Royal Freemasons' School For Female Children.

distance alone prevented them , and they would have heen especially glad if they could to have done so , to support the worthy brother in the chair , to whom the Craft owed so deep a debt of gratitude . A procession of the children of the school , matron and sclioolinistresses , and stewards then took place ; and it was a sight

which could not he witnessed hy any one without strong feelings of the value and importance of Freemasonry in leading to such happy results . The children were all most healthy in their appearance , and their neat attire showed the care bestowed upon them . As they passed two and two along the dais , on arriving in front of the Chairman they saluted him , one and all , iu the most graceful manner . And , ha \ 'ing completely perambulated the hall , they returned to the dais , when the children sung the following : —

FESTIVAL HYMN . The words -written by ELLEN SAUNDERS . The music expressly composed for this occasion iy Bro . AVILHEBI GAKZ . Great God ! our voices high we raise In words of thankfulness and praise . We bless and laud Thy glorious name , To endless ages still the sam . Accept the praise that each one brings , O Lord of Hosts and King of Kings .

May all our friends assembled here , True happiness for ever share , And all our benefactors be Rewarded and preserved by Thee . And hear the prayer that each one brings , Thou Lord of Hosts and King of Kings . With one consent and sweet accord

We all unite to praise the Lord . And may the spacious vaults above Resound with echoes of his love . Till heaven with hallelujah rings To God our Lord , the King of Kings .

Ellen Saunders , the author of the hymn , and one of the pupils , together with Emily Mary Compbell , accompanied the children ' s singing on the pianoforte . The CHAIRMAN , in proposing "Success to the Royal Freemasons' School for Female Children , and the Health of Bro . Benjamin Bond Cabbell , its Treasurer , " said it was nearly a

century ago since this Charity , then known by the name of the Royal Cu . mherla . nd Society , was projected hy the members of the Lodges of Fortitude and Old Cumberland , under the auspices of Chevalier Buspini , AVIIO had sown the seeds which since then had I'roduced such abundant fruits . Therefore , as he had said , the credit of founding this Institution was . due to

a private , and not to the Grand Lodge , Far same time it received but very tardy support from the Grand Lodge , and it Avas not until the year WSJO that its existence was acknowledged by Grand Lodge , when it was ordered to be inserted in the Calendar . At that , time it was arranged that every member of the Craft should pay five shillings towards its support ,

Avhich compulsory tax was afterwards wisely abandoned , and the Grand Lodge made a grant of £ 20—a strange contrast to the munificence of the present time . The School was then located at Newington , until , about fourteen years since , it was removed to its present beautiful site at Wandsworth . The Charity could now boast of funded property to the amount of

£ 20 , 000 , and 000 children Avho Avere rescued from poverty , ignorance , and , perhaps , from greater evils , were educated within its walls . A new wing was built a few years ago , and he Avished such another wing was built for the better accommodation of the present pupils , and not for the purpose of receiving a larger number , and he was sure that the brethren could afford it . At the present time there were 100 little

children whom the brethren had then the pleasure of seeing before them in this Institution , and on their behalf it was his duty , not less than it Avas his privilege , to address them . It had been whispered to him that he should only darkly hint that the Institution had a funded property of £ 20 , 000 , but he thought that was just the reverse of what ought to be done , for all

present would be delighted at the success of the Charity they supported . They would think badly of a man who , having enjoyed public patronage for fourscore years , had put by nothing for a rainy day , and they Avould also think badly of the Institution if it had been found to have done the same

tli ' mg . The fact of possessing that amount proved the prudence which had been disployed hi the management of the Institution , and was an earnest for the future . He would glance for a moment at the past condition of the School , and compare it with the present . Twenty-five years ago , ts income was about £ 1 , 000 ; the Boys' School lvas worse ;

and the Masonic Benevolent Institution had no existence . At one time eight or ten was a good number for a list of Stewards , and £ 1 , 000 was a large contribution . Now the collection was more than three times that amount , and they had a much larger list of Stewards . At that time the provinces hardly kuew of the existence of the Charities . Now

their fame Avas spread far and wide and the country brethren vied with the London brethren in sending their subscriptions to them . Yorkshire , Warwickshire , Lancashire , Oxfordshire , and other counties sent up enormous subscriptions and cavne for-Avard generally to support the principles of Freemasonry , and every Mason felt proud of being a member of the Order . The

Chairman then congratulated the country members in not only becoming members of Grand Lodge , but taking an active part , in promoting the welfare of their Charities . It was very desirable that money shonld be obtained , but a good administration of it was equal , if not of greater importance , as it was not only a duty they owed to those who subscribed the funds , but to

the objects of their bounty and also to themselves . They must endeavour to make these Charities worthy of their Ovder . At the same time they must remember that Freemasonry was not a benefit society , and while Charity was a distinguishing feature of it , that alone did not constitute the only object of Freemasonry . It was eminently an unselfish body , for it sought to benefit those of its body who had been unsuccessful in their career of life . He believed the committee were most careful

in the administration of the funds , and their earnest desire Avas that none but proper objects should receive the benefit of the school , and they were earning for themselves a lasting title to respect , esteem , and gratitude . He ( the Chairman ) regretted that it was not in his power to be present at the distribution of the prizes last week , but he had visited the school recently and found all its arrangements on the most

excellent order , and indeed having gone into every room he found everything in a perfect condition , which reflected the greatest credit upon Miss Jarwood , the matron , Miss Davis , the governess , and all the officers of the Institution by whom the matron had been assisted in the administration of its affairs . He felt that he addressed them under circumstances

that evening something more difficult than those brethren Avho had preceded him in that chair , and for this reason that he knew them better . Some had exhorted them to be charitable , although no exhortation on such a subject was required , but from frequently meeting them he knew them better . He kneiv the old familiar faces , and hoped what he said Ayould

be heard beyond these Avails , and that these words would be heard hy other ears , and perchance stimulate their hearts to emulate the noble example of those Avhom he then addressed .