New South Wales.

NEW SOUTH WALES .

THE UNITED GRAND LODGE .

THE installation of his Excellency Lord Carrington as Grand Master of the United Masonic Grand Lodge of New South Wales took place on the 18 th September , in the Exhibition Building , Prince Alfred Park , in the presence of a vast assemblage of Masons , and nnder circumstances which made the

• sremony the most imposing , and the spectacle the most striking , srer witnessed in the historj of Masonry in thi « or any other of the Australasian colonies . Great , trouble and expense hud been incurred in the efforts of the ceremonial committee to decorate and fiirjiinh the

interior ot the bmuling in an attractive anil Jilting niuiinoi ; . ami the general eft ' ect which the decorations and the furniture presented to tho view was very complete . Over the dais , on whioh dnring the ceremony the Grand Master and other high Officers of the Craft were seated , had been placed the arms or insignia of the United Grand

Lodge , encircled in a setting of flags , and directly facing it from the front of the southern end of the gallery were the arms of Great Britain , also in the midst of a grouping of flags . Tho nave of the building was furnished for the purposes of the ceremonial as a Grand Lodge room , and npon the dais wore the chairs for the Grand Lodge

Officers , the Visiting Officers of high position in the Order , and for the choir , composed of members of the Liodertafel Societies . Close to the choir , and on the right side of the dais , was the organ , which had been specially lent for the occasion by the lion . R . H . D . White , M . L . C ., and which , presided over by Bro . A . Gende , together with

the choir , under the conductorship of Bro . Rivers Allpress , did much towards the success of the evening ' s proceedings . The Articles of Union , engrossed by Messrs . S . T . Leigh and Co ., and the jewels , which during the course of the ceremony were handed to the United Grand Lodge Officers , were prominently displayed in front of the

dais , and near this point arrangements had been made for the seating of all Masons of high rank , and not Officers of the United Grand Lodge .- Over 4 , 000 chairs were available . Worshipfnl Masters , Past Masters , Wardens , Secretaries , and Treasurers of Lodges sat in one division , Grand Lodge Officers elect and Past Grand and

District Grand Lodge Officers in another ; the dais was reserved for members of Visiting Grand Lodges , Past Grand Masters , and Past District and Deputy Grand Masters , and the remainder of the space in the building , principally nnder the gallery , was occupied by Junior Officers of Lodges and the brethren generally . The Lodge

was opened by Pro Grand Master Dr . Tarrant , Past Deputy Grand Master W . H . Simpson acting as Senior Grand Warden , and Past Deputy Grand Master H . E . Vanghan as Junior Grand Warden ; and the proceedings having in this manner begun , the choir sung an appropriately worded opening hymn . At the conclusion of this

hymn , Grand Lodge Officers from other Grand Lodges were announced , and , having entered , were received with Grand Lodge honours . First came the Deputy Grand Master of Queensland under the Irish Constitution , then the Grand Master of Queensland under the Scotch Constitution , following him the Grand Master of Victoria

accompanied by his Officers , and finally , the Grand Master of South Australia and his Officers . The Grand Master of Sonth Australia ( his Hononr Chief Justice Way ) was informed by the Pro Grand Master that it was the united desire of tho Craft that he should perform the ceremony of installing the Grand Master , and the Grand

Master of South Australia having accepted the honour , he directed the reading of the certificate of Lord Carrington's election as Most Worshipful Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of New Sonth Wales as the authority for his installation . A few minutes afterwards the Grand Master elect , accompanied by his Officers , entered

and received a Masonic ovation , the choir and the assemblage sin-nun * an anthem . Prayer by the Chaplain was succeeded by another anthem from the choir , " Song of the Brotherhood , " and then followed

in very impressive form the obligation and installation of Lord Carrington to the high office to which he had been elected . Proclamation of the installation and investiture of Lord Carrington as Grand Master having been made , and the choir having sung hymns of

praise , Grand Master Chief Justice Way , addressing Lord Carrington said : Your installation in that chair places the key-stone in the principal arch in the living temple of Masonry in the great colony of New South Wales . That temple is now for the first time

complete . Whether Ave look at the principles which have been maintained , the difficulties which have been overcome , or the advantages which have been secured , ifc must bo admitted that the consummation of Masonic union in Now Sonth Wales , tho gathering together of 175 Lodges and 10 , 000 members of the Craft into one

Constitution , is the most memorable achievement in Masonry which has happened in Australasia . This union causes rejoicing not only within the boundaries of your own jurisdiction , but also throughout Australia , and to the rulers and members of tho Craffc all over tho world . Tho mother colony and tho parent city of Australia—in

which not far from this spot Masonic mysteries were first unfolded on this continent , more than 70 years ago—are the appropriate theatre of this magnificent celebration . It is fitting also and auspicious thafc it should be held in the first year of the second century of Australian settlement , and dnring your own fortunate governorship

—of which it will always bo regarded as ono of the happiest incidents . The distinction of this occasion is further increased bv the presence in tho Grand Master ' s chair of a Brother who is afc onco a Past Grand Officer of exalted rank in the mother Grand Lod > - * e of the World , and the Governor of this great colony . Our pride at

seeing you in that chair is heightened by the courageous , the statesmanlike , tho influential part you havo taken in bringing about tho happy accomplishment ol' our hopes . Your unique relations with iml-h Hoglish and colonial Masonry , ; , * . yrl by the support you havo reoeivd in Ihe highest quarter , hav * harninnised conthV-ting inclina-

New South Wales.

tions , have silenced objectors , have convinced the hesitating , and have accelerated the union whioh , without your help , would , in all likelihood , have been delayed for many years . I will not detain you by repeating any of the formal charges whioh are often used at the installation of a Grand Master . It is needless to enumerate the

virtues as a man , as a citizen , and as a member of the Craft whioh shonld characterise a Grand Master Mason , when we have those virtues displayed in the character and career of the occupant of the Grand Master ' s chair . I will not persume to explain his duties to so eminent a Mason , or to give lessons in government to one who has

already shown how well he knows how to rule . Great are the powers and prerogatives of a Grand Master of Masons , secured by the ancient landmarks , and incapable of being abated or abridged . Ue . avr are his reapousibvlUies , for on the wise administration of his office fche welfare and orogress of I he Brotherhood under his nil **

largely depend . No Brother , therefore , however gifted , can assume the Grand Master ' s chair without misgivings as to his own ability to sustain the burthen of his high office . In yonr case , most worshipfnl sir , the burthen is increased by your having to preside as its Grand Master over Masonry in Now South Wales during a new and critical

period of its history . That burthen , however , will be mitigated by the assistance of tho distinguished Brother whom you have appointed as your Pro Grand Master , by the support of the experienced Brethren who have been elected as your Grand Lodge officers , and by the loyalty , the confidence , and the devotion of the general body

of the Craft . I am sure also that yon havo undertaken your office with humble reliance on the help of the great Architect of the Universe , and that your ambition is His approval and the good of the Craft . The ceremonial in which we are engaged testifies to four great facts . The obligation which has been taken by you , and the

common supplications in which we have united are a renewed declara . tion of our belief as Masons in the Great Architect of the Universe , aud of our dependence upon Him in this and every other undertaking . This ceremonial is also a proof of our loyalty to the Queen—for it is her representative who has been raised by the acclamations of the

Craft to the Grand Mastership . This ceremonial shows also that whilst Freemasonry is in some respects the most Conservative of human institutions , for " it is nofc in the power of any man or body of men to make innovoation in the body of Freemasonry , " yet its constitntions furnish to its members in these young commonwealths , as

well as in older countries , ample scope for their patriotic aspirations after all the privileges of national life . Lastly , this ceremonial removes from Masonry in New South Wales the reproach of being divided into parties—and exhibits it to the world for the first time as a united brotherhood . We stand this evening at the confluence

into one broad stream of the four tributary affluents of Masonry m New South Wales . Under your wise government , and the wise government of successive Grand Masters , that stream , flowing on between the ancient landmarks with ever increasing volnme , shall carry down the ages to this great colony , and to countries beyond ,

the blessings of " Brotherly love , relief , and truth . " I congratulate you , and I congratulate this United Grand Lodge , and all the Brethren under your jurisdiction on your being completely installed in the Grand Master ' s chair . Long may you rule over yonr Brethren in New South Wales with bonour to yourself , to the great advantage of Masonry , and to the satisfaction of the Great Architect .

The Grand Master of Victoria , Bro . David Munro , congratulated Lord Carrington on behalf of the Victorian Grand Lodge and its officers . Grand Master Lord Carrington said : With great respect I rise to offer my grateful thanks to my most Worshipfnl Brethreu for tbe

kind words they have been pleased to say this evening ; and with a full heart do I offer my grateful thauks to my brothers of New Sonth Wales , who have accorded me the highest hononr which it is in their power to bestow . I trust that with tho assistance of the Great Architect of the Universe , I may bo ablo to maintain the ancient principles of

Masonry , and I will rely with confidence on the support of my Grand Officers , as well as on the support of the whole of the Craft in the great colony which it is our pride aud high privilege to be connected with . I havo now to announce that I have appointed the moat Worshipful Brother Harman John Tarrant as Pro Grand Master .

Pro Grand Master Dr . Tarrant was then duly installed into the office to which he had been appointed , and following this was the investiture of other Grand Lodge Officers , and the presentation of representatives of other Grand Lodges . The Grand Lodge was then closed , tho choir singing a closing hymn , and finally the national

anthem . Immediately following the ceremony of installation a banquet was hold in the Elito Skating Rink . Covers wero laid for 1170 Brethren , every seat being occupied . The M . W . Grand Master his Excellency Lord Carrington presided , and directly over the head of his

Excellency was a brilliant representation of a Grand Master's jewel , the diamonds being replaced by electric lights . The effect of this featnro iu tho profuse decorations was striking . The decoratious of the hall reflected great credit upon Messrs . Sale and Dare , for whom Mr . Herbert S . Thompson supervised . Tho dinner was served by

the Compagnoni Catering Company , nnder tho direction of the new manager to tho company , Mr . J . F . Gunsler , fco tha completeness of whose arrangements and the excellence of the viands the highest praise is due . Sitting on the right of the Governor was Bro . Way , the installing Master and Chief Justice of South Australia , and on

the left of his Excellency sat Bro . Dr . Tarrant Pro G . M Supporting the Governor at tho principal table were tho following Brethren : —Sir Fredk . Darley , C . J ., Judge AY indeyer , the Right Rev . Bishop of Bathurst , Mr . Justice Foster , the Hon . F . J . Burns , the Hon . Rnpert Carrington , Captain JX * immill , R . N ., Captain

Neitenstein , Sheriff Cowper , Dumonr , R . U . D . White , T . Spencer , Evans , Butterfield , Purvis , Captain Quiu , his Worship the Mayor of Sydney , Parnell , Lord Huldon , and the lion . J . Douglas of ( Queensland ) . Those who presided at bhe other tables wero Bro . Colonel Stokes , D . G . M . ; Bro . MT . achlan G . S . W . ; Bro . Dr . Sedgwick P . D . G . M .: Bro . Henrv G . - ' . W . ; Bro . P . A . Wright P . D . G . M . Rro . N . Hobson