Contents.

CONTENTS .

rraml Festival .., 1 11 V , „• ,-, o , MASONIC MstTlNOSt ratt Masonry » /& I . stmction »? ° Roval Arch So m-Trk Masonry sno Provincial Charity Committee for N . and E . Yorks 180 ivil Masonic Institution I ' or Girls 1 S 0

>„ ThJcase . f Bro . bimonsen 180 5 Diinstan ' s Royal Arch Chanter » 8 i P nvincial Grand Chapter of West Yorkshire 1 S 1 -ia ? ,. r-iairnrniship of the Girls' School Fei-tival 1 S 2 Charity versus Sack 18 a The Ntw G rand Officers 183 Cu The Restoration of the West Front of St . Alban ' s Abbey 183

An Old Mason 1 S 3 The Installation Engraving 1 S 3 Consecration of the Nicholson Chapter , No . 371 184 Grand Piiory ot Lancashire 184 St Alhan ' s Cathedral 184 Consecration of the Hervey Lodge , No . 1 J 88 1 S 4 Provincial Grand Chapter of Leicestershire and Rutland 185 Grand Lod of Cheshire and North Wales

Provincial Ma * ge iSj Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of Jamaica 185 Testimonial to lhe Kev . G . W . Macdonald , B . A . ' iSj Obituary lS S M asonic Notes and Queries 1 S 6 Masonic and General Tidings 186 Loih'e Meetings for Next Week 186 advertisements i ., ii ., i : i ., iv ., v ., vi .

Grand Festival.

GRAND FESTIVAL .

Grand Festival of English Freemasons was held on Wcdnestlay , thc last Wednesday in April , accor ding to ancient custom . Grand Lodge was opened shortly alter five o ' clock in the evening , when about five hundred brethren were present . The Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , M . W . Pro Grand Master , presided , having General

Brownrigg , Provincial Grand Master for Surrey , on his rig ht as Deputy Grand Master , and Bro . Samuel Rawson , Past Distric tGrand Master of China , on his left as Past Grand Mater . Lord Henniker vvas in the Senior Grand Warden ' s chair , and Captain Piatt , Past Junior Grand Warden , ir . the chair of Junior Grand Warden . Thc other Grand and P * st Grand Officers present were Bros . Sir

Albert W . Woods ( Garter ) , G . D . C . ; Sir M . Costa , P . G . W . ; * £ . J . Mclr . t-. re , G . K . ; Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , G . D . ; Erasmus Wilson , G . D . ; Dr . Jabez Hogg , P . G . D . ; James Glaisher , P . G . D . ; J . M . Case , P . G . D . ; E . E . Wendt , G . Sec , German Correspondence ; A . J . Duff Filer , P . G . S . B . ; Peter de Lande Long , P . G . D . ; C . C . Dumas , P . A . G . D . C . ; Robert Grey , P . G . D . ; S . Leith Tomkins ,

P . G . D . ; John A . Rucker , P . G . D . ; Francis Robinson , P . G . A . D . C . ; Joshua Nunn , P . G . S . B . ; Thomas Fenn , P . G . D . ; Charles W . C . Hutton , Past Grand Deacon ; Merry Gustavus Buss , Assistant Grand Secretary ; J . Wright , P . G . P ; John Hervey , G . S . ; Sir Henry ttlwards , Prov . G . M . VV . Yorkshire ; Janes Lewis Thomas , A . G . D . C . ; Rev . Sir I . Wairen Hayes , P . G . C ; Rev . J .

Edmund Cox , D . D ., P . G . C . ; Rev . R . J . Simpson , P . G . C . ; Rev . W . A . Hill , G . C . ; Rev . II . A . Pickard , G . C . ; John B . Monckton , President of the Board of General Purposes ; Henry J . P . Dumas , P . G . D . ; Raphael Costa , G . D . ; William H . Lucia , G . S . B . ; William T . Howe , G . P . ; William Wilson , G . P . ; Raynham W . Stewart , P . G . D . ;

Sir Edmund Lechmere , Proc . Grand Master of Worcester ; Rev . C . W . Arnold , P . G . C . ; Rev . Charles J . Martyn , P . G . C , Dep . Prov . G . M . Suffolk ; C E . Willing , G . Org . ; Wilhelm Kuhe , P . G . Org . ; E . P . Albert , P . G . P . ; Thotrns Cubitt , P . G . P . ; Hvde Pullen , P . G . S . B . ; F . P . Morrell , P . G . D . ; Rev . Robert P . Bent , P . G . C . ; Lt . Col I . Creaton , G . T .: Wilhelm Ganz , P . G . Org . ; Col . J .

Whitwell , M . P ., P . G . J . W . ; J . M . Wike , P . G . P . ; Brackstone Baker , P . G . D . ; Charles A . Murton , P . G . D . ; and C 8 . Payne , G . Tyler ; A . A . Pendlebury , W . Dodd , W . Lee , Neville Green , James Willing , J . Clemow , John Allen , Herbert Dicketts , Colonel James E . Peters , William Stephens , Colorel Somerville Burney , George Kenning , H . Massey ( Freemason ) , and John While .

After Grand Lodge had been formally opened , Bro . John Hervey , G . S ., read thc minutes of last Quarterly Communication so far as they related to the election of Most Worshi pful Grand Master . These having been duly confirmed , Sir Albert Woods ( Garter ; , G . D . C , proclaimed his Royal Hig hnes ; , by all his titles , Giand Master of the Order .

The Earl of Carnarvon then said it was his duty to announce thc appointment again this year of himself as Pro Grand Master , and the announcement was received with several rounds of applause . When the applause had ceased , his Lordship said tbat though the office was not an elective one hc felt deeply grateful for the proof the brethren had just given that he hatl the confielence of Grand Lodge .

Sir Albert Woods then proclaimed the Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon as Pro Grand Master , and the customary grand salute vvas given . The Earl t ; f Carnarvon next said that the Gtand Master nail again appointed Lord Skelmersdale as Deputy Grand Master , and he regretted that in consequence of

indisuosihon his lordship vvas not present with thc brethren that day . The following brethren were then announced as Grand Officers f ' , r the year , and those who were present were dul y invested vvith thc collars , badges , and jewels of their KSj-cctive offices : — -

Lord Kensington , M . P S . G . W . Major-Gen . the Hon . Somerset G . Calthorpe J . G . W . ^ v . W . A . Hill G . Chap . f . ev * Chas . S pencer Stanhope ... Asst . G . Chap . ^ ut .-Col . John Creaton G . Treas . f-J . Mclntyre , Q . C G . Reg . J * B . M onckton Pres . B . G . P .

Grand Festival.

John Hervey ... ... ... ... G . Sec . Ernst Emil Wendt G . Sec . Ger . Cor . Reginald Bird ... S . G . D . George Mellor S . G . D . Horatio Lloyd J . G . D .

Matthew Clark J . G . D . John Gibson G . S . of W . Sir Albert W . Woods ( Garter ) ... G . D . of Cer . Sheriff George Burt Asst . G . D . of Cer . Samuel Mullens ... ... ... G . S . B .

Cnristopher Willing G . Org . H . G . Buss Asst . G . Sec . W . Wilson G . Purs . James Kench ... ** Asst . G . Purs . C . B . Payne G . Tyler . The Earl of Carnarvon next said he had to declare that the Most Worshipful Grand Master appointed Worshipful

Bro . W . T . Howe , Past Grand Pursuivant , to take rank and wear the clothing of a Past Grand Pursuivant . Bro . John Hervey , Grand Secretary , at the request of the Earl of Carnarvon , reatl the following list uf Grand Stewards for the year : — Aldcrmanjohn Whitaker Ellis ... ... Lodge 1 John Batley ... ... ... ... ... ... 2

Horace James Browne ... ... ... ... 4 Henry James ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 Captain Wm . Robert G . Farmer 6 Edward John Beale 8 John N . Smith- 14 Robert Paulson Spice ... ... ... ... ... 21 Edward Charles Davies 23

Wm . Coppard Beaumont 26 HiltonC . Barker ... ... ... ,,. ... 29 Thomas Birch Dyer ( M . D . ) 4 6 Thomas Reynolds ... ... ... ... ... 5 8 John Thornton Chancellor ... ,.. ... ... 60 Robert Winter Sprague 91 Arthur Strains ... ... ... ... ... ... 99

Edward Cutler 197 George Plucknetf , jjn . ... ... ... ... 259 The Earl of J Carnarvon again rose , antl saitl : There is only one piece ot business that yet remains to be discharged , and it is that I should announce to you that Bro . William James Hughan , Past Senior Grand Deacon of England , has compiled a

numerical and numismatical register of lodges which form the Grand Lodge of England , and he states in the letter which accompanies this book that he desires to present it for the acceptance of Giand Lo : lge on this , the annual Grand Festival , and that it is the first work on English Masonic numismatics , and the first which has given the arms and bearings ot Grand Lodge . I cannot say myself I have

had the opportunity of examining it closely , but it seems to me to be very carefully drawn up-anti to be embellished by some very well executed drawings , particularly some of the medals and jewels of the Cr-ft , and I have no doubt it will be thc pleasure of Grand Lodge to give their thanks to Bro . Hughan for this presentation copy . The brethren having signified their assent by applause ,

no other werk remaining to lie done , Grand Lodge was closed in ample form . The brethren then adjourned to Freemasons' Tavern , where a sumptuous banquet was provided by Bro . Alfred Best , the proprietor , to the order of the Grand Stewards . Between two or three hundred brethren sat down , the Earl of Carnarvon presiding . Most of the Grand Officers and

Past Grand Officers who attended Grand Lodge were present , together with the Grantl Stewards , Past Grantl Stewards , antl the Grind Stewards for the coming year , whose names were announced in Grand Lodge by Grand Secretary . When dinner was over grace was sung , and the usual toasts given at Grantl Festival were proposed .

The Earl of Carnarvon , in giving the toast of "The Queen , " said : Brethren , on these occasions the old saying is perfectly true , that "brevity is the soul of wit ; " but there is one toast which can never be omitted from the meeting of all loyal Englishmen , let alone Masons ; it is the toast which comes first and foremost , which is most loyal , most ancient , most acceptable to us all , " The Health

of Her Majesty the Queen . " The toast having been most cordially drunk , was followed by the National Anthem . The Earl of Carnarvtm next said : Brethren , in the old , and I suppose I may venture to say thc unenlightened , days of Freemasonry , it was considered almost high treason in thc Craft to admit the name of any woman .

Since then we have mended our manners , and I rejoice to sec so many bright eyes looking down upon us this evening . But there is the name of one lady , a very great lady in England , for whom we make still a great exception , and whom wc always honour second on our list . May it always be so . It is many years in the life of this generation now since the Princess of Wales first

landed on these shores . With every year that has rolled by we have learned to know her better , to admire her more , to accept her , if it is possible , more and more as the adopted daughter of this country ( hear , hear ) ; and though many years have rolled by she seems to us as fair , as beautiful now as the hour she landed ; and , as our experience has taught us , infinitely more prized and

deeply loved . Brethren , " The Health of Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales and all the Royal Family . " Thc Earl eif Carnarvon : Brethren , the next toast that I have to propose is , I am sure , a very welcome one to you . There are , doubtless , many here who were present this

time last year , and if so , they will remember His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , our Grand Master , presided on that occasion . The Craft gave him one of those hearty and cordial welcomes that the Craft alone can give . He is prevented this year from attending , bat though absent from us , I doubt not that he carries us in his mind ;

Grand Festival.

and of this at least we may be sure , that he is present ia our minds this evening . Brethren , the period during which His Royal Hi ghness has ruled over us has been one signalised in the history of English Freemasonry by a continual progress and prosperity . Lodges have been added , and perhaps in almost greater numbers than was desirable ; members have flowed in upon us , which have

been , as far as I know , no check , or stint , or limit to the prosperity of the Craft ; and though prosperity teaches ever the lesson of caution , still we may truly and fairly connect that prosperity with the rule of our Giand Master . Brethren , let me give you "The Health of His Royal Highness the Most Worshipful Grand Master of England . " Sir Henry Edwards , Prov . G . M . for West Yorkshire :

My Lord , Ladies , and Brethren , it is with extreme diffidence I rise to propose the next toast , which I was not aware was going to be entrusted to me till the moment I came into this room . I am sorry I did not know it sooner , as I might have prepared some remarks to put it before you in all its bearings , and dilated upon the merits of our Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master . In Yorkshire and Lancashire there is no one living better known than

he is , though he has not come among us very frequently ; but the more we see of him , the more we like him ; and I assure you that on the last grand occasion he visited us it was perfectly enchanting to see the whole of a vast room filled with people who came to meet him , and to hear it ringing with applause . I say this to his face—Lord Carnarvon , as Pro Grand Master , is the most popular Pro Grand Master we ever had . I think this is a case in

which we may mention , without fear of contradiction , that in public , as well as in private life , Lord Carnarvon is well knovvn . He has been well known from the time of his boyhood to the time when he was at a public school , to thc time he left school , at the university where he distinguished himself , as we all know ; and since then as a statesman and as a public man he has earned the respect

of every man he came in contact with . I cannot help saying he has earned the respect of every man in the kingdom , as a politician and as a private gentleman . Now , my lord , it is a great gratification to me to have to stand up here to propose your health , and I hope that many years to come , in different parts of the country where we so often meet en these festive occasions , I may again

have the great privilege—for privilege I count it in no small degree—of meeting you . We have amongst us , as the heads of our Oreler—I say nothing more now about our Grand Master , as we have already drunk his health , or Lord Skelmersdale , and others I could nam : —but I must say that it will be a pleasure , and a great pleasure , to all to respond to the toast , I am about to propose to

you " The Health of Lord Carnarvon , Most Worshipful Pro Oranu Master of English Freemasons , " with all the honours . The toast having been received most enthusiastically , The Earl of Carnarvon , in reply , said—Brethren , I har ly know how to find atlequate words in which to convey my feelings to all of yr-u for the kind reception you

have given my name . I have been now so familiarised by your kindness on a hundred occasions that I have almost to repeat thc same formula each time we meet over and over again , and yet pray believe me that the words are not the words of mere idle compliment ' and form , but they flow from the inmost depths of my heart ; and I assure you that I never come among brother Masons , not only without a

sense of their deep kindness and their sympathy , but also without feeliag how very little I have really done , how little I ever can do , to make an adequate and fitting return for that kindness . Brethren , the last time that I had the pleasure of listening to the genial eloquence of my kind friend , Sir Henry Edwards , it was in his own province , where , I will venture to say , no man ever won greater or

more deserved popularity . He made me feel that Yorkshiremen were not only among the most noble but that they were among the most kindly men in England , and I can assure you that not only has it been a great pleasure to me , holding the office which I do , but that I have also conceived it to be my duty , as far as I could , whenever business or any other cause leads me to other parts of the

country , to become known to my provincial brethren , and to communicate with them fairly face to face upon all those subjects which interest the Craft . Brethren , I will take this occasion of saying that which I have said often before , that the more London and country brethren can be brought together , the more they can understand the requirements each of the other , the more , above all , they

learn , as they are certain to learn by communication , that the interests of the two are one and indivisible in the Craft , the better it is for them and for the Craft . Brethren , it has been my lot to be a Mason and to pass through various stages and degrees cf Masonry now for many years —more years , perhaps , than I like quite to reckon ; but I may say that , looking back on that period , whatever it is ,

I think I can trace many changes that have occurred in the Craft ; and , 1 will venture to say , those changes have been all t ; oori . We had this evening in Grand Lodge , as vou are aware , an interesting bonk presented to us , containing the register t . f many curious events in English Masonry running over many genetations and years . How many lodges have since come int . i existence ; how many

lodges have passed away ; antl , again , how many lodges lhat seemed to have nearly died out have sprung into renewed existence , antl sometimes into rcinvigorated existence ; and yet I venture to say that , taking all in all , the changes which have occurred since the events which that book chronicles , those changes have been all , on the whole ,

good and wholesome , and in the true direction of Masonry . Let me only say this , that we , as a body , must experience changes , and if we accept it in the right sense , those changes can do nothing but good to us . But let us always when accepting every change keep steadily in view the great landmarks of the Order , which the wisdom of those who went before laid down for us ; so shall we