Grand Festival.

prosper ; so shall we hand down the great heritage committed to us , not only in unimpaired honour and credit , but even in atlditional strength , vigour , and reputation to succeeding Masons . ( Great cheering . ) The F . arl of Carnarvon : Brethren , I am sorry to trespass so frequently and so rapidly upon your patience , but there is another toast , and I cannot permit anv one to

take from me the privileee of proposing it to you ; it is " Thc Health of my noble friend and brother , Lord Skelmersdale , the Deputy Grand Master . " Bro . Lord Skelmersdale , I doubt not , would have been vvith us today , as he has been on so many occasions , but for indisposition . I regretted to hear that he vvas detained by illness , but I rejoiced afterwards to hear that illness had

much passedaway . I regretted , however , that it had not so far abated to allow of his being here to-night . Though he is absent we shall delight to honour r im vvith this toast , and we shall remember him with every good wish and hearty hope that before long he may be entirely restored to health , and able to take part in all our entertainments .

Col . Whitwell , P . G . J . W .: Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master of England , with your permission , and at your request , I rise to ask you and the biethren to join with me in drinking the next toast . Hitherto the toast has been purely personal . I ask the Grand Lodge of England now to expand their feelings , and extend them to the brother lodges of Scotland and Ireland . Within the territory of

Her Majesty the Queen three independent nationalities of Masons exist ; but the Pro Grand Mister told us though there is divisibility , there is union ( cheers ) ; and in this case while there isa trinity of lodges , there is unity of brotherhood . ( Cheers . ) Situated , as my province is , close to the brethren of Scotland , we know the friendly feeling that exists between the Scotch and English Masons , and the

inter hange of international relations . For Auld Lang Syne we will remember Scotland for once . ( Cheers . ) And if with me you had gone to Ireland you would have experienced the cordiality of the brother Masons of that interesting island . ( Hear , hear . ) We feel the nationality of Masons is maintained with dignity , antl yet through all there is , while separated , that identity , so that we cease

to forget there is any difference in our localities , and when I meet a brother Mason in any part of the world he is our brother Mason . ( Cheers . ) If I go to Canada I meet a number of my Scotch brethren . On the plains of India , and in the battle fields of that country , many a Scotch Mason has grasped the hand of an English brother in the hour of danger . This is the principle that unites us one

and all , and I am sure you will drink enthusiastically " Prosperity and Success to the brother Grand Lodges of Scotland antl Ireland . " ( Cheers . ) Bro . / Eneas J . Mclntyre , Q . C , Grantl Registrar : Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master , at the request and command of the Pro Grand Master I rise for the purpose of proposing the next toast , and I will say that it is a toast

which will always be received among Masons with the greatest satisfaction , and , vvith respect to the brother who is called upon , with great confidence ; because we know the toast is well deserved , and , upon the principle of honour to whom honour is due , is always received vvith respect , especially by Freemasons in old England . The toast is that of the Provincial Grand Masters holding

office under the Grand Master of England . As thc Grantl Master of England , as head of the Craft , receives thc respect of all Masons throughout the whole country , so the Provincial Grand Masters in provinces and counties deserve and receive the respect of Masons who h < Md under their banner . In times gone by , and at the present lime , the Worshipful Master has selected for office those brethren

who have distinguished themselves in the Craft , and hold high positions in the provinces . We know a great number of the Provincial Grand Masters of England . I am glad to say on this occasion we have one among us who holds oflice in one of the most distinguished and important provinces in the country , namely , the West Riding of Yorkshire ; and when I mention the name of Sir Henry

Edwards ( cheers '* , who proposed the health of tbe Pro Grand Master on this occasion , I have only to ask you to receive him as a sample of what thc other Provincial Grand Masters are , and if they are all as good as he ( and I trust they are ) you will not find a better body of men throughout the whole of England . I beg to propose for your aeceptance the toast of "The Provincial Grand Masters

of the Provinces of England , " coup ing with it the name of Sir Henry Edward-- , the Provincial Grand Master of the West Riding of York . ( Cheers . ) Sir Henry Edwards : My Lord , Ladies , and Brethren , by your favours I rise again for the second time ( though I ought to make an apology for so doing ) , to respond to the toast proposed just now . I have been for the last four

years a Provincial Grand Master of England , under the favour of our noble chief , and I may say this , whatever the country may think o *> ur Provincial Grand Masters in their separate counties tbey ought all to be under great obligations to those men who take the trouble , and who spend so much of their time in attending to the interests and the duties of Freemasons in their respective counties ,

and I say that without hesitation , for I am quite sure it will be accepted bv the Masonic body generally as a truism . ( Cheers ) . Without a good chief what are you worth ; without good officers how can a regiment work ? The fact is that it is through good generals and good officers that the Masonic body throughout this great country of England , antl also ol Scotland , is worked in the manner it is at the

present mon ent , and I trust it is done to lhe satisfaction of tho-e t ver whom they preside . In the West Riding of Yorkshire I have authority over 3300 Masons , and a more loy . il botly eif mm never lived on the fire of the earth . ( Cherr .-. ) I speak of the Ma-inic botly in the West Rising of Yorkshire in every respect ; their number is increasing year by year , and everything is elone that is necessary in the interests of Masonry . I am very much obliged for thc

Grand Festival.

honour you have done me and the Provincial Grand Masters in drinking our healths . ( Cheers . ) The Pro Grantl Master : When on these annual occasions wc meet for the purpose of Grand Festival , it is not only to take stock of all that has happened in the year , hut it is also to annt unce the appointment of those Grand Ofricers who discharge the executive duties of the Craft

during the ensuing twelve months . The duties that devolve on those brethren are very weighty and great duties ; they are the duties of administration ; they are bound to support the Pro Grand Master ( cheers ) ; to help him in his work in Grand Lodge ; they are bound to familiarise themselves with all the principles of Masonry , not only to practise them here in London , but to communicate them

to their own provinces elsewhere . ( Cheers . ) If I can judge rightly from the marked approval which Grand Lodge gave to the appointments which were announced this evening , I may augur very satisfactorily indeed for the tenure of office of those brethren appointed to-day . ( Cheers . ) We wish them all success , and I am quite certain of this , that in the duty on which they now enter they will always

receive the hearty and cordial support of Grand Lodge and of every loyal Mason and member of the Craft . I have to give you with this toast " The Health of the Nevvly-Appninted Grand Wardens and other Grand Officers , both Present and Past , " remembering those who have done good service , as well as paying honour to those who are

to do it in the future , and I beg to couple with it the name of the noble Lord Kensington , who has to-day accepted the great and important office cf Senior Grand Warden in Grand Lodge . ( Cheers . ) Lord Kensington : Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master and Brethren , in obedience to the commands of the Pro Grand Master I rise to return thanks for the toast which

has just been proposed by him , and which you have just so kindly received , namely , the toast of the Grand Officers , Past and Present , of Grantl Lodge . I venture to think that I labour under some disadvantage in rising on this occasion to return thanks for the toast . In the first place , this is the first time I have had the honour of being present in Grand Lotlge ; in the secontl place , I am afraid I must

lay myself open to the charge of showing some disrespect to the Worshipful Pro Grand Masttr , by being compellel lo turn my back on him while I address you ( a laugh ) ; but I assure you when I look round and see so many officers , Past and Present , in the lodge , who would have returned thanks in a much more able manner than I can , I almost begin to think I wish the Pro Grantl Mater

might have made a belter choice antl selection in calling on some one else to return thanks for this toast ; but I hope , when I return thanks for those whose spokesman I am on this occasion , as well as for myself , for the great honour conferred on me in placing me in the Senior Grand Warden ' s chair—I say I hope , in thanking you for that honour , I may also say the province to which I belong

claim some honour to themselves as belonging to the Western Division of South Wales , on my being placed in the office of Senior Warden in Grand Lodge . ( Cheers . ) The Pro Grantl Master has referred to thc duties that devolve on the officers of Grand Lodge . I for one shall lay those words to heart , and those who hold office in conjunction with me 1 am sure will do the same , and the

best assurance I can give you ( and these are no idle words ) is this , that my brother officers and myself will take our examples from those who preceded us in the offices we have the honour to hold ( cheers ) , and we hope that when our year of office has expired we shall not be found wanting , but that we shall have discharged our duties to the satisfaction of the Most Worshipful Grand Master and

the Pro Grand Master of this Grantl Lodge . I beg to express my cordial thanks to the Pro Grand Master for the terms in which he has proposed this toast , and to you , brethren , for the kind manner in which you have received it . ( Cheers . ) The Rev . C . J . Martyn : In proposing the toast which it is a pleasure to me to propose I shall be very short ;

but I venture to think that the toast I have the honour to propose by command of the Pro Grand Master is emphatically the toast of the evening , because it is the toast of the Masonic Charities . ( Cheers . ) I will not detain you with statistics of the Girls , or Boys , or the Old Men and Women , but I hope in the coming year you will try and see if you can put your hands in your pockets and

help to support the Masonic Charities . ( Cheers . ) Wilh this toast I beg to couple the name of Bro . Hedges . ( Hear , hear . ) Bro . Hedges : My Lord and Brethren , in rising to respond to this toast , I cannot but be most deeply sensib ' le of the honour conferred upon the Charities of our Order by this very kindly recognition on the part of the Grand

Lodge of England , and while thanking you for the very cordial manner ii * . which you have received this toast , I feel it a great privilege to be allowed this opportunity of expressing my gratitude to the Craft at large for the very liberal support which they at all times have extended to our Chaiities . In view , my lord , of the approaching festival of the Girls' School , which takes place on the 14 th

of the coming month , on which occasion I have the honour to announce that our much esteemed newly-elected Grand Treasurer , Col . Creaton , has kindly consented to preside , I can only express my confidence that it will , as ir . the past , but afford another proof of thc interest at all times taken by the Craft in that institution , ' and that on the occasion of its 91 st anniversary we shall have the honour anil pleasure to record another great success for the

Masonic chanties . ( Applause . ) The Rev . R . J . Simpson : My Lord and Brethren , I have been asked to propose a toast , which , however humble among the toasts of the evening , is a toast readily proposed , and inasmuch as the Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master has proposed many toasts , and is almost physically incapable of proposing this , I beg to propose " The Health of the Grand Stewards , and Bro . Mackintosh , the

Grand Festival.

Treasurer of the Grand Stewards . " I am sure that this is a toast that requires no speech , more particularly aa you will prefer the duty we are going to perform , by joining the ladies at the concert in the Temple , to the speech from which you are likely to escape . Bro . Dr . Mackintosh : My Lord and Brethren , at this late hour of the evening it would be unwise in me to

detain you with any long speech in reply to the toast which has just been proposed . I trust that the number of the brethren who had appeared before us this evening is a sufficient guarantee that they are pleased with the trouble we have taken in order to provide them with a comfortable banquet ; and , sir , we return you our most grateful thanks for the honour you have accorded us in having presided on

this occasion . We are sure that on any future occasion , should that be our privilege , we shall spend as pleasant and happy an evening as we have to-night . ( Cheers . ) The company then adjourned to the Temple , where a grand concert vvas given . The ladies and gentlemen who performed were Miss Jose Sherrington , Matlame Antoinette Sterling , Mr . Vernon Rigby , Mr . Coates , Bro . A . Lester , Bro .

H . Taylor , Bro . Chaplin Henry , Mr . Lewis Thomas , Mr . Fountain Meen , and Bro . Wilhelm Kuhe , under the direction of Bro . C . E . Willing , Grand Organist . The whole of the arrangements for the evening reflected the greatest credit on the Board of Stewards , who were Bros . G . Findlay , 197 , President ; Charles T . Kingsford , 58 , Sec ; Hugh R . Mackintosh , M . D ., 4 , Treas . ; Edward

Fenner , 1 ; Thomas Grcetham , 2 ; Frederick Newton , 3 ; William T . Marriott , Q . C , 6 ; John T . C . Wmkfi . Id , 8 ; Charles H . Turner , 14 ; John Knight Stead , 21 ; Robert Douglas , 23 ; William Fickus , 26 ; Spencer John Herepath , 29 ; James H . Vaughan , 46 ; Thomas Stovvard , 60 ; Thos . Robert Marshall , 91 ; Edward Caffin , 99 ; and John Aird , 250-Bro . James Hayho was toast master .

Ar00203

REPORTS , etc ., intended for insertion in current number , should reach , the Office , ( 198 , Fleet-street ) , by 6 o ' clock p . m ., on "Wednesdays .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Craft J-Hasonrg . KOYAL ALBERT LODGE ( No . 907 ) . —The installation meeting of the above lodge took place on Monday the 2 ist ult ., at Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen-street , Bro . F . A . White being the Installing Officer for the second time in succession . The lodge was opened by Bro . White , who has this year occupied the chair under peculiar cir - cumstances , and was supported by the following officers

and vi'itors : Bros . R . Jennings , S . W ., and W . M elect ; G . T . Barr , J . W . ; W . H . Farnfield , Sec . and P . M . ; J . A . Farnfield , Treas . and P . M . ; T . Butt , S . D . ; W . Wordley , J . D . ; H . J . Lewis , D . C . and P . M . ; S . P . Moore , J . Dennis , T . Griffiths , antl T . Hastings Miller , Past Masters . Bro . F . Cozens presided at the organ , and among the visitors were Bros . F . Binckes , Secretary of Boys' School ; E . P .

Albert , P . M . 192 , and P . G . P . Eng . ; G . Anderson , S . W . Go , and G . S . Eng . ; C Coupland , P . M . 913 , and P . P . G . J . W . Kent ; T . G . Day , P . M . 107 C , and P . G . Sup . of Works Essex ; T . Saunders , P . M . 912 ; C . S . S . Salmon , P . M . 173 ; J . W . George , P . M . 1309 ; F . Bartram , P . M . 754 : E . Kent , P . M , 177 ; J . Lancaster , S . D . c ^ ; J . Chinnery , S . W . 145 ; T . Bates , I . G . 1716 ; E . ] . Marner ,

16 73 ; H . S . Harris 5 6 9 ; W . E . Ruddle , 158 9 ; J . F . Puddon , 1608 ; J . H . Mance , 180 ; J . Judge , 1178 ; H . Good , 1874 ; J . S . Johnson , 174 ; F . W . Farnfield , 256 ; L . Potts , J . W . 1716 ; J . W . King , I . G . 905 ; F . Buffen , 28 ; C . S . Boardman , 212 ; and C . Jolly , 913 ( Freemason ) . The lodge having been opened in due form and the minutes of the last meeting confirmed , the lodge was opened to the

Second Degree , antl Bro . Jennings was presented , in appropriate terms , by Bro . Dennis to the Installing Officer for the benefit of installation . The ancient charges having been assented to , Bro . Jennings was presented to a Boarel of Installed Masters , and with the usual honours placed in the chair of K . S . He then proceeded to invest his officers

as follows : —Bros . Barr , Senior Warden ; Butt , J . VV . ; W . H . Farnfield , Sec ; J . Farnfield , Treas . ; Snelgrove , S . D . ; Wordley , J . D . ; Lewis , D . C . ; Cozens , Org . -, Panter , I . G . ; and Harrison , Tyler . The charges were given by Bro . White magnificently , every word being clearly articulated and eloquently rendered ; the applause greeting our brother at the conclusion was both warm and

unanimous . A vote of thanks , to be inscribed upon the minutes of the lodge , was then voted him , and he returned thanks suitably . The Wge having been closed in due form , a move vvas then made to the banquet , which having been discussed , the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and heartily responded to . To that of " Lord Skelmersdale , and the rest of the Grand Officers , " Bro . Albert , in

response , said he rose with a great deal of p leasure to respond to the toast , but with a great deal of diffidence , because in speaking of the Grand Officers of England , and for them , he spoke of himself as one of them , and it was no easy task so to speak as not to appear egotistical . But he could say that the work of the Grand Officers was willingly done . They took a deep interest in the welfare

of the Crafr . He was especially proud to have been present that day , because it vvas a great pleasure and pride for him to see the prosperity of the lotlge , and to be present at an installation ceremony so well and ably conducted . ( Cheers . ) On behalf of the Grand Officers , more especially Bros . Atulerson , Binckes , and himself , he begged to thank them heartily for the toast . Bro . White proposed "Thc Health of the W . M . " He said that having had