The Masonic Mirror

THE MASONIC MIRROR

MASONIC MEM . We understand that at the approaching election in May , of Annuitants on the Funds of the Royal Benevolent Institution for Aged Masons and their- Widows there will be vacancies for eight meu and six widows .

IIOYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOE BOYS . The annual festival of this Institution was held at the Freemasons' Tavern , on Wednesday last , Bro . the Eight Hon . the Earl De Grey and Eipon , D . G . M . presiding , supported by the Earl of Zetland , M . W . 'G . M . ; Bros . Stuart , Prov . G . M . Herts ; Dobie , Prov . G . M . Surrey ; Havers , u . G . W . j J . LI . Evans ,

President of the Board of General Purposes ; Capt . Creaton , J . G . D . ; Eev . Dr . Senior , P . G . Chap . ; jEmpson , G . S . B . ; Bradford , Assist . G . Dir . of Cers . ; Daukes , G . Supt . of Works ; Farnfiold , Assist . G . Sec . ; Dickie , G . Purst . ; Potter , Udall , Wilson , Hopwood , P . G . D . s ; Le Veau , P . G . S . B . ; Bridges , P . G . S . B ., J ) . Prov . G . M . Somersetshire ; Ven . Archdeacon Freer , D . Prov .

G . M- Hereford ; Stebhing , P . Prov . G . W . Hants , Vice-President of the Board of General Purposes ; T . P . Payne , "P . Prov . G . Keg . Hants ; Sherry , P . Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . Hants ; Chick , P . Prov . G . W . Bristol ; Sir M . H . ' ^ Beach , Bart ., P . Prov . G . W . Gloucester ; Major Edwards , M . P ., P . Prov . G . W ., Eev . A . F . A . Woodford , P . Prov . G . W ., Gath , P . Prov . G . W .,

Nelson , Prov . G . Sec , Franklin , P . Prov . G . W ., Inchhold , P . prov . G . Purst ., Summerscales . Langdon , Keith , Scott , Anderton , Hill , Perkinglon , Gaunt , Sutcliffe , T . Smith , A . Wood , and Fox , West Yorkshire ; Stuart and Paas , P . Prov . G . D . 's Essex ,-Thompson , Prov . G . D . Herts , and about two hundred other brethren .

The cloth having been removed and grace sung , The R . W . D . G . MASTER said the first toast on this , as on every other occasion , was " The Health of her Majesty the Queen . " ( Cheers . ) The last time he had occasion to propose her Majesty's health in that room , it was his sad duty to recall to their recollection the painful circumstances connected with the past year ,

which had plunged her Majesty £ and the country in mourning . They had now to drink her Majesty's health under happier auspices ; but no oue v . dio had witnessed the gorgeous scene of the previous day could do otherwise than feel that it must recall to the mind of her Majesty memories of the past which entitled her to a fresh outbreak of sympathy from a sorrowing nation .

( Cheers . ) The D . G . MASTER had now to propose an old toast with a new face . The toast was " The rest of the Eoyal Family ; " but it included the name of one whose health probably was about to be drunk for the first time in public—Her Eoyal Highness the Princess of Wales . ( Cheers . ) It would be only like

attempting to gild refined gold , paint the lily , or add another perfume to the violet , where he to endeavour to describe the feelings of every man and every woman of the country which "ad called forth upon her Eoyal Highness words of blessing and of welcome during the last few clays . ( Cheers . ) Other countries might have given her a more gorgeous welcome ,

though he believed even that would be difficult . Other countries might have crowded the streets with troops , but England * id her Volunteers , ( cheers ) , nnd nothing could have added to the expression of a people's affections as evinced on Saturday . ( Cheers . ) He was sure it required no further words of his to mduce them to drink most cordially the health of the Prince and Princess of Wales . ( Cheers . )

The D . G . MASTER said the next toast he found on the list was one he always gave with great pleasure— "The Army , Navy , and Volunteers . " ( Cheers . ) They were apt to regard the services of the army aud navy as only of value in time of war , but those who had been situated as he had been with regard to the army and navy were aware of the onerous aud important duties they had to perforin in times of peace , and

which entitled them to the thanks of their countrymen ; They had now a most important addition to their military defences in the Yeomanry and Volunteers . ( Cheers . ) The latter had only been established a little more than two year 3 , yet they had taken deep root in the country and become a part of their established institutions . ( Cheers . ) He was happy in being

enabled to couple with the toast the name of a distinguished brother of his own province-Major Edwards , who was as good a Mason as he was a yeomanry officer . ( Cheers . ) Major F / DWARDS , M . P ., had never been taken more by surprise than he then was at being called upon to return thanks for the Army , Navy , and Volunteers . ( Cheers . ) The first duty

of a soldier was obedience to his commanding officer , and he , therefore , would do his best to respond to the kindness of the noble earl and the brethren . The brilliant deeds of the British army and navy were indelibly written in the pages of history , and required no words of his to recall them to the memory of their countrymen . ( Cheers . ) As a yeomanry officer , and highly

appreciating the value of that force , perhaps the less he said about it the better ; but he could ^ not forget the rifle volunteers , which , springing almost from nothing , had now swelled to au efficient army of 170 , 000 men , of which Britons might well be proud . ( Cheers . ) In their name and on their behalf he cordially thanked the brethren for the compliment they had paid them . ( Cheers . )

The D . PROV . G . MASTER said the next toast he had to propose was one which was certain to meet with an enthusiastic reception from this and every other assembly of Freemasonsthe health of the Most Worshipful Grand Master . ( Cheers . ) They all knew his worth—his public and private character—his zeal for the interests of the Craft—and his prolonged services to Masonry . ( Cheers . ) It would be needless for him ( the D . G .

Master ) to endeavour to go over all those services , as they were written in the grateful recollections of the brethren . ( Cheers . ) On the present occasion he had especially honoured them by his presence—not to take a prominent part in the proceedings—not to occupy the chair—but to evince he interest he took in the prosperity and progress of the noble Institution the Festival of

which they had met that evening to celebrate . On his own part , he must tender his noble brother his best thanks for the support he had given him that evening , and , without one word more , he would ask them to drink the health of the M . W . Grand Master . ( Cheers . ) The M . W . G . MASTER thanked the brethren most sincerely for

the manner in which they had i-eceived the toast so kindly pro « posed by the noble D . G . Master . He had so often expressed his thanks to the brethren for similar compliments , that he felt it impossible to vary the terms of his acknowledgment of their kindness , but he trusted they would believe he most sincerely and cordially responded to their good wishes . ( Cheers . ) He

was delighted to see the chair occupied upon that occasion by the D . G . Master , for he felt that he had so often filled it himself that he should give other brethren the opportunity of taking the duty off his hands , so that the brethren should not hear the same speech upon every occasion . ( Cheers and laughter . ) He was proud to see the prosperity which was atttending all their charities , and it afforded him great pleasure , whenever his health and time would admit , to attend their annual festivals . The noble