The Masonic Mirror.

their presence . ( Cheers ) . There had been introduced into Masonic institutions , during the last year or two , an active , benevolent , and vast support from the ladies of England—( cheers)—by the wives , sisters , daughters , and sweethearts of Masons , who thought that they would he doing something worthy of the ancient Craft and adding glory to its other excellences by supporting institutions devoted to objects of benevolence and charity , and which cemented the beauty , the power

and perfection of their ancient and honourable institution . ( CLeers . ) In times gone by , when Masonry consisted in the practice of the arts and sciences , there was , no doubt , the deep bond of learning and tho power of knowledge to keep them together . Dating back from the oldest times , they were the men under whose power and skill had risen those great and beautiful specimens of architecture which studded this and other lands . That time had passed awayand knowledge had

, spread over the world in every direction ; and they now had a more bright and beautiful existence in the practice of charity ; in the every day exercise of benevolence and kindness one towards each other . ( Cheers . ) It was not the mere selfish practice of brother helping brother ; they gave aid to the widow , and when the father was gone , and when the widow was gone , the children were still dear to the hearts of Freemasons . ( Cheers . ) They succoured and Iielped them , and

they saw by the assembly of to-day , by the happy countenances of the children , and the numbers assembled , that Masons thought of those who would come after them , and helped those who needed their succour and support when they had none to help them . ( Cheers . ) There was no institution in England at the present day that had done that whicli had been done by the Masonic institution for charity . On their great festivals , when they met together to enjoy the pleasure and happiness of each

other's company , when the cheerful glass was sent round , and brother united with brother , and old friendships wore renewed , they did not forget those who were less cared for than themselves ; and this institution , on the occasion of its three festivals , subscribed for the cause of benevolence and charitj the princely sum of £ 10 , 000 . ( Cheers . ) It was his boast and happiness to belong to sucli an institution as this . ( Cheers . ) They had their quaint old ceremonies ; their ancient practices ; they had their

secret—if there was a secret—which was composed of knowing each other , and a vast deal more , of doing good to the world at large . ( Cheers . ) It was true they had their old customs ; but their brightest star—the brightest gem in the Masonic crownwas their Charities . ( Cheers . ) They not only did good to each other ; hut those who were dependent on them—the poor brethren , the widow , the son and the daughter of Masons—were cared for on every occasion . ( Cheers . ) There were in the old Masonic song those beautiful

lines"No mortal more can the ladies adore , Than a free and accepted Mason . And he would tell them how they showed it . They did not show it alone in daily kindness and constant love ; in that attention which they always demanded and which they were delighted to render . But they showed it also when their heavenly countenances were withdrawn from them ; when they had passed

away ; when those they had loved had gone to another bourne ; they showed it in love to their children—by affording protection to the orphan , assistance to the aged , and in kindness to all they had loved and cherised . ( Cheers . ) In proposing the toast he would connect with it the name of Bro . Hopgood , the chairman of the Committe of this School , a sound hearted man , a loving brother , who walked the world for the good he could do his fellow creatures . ( Cheers . ) After making an earnest

appeal on behalf of the school , he proposed " Prosperity to the Masonic Charities , " ami most of all the Boys' School , which was Jepresented so happily and gloriously hero to-day . ( Loud and long continued cheering . ) Bro . HOPGOOD , P . S . D ., in responding , said he had long felt that the Charities of the Masonic Order were among the most worthy of emulation among all the great Charities of the

kingdom . ( Cheers . ) They were , comparatively speaking , but a small body ; and they had but little aid from those who did not belong to them . He believed there were few if any here who did not belong to them , and he was hound to acknowledge the aid and assistance of all those ladies who were connected with Masons , who most ably assisted them in their great work . ( Cheers . ) Nothing could have been more gratifying or more pleasing to the house committee of the Boys' School than to have been present on the occasion , and to have been received

in so kind a manner as they had been received by their brethren of this province . ( Cheers . ) He must here very properly and fairly say that this was one of the provinces which had rendered them a great deal of assistance , and which had come forward and dealt with them most liberally . He did not think , from what he saw before him , there was any necessity for him to ask for assistance , because he was convinced from the feelingwhich had been manifested in this province to-day , that

everything that could be done would be done to help on the great cause in which they were engaged—the building of a large school-house , and they hoped to receive as many as they could send from their province as well as from others . ( Cheers . ) Masonry was universal , and in its universality it was desirous of extending the benefits of this school to every province in the kingdom . ( Cheers . ) The school would cost a great deal of money ; he did not come to beg , but he would call upon them

to act Masonically —( cheers)—and that was all he would say on the subject . But this brought him to a subject of very great regret , and which he thought they would share with him , which was that Bro . Binckes , the secretary of the institution , a most , indefatigable man , in whom they placed great reliance and great trust , and who was deserving of it , was unfortunately laid on a sick bed through an accident , and his absence was regretted by a great many under that canopy and by those who

were more intimately connected with him , and he earnestly wished for his speedy recovery . ( Cheers . ) Their liberality and kindness brought them here in the way of a treat to the boys that probably some of them would never have again . The pains and labour that had been bestowed by the brethren in conducting the children round the dockyard , and offering an opportunity of seeing that which to their young minds must have been a great and important treat , entitled the brethren to their

most grateful thanks . ( Cheers . ) His desire was to have a strong and lasting connection between the province of Hampshire and the members of their fraternity in London , and he offered them his most grateful thanks for what they had done , with every expectation and reliance on their giving them their support in what might be ultimately required from them . ( Cheers . ) Bro . J . BAKER , AV . M . 487 , briefly proposed " The Railway

Company , and the Steam Packet Company , " who had kindly placed a steam packet at their disposal . ( Cheers . ) Mr . J . F . PRATT , J . P ., the Chairman of the Portsmouth and . Ryde Steam Packet Company , briefly returned thanks . Bro . Dr . MIIXER proposed " The Health of Bro . H . Hollingsworth , " and said that both as a Mason and a man he was highly charitable . He took an active part in supporting the Marines ' Orphan School , which , although a national institution , had a

local connection . The lively interest he took in this Charity was evidenced by his having given them this splendid tent to meet in this day . He proposed his health , with all the honours . ( Cheers . ) Bro . HOLEINGSWORTH briefly returned thanks . Bro . UDAEE said he had great pleasure in proposing a toast which he was sure would be very gratefully received by them . He was sure that the visitors were very much obliged to the

chairman , and every person in the tent must have witnessed with delight the manner in which he had performed the duties of the chair . He proposed long life and happiness to him , and he asked the boys to give a hearty hurrah , and may he live for ever . ( Loud cheers . ) The CHAIRMAN - briefly returned thanks , and trusted that this was not the last reunion of the kind that would take place

here . ( Cheers . ) Bro . STEBBING said he bad been requested before the meeting separated to pay a tribute of gratitude to the great exertions of the committee , who had arranged the visit so successfully and provided so largely for the eomloi-t of the visitors . In proposing " The Health of the Committee , " he must put in a most prominent position their worshipful and most excellent brother—Bro . Emery . ( Cheers . ) He was devoted to the cause of charity

and benevolence , and was a very worthy and excellent man , and much of the success of to-day was to be attributed to his exertions and the heartiness he threw into everything with which he was connected . ( Cheers . ) Before he sat down he would remove an impression created by Bro . Hopgood—that this was a demonstration on the part of the Province of Hampshire . This was not so ; it was a demonstration on the part of his native town—of Portsmouth . ( Cheers . ) Rising like a giant she lifted the whole weight herself . She done so successfully , to her honour ; and all honour to her on every occasion . He was glad