The Right To Reject A Candidate.

members . If men choose to unite in this way for the promotion of their own ideas of sobriety , and isolation from the " cups that cheer" and do inebriate , by all mean ? they have a right to do so ; and this persistent effort to introduce a candidate of the avocation named looks very

much like an attempt to insert the thin end of the wedge to upset all their previous arrangements . It is a fact which will be admitted generally that licensed victuallers , as a body , are a most respectable class of men , and deserving of

all respect ; but the puzzle is to know why one of them should bo so desirous of joining a Lodge where men of his ilk and calling are naturally objects of aversion . Some interesting interchange of thought on this subject , ancl the

influence of these class Lodges in general , may be elicited , and we shall be very glad to hear whafc our correspondents may havo to say on the points raised by the Manchester episode .

Installation Of The Duke Of Abercorn.

INSTALLATION OF THE DUKE OF ABERCORN .

HIS Grace the Dnke of Abercorn wa = > installer ! ns Granrl Master of Ireland on tho 3 rd inst ., in the Masonic Hall , Molesworth Street , Dublin , in prosence of ono of the largest and most representative gatherings that lias ever been held under tha auspices of tho Grand Lodge of Ireland . Every part of the country was worthily

represented , though tho limited accomodation necessitated tlie exercise of considerable restrictions in the distribution of tickets of admission . Only about 400 of thpse conld bo issued , and fortunate wero the few who succeeded in tho ballot for them , after the wants of the G . Officers and Past Master had been satisfied . A triple row of

seats extended along the hall at each sido from the dais to the organ , en which tbe Masters and Wardens of tho Metropolitan Lndges wore seatod , while the elevated benches behind were filled with Provincial Masters and privileged representative * - * . A place on the front rows near tho dais wa * allotted to the Committee of General Purposes . The

arrangements were worked out most satisfactorily , and the Stewards may be congratulated on the manner in which they acquitted themselves . Bro . J . Creed Meridith , LL . D ., had the superintendence , and bo was assisted by Bros . Kendal Franks , M . D ., S . G . Robinson , B . S . "Reeves , C . B . M'Namara , Thomas Stuart , J . G . Yeates , P . Jones , T .

Atkinson , IT . Leslie , J . C . Mayne , W . Grove White , LL . B ., II . J . C . Tweedy , M . D ., A . E . Murray , and 0 . Carnegie . At a quarter pist eight o ' clock the arrival of the Officers of the Grand Lodge of Ireland waa announced , and tho procession entered the ball , a march being played on the organ by Brother Joze .

Tho chair w ; is taken by the Eight Worshipful E . W . Shekleton , Q . C , Deputy Grand Master , and the roll of Grand Officers was called b y Bro . S . B . Oldham Depnty Grand Secretary and Treasurer . The followiner answered to their names : —Bros , the Marquis of ITeadfort G . S . W ., Edward H . Kinahan , J . P ., G . Treasurer , tho Eight Hon .

Lord Plunket Archbishop of Dublin , the Eev . J . A . Galbraith Grand Chaplain , George Moyers , LL . D ., J . P ., G . S . D ., Harry Hnrlges G . J . D ., Georgo A . Stephens , J . P ., Grand Superintendent of Works , John T . Banks , M . D ., Grand Director of Ceremonies , Jimes Creed Meredith , LL . D ., Grand Steward , J . C . Crawley , LL . D ., Grand Sword Bearer ,

Thos . S . Sibthorpe , J . P ., Grand I . G ., and Archibald St . Georgo Assistant Secretary . Apologies were received from Bros . Lord Arthnr Hill G . S . W ., the Earl of Bandnn Grand Secretary , Maxwell H . Close Eepresentative of the Grand Lodge of England , and others . The Grand Lodge was thos officered : Bros , the Marqnis of Headfort

G . S . W ., the Eev . Joseph A . Galbraith G . J . W ., Alderman John Moyes , LL . D ., G . S . D ., Harry H . Hodges G . J . D ., and Thomas Sibthorpe , J . P ., G . I . G . The Grand Lodge having been opened , His Grace the Archbishop of Dahlia invoked a blessing . The Deputy Grand Master announced the special business which had called tho

brethren together , and nominated the following to receive the Grand Master elect , and conduct him into their presence : —Bros , the Hon . Judge Townshend , Edward H . Kinahan , J . P ., Dr . Binks Grand D . C , and James Creed Meredith Grand Steward . The Duke of Abercorn was escorted by the officers named to the dais , where he was

presented to the Deputy Grand Master by Bro . Judge Townshend . The customary obligation having been duly administered , His Grace was invested with the insignia of office , and took the chair . The Deputy Grand Master then made the following proclamation : — I proclaim the most high , potent , and noble James , Duke of

Abercorn , Marquis of Hamilton , Viscount Strabane , Lord Hamilton , Baron of Strabane and Baron of Mountcastle in the Peerage of Ireland , Marquis of Abercorn and Viscount Hamilton in the Peerage of Great Britain , Earl of Abercorn , Baron of Paisley , Arbroath , Abercorn , Hamilton , Mountcastle , and Kilpatrick , in the Peeraere of Scotland ,

a baronet of Ireland , a duke of Ireland , Duke of Chatlerhault in France , Lord Lieutenant and Gustos Eotnlorum of tho county Donegal , and Companion of the Bath , Most Worshipfnl Grand Master of the Ancient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons of Ireland . The Deputy Grand Master then addressed the Duke of

Abercorn : —My Lord Duke and Most Worshipful Sir , —On behalf of the Freemasons of Ireland , I desire to express to yonr Grace our most fraternal and heartfelt congratulations on yonr installation as bead ofthe Order in Ireland , and it is to myself a source of sincere pleasure and allowable pride that it has fallen to my lot , as

the presiding officer , to place you in the chair of Grand Master . Though your Grace has been hitherto unable to tako part in our Masonic proceedings in Dublin , the brothrau are aware that you were nominated by his Eoyal i-ighne s tho Prince of Wales , the

Grand Master of the Freemasons of England , and tho patron of the Order of Ireland , to the post of Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of England , and the tongue of good report has also borne testimony to the zealous and efficient manner in which yon

Installation Of The Duke Of Abercorn.

havo discharged the duties of Provincial Grand Master of Derry and D wegal . To be » selected by the unanimous vote of so numerous and influential a body as the Freemasons of Ireland to preside over them is an honour of whioh any one , no matter how exalted hig rank , m ' e ; ht well be prond ; but , my Lord Duke , to be called

on to fill the place of onr late revered and respected Grand Master must evoke in your mind , in addition , feelings of peculiar solemnity . It is a littlo moro than eleven years since we were assembled in this hall to welcome amongst us , as our Grand Master , Her Most Gracious Majesty's then Viceroy of Ireland , whoso noble

and dignified presence and eloquent address added lustre to all assemblies in which ho took part , and won the hearts of all with whom he was brought in contact , and no ono who was present on that memorable occasion can forget the enthusiastic reception accorded to him by the brethren . Tho inscrutable dispensation of

the Great Architect of tho Universe has removed him , who , tako him all in all , wo scarce dare hope to look upon his liko again , and has left his family to deplore the loss of a loving and devoted husband and father , and ns , his Masonio brethren , of our valued and venerated guide and head . To you , sir , haa fallen a princely heritage , a

great name , and a long bead-roll of illustrious ancestors , brave and honourable men , and fair and virtuous women 3 but amongst them all are two pre-eminently distinguished , to whoso bright example and careful training is to be attributed the exalted position their children have attained amongst the nobles ofthe land ,

and whoso kind and sincere friendship it was my great privilege to havo had fnlly and invariably accorded me . Tn your presence and upon this occasion I cannot trust myself to speak as I should wish of him who has gone ; but for hor who is left to cherish tho memory of so many years of loving union , I wonld bespeak tho continued aud

warm sympathy of all in this her time of deep distress . In an assemblage of Masons it may seem out of place to allude to the lessons that are inculcated amongst us in all our ceremonials ; bnt at this juncture in the destinies of our beloved country , and especially when our Order is assailed by people who wilfully misrepresent our objects

and actions , it cannot be amiss in mo , who have for so many years been so closely identified with the Masonic body , to avow , as I have always done , tho principles that actuate us Masons , and that unite in the bonds of Brotherhood men of every country , sect , and opinion . Brotherly love , charity

and truth , universal benevoionce and tolerance , are the characteristics of the Order , and we recognise no distinction of class or creedreligious or political . Our motto is—Fear God , honour the King , and love tho Brotherhood . As my utterances on this occasion may be made public , I would very briefly refer to the charge—which is in

print , and may be read by any one who likes—given to every Mason on his admission into the Order . The earnest study of the volume of tho Sacred Law , and the constant practice of tho Divine precepfc-i therein contained , of onr duty to our God , to our neighbour , and to ourselves , aro first most strongly urged , and those

precepts are fully explained and amplified . The charge then proceeds : — " As a citizen I enjoin you to bo exemplary in the discharge of your civil duties by never proposing or countenancing anything which may disturb the peace aud good order of society , by paying obedience to the laws of the State iu which you

reside and by which you aro protected , and by never losing sight of the allegiance you owe to the Sovereign of your native laud . As an individual , I would enjoin upon you the practice of every domestic as well as public virtue . Let prudence direct you , temperance chasten yon , fortitude support you , and insties be the guide of all your

actions ; and be especially careful to maintain in their fullest splendour those truly Masonic ornaments , Benevolence and Charity . " And in closing our Lodges , when imploring the benediction of our Heavenly Father , we pray that every moral and social virtue may cement and unite us . This brief allusion to portions of our ceremonial

should , in the minds of thinking people , be a complete refutation of the attacks upon us . I have , my Lord Duke and Most Worshipful Sir , occupied your time aud thafc of the brethren present longer than I should have liked , bufc I felfc it my duty in this public manner to repel the false charges

made against the Order . In conclusion , I would wish yonr Grace many years of continued and unclouded happiness ; and I trust that , as we can congratulate ourselves on your having undertaken the responsible office of Grand Master of the Free and Accepted Masons of Ireland , you will have no reason to regrefc your having

clone so . Before I lay aside my insignia as Deputy Grand Master , ray emblem of authority over my brethren , I ask them to assist me in saluting their newly-installed Grand Master according to ancient custom . This having been done , M . W . His Grace the Duke of Abercorn said : E . W . Depnty Grand Master and Brethren , —I feel mosfc

fla'tered afc the kind allusion with which yon , Worshipful Grand Master , have been pleased to refer to myself , and also at the touching references made to the memory of my dear father , your late Worship , ful Grand Master . Ib will be long , I am sure , before the recollection of his face and form fades from your hearts , together with fche

interest that he always took in the working of the Masonic Order in thia conntry . I feel more especially the great and distinguished honour that yon , brethren , have been pleased to confer upon me today , and I cannot help thinking that ifc is chiefly owing to the accident of birth that I am in the proud position of being now your Wor .

shipf al Grand Master , and not from any merits of my own arising from any great services to the Craft . I can only venture to express a hope that the brethren in Ireland may have no reason to regrefc this accident ; of birth , and for my part I shall always endeavonr to discharge fche important dnties connected with my present

position to tho best of my ability ; and ib will bo my constant desire to follow worthily in the footsteps of your lato Grand Master . Tho position that I now occupy is one indeed to be envied by Masons ,

not only with regard to the United Kingdom generally , and taking into consideration tho similar position that H . R . H . tbe Prince of Wales occupies in England , but more especially with respect to that portion of the United Kingdom in which we live , and which I pray for