Masonic Female Orphan School, Dublin.

That was not as it ought to be , and called upon them to bring before them more energetically the resolution he w * vs now speaking to , so that they should not again have to make such a statement to any annual assemblage in the future . But he had to tell them , in addition , that their

house , which afforded accommodation barely for the number of 38 inmates , was crowded at present to the extent of 40 inmates—two over the maximum accommodation . And not only that , but they had been obliged to give up the half-yearly election , which generally took place

in the ensuing month of June , through having admitted several pressing cases to the number of six , at the December meeting , which caused the number to be too great for the accommodation they were able to afford . He therefore called upon the brethren and friends assembled

here to exert themselves more than they had hitherto done , and to prevent the Governors again coming before them with such a statement . He trusted to the liberality of the Order—he could hardly call it the liberality , but the discharge of the common duties of Masonry—to enable them

to extend the accommodation to the number which the Order peremptorily demanded . He should be ashamed if they could not do this , and admit every pressing case , and he would call upon them to extend the accommodation to sixty if not to seventy inmates . He asked

them to look upon the children brought before them , having listened to their performances , and judge for themselves whether the school was deserving of the support of the Order . The resolution was put and carried . This terminated the proceedings in the large

Concert Hall , and the procession of the brethren to the platform having re-formed , the Most Worshipful the Grand Master was conducted from the room to a dais erected at the upper end of the glass transept . On reaching this point the officers of the several lodges represented

fell back , right and left , forming an avenue through which the pupils were conducted to his Grace , at whose hands were presented—with graceful and appropriate remarks—the various prizes , medals , and certificates awarded at the last annual examination . At these the following

brethren acted as examiners : — William T . Wilkinson , Esq ., of the Church Education Society ; W . A . Hunter , Esq ., of the National Board of Education ; Rev . Benjamin Gibson , Professor Prospere Belin , and Francis Quin , Esq ., Past Grand Organist . The following is a list of the prizes awarded : —

First Class . —Mary Barnett , Anna M . Cope-Jand , Jane S . Andrews , Margaret Knight , Maud White , Grace Harte , Kate M'Nally , Phoebe Shegog . Second . Class . —Mary H . Armstrong , Minnie Burdge , Emma J . Hendley , Emilic Christian , Gertrude L . Gill , Frances Smith , Jessie Wallace , Frances Shields .

Third Class . —Lilly Bradshaw , Christabella Knight , Helen Perry , Louisa M'Mullen , Edith Anketell , Kate Sayers , Alice Richards , Emily Wigmore , Kate Lowry . Fourth Class . —Kate Wilson , Emily Little . The Ffennell Prize , value £ 3 , was awarded to

Anna Matilda Copeland , a pupil in the First Class , on very superior answering . The Astley Prize , founded in memory of the late Charles D . Astley , Grand Superintendent of Works ( in two divisions ) , were given , the first , value £ 2 , to Anna Matilda Copeland ; the second , value £ t , to Maud White . In the Second Division , for

French , the First Prize , value 2 _ js ., was awarded to Maud White , and the second , value 15 s ., to Anna Matilda Copeland . The Good Conduct Medals presented by Bro . Oldham , Assistant Secretary ( and which was awarded by the vote of the pupils ) , were won by Maud White and Maggie Knight .

The following prizes were then awarded to the pupils of the Masonic Boys' School , who had been successful on the occasion of the last annual examination : — First Class . —James B . Brett , Alexander J . Semple , John King Irwin .

Second Class . —George A . Du Noyer , Francis A . Fraser , Edward B . Atkins , Henry G . Willson , George Faris , Robert A . Robertson , John Sayers . The Astley Silver Medals , for the

Masonic Female Orphan School, Dublin.

highest marks during the year in Enorish , mathematics , and classics , , « . o . ~ -u ..... v ° ,, ii 3 year carried off by James B . Brett . The Good Conduct Silver Medals , presented by Bro . Oldham , were awarded by the vote of the pupils themselves to James B . Brett , in the first class , and to Robert G . Warren in the second class .

For a very considerable time , after the business of the evening had concluded , the halls were thronged by the company , excellent promenade music being supplied by the bands already mentioned .

District Grand Lodge Of New South Wales.

DISTRICT GRAND LODGE OF NEW SOUTH WALES .

A Quarterly Communication was held at Freemasons' Hall , Sydney , on Monday , the 19 th day of January , 1874 . Present : —R . W . A . T . Holroyd , District Grand Master , in the chair ; V . W . Ernest O . Smith , Deputy District Grand Master ; W . F . Senior , P . D . G . S . W ., as Senior

District Grand Warden ; W . G . Casstdy , Junior District Grand Warden ; Rev . W . Beg , M . D ., L . L . D ., District Grand Chaplain , J . II . Thackeray , M . A ., District Grand Chaplain ; W . W . H . Simpson , District Grand Treasurer ; Henry Westcott , District Grand Registrar ;

Richard Leworthy , District Grand Secretary ; W . Webster , Senior District Grand Deacon ; Ryall , as Junior District Grand Deacon ; A . Gray , District Grand Assistant Director , of Ceremonies ; J . R . Elliott , District Grand Supt . Works ; Henry Harper , District Grand Sword

Bearer ; G . Merrett , P . S . D . G . W ., as District Grand Pursuivant ; S . A . Delissa , District Grand Tyler . The District Grand Lodge was opened by the R . W . District Grand Master in due form . The minutes of the Quarterly Communication

of the 20 th October were read and confirmed . The District Grand Master invested Bro . the Rev . J . R . Thackeray , with the collar and jewel of District Grand Chaplain , and said he had much pleasure in doing so , more especially as that brother belonged to a country lodge , because

he desired to show that those brethren of the country lodges who could and would take office would have every opportunity of doing so whenever circumstances permitted . A letter was read from the Grand Secretary , dated 18 th October , forwarding the Warrants

granted by the M . W . G . Master to the Doric Lodge , No . 1450 , Hill End , and the St . John ' s Lodge , No . 1 451 , Mudgee . The District Grand Master stated he had received a petition from certain brethren at the

Tumut , for a dispensation to open a ledge in that locality , to be called the " Tumut Unity Lodge ;" he had granted the prayer of the petitioners , and the warrant of dispensation had been issued and forwarded to form and work the new

lodge . The District Grand Secretary read the report of the meetings of Committee of Benevolence since last communication , with the names of applicants for assistance , and the several amounts voted , amounting to £ 3 1 .

The District Grand Secretary stated that no meetings had been held of the Orphan Society or Board of General Purposes . The District Grand Treasurer statetl the balance to credit of District Grand Lodge was £ 126 ios . "Jd . ; Benevolent Fund £ 449 , 9 s . j ; d . ;

Orphan Fund £ 45 ios . jd ., exclusive of £ 700 invested in Government Debentures , and shares in Freemasons' Hall , the value of the latter being doubtful . W . H . Simpson , D . G . Treasurer , read and moved the motion standing in his name on the

Agenda Paper— "That the fee payable to Dis . trict Grand Lodge for every initiation shall be £ 1 , such payment to include Grand Lodge Certificate for the brother initiated . " He was aware some years ago the practice among lodges was not to include the certificate in the fee charged at

initiation , leaving that to be paid by the brother when he applied for it . Lodge , No . 390 , to which he belonged , did so till lately ; they had now altered the Initiation Fee so as to include the payment for the certificate . The Grand Lodge required the full fee on the registration of every 1 ] brother .

District Grand Lodge Of New South Wales.

The better way fn- f - £ - v - — ' «> uieretore , ue ior lodges to make their returns quarterl y , in the same way as the Benevolent and Orphan Funds ; it would be more advantageous to both the District Grand Lodge and the lodges themselves .

The District Grand Master said the fees for certificates should , with as little delay as possible , be handed over to District Grand Lodge . Bro . Ryall , P . M . j ^ d , said he would second the motion if the mover would consent to a slig ht alteration he proposed to make , viz ., " That

the fee on the initiation of every candidate shall be £ 1 , such payment to include registration in the books of the Grand Lodge of England , and Grand Lodge Certificate for the brother initiated , the fees to be paid quarterly to District Grand Lodge . " This , bethought , would be the best

course to pursue , and would facilitate the registration of the brother . By the Book of Constitutions , every brother was entitled to have his name returned and to obtain his certificate . The Deputy District Grand Master quoted the Law No . 1 , page 89 , in Book of

Constitutions , and said that every lodge was bound to obtain a Grand Lodge Certificate for a brother initiated therein . Bro . Booth , P . M . Lodge 392 , inquired whether a brother could obtain a certificate other than for the Third Degree .

Bro . Elliott , District Grand Sup . of Works , asked whether a brother after he had completed his three degrees had a right to his certificate . The Deputy District Grand Master said , the Book of Constitutions required every brother to take up his certificate . If necessary he could have a certificate for each degree without any extra

expense . Bro . H . Harper , District Grand Sword Bearer , said he had given a brother his third degree who had received the first and second elsewhere , and on another occasion had given the second and third degrees to a brother in like manner .

Bro . Simpson having consented to the amendment , the District Grand Master put the motion as amended , which was carried . Bro . Cassidy , J . D . G . Warden , moved the motion standing on the paper in his

name" That the sum of £ 20 be voted from the funds of District Grand Lodge towards defraying expenses of painting and decorating lodge-room . " Bro . Westcott , D . Grand Registrar , seconded the motion .

Bro . Booth , P . M . Lodge No . 390 , moved as an amendment— " That the sum of £ 25 should be voted . " The brethren of the Furnishing Committee had taken great trouble , and large expenses had been incurred , and the room had a very handsome appearance . He thought that the District Grand Lodge on an occasion of this kind should be liberal .

The Deputy District Grand Master said he seconded the amendment . He thought the District Grand Lodge could well afford the amount , and should vote the largest sum in order to set the lodges a good example .

In reply to an inquiry , D . G . Treasurer said , the cost , he understood , would be £ 132 . Bto . Ryall , P . M . No . 556 " , supported the amendment , and said the Sydney Lodges alone should bear the cost .

Rev- Bro . Beg also supported the amendment . The District Grand Master said , that the manner in which the room was decorated was handsome and neat , and very creditable ; he had visited the lodge rooms several times while the

work was in operation , and he now considered the room very comfortable , and he fully approved of what had been done . The lodges , he was happy to say , were progressing favourably , and the District Grand Lodge was in a prosperous condition .

The amendment was carried . B . Webster , S . D . G . Deacon , stated , as President of the Benevolent Fund , that he had been requested to bring under the notice of District Grand Lodge the large amount of arrears ( £ 25 )

owing by Lodge No . 937 to the Benevolent Fund . The D . G . Treasurer said this lodge was over three years in arrears to the Benevolent Fund , and he thought , in justice to other lodges , these arrears should be paid .