whom would have claimed , the other
repudiated , the proxies in question . The case is a chapter of errors , to which each of the parties—candidate , scrutineers , and chairman—have contributed a verse . It will not , however , prove altogether an evil , if it should result in an improvement of our election regulations , and it is with this object that I ask you to invite attention to the matter . I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , H . T . THOMPSON , P . M .
Masonic Orphan Schools, Dublin.
MASONIC ORPHAN SCHOOLS , DUBLIN .
The annual festival of Masonic charity was celebrated on the 8 ith May , in tlie Exhibition Palace , with a success alike worthy the cause and thc influence of the Order . His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught , Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of England , presided . Round him was gathered the cream of the Order and of
Irish Society . There were noble lords and landed proprietors , merchant princes , the leading members of the learned professions , and of the middle classes—all these representing learning , rank , wealth , and commerce assembled under the chieftainship of a Prince of the Blood Royal in proclaiming to the world that thc general outcome of Masonry is good will and charity . That his
Royal Hig hness has faithi n the principles of the Order , and desires initiation into all the arcana , the fact of his advancement beyond thc domain of Craft Masonry fully attests . In conjunction with Lord Pelham Clinton , of the Rifle Brigade , he has lately obtained at the Free , masons' 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 have becn in office ere this but for the sudden death of the Earl of Shrewsbury , who was to have come over specially to instal him . The sight which presented itself to his Royal Highness must have confirmed his opinion of the power and utility of the Order . Before him was arrayed a fashionable
multitude of Freemasons and their lady friends , numbering fully seven thousand . Of the Masons the numbers who displayed badges were remarkable , showing to the eye what a widespread interest there exists in the cause of charity , and which the figures in the reports likewise testified to those who heard them read . The figures may be repeated here . During the year the receipts for the Boys' School amounted
to £ 2313 , exceeding those for the previous year by £ 493 , and making , after paying expenses , a total to credit of £ 8869 . In this school twenty-two boys are maintained . Of the Girls' School the account was still more satisfactory . During the year the receipts amounted to £ 5315 , and the total to credit , after paying expenses , £ 8850 . Forty-five girls are maintained . The foregoing figures
demonstrate the thoroughness of the interest taken in this branch of the Masonic charity . Still they do not approach the sums contributed in England . At the annual Festival of Masonic Charity in London no less a sum than £ 12 , 000 is taken-, and thc liberality of the subscriptions may be inferred from thc ability of the Grand Lodge to grant for two lifeboats , the sum of £ 4000 , as a thank offering on the safe return from India of the Grand Master ,
his Royal Hig hness the Prince of Wales . The enlightened , who know that Masonry is " a beautiful system of morality veiled in allegory , " prize it and practise its tenets , while the ignorant question its principles and sneer at its mysteries . 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 and recommendation , as the precursors of religion and civilisa-
Masonic Orphan Schools, Dublin.
tion . Kings and princes of the present day are the chief rulers of the Craft . Its Chaplains are in most instances eminent divines , one of those of the Irish Grand Lodge being a Bishop . For sixty-four years the late Duke of Leinster—clarum et venerable nomen !—was head of the Order in Ireland . There are those who will remember his grace ' s testimony in the House of Lords to its
worth , obtaining , despite the ungenerous opposition of the emissaries of dogma and superstition , its exemption from the Illegal Oaths Act . Again , witness the testimony of Ireland ' s late popular viceroy , his Grace the Duke of Abereorn , the present Grand Master of Ireland , delivered this time twelvemonths , on an occasion similar to the present : " It gives me most sincere gratification ( said his
grace ) that my first public appearance in the high position in which I have been placed as Grand Master of the Freemasons of Ireland has been an occasion wnich so fully exemplifies the leading object of our great and ancient Order . These objects are unity , benevolence and charity to all men ; and in no way can these great principles be better or more usefully carried out than in contributinff 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 render them sincere and good Christians , and also useful members of the universal brotherhood of mankind . " On that same brilliant occasion another speaker , Colonel Ffolliot , who is remarkable both for his piety and loyalty , testified that the charity in
whose cause they had met was " the noblest example of Masonry , in which everything 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 the absence of the Duke of Abereorn from this ceremonial is the continued indisposition of the Duchess . It may not be amiss to mention here that
the present viceroy , his Grace the Duke of Marlborough , is also a brother ofthe mystic tie . Apologies for unavoidable absence were received from the Marquis of Headfort , Senior Grand Warden ; the Earl of Bandon , Grand Secretary ; the Most Rev . the Lord Bishop of Meath , Grand Chaplain ; the Hon . David R . Plunket . Q . C ., M . P ., Senior Grand Deacon ; the Earl of Huntingdon , Provincial Grand
Master of the Midland Counties ; Viscount Powerscourt , K . P ., Provincial Grand Master of Wicklow and Wexford ; the Marquis of Donegall , K . P ., Provincial Grand Master of Antrim ; Lord Harlech , Provincial Grand Master of North Connaught ; and the Right Hon . Edward Gibson , M . P ., Attorney-General for Ireland . All these noblemen and gentlemen , clerics and
laymen , including those who make the laws of the land and those who administer them , are responsible guarantees for the utter untruth of accusations that the Order is anarchical , anti-social , and anti-religious . The repudiation of the " facts and fictions" in a vile print published in Dublin , purporting to disclose the secrets of the Order , will be hailed with satisfaction by the public , who do not
doubt that Masons have their hearts in the right place . The Duke of Connaught , too , testified to the excellence of the Order , showing that " charity has ever been the first principle of Freemasonry , " and he also regretted the absence of the Grand Master , the Duke of Abereorn , " who takes a deep interest in the institution and in everything connected with Freemasonry . " It is needless to say that
his speech was cheered . The other speeches were characterised by ability and earnestness , vindicating " The Christian principles of Masonry . " The Solicitor-General was particularly happy in his speech of " thanks and hope . " inculcating the performance of the grateful duty of " protecting the orphans of those brethren who die by the hands of those who survive , "
and pointing out that the present meeting was an answer to the calumnies uttered against the Order . The fraternity , he said , was one not of crime and secret , but of love and charity—the love beginning at the throne extending to the poorest brother of the Order . His announcement that the Grand Lodge of England was at present governed by three brothers , the sons of our Most Gracious Sovereign
Lady the Queen , was greeted with prolonged cheers . On the arrival of His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught at 1 . 30 , he was received by the Stewards , the band playing the National Anthem . A procession was then formed , consisting of the Grand Officers , the Provincial Grand Officers , Foreign representatives , and the officers 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 thc brethren ; Bro . Charles Grandison playing Gounod's " Marche Romaine " on the organ , and thc combined bands of the 3 rd Dragoon Guards , under Bro . J . Brophy , and of the Cth Inniskilling Dragoons , under Bro . H . Murray , playing Mendelssohn's march from " Athalie " until the processionists took their
places on the dais , in proper order . Then came the pupils of the schools two-and-two , led by Stewards , the Hon . Secretaries , Bros . J . F . Elrington , Q . C , Major . L . H . Deering , and the Assistant Secretary , Bro . Whitty , and some members of the committee . Thc girls were dressed in blue and white , and presented a pleased and happy appearance . They took their places
on the front tier of the dais to the left , the boys occupying the right . Though absent , a salute , according to ancient usage , was given to the Most Worshipful the Grand Master , by a running fire of eleven " on the third coming down , " taking the fire from the Right Worshipful the Deputy Grand Master ( R . W . Shekleton , Q . C ) , who announced that the Duke of Abereorn is in the south of
France . His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught was then accorded a similar salute , the even cadence of the fire in both instances telling with fine effect . Led by the Right Worshipful the Rev . John James MacSorley , Grand Chaplain , the 100 th Psalm was sung , " With one consent , " the ladies joining the brethren in producing a glorious volume of praiseful sound to the Almighty Architect of the Universe .
Masonic Orphan Schools, Dublin.
His Royal Highness wore the collar of thc Senior Grand Warden of England , and on his left breast the stars of the Orders of the Garter and St . Patrick . The following brethren took part in the ceremonials ol the evening : —¦ GRAND OFFICERS—Right Worshipful Robert W . Shekleton , Deputy Grand Master ; Right Worshipful Marquis of
Headfort , Senior Grand Warden ; Right Worshipful Lord Dunboyne , Junior Grand Warden ; Right Worshipful Robert Warren , D . L ., Grand Treasurer ; Right Worshipful Earl of Bandon , Grand Secretary ; Right Worshipful the Rev . John James MacSorley , Grand Chaplain ; Worshi pful Alderman Joseph Manning Junior Grand Deacon ; Worshipful George A . Stephens , Grand Superintendent of
Works ; Worshipful Theophilus E . St . George , Grand Director of Ceremonies ; Worshipful George Moyers , LL . D ., Grand Steward ; Worshipful Harry Hodges , Grand Sword Bearer ; Worshipful Charles Ogilvie Grandiron , Grand Organist ; Worshipful Humphrey Minctiin , M . B ., Grand Inner Guard ; Worshipful Samuel B . Oldham , Deputy Grand Secretary and Treasurer ; Bro . Archibald St . George
Assistant Secretary ; and a large number of other dis . tinguished Provincial Grand Officers , Masters and Wardens of lodges and representatives of Foreign Grand Lodges . Amongst those also present were Bros . Lord Muskerry , county Limerick , G . M . L . ; Charles P . Cotton , Thomas K . Austin , Sir John Harrington , D . L . ; H . O
Barker , LL . D . ; Dr . Barker , Joshua Bewley , jun ., Wm . F . Black , J . P . Omagh , P . G . T . Tyrone ; Samuel H . Bolton , Wm . Keatinge Clay , George Crowe , Lucius H . Deering , Samuel H . Dobbin , Henry T . Dockrell , Thomas Drumin , George Drury , John Dunne , Mus . D ., P . G . O . ; John H . Elliott , Dr . Fitzgibbon , Rev . B . W . Gibson , Alderman Harris , R . W . Gamble , Q . C . ; G . A . John , Dr . Kidd ,
G . M . L . ; Dawson T . Knox , Rev . L . A . Le Pan , E . F . Litton , Q . C . ; Robert W . Lowry , J . P . Dungannon , G . M . L . ; J . H . Luby , LL . D . ; Alfred McDermott , J . W . Mangeon , Plato Oulton , G . M . L . ; Dr . G . H . Porter , G . M . L . ; Francis Quin , P . G . O . ; Richard S . Reeve ' s , John Rigby , John P . Ryan , George Tickell , J . P ., T . C . ; Edward D . Thorpe , W , Grove White , George T . Whitestone , Henry Wilson , J . L .
Dames , Q . C . ; R . Bourne , Joseph Henry Woodsworth , Thos . Wright , William Allen , Holt W . Archer , Major A . W . Bailey , A . M . Baird , John A . Baker , J . Guinness Beatty , M . D . ; Mons . P . Belin , Samuel Boucher , Rev . Wm , G . Boyce , Swords ; Jessop Browne , William J . Burnside , J . W . Casson , J . P .: James Charles , jnn ., Lieut .-Col . Colclough , D . G . M . Wicklow and Wexford ; Major Chas .
A . Cooper , Philip R . Patman , H . K . T . ; John Henry Edge , Thomas Fitzgerald , Andrew Fitzpatrick , P . M . ; Adam Fletcher , Charles Foot , J . Forsythe , Edward Hamilton , John Hodges , George H . Kinahan , James S . Kincaid , Philip T . Lysler , James H . Macauley , Major George Hill , Benjamin McDowell , M . D . ; Thomas M'Govern , J . C . Meredith , LL . D . ; Robert Mitchel ] , Echlin Molyneux , J . A ,
Scott , Fletcher Moore , James H . Neilson , W . J . O'Donovan . Samuel Parker , Thomas S . Pearsall , Thomas Rice , William Rigby , Charles J . Sidford , George H . Smith , W . J . Smyly , Maurice Solomons , Joseph R . Sutcliffe , W . G . Ternan , Robert Thacker , Davys Tuckey , Anthony Wilson , James Winstanley , B . Newport White , J . C . Atkinson , H . A . Johnstone , H . Hunt , Rev . S . F . Cresswell ,
D . D . ; Adolphe Davis , Wexford , William Draker , M . de Groot , Henry A . Dillon , Thomas A . Drew , Alexander Johnston , A . Fitzpatrick , Rev . J . J . Westby , Wm . Roper , Barrister-at . Law ; Martley , the Vice-Chancellor , Stewart Blacker , B . Mackay , Sir George Owens , R . C . B . Furlong , Sir John Arnott , Captain Harris , —Craig , Solicitor , and others .
Bro . Dr . Elrington , Q . C , Hon . Sec , read the Governor ' s report of the Female Orphan School for the year ending the 31 st December , 1876 : — "The amount received from all sources , including the balance of £ 825 us . 2 d . from the former account , and proceeds of sale of stock , amounting to £ ' 77 , . - Sd ., was £ 3313 12 s . 3 d . The net revenue exceeds that of the previous year by £ 75 ys .
3--The expenditure , including the purchase of a plot of ground adjoining the schoolhouse , and £ 1000 invested in railway securities , amounted to £ 374 6 10 s . 3 d ., leaving at 31 st December , 1876 , a balance of £ 15 6 9 2 s ., out of which £ 1046 2 s . 3 d . has been invested in In dian Four Per Cent . Stock since the commencement of the present year . The increase in the 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 J __ is . 6 d . fo r
the past year . " The report of the Boys' School J was next read , f ' which we learn that " The total receipts from all s ° " " exceeded those for the year 1875 by the sum of £ 493 19 s . n d . During the same period—the year 187 6— boys ' left thc school . The number of boys at present maintained in the Institution is twenty-one , and they af
still in the establishment of Bro . the Rev . S . S . - keen , at Merrion . The committee continue to have SDe ?' examinations of the boys at Midsummer and at < - ' nrls " mas '; and they are happy to be able to state that several examinations generally reported favourably on . results ofthe examinations . The committee cannot c i « uiw _ . »» - .. auiiiiouuim . tin __« ... * ....-- - _ . ^
. g their report without again urging th ; brethren i _ country to come forward and support the Instltu more liberally than they have hitherto done , and enable the committee to extend the benefits ofthe s s ol and to provide for a larger number of the orp han their deceased brethren . " _ U [ V The Right Worshipful R . W . Shekleton , Q . C , !* £ , ' , Grand Master : I ask the brethren to assist me ui ai ing the patron of the Order represented by the a *