The Grand Festival.

THE GRAND FESTIVAL .

THE Annual Festival of Grand Lodge was held at Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen Street , London , on Wednesday las \ the handsome Temple being almost inconveniently crowded so great was the number of brethren who atteuded . In consequenco of having to be

present at the funeral of his relative the Earl Derby , the Pro Grand Master was unable to preside and the chair was therefore takeo by the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe .

The Bev . J . Simpson P . G . C . was Senior Warden and tho Marquis of Gran by , M . P ., was Junior Warden . There was also a large attendance of Present and Past Grand Officers , including Lord George Hamilton , M . P ., Viscount Ebrington , Sir Albert Woods , ; Akers-Douglas ,

M . P ., W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Julius Mertey , of Buda Pesth , & c , & e . Grand Lodge having been duly opened , the Deputy Grand Master stated that ho was desired by H . R . H . the Prince of Wales to thank the brethren for re-electin » him as Grand Master . His interest in Freemasonry had by no means diminished and he regretted that his numerous

engagements did not pormit him to be present at the meeting , but he hoped to meet them during the present summer , especially at the opening of the Chancery Bar Lodge next month . His Royal Highness was then declared elected and was subsequently proclaimed by Sir Albert Woods , Grand Director of Ceremonies . The Grand

Officers appointed were : — Bro . the Earl of Lathom ... ... Pro Master The Earl of Mount Edgcumbe ... Deputy Master The Earl of Yarborougb ... Senior Warden A . Akers-DouE ? las ... ... Junior'Warden The Bev . F . W . Maodonald . . } Ch ]& iDB Canon Bullock ... ... i r

Samuel Cochrane ... ... Treasurer F . A . Philbriok , Q . C ., ... ... EegiBtrar B . D . M . Littler , C . B ., Q . C ., ... Deputy Registrar Thomas Fonn ... .. Pres . Bd . of Gen . Purposes Edward Letch worth ... ... Secretary

W . E . Brymer , M . P . ... ... } L . G . Gordon Bobbins ... ... > Senior Deacons B . V . V " a 8 sar . 8 mith ... ... J Dr . Clement Godson , M . D . ... } P . H . Waterlow ... ... > Junior Deacons J . W . Maolnre . M . P . ... ... )

James Edmeston ... ... Superintendent of "Works Sir A . W . Woods , K . C . M . G . ( Garter ) Director of Ceremonies S . H . Kirohhoffer .. ... Deputy Dir . of Ceremonies Major G . C . Davies ... ... } Hugh Mcintosh , M . D . ... ... \ Aest . Dir . of Cers . J . L . Griffith )

W . H . Marsden ... ... Sword Bearer Horatio Ward ... ... Deputy Sword Bearer A . C . Spaull | Standard Bearers B . Willoughby ... ... ) W . De M . Sergison ... ... Organist

A . A . Pendlebury ... ... Assistant Seoretary Thomas Minstrell ... ... Pursuivant C . J . B . Tijou ... ... Assistant Pnrsnivant The various Officers were conducted to the chair by the Directors of Ceremonies aud were invested by the R . W .

Deputy Grand Master , the brethren expressing their congratulations in the usual manner as the Officers took their appointed places .

The Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , before closing Grand Lodge , said he had to announce the appointment of the Marquess of Hertford by the Grand Lodge of Ireland as representative at Grand Lodge of England .

Tho ceremony having terminated the proceedings were brought to a close by the Grand Chaplain ' s prayer , and the Grand Lodge was closed . As the procession passed out of the Temple Bro . Sergison played a grand march upon the organ .

The brethren re-assembled at 6 o ' clook in the banqueting hall to the number of about six hundred , and several ladies were stationed in the gallery . At the conclusion of the repast the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe proposed the Queen and the Craft , which was

duly honoured , and the National Anthem was sung . The M . W . the Grand Master followed , in giving which the Chairman paid a well deserved tribute to the Prince of Wales for the practical Masonic spirit ever evinced by his Royal Highness , and also for the personal regard he manifested for the welfare of his fellow creatures and

sympath y with their feelings and wants . In proof of which he had only to mention that one of his engagements that day , as on many previous days , was at the Royal Commission on the aged poor , in order to promulgate some plan to alleviate the exigencies of their daily life .

Bro . Hugh D . Sandermau P . D . G . M . Bengal proposed the Deputy Grand Master , to which th 8 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe replied . The Earl of Yarborough lesponded for the Grand Officers Present and Past .

The Rev . Canon Bullock Grand Chaplain pi'oposed the Masonic Charities , and said they were in no sense benefit societies , but no member was relieved unless necessitous ,

and the benefits were given with no grudging hand . Masons were well called Brothers for they were ever ready to stretch out the hand of good fellowship and assistance to the distressed .

Bro . John Morrison McLeod , Secretary of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , acknowledged the toast in a capital speech that was loudly applauded , although he stated that he had been taken nnawares . He said tho Masonic Institutions were all in a good position and were

prospering . As regards his particular School he mentioned that the examinations which had taken place during the past half year reflected considerable credit on both pupils and teachers , and he thought the time had now arrived when the capitation grant from Grand Lodge might fairly be increased from the £ 150 a year , which was fixed in 1838 .

Bro . Major-General Frederick Gadsen , President of the Board of Stewards , answered for that body , who , he said , were amply repaid for their trouble , if the brethren were satisfied with their entertainment . Bro . R . D . M . Littler , C . B ., Q . O ., submitted the Ladies ,

and said he was delighted to propose the toast , for he considered there was no woman in the world more sympathetic , better nurses for the sick , or who adorned the homes to which they belonged than the wives , sisters , or daughters of Masons .

Bro . John Smithers suitably returned thanks , and the company then adjourned to the Temple , where a capital concert was given under the direction of Brother Edward

Cutter Past Grand Organist , in which Miss Mabel Berrey , Miss Florence Henderson , Miss Edith Hands , Miss Teresa Blarney , Messrs . Hirwen Jones , Andrew Black , and the Horse Shoe Glee Singers took part .

The monthly meeting of the Board of Benevolence was held on Wednesday , the 19 th instant , at Freemasons ' Hall , Great Queen Street , W . C ., Bro . Robert Grey President of the Board occupied the chair , and the Senior and Junior Vice-Presidents ( Bros . James Brett and C . A .

Cottebrune ) were in their respective places . Bros . E . Letchworth Grand Secretary , A . A . Pendlebury Assistant Grand Secretary , W . Dodd and W . H . Lee represented Grand Secretary ' s office , and the other brethren present were Bros . S . Vallentine , Wm . Vincent , Charles E . Ward

P . Prov . G . S . W . Lincolnshire , Charles J . R . Trjou , David D . Mercer , S . V . Abraham , Geo . R . Langley , William P . Brown , S . H . Goldachmidt , A . C . Woodward , Jas . Bunker , Walter Martin , C . Dairy , W . Hopekirk , C . Braid , A .

Stubbs , G . Coupland , S . W . Wilkinson P . P . G . S . W . Cheshire , C . J . Erost , J . Cox , E . L . Home , G . A . Reall , J . W . Row , Wm . Pound , J . H . Fryer , H . Massey , G . W . Mitchell , W . Belcbamber , A . Hubbard , A . Howell , E . Venner , J . Bott , H . Hooper , G . E . Fairchild , A . Calver , A . Dutton , R . M . Bibby , J . R . Owen , G . Flint , W . T . H . Mayer , B . T .

Kimpton , T . Wills , S . S . Pearce , W . Lake , A . Darch , G . S . Peachey , 0 . Graham , J . M . Chapman , J . Tovell , F . Simmonds , J . E . Fells , J . N . Streater , F . R . H . Gooch , E . E . GefLowski , J . F . Jones , C . Polman , and H . Sadler Grand Tyler . The brethren first confirmed

recommendations made to the Grand Master at the March meeting , amounting to £ 570 . Of the new cases there were 40 on the list , qualified through Lodges in the London district , and at Cardiff , Spalding , Croydon , Ipswich , Cowes , Lincoln , Sandown , Sutton Bridge , Abergavenny , Plymouth ,

Truro , St . Austell , Redruth , Southport , Norwich , Nottingham , Stockport , Walton-under-Edge , Shepton Mallet , Hartlepool , Constantinople , Dartford , Beccles , Alnwick , and Erith . In the course of a sitting which lasted four hours and a-quarter two of these cases were dismissed and

six deferred . The remaining 32 were voted a total sum of £ 965 . Two petitions were recommended to Grand Lodge for £ 75 each ; nine were recommended to the Grand Master for £ 40 each ; and six for £ 30 each ; thirteen were awarded £ 20 each ; one received £ 10 and one £ 5 .