The Masonic Mirror.

THE MASONIC MIRROR .

MASONIC MEM . The History of Freemasonry , of Bro . J . G . Findel , Leipzig , ( 2 vols . ) , will be published in a few months , in a French translation at Brussels , hy Lacroix , Verbockhoven and Co .

The Girls' School.

THE GIRLS' SCHOOL .

The Anniversary Festival ofthe friends of this excellent institution was celebrated at the Freemasons' Tavern on Wednesday , Iiis Grace the Duke of S 6 . Albans , Prov . G . M . for Lincolnshire , presiding , supported hy Bros : Dundas , M . P ., P . G . W . ; Evans , President of the Board of General Purposes ; Clarke , G . Sec ; Head , S . G . D . ; Webb , J . G . D . ; Blake , Potter , Udall

Wilson , Giraud , Seott , and Crombie , P . G . D . ' s ; Woods , G . D . C ; Xutt , Assist . G . Dir . of Cers . ; Rev . W . K . R . Bedford , G . Chap . ; Bmpson , Bradford , and Bridges , P . G . S . B . ' s . ; Farnfield , Assist . G . Sec ; Stimson , G . Org . ; and about 200 other brethren , there heingalso nearly 140 ladies accommodated in thegallery ( enlarged for the occasion by Bro . Step ) and on seats erected at the bottom of the hall .

At the conclusion of the dinner , which was admirablyserved—The noble CHAIRMAN said he did not believe that it would be possible to find an assembly of Englishmen , and certainly not of Freemasons , in which the toast he was about to propose could he received otherwise than with loyalty and enthusiasm . ( Cheers . ) Her Majesty was respected as the daughter of a

Freemason , and beloved as a lady and a queen . ( Cheers . ) He gave "The Health of her Majesty the Queen . " ( Cheers . ) The CHAIRMAN had next to propose "The Health of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales , and the rest of the Royal Family . " ( Cheers . ) Those who know his Royal Highness , as he knew him , could not be insensible to the excellence of his heart , whilst a reference to the noble speech which

his Royal Highness made at the Royal Academy dinner a few days since would clearly show the principles by which he was actuated , and by which he proposed to guide his life . ( Cheers . ) Ofthe young northern lady whom they hael seen enter London the other day , he could only say that she hael won all hearts . ( Cheers . ) And he trusted the marriage of the Prince and Princess of Wales might be productive of happiness to themselves , and conducive to the interests of the country . ( Cheers . ) The Royal family of this country had recently had a great compliment paid to it by the offer of the throne of Greece to Prince

Alfred ( Cheers ); and though from State reasons his Royal Highness could not accept the offer , it showed how the Royal family of England must he looked up to when a free and distant people voluntarily selected one of its members to offer him a crown . ( Cheers . ) The CitAiitMAN had next to propose a toast which was always received with love and affection . The M . W . Grand Master had intended to have been present that eveningbut was

unfor-, tunately prevented by severe illness from attending . He knew they would all deeply regret the cause which had deprived them of the pleasure of his Lordship ' s presence , and give a hearty and enthusiastic reception to the health of the M . W . Grand Master . ( Cheers . ) The CHAIRMAN had now to propose "The Health of the Deputy Grand Master and the other Grand Officers , Past and

Present . " He regretted that the Deputy Grand Master was not present , knowing how deep was his sympathy with the object of their meeting ; but he had no doubt his Lordship was prevented attending by his public duties . Of the other Grand Officers , he could only say that he believed they endeavoured to deserve , and no doubt enjoyed , the confidence of the Craft . ( Cheers . ) Bro . EVANS , President of Ihr Board of General Purposes , returned thanks . On the purt of the Deputy Grand Master , he need say but little , as they were well aware how well his

Lordship discharged his duties , both in and out of the lodge ( cheers ) , and he could only express a hope that the high position to which his Lordship had been called in her Majesty's Councils , would not prevent his attendance to his Masonic duties . ( Cheers . ) For the rest of the Grand Officers , both for those absent in body , but he was sure present in spirit , and those by whom he was surrounded , he could only say , that they endeavoured to perform their duties to the best of their ability ;

and were proud to take any opportunity of forwarding those great principles of Masonry which they had sincerely at heart . ( Cheers . ) Bro . DUNDAS , P . G . W ., said , he had the agreeable duty of proposing a toast which was sure to be received most cordially ; it was the health of the noble Duke ( cheers ) , who that eveningpresided over the Festival of a charity in th * prosperity of

which all good Masons took a deep interest . ( Cheers . ) He could assure them that the noble Duke took a strong interest in the Girls' School , and had personally visited it , in order that he might be the better enabled to speak as to position ancl efficiency . ( Cheers . ) He gave them "The Health of his Grace the Duke of St . Alban's , Prov . G . M . for Lincolnshire , and Chairman of the day , with thanks for his attendance . " ( Cheers . )

The CHAIRMAN begged to thank his R . W . brother for the kind manner in which they had received the toast , and the brethren for so cordially responding to it . He could assure them that he did take a deep interest in the prosperity of this interesting Charity , which had been most liberally supported for many years , and he trusted that that support woulcl not prove the less this through deficiency of his . ( Cheers . )

year any JThe children were here introduced and conducted round the room , forming a most interesting procession , the children looking happy , healthy , and contented , the only drawback to the procession being the introduction amid the girls of the members of the House Committee , who in future we would advise either to head the procession , bring up the rear , or retain their seats . The children having sung the festival hymn ,

The CITAIUMAN said in proposing the toast of "The Treasurer of the Institution , Bro . Benjamin " Bond Cabbell , and Success to the Royal Freemasons' School for Female Children , " he felt that he had a somewhat difficult task to perform , for he knew

how successful had been the Institution , and how growing its piosperity from its establishment in 1798 ; but he felt the less difficulty because he was sure the Craft would not let it suffer from any shortcomings of his in advocating its claims to support . He knew tho value of education for the people , and for his own part he could wish that the education of the poor and the orphan wasplacedonsuchafootingby the State as tobe altogether relieved from the fickle support of any body ofthe community ; but he was

sure that the Craft would never leave such an Institution as this unsupported . ( Hear , hear . ) He had no doubt that the majority of the bretliren present knew better than he did the value of this institution . It was established in 1783 , when a school house was obtained in St . George's Fields , at a cost of £ 3 , 000 . In 1851 , however , the neighbourhood having deteriorated , the site being unhealthy , and the lease having expired , the

Committee determined upon removing , and wisely , in his opinion , fixed upon the beautiful and salubrious site at St . John ' s Hill , Battersea , where the school now stood . Upon this site was erected a commodious school house , capable of accommodating eighty children , at a cost of £ 11 , 000 . ( Cheers . ) The school had p , one on flourishing- from that date , ancl having a surplus in handthe Committee had recentldeemed it advisableto further

, y , increase the capabilities of the school , by the erection of a new wing , which had cost £ 1800 , and which would allow the Committee when the funds permitted , to increase the number of children in the school to 100 . ( Cheers . ) The building stood on a beautiful plot of ground , of ahout two-and-a-half acres , the original cost of which was £ 800 , but which , from the rise in the value of property in the vicinity of the metropolis , was now worth

much more . Having their establishment once formed , there could be no doubt that 100 children could be supported at a less average than SO , but still to allow the Committee to increase the number , at present accommodated , a large claim must be made upon the liberality of the brethren , which he was sure they would respond to . ( Cheers . ) He visited tlie school on Saturday last , and though he entered the grounds with feelings of leasure

p , his pleasure was much enhanced before leaving , never having seen any building which , throughout , exhibitedgreater cleanliness and neatness . He was also much pleased to find that the children , by their own exertions , greatly contributed to that cleanliness , and the general economy of the establishment .