The Late Duke Of Clarence And Avondale.

he could only say that they felt the loss caused by the death of the Duke of Clarence as if it had been one of themselves living * in their midst . The brethren of that city and that province had always " been supremely loyal to the Throne , and they now joined with deep sincerity in this expression of condolence . The addresses wcre adopted in silence .

The P ROV . GRAND MASTER said he took that opportunity of proposing that a vote of condolence be forwarded to thc widow and famil y of the late Grand Secretary , Colonel Shadwell H . Gierke . In his death he had lost a personal friend , one whom he esteemed most thoroughly . Deceased had had thc welfare of Masonry at heart and died in harness , creating a loss which it would indeed bc difficult to fill . The motion was seconded by Bro . R . WYLIE , and adopted . The Prov . Grand Lodae was then closed .

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND .

A special meeting of thc above Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Leicester , on Saturday last , the 30 th ult ., by command of the Provincial Grand Master , to consider and resolve upon an address of condolence with his Royal Highness the Grand Master , on thc muchregretted death of his eldest son , H . R . H . the Duke of Clarence and

Avondale , K . G ., Provincial Grand Master of Berkshire , Past Grand Warden . ¦ 'fhe meeting was very numerously attended , and in the absence of the Provincial Grand Master , was presided over b y Bro . S . S . Partridge , thc Deputy Provincial Grand Master , who was supported by a large number of present and past Provincial Grand Officers .

The Provincial Grand Lodge having been opened , and thc summons convening the meeting read ; the Deputy Provincial Grand Master in suitable terms proposed that the following address of condolence should be adopted and presented to his Roval Highness the Grand Master :

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND . TO his Royal Highness Albert Edward Prince of Wales , K . G ., & c , & c , & c , Most Worshipful Grand Master of English Freemasons . May it please your Royal Highness ,

We , the Right Honourable the Earl Ferrers , & c , & c , Provincial Grand Master for Leicestershire and Rutland , the XV . Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Wardens , and brethren in Provincial Grand Lodge assembled , humbly beg leave to assure your Royal Highness of our deep and fraternal sympathy with you in your distress .

As loyal subjects of her Majesty the Queen—Patron of our Order—we beg to say that all our hearts are touched with grief at this national bereavement occasioned by the decease of H . R . H . the Duke of Clarence and Avondale . To her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales and to all the members of the Royal Family we offer our truest and deepest sympathy , and we pray that the Great Consoler of all sorrows may ever have them in His Holy keeping and show " His loving kindness even in the grave . "

Your Royal Highness has been greatly tried of late by fire , sickness , untimely death , and the destruction of cherished hopes ; but from the depth of our sorrow we thank you , Sir , for the noble example set to us all of patience and fortitude in ' affliction .

( Signed ) FERRERS , Provincial Grand Master . Freemasons' Hall , Leicester , 30 th January , 1892 . C . HENTON WOOD ( Clerk , M . A . L P . P . S . G . W ., Prov . G . Sec .

1 he motion was seconded b y Bro . WILLIAM VIAL , P . M . 1007 , Prov . S . G . W ., and carried unanimously , after which thc Provincial Grand Lod ge was closed .

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF WEST YORKSHIRE .

A special meeting * of the Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of West Yorkshire was held in the Masonic Hall , Great George-street , Leeds , on Saturday , the 301 I 1 ult ., to consider and resolve upon addresses of condolence on the

recent death of his Royal Highness Prince Albert Victor , Duke of Clarence and Avondale , K . G ., Past Grand Warden , Sec , for presentation to her Most Gracious Majesty the Oueen and to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , K . G ., & c ., & c .

Ihe Provincial Grand Lodge having been opened , Thc Provincial Grand Master , Bro . C . LETCH MASON , addressed the brethren as follows : I feel sure , brethren , that it is not necessary for me to make an }* apology for calling- you together to-day . The melancholy event

which has occupied the minds and thoughts of not only England and Europe but thc whole civilised world of late , has been in itself such a terrible tragedy that perhaps it is unparalleled in history . Certainly the death of one young man has never been known to create such universal

sorrow and consternation as was felt when , on thc 14 th January , the announcement met us that the Duke of Clarence had passed away . In a moment differences of nations , politics , and creeds were sunk in one spontaneous outburst of loyal sympathy and affectionate regard to the Royal House of England . The periodicals of the last fortnight have been so full

of interest relative to our late Royal brother that much comment is unnecessary , still a short epitome of his life is desirable . The news that thc Innce and Princess of Wales had had a son and heir born on thc Sth January , 1864 , caused the greatest rejoicingand expressions of congratu-1 1 ¦ ki wi oiuiiii ) MIIVJ WillbJJIVi mt \ \ LLt tlLL

, - - — --. — - ^ - ^••vv- ' . -- ' -. . I SI < mJI I ** . 'ition poured in from all countries . He was never reall y robust , and a er spending his earl y years at Sandringhani he was sent to sea , ai ] d this appears to have had a strengthening effect on his con-; stitulion . At n , n „ r .. ,... 7 , ... . ..... ' *• At tc ig of he entered l cadet

- ,, , . ,, --e 13 as a nava ; *¦ the BriUania , and two years later he and liis brother made their > ,. rsl voyap lo various parts of the world in the Bacchante , thereby acquir-* to ^ T •VanCd cducati 01 * so essential for princes and kings . He went in 188 5 l » t \ y Collcg-c , Cambrid ge , and the pleasing speech he made a year or * ' Dle-i '" rcfcrencc t 0 his s ' 'y -it College , shows what lively and ¦ ** ,. ; sant recollections he entertained of Cambridge . From College he

The Late Duke Of Clarence And Avondale.

passed to the study of military science at Aldershot , where it is thought he ound the most enjoyable part of his education . Unaffected simplicity and affable gentleness were the chief traits in thc Duke ' s character , and tended to make him so immensely popular wherever he went , for whether as midshipman , undergraduate , or soldier , he exhibited that charmingly modest

and courteous bearing which typifies a true English gentleman . After his coining of age , which time was marked by gay festivities of every description , he made his first appearance in public when he opened the Whittington Home for Boys at Whitechapel , and the few hearty and encouraging words he addressed to the lads on that occasion showed what an affectionate

feeling he entertained for the welfare of his fellow creatures . He was initiated into Masonry on the 17 th March , 18 S 5 , in the Royal Alpha Lodge , No . 16 , by his father , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , and in the presence of a brilliant gathering of thc Craft ; " Passed " on thc 7 th May in the Lodge of Friendship , No . 100 , and " Raised" on the Sth June in the Isaac Newton University Lodge , No . 859 , Cambridge . He was made Grand Warden of

England in 1887 , being the Jubilee year of our Most Gracious Sovereign Queen Victoria , and installed Provincial Grand Master of Berkshire in May , 1 S 90 . He was advanced to the Degree of a Mark Master Masoit on the iSth June , 1885 , in the Isaac Newton University Lodge , No . 112 , Cambridge . Had his life been spared we may fairly have hoped that one who took such an active interest in Masonry would have succeeded to the highest

honours the Craft can bestow . The visit of his Royal Hi g hness to India in 1889 , an ' t ' right Royal way in which he was treated while there is still fresh in the minds of all of us . It seems to have been a most successful and enjoyable tour , particularly as the Duke was a capital shot and took the keenest interest in every kind of sport . Two short months ago the announcement of his betrothal to the fair young Princess Mary of Teck caused supreme

satisfaction , for the people of the United Kingdom were only too delighted to hail as their future "Queen an Englishwoman , endowed with an Englishwoman ' s sympathies . This was no political arrangement but a pure love match , and it was hoped by all that a long time of g ladness and useful prosperity was before the youthful couple . Hardly had the cup of happiness touched their lips than it was snatched

from them . Thc wedding bells wcre almost heard ; the bridal robe was being made , and extensive preparations of all kinds wcre in progress . The sky was bright , and all wcre rejoicing , when suddenly—awful in its suddenness—a thunder-bolt fell in our midst , which shook our earth and veiled our sun . Well may Britannia mourn over the loss of one of her brightest . hopes —of one of her most promising youths . It is not for us to decide thc length

of any man s allotted life , nor for us to say how long the creature should serve his Creator . It has been said that an early death is the reward of a good life . We must not grieve for him , our faith forbids it . Wc mourn with those dear ones who are left behind ; but if this terrible trouble which has so unexpectedly fallen on the country helps to bind Englishmen and English-speaking people together more closely in one bond of sympathetic

union and national loyalty , surely it must be some small compensation for his irreparable loss , and the seeming untimely death of our beloved brother cannot have been in vain . But bc has left us something behind—the vision of a blameless youth , the luminous trail of a fair character stamped with the highest princip les . As a united body let us add our tribute of heartfelt sympathy to those nearest and dearest to our departed brother . To our

Queen , who tells thc nation herself how keenly she feels the loss of her favourite grandson ; to our dear Grand Master and his sweet , well-beloved Princess , who mourn the death of their darling first-born , whose greatest delig ht was in his home circle ; and , lastly , for Iter , his betrothed , so near a bride , and now left to mourn the loss of a true lover . May the great universal

wave of tender sympathy from far and wide in some small measure alleviate the crushing blow the G . O . O . T . U . has seen lit , in His wisdom , to inflict upon thc Royal House of England , and may He , who alone can bind up trie broken-hearted , comfort them in their deep distress . Thc Provincial Grand Master then moved thc following addresses

;—To the Queen s Most Excellent Majesty . May it please your Majesty . We , the members of Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of West Yorkshire in Special Lodge assembled , humbly beg to approach your Majesty with expressions of deepest sympathy at the great loss your Majesty has sustained by the death of your dear grandson , H . R . H . Prince Albert Victor , Duke of Clarence and Avondale .

We humbly pray that the Great Overseer of the Universe may grant to your Majesty strength and comfort in this great trial , and vouchsafe to you continued good health , which is so dear to all your Most Gracious Majesty ' s loyal and dutiful subjects .

Given at Leeds , under the seal of our Provincial Grand Mark Lodge , thia thirtieth day of January , One thousand eight hundred and ninety-two . C . LETCH MASON , Provincial Grand Master , THOS . C . SMITH , D . D ., Deputy Provincial Grand Master , TUDOR TREVOR , Provincial Grand Secretary .

To his Royal Highness Albert Edward , Prince of Wales , K . G ., & c , & c ., & c , Sic . Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales , and the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown .

We , the members of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of West Yorkshire in Special Grand Lodge assembled , crave permission to tender to your Royal Highness and to her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales our heartfelt sympathy on the sad occasion of the death of your beloved son , H . R . H . Prince Albert Victor , Duke of Clarence and Avondale .

We are conscious of the great loss the nation has sustained and we humbly pray that the Great Overseer of the Universe may strengthen and comfort your Royal Highnesses and the members of your Royal House in this your great and severe bereavement .

Given at Leeds under the seal of our Provincial Grand Mark Lodge this thirtieth day of January , One thousand eight hundred and ninety-two . C . LETCH MASON , Prov . G . Master . THOS . C . SMYTH , D . D ., Deputy Prov . G . Master . TUDOR T REVOR . Prov . G . Secretary .

The adoption of these addresses was eloquently seconded by tho Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro . the Rev . T . C . SMYTH , I ) . I ) ., Past Grand Chaplain of England , supported by the Provincial Grand Treasurer , Bro . OXI . KY , and carried in silence , the brethren all rising and remaining standing whilst the Prov . Grand Organist , Bro . G . F . Carrs , effectively played the Dead March in "Saul" on the organ . The Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed .