The Masonic Mirror.

THE MASONIC MIRROR .

THE BOYS' SCHOOL . The Annual Festival of the Governors and Subscribers to this excellent Institution AA-as held at tlie Freemasons' Tavern on Wednesday , Viscount Holmesdale , Prov . Grand Master for Kent , presiding , in the absence of Lord Lei gh , Prov . Grand Master for Warwickshire , who Avas unable to attend in consequence of the death of his youngest child . His lordship Avas supported by

Lord Eichard Grosvenor , M . F ., S . G . AV . ; Capt . Bowyer , Prov . G . M . Oxford ; Col . Burlton , P . Prov . G . M ., Bengal ; EeA-. W . K . R . Bedford , G . Chap . ; Bros . Eaton , P . G . W . ; Potter , Udall , Scott , HaA-ers , Slight , Hopwood , Wilson , Patten , P . G . D . 's ; Spiers , P . G . S . B ., D . Prov . G . M . Oxford ; Chas . Elkington , P . G . S . B ., D . PrOA-. G . M . Warwickshire , Sir John Eatclifl ' e , C . Ratcliffe , and upAA-ards of fifty brethren from AVarwickshire ; Gooch , P . G . S . B ., D . Prov . G . M . AVilts ; BridgesP . G . S . B . D . Prov . G . M . SomersetPayne

, , ; , Prov . G . Treas . Somerset ; Evans , P . G . S . B ., President of the Colonial Board ; Harcourt , M . D ., P . G . D . C ., D . PrOA ' . G . M . Surrey ; Dobson , D . Prov . G . M . Kent ; Stebbing , P . G . AA . Hants , Alee-President of the Board of General Purposes ; Bannister , Prov . G . D . C . AA'est Lancashire ; Thompson , Prov . G . Beg . Herts ; P . Matthews , Prov . G . D . C . Essex ; Adlard , P . Prov . G . D . C . Essex ; Greemvood , Prov . G . Sec . Surrey , and a number of other brethren—about 350 in all . There Avere also upAvards of 200

ladies present , many of them being seated at the bottom of the hall in consequence of Avant of accommodation in the gallery . On the removal of the cloth , The noble VISCOUNT proposed " The health of Her Majesty , " Avho since her recent calamit y had received expressions of loyalty and sympathy from her subjects Avhich must have convinced her that she reigned in the hearts of her people . Freemasons Avere ever loyal , but neA'er ivas there an occasion in Avhich more devoted loyalty had been expressed than of late , and he had great pleasure in proposing the health of the Queen .

_ The toast Avas , at therequest of the Chairman , drunk in solemn silence . The CHAIRMAN had IIOAV to ask them to drink to "The health of the Prince of AVales and the rest of the Royal Family . " He belie \ 'ed they Avould drink it with especial favour , it . being the health of their future monarch , and though he trusted that it Avould be many before the Prince Avas called to the throne

years , they had the assurance that Avhen that event did occur , he AA'ould be found eminently fitted for his high position by the education he had received , and the example of his illustrious parents . The last time he had to propose this toast it was coupled with the name of the Prince Consort , whose loss they all so deeply deplored , and Avhich loss Avasa sufficient reason to ask them also to drink this toast in solemn silence .

The toast having been drunk , The CHAIRMAN proposed "The Health of the MW . Grand Master , the Earl of Zetland . " He knew that he need say but little to recommend the toast to their notice , for Avhoever had attended Grand Lodge , or had an opportunity of coming into contact with his lordship , must acknoAvledge the courtesy and kindness Avhich distinguished that nobleman , whose devotion to the interests of Freemasonry could not be excelled . ( Cheers . )

The CHAIRMAN had next to propose " The Health of the D . Grand Master and the rest of the Grand Officers . " The D . Grand Master had proved himself , both in public life and in Masonry , Avorthy of his high station , and the success ivhich had attended the volunteer movement under the auspices of the noble lord , Avas a sufficient proof that their Deputy Grand Master AA-as eminently fitted for the high position to Avhich he had been

called . The Grand Master and his Deputy , hoAvever , Avould be as nothing without a good staff of officers : that they had that staff Avas AVCII known , and he therefore Avould not } iass any eulogium upon them . He was surrounded by many of those officers , including Bro . Lord Eichard Grosvenor , Bro . Havers , and others ; and in asking them to drink the toast , he Avould couple it with the name of Lord Eichard Grosvenor ( Cheers )

. . Lord RICHARD GROSVENOR , M . P ., S . G . AV ., returned his sincere thanks on behalf of the Grand Officers and himself . He only regretted that the duty had not fallen into better hands , but he could assure the brethren that nothing gave him greater pleasure than to meet them in Freemasonry , especially in support of their excellent charitable institutions . ( Cheers . )

The CHAIRMAN having appealed to the brethren for silence the conversation having become so loud as completely to drown his lordship's voice , proceeded to give " The Health of Lord Leigh , " who he regretted Avas unable to be present , OAvin ° - to domestic affliction . Bro . Leigh had undertaken the duty of presiding over the festiA-als of their Charities for three years in succession , and took the deepest interest in their prosperity . But it Avas not in Freemasonry only that his

lordship displayed his charitable disposition , for on a late occasion , when great distress existed in his neighbourhood amongst the Coventry ribbon weavers , he nobly stood fonvard , and by his energy and perseverance organised a system of relief , which had been of great service ; and though others had liberall y responded to his lordship's appeal , it AA-as to him the poor people Avere mainly indebted for having so promptly and energeticall y

come forward to assist them . He ( Lord Holmesdale ) was happy to preside over the brethren , but he should have been more happy had Lord Leigh been present himself ; and in proposing that nobleman ' s health , he should call upon Bro . Elkington to respond to it . ( Cheers . ) Bro . CHARLES ELKINGTON , P . G . S . B ., D . Prov . G . M . War-Avickshire , regretted that it had fallen to his lot to respond to the toastbecause he deeply regretted the ahsence of the noble

, lord , and the cause which prevented his being present . He regretted it also because a large number of the Warwickshirebrethren had come up to support his lordship , Avhom they highly honoured and respected . He knew that his lordship had Avished to be present , ancl he Avould read them a letter whicli he had received that morning : — " DEAR BROTHER ELKINGTON , —You are aware that I have to >

lament the loss of my youngest child , AA-1 IO expired on Fridaylast . Under these circumstances it Avill be impossible for me to have the gratification of presiding at the Festival of the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys , next AVednesday , but I sincerely trust that the brethren will give their earnest ancl active support to the excellent charity you are met to promote , in the success of which I take the greatest interest myself , ancl to Avhich nothing but the sad cause I have already mentioned Avould haveprevented me from using every exertion to do all in my power personally to contribute . Wishing you a successful meeting , " Believe ine to be , yours very fraternally ,

"LEIGH . " Stoneleigh Abbey , 10 th March , 1862 . " However much they were disappointed at Lord Leigh's absence ,, and he felt the ladies in the gallery were much disappointed , none-Avere more so than Lord Leigh himself , for nothing gave him greater pleasure than Avhen he Avas presiding over the Charitiesof tbe Craft . He might mention that ivlien his lordship presided at the Festival of the Eoyal BeneA-olent Institution for Aged

Masons , the donations from Warwickshire amounted to £ 250 , about -10 of the brethren from the proA'ince being present . In 1 SG 1 , for the Girl ' s School , he had the pleasure of handing in a list of subscriptions for £ 4-30 , about fifty brethrenbeing present , and now he had to hand in a list of upAvards of £ 700 , there beingmore than fifty AA arwickshire brethren present . ( Cheers . ) He thought it a great pity that they had not a fourth charity , for the feeling Avhich had been evoked appeared to be on the increaseand the

, brethren AA-ere ahvays proud to support their Prov . G . M . ( Cheers . ) AVhilst deeply regretting the absence of Lord Leigh , he had to express his lordship's obligations to Lord Holmesdale for so kindly having come forward to fill his place ; and no brother could have better or more zealously performed the duty . ( Cheers . ) He hoped that Yorkshire and other provinces AA-ould emulate the example of AA arwickshire , so that their charities might take that position they desen-ed . In the name of Lord

Leigh he again thanked them for the compliment paid him , Avhich he Avas sure his lordship would highly appreciate ( Cheers . ) Capt . BOAVYER , PrOA-. G . M . Oxford , had the honour to propose a toast Avhich he kneAV Avould be cordially received , it being the health of the noble lord AVIIO then presided OA'er them . ( Cheers . ) He Avas sure his lordship deserved their thanks for the readiness ivith Avhich he had taken the duty , and a better

Chairman they could not have had . ( Cheers . ) The CHAIRMAN thanked tbem for the kind manner in which the toast had been proposed , and the great kindness with Avhich it had been responded to . He Avas extremely sorry that the ladies in the gallery should have been disappointed by the absence of Lord Leigh , and he deeply sympathised with them in their disappointment . Lord Leigh had many requisites for a Chairman Avhich he did not possess , especially more powerful lungs — ( laughter ) — and a greater acquaintance Avith their