The Freemasons And The Birth Of The Royal Prince.

THE FREEMASONS AND THE BIRTH OF THE ROYAL PRINCE .

A special Grand Lodge was held this ( Friday ) alternoon at freemasons ' Hall . The Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master , the Karl of Lathom , presided . He . had the Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master , the Karl of Mount Kdgcumbe , on his right hand , and Bro . W . W . B . Beach acting as Past Grand' Master ; Sir Francis Beilby Alston , K . C . M . G ., S . G . Warden

in 1850 , acted as S . G . \ V ., and Bro . the Rt . Hon . Aretas Akers-Douglas , M . P ., P . G . W ., as J . G . W . Among other brethren present were Bros . T . F . Halsey , M . P . ; Sir Albert Woods ( Garter ) , Lord Euston , E . Terry , Cama , I ol . Noel Money , W . B . Coltman , F . A . Philbrick , O . C . ; T . L . Wilkinson : fames Terry , Sec . R . M . B . I . ; together with a large number of other Grand Officers .

After Grand Lodge had been opened in ample form , Bro . E . LETCHWORTH Grand Secretary , read the summons convening the meeting , and then announced that he had received letters expressing extreme regret at being unable to be present at this special meeting of Grand Lodge from the Earl of Dartmouth , Lord Skelmersdale , and a large number of Grand Officers , and also of Masters and Wardens of lodges .

The Earl of LATHOM , in moving the address , said : Brethren , —I have summoned this Special Grand Lodge , as you h ive heard , for the purpose of resolving upon addresses of congratulation on the auspicious birth of the Royal Prince , son of their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York , grandson of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and of her Royal Hig hness the Princess of Wales , and great grandson of her Most Gracious

Majesty the Oueen . I should like to remind you that this is the first time in the history , not only of our country , but I believe also of any other kingdom or dynasty of Europe , that a direct descendant of the fourth generation has been born to the grand-parent , and that during the life of the great grand-parent , and who we all rejoice to think is still alive . ( Applause ) . It is , therefore , a most unique favour , and I feel that the addresses of congratulation will be

voted by acclamation , for I know that the great hearts of Masons , wherever the British flag flies will have throbbed with a feeling of joy and thankfulness when they heard of the birth of the hope of the kingdom . Every one also will rejoice at the great pleasure the event must have given to the whole of the Royal Family , and especiall y to her Majesty the Queen , and also to the Grand Master and the Princess of Wales who

reign in al ) our hearts , and whose griefs we trust will be soothed by this advent of a great grandson to the Queen . I have now to ask you to join in these addresses of congratulations most heartily , and to unite with them our hearty good wishes for the speedy recovery of her Royal Highness the Duchess of York . I will now read you the draft of the address to her Majesty the Queen , and also to the Prince of Wales .

To the Queen ' s Most Excellent Majesty . May it please your Majesty , We , your Majesty ' s most loyal and faithful subjects , the Free and Accepted Masons under the United Grand Lodge of England , desire , humbly and

respectfully . jo approach your Majesty with the expression of our warmest and most dutifu l congratulations on the auspicious birth of a son and heir to his Royal Highness the Dukeof York and her Royal Highness the Duchess of York—an event which has brought joy and gladness to the hearts of all your Majesty ' s subjects throughout the world .

Of these none are more loyal and devoted to the Reignine House , of which your Majesty is the beloved and revered head , than the Freemasons of this Empire , and to them the birth of the young Prince in the direct line of succession to the throne , is a source of heartfelt satisfaction and happiness .

We pray the Almighty that He may be pleased to preserve the precious life of your Majesty for many years , and that it may be given to your Majesty to svitness the growth of the Royal Prince , destined hereafter to succeed to the glorious heritage of which your Majesty is now , and we trust maybe for many years to come , the possessor .

1 , v f , n s P ec'al Grand Lodge at Freemasons' Hall , London , this 6 th day of July . 1894 . . ¦**

LATHOM , Pro Grand Master . I ' . A . PHILBRICK , Grand Registrar . ., Moi'NT EniicUMHH , Dep . Grantl Master r . ow . LETCHWORTH , Grand Secretary . r ° 1 * ' * ; Rojal Highness , Albert Edward Prince of Wales , K . G ., wc , & c , hc , kc Most Woishipful the Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England .

b iK . - 'he Pro Grand Master , Deputy Grand Master , Grand Officers , and relhren in special communication assembled desire most respectfully to offer to { . ' ° y . * ' Hi ghness as the head of our Order , our hearty and sincere congratu-Yo J ' ° j b ' ° * a son and heir t 0 y ° x , r R ° y al H'ghness ' s son the Duke of feel ' f t 0 - ( x P . ess for ourselves and on behalf of the entire Fraternity the u ,:. | n sa , ' sfa < "tion and joy which this happy event has caused to us in common with all our fellow subjects in the realm .

The Freemasons And The Birth Of The Royal Prince.

The sentiments of loyal attachment to the throne and to the Royal Family svhich happily prevail throughout the kingdom , are held hy no class of the community svith greater unanimity and concord than by the ancient Fraternity over which your Royal Highness has so long and auspiciously presided , and svhich , in recent years has so signally increased and prospered .

That the Great Architect of the Universe may be pleased to preserve and bless the Royal Infant born in direct course of descent to the great heritage of the affection of a free and united nation , and that your Royal Highness may long liveto preside over our Order is our most earnest and heartfelt prayer . Given in Special Grand Lodge , at Freemasons' Hall , London , this 6 th day of

July , 18 94 . LATHOM , Pro Grand Alaster . F . A . PHILBRICK , Grand Registrar . MOUNT Eot-cmnsE , Dep . Grand Alaster Ensv . LKTCHSVORTH , Grand Secretary .

I nosv formally move that these addresses be engrossed and presented in due course to her Majesty and the Prince of Wales . ( Applause . ) The Earl of MOINT EDGCI ' MBE : Mjst Worshipful Pro Grand Master and Brethren , —I need add nothing to what has been said , and so well said by the Pro Grand Master , upon a subject which , as one of the addresses expresses it , is a matter of heartfelt rejoicing , not only to all the members of

our Craft , but to all the subjects of the Queen . Loyalty and affection to her Majesty and our Grand Master , and , may I add , to our country as well , combine to make us join in these addresses , knowing that the event to which they refer is one which is not only of ordinary interest to the Royal personages to whom our congratulations are offered , but to the long stability of our national institutions , and which we hope will for _ many many years to come last under the guidance of the Great ! Architect of

the Universe and be a blessing to our country when our children ' s children are grown up . I feel sure that there is not a Mason present here in this hall , or one outside its walls among the many thousands represented by this Grand Lodge , who will not feel that the words of those addresses you have heard read express his own feelings , his own words , and his own hopes . Therefore I have not the slig htest hesitation in seconding the motion of the Most Worship ful Pro Grand Master that those addresses be presented to the Oueen and the Prince of Wales .

Bro . W . F . LAMONBY : AS a Past Grand Officer of the Victorian Constitution may 1 be permitted to say that the graceful words which have fallen from the Pro Grand Master and the Deputy Grand Master will , I am confident , be received and echoed through the whole of the Colony of Victoria . The brethren composing lhat Grand Lodge are not forgetful that his Royal Highness the Grand'Master is the Grand Patron of Victorian Masonry . The motion was then unanimousl y agreed to , and Grand I . odge was r . losed in ample form . The Mark Masons will hold a meeting with a similar object nexl Thursday .

Consecration Of The Sir Walter St. John Lodge, No. 2513.

CONSECRATION OF THE SIR WALTER ST . JOHN LODGE , No . 2513 .

The latest addition to the roll of the Order took place on Thursday , the 28 th ult ., at the Surrey Masonic Hall , Camberwell , when the above lodge was consecrated by Bro . E . Letchworth , P . G . D ., G . Secretary , assisted by Bros . Perceval Nairne , P . G . D ., as S . W . ; Frederick Hilton , A . G . P ., as I . W . ; Rev . 1 . S . Brownrigg , P . G . C , as Chap . ; F . Richardson , P . G . D .,

as D . C . ; and R . J . Voisey , P . M ., as LG . The founders are all members of St . John ' s College , Battersea , viz ., Bros , Vincent T . Murche , P . M ., M . E . Z ., W . M . designate ; John J . White , P . M ., S . W . designate ; J . Moore-Smith , J . W . designate ; R . F . Macdonald , Rev . St . Clare Hill , G . Collar , T . E . Dexter , Arthur C . Rogers , and F . W . Westaway .

The visitors were—Bros . F . J . Morphy , D . D . G . M . Argentine Republic ; Thos . Roe , P . M . 1641 ; H Hardman , P . M . 606 , Sec . 1329 ; R . Elgar ; G . Lewis Henderson , 1641 Boulton , I . P . M . 229 , P . S . G . D . Essex ; R . C . Davis , P . M . 2266 ; A . Pellew 1963 ; J . Osterstock , W . M . 2266 ; J . Hill , P . M . 1658 , P . P . G . S . B . Surrey ; W House , 2182 ; J . Thornhill , W . M . 1329 ; S . Hague , P . M . 2033 , P . G . D . of C Middx . ; R . L Vincent , W . M . 1641 ; C . V . Burgess , P . M . 206 , W . M . 2369 ; G

E . King , S . W . 1641 ; W . M . Mallinson , 1329 ; Geo . Rankin , 1641 ; W . H Harper , W . M . 2182 ; C . J . Hayes , S . W . 147 s ; C . H . Stone , P . M . 507 ; Wm , Donaldson , S . W . 1963 ; B . C . Hastrell , 1963 ; G . Gill , P . M . 1963 ; Hy . Sadler , Grand Tyler ; F . W . Williams , P . M . 101 ; W . T . Berry ; R . Greenwood , P . M . 1641 ; G . M . Hamilton , P . M . 1641 and 1446 ; Dr . Wm . Cock , P . M . 1597 , P . P . G . S . B . Middx . ; Wm . Briant , J . D . 1641 ; E . Roberts , 1348 ; W . A . Learning , 1963 ; H . Wakerell , 1963 ; W . J . Spratling , 2033 ; W . T . Snell , S . D . 1818 and Whiteman , Tyler .

The lodge was opened , and the CONSECRATING OFFICER addressing the brethren in a few appropriate remarks , said that it was almost unnecessary to account for his attendance , but considering the welfare of the Craft , and the application of several worthy brethren to H . R . H . the Prince

of Wales , M . W . G . M ., to grant a warrant to found a new lodge , to be called the Sir Walter St . John Lodge , his Royal Highness had most graciousl y acceded to the request , and he was present to consecrate and dedicate the same . The founders were charged with a most solemn duty—that of educating the young , and he was sure their duty would as faithfully be