The Queen And The Freemasons.

THE QUEEN AND THE FREEMASONS .

A SPECIAL meeting of the United Grand Lodge of Freemasons of England was held on Wednesday , for the purpose of considering a notice of motion by his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , Most Worshipful Grand

Master , with reference to the recent outrage on Her Majesty . Although the Grand Lodge was ordered to be opened at six o ' clock , by four o ' clock there was a large attendance .

At a few miuutes before six o ' clock tho Grand Organist played a voluntary on the organ , and shortly afterwards the Grand Master arrived , preceded by a large body of Grand Officers , all the brethren rising to receive him , and on his passage to the dais he was greeted with hearty

cheering . His Royal Highness took his seat on the throne , accompanied by their Royal Highnesses the Dukes of Connanght and Albany , with the Earl of Carnarvon Pro

Grand Master on his left , and the Earl of Lathom Depnty Grand Master on his right , supported by Sir Albert Woods Garter , and in the rear a body of Past and Present Grand Officers .

Brother tbe Earl of March occupied the Senior Warden ' s chair , and Brother Justice Cave that of the Junior Warden .

His Royal Highness having put the usual questions to the subordinate Officers proceeded in due form to open Grand Lodge , which was followed by the usual prayer by the Grand Chaplain .

Colonel Shadwell H . Gierke , Grand Secretary , having read the notice convening the meeting , The Prince of Wales said that the brethreu had been

specially called there on that occasion for the purpose , as he believed , and he might say he was sure , of unanimously agreeing to a resolution which stood in his name , and which he had great pleasure in putting before that large assembly of Grand Lodge , and which was— " That an

address be respectfully presented to Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen , expressive of the horror and indignation felt by all Free and Accepted Masons under this Grand Lodge at the recent atrocious outrage committed on Her Majesty , and of their deep sense of gratitude at Her

Majesty ' s happy escape , under Divino Providence . " It wonld be unbecoming in him , as their Grand Master , and as the son of their beloved Sovereign , were he to enter into details as to the horrible event which occured a fortni ght ago , but happily with such ill effects . As their Grand

Master , he knew that throughout the length and breadth of the land , amongst all classes of Her Majesty ' s subjects who had expressed their horror at the attempt which had been made upon her life , there was no body more devoted in their loyalty to her person than the Freemasons of

England . ( Loud and long continued cheering . ) They were aware of the sympathy which had been expressed to Her Majesty throughout the country , and no doubt they were also aware of the letter from the Queen which appeared in the newspapers of the day . ( Cheers . ) The addresses

which had been sent to her Majesty had given her peculiar satisfaction , and he had the happiness to announce to them that it would give Her Majesty great pleasure to receive in person a deputation from this Grand Lodge . ( Tumultuous cheering , for several minutes . ) He felt sure that this

announcement would be received with pleasure , as it was a very long time since a deputation of Freemasons had been received by the Sovereign of this country , which had been

accorded by Her Majesty as the patron of the Grand Lodge of England ; and he might say that shortly after Her Majesty's return from the Continent the address would be presented .

The Earl of Carnarvon Pro G . M . said , in the first instance , he had to return thanks to his Royal Highness for the great honour he had conferred upon him in allowing him to second the resolution which his Royal Highness had proposed . He begged , in the first place , to tender to him

the thanks of the Grand Lodge for having come amongst them on that occasion ; and , in the second place , to thank Almighty Providence for the mercifnl preservation of their Sovereign from tho danger she had escaped , as he believed that there never was a Sovereign who had sat

upon the English throne whose life had been more blameless than hers , and one who so little deserved such an abominable outrage to be committed upon her . The spirit of England , however , was loyal to the core , and there were none whose hearts beat more warmly in loyalty to the

The Queen And The Freemasons.

Crown than those brethren he saw before him that night . They had , in the first place , to express their horror at the attempt which had been made upon Her Majesty ; and in the second place , to express their thankfulness to God

that in His mercy He had turned aside the bullet of the assassin , and protected the life of their Sovereign in her hour of danger . It added great pleasure to them that his Royal Highness ' s two brothers were there , whoso presence they welcomed on such an occasion as the present . The resolution was carried by acclamation , after which the National Anthem was sung .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Sussex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SUSSEX .

AN especial meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge was held at tho Royal Pavilion , Brighton , on Saturday , 11 th inst ., for the purpose of voting an address of congratulation , to Her Moat Gracious Majesty the Queen , and M . W . the Grand Master H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , on the happy deliverance of Her Majesty from recent danger . The Provincial Grand Lodge was opened afc 2 p . m . in the presence of a very large number of brethren of the Province , both from

Brighton and all parts of the county . The Right Hon . Bro . Sir Walter Wyndham Burrell , Bnrfc ., M . P ., Provincial Grand Master , presided , and tho other Provincial Grand Officers present were Bros . J . H . Scott Depnty Prov . G . M ., W . H . Hallett , Mayor of Brighton , S . G . W ., P . Noakes J . G . W ., Rev . R . V . Faithfnil Davies G . Chaplain , Gerard Ford Grand Registrar , N . P . Freeman Grand Secretary , S .

Solomon J . G . Deacon , J . M . Kidd G . Dir . of Ceremonies , T . R . White Assistant G . Dir . of Ceremonies , W . Roe G . Organist , C . W . Hudson , A . Taylor , C . C . Coot , and E . A . Head Grand Stewards , and Thomas Hughes Grand Tyler . Prov . Grand Lodge , after prayer had been offered by the Prov . G . Chaplain , was opened in due form , and in accordance" with established

custom . The National Anthem was then snng , Bro . Broadbridge exquisitely rendering the solos , accompanied by Bro . Roe Prov . Grand Organist , on the pianoforte , Bros . G . Cole and Hannay assisting in the singing , which was enthusiastically taken np by the brethren . Letters of apology and telegrams for non-attendance were acknowledged from various brethren , including Lord Arthur Hill , who claimed excuse

consequent on his Parliamentary duties , Bros . Kuhe , . Trollope , Stride , Henty , McCarrogher , Rev . Cave-Brown , Rev . George Smith , Molesworth , Duke , Francis , Harmes , Lewish , Nash , R . Crosskey , L . W . D . Williams , & o . The R . W . Prov . Grand Master , whoso rising was the signal for warm Masonic applause , then addressed the brethren . He said—Brethren ,

I have thonght it my dnty , after some little consideration , and after taking the advice of some of the principal Officers of Grand Lodge , to call the present meeting , for the purpose of affording an opportunity for us of expressing our indignation at the dastardly crime which has occurred in the attempt to assassinate our beloved Sovereign . And I think I should havo neglected my Masonic duties if I had not done

this , but oven before doing it I took counsel with the Grand Registrar , and he advised me by all means to call ihe meeting , and thns sot an example to other Provinces . I also felt that an opportunity should be afforded us of expressing our feelings towards our exalted Brother His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , and of congratulating him upon the marvellous escape of our beloved Sovereign ,

of congratulating him , the Royal Family , and the whole of the nation , on that providential escape . I am sure that every man in this kingdom , no matter what his creed or politics may be , is imbued with a feeling of loyal affection towards that gracious lady who reigns over us . I therefore called this meeting , and delighted am I in seeing in such an assembly so lirge and influential a response to my call . I

trust we shall never again be called npon to meet in Provincial Grand Lodge under similar circumstances , bnt that our beloved Qneen may long reign over us , blessed by the Great Architect of the Universe , reigning over a prosperous people and a happy nation . Sir Wa ! fcer concluded by moving that addresses , in accordance with the spirit of the observations ho had made , be prepared and forwarded to Her

Majesty the Queen and to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales . Bro . J . H . Scott D . P . G . M . formally seconded , and the motion was unanimously adopted . Bro . Captain Braithwaite asked if the presentation of the addresses would be made before the Grand Lodge on the following Wednesday , or would it be a separate affair ? The Provincial Grand Master stated that at the present moment he

was afraid ho could not answer the question . It appeared that tbe addresses would have to be sent up to London to bo engrossed , and if they could get thorn back in sufficient time they would on Wednesday be in the hands of the Grand Secretary for presentation to the Prince of Wales . The Provii .-cial G . M . then moved the adoption of the following address : —

To the Queen s Most Excellent Majesty . May it please yonr Majesty , We , yonr Majesty ' s trne and loyal subjects , the Freemasons of the Province of Sussex , venture to approach yonr Majesty in order to express our horror and detestation at the dastardly crime whicb has so recently endangered your Majesty's most precious life . Wo render

hearty thanks to Almighty God that He preserved your Majesty unhurt from this cowardly assault , and we pray that your Majesty may live long to be a blessing to your people , and tho object of thoir devoted loyalty and love . Bro . John H . Scott P . G . D ., Dep . Prov . G . M . of Sussex said : Bight W . Prov . Grand Master and Brethren : —I beg to second the resolution you have jnsfc proposed , but before touching upon it , 1 must in the