United Grand Lodge Of Victoria.

UNITED GRAND LODGE OF VICTORIA .

THE installation meeting was held on the 15 th May , in the presence of a brilliant assembly , numbering some

280 Brethren , and including Past Grand Masters of the jurisdiction , the Grand Masters of Tasmania and South Australia , and a large number of other distinguished Colonial Masons .

The Installing Master ( Bro . Hon . G . S . Coppin Past Grand Master ) referred to the importance of the occasion . Grand Masters were in existence , he said , long before Grand Lodges , the latter , according to authorities being only 1 S 4 years old . Preston , a P . M . of the Lodge of Antiquity ( a no

mean authority ) , said the rite was practised centuries before Grand Lodges were known . He was pleased that his protest , entered some two years ago , had borne good fruit , and that they were carrying out the ancient landmarks despite the " modus operandi" of the Mother Grand Lodge of the

world . He was getting old , he had seen eighty-two years , and he could not expect many more favours from Him . He thought it would be the last time he should see or take part in the installation of a Grand Master , but he trusted that one and all would at all times carry out with fidelity

those ancient landmarks , which had been so faithfully handed to them as an heirloom . He then obligated the M . W . Grand Master Bro . A . J . Peacock and , in explaining to ^ him his duty ,

referred to the " quality of mercy . " The venerable Brother , who was agitated , was at times most pathetic , and received subdued applause when he placed the Grand Master on the throne .

The M . W . Grand Master thanked his honoured and revered Brother for his great kindness in installing him for the second period , and the Brethren for the honour conferred in electing him unanimously for the second year . He had to thank the Brethren who had so loyally supported him during the last year .

After various congratulations , by telegram and otherwise , had been announced , the M . W . Grand Master returned his own personal thanks and the thanks of the Grand Lodge to the representatives of sister Grand Lodges for their congratulations to himself and his Grand Lodge . Pie could

assure them the Grand Lodge of Victoria appreciated the respect shown by so many of the Brethren staying from their homes to be present . He requested the members of Grand Lodge representing other Grand Lodges to convey his Fraternal greetings to their respective Grand Lodges . Fie then

alluded to the importance of the occasion—the foundation of the Commonwealth , the opening of Parliament , the commencement of the new century—a unique occasion , as for himself in it he had been married , he had been appointed Premier , and re-elected Grand Master .

Grand Lodge was then closed in ample form , and was followed by a banquet , at which some 180 Brethren sat down . The toast of the King and the Craft was given by the Grand Master , who said from time immemorial members of

the Mystic Tie had always shown their loyalty to the throne . As colonials they could not but recognise that he who was Grand Master of the Mother Grand Lodge of the world was now the Ruler of the British Empire . Before he was King he was the Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England . The toast was enthusiastically honoured .

The M . W . Grand Master of South Australia Bro . Sir Samuel Way , who on rising was received with cheers , said . M . W . Grand Master , my Lord Bishop , Brethren all , —I understand the significance of your having honoured me . No words of mine could give any other than one meaning-

you are pleased to see visitors and pleased to see me . Brethren , I assure you I am equally pleased to see you all and be with you on this important and pleasant occasion . I know there are numbers of my Brethren who are not sorry to see me in this city of Melbourne . For half a century I visitor

nave oeen a , and 1 have spent some of the happiest hours of my visits with my Masonic Brethren . To-night brings forth many memories of the past . This last week Melbourne has shown to the world what Australia is

Melbourne , as the great city of Australia , has for a week or more been a great theatre of sights , and we have been the happy spectators . The last week has made the whole world pause . The King has sent his only son to take part in our festivities . The Prince and Princess have left their children

United Grand Lodge Of Victoria.

—their beloved ones—behind , to take a share in Australia ' s celebrations of her coming greatness . What will be Australia ' s greatness?—the spreading of the true principles of the brotherhood of man throughout every State in the Commonwealth . The stately pageants we have witnessed lately

would have been incomplete without the great ceremony we witnessed and took part in to-night . As I sat in your Grand Lodge to-night , my heart beat with gratitude when I saw that grand man , the veteran Past Grand Master Coppin , a veteran not lagging on the stage , holding the honour , love

and obedience of a troop of friends and Brethren . How he spoke , his jealous and heartfelt love for those ancient landmarks , his great knowledge of Masonic jurisprudence , and his never-to-be-forgotten charge to us all not to develop the example of English Freemasonry in this State if inconsistent

with the landmarks of Ancient Freemasonry . What of your M . W . Grand Master ? No signs of decadence in his work . He has done well in the past , so he will in the future .. Whilst you leave Freemasonry of this State in his hands it will nourish . He has reminded us of the birth of the

Commonwealth on the 1 st J anuary , and the still more glorious event of that day—the happy marriage of your Grand Master . Like him , I am a humble recent recruit to the marriage state , and , Brethren , remember " it is never too late to mend . " He has in the year IQOI carried off the triple honours of his

marriage , the Premiership , and the Grand Mastership . He has had the honour of entertaining thousands from all parts of the world . He has the kind and anxious support of a dutiful and loving wife . The office of Grand Master he has filled with dignity and satisfaction equal to that felt for your

two previous Grand Masters . I can never stand up in a Masonic gathering in this State without mentioning a name , not dear to Victoria alone , but to Australian Freemasons ; I allude to your never to be forgotten late . Grand Master , Sir William Clarke . I know from personal acquaintances in

India , Asia , China , and the great American continent , that he had a good many friends . As an Australian Mason , if I wanted a typical man and a Mason I should choose my honoured friend , your late Grand Master Sir William Clarke , who , in his life and character carried out those great Masonic

virtues , Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth . We , as Masons , are proud of such men , and we are proud of our Craft and keep it stainless . We have a precious heirloom , the King is our Brother , he is Patron of Australian Freemasonry . Let

us maintain outside the Lodge the tenets we are taught in it , " Be ye loyal to your King , your Grand Master , and you will be loyal to yourselves . " Brethren , I give you " the health of your Grand Master . "

The M . W . Grand Master Bro . A . J . Peacock said : M . W .. Grand Master Bro . Sir Samuel Way , M . W . Grand Masters and Brethren , —I am a busy man but I appreciate the high honour conferred on me to-night by my Brethren as of the highest character . I have been elected by Brethren

whose views , politically , differ with my own , and these Brethren are the Brethren / who have conferred on me the highest honour in their power to bestow . You have thought me fit for the position and re-elected me as your Grand Master , and in return I shall do my utmost to carry out my

duties impartially , and try to please all . Twelve months ago , when I held a very humble position , you elected me your Grand Master . Since then I have been appointed to a position of trust in this State , and very few men have had the honours conferred upon them so swiftly as I have . I

have been chosen times out of number , unopposed , as the representative of my constituency . I have been honoured for years past with a seat in the Legislature and as a Minister pf the Crown , but I honour the position as your Grand Master equally , if not more , than any other office I have held ,

and I thank the Brethren who have drank to this toast , and , not least , my Brother who in so eloquent a way proposed my health . We never will forget those who helped us in our time of trouble . We are proud to meet them at our own festive gathering . Our friend Sir Samuel Way has always

been a guiding star to this Grand Lodge . He is a Mason . I feel proud to think I was one of a Ministry who joined in sending home to the mother land one who was one of Her late Majesty ' s P . C ., and is to-day a member of the King ' s

Privy Council . Then , on my left , I have the Bishop of Perth , who has reminded me of the time when both of us appeared on the platform on Church matters . You would hardly believe that , but it is true—you have the Bishop ' s word for