Royal Arch.

Clarendon Hotel , Birkenhead , on the second Tuesday of every month ; to Companions John Head as Z ., Edward Dorling as H ., Charles Thomas Townsend as J . ) and six others for a chapter to be attached to the Prince of AVales' Lodge ( No . 959 ) , Ipswich , in the Comity of Suffolk , to be called the " Royal Alexandra , " to meet at the Golden Lion Hotel , Ipswich , on the second Monday in January , April , July , and October in each year ; ancl to

Companions Robert Bowden as Z ., John Mackay as H ., Frederick Duffy Bewes as J ., ancl seven others , for a chapter to be attached to the Pleiades Lodge ( No . 710 ) , Totnes , Devonshire , to meet at the Seven Stars Hotel , Totnes , on the first AVednesday in January , April , July , and October in each year . Comp . JENNINGS having announced that proofs of the new editions of the Royal Arch Regulations would soon be ready for inspection prior to its being brought under the consideration of Grand Chapter iu May , Grand Chapter closed in form .

Ireland.

IRELAND .

MASONIC FEMALE ORPHAN SCHOOL . ANNUAL DISTBIBUTION or PBIZES . There are few institutions in these countries which attract so much of public interest and , in many cases , public support as the Masonic body , and scarcely any whose objects are more commendable , whose charity is more boundless , and whose members are more influential and numerous . There is no society whose

meetings the public are more anxious to attend , ancl we clo not think we would exaggerate by stating that there is no society in Ireland , at least , which has had greater success in all its efforts to bring itself , as well as its charities , before public notice . An exemplification of this statement was apparent by a glance at the magnificent Round Room of the Rotunda on the 27 th ult ., on the occasion of the annual distribution of prizes to the children of the Masonic Female Orphan SchoolThe assemblage

. which was present to witness it was very brilliant ancl very large . Tho room was decorated in a style so handsome as to defy description . It was radiantly illuminated in every part ; a most remarkable effect in this respect being presented by a row of triple gas jets , which was placed on the cornice of the beautiful dome . Each of the Corinthian pillars round the room fcore an emblazoned banner bearinga compassand squareor

lum-, p met and mullet , or other Masonic device . The banners of Lodge 215 were conspicuously suspended from the ceiling , with fine effect . To the rear of the platform , the arms of the more distinguished members of the Grand Lodge were placed , and amongst these none could fail to notice the escutcheon ancl motto of the Grand Master , his Grace the Duke of Leinster .

Several stars in gas jets illuminated the windows . Tbe galleries were decorated with banners , helmets , swords , flowers , and evergreens , ancl the British Hag was not wanting . Not an inch of standing or sitting room was unoccupied , yet there was not inconvenient crushing or crowding . At the lowest estimation there were 2 , 000 persons present . The gentlemen , of whom the majority were Freemasons , appeared in their aprons , scarfs , je % S * elsand other regalia . The gold ancl silver ornaments of

, these articles shone brilliantly in the gas light , and added much to the splendour of the scone . The ladies , who composed fully one half of the assemblage , were in full evening dress , and constituted a charming and rare array of " glistening beauty . " It was a grateful sight to see so many of them taking an interest in their helpless orphan sisters . The proceedings of the evening commenced at eiht o'clock

g precisely . At that hour a quaint march , by the band of the S 6 th Regiment , under the direction of Bro . Savage , intimated that the procession of the leading members of the body , including his Grace the Duke of Leinster , was about to proceed to the platform . Shortly after the procession entered the room , in the following order : — Stewards . Assistant ' Tler to the ' Grand LodgeBro .

y , Batchelor . Dublin lodges , according to seniority , the junior first . Officers and members of the Grand Muster's Lodge . The A ice-Presidents , Honorary Officers , and Committees of the Orphan School . The Tyler to the Grand Lodge , Bro . Downes . Representatives from Foreign Grand Lodges . Provincial Grand Officers . Grand Inner Guard . Grand Organist , Bro . F . Quinn . Grand Steward . Grand Superintendent of Works , Bro . Chas .

Astley . The Grand Deacons with their Wands , Bros . A . Bushe and E . La 'louche . The Chaplain of the Orphan School , carrying the Bible . The Grand Chaplains , Bros . J . J . M'Sorley and S . G . Morrison . The Grand Treasurer . The Grand Secretary . The Grand Warden , Bro . Sir E . Borough , Bart . The Grand Sword Bearer , carrying the Sword , Bro . G . Hepburn . The Deputy Grand Secretary , with tbe "Book of Constitutions , " Bro . C . T . AValmesley . The Grand MasterHis Grace the

, Duke of Leinster . Deputy Grand Master , Bro . T . F . Townsend . Past Grand Officers , & c The Grand Director of Ceremonies , with his AA'and , Bro . J . Manning . On ascending the platform , the brethren filed off according to their lodges , the Grand Master taking the throne . His Grace was then saluted , according to ancient usage , " hy eleven on the first coining down . "

The pupils of the Masonic Female Orphan School , to the number of about fifty , then entered the room , accompanied by the Stewards , the Hon . Secretary , Bro . La Touche ; the Assistant Secretary , Bro . Oldham ; the medical officer , Bro . Speedy ; the matron , Mrs . Noble ; ancl the governess , Miss Cuthbert . The children presented a most intelligent , clean , and happy , appearance . They were seated in two rows along the front of the platform .

The 100 th Psalm was then sung , aud prayer having been offered up by the Rev . J . J . M'Sorley , Senior Grand Chaplain . The D . G . Master , Dr . TOWNSEND , then addressed the assembly . He said : —My Lord Duke , —The governors of the Masonic Orphan School have thrown upon me the dutyalthough I am barely able to accomplish the task , —of commencing the proceedings of this evening by a few short words ,

in order to explain to those who may not belong to our association—and there are , doubtless , many such present in this vast assembly—and in order to remind those who do belong to it of the objects which the governors have had iu view in bringing forward in this public and somewhat unusual manner the pupils of the Masonic Orphan School to receive their prizes from the hands of their venerated Grand Master , and in laying before the supporters of the institution the report of the past year . My Lord , it is certainly within your recollection , as it is within mine , ancl probably within that of many present , that the

holding of these annual meetings in this very public manner has been a matter of very recent institution . In fact , the Masonic Orphan School itself is not an establishment of very ancient date . I believe it commenced by a vote of the Grand Lodge of Ireland about the year 1796 . The very names of those who were the institutes of this excellent charity have passed away from our recollection . No record remains of them ; and the early records of the school , if any such were kept , have

perished likewise . But , however , our gratitude is due to them . ( Hear , hear . ) It may be probably asked—at least the question will occur to some , —why it was so late in time when this institution was thought of . The origin of the Masonic Society is now irretrievably lost in tbe darkness of the past . We can trace it in the middle sgesin those wonderful works which the skill and perseverance of the free architects had spread over the face of all the countries of Europe . Of the earliest institution of

Masonry , of the early relation of Freemasons to each other , we have hut a very faint and dim traditionary outline ; but of what was the bond between the Masons of the middle ages we have some memorial in that extraordinary collection of maxims , venerable from thoir rude simplicity , which had come down to us under the name of the Ancient Charges—a title well-known to all Masonic ears—which is still in our hands , and is read every clay in our lodges . In all these we find no mention

whatsoever of any obligation upon the brethren of the society to support its willows ov its orphans . It seems to have been an association of operative workmen , who were hound together as a mutual co-operative society , but nothing analogous at all to an institution for the education , or even for the sustenance and support of the children of the deceased brethren appears to have been thought of . That was reserved for later times . Even when our institution ceased to be an assemblage of operative

mechanics , and became a charitable society , a social body , a body rather looking to the morality which was implied in the original leagues ancl conditions of the corps , it was for a long time unthonght of that any institution should be made for the support of our orphans . In the same way in the sister kingdom of England it was only at a very recent date that any establishment was opened for the support of Masonic orphan children . Therefore it is right that I should vindicate the society , in which your Grace ' s confidence has placed me in a very high ancl