Royal Freemasons' School For Female Children.

men the nrst toast that naturally rises to our ii ' ps is that of " The Health of the Queen , " who lives in the hearts and affections of her subjects . Our society would indeed be insensible of the patronage conferred upon us by tho Royal Family if we did not acknowledge the toast as Englishmen , but emphatically so as true Freemasons , for there is no class of her Majesty's subjects more loyal or devoted to her , not only as our Sovereign , but

as the daughter of one of our most revered Grand Masters . The toast was cordially responded to , followed by the National Anthem . The solo parts by Madame Parepa . The CHAIRMAN said : I have now to propose " The Health of the Prince of Wales , the Princess of Wales , and the rest of the Royal Family . " I have already said that our Institution

is patronised by'the Royal Family . Time was , and that is in the memory of many present , when not less than five royal dukes were members of our Order , and wore present at the Grand Lodge at the same time . These are matters that we have a right to be proud of , and I only hope that our children may live to see the same thing . We trust that every blessing

and happiness may attend our future ruler and his amiable Princess , I hope Ave may live to see the day when the Prince of Wales may see the light of Freemasonry , and that pleasure will he greatly enhanced when Ave shall have the twofold pleasure of greeting him as our Sovereign , and also as a brother . Song—( Madame Parepa)— "The nightingale ' s trill , " which

met with such an enthusiastic encore , that that distinguished lady came forward , hut substituted " Two o ' clock in . the morning , " which was equally well received . The CHAIRMAN : The next toast I have to propose is that of the Grand Master . Next to our allegiance to our Sovereign is our allegiance to our Masonic chief , the Right Hon . the Earl of Zetland . You , brethren , all know his worth , and that he

and his family have belonged to our Order for three generations . It was only a fortnight ago when he was for the twenty-third time installed as our Grand Master . I could not pass over this toast without saying something of our noble chief , but I can say nothing new of him , as you all know his amiability and his inflexible integrity , not only in Ins Masonic but in his everyday and private life , and all these Lord Zetland possesses in the

highest degree . I am charged to express his lordship ' s regret that he is unable to be present with us this evening , as his lordship is now iu Yorkshire , but there is one thing I am not charged with , and it is one that I will tell you , and that is , that his lordship has sent his usual contribution to the funds of this Charity . I therefore , brethren , give , " The Most Worshipful

the Grand Master , the Right Honourable the Earl of Zetland , Patron and President of the Institution . " The toast was ' most enthusiastically received . The CHAIRMAN said : The next toast on my list is " The Right Worshipful the Deputy Grand Master , the Right Honourable the Earl de Grey and Ripon , and the rest of the

Grand Officers , Past and Present . " Now , nothing can be of more advantage to our Society than that men of rank should accept office in our Order . The present Deputy Graud Master , the Earl de Grey and Ripon , is one of her Majesty ' s principal Secretaries of State , but yet , amidst the toils of office , he finds time to devote himself to our service , doing his work admirably ,

and promoting the best interests of the Craft . We have also a large number of Grand Officers present , and , I believe , a larger number than ever honoured us before . I could almost Avish to divide the toast into two , and , with your permission , I will call upon two brethren to return thanks . Amongst those supporting our Charities is our most noble Grand Master , but I am more pleased to see present the Provincial Grand Masters for Essex , Sussex , and Devon , and I thank them for honouring

us with their presence on this occasion . U would be impossible for mo to single one out , but this evening we have a noble brother , a Past Deputy Grand Master , who was also one of her Majesty's principal Secretaries of State , and for whoso wisdom , counsel , firmness , and conciliation we owe to him a deep debt of gratitude . He has been appointed Grand Master of Scotland , and wo may congratulate the brethren on the

other side of the Tweed on the choice they have made , and when he shall revisit the Grand Lodge of England , I can assure him that he will receive a warm and hearty welcome . I give you "The Deputy Grand Master and the rest of the Grand Officers , " coupling with tlie toast the names of tho Earl of Dalhousie and Colonel Bowyer .

Bro . the Earl of DALIIOVSIE said he had great pleasure on the present occasion in rising to return , thanks for the health , of the Deputy Grand Master and the rest of tho Grand Officers ; of Grand Lodge , hut if he failed in making those thanks effectual , it was because there was an innovation since he last had the pleasure of addressing Grand Lodge on a similar

occasion Avhich was likely to daunt oven the boldest orator . In these days we hear of cutting down men-of-war from three decks to one , but by some arrangement the Freemasons had increased their accommodation for the beauty by which they Avere then surrounded , by altering the place from one deck to three ( alluding to three tiers of seats in the ladies' gallery ) .

He must say that he never before saAV that hall so beautifully decorated . The Chairman had said it was to the advantage of the Craft that men of position should be placed in high offices . That might be so , but he had wisely added to it a condition that in accepting those offices , they should assume the character of working hees , and do their duty in the high positions in which the brethren had placed them . So

long as he ( the Earl of Dalhousie ) found himself in a position to do his duty , he felt it incumbent on him to do so in return for the honour the Grand Master had conferred upon him in making him Deputy Grand Master , but when he found from the distance he was removed and his occupations that he could not perform the duties they had a right to claim from him , he surrendered his office into the hands of those who could

perform the duties more efficiently . He thanked the Great Architect of the Universe , and he congratulated them that greater harmony never existed amongst the Craft than prevailed at the present moment , and he trusted that spirit might long prevail . Long might it exist , and as it gained additional strength , he trusted that never again would there

be any division amongst them , and that they might go together heart and hand in promoting love amongst the brethren , Avhich Avas the great characteristic of Freemasonry . In the name of the Deputy Grand Master and the Grand Officers , present as well as those absent , he thanked the brethren for the honour they had just conferred upon him .

Bro . Colonel BOWVER , Prov . G . M . Oxfordshire , returned thanks for the kind manner in which the toast had been responded to , and after the eloquent speech of the Eavl of Dalhousie it would ill become him tp . say much , except one word to say that he entirely re-echoed the truly Masonic sentiments he had expressed . He need say but little in returning thanks

for the Provincial Grand Masters unless it was to express a hope that they do their duty in advancing the principles of the Craft iu the position which it had pleased the Grand Master of England to place them . He thought the return of their subscription 3 must be gratifying to the heart of every Mason , for the great jewel of Freemasonry was charity . He thanked them in the name of the Provincial Grand Masters for their confidence , and they would have been present in greater numbers had not