The Masonic Year 1875.

and managerial staffs . Nor can it be otherwise than matter for regret that questions affecting the financial management of the Institution should have been brought forward . However , it is satisfactory , in the interests of

the School , to know that , after a most minute and careful inquiry , the Special Committee have reported that the financial charges of mismanagement , made , no doubt , under a misunderstanding of the Annual Reports , have not been borne out .

We gladly turn , however , from this subject , to one more pleasing , and which , like the precedent introduced at the Annual Festival of the Boys' School already referred to , stands out by itself as an even bolder and more marked departure from the usual Masonic practice . The

Baroness Burdett Coutts , the daughter of a Mason , Avho had kindly granted permission to one of our more recently constituted Lodges to bear her name , having notified her intention of presenting three chairs to that Lodge , arrangements were made for the ceremonv of presentation . A dispensation

having been obtained from His Royal Highness the M . W . G . M . for the brethren to appear on the occasion in full Masonic clothing , the afternoon of the 29 th July Avas fixed for the novel meeting , and punctually at tho hour appointed , the Baroness , accompanied by several gentlemen

and ladies , met the brethren of the Burdett Coutts Lodge in the Zetland Room at Freemasons' HaU , which had been specially prepared for the ceremony . The brethren having sung a hymn , her ladyship formally presented the three chairs , expressing at the same time an earnest hope that

they Avould be occupied by as Avorthy men in the future as those Avho had preceded them . Bro . Terry , the first W . M . of the Lodge , who presided , thereupon occupied the chair of K . S ., calling upon the S . W . and J . W ., Bros . Crutch and Toy , to be seated in the other tAvo . The

Secretary of the Lodge , Bro . Verry , then read an address of thanks to the Baroness for having , in the first place , alloAved the Lodge to bear her name , and having presented it with a copy of the volume of the Sacred LaAv , and nOAV for her further act of kindness in giving these

chairs . To this address , Avhich concluded Avith an earnest prayer that the G . A . O . T . U . might build up for her great happiness here and hereafter , and which , handsomely engrossed , and enclosed in an album case , Avas presented by the Deacons , Bros . Lloyd and Crouch , the Baroness

offered her warmest acknoAvledginents , and an equally earnest hope for the Avelfare , both here and hereafter , of all the brethren . It having been moved , seconded , and unanimously carried that the reply should be recorded on the minutes of the Lodge , the Avhole party adjourned to an

elegant dejeuner , at Avhich Baroness Burdett Coutt ' s health was proposed in gloAving terms by Bro . Terry , and drunk Avith great heartiness . Her Ladyship and friends were shortly after escorted from the room by the Chairman and Stewards . Thus ended a ceremony , the first of its kind

Avhich has ever taken place in this countiy . We feel , moreover , a special pleasure in recording this event . The lady Avho thus honoured the Craft is not only the daughter of a Mason AVIIO , as a public man , had long held a hi gh position

in the Avorld's esteem ; she is eminent likewise for her great philanthropy , dispensing her charities Avith discrimination , but with the most open hand , and thus proving her love for that particular virtue Avhich Masons so earnestly strive to practise .

There have , happily , been but feAV deaths to deplore among either the rulers or the rank and file of Masonry . The retirement , to Avhich reference has already been made , of the Marquis of Ripon , necessitated a change in the government of West Yorkshire , and Sir Henry Edwards has been

appointed to the Grand Mastership of that most considerable and influential province . By the death , last year , of R . W . Bro . Benjamin Bond Cabbell P . G . M . of Norfolk , the headship of that province became vacant , but a very Avorthy successor has been found in the person of Bro . the Hon . F .

Walpole , M . P ., Avho was installed m office towards the end , as Bro . Sir H . EdAA ards Avas installed toAvards the beginning , of the year . On both occasions there Avas a great gathering of the brethren , and great rejoicing at the sure progress the Order Avas making in public estimation , both at home

and abroad . On the other hand , if our losses have been few and painful , for the most part only , to individual Lodges and friends , our accession of strength has been A cry considerable , Avhile others , like the Duke of Connaught and Prince Leopold , though initiated in 1874 , have risen still higher , the former having been raised to the sublime degree of M . M . the evening before the installation of his

The Masonic Year 1875.

brother as M . W . G . M ., while the latter Avas appointed S . W . in the Apollo University Lodge , Oxford , and subsequently raised . Of other public characters initiated into Masonry during the year we may mention the name of Captain Boyton , the exhibitor of the life-saving apparatus

known by his name , and Captain Webb , Avho swam the Channel between Dover and Calais , the greatest athletic feat on record . Of new Lodges added to the roll of Grand Lodge , it appears that nineteen Avere constituted betAveen the Quarterly Communications held in December 1874 and

March 1875 , fifteen betAveen those of March and June in the latter , twelve betAveen those of June and September , and seventeen betAveen September and that in the present month , making in all an addition of sixty-three . In Royal Arch Masonry there have been added to the roll of Chapters

twenty-eight new ones , while the Prov . Grand Superintendency of Herts , Avhich had been dormant for some years , has been reconstituted , E . Comp . Halsey being appointed Prov . G . Superintendent . Prov . G . M . the Earl of Zetland has also been exalted in the Zetland Chapter . Further evidence of

increase Avill be found in the dedication on 14 th July , by Lord Skelmersdale , D . G . M ., of the NBAV Surrey Masonic Hall , of a neAV Masonic Hall at Bideford , of one at

Barton-on-Humber , and the laying the first stone of a Masonic Hall at Great Grimsby , on the 2 nd of August , Bro . Sutcliffe P . P . G . S . W ., officiating on the occasion . It should also be noted that a Masonic Club is in course of formation . The

locale of the Club is in Queen Victoria-street , and the premises are already being fitted up . The committee includes , among other influential Masons , Lord Skelmersdale , D . G . M ., Bro . Alderman Stone G . J . W ., and the Duke of Manchester . The experiment is a very laudable

one , and has our best wishes for its success . Another proposal on the carpet is likewise Avorthy of record . The Province of Lincolnshire is trying to raise funds enough to

found an Oliver scholarship m memoriam of one of the best and ablest and most respected members who have ever belonged to the Craft , one of whom it may be said , without the slightest approach to exaggerated praise ,

" Nihil tetigit , quod non ornavit . " In Mark Masonry , we may mention that at the halfyearly Communication , held on Tuesday , the 30 th November , the Earl of Limerick Avas elected M . W . G . M . for the ensuing year , while a new Lodge , entitled "theSuteliffe Lodge , "

in honour of Bro . Sutcliffe , R . W . P . G . M . for Lincolnshire , Avas consecrated by that esteemed Mason on the 30 th September . Thus much for Masonry in England , the cause of which has been generally brilliant , while there has been nothing to give cause for even a momentary pang of regret , except in respect of one solitary detail .

In Ireland , as in England , the past year closed Avith a serious loss to Masonry . His Grace of Leinster , Avho had ruled the Craft for some threescore years , Avith singular gentleness , ever tempered by firmness and a due regard for the interests of the Order , died , in October 1874 , full of

years and honours , and beloved and respected not only by his brethren of the mystic tie , but by all classes and con « ditions of men . The Duke Avas also head of all the other Masonic bodies in the kingdom , being K . of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter , Great Prior of the Great Priory ,

President of the Grand Chapter of Prince Masons , and S . G . C . of the Supreme Grand Council , A . and A . Rite . It -will be readily understood from this hoAV great Avas his loss to Masonry . However , a not unAvorthy successor in the Grand Mastership of Craft Masonry was found in the person of

the Duke of Abercorn , the justly popular Viceroy of Her Majesty . He accordingly Avas installed M . W . G . M . on 6 th January . The ceremony of installation Avas performed by R . W . D . G . M ., Bro . Shekleton , after Avhich His Grace was duly obligated and invested Avith the insignia of his office .

After the election of Grand Officers , the Lodge Avas closed in ample form . This auspicious event Avas celebrated on the 16 th of April by a grand Masonic ball at the Exhibition Palace , Dublin , under the patronage of Grand Lodge . There Avas a good attendance , and the promoters had the

satisfaction of feeling they had achieved a great success . At the Quarterly Communication held on the 2 nd inst ., His Grace was re-elected for the year 1876 , the folloAving being the Grand Officers for the same period : —The Marquis of

Headfort S . G . W ., Lord Dnnboyne J . G . W ., Arthur Bushe G . T ., Viscount Bernard G . S ., Rev . J . T . Macsorley G . C ., and Rev . Lord Plunket G . C . ; Hon . D . Plunket , Q . C ., M . P ., S . G . D ., Alderman . Jos . Manning J . G . D ., G . A . Stephens G . S . W ., Theo . E . St . George G . D . C ., G . Myers , LL . D ,