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This announcement Avas received Avith loud and prolonged cheering , from a crowd of sei-eral thousand persons . The Hallelujah chorus having been performed , Bro . TV . DENNIS MOOEE , P . Prov . G . Sec , saicl : Right Worshipful Sir , brethren , ancl tho immense multitude which I see before me , this day , as AVC unite in one of these solemn acts of charity which all men desire to join in , and ivhich all men -ivill find their reivards for having joined in , —I cannot but remember

that some 19 years ago a similar one to this took place in this immediate neighbourhood , The object of that meeting ivas to make provision for the orphans of our seamen , to build the home of orphanage , ivhere the children of our defenders might be protected and educated in the fear of Gocl , and in love to-Avards their Sovereign , their country , and their fellow-creatures . When I throw back my recollection to that clay , I remember that there stood before the stone then laidone who is now

, gone from amongst us , covered with honours , loved by all , lamented by every brother in our hearts , ivhose name will live as long as the memory of man can last —( applause)—and , to quote the words , the sacred words , already used to-day with such deep and thrilling effect , "When the ear heard him , then it blessed him , and when the eye saw him , it gave witness of him . He delivered the poor that cried , the fatherless , and him that hacl nothing to help him . " Kindness , meekness , ancl

comfort , were upon his tongue . If there ivas any virtue , if there was any praise , he thought of those things ; and as long as virtue shall deseri'e praise , as long as honour shall apply to those who have done good to their fellow-creatures , so long shall the name of Fortescue be remembered—( loud applause)—ivith tho deepest feelings of gratitude , and the deepest sentiments of respect . ( Continued applause . ) Brethren , it ivas my intention to-day to have made some observations upon that

ivhich we must all regret , that anything like a slur should have been attempted in the public press by an anonymous writer—( hear)—to be thrown upon the honour and character of Freemasonry , on the eve of a festival such as that which has taken place to-day . ( Cheers . ) But the observations whicli I should have made have been so completely forestalled—the opprobrium has been so completely removed— -the arguments , if arguments they deserve to be called , of our anonymous foe , have been so

completely ansivered in the admirable sermon which we heard in the church to-day , that anything more from me ivould be perfectly superfluous . Brethren may rest assured that as long as they continue to stand by the landmarks of our Order , Ave may set at defiance all the cavils of the ignorant , and the opprobrium of the malignant . HaA-ing saicl this , I shall simply once more adA'ert to the circumstance of this clay , ancl may the Almighty , AVIIO is looking doAvn upon us , prosper this clay's Avork , prosper our handiwork . ( Great applause . )

" Our Order Avas designed T' expand the human soul and elevate mankind . Wisdom herself contrived the mystic frame ; Strength to support , to adorn it , beauty came . It bids ns ever gratefully to adore The God of all—the universal power . "

It cannot militate against the order that all its members have not profited by its teaching . While human nature remains as it is , so long Avill there be imperfections and shortcomings in every human institution . What persecutions and tortures have not been inflicted in the sacred name of religion ? HOAV many have had reason to exclaim , " Oh , liberty ; Avhat crimes are done in thy name ! " Yet nono , on this account , AA-OUIC ! dare to slander religion , or doubt the purity of real patriotism . And Avhy shall

Freemasonry be judged by a severer standard ? That many have entered our Order lightly cannot be denied ; somo from a desire to obtain" our secrets or to Avear our mysterious paraphernalia , and some from the culpable belief that their private interests ivould be served . That the latter ivill be grievously disappointed I am sure , as Ave are under no obligation to assist those AVIIO are unworthy of relief . I much regret that any should take on themselves lightly obligations serious as ours .

But I have one consolation : Masonry can never make a good man bad , AA'hilc the exhortation of better brethren has made many a bad man good . This is Avell put in an ancient manuscript in tho Bodleian Library , in the Avriting of Henry VI ., himself a zealous Mason ancl G . M . of the Order . " Some Maeonues , " it says , " arc not so virtuous as some other menne ; hut for tbe most parte they be' moro gude than they ivould he if they Ai'cre not Maconnes . " And IIOAV shall AVO maintain and transmit its dignity unsullied to onr succcessors ? By

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remembering that to each a great talent is committed , ivhich it is a sin to bury in a napkin ; that each is a stone in the building , and that each can add lustre and grace to tho Masonic temple , by lii-es modelled on Masonic principles , or dim its lustre and sap its foundations by forgetfulness of our solemn obligations . Let each bo the generous friend of every useful and ornamental science , and cultivate the social moral virtues , especially those fundamental principles

of our Order—brotherly love , relief , and truth . Let ns imitate him so lately taken from us , ivhose just , geniid , and brotherly sivay were at once our pleasure and our pride , and whose Masonic virtues reflected so much credit both on bis rank and the Order . As lie did , whatever good thing we find to do , let us do it at once , and with all our might , " for the night cometh when no man can work . " Truly *• ' the actions of the just smell sweet ancl blossom in the dust . " Our Grand Master

though dead yet speaks to us on this A'ery spot . His Avas the first arm stretched out to aid in this mission of mercy ; he ours stretched out , in memory of him , to support it to the last . Our own cups are full to overflowing with the corn , wine , oil , ancl salt ; let us show our gratitude to Him who is the dispenser of all good things , by giving of our abundance to every laudable undertaking like the present ; let us extend the readiest and amplest relief to our distressed brethrenand to every being

, that bears his image , who depends upon his providence , who is who is fed by His bounty , and who trusts in His all-comprehending mercy . Masons , —let ns look beyond the narrow limits of particular institutions , and behold in every child of Adam a brother of the dust . Let us strive to bind the ivhole human family in the strong chain of brotherly loi'e , with charity in thought , charity in word , and charity in deed , engraved on

each golden link . Then shall the ivhole race of man of every sphere , nation , colour , and creed , fused into one universal brotherhood , send up to the Great I AM one song of praise Avith one voice , swelling up and bursting forth , as from one

soul" Father of all ! m every age , In every clime adored ; By saint , by savage , and hy sage . Jehovah ! Ruler ! Lord ! To Thee , AA'hose temple is all space , Whose altar—earth , ah-, skies , One chorus let all beings raise , All Nature's incense rise !"

Then will Ave lay aside our Avorking tools , for our labours Avill be ended ; then will our secrets be opened to the day , and our lodges closed , for the mission , of Freemasonry ivill be accomplished . Let all the brethren join in saying " So mote it be \" At the termination of this address , the D . Prov . Grand Master called for three cheers for the Queen , which were heartily

given . The brethren of the Order then re-formed in procession , and , escorted by the Bifle Corps , marched back to the Town Hall , where the lodge , which had been opened in the morning , was closed with the usual formalities . The rain continued during the ivhole of tho out-of-door ceremonial , ivhich was thus deprived of much of its attraction . The procession—a very long- one—was one of the most complete and

elegant of its kind . The arrangements ivere of a character hefitting- the occasion , and the sad state of the Aveather AA-as the only cause of regret . Bro . Ciase , P . Prov . G . Dir . of Cers ., acted ns Prov . G . Dir . of Cers ., the present holder of the office being prevented from attending , ancl ivas highly complimented by the D . Prov . G . M ., tho Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , and the brethren generally , on the excellence of the arrangements , Mr . Woolcombe , the Chairman of the Hospital , also thanking him for his valuable assistance .

THE DEJETOEB . The dejeuner took place at Moorshead ' s Royal Hotel , DeA-onport , Thomas Woollcombe , Esq ., Chairman of the Hospital Committee , presiding ; J . Henry Wilson , Esq ., Chairman of the Devonport of Commissioners , occupied the vice-chair , and the attendance of gentlemen was most numerous . In the immediate vicinity of tho Chairman were his Worship the alayor of Devonport ( John W . TV . RyderEsq . ) his Worship the Mayor of

Ply-, , mouth ( TV . Derry , Esq . ) , the Right Hon . the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , Major Denis Moore , Rev . J . Huyshe , Col . Milnian , Rev . J . Carwithen , L . P . Tripe , Esq ., Rev . J . PoAvning , R . E . Knowling , Esq ., R . M . Watson , Esq ,, J , Glcncross , Esq ., Rev . G . Knowling , W . Luscombe , Esq ., J . Shardon , Esq ., T . Rcsfcarick , Esq ., 11 . Robinson Rood , Esq ., Joim Weary , E .- ; q . C . Unites ! ,