The Sun.
London, England, 1845-06-21 00:00:00

ASYLUM for AGED FirtEEMASON,'

On Wednesday evening the tenth annual festival of this
admirable Institution was celebrated at the Freemasons' Ta-
vern, when about 150 members of the masonic order and their
friends sat down to a very excellent dinner, which was served
op in the Messrs. Bacon's best style. The object of the Asy-
lum is to provide that shelter and support in his latter days for
the worthy, aged, and decayed Freemason, which nearly all
other classes have already done for those connected with their
happier hours, and dependant on their benevolence; and it cer-
tainly seems strange that while England abounds in homes of
benevolence for the distressed, that the aged and decayed Free-
mason alone should be without this cheering prospect—an ano-
maly rendered more striking from the fact that no body of
men has had higher patronage, richer members, or more bene-
volent objects. _ _

The chair was taken by B. B. Cabbell. Esq., who was sup-
ported by the Rev. Mr. Laing, Dr. Lane, William Shaw,
Esq., E. Brewster, Esq., &c.
As is usual upon this annual re-union, a concert forms part
of the festival, and on the present occasion the following
ladies and gentlemen gave their services gratuitously :—The
Misses Williams, the Misses Turner, Miss Hill (pupil of Signor
Negri), Miss Julia Warman (pupil of Mr. Crouch) fantasia on
the pianoforte ; Mr. F. Chatterten, solo on the harp ; Signor
Brizzi, Mr. Genge, Signor Furnasari, Signor Corelli, Mr. C.
E. Horn, Mr. Jolley and his pupils, Mr. Kingsbury, Signor
Ferrari, Mr. Collyer, and Mr. F. N. Crouch
The cloth havi.ig been removed, and the usual loyal toasts
given from the chair having been responded to with enthu-
siasm, _

The CHAre.mxx gave the health of the Earl of Zetland, the
Grand Master of the Order of Masons. He then gave the
Grand Masters of the order in England and Scotland.
Mr. Mortars returned thanks for the latter proposition.
The CHAIRMAN said they had now arrived at the chief
business of the evening, which was to drink prosperity to the
Aged and Decayed Freemasons' Asylum.—( Hear, hear. )
In making this proposition he felt some difficulty, for he
knew he was unequal to the task of doing justice to the
object which they had in view, in carrying forward this in-
stitution. The Chairman then alluded to some differences
which existed in the mind of the late illustrious Grand
Master (the Duke
.of Sussex) in respect to the establish-
ment of the Asylum ; but observed, that as the great prin-
ciple of Masonry was charity in its fullest extent,
they were bound to believe—and he was sure they felt as he
did in this respect—that the illustrious person to whom he had
referred, was actuated by the purest principles of honesty in
the course which he adopted on this subject ; for he was a
man whose high attainments, whose honesty of purpose, and
liberal and enlightened understanding, outshone even his rank
and exalted station.—( Cheers.) They had, however, carried
out their purposes in part, although they had not yet succeeded
in erecting their asylum.—( Hear.)
Now, he thought,
that as they had in part succeeded, they ought to see how far
they would be able to establish an asylum for the widows of
masons.—( Loud cheers.) He thought this principle could be
admirably engrafted on that which they were now celebrating,
and if it were, he was sure that it would meet with the cordial
support of not only all good Masons, but with the public ge-
nerally.—( Cheers.) The Chairman, after kindly noticing the
fact that he was induced to take the chair at the solicitation of
his friend Mr. Brewster, concluded by proposing—" Pros-
perity to the Asylum for Aged Freemasons."—( Applause. )
Mr. BREWSTER then, in very felicitous terms, proposed the
health of " Dr. Crucefix, the Treasurer of the Asylum."
Dr. CRUCEFIX returned thanks in an eloquent speech, in
the course of which he alluded to the difficulties with which he
and those who had originated the Asylum had to contend with,
in carrying out the purposes which they had in view. They
had, however, succeeded so far as to be able to accumulate a
fund of about 4,0001. in aid of the Asylum. He had no doubt
but ultimately, and at no distant date, they would be able fully
to establish the Asylum.—( Hear. )
Dr. LANE then proposed, in appropriate terms, the health
of the Chairman, who briefly expressed his acknowledgments.
The Vice-Presidents, the Stewards, the Press, and other
toasts were proposed by the Chairman, and drunk cordially by
the company.
The Treasurer announced that the subscriptions of the even-
ing amounted to CAM
The singing and instrumentation during the evening were
all that could be desired, and afforded unmixed delight to the
company and to the ladies who occupied positions in the gal.
lery. Mr. Higgans was a capital toastmaster.

MEMOIRS OF LADY HESTER STANHOPE ; COMPRIS-
ING HER OPINIONS, AND ANECDOTES OF THE MOST RE-
MAILABLE PERSONS OF HER TlMES.—These memoirs can-
not fail to interest all classes of readers. It is justly observed
in the prospectus of the work Throughout the whole of
the brilliant period of the life of her uncle, Mr. Pitt,
Lady Hester Stanhope (who was the partner of his secret
counsels) was drawn into daily intercourse with the most re-
markable people of the age—statesmen, wits, diplomatists, men
of letters and science, women of fashion and celebrity, and all
the members of the royal family, with whom she was on terms
of familiar intimacy. Her great knowledge of human charac-
ter enabled her to form the most accurate opinions concerning
these distinguished persons, and her prodigious memory, unim-
paired to the last, laid up a store of personal recollections and
illustrative anecdotes, such as no other individual ever possessed
the means of accumulating. Her conversations preserved in
these memoirs are no less admirable for freshness and raciness
of style, than for the singular and striking. interest of the
matter. The private life of Mr. Pitt—his domestic character
and habits—hitherto altogether unknown. are here brought to
light by the only individual who was admitted to his unre-
served confidence, and who alone understood the true elements
of his nature.. When Lady Hester Stanhope abandoned her
own Country for ever, and buried herself in the solitudes of
Mount Lebanon, the novelty of her position, the marvellous
authority she obtained, and the masculine vigour she displayed
attracted to a remote and solitary retreat in Syria, the curio-
sity of Europe, and rendered her an object of universal in-
terest."

CONVICTION Fon ARS'N.—In the Commission
Court, Dublin, on the 17th, Brick M'Alser, a watchmaker, was
found guilty, of setting fire to his own house, and thus de-
stroying the extensive warehouses of Mr. J. Eliot, in Thomas.street,
was sentenced to fifteen years transportation. Previously WAlser
had the reputation of a respectable trader.

• SURREY ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.
JULLIEN'S CONCERT MONSTRE.
Last right will be an era in the musical annals of
England. M. Jullien gave a Concert Monstre, a monster
concert at the Surrey Zoological Gardens. The orchestra
was composed of 300 performers, and by the first talent
of the day. We went to the Gardens expecting to hear
a great noise—occasionally harmonious—but more fre-
quently discordant. We imagined that it was utterly
impossible for any mortal musician to conduct an '
orchestra of 300 performers, so as to produce har-
mony. We are, however, bound to confess that we
were out in our reckoning, Under the guidance of M.
Julien, the whole 300 performers were but as parts of
one great instrument. The orchestra was one great
whole—one gigantic musical instrument, upon which M.
Jullien played at his will. The musical performances
concluded with " God save the Queen"—the National
Anthem—performed as the National Anthem is in
Russia, with a salvo of cannon between every eight bars.
The effect was sublime, and the enthusiastic ap-
plause of the audience testified their delight.
The concert was followed by the illuminated
view of Edinburgh and the fire-works, which were most
superb. The gardens were crowded to excess—so much
so, that the repetition of the Monster Concert is advertised
for Friday next, in order to accommodate those who
were unable to obtain admission to the gardens last
evening. The orchestra was beautifully illuminated,
and the public were not backwards in patrorising the
amusements of these gardens. There were about 4,000
persons present.