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FALK . Not approve of it ! Who can do so more than I ? ERNEST . Well , then ! I must say that I cannot understand you at all !

FALK . I have no doubt of it : and besides this I am wrong . For the Freemasons are able to do some things that they do not do as Freemasons . ERNEST . And do you apply this to every one of their good deeds r

FALK . Perhaps ! perhaps all these good deeds you have named to me are , to make use of a scholastic term , for brevity ' s sake , only their deeds ad extra .

ERNEST . How do you mean this ? FALK . Those deeds only which the public hear of—deeds done , and only to be made public .

ERNEST . To enjoy toleration and respect ? FALK . May be . ERNEST . But their real deeds?—you are silent .

FALK . If I have not already answered you Their true deeds are their sec ret . ERNEST . Ha ! ha ' . and therefore not expres sible in words ?

FALK . Not easily . I can only say to you this much : the veritable deeds of the Freemasons arc so great , rmd extending so far , that whole centuries may trass ere it cran be said : —This have

they clone . At thc same time , it is the )* that have done every thing good in the world—mark me , in the world !—and they continue to work at all that good which will come into this world ;

mark me again , m the world . ERNEST . Come , come , you are joking . FALK . Truly not . But see , there is a hutterfb

which 1 must have . 1 say but to you : the veritable deeds of the Freemasons have this aim , to render all those things commonly called good deeds , unnecessary .

ERNEST . And are themselves good deeds : F \ LK . There can be none better . Think for a few minutes over it * . I shall be with you again immediately .

ERNEST , ( rood deeds , aiming to render good deeds unnecessary : This is an enigma , and 1 do not meditate upon enigmas . I shall rather lie down beneath this tree and watch the ants .

Cheshire Masonic Educational Institution.

CHESHIRE MASONIC EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION .

On Monday , 22 nd inst ., the annual meeting oi the General Committee of the above Institution was held at the rooms of the Mersey Lodge , No . 477 , Hamilton Square , Birkenhead , the W . M . of the Stamford Lodge , Xo . 1 05 , 4 , AUnnclv . uu , presiding .

The Worshipful Masters and Past Masters oi the province , together with some pasl and present Provincial Grand () friecrs , put in a good appearance . Amongst those present were Bros .

E . G . AVilloughby , P . M . 477 and 425 , P . Prov . J . G . D . ; Jas . Salmon , AV . M . 425 : Dr . J . Seller , AV . M . 721 : John Beech , AV . M . : fii -. J . E . AVilliams , P . M . 42 s ; J oseph Sillitoe , P . M . 6 o * r

T . Somerville Jones , AA ' . M . 1276 : T . E . Kirk AV . M . 1054 ; J- P . Piatt , P . M . 1 , 37 , P . Prov . J ( J . AV . ; F . K . Stevenson , P . M . 5 . 57 , Prov . G . S . fl . Dr . Sprailey , P . M . ' . Au i E . Harbord . P . M . 47 ;

Cheshire Masonic Educational Institution.

and ' 1-550 ; Thomas Marwood , AV . M . 5 . 37 ; T . E . Hignett , P . M . 5 . 37 ; A . J . Brereton , 721 ; W . Goodacre , W . M . 104 . The following report to the Governors and Subscribers to the charity was read and

unanimously adopted . RETORT . Your Committee , in bringing before yon their Ninth Annual Report for the past year , have reason to hope that their proceedings will meet the approbation of the supporters of tlie Institution generally .

Since the issue of their last report the income of the Institution has been of a very satisfactory character . The personal subscriptions , ifee , of the brethren amounted to .. £ 78 19 s . fid . ; the donations from lodges and chapters to , G"jo 9 s . 6 d . ;

and the general fees from the various lodges to ^' , 30 17 s . fid . ; making a total of £ 180 6 s . fid . During the past year the sum of £ 109 3 s . yd . has been paid for the education and advancement of children of poor and distressed masons ; and

since the accounts were closed upwards o ( .- £ ' 167 , 3 s . iod . has been added to the invested funds , making now the sum of . £ 1 , 508 is . 51 L , against £ 1 , 340 last year . At the same time vour Committee are

compelled to draw attention to the circumstance , that while the expenditure for the past year in the education and advancement of children amounted to . at ' 109 , 3 s . 9 c ! ., the income derived from interest on the invested sum referred to

is only £ 70 is . 5 c ! ., showing clearly that greater exertions are required from the brethren in general , if complete success is to attend the management of this excellent institution . It is with very great pleasure that your Committee airain refer to the results of anothet

amateur performance , held 28 th March , 1 S 71 , at the Theatre Koyal , Birkenhead , which realised the nett sum of £ 29 ys . 2 d . They also gratefully acknowledge the kind assistance of Bro . the Rev . AV . A . Tatcrshall , atSt . Saviour ' s Church , Oxton , in preaching a sermon specially in aid of this Institution .

Another fact ofthe most gratifying nature may be mentioned , namely , that the mother of a child educated since 1867 , being now in improved circumstances , has withdrawn the child from the Institution , and in order to show her gratitude

for the benefits derived , has contributed to the funds the sum of five guineas , thereby constituting herself a Life Governor . During the past year the large number ol twenty children bave received the benefits ol

education , and three bave been aided with grants for their advancement in life . There are five candidates for admission to the Institution , in place of five who , under the rules , are ineligible for re-election .

The Committee have to acknowledge the receipt ol" £ 10 ios . from the St . George ' s Lodge , No . 32 , AVest Lancashire , being the tirst moiety of £ 21 , to constitute the AA ' . M . for the time being , a A'ice-l ' residenl . Such an instance of fraternal regard on the part of a deservedly esteemed

lodge 111 a neighbouring province is at once a testimony to the good work in whicb the Province of Cheshire * is cngtitred , and tt > the admirable masonic feeling which has always existed rmd still continues to animate the brethren of AAVst Lancashire and Cheshire .

It is worth y of remark lhat tnese two provinces were the pioneers of provincial educational institutions , and the Committee are glad to lind that the Province of Cornwall are just establishing an educational fund on the basis of that in Cheshire

whose rules and annual reports have materiall y influenced the Cornish brethren in their well timed and excellent determination . Before closing their Report , the Committee desire to express their heartfelt thankfulness to the

Giver ol all Good for the marked success which has attended the efforts of the friends and supporters of the Institution , from its foundation to the present day . Much as has been done , however , still there remains a "real deal more

to be accomplished ; and 111 tne Province ol Cheshire , where , under the benignant sway of the R . W . the Lord de . Tabley , Provincial Grand Master , Freemasonry has in recent years so greatl y flourished , there is every reason to hojc

Cheshire Masonic Educational Institution.

and expect that no child of a deceased or worthy distressed brother in thc province be left without the most precious boon that can be bestowed , a sound ancl liberal education . With confidence , therefore , thc Committee commend tlie

Institution to the most favourable consideration ofthe Craft , collectively and individually , assured that their appeal will not be in vain , for in this holy cause in behalf of the orphan the labours ofthe

brethren will be bclore the Lord , and their recompense will be with their God . So mote it be . 18 th March , 1872 . The five candidates for the benefit of the charity

were separately introduced , and grants were made as follows r for education , one child , £ 8 ; two children , £ 10 a year each ; for advancement in life , one child , four guineas , ancl one child , five guineas .

The previous grants for the education of htteen other children were renewed for the coming year . A vote of thanks to the Mersey Lodge for the

use of their elegant suite of rooms for the meeting ; to the indefatigable Secretaries , Bros . John P . Piatt , and F . K . Stevenson ; to thc Honorary Treasurer , Jlro . Edward Gardner AA'illoughby ; and to the Chairman , concluded the proceedings .

Funeral Of The Late Bro. Chas. D. Astley, Of Dublin.

FUNERAL OF THE LATE BRO . CHAS . D . ASTLEY , OF DUBLIN .

Ihe remains of the late Bro . Charles D Oher Astley , were committed to the earth yesterday morning in Mount Jerome Cemetery , with all the solemnity which the office of the Church could impart . The large attendance of brethren of the Masonic Craft attested the esteem

in which the deceased was held as Grand Superintendent of AVorks of the Order , wJiife the considerable bod y of fellow-officials wbo followed Ju ' s remains to the grave afforded ample evidence of the good feeling and respect entertained for him while a prominent officer in the architect ' s department ofthe Board of Public Works .

His death , at the earl y age of fifty years , was deeply mourned b y all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance , and it was determined that his obsequies should be made the occasion of bearing testimony to his sterling worth and good qualities .

The funeral left Longiord-place , Monkstown , the late residence of the deceased , at half-past eight o ' clock . The body was enclosed in a suite of coffins , the external being of polished oak , with brass mountings , the breastplate bearing the following inscription : —

"CHARLES D . ASTLEY , Departed this life 17 th March , 1872 , . Aged TO years . "

The chief mourners were Dr . Astley , of Dover , and the Rev . Mr . Astley , brothers of the deceased ; James Owen , Architect to the Board of Public AVorks ; Alfred J . Aldrich , AVm . Deaker , Dr . John A . Baker , and the Rev . Benjamin

Gibson . The furneral cortege proceeded along the Rockroad and by Merrion to Ball ' s Bridge , where it was met hy a large concourse of citizens in

carnages . A procession having been formed , it moved on by * the direct route to St . Patrick ' s Cathedral , where the remains were received by thc officiating clergymen rmd the members of the choir at the north door .

The brethren attending entered at the south door , and took up their positions immediatel y behind the chief mourners , as the body was borne into tbe church and placed in front of the chancel .

The Rev . J . J . MacSorley , Grand Chaplain , read the first part of the Service for the Burial ef the Dead , and the choir sang the appointed psalms to the music of Beethoven ' s " Marehe

Puiiebrc " with peculiarly solemn effect , which was much heightened b y the impressive spectacle afforded by the presence of over thrce hundred brethren attired in full Masouic clothing .