Installation Of The Duke Of Abercorn.

centuries to come may form an integral portion of that Kingdom . We live in troubled times , as your worthy Deputy Grand Master has jnst said—times to which it is impossible to assign any futurity of peace or tranquillity . But when we leave tho outer world , with all its cares and anxieties , and enter this Hall , we feel—at least I do—that

we have entered into another sphere , and for the timo being nro living in a bond of union , friendship , and charity with all men . And this is literally true , for have we not assembled within theso walls men of all classes of society in Ireland ? We are graced to-day by the presence of ono of the ablest judges of the land , and tho name of

our brother will bo handed down to posterity associated with the brightest deeds of Charity in connection with the Masonic Order . We have worthy and distinguished representatives of the legal and literary professions , of tjie landed interest , of tho commercial and trading classes , and of the poor artizan and conntry labourer . An 1

it is over these , brethren , that yon havo to-day elected me to preside—over this large community , with its hundreds of Lodges , ranging from the north to the south , tho east to the west extended , in the area , bufc united in fellow feeling and love . I wish that tho calumniators of onr Order conld for once understand the system upon

which we live and let live . Thoy wonld then be less willing and less desirous of finding fault with us . We are , ifc is true , a secrefc society , but a society without any political motive , but one that only works for the good of our fellow countrymen when in distress or * affliction . I cannot , brethren , refrain from referring for an instanfc to tin two

great Charities that are connected with our Order—tho Masonic Orphan Girls' and Boys' Schools . I havo to congratulate you upon tho successful working of both of these Institntion ** , thafc success being mainly attributable to the energy displayed by various members of the Craft who have tho rinse of theso excellet Charities at heart /

ancl also to the generous spirit evinced on their behalf by the various Lodges thronghont Ireland . May tho success thafc has hitherto attended them continue to prosper , thereby increasing year by year the number of poor orphans to be admitted within their wall ? . I will not detain you , brethren , further , for I have now a mnst

pleasing duty to perforin—to invest for the third time onr worthy Brother Shekleton as Deputy Grind Master of tho Order . In bringing under your notice the name of Bro . Shekleton I am not introducing to you the name of an unknown Mason . When I know it fell to my lot to have the great pleasnre of appointing a Deputy Grand

Master , I at once felt thafc it would be with the sanction of all tho brethren throughout this land that I should nominate Brn . Shekleton to that position . It is needless for me to say—fcho approbation which you havo shown at tho mention of his namo proves—that ho is a brother worthy to be accepted by yon for the third time as Deputy

Grand Master . Ifc is also a matter of gratification fco myself to think that I am ablo to proposo such n worthy nnd excellent Mason . I beg now , brethren , to invest Brother Shekleton as Deputy Grand Master of this most distinguished Order . Tho Deputy Grand Master having been invested with the insignia of

his office , was sainted . E . W . Bro . Eobert W . Shekelton , Q . C , said : Most Worshipfnl Sir , —It is with feelings of the greatest diffidence thafc I stand amongst my brethren to return thanks , as I have so often done , for the honours thafc have been conferred upon me in Masonry . I confess thafc to a certain extent I was reluctant to

undertake the office again , because I felt that , having filled it for so many years , it was my duty to give way to a younger brother , ono who would be enabled to discharge the dnties to yonr satisfaction , who would bring a larger amount of energy into the performance of those duties , and devote moro time to the interests of the Order

thafc I of late years have been able to do . But I felfc , at fcho same time , that it was my duty when his Grace fche Grand Master intimated his intention to nominate me , that I shonld not decline that hononr unless I were thoroughly satisfied that ifc was not in my power to discharge the duties of the office ; and , finally , I

placed myself in the hands of my brethren , as I havo always done , bespeaking their kind assistance and support , which havo been hitherto on every occasion so generously accorded to me . To yon , Most Worshipful Sir , I retnrn my personal thanks for having entrusted me with the office . I must say that I am nofc unknown to

your Grace , having had the hononr of yonr friendship now for many years . To you , my brethren , I am » ' :. Granger , having been Deputy Grand Master for a period now of nearly seventeen years . I believe it has been unprecedented in the annals of the Order thafc a brother has filled thafc important office

for so many years , and that the same brother has had to discharge the dnties of Grand Master on two separate occasions . I confess thafc thought brings melancholy reflections to me , becanse ifc reminds me of tho death of two brethren , who were kind and generous and noble friends of myself ; and I assure you that thafc

alone has weighed upon me , and mado me vory doubtful whether I shonld have undertaken the office again . But , brethren , I thank you heartily for the way in which yon have received my name tonight , and I can assure you thafc as long as I have the honour of being entrusted with the position of Deputy Grand Master T shall

endeavour to discharge the duties of the office , as I havo hitherto done , without ; regard fco any man in the Order , simply actuated by a desire to do my duty to the Craft , and promote fche well-being of tho Order . Bro . the Hon . Judge Townshend said : Most Worshipfnl Gran- ] Master , —I have been requested , as bavins- discharged the functions

for several years of the high office of Deputy Grand Master , to mention to your Grace pnblicly here to-night , if you did nofc know it already , that the Order in Ireland , on hearing that you had been pleased to nominate our E . W . Bro . Shekleton to tho o ' ffioo nf Deputy Grand Master—an office which , as I well know , requires no little care no

little attention , is encumbered with a good deal of dilficultv , require ? mneh discretion , mneh command of temper , and many other attributes which I do not like fco enumerate lest ifc mi * 'hfc look as if 1

wished to take credit for the possession of them myself , but which we all recognise in the D . G . M ., whom we most gladly receive and welcome amongst us for tho third time—determined to present him with an address which would but feebly convoy their

Installation Of The Duke Of Abercorn.

appreciation of his high personal character , and of the eminent scrvices he has rendered to Freemasonry in Ireland . I have to •: ¦;!< your Grace to pro .-ent , in the name of tho h ** .--t ' fivT > , t'i- ; v rv hied- 'o-no testimonial to our beloved brother ; a *!; ' w > > sk yen to do so . ne more IV becauso wo know that , : ' ; will oVe ;' :- a ' .- •¦ r ; - greet en ! aneee ear .

in thafc way , but thafc it will be g-. t'fVm ::- to your Grace to ho able by that overt act , in the fe . ee of this g : \ ar a .-eenddy , to testify to your brethren that you are gratified at tie fan :, that th **/ havo so kindly and so cordially received tho n *> p eehiion- - tin -, you Ir . ivj

mado . I now place fcho address in your him ! : * for lonn . il presentment , aud I think ) -on will agreo with me thafc ifc is in itself nofc unworthy of the Order or of tin state of decorati- 'o art in Ireland . Tho following is tho text of tho address :

Address from fche Freemasons of Ireland to tho T" "> eht Worshipful Brother Eobert Wm . Skeleton , Q . C , J . l \ , De-m ' y G ¦ : ¦ ¦ •/!Master . Right Worshipful and Very Dear Brother , It is with sincere pleasure that fcho members of tho Masonio

Order in this country present their fraternal welcome and congratulation toyou upon the occasion of your appointment , now for the third time , ns Deputy Grand Master of the Freemasons of Ireland , a p > sition which you havo already filled under our kto Grand Masters ( Uis Grace tho Duko of Abercorn , K . G ., and Hia Graco the Duko of

Leinstor ) for fche unprecedented period of nearly 1 / year ? , with credit fco yourself and benefit to tho Graft . In' - •dor tn commoni-rate tli ' s event , they purpose placing jour porira ' t in tlie Grand Lodge room , where they trust it may long continue us a memorial of the a Tvicca of ono so highly esteemed and beloved by h i brethren . In coaolu-. ion ,

they fraternally hope that much happ-. 'ie-. s ; . j rosoiv . d tor yon in tho future , and thafc yon may bo long * :-p irei io perform those exalted Masonic duties which you have so ably di .-: e ! iar . ; ed in tho past . Signed , on behalf of the brethren , thijj . ' 3 rd day of Mireh , 18 SG . Ai ' . intcoitx , Grat . d Masti r .

BAXDOX , Grand Secretary . The Duko of Abercorn , in presenting ihe address * , said the acclamation with which the brethren had received tho word : * of Brother Judge Townshend furnished a further proof--if snch were v . nntingthat to no one could such a testimonial be moro fittingly presented

than to their , for the third tinv , newly-i lected Deputy Grand Master . Without furth-r piv ? ac \ ho lr \ gge , d to hand to Brother Shekleton the address which lad been presented to him so heartily and FO unanimously by tho brethren . Bro . Theophilus St . Georgo wns formally present d as representative

of tho Grand Lodge of Virginia ., U . S ., and , having been invested with tho insignia of thafc office , l ' iv . St . Gorge , to . ! : l-. is rent on tho dais . Bro . Shekleton said Bro . St . Georgo had been for many years a most active member of tho Order . lie had filled ;; ' ! the fiibordinuto offices in tho Grand Lodge , and had now retired into the ranks of i ho

illustrious Past Grand Olacers ; bufc tin * cireee <> t the Grind Lolgo of Virginia could not—as all tii ¦ brethren well knew—hive fallen upon a bettor or more deserving Mason . . During the evening a collection for tho Masonic Orphan . Schools was made , the National Anthem was snng , and tho Grand Lodge was closed with customary formalities .

Tbe final meeting ' of the Board of Stewards in connection with the recent , Festival of tho [ loyal Masonic * Benevolent Institution was held on Friday , the 5 th inst ., afc Freemasons' Hall , under the presidency of Bro . Edgar Bowyer .

Bro . Terry , as Secretary , submitted the statement of accounts , ancl payment of the bills having been ordered , votes of thanks were passed to the Chairman of the Festival ( the Most Noble the Marquis of Hertford S . G . W . ) , tho

President , Treasnrer , ancl other Officers of the Board for their services , and to Bros . Martin and Flatceloy for their efforts on behalf of the Institution , which had resulted in their bringing up lists of - £ 150 and £¥ : 0 respectively . A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded tho proceedings .

Tho General Committee of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys assembled on Saturday , undo ;* the presidency of Bro . Edgar Bowyer Y . P . P . G . Standard Heart r . The minutes of the previous meeting having been confirmed , those of the House Committee were r .-. nd for information .

Two petitions were received , and after consideration they were approved , the lads thereby becoming eligible for the October election . A grant was mi lo to a former pupil of

the Institution , and a vote of thanks having ; been passed to the chairman the proceedings wero brought to a conclusion .

The lads who were sent up from the 1 loyal Masonic Institution for Boys to the Cambridge Middle C ! * . s- * Examinations in December last acquit le- ) fchem .-tolves tno- ;';

satisfactorily , all of them having satisfied tho e . * c-imiti"r .- * , white a large majorit y were p laced itv tlie . Honours Clas-n . - * . Thirteen boys went np for examination , with the following resale : —Honours : 01 a ? s 1 . —A .. S . Uaworth , -istingnished in Latin and Mathemat ;^^ . Ch : •: ' ¦' ' - ¦' . •J J < h ,.- < -,. \

G . N . C . Keighh- , A . J . Kennedy , and 3 . W . Richardson Class III . —H . R . Hounslow , J . Lin-don , W . W . Incas , and W . J . Pringle . Satisfied the IO . ™ minors : H . W . N . Knott , H . V . N . Scrope-Shvapnel , G . V . V . Sonf , ! iam , and F . T . Tanner .