The Masonic Mirror.

Provincial Grand Masters , modesty prevented him from saying all he would otherwise have said in their favour , but from the condition of the provinces and the prosperity of the Great Charities , and tho liberal way in ivhich their country brethren came forward , they would agree ivith him thafc although the Provincial Grand Musters did nofc assemble there in large

numbers , that they had clone their duty . He thanked the brethren cordially for the toast which he had had the honour of responding to . When this toast had been disposed of , there folloived the most interesting part of the proceedings of the evening . The whole of the children belonging to the School were introduced , and

their neat attire and healthy and cheerful appearance bore testimony to the care bestowed upon them , and ivas one of the happy ancl practical proofs of the value and excellence of Freemasonry . Ifc was , indeed , a sight which coulcl not be witnessed Avithout strong emotions , when ifc is known that out of these hundred children many of them are orphans , who are clothed ,

maintained , and educated , and , as the printed address states , " This institution has preserved numbers of children from the dangers and misfortunes to which females are peculiarly exposed , trained them up in the knowledge and love of virtue and habits of industry , and cultivated the practice of such social , moral , and religious duties , as might best conduce to their

temporal welfare and eternal happiness . " The address went on to say , " The establishment consists of a matron , a governess , ancl three assistants ; a gardener , whose Avife assists in the household duties , ancl two female servants . An enlarged system of education has for some time past been in operation , and by a recent enactment , children remain in the establishment till sixteen years of age . The number in the School has hitherto been limited to eighty , but accommodation for increasing that number

to one hundred lias been provided , by building an extra iving , at a cost of upwards of £ 1 , 500 . This , together Avith an additional annual outlay of £ 600 for the maintenance of the twenty additional children , all of whom have been admitted , render it necessary that a special and earnest appeal be made to tho Craft for funds to carry out so desirable au object . " The children , in addition to the customary education which

such establishments afford , are employed by turns in all the domestic duties of the house , and great care is taken to make them expert in needlework , so that they may be useful members of society when they leave the School . " The Treasurer , Mr . Benjamin Bond Cabbell , led the procession of the children round the hall with the two smallest children ,

Avho , on reaching the part of the dais immediately opposite to the noble Chairman , saluted him in the most graceful manner , the remaining children , two and two , following and saluting in a similar way , the tallest coming last , the stewards , matron , schoolmistresses , and members of the House Committee closing the procession . AVhile tho children wore marching round the

hall they were accompanied by two of their schoolfellows , Campbell and Kate Amelio Abbott Emily Mary , on the pianoforte . Having made a circuit of tlie hall , tho children assembled on the dais , the shortest in front , the stewards ranging themselves behind the Chairman's table , ivhen the children sung with great taste the " Festival hymn . "

Bro . SPENCER , the toast-master , then called upon the brethren to fill bumpers for tlie next toast . The CHAIR - said , —You have rightly , as I think , been called upon to fill a bumper toast , for if ever tho assembly I have now the honour to address was willing to drain tiiat bumper to its last drop I am sure it ivill clo so in honour of that Institution , whose seventy-seventh anniversary we are here assembled to celebrate to-day . If anything could inspire

you , brethren , ivith a desire to promote to the utmost of your power the well being of that Institution , it would be the interesting sight you havo just seen Avithin these Avails . It is not the first time I have had the honour , ou such an occasion as this . I do not forget five years ago , I occupied the proud position of president at the anniversary of the Freemasons' School

for Female Children . I now appear , as I hai' 0 explained to you , the feeble substitute of another . On the last occasion , I remember that I visited the school before the anniversary festival took place . I visited it yesterday also . I will not repeat to you Avhat I saicl on the former occasion ; I will only say I found the same order , tho same regularity , the same attention to

discipline ancl to the comfort of the children , ancl the same cheer » fulness and healthiness of the children under the most excellent superintendence of Miss Jarwood as I found before . I am happy to say I found much more—I found that the house since the last occasion on ivhich I ivas there had been considerably enlarged—a new wing hacl been built , affording accommodation

for more than twenty additional children . When I went there in 1860 the building would only contain 76 children . There are now 102 . This has not been done for nothing , for you may be sure the extra accommodation has cost an extra £ 1 , 500 , which has been paid Avithout encroaching on your trust fund . Tlie extra expense ot these twenty children has been £ 600

a year ; ancl now comes the only painful point in the whole thing . I am told that the subscriptions during the past year have fallen off just £ 600 . I hope that the statement I now make to you , that increased accommodation hasbeen afforded for twenty additional children , will incite the provincial brethren to support the Committee in keeping the School in a state of efficiency , and that we shall be able to meet the expense without encroaching on our funded

property . That is what AA * O have to do , and I am convinced that it Avill be done . The energies of the brethren in the country will not allow this excellent Institution to be otherwise than in a most flourishing state . When last I presided ,, the lists were larger than ever they ivere before . The success that may attend us this time I hope ivill always attend our '

efforts , and I hope that the tree ivill bud and blossom , ancl will produce fruits which shall ripen for you hereafter ; aud I trust thafc you ivill support this valuable Institution . Do not let the sacred cause of charity fail for the Avant of the advice of thafc able man whose place I now fill . Let those faces which you have seen plead their cause more eloquently than I can do ;

and let mo express the hope and earnest prayer in which I am sure I am joined by everybody present , thafc this excellent Institution may flourish ancl continue in prosperity , and be a credit to the Craffc for ever and for ever . Brethren , I now give you " Success to the Royal Freemasons' School for Female Children , ancl tlie President ancl Vice-Presidents of that

Institution . " ( Cheers ) . The toast having been most enthusiastically responded to , Bro . UDAIII , P . G . D ., ami one of the Vice-Presidents of the School , returned thanks on behalf of the President ancl Vice-Presidents for the manner in which their healths had been drunk , and he said he had no doubt they would have greatly

increased subscriptions , for by the brilliant and happy faces of those ho saw before him , he ivas sure the brethren had come to support the charity . He trusted that they wonid never require their children to be placed in the institution , but . if they should they knew they ivould be attended to as if they had their father , and in conclusion ho wished them long life and happiness .

( Cheers . ) Bro . Patten , Sec , then presented to the Chairman Arabella Bulleii Commins to receive from his hands the medal awarded