The Masonic Mirror.

THE MASONIC MIRROR .

MASONIC MEMS . At the meeting of the Committee of the Royal Benevolent Institution for Aged Masons and their Widows , on Wednesday , the number of annuitants to be elected at the annual meeting , hi May , was fixed at twelve men , and eight widows .

THE BOYS' SCHOOL . The Anniversay Festival of this Institution was celebrated at the Freemasons' Tavern , on Wednesday last , the Right Hon . the Lord Mayor , Bro . Cubitt , P . G . W ., presiding , supported by Bros . Sir Lucius Curtis , Prov . G . M ., Hampshire ; B . Bond Cabbell , Prov . G . M ., Norfolk ; A . Perkins , J . G . W . ; W . G . Clarke , G . Sec . ;

Cromhie , S . G . D . ; Bridges , G . S . B . ; Farnfield , Asst . G . Sec . ; Lloyd , P . G . D . ; Potter , P . G . D . ; Scott , P . G . D . ; Hopwood , P . G . D . ; Slight , P . G . D . ; Ll . Evans , P . G . S . B . ; Spiers , P . G . S . B . ; Patten , P . G . S . B . ; Pocock , P . G . S . B ., P . G . D . C ; Rev . A . Picard , Prov . G . Chap ., Oxford ; Matthews , P . Prov . G . D ., Essex ; Adlard , Prov . G . D . C ., Essex ; Roberts , P . Prov . G . D ., Wilts ; Bros . Gammon , ancl Eagleton , Under Sheriffs ; Legh , M . P . for Cheshire , & c . The dinnerwhich was excellentlservedbeing concluded

, y , , The Ciun . ar _ . ir said , that he need not urge anything to stimulate the loyalty of an assembly of the brethren , as it was one of the main principles of their Craft . They had great reason to be proud and happy in drinking to the health of <• ' their beloved Sovereign " —not only on account of the position she occupied amongst the potentates of the world , not only on account of the vastness ' of her dominions , nor on account of the countless millions of subjects under her

sway , ox the wealth and . intelligence of her subjects , hut above ail for the ability with which she discharged the business of the country , the lustre she shed upon the throne , and the truly domestic virtues which had distinguished her reign . ( Applause . ) The CIIAIMIAN said , the next toast he had to propose was , "H . R . H . the Prince Consort , Albert , Prince of Wales , and the rest of the Royal Family . " From the time the Prince Consort first came toreside in this country he had constantlexercised his

y gifted mind in the endeavour to promote the success of the arts , to increase the comfort and prosperity of the people , and support the best interests of the country . The Prince of Wales had already shown himself worthy of the family from which he sprang ; he had in somewhat difficult circumstances displayed considerable prudence , wisdom , and courtesy , which had endeared him to all with whom he had heen brought into contact , and vindicated the

excellence of his education . His Royal parents had anxiously brought him up to the performance of his duties , and he had in all respects shown himself worthy of his position . ( Cheers . ) He gave then " His Royal Highness the Prince Consort , and the rest of the Royal Family . " ( Cheers . ) The Cn . viiiMi . is ' " had next to propose " The Health of the illustrious and distinguished President of the Institution , the M . W . G . M . of the Order . " Since his lordshihad been elected to

p the distinguished position lie held , he had given perfect satisfaction to the brethren , who regarded him with the greatest affection . From the first clay his lordship entered into office Freemasonry had been on the increase , and they as Freemasons rejoiced , because they knew the advantages which were thereb y bestowed , not merely ¦ on the Craft , but on society generally ; " for wherever Masonry extended , there they would find good ' conduct , right princiiiles , ion and '

relig loyalty , extend also . ( Cheers . ) Indeed , second only to their holy religion , Masonry was best calculated to improve and advance the condition of man . ( Cheers . ) They all rejoiced at the prosperity which hacl attended upon Freemasonry under the rule of their distinguished G . M ., the Right Hon . the Ea ' rl of Zetland , who not only took the greatest interest in t ' . ie general good of the Craft , but of every lodand individual connected with ' it miht

ge . Long g the Craft continue to enjov the advantage of his lordship's rule . ( Cheers . ) The CIIAIEMA ;* bad next to propose " The R . W . D . Grand Master , Earl Dalhousie ; tho Prov . Grand Masters , and the Present and Past Grand Officers . " He was proud to see himself surrounded by so many distinguished Grand Officers , past and present , who were always ready to testify their love for the Craft , and the interest

they tool : in the Charities of the Order . One ofthe great advantages of Freemasonry was that it neither excluded from its ranks the highest or the lowest members of society ; all were equal in Freemasonry . Whilst it contained within its ranks the most distinguished of mankind , it was open aliice to the working man , all that was required being that he should come well and worthily recommended . ( Cheers . ) All were delighted to endeavour to promote the interests of the Charities of the Order . Persons of tho

highest rank had ever been proud to wear the apron , and endeavour to carry on the good work . Indeed , even members of the Royal family had formerly graced their assemblies , and he hoped would at no distant date do so again . ( Cheers . ) He would couple with the toast the name of the Prov . Grand Master for Hampshire . ( Cheers . ) Bro . Sir Lucius CUBTIS returned thanks for the compliment paid to the D . G . M . and the other Grand Officers , assuring the

brethren that nothing gave them greater pleasure than to assist at their festive gatherings for the promotion of the interests of their charities . He had now great pleasure in proposing to them what he looked upon as the toast of the evening— " The Health of the distinguished Brother who that evening occupied the Chair "—11 brother not only highly respected throughout the Craft , but who enjoyed the fullest confidence of his fellow citizens , and was now the chief magistrate of the greatest commercial city in the civilised

world , as well as being a member of the legislature oftlie country , reflecting honour on every position which he held . ( Cheers . ) The CHAIHMAK could assure them he was deeply gratified and affected at the very kind manner in which his name had been received on that occasion . Nothing could be more satisfactory to any man than to find that his humble efforts to be useful to society were appreciated . ( Cheers . ) He had endeavoured to do his duty , and he was pleased to think he had g iven them satisfaction .

( Cheers . ) He was in this house a few weeks ago , when one of the best of Masons and most warm-hearted of men—who he regretted , was now * lying on a bed of sickness—came to him and said , " I wish , Sir , you would consent to occupy the chair for the Boys' School Festival . " He expressed his opinion that he would be unable to clo so , when his friend added , " I wish you could , Sir , for you would be doing a good thing if you could . " He reflected on the words , " you would be doing a good thing if you could , " especially coining he

from the lips of his poor dear friend , Bro . Crew —( cheers)—aud sent to ask him if he really thought he should be of any assistance to the school if he consented to take the chair , and when that brother said "Yes , Sir , " he added , then "I will come . " That was Hie history of hi . appearing before thorn this evening . One of the greatest pleasures of belonging to the Order was the feeling that each brother did all in his power to promote the welfare of his fellow-men . ( Cheers . ) There was 110 charity better bestowedthere were no services more valuable than those which were rendered to assist the poor orphans and destitute children of their

brethren in procuring a good and virtuous education . ( Cheers . ) Gf all charities , schools for the imparting of knowledge to the youngwere the best , and no possible exception could ever be taken to such charities , nothing could be better devised to assist the distress and . relieve the minds of sorrowful friends than an institution like this , which provided for a boy ' s education , ancl qualified him for the duties of after life . ( Cheers . ) He again thanked them for the compliment paid hiin . ( Applause . )

The pupils in the school were here introduced into the room , ancl being clothed in new dresses , the old round jackets liaving given way to tunics—a little too closely buttoned up , in our opinion , for the young—presented a very gratifying appearance , much contrasting with that they exhibited in the school when we visited it a feiv weeks since . The boys having been grouped in front of the head table , whilst the stewards nearly surrounded it , it was announced that Bro . . 1 . L .

Toole would deliver a recitation—which he proceeded to clo—but all that we could do was to hear the sound of his voice , without obtaining the slightest idea of what it was about—which , coupled , with the overpowering heat—caused considerable disatisfaetion , and cries of " Time , time , " being heard , Bro . Toole gave way—tiie Lord Mayor explaining that it would be better it should be given after the boys had left the room , whilst brethren in other parts of the hall , more advantageously situated for heatingwere lustily demanding

, that Bro . Toole should be heard . We certainly think it was rather injudicious of Bro . Toole's friends to put him forward at that particular time ; but it certainly showed a great want of taste on the part of the occupants of the head table to cry him down because of the inconvenience to which they were subjected . Bro , Toole , a most talented and amiable brother , came to offer his services gratuitously , to acid to the amusement of the brethren , and he had a riht to expect to lie treated with courtesy and respectand the

g , more especially by those occupying the seats of honour , with whom the interruption originated . The prizes were then presented , but to whom , or what was said by the Chairman , it was impossible , from the confusion whieh prevailed , to understand . The boys liaving retired , the CHAIRMAN informed Bro . Toole that the brethren would be happy to hear him , but he very properly

declined to again subject himself to annoyance , and Miss Susan Pyne being called upon , sang " The Skipper and his Boy , " with great feeling and pathos . The CIIAIE . MA- * said , before proposing the next toast , lie wished