Grand Masonic Fete.

word in that respect , I am sure His Grace will pardon me , and will join with me whilst I perform a task whicli has been reserved until now , and left to my unwoithy hands—kept , I believe , as a bonne boiiche , as the pleasantest of all our tasks ; and that is to thank the ladies

who have honoured us by their presence here this evening . ( Hear , hear , and applause . ) I should like to tell you a Masonic secret if I could . ( Laughter . ) But all the secrets I know I must not tell you , and the secret which I would tell you if I could I don ' t know —( renewed laughter ) , —and that is the secret that our Court has

of gathering together in this hall the most beautiful ladies , I believe , in all Ireland . ( Cheers . ) When my noble friend , our brother , Lord Claude Hamilton —( applause ) , —tendered his homage to the ladies here present , he said that he was sure he would escape the

imputation of being particular m his attentions . ( Laughter . ) That was a gallant speech coming from the late candidate for Derry . ( Renewed laughter and applause . ) But I have no notion that the late candidate for Dublin should yield

to htm in gallantry in his own city . ( Laughter , and loud applause . ) Therefore I say I hope T may not escape the imputation of tendering my homage to every lady in particular . ( Laughter and cheers . ) You see I am not daunted , but I confess I am bewildered ,

for" Thick as stars that lighten Von airy bowers— yon airy bovvers ; Tlie countless eyes thai brighten This hall of ours—this hall of ours . " ( Cheers . ) Ladies and brethren , an idea occurred to me just now which 1 was thinking

of tendering to our Grand Master , though it is hardly necessary . Yet , in this day of confusion in all trades , we do not know what may happen to us . It may be that some day—I do not believe it will , at least , under our present Grand Master—there may be a strike among tlie

Freemasons . ( Laughter . ) lint if there ever is , 1 will venture humbly to suggest to our Grantl Master a means of getting over the dil " . cully . think it will be more successful than a similar operation lately performed at Geneva , i advise him to adopt the principle oi

arbitration—( laughter ) , —and to call in as his arbitrators . the ladies who are here to-night . ( Laughter . ) I have no dotibl that we should be iu thc wrong , and , that being so , the ladies will very properly decide with the Grand Master . But , at all events , we can never impugn the impartiality of

their judgment , lor to the end of lime . I am sure , we will all admit that these arbitrators are , in every sense of the word , the most fair . ( Great laughter , and applause . ) Ladies and brethren all , I have no intention of entering here on what I may call general topics- -that is to say ,

I am not going to defend this Order against the accusations so often brought against itsolemly brought , though ridiculous . " We are accused of being inimical to the safely of the State on account of our politics , and to religion . Well , I will not waste your time pronouncin "

defences to such charges . All 1 know is this , that in Freemasonry we have no politics ( hear ) . We have no party save that one party which is ever loyal to the Government ( hear ) . And as to religion , I say it with all reverence , whilst Masonry is founded on religion in its best and

broadest sense—whilst Masonry holds with open eyes to look stedfastl y to the fountain cf all light and of all religion—to the differences which so often dissever Christians , so often mar Christianity—io such differences I say Freemasonry is colour-blind ( cheers ) . But thotmh 1

will not dwell on these general topics , I will take leave to say a word about that for which we are gathered here to-night . This is the Annual Festival ofthe Masonic Female Orphan School , and I will ask you how could Masonic charity be better engaged ? What can be more truly charitable ? I believe thatcharitycanbe best measured

in its extent by thc smallness and hel plessness of the object upon which that charity is lavished . And if that be a true definition of charily , I ask you to picture to yourselves , in all the wideworld , an object more helpless and pitiable than a little orphan girl ( cheers ) . Again , I say , it is trul y « -Masonic " charity , because the essence

Grand Masonic Fete.

of Masonry is to come unto the assistance oi a brother—a deserving brother , for in Masonry there are undeserving brothers , as there must be undeserving men in all classes of society , in all gatherings of men . But I say to come in to the aid of a deserving brother is the task ol

Masonry in its uttermost hour of need . Let me put it to you—what is the deepest hour of distress at which a man can arrive ? I will try to realize to you what may have been thc circumstances ; . 1 will ask you to realize , in all solemnity , what must have been the

circumstances when each of these little ones first hecame an orphan ; 1 will ask you to realize it that you may see whether that was the right moment for Masonic charity to step in and do its office . You must suppose that a good and faithful Mason has come to his last

hour"The Master on high from his star-stiidihd dome , 1 lis great mandate lias issued to summon him home ; And the Brother vvas found to be duly prepared , In thc Grand Lodge on hig h lo receive his reward . " But though he was prepared and willing to obey the mandate of the great Master , lie was not

prepared , and he was unwilling to leave behind him his little girl that was so helpless and so pitiful . Then , I say , there must have come to his recollection this thought , that when first lie saw the light of Masonry he became aware ot what was unknown to him till then—that the

right hands of fellowship were extended to him all round , and that then and for ever he was a Mason . Then again , 1 say , at that awful moment , when the greater light of a grander Masonry must in a few moments roll in endless volumes on his astonished sight—iu that awful

moment , in the darkness of death , he felt that the old scene vvas being repeated , and that the right hands of lhe Brotherhood were eagerly stretched out to grasp the tender lingers of his little girlstrong hands eagerly stretching out to guide carefully the little tottering footsteps , and he knew the little life so dear to him would be

handed lo the care of good women , that she might lie lovingly tended and purely taught , till in her turn again she might become the wife and mother of a good and faithful Mason . ( Cheers . ) Now , I say th ; tt I believe that this , as completely as anything , 1 could say . woultl realize to you

the true ollice object , idea , and theory of the schools we are here to-night to support . Ami now , ladies antl brethren all , it only remains for me to add my humble tribute to what has been so well said by our brother , the Past Deputy Grand Master , and lhat is to ask vott to offer a

tribute of thanks to our Right Worship . ul Grand Master . ( Cheers . ) We cannot wish him any happiness or any dignity that he does not alread y enjoy . He has all that should attend upon old age—honour , love , obedience , troops of friends . We can wish him no more . All we can wish

him is . that he may long live to enjoy them . ( Loud and prolonged cheers . ) I will venture to close what 1 have said to you with words far better than any 1 could coin , for ihey are written by Shakespeare . He wished to describe the office and the merits of a great public servant , who loved the people of hiscounlrv well : —

"May he long continue In his high office , and do justice l '' or truth ' s sake and his conscience , tli . il he , When he has run his course and sleeps in l _ ls-. e- ! in .- -. -May have : ' . ininb of orphan ' s tears u •_¦] . ; on him . ' ' ( Applause . )

The resolution was carried , amid the most cordial demonstrations . Judge Townsend , on behalf of the children , presented Bro . Samuel B . Oidham ( assistant secretary ) with a handsome drawing-room

timepiece , as a testimonial of their affection , esteem , and gratitude , accompaning it with a most laudatory encomium on Bro . Oldham , for the manner in which he had performed the duties devolving on him , which wns endorsed by thc hearty demonstrations of the brethren .

The testimonial was then presented to Mr . Oldham , who in acknowledging the gift , said he felt unable to express his thanks to the dear children for their kind expression of regard . He assured them it was quite unnecessary to add this golden link to the chain that had bound them together so many years to convince him of their esteem ( applause ) .

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The procession then reformed , and conducted thc Grand Master to the dais in the glass building , where he presented the pupils with the various prices and certificates awarded to them at the examination . Shortly after eleven o ' clock the assemblage began to separate .

Grand Orient Of France.

GRAND ORIENT OF FRANCE .

The Grand Orient of France in conformity with thc decision of thc last General Grand Orient Meeting , assembled at their Grand Orient Rooms , 16 , Rue Cadet , Paris , on Monday , the 9 th September last , at 9 a . m .

The Grand Orient was opened by Bro . de St . Jean , Vice-President of the Council of thc Order , assisted by the following members of the Council : —Bros . Roche , Senior Warden ; Moreane , Junior Warden :

Caubet , Orator ; Bemond , Assist . Orator ; Poullc , Secretary ; Galbcrt , Expert ; Jehan , Almoner ; Ferdine , Master of Ceremonies ; and several other members of thc Council .

The Grand Orient having been declared open , thc President read a letter from Bro . Baband Lanbiere , President of the Council of thc Order .

Thc letter was dated the I' / 'h August , from Pcrpignan . Bro . Lanbiere expressed regret that lie was unable to assist at thc present meeting , as lie wished to take part in the important discussions that would

necessarily take p ' ace , but he especiall y wished to render homage to two eminent members of thc Council who had left during tlie winter for tlio Grand Lod ge above . Bros . Montunier and . Battaillc . Me

knew Bro . Oe . St . Jean would fully replace him , and that his absence Mould not bc noticed . 1 le desired to express his thanks to the members of the Council and assembly for the marks nf friendship and

confidence hc had met with while President of the Order , lie , however , while refusing to become again a candidate for the Presidency <> f tlie Urder , assured them that

hewas not tlie ic-ss entirely devoted to the general principles of Freemasonry , and that lie would always take a livel y interest in thc proceedings of the Council and assembl y .

Bro . . St . Jean expressed his regret that the assembly was deprived of thc clear and intelligent direction of Bro . Lanbiere , but that lie would do his best to fill the office

until the nomination oi a President ; in doing so he was sure he could rel y upon the assistance and indulgence of his brethren .

Letters ol excuse from several brethren were next read . The Vice-President next called upon Bro . Thevonot to call the roll of the members of the Council and delegates of lodges ;

255 brethren were found to be present representing 261 lodges of different degrees . They were all sworn in as members of the assembly . Nine different Boards were then aopointed

after which thc Vice-President asked if the members intended to proceed at once to the election of President , or if they wished the members of the different Boards to consult on the subject .

Bro . Hubert proposed to postpone the nomination until the next meeting , which Bro . Lonba proposed be held thc same evening at 4 o ' clock : adopted . The members of the several Boards were requested to assemble at 2 o ' clock p . m .

The Grand Orient was opened at 4 o ' clock , and forty-four fresh members admitted and sworn , after which thc election of President was proceeded with , there