The Masonic Mirror.

THE MASONIC MIRROR .

BOYAL FREEMASONS' SCHOOL FOR FEMALE CHILDREN . The seventy-seventh anniversary festival of this Institution was celebrated on Wednesday evening , May 10 th , at the Freemasons' Hall . Lord De Tabley , P . G . W ., and Prov . G . M . for Cheshire ( recently appointed in the room of Viscount

Combermere , O . C . 3 ., deceased ) took the chair in the absence of Bro . John Havers , P . G . W ., who ivas prevented from attending in consequence of a severe domestic affliction , supported by Bros . Colonel BoAvyer , Prov . G . M . for Oxfordshire ; Spiers , D . Prov . G . M . for Oxfordshire ; Llewellyn Evans , President of the Board of General Purposes ; Gray Clarke , G . Sec ; John Emmans ,

G . Purst . ; Hopivood , President of the Colonial Board ; Leivis Crombie , Cox , Symonds , Udall , Bradford , and Parkins , P . G . D . ' s ; Binckes , Secretary of the Boys' School ; Patten , Secretary of the Girls' School ; the Eev . Joseph Huyshe , P . G . Chap ., aud D . Proi * . G . M . for Devonshire ; Dr . Hogg , P . M . 171 ; Thos . Wilson , W . M . 569 ; Peter Matthews , P . M .,

and Sec . 569 ; Wntson , P . M . 23 ; Farnfield , Assist . G . Sec ; Brydges , D . Prov . G . M . Somersetshire ; Hyde Pullen , P . G . D . ; Muggeridge , P . M . 217 ; J . R . Sheen , P . M . 186 ; and about thirty brethren of the Fitzroy Lodge , headed by Bros . Thos . Wilson , W . M . ; Watson , S . W . ; and Maddiek , J . W ., who all appeared in the scarlet or blue uniform of the Hon . Artillery

Company ; and their appearance in such numbers formed a marked feature amongst those assembled . They received the first honour from the noble Chairman at the banquet table , but had to acknowledge many similar compliments in the course of the evening . There were , besides , Masters and Wardens of other lodges , amounting altogether to about 300 in number .

The banquet was of the usual style proverbial Avith Bros . Elkington and Shvesvsbury , and although the catering has descended to the new company , it has in no Avay suffered by the alteration , for as far as we heard it gave very general satisfaction . The cloth having been drawn , grace Avas sung by the professional singers . The CHAIRMAN soon afterwards rose and alluded , in very

feeling terms , to the absence of the talented , brother who AVRS to have presided over them upon that occasion , who had been struck down by a severe domestic affliction in the loss of his son , whom in a letter ivhich he ( the noble chairman ) received yesterday he described as " the light and life of his home ;" and in his great affliction he had written to him asking him

to take the place which thafc brother ivould so ivorthily have filled that evening . Now , he ( the noble chairman ) considered that as a Mason his first duty was to render assissance to a brother Mason in distress , he readily complied with his reqncst , as he knew he coulcl confidently rely upon the support of the brethren he saiv around him . Having said thus much he begged

to propose the toast which ivas foremost in the heart of every Englishman , as it was the health of the gracious and illustrious ilacly who occupied the throne of this country , Avhose example Avas as powerful as her dominions , and she possessed the esteem of her grateful and loyal subjects . He proposed "The Health of her most Gracious Majesty the Queen . " ( Loud cheers . )

Tliis was followed by the National Anthem , the solo parts by Bro . George Perren , Miss Palmer , and Madame Parepa . The CHAIRMAN said he rose to propose *• the Health of their Eoyal Highnesses the Prince ancl Princess of Wales and the rest of the Eoyal Family , " and in doing so he coulcl but advert to the right Avorthy way in Avhich his Eoyal Highness the

Prince of Wales , over since ho came to manhood had been discharging the duties of his exalted position . AVlienovcr duties ivere to be discharged his Royal Highness was foremost amongst men , whether it was to discharge a public duty or to benefit the sacred cause of charity ; and at the present moment he was discharging a public duty in the sister kingdom . He

( the chairman ) ivas glad that he had gone to Ireland , as it must prove a great gratification to the loyalty of tho country , and would spread abroad a just estimate of his high qualities . He trusted that the day was not far distant Avhen they might hail him as a brother Mason ; but whether a Mason or not , as Lord Zetland truly said at the Grand Festival , he was ready to perform or discharge those duties which they as Masons felt themselves proud in performing . Ho therefore called upon them to drink with enthusiasm the toast ivhich he had

proposed . The toast was very cordially responded to , followed by the quartet "Dormi pur , " from "Martha , " by Madame Parepa , Miss Palmer , and Bros . George Perren and Allan Young . The CHAIEIIAS said he hail again to appeal to the brethren , and he felt assured , from the enthusiastic manner in Avhich the two last toasts he hud the honour to propose had been responded

to , the one he had then to give ivould be received ivith no less cordiality . The toast he lud then the honour to propose was " The Health of the- Most Worshipful the Grand Master , the Right Honourable the Eurl of Zetland , Patron ancl President of the Institution . " ( Applause . ) No ivords of his ivere required to recommend that toast , and the enthusiastic way in

ivhich it was received spoke volumes , for everyone applauded the name of the Earl of Zetland , ivho for twenty-two years had been their Grand Master . They all united in one sentiment of devotion towards him , and appreciated the ability and Mildness ivith ivhich he had discharged his duties . Without further preface , he would call upon them , by no lip service , but from

the bottom of their hearts , to drink the health of the Most Worshipful Grand Master , the Earl of Zetland . Drunk with immense cheering . The OHAIBXIAU then said that the efficiency of any command depended greatly on the Avay in which that command was supported by the deputy officers ; ancl ho considered that the

Craft ivas very lucky in having iu their service as Deputy Grand Master so distinguished a Masou as the Earl de Grey and Eipon . ( Cheers . ) It was not often that the Craft ivas honoured by the services of a Cabinet Minister , aud it ivas not often thafc a Cabinet Minister could devote so much time to

the interests of the Craffc as the Earl de Grey and Ripon . He asked them to drink "The Health of the Right Worshipful the Deputy Grand Muster , the Eight Honourable the Earl de Grey and Ripon , and the rest of the Grand Officers , Past and Present , " coupling with tho toast the name of Bro . Colonel Bowyer , Prov . G . M . for Oxfordshire . ( Loud cheers . )

Bro . Colonel BOAVSTEE said , —It was only afc that moment that he knew ho should have the honour of returning thanks for tho toast which their noble brother who presided over them had then proposed . Ho felt most deeply grateful to the Deputy Grand Muster for all the services rendered to the state and still more so for the time he ivas able to devote fco the interests of

Freemasonry , as to the Grand Officers who ivere , in the judgment of the Grand Master , worthy of that honour . They Avere brethren who were accomplished in the proficiency of the art , aucl were not only anxious but successful in carrying forward the great principles of Freemasonry and the interests of the Craft . He ivould not mention all their names , but there was one name he would mention , aucl that Avas Bro . Clarke , the Grand Secretary , ivho rendered important services . As to the