was an undrainable swamp, the locality insalubrious, and the design unworthy the honour and dignity of the Craft. These aspersions on the honour, integrity, and common feeling of the Committee, as well as upon the talent of their very distinguished architect, have been most triumphantly refuted, but your Committee refrain from commenting on the unmasonic conduct of their opponents, under the hope that, having so succeeded, a sense of tardy justice may yet enable them to carry out the great object of charity; at least for the present they forbear to give other publicity to the great mass of evidence in their favour. It must be stated that the expense of this unlooked-for opposition has already been considerable. It will, however, be satisfactory to the patrons of the Asylum to be informed, that the works will be resumed, and that the foundation stone will be laid as soon as the Building Committee can make their final arrangements. Financial Statement. 66 This amount is certainly less than that stated in the last year's report by 2561. 28 9d., but if the expense of the purchase of the land, and the law-charges thereon, amounting together to 5077. 18. 1d., be taken into consideration, there will then be an actual improvement in the finances of 2417. 18. 4d. "Your Committee leave to the Governors to put upon their conduct during a most unexampled trial, the kindest interpretation. It may not be too much to hope for their sympathy, if not for their approbation, Charity has doubtless suffered by the delay, but the providence of God will prosper good intentions." DR. CRUCEFIX then resumed his address: I will first turn to that gallery, the fair tenants of which I feel bound more especially to address, because they have always exercised their greatest privilege-that of directing man to the serious consideration of his duty towards his neighbour; in particular by doing justice to age. Woman, in the consciousness of her natural superiority, disdains to do that by argument which she can more winsomely effect by her example, and by the expression of her wishes. Her very presence here is the great moral shield of our cause; her sweet sympathy the solace for our toil; the hope of her approbation excites our animation, and inspirits us to the final accomplishment of our task. I had fondly anticipated that I should have had to speak of the past with added pleasure, in those touching words of Bro. Douglas Jerrold— "The stone is laid-the Temple is begun- But it, alas! is not so. The foundation-stone was to have been laid ere this-the day was fixed-the ceremonial arranged, and there appeared to be a certainty that a Temple, dedicated to the honour and glory of the Most High, would be consecrated with all due masonic formality by the Grand Master, when lo! at the eleventh hour, the demon serpent of envy raised its accursed crest, and, with forked tongue and bated breath, it dared to assert that the site selected was unhealthy-that drainage was impossible, and that the design was unworthy of our Order. The two first objections were perfectly untenable; the last was fairly a reflection, not on those who did support the Asylum, but on those who did not. There are mysteries out of Masonry as well as in it, and among them is this, that the purest gold must, it seems, be tried by the basest of metals. To-day's proceedings are a great moral lesson that cannot be regarded with impunity, either by Lord Zetiand or by those who presume to be his advisers. Brethren, I have often had to advert with gratitude to the truly masonic appeals of our Chairmen in behalf of this charity; your voices will go with me to day in the acknowledgment of the surpassing kindness of the present noble Chairman; but then, my friends, could we not rely on him who possesses a great heart, which is enshrined in a noble and generous chivalry that bids a weeping nation to mourn no more "Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy." I am justified in averring that all these unbecoming objections have been triumphantly refuted; and the workmen will proceed, and the Temple will be erected. In our hour of need, as if to prove their appreciation of our cause, it is my pleasing duty to state that a number of ladies have determined to present purses containing five guineas each, as an oblation at the shrine of charity. This declaration will delight, but not surprise. Is not this conduct truly noble? Yes, may God bless them! They will be rewarded; for by bestowing happiness on others, they discover the most cheerful mode of ensuring it to themselves. 66 Oh great character of woman! that even in this shadow and faint reflection of it, purifies the heart, and raises the exalted nature nearer to the Angels." Brethren, old age in its poverty may reflect on the past, it may be with bitterness and grief, for it may even have been sinful; but that is an additional reason why we should step forward to succour and to save. Let us follow that golden precept of the wisest of men : "Do good with what thou hast, or it will do thee no good." Old age is helpless, not clamorous; its very silence is eloquence-a mute monitor of surpassing power-necessity urges the appeal. Alas! my friends, how soon may your own necessity urge the appeal to others! We are told to "rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man," wherever we meet him, although he can plead no alliance with us but that of humanity-no right-no rank-no individual obligation. Had the friends of the Asylum doubted the ultimate success of their object, they might have yielded to the pride, the obstinacy, and the prejudice—aye, and to the ingratitude and ignorance of their opponents; but they were not dismayed, for they well knew, that sowing they should reap, and they persevered, and they will persevere. Brethren, let your benevolence be glowing with love-let your united efforts to ameliorate the cares of poverty be directed by masonic patriotism, and become an honourable example to the world-not its shame. What is the real secret of our past success?-Our CAUSE, not seductive, but sacred! Based on charity, the heart-the heart-presaged success; we felt the issue could not be doubtful, because it ought not to be doubtful. What if we did lack the pomp and the power? We had honesty of purpose and fidelity almost to a fault. Was triumph, then, to be questionable? The past, the present, and the future, give rise to ominous thoughts. Does the reflective mind disregard antiquity? Does the Mason, of all men, disregard the great inspired Poem of Life given to him for salvation? Is the creation of the world to be considered as a mere record that he is a descendant of Adam?-Oh no! well he feels that memory is the mind's ancestor, and brings back, whether we will or not, the past to our view it may be with satisfaction-it may be with sadness. The present moment is our own, and presents the opportunity of acting for the benefit of others; whereby we may be enabled, in the dread future, to render an account of the philanthropy that shall have graced our state of probation here. Brethren, this will, in all probability, be the last time that I shall address you here on this subject. I will not sully the happiness of the social hour by explanation-it must be so. After so many years' service, I have earned a title to retirement, in which there is no dishonour. My heart yearns to thank you, were I able to do so, in the most glowing terms, for increasing confidence and affectionate support. Before I conclude, permit me to hope that, aided by the inspiriting influence-and may I not add the moral direction-of the better sex, you will cheer my retiring effort by such a subscription as may render my night's slumber as refreshing as my heart will be grateful. I now entrust you with the performance of a sacred duty. Be it your happy task to lead your aged brethren to the green pastures of hope and the sparkling waters of comfort, where true faith may enable them to contemplate with serenity the glorious mysteries of the future world. Most gratefully I thank you all. The perfect silence which respected so deeply the Doctor's address throughout, and at its conclusion, was a deep tribute of personal affection and esteem. Mr. Whitworth sang " Farewell to the Mountain." Bro. SHAW.-Brethren and gentlemen, the privilege of proposing the next toast has devolved upon me—I say a privilege, because I feel it to be such, and I feel that you will give a warm and cordial reception to the toast, notwithstanding the imperfect manner in which I may propose it to you. I have been present at the earliest meetings of this institution, and I have been in the habit of seeing the manner in which the duties of the chair have been performed at various meetings, and I am sure it is scarcely necessary for me to say, that I never saw them more ably discharged than they have been on the present occasion, and never upon any other occasion did I hear a more soul-stirring address than I have heard this evening from the chair-(cheers). I am therefore greatly relieved in proposing this toast before you who have listened to that admirable speech, and who, I am sure, duly appreciate the services rendered to you this evening by the nobleman in the chair. But there are other reasons why you should do honour to this toast-the noble lord in the chair practises charity, not only in the ordinary sense of the word, but he does so in the most extensive and universal sense-(cheers), and more especially on behalf of a nation, many of whose people have found an asylum in this country-(cheers). I said I felt it to be a privilege to propose this toast, and I have felt it a privilege to sit near your chairman this evening. It is gratifying to us, that those who are compelled to leave their own country for the principles of liberty and freedom find a refuge in this country, and that the noble lord in the chair has taken so active a part in promoting individual and universal charity(cheers). I ask you, therefore, with all warmth and sincerity, to drink to "the health of the Noble Lord, and to offer our best thanks to him for his spirit-stirring speech this evening."-(Cheers, drunk with all the honours.) The CHAIRMAN.-Gentlemen and brethren, I am sure that if it had been a very great trouble and a very irksome thing to preside over this meeting to-night, I should have been amply, and more than amply repaid, by the very kind reception which you have given me, and by the very flattering terms which have been expressed towards me; but instead of considering it a trouble, I have experienced great pleasure in meeting you this evening. It is true, that when it was proposed to me to preside over you, I did not accede to the request without hesitation, and that I said it was not a very easy task for me to do so, in consequence of the other necessary occupations to which I have to attend; but when I considered the object you had in view, I consented to act-I did not hold out long, but soon surrendered at discretion—(laughter and cheers). From my connection with the important and extensive borough of Marylebone, I am daily called upon to preside at public meetings, and from my duties in the House of Commons, I have only one evening in the week which I can call my own, and that is the Wednesday evening, and that was the reason why I hesitated when the request was made to me, and I believe this is the first public dinner at which I have presided in the year 1849. I have had great pleasure in placing my services at your disposal, and I think he must be a curious man who would not. It will always be a subject of pleasure to me if I have rendered any help to the object you have in view, and if at any after time I can do anything to promote your excellent views, I shall be happy to do so.— -(Cheers.)-Miss Thornton sang a Scotch ballad. The list of subscriptions was then read, exceeding 6007. Bro. BREWSTER, in a neat and appropriate speech, proposed the "Public Press," which was acknowledged by Mr. Soulsby. The CHAIRMAN.-The next toast which I have to propose to you, is one which you will all delight to do honour to, it is the health of the ladies in the gallery, who have kindly honoured us with their presence this evening, in evidence of their sympathy with the benevolent object we have in view; and I am sure none of you would be satisfied to depart without doing honour to them, who have from the beginning given so powerful a support to this institution (cheers). I call upon you, therefore, to drink, in flowing bumpers and with full hearts, "the health of the Ladies."-(Cheers, drunk amidst great applause.) The CHAIRMAN.-I have one more toast, which is "the health of the Stewards," to whom on this occasion we have been so much indebted, and I am sure you will agree with me, that they have laid before you a most sumptuous entertainment in all respects.-(Drunk amidst loud cheers.) Bro. DOBSON, the President of the Board, in an eloquent speech returned thanks on behalf of the Stewards. He took a very able review of the most pointed remarks of each preceding speaker, in particular he alluded, in a very forcible and happy manner, to the address of Bro. Bigg-and in commenting on the unmasonic and absurd opposition to the locality and the proposed erection of the Asylum, he contrasted the great power, social, physical, and moral, of such a meeting as that which now presented itself, where spirit, intelligence, and humanity bid defiance to the vain inanity of prejudice. He was but a young Mason, but he should take care not to be led away by false pretences; on the contrary he would study, to the best of his reasoning power, how he could best promote those objects which the noble Chairman had so ably advocated, and in the furtherance of which his lordship had been supported by Masons of sterling worth, approved cônduct, and high honour. Bro. Dobson's address was deservedly cheered with enthusiasm, and although the last toast, was listened to with the same marked attention as even the first delivered from the chair. In this respect the Asylum festival holds a prestige surpassing all others-it is a meeting of masonic gentlemen and their friends, whose determination is to maintain order and to promote charity. The dinner arrangements were well attended to; and the musical department, under the superintendance of Bro. Ransford, gave great satisfaction, he was particularly aided by his accomplished daughter and very talented son. Mr. Thomas acted with great efficiency as toast master. The concert in the ladies' room was conducted with the same taste that has always hitherto characterized the Asylum festivals, and the ladies expressed themselves delighted with their entertainment. |