Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ireland.
BELFAST . — Grand Masonic Festival of the Provincial Grand L ^ odye of Belfast unit North Down . —The 1 st of November , 1818 , will long be remembered with pleasure and pride as the day of a bright and brilliant reunion of the Alasonry of the North , on the occasion of the installation ofthe Venerable Archdeacon Alant as Prov . Grand Aiaster , and th . e other officers of the Prov . Grand Lodge of Belfast and North Down . Never was ceremony more impressivenor pageant more
mag-, nificent , or better calculated to leave a lasting impression on the mind of each individual who participated in the mysterious ceremonial and subsequent festivity . In a company numbering between four and five hundred , and consisting of persons of the different ranks and grades of society—differing religiously and politically , but bound together by a tie invisible to the uninitiated—nothing bordering on irregularity or disorder coulcl be observed . Everything in the course of the proceedings
was decorous , orderly , and guided by strict propriety . One heart seemed to animate all present , and the best feelings of man ' s nature were called forth by witnessing the love and harmony which everywhere prevailed . Obedience , one of the leading characteristics of Masonry , was not the least of the many excellencies worthy of commendation . One o ' clock was the hour appointed for the assembling of the brethren , but long before that time large numbers of the Craft had collected at
the place of meeting , the Music Hall , the lower room of whieh building ' was beautifully fitted up as a masonic hall . Shortly after one , the Hon . Captain Jocelyn , bearing the commission of his Grace the Duke of Leinster , Grancl AIaster of Ireland , to act as his representative at the \ mvosiv \ E ceremony , entered the hall accompanied by the proper officers ,
and took his seat on the throne . He was supported on bis right and left by Bros . Lord Dungannon , Lord John Beresford , Sir John Alacneil , John Boyd , M . P . Coleraine ; Colonel Blacker , Carrick ; Alexander Grant , Derry , acting D . P . G . M ; antl several distinguished brethren from Dublin , Dundalk , Armagh , Newry , Trandragee , Ballymena , & c . The lodge having been opened in clue form and with prayer , the Secretary , Bro . R . S . AVaterson , read the commission from the Duke of Leinster , authorising the Hon . Captain Jocelyn to act as his representative .
The Representative of the Grand AIaster then rose , and said that he regretted greatly to inform the brethren that , owing to the indisposition of the Lord Bishop of Down , they would not have the great pleasure of Archdeacon Alant ' s presence among them . He helcl in his hand a letter from him , most hurriedly written , in which it was stated that he had just receiveci notice of the sudden and serious illness of his father , then at Ballymoneyand thatin consequencehe was obliged to post off
, , , thither . Though his duty as a Mason was strong , his duty to his father was paramount . He concluded by expressing deep regret at his unavoidable absence . The secretary then read the patent , appointing the Venerable Archdeacon Walter Alant Prov . Grand Aiaster of Belfast and North Down . The Representative of the Grand AIaster then rose , and saicl that it would have been his pleasing duty , had Archdeacon Mant been presentto have now investedTiim with his insignia of office . In
, his unavoidable absence , however , he would proceed , by request of the Prov . Grand Master , whose letter he held in his hand , to instal the Deputy Grand Master . Bro . David Connor , P ; A'I . Lodge No . 40 , D . G . AL , was then led forward to the throne by two officers of the Grancl Lodge , and duly invested with his insignia of office . The Representative of the Grand Aiaster complimented him upon his high
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ireland.
BELFAST . — Grand Masonic Festival of the Provincial Grand L ^ odye of Belfast unit North Down . —The 1 st of November , 1818 , will long be remembered with pleasure and pride as the day of a bright and brilliant reunion of the Alasonry of the North , on the occasion of the installation ofthe Venerable Archdeacon Alant as Prov . Grand Aiaster , and th . e other officers of the Prov . Grand Lodge of Belfast and North Down . Never was ceremony more impressivenor pageant more
mag-, nificent , or better calculated to leave a lasting impression on the mind of each individual who participated in the mysterious ceremonial and subsequent festivity . In a company numbering between four and five hundred , and consisting of persons of the different ranks and grades of society—differing religiously and politically , but bound together by a tie invisible to the uninitiated—nothing bordering on irregularity or disorder coulcl be observed . Everything in the course of the proceedings
was decorous , orderly , and guided by strict propriety . One heart seemed to animate all present , and the best feelings of man ' s nature were called forth by witnessing the love and harmony which everywhere prevailed . Obedience , one of the leading characteristics of Masonry , was not the least of the many excellencies worthy of commendation . One o ' clock was the hour appointed for the assembling of the brethren , but long before that time large numbers of the Craft had collected at
the place of meeting , the Music Hall , the lower room of whieh building ' was beautifully fitted up as a masonic hall . Shortly after one , the Hon . Captain Jocelyn , bearing the commission of his Grace the Duke of Leinster , Grancl AIaster of Ireland , to act as his representative at the \ mvosiv \ E ceremony , entered the hall accompanied by the proper officers ,
and took his seat on the throne . He was supported on bis right and left by Bros . Lord Dungannon , Lord John Beresford , Sir John Alacneil , John Boyd , M . P . Coleraine ; Colonel Blacker , Carrick ; Alexander Grant , Derry , acting D . P . G . M ; antl several distinguished brethren from Dublin , Dundalk , Armagh , Newry , Trandragee , Ballymena , & c . The lodge having been opened in clue form and with prayer , the Secretary , Bro . R . S . AVaterson , read the commission from the Duke of Leinster , authorising the Hon . Captain Jocelyn to act as his representative .
The Representative of the Grand AIaster then rose , and said that he regretted greatly to inform the brethren that , owing to the indisposition of the Lord Bishop of Down , they would not have the great pleasure of Archdeacon Alant ' s presence among them . He helcl in his hand a letter from him , most hurriedly written , in which it was stated that he had just receiveci notice of the sudden and serious illness of his father , then at Ballymoneyand thatin consequencehe was obliged to post off
, , , thither . Though his duty as a Mason was strong , his duty to his father was paramount . He concluded by expressing deep regret at his unavoidable absence . The secretary then read the patent , appointing the Venerable Archdeacon Walter Alant Prov . Grand Aiaster of Belfast and North Down . The Representative of the Grand AIaster then rose , and saicl that it would have been his pleasing duty , had Archdeacon Mant been presentto have now investedTiim with his insignia of office . In
, his unavoidable absence , however , he would proceed , by request of the Prov . Grand Master , whose letter he held in his hand , to instal the Deputy Grand Master . Bro . David Connor , P ; A'I . Lodge No . 40 , D . G . AL , was then led forward to the throne by two officers of the Grancl Lodge , and duly invested with his insignia of office . The Representative of the Grand Aiaster complimented him upon his high