Ireland.

Brother J . F . Townsend , Deputy Grand Master , on coining forward was received with prolonged applause . He said that the committee of management who had arranged the programme for that evening bad done him the honour of asking him to second the vote of thanks to his Grace , which had been so well proposed by his Brother Mostyn in all respects , except that his kindly feeling towards himself might have led him to say more than it was agreeable for him to hear , and permit him at once to acknowledge his kindness , and also tho kindness of

his brethren who had so kindly favoured the sentiments he had uttered . With these observations he would dismiss the subject , assuring them that ho trusted he would continue to the end to merit their approval so lon g as he might have tho honour of holding the office which he then filled . He had been asked to second the resolution because ho might perhaps be best able to speak to it from his own knowledge of the zeal with which his Grace had worked for the benefit of the societover which he had so long and honourabl

y y presided , and that ho might be able to speak to them of his own knowledge of the anxious wish that animated him for the prosperity in every respect of this institution . He could do so certainly , as he knew that he had taken an unceasing interest , to use the words of the resolution , "in maintaining the principles and upholding the privileges of this order . " The principles of this order were such that no man , no matter what his rank , need be ashamed of professing ; and permit him also to say that no man , no matter what tho

purity of his life might be , need be ashamed of advocating . ( Applause . ) He regretted to say that these principles were but little known . It was not merely in tho world at large that they were unknown , but he was sorry to say to a great extent unknown in the order itself . It should be well known that men might enter the society and yet know nothing beyond what lay on the surface . It was not a mere club . Those who joined it as a mere club might not expect to gain any further advantage , and those who joined it out of mere curiosity would be disappointed . Ho presumed that nobod y in this the 19 th . century believed that they were in possession of any great secret by

which men could at once become wise , learned , or good without any exertion , by a sort of magic—no such thing . They had all heard of or seen persons who , no matter how they were bound , had by some agency or mechanism which was yet inscrutable untied themselves . Masonry freed men from the bonds of ignorance , sensuality , and superstition . ( Applause . ) These were the bonds they were bound to burst . The real object of the society was to make wise , virtuous , and happy , beginning always with self-reformation . ( Loud

applause . ) Tho society had for its primary duty , silence , reticence , and forbearance . They believed that there was no greater offence against the Almighty than to persecute for speculative errors which they mi ght bo liable to themselves . They gave freedom of thought and freedom of will , which they asked for themselves . ( Applause . ) He did not know that they had ever been guilty of any persecution , and yet they had been accused of astounding things . ( Hear , and applause . ) He had yet to learn that from Masonic lodges had issued forth

those who had put the produce of industry aflame —( hear , hear)—or to leave the body of the farmer bleeding on his threshold . ( Hear , hear . ) No man was admitted into this Society until he had given his solemn pledge before God and man to be a peaceable subject , loyal to the State , and not to be concerned in plots against it . ( Hear , and applause . ) He could assure those who heard him that night they were not an irreligious society . ( Hear , hear . ) No man was admitted until lie had professed his faith in the great Architect , the God , the

Father , Governor of the world . ( Great applause . ) Those were not irreligious principles . ( Hear . ) These were the principles which his Grace had advocated , and these were the principles which were tho groundwork of the society . ( Hear , hear . ) The privileges of the society enabled them to associate , not merely for the purpose of harmless enjoyment , but for kindly acts , one towards the other , where they had formed acquaintances which had ripened into friendship , such as had subsisted between himself and the friend who had jn-eceded him , friendships formed in Masonic lodges ; and others were to continue to extend the hand of liberality to the destitute , and to see that the orphans did not want that support which they were able to give them . ( Applause . ) They