The Masonic Mirror.

THE MASONIC MIRROR .

MASONIC MEMS . Tlie committee appointed by the brethren of Staffordshire to carry out the publication of the portrait of the Past D . Prov . G . Af ., Pro . Thomas AA'ard , announces that they have completed their labours ancl have in hand , after paying all expenses , £ 15 15 s ., which has been devoted to Masonic charity , as folloAVs , viz .: —Ten guineas to

the Masonic Boys' School , ancl Pive Guineas to the Masonic Girls ' School . Bro .. Henry Bridges , P . G . S . B ., has been appointed by the G . Reg . D . Prov . G . M . for Somersetshire . AA'e congratulate the brethren of the Province in having so able a brother to superintend their interests , whilst the office of Prov . G . M . is held in commission by the G . Registrar .

The Temple Lodge Annual Ball Avill take place on Thursday next , the 7 th inst ., at the Freemasons' Hall . The loiv price of the tickets , the judicious arrangements of the stewards , aided by the inspiriting efforts of Bro . Adams' band , anel Bro . Fi-ampton as M . C ., will , AA'e trust , secure a large assemblage of the hrethren and their friends , so that a large surplus may be left towards the Masonic charities ;

the company thus , ivhile enjoying themselves , contributing to the happiness of those AA'I IO are incapable of helping themselves . Bro . AVyndham Portal , P . G . AVarden , is a candidate for the vacant seat in the direction of the South Western Railway , caused by the death of the late Matthew Uzielli , Escp The Alount Sinai Chapter of Instruction ( No . 4-9 ) will in future be held every Saturday evening at Courji . J . AA' . Adams ' , "Union Tavern , Air-street , Regent-street .

Royal Benevolent Institution For Aged Masons And Their Widows.

ROYAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION FOR AGED MASONS AND THEIR WIDOWS .

" The anniversary festival of this excellent institution AA'as helcl at the Freemasons' Tavern on AVednesday evening , under the presidency of the R . AV . A'iscount Holmesdale , AAIIO was supported by Bro . Blah-, Prov . G . M . for East Lancashire ; Bros . A . Perkins , J . G . AV . ; L . Crombie , S . G . D . ; AV . AV . AA'hoeler , J . G . D ., V . P . ; AV . Gray Clarke , G . Sec ; AA ' . A . AA oods , G . D . C . ; II . Bridges , G . S . B ., D . Prov . G . M . Somersetshire ; J . Havers , P . G . D . ; IV . P . Scott , P . G . D . ; Potter , P . G . D . ; Ll . Evans , P . G . S . B . ; Patten , P . G . S . B . ;

Jennings , P . G . D . C . ; J . Smith , P . G . Purst . ; Farmer , Asst . G . Purst . ; Dobson , D . PI-OA-. G . M ., Kent ; Newall , Prov . S . G . AV . East Lancashire ; Tunnah , Prov . G . Sec . East Lancashire ; Gibbons ; Prov . G . D . C . East Lancashire ; Bannister , Prov . S . G . D . Durham , R . 11 . Nelson , Prov . G . Sec . AA est Yorkshire ; Jno . Batley , P . Prov . G . Reg . AVest Yorkshire ; Jos . Batley , jun ., P . Prov . G . ' lleg . AVest Yorkshire ; Leonard Hicks , P . Prov . G . AVarden , AA ' est Yorkshire ; Thos . Darley , P . M . 373 , AVest Yorkshire ; AV . AVhite , AA' . AI . 162 , AA'est Yorkshire ; Saml . Freeman , S . AV . 384 , AA ' est Yorkshire ; Chas . Isaacs , Prov . 0-. Sec . Kent ; Adlard , Prov . Cr . V . C . Essex ; P . Matthew's , P . Prov . G . D . C . Essex ; Geo . Barrett , V . P . ; John

Symonds , M'Entire , C . Beaumont , V . P . ; A'hicenfc AA ' allace , and nearly tivo hundred other brethren ; wliilst the gallery , enlarged for the occasion , was graced by the presence of upAvards of one hundred anel fifty ladies . On the removal of the cloth , The noble A ' ISCOUXT said that , according to custom , the first toast he had to propose was " The Health of their beloved Queen ; " and he was sure it " would not be the less cordially responded to , because

ifc ivas in some measure a routine toast . ( Cheers . ) Ifc ivas their good fortune to live in a country governed by a lady , AA'IIO , whilst she set a bright example to the sterner sex by tbe manner in which she performed her public duties , was a pattern to her OAVII of domestic virtue . ( Cheers . ) Not ; i breath of slander had ever touched her , ancl even the lvildost of republicans hael expressed their admiration of her virtues ; and it coulcl not be denied that under her mild and constitutional government the country had increased in

happiness and prosperity . It could not be otherwise than matter of congratulation , that whilst old dynasties were crumbling into dust , and even the United States , from innate faults in their constitution , appeared to be bursting asunder , that the people of this country could feel assured against civil Avar , and that they must continue to advance in prosperity . ( Cheers . ) Though the health

of the Queen wa » alivays cordially received amongst Englishmen , he was sure there were none more loyal than those AA'ho aprons put on , To call themselves one , AA'ith a Free and an Accepted Mason . ( Cheers . ) The CUAIIHIAK saicl , the next toast he had to propose AA'as " The Prince Consort , the Prince of AA ' ales , and the rest of the Royal

Family ; " and though none of them had taken the vows of the Order , liewas sure they ivould . not drink the toastivith less loyalty . ( Cheers . ) AA'hen they recollected that the Prince Consort came amongst them as a stranger—though as the husband of their beloved Queen —it was no small praise to say , that he had made himself thoroughly at home in all that affected the . prosperity of the nation . He need hardly refer to the liberal support AA'hich his ' Royal Highness had

ever given alike to the science of agriculture and the fine arts—to the interest he had taken in social matters affecting the prosperity ofthepeople—and how ready he was at all times to come foi-Avard in the cause of benevolence . ( Gheers . ) As regarded the heir apparentand long might he continue so—he regretted he was riot a , member of the Fraternity , but he hoped he had formed a favourable opinion of the Order from what he had seen of their loyalty and devotion in Canadathough the Government officers had not allowed them

, to take that prominent part in a Alasonic ceremony which they desired . Then , as regarded his younger brother , Prince Alfred , attire Cape of Good Hope , he had mixed freely with the Craft , had joined with them in a Masonic ceremony , and ivould doubtless in good time shoiv his appreciation of the Order . ( Cheers . ) The CHAIRMAN - saicl he had IIOAV to propose " The Health of the M . AV . Grand Master , the Rig ht Hon . the Earl of Zetland , the

President of the Institution . " All who had had the pleasure of comingin contact AA'ith the noble Earl must acknowledge the ability and courtesy with which lie presided oyer the Order , whilst those who had only seen him presiding in Grand Lodge , without having had the pleasure of coming into personal contact with him , could not but admire the manner in which he conducted the business , which was dailbecoming more arduous and importantBut on this occasion ;

y . he had a higher claim upon their gratitude as the President and constant supporter of the Institution ( cheers ) ; ancl he would venture to say that no one had done more to serve the interests of the institution than the M . AA' . Grancl Master ( cheers ) , Avhose health he proposed . ( Cheers . ) The CmuR-irAK' had IIOAV to propose "The Health of the Right

AVorshipful the Bail of Dalhousie , D . G . AI ., and the rest of the Grand Officers . " Their Deputy Grand AIaster ivas better knoivn to them under the name of Lord Panmure ; ancl he AA-as confident , IIOAV thathis lordship had been called to a higher title , that he ivould not bethe less assiduous in the discharge of his duties , or the less honoured by the brethren . Earl Dalhousie was , indeed , one whom they might well be proud of having amongst the rulers of the Order ; he having , from the time he first entered the public service as Mr . Fox

Maul £ displayed abilities of the highest character , which had alivays been at the command of his country . Of the other Grand Officers he hardly knew AA'hat to say . It AA'as a constitutional axiom that the king could do no wrong—and the responsibility rested on his ministers . Now , the Grand Officers were the ministers of the Earl of Zetland , and they were fortunate ministers of whom nobody complained . ( Laughter . ) NOAA- , as none of those present shoAved . any dissatisfaction with the ministershe took it for granted they

, were generally acceptable , and performed their duties to the satisfaction of the brethren . He ivould , therefore , propose the toast ,, coupling with it the name of the E . AV . Bro . Perkins . ( Cheers . ) Bra . AiffEZUKW PERKTSS , J . G . AV ., could assure the brethren that the Grand Officers were at all times pleased to receive the support of the brethren , and they considered it a high honour that their health had been so cordially drunk in so large an assembly of the brethren . On the present occasion that compliment AVUS enhanced ,

by the object which had brought them together , not merely for social enjoyment , but to evince their sympathy with their poorer brethren , and shoiv that they did not forget the duty AA'hich devolved on them , under their Alasonic ohligations , to relieve the wants anel conduce to the comforts of those ivho were less fortunate than themselves . ( Cheers . ) He congratulated the noble lord on this , the first occasion of his presiding at a charitable festival since his appointment to the distinguished office he held in the Craft , on

being supported by so large a number of the brethren , shelving IIOAV they appreciated his kindness in lending his influence to aid the charity ; anel he hoped to see at a Inter period ofthe evening that they iiiid not only supported him with their presence , but that their united efforts would tend to the advantage of the institution . The CHAIRMAN said that he had some diffidence in proposing the next toast— "The Health of theProviucialGi-anclAfastei-s "—as , holding the oflice he did , ifc ivas something like proposing " Our noble sefvas . " ( Laughter . ) In a society like thcir ' s , in order to ensure good government , there must be some to take charge of the 1-esnective provinces ; and the worthy brother on his right had fov