THE MASONIC FEMALE ORPHAN SCHOOL, DUBLIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume III, Issue 637, 27 November 1865, Page 4

THE MASONIC FEMALE ORPHAN SCHOOL, DUBLIN.

We have before us the Report of this benevolent institution for 1864,' also its financial statement made, up to March last, together with a list of subscriptions and donations from the. various Masonic Lodges and brethren received during the past year Irom different parts of the world. - Among the donations, we observe the names of several Masons resident in Auckland ana Onehunga, and while we shall refrain from mentioning them, • irom a full conviction that it i= their laudable desire to prevent their right hani if possible from knowing what their left nana has done, we are nevertheless" gratified to nnct that our Masonic brethren do not restrict their charity to local societies alone.-for tho amount exceeds in many cases, equals in, others,-and contrasts', favorably with those received from Irish Lodges with collections made in the ol country, and donations sent from abroad. It would appear that the total revenue for the year 1864 amounted to £1392 Bs. 3d.," exceeding the expenditure by £187 19s. Bd. Of thislatte sum £180 has been invested in the purchase o government stock, thereby raising the- em' value of stock and other the-creai of the institute to the sum of £2395 3s. 9d. There are at present forty girls in the scho , which is the largest number it is capable oi commodating. These girls are educated in great truths of religion and in tbe scr er .'' branches of learning which will profit them J their various walks in life, and are trained i habits of subordination, docility, cleanline«i and regularity. They are taught that tJ. must earn their own Uvelihood wjth iiop>persevering, self-denying industry- ane \.* t tegrity; and that they must be gentle, P atl and humble-minded. The progress of-the PP ■ in education appears to hare been eucotirag and satisfactory, and the extracts irom; <• reports of distinguished, gentlemen by w they were examined attest, not only how ia -j fully and conscientiously the teachers> o school have discharged their onerous duties. also how earnestly the pupils have endeavo to profit by their instructions. During the p yearfive girlshaveleftthe school, of those tw returned to their friends, who were ab willing to support them; the renmMDg. were furnished with a suitable outfit ana p

situations adapted to their eapabiliin pl« ces business presided over by h * n(i respectable employers. The gover- « have received most satisfactory accounts D f"tho conduct integrity of the former • ,i« of the school, who are now scattered in IDD V 11 ; parts of the world. Without a single T !"ptiou,"il> ose young girls have, by their steaj- ~5 and propriety of conduct, shown how Jj v cns raTen upon their minds has been the hole s °me instruction of their youth. Many v now wives and mothers, and, whilst their r-induct is hiulily to be commended, it is no less tiding to iind that they still regard with fond Solicitude the homo of their cliildhood, and affection the excellent matron, Mrs. .Noble, who presided over it, whom they are proud to designate their "mother." ifte b«ve brought the excellences of this Institute before the public, trusting that wo may be the mews of inducing many other Masons to contribute some of their means to the support of the bereaved daughters of their deceased brethern. We congratulate those amongst us who have already fiercised this most excellent gift of charity, which m«v be said to be the chief corner stone of the temple of Freemasonary—not only upon harm? aided so eminently practical an object, tut alio because these acts of benevolence nuietlr and unostentatiously bestowed, afford an answer to those who attempt (and such attempts have been made most gratuitously) to depreciate and vilify the character of Freemason?. and through them the ancient institution itself. Let such would-be calumniators exercise bnt very little reason and reflection, and they will at once perceive how futile will be their efforts to asperse a society which has ever withstood and repelled every attack made against it; is still acquiring additional honor and esteem, and by acts of benevolence, and endeaTours to ameliorate the condition of less fortunate brethern and sisters throughout the world, will continue to bo revered, ever exercising a most islutary influence on the future welfare of the human race, an influence too which will outlive the crash of nature, because it is derived from the first grand source of good—God himself.