The American K.T. Tourists.

vey , Thomson , W . Lowey , J , R . Read , T . Bade , Todd , Taylor , Freeman ( R . A . ) , Nesbitt , James Callwell , James Morrison , James Moatt ( R . A . ) , W . "Craig , W . Ireland , W . Agnew , J . H . Boyd , W . J . Jury , Professor Brown , Samuel Law , and J . M'Kenna .

Lodge No . 106 . —Bros . Q . Qumn , James A . Armstrong ( H . K . T . ) , G . Galloway , and Thomas Ginn . Lodge No . 109 . —Bros . R . J . Hilton ( H . K . T . ) , John M'Connell ( H . K . T . ) , James M'Connell , R . J . Howard ( R . A . ) , John Martin , Hugh Moore , William John Hanna , D . Allen , Rev . H . N . Creeny , and Robert Neill

( H . K . T . ) Lodge No . in . —Bros . Matthews ( H . K . T . ) , ' Means ( R . A . ) , Simpson ( R . A . ) , Wm . Orr ( R . A . ) Washington Orr , Flenry James Hill ( R . A . ) , J . Hulland , O'C . Shaw ( H . K . T . ) , William Martin ( H . K . T . ) , S . Erskine ( R . A . ) , C . C . Wheeler ( H . K . T . ) , Jas H . Neill ( H . K . T . ) , W . Campbell , Thomas Patten , M . Linden ( R . A . ) , John

Ward ( R . A . ) , P . O . Rickard ( R . A . ) , David Woods , A . Wilson , Samuel Wilson ( R . A . ) , Wm . John Hill ( R . A . ) , Geo . Reid , R . Birch ( R . A . ) , S . M . Kinghan , and G . L . Birch . Lodge No . 125 . —Bro . John James Wilde . Lodge No . 134 . —Bro . Robert Armstrong . Lodge No . 154 . —Bros . John G . M'Gee ( P . G . R . C ) , James M'Gee ( H . K . T . ) , J . Overend ( H . K . T . ) , John A .

Taylor ( H . K . T . ) , W . H . Ward ( H . K . T . ) , John Ritchie , jun . ( H . K . T . ) , John Boyd ( H . K . T . ) , R . F . Dennison ( H . K . T . ) , W . Batt ( R . A . ) , Henry Seeds ( P . G . R . C . ) , Samuel II . Gowan ( H . K . T . ) , and James R . Magee ( R . A . ) . Lodge No . 158 ( Dublin ) . —Bro . John Roberts . Lodge No . 178 . —Bros . James Wilson and Mussen . Lodge No . 195 . —Bros . J . M'Kibbin , R . Humphrey , Joseph Taylor , John Wright , J . P . Todd , and James

M'Neill . Lodge No . 248 ( Roscommon ) . —Bro . R . B . Irwin ( P . M . ) . Lodge No . 759 . —Bro . N . A . Campbell . Lodge No . 272 . —Bros . E . Rice , H . White , John Adrain , Samuel . Ledley , A . Gaffkin , John Hanna , James Adrain , D . Moore , R . M'Clamont , N . Ferguson , S .

Sinclair , W . Gibson , Henry Hanna , W . M'Cullough , W . Foster , M . Cappo , Dr . Ball , Dr . Beck , M . Wallace , and John Dysart . Lodge No . 278 . —Bro . Robert Kelly . Lodge No . 431 . —Bro . John W . Smyth .

Lodge No . 491 ( Bombay ) . —Bro . Alexander Campbell . Lodge No . 609 . —Bros . James Evans , R . Campbell , James M'Cracken , John Woods , W . Braithwaite , Wm . Dale ( P . M . E . C . Colombus Encampment , Londonderry ) , and James H . Macauley ( II . K . T . Palestine Encampment , Dublin ) .

The chair was occupied by Bro . Sir Charles Lanyon , D . P . G . M . Dinner , which was supplied by Bro . M'Cracken , Steward Masonic Hall , was served up at half-past seven o ' clock in excellent style , and was of a most sumptuous and recherche description .

Grace having beeh said by the Rev . Bro . Freckelton , Chaplain , the company sat down to the good things provided . These having been partaken of , thanks were returned ; after which , The Chairman rose to propose "The Health of the Queen . " He said : One of the first duties of a Mason is loyalty to his rulers . When she who

governs in this country has enthroned herself in the affections of her people , it must add increased zest to the pleasure with which I give you , and the enthusiasm with which I am sure you will receive , the toast of " Our Most Gracious Queen . " ( The toast was drunk amid great enthusiasm . ) The Chairman then rose and said : I am glad to

have the opportunity of introducing this evening a toast which will , I am sure , meet with a hearty reception at the hands of all . Wc have now the pleasureof entertaining manydistinguished brethren , the subjects of a nation with which we are intimately connected , and to which wc arc socially and commercially bound by the strongest ties of mutual

interest and regard—feelings which will , I trust , ever promote—nationally , as well as fraternallypeace , love , and harmony between us . Brethren , however much wc may differ in questions of constitutional government , I sincerely trust that no other differences may ever arise between us , or , should they unfortunately occur , that they may be

settled by the pen of the diplomatist , and not by the sword of the warrior . ( Cheers . ) We have just joined in drinking the toast of the Queen , and now ourAmericanbrethren have . bythcir ' cheers , testified their sympathy with us in our love and affection to ruler . I now beg to give you " The President of the United States , and prosperity to that

enlightened nation . " ( This toast was also enthusiastically received . ) Bro . Gardiner ( Illinois ) , in acknowledging the toast , said he must first thank the brethren for the attention that had been paid them . It seemed to be the aim of all the brethren to do nothing except to pay attention to them , and to give them a most

cordial and fraternal greeting . He thanked them for the hearty response which had been given to the sentiment of the President of the United States . They felt proud of such a reception to the toast of their President , and specially were they proud because they felt that the honour had been done him as the representative of the American people . They all spoke of him , as the chairman had done , as the

The American K.T. Tourists.

representative of a great nation . As a man , they loved him ; as a statesman , they honoured and cherished him . Speaking of the President as the representative of the people , he might remark they did not come there to boast . They had neither the wish nor desire to raise themselves above other

nations . ( Hear , hear . ) They simply said , as true patriots all the world over , that they loved their country , and honoured their people , and they would endeavour to promote what is good - and correct what is evil . They could not forget what they owed to this country , and while passing over its

mountains and valleys , and crossing its rivers , they cotild say it was here ' our father or our grandfather lived . When they would return to their own country , they would inform the brethren of the heartfelt sympathy and kindness which had been extended to them here . ( Hear , hear . ) In America

they might not be finally settled , and might not have all their machinery at work , but he hoped soon to see all perfect ; and for what had already been done in cutting down forests , building cities , and establishing governments , they should not forget how much they were indebted to the thousands

and tens of thousands—hundreds of thousands , he might say—that had gone from England , Ireland , and Scotland to help them . He hoped the time was not far distant when all their States and governments would be settled , and they would be prepared to reciprocate the kindness they had received from

this country . He would say for himself and his brethren that they had received both enjoyment and instruction from their visit to Ireland ; and when they would go back to America , they would sap to that President and that people who had been honoured that night that they had found across the

water brethren of whom they could never speak ill , and would return to their homes with more love , more honour , and more respect for the land they had visited than they had when they left their homes . He hoped the two nations would ever continue knit together in the bonds of

international friendship and' goodwill , and in what already existed in that respect Masonry had no small share . One thing lie could say about the President of the United States that they could not say of their Queen—he was a Mason . ( Cheers . ) A Voice : Her son is one . ( Cheers . )

Bro . Gardiner said he was glad to hear it , and hoped they would work together to promote harmony and peace between the two nations . ( Cheers . ) The Chairman then proposed " His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , Past Grand Master of England , " and " The Grand Masters of England ,

Ireland , and Scotland , Earl de Grey , the Duke of Leinster , and Earl Dalhousie , " both of which were received with Masonic honours . In proposing that of the Prince of Wales , the Chairman expressed a hope that His Royal Highnesswould , on his visit to Ireland , afford them the honour of entertaining him

as a brother Mason . ( Cheers . ) The Chairman then said : I have now the pleasure of introducing the toast more immediately connected with our social meeting of this evening . We have here met together for the purpose of entertaining those of our American brethren who have

come on a visit to this country , and I am delighted to see so large an assemblage of the brethren of Belfast to give them a sincerely hearty and enthusiastic reception . Had time permitted a longer notice to have been given of their intended visit , I am sure that even larger numbers from the country districts

would have attended . [ Addressing the Excellent Commander . ] We welcome you , and your companion Knights Templar , to our town . We welcome you , not only as brethren of our most ancient Craft , but specially happy arc we in welcoming you as American brethren—citizens of that great nation

between which and this country ( specially this town ) there are so many intimate associations . It is not , however , my province here this evening to dilate upon these points , agreeable as it might be to refer to the commercial enterprise and interests which connect this part of the country with yours , or to

the names of many of your merchant princes and illustrious countrymen connected by family and friendly tics with many in the North of Ireland . My special business is to bid you welcome as brother Masons , and more particularly to give expression to those feelings which bind us together

—feelings which have been so eloquently expressed by one of your own illustrious philosophers and authors that I do not think , on the present occasion , it would be out of place to quote them . In speaking of Freemasonry , he says : " Its good effects are established by the most incontcstiblc facts of history . They have stayed the uplifted hand of the

destroyer , they have softened the asperities of the tyrant , they have mitigated the horrors of captivity , they have subdued the rancour of malevolence , and broken clown the barrier of political animosity and sectarian alienation . " On the battle-field , in the solitude of the uncultivated forest , or in the busy haunts of the crowded city , they have made men of the most hostile feelings , most distant regions , and

The American K.T. Tourists.

most diversified conditions , rush to the aid of each other , and feel special joy that they have been able to afford relief to a brother Mason . Brethren , if this be a true description of the value of Masonry in promoting peace , love , and harmony , we ought to be proud of calling yourselves by the name of

Masonic brethren . As such , it has been our great happiness to entertain you this evening , and I now beg to give the toast of " Our American Brethren , especially the guests who have honoured us with their company , " coupled with the name of Bro . J . J . M'lllyer . ( The Chairman then sat down , having

been much applauded throughout ) . Bro . the Rev . J . J . M'lllyer , who was warmly received , responded . On the part of the Masons of the United States , he returned his most sincere and hearty thanks . In coming from the United States in the character they assumed , they felt they would

be in some measure the representatives of Masonry in that country , and since they had landed on these shores they had realise 4 this most fully . He might explain that this visit was not the result of a consultation , but entirely originated with Mr . Jenkins , who was General of the Commandery . There was

more in this visit than a simple representation of Masonry , or an interchange of Masonic feelings and Masonic greetings , for it showed in a marked manner the privileges and benefits of Masonry . They looked upon Masonry as having God for its author , the world for its field , and heaven for its asylum ;

and that in it were bound up principles for the fraternisation of the whole world , and that would make them all feel that they were brethren and worshipped one God . As children bore the resemblances of their fathers , so Freemasonry bore the stamp of its Originator and Creator . There was no

other system that would cause men to harmonise so thoroughly as Masonry , for in it there was but one opinion . He knew nothing to compare it to better than the bow that spans the heavens with its seven prismatic colours , each making the rest more beautiful . Freemasonry was calculated to bind together

all things on earth , and make them one in God . He was not going tj make a speech on Freemasonry , but his heart warmed when he met a body of Freemasons anywhere ; and theyfelt satisfied in coming to this country that they would receive kindness from brother Masons , no matter what tongue they

spoke or where they lived . Masonry had a history that would endure for ever , and he believed the interview of that night would mark an era in it . He believed that that visit would be an introduction to other , and more gigantic , visits of Masons , and that the example set by the men of Alleghany

would be followed by others , both in this country and America . He would say that their visit had been superintended by the providence of God , for they had been guided to take a passage in the Oceanic , and everywhere they had gone in the South and North they had met with the most

cordial and friendly greeting . He hoped the visit would be returned , and that they would see some of those around them in the United States , and he promised that they would do everything in their power , and everything that Masonry promised , to

make the visit as agreeable as theirs had been made in this country . Bro . M'lllyer concluded by proposing "The Provincial Grand Lodge of Antrim . ' ' ( Loud cheers . ) The toast was drunk with Masonic honours .

The Chairman , in responding , said : On the part of the Freemasons of Belfast , I return your Excellent Commander , and to our American brethren generally , our hearty and sincere thanks for the manner in which you have toasted the Provincial Grand Lodge of Antrim . I may say that it has

given us all great p leasure to have had the opportunity of entertaining you ; as a proof of which I believe I may say that , of the numerous lodges in Belfast , there is not a single one unrepresented here . As for myself , 1 may say that the honour of presiding on this occasion has been one of the most

pleasing duties which has devolved upon me as Deputy Provincial Grand Master . It is a matterof regret , however , that our Provincial Grand Master , the Marquis of Donegal , could not be present with us ; but of this I am sure , that he sympathises sincerely in this tribute of brotherly love to you , sir ,

and your countrymen , on the part of the Grand Lodge over which he presides . ( Applause . ) The next toast was , " Our poor and distressed brethren all over the world . " The proceedings shortly afterwards terminated .

Mr . Fred . Smythe , Mus . Baa , performed a number of popular selections on the grand organ in excellent style , and an amateur glee company sang a number of pieces of music in an effective manner , thus greatly enlivening and agreeably diversifying the proceedings of the evening .

The American brethren arrived in Belfast on the morning of the banquet , from Portrush and the Causeway . They took up their quarters at the Imperial Hotel , where apartments had been engaged for them . They visited the Brookfield and Linfield Mills , and were shown over those establishments by