Ireland.

lord justice Fitzgibbon , the Lord Mayor , Rev . Dr . Fuller , Mr . W . F . Wells , Mr . W . Fry , jun ., Mr . Oliver Fry , Dr . Harley , Lady Meredith , the Lady Mayoress , Miss Grant , and Miss Jones . At the conclusion of the ceremony , the DEP . G . M . again approached her Maiesty and said : I humbly thank your Majesty , on behalf of the

Freemasons of Ireland , for this gracious visit to our Orphan bchools . Her Majesty displayed great interest in the children , and was very gracious in her demeanour towards the little ones . The Oueen asked how many children were in the institution , and Sir lames gave the desired particulars , adding that they were all orphan children of Freemasons .

Miss Marion Vance , " the best girl" in the school , and winner of first Scripture prize in Ireland , accompanied by Miss Lily Flood , the youngest child in the institution , presented her Majesty with a bouquet of choice flowers , which the Queen smilingly accepted , and thanked the young

donors in a very gracious manner . The National Anthem was then sung , and the Royal party drove away amid the hearty cheers of the great crowd .

The Queen And The Grand Lodge Of Ireland.

THE QUEEN AND THE GRAND LODGE OF IRELAND .

The Grand Lodge of Ireland met in Special Communication on the 3 rd ult ., to take into consideration the terms of a loyal address-to be submitted to her Majesty during her visit to Ireland , on behalf of the Irish Craft . Bro . Sir James Creed Meredith , D . G . M ., was in the chair , supported by the Grand Officers and a large and enthusiastic concourse of brethren , who heartily united in singing the National Anthem before separating .

The following address was unanimously adopted and carried by acclamation : THE FREEMASONS OF IRELAND .

To THE QUEEN ' S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY . May It please your Majesty , We , the Freemasons of Ireland , in Grand Lodge assembled , venture with the most profound respect to offer to your Majesty a right loyal and most hearty welcome upon the occasion of your Majesty ' s present visit to this portion of the United Kingdom . We remember with gratification that it has been our

privilege upon many former occasions to address your Majesty and to assure your Majesty of our unsweving loyalty and attachment to our beloved Sovereign . We can assure your Majesty that when his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales stated in the Albert Hall , in 1897 , upon the celebration of your Majesty ' s Diamond Jubilee , his Royal Highness ' s conviction that your Majesty had not amongst your Majesty ' s subjects any body of men more

loyally devoted to your Majesty than the brethren of the Masonic Fraternity , we felt that we , as Irish Freemasons , were justly entitled to regard ourselves as included within the class towards which his Royal Highness was expressing himself in such welcome , but at the same time may we venture to add , such well-deserved words . We , as Freemasons , have been taught to reverence and revere our Sovereign , and it affords us no small gratification to remind vour Maiesty that many of your Majesty's illustrious ancestors have been

membersof the Masonic . Brotherhood , and that the Craft in England has the advantage of having had as its Grand Master for many years past his Royal Hig hness the Prince of Wales , and that many other of your Majesty ' s descendants have been enrolled in the ranks of Masonry . We humbly pray that your Majesty may continue to enjoy all happiness and prosperity , and that your Majesty ' s visit to Ireland upon this occasion may not only afford pleasure and gratification

to your Majesty , but may mark a new era for your Majesty s loyal subjects . Her Majesty paid the Irish Fraternity the compliment of including their address among those specially selected for personal presentation . Accordingly , the address was presented on the iSth ult . to the Queen in person by his Grace the Duke of Abercorn , K . G ., G . Master , and Sir James Creed Meredith , Dep . G . Master , who had the honour of kissing hands , in conformity with ancient custom . The address , was beautifully engrossed and embellished by Bro . McConnell , of Dublin .

Past Grand Officers.

PAST GRAND OFFICERS .

The following is a list of the brethren upon whom the rank of Past Grand Officer was conferred at the meeting of United Grand Lodge on Wednesday , the 25 th ult ., together with particulars of the services they have severally rendered to Freemasonry 1

PAST GRAND WARDENS . Major-General Sir K . M . L . RUNULE , K . C . B ., K . C . M . G .. D . S . O ., who is in command of one of the Divisions of the Army now operating under Bro . Lord Roberts in South Africa , joined—strangely enough—the Transvaal Lodge , No . 1747 , which meets in Pretoria , capital of the Transvaal Republic , from a lodge

in the Mauritius , on the 25 th March , 1880 . In May , 1893 , he was elected a joining number of the Grecia Lodge , No . 1105 , Cairo , and served the office of S . W . in 18 9 6 . In 1897 he joined the Bulwer Lodge , No . 1068 , Cairo , and was almost immediately afterwards elected and installed its W . Master . He is a Life Governor of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys .

Major-General Sir F . R . WINGATE , K . C . B ., K . C . M . G ., D . S . O ., who , on the selection of Lord Kitchener of Khartoum to be Chief of the Staff to Field-Marshal Lord Roberts , Commanding-in-chief in South Africa , was appointed Sirdar of the Egyptian Army and Governor-General of the Soudan , wa ? initiated in the Lodge St . John Kilwinning , Kirkintillock , No . 28 on the roll of the Grand

Lodge of Scotland , and the following year joined the Felix Lodge , Aden , No . 355 under same Constitution . In March , 1891 , he affiliated to the Grecia Lodge , Cairo , No . 1105 under the English Constitution , and in January , 1892 , was installed its W . Master . He is also a Royal Arch Mason , having been exalted in the Bulwer Chapter , No . 1068 , Cairo , in January , 1890 , and has been perfected Rose Croix , 18 , of the Ancient and Accepted Rite .

PAST GRAND CHAPLAIN . Bro , the Rev . Canon GARRY , M . A ., Honorary Canon of Christ Church , Oxford , Rector of Taplow—formerly Vicar of St . Mary ' s , Reading—and Rural Dean of Burnharn , was initiated in the Union Lodge , No . 414 , Reading , on the 24 th April , 1876 , and was installed in the chair of W . M . in 1893 . In I 8 SI , he

Past Grand Officers.

was honoured with the appointment of Prov . Grand Chaplain in the late Prov . Grand Lodge of Berks and Bucks , and , in 1894 , with that of Prov . S . G . Warden Berks . He was exalted a Royal Arch Mason in the Union Chapter , No . 414 , Reading , on the 19 th October , 1877 , and , in 1881 , was appointed Prov . G . Registrar Berks and Bucks . He is also a Life Governor and has served once as Steward for our three Charitable Institutions .

PAST DEPUTY GRAND REGISTRAR . Bro . W . R . MCDONNELL , Q . C , J . P ., D . L ., Chairman of the County of London Court of Quarter Sessions , was initiated in the Northern Bar Lodge , No . 1610 , on the 17 th June , 1876 , and in 1885 was installed W . M . In 1884 he became one of the founders of the University of London Lodge , No . 2033 , and has since had the honour of presiding over it as W . M .

PAST GRAND DEACONS . Bro . Sir ALFRED J AMES NEWTON , Bart ., Right Hon . the Lord Mayor of London , was initiated in the Humber Lodge , No . 57 , Hull , on the 2 nd July , 1872 . In October , 1880 , he was elected a joining member of the Abbey Lodge , No . 624 , Burton-on-Trent , and in 1897 was a founder of the Alfred Newton Lodge , No .

2686 , so named in honour of his lordship . He was also one of the founders of the Grafton Lodge , No . 2347 , and had the pleasure of being installed in its ' chair as W . M . in 1891 . He is a Life Subscriber of the Girls' School , a Life Governor of the Benevolent Institution , and a Life Governor and once Steward of the Boys ' School .

Bro . the Rev . ARNOLD WHITAKER OXFORD , M . A ., M . D ., was initiated in the Polish National Lodge , No . 534 , on the gth December , 1886 , and has since distinguished himself in the several branches of Freemasonry with which he has become connected . On the 28 th March , 1887 , he was elected a joining member of Royal Somerset House and Inverness Lodge , No . 4 , and in February , 1891 , he was installed W . M . In 1896 , he took a very prominent part in founding the

London School Board Lodge , No . 2611 , and had the honour of being installed its first W . M . In Royal Arch Masonry , to which he was exalted in the St . Albans Chapter , No . 59 , he ranks as P . Z ., having presided over the Royal Somerset House and Inverness Chapter , No . 4 , as First Principal in 18 93-4 , and . over St . Albans Chapter , No . 29 , in 1894-5 . In 1897 , he had . conferred upon him the rank of Past Asst . G . Sojourner . In Mark Masonry he is Past Grand Chaplain of Grand Lodge , having been appointed to that office in 1893 . In the Order of the

Temple , he is a member and Past E . P . of St . George ' s Preceptory , No . 6 , and a member of the St . Michael ' s Preceptory , No . 195 , and having served as G . Almoner of G . Priory in 1898 , is now G . Prelate . In the Order of Rome and the Red Cross of Constantine , he is G . High Prelate of the Imperial Grand Council , and in the Ancient and Accepted Rite received the 31 ° in 18 97 , and is a Past M . W . S . of Studholme Rose Croix Chapter , No . 67 . As regards our Institutions , he is a Life Governor and has served two Stewardships for the Benevolent Institution , and is a Life Governor and once Steward for each of our Schools .

Bro . the Rev . HARRY A . HEBB , M . A ., formerly of Queen ' s College , Oxon , who for the last 10 years has rendered such signal services in the position of Head Master of the Boys' School , was initiated in the St . George ' s Lodge , No . 112 , Exeter , on the 13 th November , 1880 . In 1883 he joined the Union Lodge , No . 444 , Starcross , and was installed W . M . in 1885 , having in the intermediate year been honoured with the appointment of Prov . G . Chaplain of Devonshire . He is also a member oi the United Northern Counties Lodge , No . 2128 , which

he joined in 1896 . He was exalted a Royal Arch Mason in the Orpheus Chapter , No . 1706 , on the 17 th January , 1891 , and having subsequently joined the St . Thomas Chapter , No . 142 , was elected and installed M . E . Z . in 1895 . He is a Life Governor and has served three Stewardships for the Boys' School , and a Life Governor and once Steward tor the Benevolent Institution , while two of his daughters have served as Stewards for the Boys' School , and are Life Governors , and one is a Life Governor of the Girls' School .

Bro . THOMAS YOUNO STRACHAN has been a member of our Society for close on 38 years , and during that period has won high distinction in the ranks of Northumbrian Masonry . He was initiated in the St . Hilda Lodge , No . 240 , South Shields , Durham , on the 14 th July , 1862 , and in November of the same year joined the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Lodge , No . 24 , and in December , 1869 , had the honour of being installed its W . M . In the interim—in April , 1863—he joined the

Northern Counties Lodge , No . 406 , Newcastle-on-Tyne , and in 1865 was installed in the chair , while in November , 1868 , he joined the Northumberland Lodge , No . 685 , and two years later was chosen to preside over it as W . M . More recentlyin 1890—he has joined the British Lodge , No . 8 , which he represented on the Board of Giand Stewards in 1895-6 , and in February , 1897 , was installed in the Master ' s

chair . In the Prov . Grand Lodge he has served successively as Prov . G . Steward ( 1863 ) , Prov . G . D . ( 1865 ) , Prov . G . W . ( 1869 ) , and Prov . G . Reg . ( 1873 and 1874 ) . In Royal Arch Masonry he ranks as P . Z ., having been exalted in the De Sussex Chapter , No . 406 , Newcastle , in December , 1863 , and installed its M . E . Z . in 1868 . He is a Life Governor of our three Institutions , and has served three Stewardships for each of the Schools , and two for the Benevolent Institution .

Bro . Major G . C . DAVIE , who , as Dep . Prov . G . Master , is the right hand man of Lord Northcote , Prov . G . Master of Devonshire , and in his lordship ' s absence rules the province , was appointed Grand Asst . Director of Ceremonies in Grand Lodge and G . Standard Bearer of Supreme Grand Chapter in 1893 , and now has the honour of being promoted to the rank of Past G . Deacon . The promotion is well deserved , as there are few brethren who have laboured more

zealously and successfully to promote the welfare of the Craft . Bro . Davie has been the central figure in many important functions in Masonry , and is also Provincial Prior of Knights Templar for Devonshire , of which Order he is also a Knight Commander and Past 2 nd Great Constable . He is likewise a Pint M . W . S . of the St , Swithin Chapter Rose Croix , No . 115 , Bideford , and has taken the 31 under the Supreme Council 33 of the A . and A . Rite . He is Chairman

of the Committee of Petitions for Charity of the Province , a member of the Committee of the Fortescue Annuity Fund , Vice-President of the Devon Masonic Educational Fund , a Life Governor and Past Steward of the Boys' School , and a Life Governor of the Widows' Fund of the Benevolent Institution . The other particulars of his career will be found in the record of the brethren appointed to Grand Office in 1893 .

Bro . CHARLES BELTON , who was appointed Deputy G . D . C . in Grand Lodge and Grand Standard Bearer in Supreme Grand Chapter in 1889 , is now promoted to be Past Grand Deacon . He was Prov . S . G . W . of Surrey in 1887 ; is a K . C . T ., and has been Great Marshal of Great Priory in the Order of the Temple since 18 94 ; a Past G . M . O . in the Mark Degree j Prov . G . Treas . in the Prov . Grand Lodge and Chapter for London and the Metropolitan Counties in the Royal Order of Scotland ; Deputy G . Master of the Allied Degrees ; Intendant General Berks and Bucks ; Order of Rome and Red Cross of Constantine ; and in 189 S ,