Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Late Thomas William Coke,* Earl Of Leicester,
solicit the high honour of enrolling your Royal Highness among the number of these citizens , and 1 have now the honour of informing your Royal Highness that , in furtherance of this purpose , the whole body corporate have already , at an assembly especially convened , unanimousl y voted the freedom of the city , of which I have now the honour to pray your Royal Highness ' s most gracious acceptance . " The recorderMr . Alderson ( father of the late jud ) having finished
, ge , His Royal Highness returned the following reply : —• " Ma . MAYOR AND GENTLEMEN , _ '' I have great stisfaction in being the first of my famil y who has visited this respectable city ; the sentiments , however , of my brothers towards it are in perfect unison with my own , and the feelings by which they , as well as myself , are actuated , are such as doubtless tend to secure the best interests of the country , and to cement that friendship and
allegiance between prince and people so essential to their mutual happiness . It has always been the wish of our family to reign in the hearts of their subjects , which is a better security for the happiness of the people and the stability of the throne , than anything that would be produced by the efforts of despotism . I accept the offer made me of the freedom of your city , and if you feel flattered by the acceptance of the honorI feel doublflattered by the motives which have induced
, y you to confer it on me , and the handsome manner in which it has been conveyed . " The mayor then addressed his Royal Highness as follows : " Your Royal Highness having condescended to do the corporation the honour of consenting to accept the freedom of this city , when will
your Royal Highness be pleased that the corporation shall attend you at Guildhall , in order that you may be sworn ?" His Royal Hi ghness having named the Tuesday following , the corporation , after having been severally introduced , respectfully took their leave . Monday , August 23 , being Installation-day , as early as nine o ' clock , about five hundred of the Brethren assembled at Chapelfield-house , where the large room had been prepared for the ceremony . In the east was a superb chair covered with purple velvetlaced on a latformthe
, p p , ascent to which was by three steps , on either side of which were two columns , Corinthian and Doric , surmounted by the celestial and terrestrial globes ; the altar , with the volume of the sacred law , stood before the throne , the galleries were decorated with banners , trophies , and Masonic emblems ; the seats for the Senior and Junior Grand Wardens , Gravid Deacons and other officers , were of corresponding magnificence . At half-past two His Royal Hihness the Most Worshiful Grand
g p Master arrived , accompanied by Brother Thomas William Coke , Provincial Grand Master elect ; they were received by the Grand Officers and Stewards , who conducted them to the Provincial Grand Lodge , in which His Royal Highness , on that occasion , was pleased to hold an extraordinary Grand Lodge of England , after which the ceremony of the Installation proceeded , and our distinguished Brother received from the hands of his friend and Royal Grand Masterthe bad and charges
, ges of his ancient and honourable office . A procession was then formed , which for splendour exceeded any Masonic procession ever witnessed ; the houses on the line were thronged with beautiful facts , who greeted the Brethren most cordially in their way to the cathedral . There were above one hundred Brethren in rich regalia , among whom were—
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Late Thomas William Coke,* Earl Of Leicester,
solicit the high honour of enrolling your Royal Highness among the number of these citizens , and 1 have now the honour of informing your Royal Highness that , in furtherance of this purpose , the whole body corporate have already , at an assembly especially convened , unanimousl y voted the freedom of the city , of which I have now the honour to pray your Royal Highness ' s most gracious acceptance . " The recorderMr . Alderson ( father of the late jud ) having finished
, ge , His Royal Highness returned the following reply : —• " Ma . MAYOR AND GENTLEMEN , _ '' I have great stisfaction in being the first of my famil y who has visited this respectable city ; the sentiments , however , of my brothers towards it are in perfect unison with my own , and the feelings by which they , as well as myself , are actuated , are such as doubtless tend to secure the best interests of the country , and to cement that friendship and
allegiance between prince and people so essential to their mutual happiness . It has always been the wish of our family to reign in the hearts of their subjects , which is a better security for the happiness of the people and the stability of the throne , than anything that would be produced by the efforts of despotism . I accept the offer made me of the freedom of your city , and if you feel flattered by the acceptance of the honorI feel doublflattered by the motives which have induced
, y you to confer it on me , and the handsome manner in which it has been conveyed . " The mayor then addressed his Royal Highness as follows : " Your Royal Highness having condescended to do the corporation the honour of consenting to accept the freedom of this city , when will
your Royal Highness be pleased that the corporation shall attend you at Guildhall , in order that you may be sworn ?" His Royal Hi ghness having named the Tuesday following , the corporation , after having been severally introduced , respectfully took their leave . Monday , August 23 , being Installation-day , as early as nine o ' clock , about five hundred of the Brethren assembled at Chapelfield-house , where the large room had been prepared for the ceremony . In the east was a superb chair covered with purple velvetlaced on a latformthe
, p p , ascent to which was by three steps , on either side of which were two columns , Corinthian and Doric , surmounted by the celestial and terrestrial globes ; the altar , with the volume of the sacred law , stood before the throne , the galleries were decorated with banners , trophies , and Masonic emblems ; the seats for the Senior and Junior Grand Wardens , Gravid Deacons and other officers , were of corresponding magnificence . At half-past two His Royal Hihness the Most Worshiful Grand
g p Master arrived , accompanied by Brother Thomas William Coke , Provincial Grand Master elect ; they were received by the Grand Officers and Stewards , who conducted them to the Provincial Grand Lodge , in which His Royal Highness , on that occasion , was pleased to hold an extraordinary Grand Lodge of England , after which the ceremony of the Installation proceeded , and our distinguished Brother received from the hands of his friend and Royal Grand Masterthe bad and charges
, ges of his ancient and honourable office . A procession was then formed , which for splendour exceeded any Masonic procession ever witnessed ; the houses on the line were thronged with beautiful facts , who greeted the Brethren most cordially in their way to the cathedral . There were above one hundred Brethren in rich regalia , among whom were—