The Masonic Mirror.

THE MASONIC MIRROR .

< s > MASONIC MEMS . A new lodge , to be called the De Grey and Ripon Lodge ( No . 1207 ) , in compliment to the Deputy Grand Master , will be opened at the Angel Hotel , Great Ilford , on the 21 th of

next month . Another new lod ge is also in the course of formation to be called the Royal Albert Lodge , and held in private rooms in Gerrard-street , Soho .

Royal Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The annual festival in aid of the Royal Benevolent Institution for Aged Masons and - 'their Widows , was celebrated on Wednesday evening , tbe R . W . D . Grand Master , the Earl de Grey and Ripon , presiding , supported by Bros . Stephen Blair , Prov . G . M . East Lancashire ; Captain Bov / yer , Prov . G . M . Oxfordshire ; Sir ThomasHesket , Bart ., P . G . W ., and D . Prov . G . M . West Lancashire ; Sir Hedworth Williamson , Prov . S . G . W . Durham ; Rev . J . Senior , L . L . D ., Grand Chaplain , and Prov . G . W . West

Yorkshire ; idelnth-e , G . D ., President of the Board of General Purposes ; Roxburg G . Reg . ; Woods . G . D . C . ; Tomkins , G . Treas . ; Clarke , G . Sec ; Perkins , P . G . W . ; Slight , Patten , Wilson , Potter , Wheeler , P . G . D ' s . ; Evans , Bridges , Spiers , P . G . S . B ' s . ; Farmer , G . Purst . ; Smith , P . G . Purst . ; L . Ormerod , Prov . G . D ., East Lancashire ; L . Newall , Prov . S . G . W ., East Lancashire ; Aldrich , Prov . G . D . Suffolk ; Stewart , Prov . G . W . Essex ; Rev . J . B . PhillipsProv . G . Chap . East Lancashire ; BanisterProvGDC

, , .... West Lancashire , and about 150 other brethren . At the conclusion of the dinner , which was very elegantly served under the personal direction of Bro . Shrewsbury and iElkington , The D . GEAUD MASTER said that the brethren were well aware of the first toast which he had to offer them . It was one always received with favour in every assemblof Englishmen-- especiall

y y Freemasons—and one which , at tho present moment , called forth peculiar and deep feelings . For when he asked them to drink the health of their most gracious Sovereign , it would at once hring back to them , should it for a moment have been absent from tbeir minds , the deep affliction with which Her Majesty had been recently visited by tbe inscrutable decrees of Providence , and which more than ever bound her to her people . In

times of joy they had shared with Her Majesty her joys ; in times of prosperity , they had partaken of the prosperity , and now in her affliction they deeply ' sympathised with Her Majesty , and were partakers of the sorrows of the Royal family . He would now ask them to drink to the health of Her Majesty in solemn silence , as was only fitting the occasion—feeling assured that they would add a heartfelt prayer that it would please Almighty God to support the Queen in her affliction , and

give to her mind that consolation which His power alone could give . The toast having been drunk in silence , The D . GRAND MASTER next gave "Albert Edward , Prince of Wales , and the rest of the Royal Family . " They were all cognizant of the void which had lately been made in that family ; but after "the way in which the younger members had been brought up , he < could not doubt that they would follow the example of their illustrious parentswhoon occasionhad consulted the

in-, , every , terests and welfare of , the people . It was satisfactory to know that the Prince of Wales had already given proof that he was likely to walk in the footsteps of his distinguished father , and that on bis recent visit to the North American provinces , his conduct had been marked by that royal and true English feeling , that not only showed the stock from which he sprung , but bad had a most beneficial effect in conciliating the good opinions of all

with whom he came in contact . ( Cheers . ) The D . GEAND MASTER said he had now to ask them to drink a Masonic toast . Hitherto they had been discharging their duties as good citizens , and now they had to discharge their duties as good Masons . He would , therefore , give them " The Health of the M . W . G . M ., the Earl of Zetland . " ( Cheers . ) He knew that that toast was always received with satisfaction and enthusiasm by the Craft , who were happy to testify their approval of his lordship's services to Masonry , and of the brotherly feeling

which he had always evinced towards them . But that night they bad not only to regard him in his capacity of M . W . G . M ., but as president of the institution , the prosperity of which they were met to promote . ( Cheers . ) At a later period of the evening , it would be his duty to address them a few words on the character of that institution , and the claims which it had upon them for support . He would not anticipate what he should then have to saybut he miht observe that the institution had

, g always received from the Earl of Zetland the warmest support ( cheers ) , and under his auspices one of its most important branches had been developed , and the institution rendered worthy of the Craft . ( Cheers . ) The toast having been drunk with all the honours , Bro . Sir TnoniAS . HESKETJT , Bart ., P . G . W ., said a most easy and grateful task had fallen to his lot , viz . ; to propose the health

of the noble Earl who then presided over them . ( Cheers . ) He was sure that they would all agree with him , that very few words were required to recommend the toast to their notice . ( Cheers . ) When they considered the various official duties the noble Earl had to perform—services of great importance to the country—they could not be too grateful for the manner in which the noble Earl discharged his Masonic duties . ( Cheers . ) They regretted the absence that evening of the Eari of Zetland

, but he was sure that the duties of the chair could not be more ably performed than by the Earl de Grey and Ripon , who devoted the time which he could spare from his official duties to the promotion of the interests of the Craft . ( Cheers . ) With the name of Earl de Grey and Ripon , he would couple the other officers of Grand Lodge , who , he was sure , were always anxious to show the aptitude and promptitude with which they discharged their arduous duties . ( Cheers . )

The D . GEASD MASTER , on rising , was received with repeated plaudits , which prevented his being heard for some time . He said that having bad the programme of the toasts before him , he was glad to find that his task was a comparatively easy one , as he had not to return them thanks in his individual and personal capacity . The toast of the Deputy Grand Master was coupled with the other Grand Officers , past and present , a zealous and able body of brethren , who devoted their talents and ability to the service of the Craft . ( Cheers . ) He felt that ¦

as far Ins personal attendance to his duties was concerned , he was the worst person to represent the officers of Grand Lodge —( no , no)—but his honourable friend had truly stated that his official duties so occupied his time that he could not give such attention to those of his position as D . G . Master , as he could wish . He was satisfied , as regarded the other Grand Officers , that they consisted of a body of pure and conscientious brethren , with abilities and devotion to Masonry second to none in

any Masonic body throughout the world . ( Cheers . ) It was impossible to speak too highly of a body of brethren—unsurpassed in this or any other society—upon whose conduct in the zealous discharge of their duties , so much of the prosperity of the Craft depended . ( Cheers . ) If the Craft was singularly flourishing at the present moment they owed it to three circumstances—first , to the sound and noble principles on which the

Order was founded ; secondly , to their charitable and social position ; and thirdly , to the influence which was given to the Craft by tho character and standing of their Grand Officers . ( Cheers . ) In his own name , and that of the other Grand Officers past and present , he returned them his sincere thanks for the compliment they had paid him . ( Cheers . ) The D . GRAND MASTER had now to propose the health of a body of brethren to whom the Craft owed some obligations . In

doing so , however , he was well aware that he was placed in a somewhat delicate position . He was aware that when a person undertook to preside at a public dinner he must , to some extent , leave his modesty at home ( laughter ); [ and certainly it had been necessary for him to do so , for he was about to propose his own health ( cheers and laughter ) , or something very like it , as he was going to ask them to drink the health of the Prov . Grand Masters . ( Cheers . ) He was sure that to do justice to

the toast he must endeavour to forget for the moment that he was one of the body . He could not , however , forget those who had gone before him , and had set him such bright examples of the manner in which he should perform his own duties . He was confident that they would agree with him that on the zeal , tact , and sound hearty feelings of the Prov . Grand Masters depended , to a great extent , the prosperity of Freemasonry . ( Cheers . ) Their duties were important and onerous , and the manner in which they discharged them was best shown by the prosperity of Freemasonry throughout the kingdom . ( Cheers . )