United Grand Lodge.

they were scattered all over the kingdom , and no regular system of education could be pursued . Now they had a commodious school house capable of accommodating seventy or eighty boys , into which already some of tho pupils had been admitted , who wcro receiving the advantage of a regular and systematic education ; and ho had no doubt , that within a very short period all would be admitted . ( Hear . ) The Girls School had been removed from a very undesirable locality in London , and was now established in a fine handsome building most healthily

situated on tho banks of the Thames , where every care was taken of their education , and where , also , every attention was paid to their recreation , their comfort , and their health . ( Cheers . ) Bat if the schools had made great progress , the Annuity Funds and Asylum for Decayed Masons and their Widows had advanced in a greater degree , and he was sure they had all reason to congratulate themselves on'the improvement which had taken place in the last four years , in the progress and position of their charities . ( Cheers . ) He trusted they would go on improving from

year to year iu their importance , and in the good they did to their poorer brethren and their families . ( Cheers ) . He begged to give them success to the Masonic Charities , coupled with the name of Bro . Crew . ( Cheers ) . Bro . CREW hardly knew who must I 13 the mort surprised , the brethren or himself , at heaving his name coupled with the last tof . st . He could assure them that the honour was totally unexpected by him , as it was the first time his name- had ever boon associated by the M . W . Grand Master with the Masonic Charities '—though ho could not but feel proud

a-fc being so brought before them—for where was the brother who would not like to have his name associated with charity , which ennobled their nature—enlivened their souls—and disposed their hearts to render all the good in their power to their fellow citizens . ( Cheers . ) He had but little to say relative to the charities on the present occasion , the M . W . Grand Master having set forth their claims to our support iu the most glowing and brilliant terms , though not more so than they deserved . ( Cheers ) . The M . W . Grand Master had most trulreferred to tho great

y progress made by the Royal Benevolent Institution for Aged Masons and their Widows within the last lew years . Wiry , the very establishment of that institution dated but a few years back , and he recollected how they could only elect annuitants by units ; then came a period with no election , and the brethren roused themselves to action , and soon annuitants were elected by tens , aud now they were admitted by scores ,

and he trusted-that the institution would continue to improve , and so rise in importance , that within a very few years there would not be an approved candidate who might not feel sure of receiving prompt admission to the benefits of the institution . ( Cheers . ) Then with regard to the Boys School , he must be allowed to say he was speaking in the presence ol his friends , Bros . Thiselton aud Farnfield , the Secretaries of the other charities . The M . W . Grand Master had said he hoped the time would soon come when all the boys would be

admitted into the school house . He trusted he might add that all but four were now in tho school , and they only from ill health or the desire of their parents ; indeed he could not picture to himself tho time when all the boys they educated should be iu the school , nor did he think it desirable they should be so , it being one of their fundamental rules that they should educate tho boys of brethren of every religious persuasion—a rule which could never be altered ( Cheers)—aud all he trusted was that the brethren would so increase

the funds of that institution as to enable the committee to extend its benefits to a larger number of boys . ( Cheers ) . Then with regard to the Girls School , he could not speak in sufficient praise of that institution . Every morning and evening eighty little tongues were raised in pz-aise of those who gave them support and education . ( Applause ) . The noble lord had spoken of the progress made by the Girls School . He ( Bro . Crew ) recollected when the receipts in that room at this festival used to be only £ 600 or £ 700 . It then increased to £ S 00 , £ !> 00 , £ 1 , 200 ; and when it came to £ 1 , 400 , a distinguished

brother ( Bro . Beadon ) said , " Well , Bro . Grew , you will never expect to see £ 1 , 400 again . " He replied , "He did not intend they should confine it to £ 1 , 400 . " Nor had they , for last year the subscription amounted to nearly £ 2 , 000 . ( Cheers . ) The Committee of Management endeavoured to keep pace with the liberality of the brethren , and had lately increased the number of children received into the sehoolhouse from seventy to eighty ( cheers ) , aud he trusted the time would come when the number of pupils should be increased to one hundred if the claims upon the

institution rendered it desirable . ( Cheers ) . He had never yet pleaded in vain for the charities . He should , so long as health and strength remained to him , continue to plead and try to open their hearts , and not only their hearts but their purses , to give happiness to the families of their brethren in less happy positions than themselves . ( Cheers ) . He held the aged Mason to be worthy of all support—that his widow should never be forgotten —( cheers)—the boys should never live in distress ( cheers ); but there was even yet a more sacred duty to take care of the

girls , who if left in poverty aud distress might sink so as never to be able to rise again . ( Cheers ) . It was most soothing to the child to find if father and mother were lost to her that there were friends to come forward to take her by the hand , and by kindly care prevent her falling amongst those outcasts of society whose unfortunate position could only be regarded with horror and compassion . ( Cheers ) . He should be forgetful of his duty if he did not remind thorn that the annual meeting of the Girls School would talc ; place on the 9 th of May , when he trusted they would be honoured with a numerous attendance of the brethren . ( Cheers ) .

United Grand Lodge.

The M . W . GRAND MASTER then proposed ' ¦ The health of the Grand Stewards , " thanking them in the name of the brethren for their excellent arrangements to ensure tho comfort of those attending the banquet . Bro . Captain CRKATON said ho had tho honour , as President fof the Board of Grand Stewards , to acknowledge the gratifying terms in which the M . W . Grand Master had done them tho honour to propose the toast , and the very handsome manner in which it had been responded to . They had endeavoured to perform their duty to the utmost of their

p r . vcv—it had been but a labour of love to endeavour to emulate their pr ^ b-vi-ors i : i conducing to the comfort of the brethren—and if they had succeeded , the knowledge of that fact more than repaid them for tin exertions they had made . ( Cheers ) . The M . W . GRAND MAKTKR then proposed "The Ladies , " with permission to the brethren to cheer the toast as heartily and loudly as they pleased—a permission which the brethren availed themselves of to the fullest extent .

The M . W . Grand Master then left the hall amidst loud applause , and shortly afterwards paid a visit to the glee room , which was crowded and uncomfortable enough , though not so bad as it has been upon occasions of festivals of the charities . The musical arrangements were directed by Bro . Horsley , G . Org ., who was assisted by Bros . Lawler , Donald King , aud Young , Miss Eyles , Miss Stabbacb , and a Miss Blanche Cole , a young lady of great promise , yet too young ( some twelve or fourteen years of age ) to appear

iu such a room as Freemasons' Hall . The music , though good , as it could not fail to be with the artistes engaged , was not what it ought to be for the money paid , and never will be whilst a monopoly is secured to the Grand Organist against all the other brethren .

Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

ROVAL YORK LODOE OF PERSEVERANCE ( NO . 7 ) . —This Lodge held its last meeting for the season on Wednesday , the 18 th instant , at the Freemasons' Tavern—Bro . Thomas Bolin , W . M ., presiding . The Lodge having been . opened in due form , the W . M . proceeded with the business of the evening , consisting of the initiation of Mr . Richard W . Beard ; the passing of Bro . Duncan , and the raising of Bro . Sparks , the three ceremonies being performed in the W . M's . usual correct and impressive style , assisted by the excellent working of his Wardens and Assistant

Officers . The disposal of some private matters brought the business of the Lodge to a ciose , and the brethren reassembled for refreshment , the W . M . in the chair . The W . M . proposed the usual loyal and Masonic toasts , which were received with all due honours , "The Right Worshipful the Deputy Grand Master and the Grand Officers , " being acknowledged by Bro . Hopwood , P . J . G . D . The health of "The Initiate" having been drunk , Bro . Beard expressed his delight in having been permitted to become a member of tho Craft . Tho W . M . saidhe

, had that evening to discharge a duty of an almost if not quite unprecedented character in the annals of Freemasonry , one that afforded him the greatest satisfaction and delight , and notwithstanding he knew his own inefficiency to do that justice to the occasion which in other hands might be given to it , yet he would yield to none in sincerity of intention , and he felt an honest pride in having the opportunity of conveying the kind and fraternal feelings of the members of the Lodge to no less than seven of their

distinguished Past Masters . The Worshipful Master then announced that a very liberal private subscription had been raised in the Lodge , which had produced a sufficient fund to present the following Past Masters with a chaste and valuable Royal York P . M's . jewel , viz ., Bros . Baab , Harry May , Hervey , Prov . S . G . D . ; Pratt ; Adlard , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers .

for Essex ; Ceilings , S . G . W . of Wilts ; and 11 . Jenkins . Bro . Bohu then presented the jewels , addressing each recipient in kind and affectionate terms aud alluding to their tried fidelity and respective services to the Lodge , particularly to those of Bro . Adlard , Treasurer , who has served the important office of Director of Ceremonies in the Lodge for a period of seventeen years ; and Bro . Hervey , Secretary , who has served the office of W . M . twice in the Lodge . The worthy Past Masters returned thanks iu appropriate language , and acknowledged the kindness which

had dictated the compliment and the truly fraternal aud able manner iu which the Worshipful Master had carried that compliment out . The W . M . concluded this most pleasing affair by wishing the worthy P . Ms , of the Lodge years of happiness , and although they were then about to part for many months , be hoped they might all meet again to enjoy each other ' s society in that Lodge , where harmony and friendship had long found an abode and where dissension dared not raise its head . "The Visitors' health" was then proposed by the W . M ., and kindly

acknowledged by Bros . Warner Wheeler , P . M ., No . 324 , and Edward Roberts , P . M ., No . 107 . Bro . Hervey , P . M ., aud Prov . S . G . D ., in proposing " The health of the W . M ., " alluded to his excellent working of the ceremonies in the three degrees that evening , aud was assured that in the hands of the W . M ., assisted by his officers , the Lodge would never lose its fame . The toast was received with every demonstration of regard , and after the applause consequent thereon had subsidedthe W . M . returned thanks in a short but leasing address

, p , assuring the brethren present that he should ever esteem it a proud privilege to promote at all times the interests of Freemasonry ; and whilst he retained the affection of his brethren , he should ever experience the greatest happiness in promoting that love and harmony which are so essential to the welfare of the great and glorious institution of which