Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Installation Of The Most Worshipful The Grand Master.
INSTALLATION OF THE MOST WORSHIPFUL THE GRAND MASTER .
THE history of the Craft records no event that can compare , in the general interest it excited , with the Installation of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales as Most Worshipful Grand Master of English
Masons . Of royal rulers and patrons we have had many in England , but hitherto the connection of royalty with our Order has evoked little public excitement , and certainly no enthusiasm . That there should be no lack of either on the
present occasion among English Masons , who have always been distinguished for due reverence rendered to the representatives of Authority and Law , will surprise no one
informed on the principles they hold , but the wide-spread interest and curiosity upon the subject of Masonry which prevailed in the metropolis on Wednesday last must have astonished as much as it was calculated to amuse a
Ereemason . The personal popularity of the illustrious Prince , who on that day assumed the high office of Ruler of the Craft in England , was doubtless in some measure the cause of this new-born interest in our proceedings , and ifc is probable that the crowds which blocked the
approaches to the Albert Hall were attracted as much by the hope of obtaining a sight of " the Prince " as from any eager desire to penetrate the mysteries of Masonry . If any one was attracted by such a desire he or she was doomed to grievous disappointment . The
unbroken stream of humanity which , for a couple of hours , flowed from every point of the compass in the direction of the Hall , was only individually distinguishable from the ordinary wayfarer by a swallow-tail coat and a regulation tie , the order prohibiting a public display of
Masonic emblems having been faithfull y obeyed . Not the least noteworthy incident indeed of this auspicious occasion was the admirable order and discipline which governed the conduct of the brethren throughout the entire proceedings . Even at the entrance doors , when
tnere occurred a temporary and excusable delay , arising from the necessity for subjecting the credentials of every applicant for admission to the keenest scrutiny , there was neither crush nor flurry , and inside the building the perfect arrangements of the Grand Officers and their Assistants
prevented anything like confusion . The admission , scrutiny aud seating of eight thousand people in one building , within the space of an hour and a half , was no ordinary task , and the intelligent forethought , apparent in every detail of the arrangements , which secured its
accomplishment cannot be too highly praised . This task , indeed the whole of the interior arrangements , was entrusted to Bro . Thomas Fenn , Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies , who richly deserves the thanks of the brethren for the absolute immunity from discomfort they enjoyed .
At half past two o ' clock precisely the entrance doors were closed , the seats in the area of the Hall , reserved for the officers who had discharged the duties of door keepers , became rapidly filled , and in less than four minutes not a vacant seat in the vast building was discernible , save those heliind the throne reserved for the Grand Officers . At this
moment the sight before us is one of singular and surpassing splendour . Upwards , from the Amphitheatre , in successive tiers , divided by the gangways into perfectly
symmetrical groups , and extending to the gallery near the roof are seated eight thousand representative Masons of Eugland , clothed in all the insignia of their several degrees of rank in our Order and presenting a spectacle ,
Installation Of The Most Worshipful The Grand Master.
the splendour of which could not have been conceived and certainly has never before been witnessed . The vast mass of colour displayed in the brilliant blue collars and the aprons worn by tho brethren , relieved here and there by
thin lines of crimson and purple , gold embroidery and flashing jewels , produced an effect of such striking magnificence as -will long live in the memory of those who have been privileged to experience it . Eringing the dais
on which stood the Grand Master ' s chair , was a beautiful bank of flowers , comprising the choicest exotics , and offering a grateful relief to the eye dazzled by the blaze of colour presented in the carpet that covered the open space
extending from the Throne to the Grand Entrance . Upon the latter point the general attention is now concentrated , as , to the solemn peal of tho organ and loud blast of tho trumpets , the head of the following procession entered the Hall :
The Grand Stewards of the Year . Grand Pnrsnivant . Past Grand Organists . Grand Organist . Past Grand Sword Bearers . P . A . G . Directors of Ceremonies .
Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies . Grand Director of Coromonies . P . G . Superintendents of Works . Grand Superintendent of Works . Past Grand Deacons .
Grand Secretary for German Correspondence . Grand Secretary . President of the Board of General Purposes . Past Grand Registrar . Grand llegistrar . Grand Treasnrer .
Past Grand Chaplains . Grand Chaplains . Past Grand Wardens .
Past Provincial Grand Masters . Provincial Grand Master . Illustrious Visitors . His Eoyal Highness the Dnke of Connaught . Junior Grand Warden . f Jnnior Grand Senior Grand Warden . { Deacons .
Eepresentative from the Grand Deputation from the Grand Lodge of Denmark . Lodge of Sweden . Deputation from the Grand Deputation from the Grand Lodge of Ireland , according to Lodgo of Scotland , according to their respective ranks . their respective ranks .
Acting Deputy Grand Master . Grand Sword Bearer . TIIE M . W . PKO GBAND MASTER . Senior Grand Deacons . Two Grand Stewards . As the procession advanced down the centre of the area ,
the cheering was loud and hearty , and was rendered again and again upon the recognition of the Duke of Connaught who , in the simple clothing of a Master Mason , occupied a chair of state upon the dais during the remainder of the ceremony .
Grand Lodge was then duly opened by the Pro Grand Master , and a congratulatory telegram received from the Orient of Genoa was read , amid great cheering , after which the Grand Director of the Ceremonies , Sir Albert W . Woods , rapidly formed a procession of Grand
Officers appointed to introduce the Grand Master elect . This procession moved down the centre of the Hall , tlie organ playing a march composed specially for the occasion
by Bro . Sir Michael Costa , and joining the Grand Officers assembled in the corridor , in immediate attendance upon the Grand Master , rettirned almost immediatel y in the following order : —
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Installation Of The Most Worshipful The Grand Master.
INSTALLATION OF THE MOST WORSHIPFUL THE GRAND MASTER .
THE history of the Craft records no event that can compare , in the general interest it excited , with the Installation of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales as Most Worshipful Grand Master of English
Masons . Of royal rulers and patrons we have had many in England , but hitherto the connection of royalty with our Order has evoked little public excitement , and certainly no enthusiasm . That there should be no lack of either on the
present occasion among English Masons , who have always been distinguished for due reverence rendered to the representatives of Authority and Law , will surprise no one
informed on the principles they hold , but the wide-spread interest and curiosity upon the subject of Masonry which prevailed in the metropolis on Wednesday last must have astonished as much as it was calculated to amuse a
Ereemason . The personal popularity of the illustrious Prince , who on that day assumed the high office of Ruler of the Craft in England , was doubtless in some measure the cause of this new-born interest in our proceedings , and ifc is probable that the crowds which blocked the
approaches to the Albert Hall were attracted as much by the hope of obtaining a sight of " the Prince " as from any eager desire to penetrate the mysteries of Masonry . If any one was attracted by such a desire he or she was doomed to grievous disappointment . The
unbroken stream of humanity which , for a couple of hours , flowed from every point of the compass in the direction of the Hall , was only individually distinguishable from the ordinary wayfarer by a swallow-tail coat and a regulation tie , the order prohibiting a public display of
Masonic emblems having been faithfull y obeyed . Not the least noteworthy incident indeed of this auspicious occasion was the admirable order and discipline which governed the conduct of the brethren throughout the entire proceedings . Even at the entrance doors , when
tnere occurred a temporary and excusable delay , arising from the necessity for subjecting the credentials of every applicant for admission to the keenest scrutiny , there was neither crush nor flurry , and inside the building the perfect arrangements of the Grand Officers and their Assistants
prevented anything like confusion . The admission , scrutiny aud seating of eight thousand people in one building , within the space of an hour and a half , was no ordinary task , and the intelligent forethought , apparent in every detail of the arrangements , which secured its
accomplishment cannot be too highly praised . This task , indeed the whole of the interior arrangements , was entrusted to Bro . Thomas Fenn , Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies , who richly deserves the thanks of the brethren for the absolute immunity from discomfort they enjoyed .
At half past two o ' clock precisely the entrance doors were closed , the seats in the area of the Hall , reserved for the officers who had discharged the duties of door keepers , became rapidly filled , and in less than four minutes not a vacant seat in the vast building was discernible , save those heliind the throne reserved for the Grand Officers . At this
moment the sight before us is one of singular and surpassing splendour . Upwards , from the Amphitheatre , in successive tiers , divided by the gangways into perfectly
symmetrical groups , and extending to the gallery near the roof are seated eight thousand representative Masons of Eugland , clothed in all the insignia of their several degrees of rank in our Order and presenting a spectacle ,
Installation Of The Most Worshipful The Grand Master.
the splendour of which could not have been conceived and certainly has never before been witnessed . The vast mass of colour displayed in the brilliant blue collars and the aprons worn by tho brethren , relieved here and there by
thin lines of crimson and purple , gold embroidery and flashing jewels , produced an effect of such striking magnificence as -will long live in the memory of those who have been privileged to experience it . Eringing the dais
on which stood the Grand Master ' s chair , was a beautiful bank of flowers , comprising the choicest exotics , and offering a grateful relief to the eye dazzled by the blaze of colour presented in the carpet that covered the open space
extending from the Throne to the Grand Entrance . Upon the latter point the general attention is now concentrated , as , to the solemn peal of tho organ and loud blast of tho trumpets , the head of the following procession entered the Hall :
The Grand Stewards of the Year . Grand Pnrsnivant . Past Grand Organists . Grand Organist . Past Grand Sword Bearers . P . A . G . Directors of Ceremonies .
Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies . Grand Director of Coromonies . P . G . Superintendents of Works . Grand Superintendent of Works . Past Grand Deacons .
Grand Secretary for German Correspondence . Grand Secretary . President of the Board of General Purposes . Past Grand Registrar . Grand llegistrar . Grand Treasnrer .
Past Grand Chaplains . Grand Chaplains . Past Grand Wardens .
Past Provincial Grand Masters . Provincial Grand Master . Illustrious Visitors . His Eoyal Highness the Dnke of Connaught . Junior Grand Warden . f Jnnior Grand Senior Grand Warden . { Deacons .
Eepresentative from the Grand Deputation from the Grand Lodge of Denmark . Lodge of Sweden . Deputation from the Grand Deputation from the Grand Lodge of Ireland , according to Lodgo of Scotland , according to their respective ranks . their respective ranks .
Acting Deputy Grand Master . Grand Sword Bearer . TIIE M . W . PKO GBAND MASTER . Senior Grand Deacons . Two Grand Stewards . As the procession advanced down the centre of the area ,
the cheering was loud and hearty , and was rendered again and again upon the recognition of the Duke of Connaught who , in the simple clothing of a Master Mason , occupied a chair of state upon the dais during the remainder of the ceremony .
Grand Lodge was then duly opened by the Pro Grand Master , and a congratulatory telegram received from the Orient of Genoa was read , amid great cheering , after which the Grand Director of the Ceremonies , Sir Albert W . Woods , rapidly formed a procession of Grand
Officers appointed to introduce the Grand Master elect . This procession moved down the centre of the Hall , tlie organ playing a march composed specially for the occasion
by Bro . Sir Michael Costa , and joining the Grand Officers assembled in the corridor , in immediate attendance upon the Grand Master , rettirned almost immediatel y in the following order : —