The Masonic Mirror.

THE MASONIC MIRROR .

THE BOYS' SCHOOL . The sixty-sixth anniversary festival of this excellent institution was celebrated at the Freemasons' Tavern , on Wednesday last , when the chair was occupied by Bro . Augustus Smith , M . P ., Prov . G . Master for Cornwall , iu consequence of the absence of the Right Hon . the Duke of Newcastle , the Prov .

Grand Master for Notts , who had consented to preside , but was prevented from attending owing to indisposition . The R . W . Chairman was supported by Bros . P . Dundas , M . P ., and J . Havers , P . G . W . ' s ; Head , G . D .,- Potter , Hopwood , Giraud , Uclall , Gregory , S . B . Wilson , and Capt . Creaton , P . G . D . ' s ; Nutt , G . Dir . of Cers .: J . Symonds and N . Bradford , P . G . Dir . of Cers . , H .

Bridges and Patten , P . G . S . B . 's : Farnfield , Assist . G . Sec . ; Col . Dalbiae , D . Prov . G . M ., Sussex ; Nelson , G . Sec , West Yorkshire , and about 300 other brethren . There were also about 150 ladies in or under the gallery . At tho conclusion of a very elegantly served banquet , The CniiKiiAx rose and said—Grand Officers and Brethren ,

the first toast to which I shall ask you to fill your glasses will not require any comments from me to induce you cordially to receive it , it being " The Health of Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen , " the patroness ofthe institution , whose anniversary we have met to celebrate . ( Cheers ) . The toast is ever received by all Englishmen , and especially by Masons with

enthusiasm , not only from loyalty to the throne but from the respect and admiration entertained for her personal character and virtues . ( Cheers ) . The toast having been drunk with all the honours , the National Anthem was admirably rendered . The CHAiBJlijf then said—Grand Officers and Brethren , the next toast is of a no less pleasing nature than the last— -it being

" The Health of the Prince and Princess of Wales , and the rest of the Royal Family . " This is the eve of a great event in their lives , and I hope it will prove the precursor of happiaess to them , and of satisfaction to the nation . ( Cheers . ) To-morrow is the anniversary of their Royal Highnesses' wedding day ( cheers ) , and to-morrow , also , we are told , is to witness the celebration of

the baptism of their eldest born . ( Cheers . ) May that son prove a source of happiness and satisfaction to his Royal parents and grand parent , and of hope to the country at large . ( Cheers . ) The CHAIIUIAIT next said—Brethren , we have paid our allegiance to the beads of the realm as Englishmen , and it now

becomes my duty to invite your attention to a toast by which we acknowledge our allegiance ns members of the Craft to the head of the Masonic realm , " The Worshipful Grand Master , the Earl of Zetland . " ( Cheers . ) It is but a few days since I had the pleasure of being in Grand Lodge , and witnessing the election of the noble earl to his high office for the twentieth

time . Twenty years , brethren , is a long time for any man to hold public office , but during twenty years our Most Worshipful Grand Master has been constantly re-elected with feelings of delight and satisfaction by the brethren . In truth , year after year the feelings of attachment and confidence in the noble earl has been increased and strengthened . Long may he live to

hold the high office ho has now filled for twenty years , and long may lie know that he enjoys tbe confidence of the brethren . ( Cheers . ) The CiiiiroiAN said—Brethren , if we are fortunate in having so well and experienced a Mason as the Earl of Zetland at the head of the Craft , we are not less fortunate in having a most . zealous and talented young Mason as the Earl de Grey and

Ripon as the Deputy Grand Master . All who have witnessed his career in the great parliamentary lodge , where he holds so distinguished a position , or those who have met him discharging his official duties in our lodges , cannot fail to have observed the sound judgment , ability , and zeal which he brings to bear on all he undertakes , and which gives great promise in the future career of our Deputy Grand Master . ( Cheers . ) With the

toast I shall couple the names of the other Grand Officers , and especially that of Bro . Dundas . ( Cheers . ) Bro . DUNDAS , P . G . W ., returned his grateful thanks , on behalf of himself and his brother Grand Officers , to the R . W . Chairman and the brethren for the compliment they had been pleased to pay them . He was sure they were all deeply indebted to tbe

right worshipful brother for presiding over them that evening —having taken the chair at a very short notice . He could assure them that he ( Bro . Dundas ) and those by whom he was surrounded were always anxious to do their best for the promotion of the benefit of the Order and their characters . ( Cheers ) . Bro . HAVEBS , P . G . W ., said they would all know by the fact

of his rising that he was about to propose a toast of some importance , anel he felt that he had a perfectly easy task , inasmuch as he knew it was one sure to receive a cordial and enthusiastic reception from every Mason . He was about to propose " The Health of their Chairman" ( cheers ); and he would give them three good reasons why it should be cordially responded to . In

the first place their worthy Chairman had undertaken to occupy the position at a moment ' s notice , in consequence of illness preventing the noble duke who was to preside over them being present . The duties of the chair were at all times onerous , and more especially so when a person had not eome prepared to fill it , and that was one good reason for thanking him . ( Cheers . ) The second consisted in this , that though London was the

seat of their Grand Lodge , the London representatives of Masonry could do but little without the support of those good and excellent brethren who were spread over the breadth and length of the land . Indeed , without their support , Masonry in London would be a mockery and a delusion . ( No , no . ) What he meant to convey was thisthat without the support of the country lodges and country

brethren , Masonry , as a system , must , of necessity , flag iu its good work . ( Cheers . ) With this explanation , he might observe to those who did not know him , that Bro . Augustus Smith was one of those great Masonic supports of their Order . Member for the ancient Borough of Truro , a large landed proprietor , and King of the Scilly Islands , be was one who upheld

alike the institutions of his country and of Masonry ; and that was a second , and he was sure good reason for drinking his health . ( Cheers . ) His third reason was that Cornwall , though a large and beautiful , was also a distant county in England , and the brethren of that province were not so likely to know of the advantages offered by their charitable institutions as those

nearer the metropolis . ( Hear , hear . ) For some ten or twelve years before succeeding to the distinguished office of Provincial Grand Master , which he now held , Bro . ' Smith had been a most energetic Deputy , and therefore knew the county and the brethren , well ; and on his return , he would be enabled to tell the brethren of his province , from Pennrhyn to the Land ' s

End , and from New Quay to Tintagel , of the noble doings of that evening . ( Cheers . ) He would be enabled to tell them of the many intelligent brethren gathered together in the holy cause of charity , and how their efforts were ennobled by the presence of the angels in the gallery . ( Cheers . ) When their brother who had done them the honour to preside over them this evening told all these things in Cornwall , he was sure it would excite the desire of the brethren of the province to become