Masonic Charities.

educated in other establishments , where a higher standard of mental culture and accomplishment is maintained . " The letter of Miss Brandenburgcr , the head governess of the London Orphan Asylum , Clapton , to which reference has already been made , pointedly alludes to the disadvantages under which those girls labour , when seeking for situations , whose education iu the branches of study more immediately under consideration has been wholly or in part neglected . '' There is much valuable information , comprising matters of detail

in connection with the various subjects we have had under consideration , which we shall only be too happy to furnish if any further elucidation on any of the points touched upon is required . We have avoided the introduction of anything not directly bearing upon the main facts of the case , with a view to compress this report within the narrowest possible limits consistent with fairly placing the subject before the committee in such a manner as to enable them to arrive at an opinion . "Several valuable letters and memoranda have been received

, amongst others , from the Rev . J . D . Glennie , II . M . 's Inspector of Schools , the Rev . D . Laing , and Mr . Myers , the honorary secretary to the Schoolmasters' Association , to all of whom , with the principals and secretaries of several institutions , wo beg to tender our warmest thanks for the attention we have invariably met with on our visits , and the courtesy with which our communications have been received and answered . ( "Signed ) " FREDK . BINCKES .

" W . H . LYALL . " Loudon , Gth April , 1858 . " " JOBS SYMOSDS . Bro . Symonds having read letters in support of the views of the committee from the Rev . David Laing , honorary secretary to the Governesses' Institution , the Rev . J . D . Glennie , H . M . 's Inspector of Schools , and others , Bro . John Hervey moved that the report be received , printed , and

circulated amongst the subscribers ; and that the committee be requested to continue their services , and submit a plan , in conjunction with the house committee , for carrying out an extended system of education , to be submitted for the consideration of a special general meeting of the subscribers in June next . He would not attempt to discuss the merits of the report on that occasion , as it must come before them iu a more definite form hereafter ; but he was sure they would all agree with him , that they were greatly indebted to the committee for the trouble they had taken in collecting so much

information , and submitting to them so elaborate a report ; and it must be peculiarly gratifying to Bro . Binckes , wdio had first mooted the question , to find his views had been so well supported by the inquiries entered into . Bro . Geo . Barrett seconded the motion , which was unanimously carried . A vote of thanks was given to Bros . Binckes , Lyall , and Symonds , for their able and lucid report , and acknowledged by Bro . Binckes . Four children , being the whole of the candidates , were then admitted into the school , and a vote of thanks to the chairman closed the proceedings .

FESTIVAL ,. The annual festival of this most excellent and valuable institution was celebrated at the Freemasons' Tavern , on Wednesday , the 12 th of May , by a very elegant banquet , served under the immediate superintendence of firos . Shrewsbury and Elkington , to which about 220 Brethren sat down . The chair was occupied by Bro . Wyiidliam Portal , J . G . W ., who was supported by Bros . Colonel Brownrio-g S . U . W . ; W . G . Clarke , ( i . Sec ; Pulteney Scott , S . G . D . ; Hopwood ,

J . G . D . ; Rev . E . Moore , G . Chap . ; H . Vernon , Prov . G . M . for Worcestershire ; F . Alston . P . G . W . ; W . Farnfield , Assist . G . Sec ; A . W . Woods , Assist . G . Dir . of Cers . ; Horsley , G . Org .: T . L . White , P . G . W . ; Havers , P . G . W . ; Evans , P . G . D . ; Potter , P . G . D . ; Spiers , P . G . S . B . ; Viscount Rayiihani , president of the board of stewards ; Beach , M . P . ; Powell , Young , Binckes , Barnes , Barrett , Symonds , & c . After the customary toasts the children were introduced into the room amidst loud cheers , and ranged on the dais in front of the R . W . Chairmanwho rose and saidWhen he looked around him and saw

, , the happy and contented faces of the girls before him—when he saw the number of ladies in the gallery testifying-the interest they took in the scene—when he saw the large / lumber of Brethren assembled together , more or less for the one purpose of supporting the institution of which these children were the inmates , lie felt that it was scarcely within his power to do justice to the next toast— " Success to the Freemasons' Girls' School . " But he owned he felt a pride—a just pride hi having to propose suclra toast . He saw around him many

old friends to whom it would be unnecessary to say anything relative to the growth and progress of the institution . Bnt , for the information of the ladies and those Brethren who were newer to the Craft , he might be allowed to state that the school was originally established in the year 1788 , principally through the efforts of llro . the Chevalier Ruspini owing to whose exertions , aided by those of a few friends , they were enabled to receive and educate fifteen children . The memory of Chevalier Ruspini must always be hold in respect by the Brethren for what he had done in the establishment of so noble an

institution . The children were first received at a small house in Somors Town , and subsequently removed to St . George ' s Fields , where gradually the number of children was increased until it reached sixty ; and such were the mutations of society , that amongst the number educated there had been two of the grand-daughters of its founder , Bro . Ruspini . Within the last three years the school had beeu again removed to Wandsworth , where it was most healthily placed . It could not be too fully impressed on the mind of every Brother present , that though the children admitted were those of

poor and deceased Freemasons , the parents of many of them had occupied positions in life as good as that of any Brother at the table that evening ; many of them had attended the festivals of the institution , liberally supported , and become life governors of it . Indeed , some of them had even made their children life governors , and there was one of the children now in the school a life governor in her own right , having contributed to the funds of the institution of which she was now enjoying the advantages . He could state , from what he knew of the management of the institution , that every care was taken

to promote the comfort and bring up respectably the children within its walls ; and though he hoped that the families of none of those present would ever require its advantages , he trusted they would remember that it was the children of Brethren they were educating , and that it was to the individual exertions of the members of the Craft they must look for the means of supporting the efficiency of the institution . He found that since the establishment of the school , no less than 720 children bad been educated in it ; and it was most gratifying to find that not one of them had ever afforded to the governors a moment ' s anxiety by her conduct in after life—a good proof of the moral training they had received . Doubtless many of the Brethren present had seen an admirable report which had just been circulated , relative to the education afforded to the children . If they

had been at the trouble to read the report , and the letters appended to it , they would not be unmindful of many remarks they contained , evincing the gratitude of the children , and their friends , for the advantages they had received . For very many years the institution had been conducted by Mrs . Crook , and they would remember how great were the fears felt at her decease , lest the school should suffer in its efficiency and discipline He was glad , however , to say , and he was sure the Brethren would be as glad to hear , that it had not so suffered , but that Miss Jarwood , who had been many years with Mrs .

Crook , had proved herself fully equal to the task of efficiently eonducting the institution , —and whilst rendering this tribute of praise to that most estimable lady , he could not help reminding the Brethren that she was , a few years ago , like one of those young children they saw before them—she having been educated under the roof of their school . ( Cheers . ) Fortunate as the governors had been in finding one so well able to conduct the household department of their establishment , they had been equally fortunate in obtaining a lady to conduct the education of the children who had been trained in one of the

best training schools in the country , and Miss Souter had not only gained the love of the children , but the respect of every person connected with the management of the school . Iu glancing over the report to which he had alluded , he found that it was proposed to increase the branches of education within the school , so as to fit the children to take a position in society , such as they might have obtained had their parents continued in prosperity , or not been removed from their families by the hand of death . This was rendered necessary by tho improved education no . v given to class of

every society , and the feeling , in which ho was sure all would concur , that their children should not be left behind others iu the education necessary to fit them for a respectable position in life . ( Cheers . ) But he was happy to say that in that most important branch of education , the discharge of household duties , their school was found to bear favourable comparison with any similar institution ( Cheers ) , and that every endeavour would be made to maintain its efficacy in that respect . He hoped that ho had not trespassed on their patience too longbut he ought to have told them that in their beautiful

school-, house at Wandsworth , they now had seventy children , and that these children were being trained so as to shed a lustre upon any position , however high and respectable to which they might be called . He begged to remind the Brethren that they were the guardians of those children , and as such he called upon them for liberal subscriptions to