Grand Conclave Of Knights Of The Red Cross Of Constantine.

GRAND CONCLAVE OF KNIGHTS OF THE RED CROSS OF CONSTANTINE .

The annual assembly of the General Conclave ofthe Knights of the Red Cross of Constantine was held on Monday , March . 3 rd , at the Freemasons' Tavein , Great Queen-street . Sir Knight Colonel Burdett occupied the throne , in the unavoidable absence , through illness , of the

Earl of Bective , M . 111 . Grand Sovereign ; J . G . Marsh , P . G . S . G ., and G . A ., as V . E . ; the Rev . C . J . Martin , G . H . Prelate ; W . E . Gumbleton , G . H . Chancellor ; R . Wentworth Little , G . Treasurer ; Dr . W . R . Woodman , G , Recorder ; James Lewis Thomas , 111 . G .

Architect ; H . C . Levander , G . H . Almoner ; A . J , Lewis , G . Orator ; J . Boyd , G . Historiographer ; T . Cubitt , G . V . Chancellor ; T . M . White ; J . T . Moss ; G . Kenning , and S . Rosensthal , G . Senators ; Sir G . E . Campbell ,

Bart ., lntendant General , Hants ; Major-General G . B . Munbee , Intendant-General , Somersetshire ; Dr . Holman , K . G . C ; D . M . Denar , K . G . C . ; the Rev . Dr . Brelle , & c * The agenda contained the following notices of business to be transacted : —

To receive the report of the Executive Committee in which the following resolutions are incorported : — That the Annual Assembly of the General Grand Conclave be held in future on the

Monday preceding the Quarterl y Communication of the Grand Lodge of England , in March . To elect a Grand Treasurer , vice Sir Knt . Hubbard , who has resigned . To elect Twelve Members of the Grand

Senate . " That , in the event of the Grand Sovereign convening Moveable Grand Conclaves , the travelling expenses of the Executive or other delegated Members of the Giand Council or Senate be defrayed out ofthe General Fund . "

" lhat a Live Governorship of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls be purchased in the name of the ] Grand Senior General for the time being . " '' That the apron be no longer required to be worn by Officers , or Past Officers of the Council and Senate , Intendants General , or Kni ghts

of the Grand Cross . " That a honorarium of Ten Guineas be presented to 111 . Sir Knt . Hubbard upon his retirement from the post of Grand Treasurer . " Sir Knt . R . Wentworth Little , P . G . R ., Acting Grand Treasurer , reports that the sum of £ ' 500 Consols is now invested to the credit of the Order , an increase of £ 200 during the year .

The Grand Recorder read the report of the Executive Committee , which stated that since the last report was presented , 22 new Conclaves had been added , making the total number 91 ; of these 14 were ranged under the banner of Pennsylvania , which was originated in 1872 ; six

were under the Grand Council of Illinois , which was originated in August last , and it said that it could but afford sincere gratification to the Grand Council of England that the Order had gained such importance in having two newly formed American Grand Conclaves . In India , Sir

Percy * Leith , and another Brother , were establishing Conclaves , where none previously existed , and Sir Knight Adlard was most energetic in the Punjab , and had established a ncw Conclave at Aden in Arabia . There was also a new Conclave at Wellington , in New Zealand , and netitions had

been received for other new ones , in England and America ; and the report generally congratulated the members on the great success whicli had attended the Order in all parts of the world . Sir Kni ght Levander moved that the report be received .

Sir Knight White seconded the motion which was put and agreed to . Sir Kni ght Little was elected Grand Treasurer , in the place of Sir Knight Hubbard , resigned . The whole of the recommendations were put seriatim , and agreed to , with the exception of

one which referred to the discontinuance of an apron being worn by the Officers and Past Officers of the Council and Senate , Intendants General , or Knights of the Grand Cross , which was negatived , and the regulation is to remain as heretofore .

Grand Conclave Of Knights Of The Red Cross Of Constantine.

The Grand Conclave was then closed in Imperial form , and the Sir Knights adjonrned for refreshment . The banquet was served in a first-rate style , and gave general satisfaction . The cloth having been cleared , grace was

sung by Miss Kate Maria Nott , Bro . Lester , and Bro . Frederick Penna , Sir Knight Henry Parker presiding at the pianoforte . The M . P . Sovereign rose anil said—There was no reason why they should depart from the usual custom of drinking , as the first toast , the

health of the Queen ; and he was sure that amongst the highest class of Freemasons that toast would be drank with the utmost enthusiasm , and therefore he would , without further preface , give "The Health of Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen and Christian Freemasonry . "

( Loud cheers . ) The National Anthem was then sung , the solo parts by Miss Kate Maria Nott , accompanied b y Sir Knight Parker on the pianoforte . The M . P . Sovereign then said he would proceed with the next toast , which he was sure

would be received with the same enthusiasm as the former , as it was the health of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales . They would , he was sure , all testify their satisfaction in drinking the toast to the health of the Prince of Wales ; for having seen their Royal Brother taking the

chair on Monday at the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution Festival , they were gratified at his looking so well . Last year his life was but trembling in the balance , for he had then just passed through that fearful crisis in which they all had

taken so deep an interest ; and great Avas their pleasure to see him recovered to health and strength . For himself he was fearful when he took up the newspaper in the morning that it should contain the announcement of a fearful

result . He had , therefore , great pleasure in proposing "The Health of Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales , and the rest of the Royal Family . " ( The toast was drunk with the utmost cordiality . )

The toast was followed by the national air " God bless the Prince of Wales . " The M . P . Sovereign said the next toast he had to propose he was sure would be well received , as it was the health of "The Most Illustrious Grand Sovereign , the Earl of Bective , " whom he greatly regretted was not present , but there was no one more than himself who resrretted his

absence . The Grand Sovereign was nearly always among them , and they were always pleased to see him , but that evening he had sent an excuse , which was that he was unable to be with them on account of ill health , and that was a reason

they would be sorry to hear why he was not there amongst them . He had no wish to unduly extol the Grand Sovereign , but he might say that he had been most beneficial to the Order in every way in his power , and they also regretted that through an unavoidable cause he was absent from them . He

would say no more , but propose " the health of the Karl of Bective , their most illustrious Sovereign . " ( Drunk with loud cheers . ) Miss Kate Note sung in exquisite style " Bid me discourse . "

The M . P . Sovereign then rose and said that they had not the pleasure of the presence of the individual Knight whose health he had now to propose , but his name was well known among them , and he believed his duties had prevented him from being present there on that evening to attend their

Red Cross meeting . The Grand Council had also exerted themselves , for it was mainly to their exertions that the Order was indebted for the high position it then held , and to those of the Grand Council whom he saw around him . He gave them , " The most Eminent Grand Viceroy , Sir

Frederick M . Williams , Bart ., M . P ., and the Past and Present Members of the Grand Council , " and hc coupled with the toast the name of Sir Kni ght Martyn . Sir Knight Martyn said he knew no reason

why his name should have been coupled with this toast , although he had done all he could for the prosperity of the Order in any way that lay in his power , and he only repeated that he had to return thanks for the toast for those who would have

done so much better than he could , and especially so , as his attendance at the meetings of the Red Cross Conclave had not been so frequent as

Grand Conclave Of Knights Of The Red Cross Of Constantine.

he wished they had been ; at the same time he had a great number of Masonic duties , as well as those connected Avith a large parish to attend to , and living 60 miles from London , he could not come among them as often as he could Avish . He was , however , at all times ready to do all he could for the advancement of Freemasonry , and

as regarded the Red Cross Degree , he loved it from his heart , and in every respect adored the great principles of the Order . In the name of the Most Illustrious Grand Viceroy and the Past and Present members of the Grand Council , he thanked them for the honour conferred upon them . ( Loud cheers . )

Sir Knight Martyn again rose and said he had to ask their indulgence in a few words he had to offer , in proposing the health of their Illustrious Sovereign , Colonel Burdett , who had presided over them that evening at a very short notice , and when it was known what he had done in that , as

well as the other Orders of Freemasonry , he was sure they would give a heartfelt reception to the toast he was about to propose , for Colonel Burdett was respected not only in his own province , but in every part of the kingdom , as he had done his utmost to promote the interests of the Order . In the

province of Middlesex the mention of his name always evoked the utmost enthusiasm , for his merits were well known and appreciated . ( The toast was most enthusiasticall y responded to . ) The Acting M . P . Sovereign said it was most r * gratifying to any one to preside over an assemblage

of Freemasons , and it was at all times gratifying to him to receive an expression of their feeling , but he must say he had never felt that so much as he had done that ni ght , for the kind manner in which the Sir Knights had received that toast , and for the position he held , perhaps unworthily , in

the absence of their Grand Sovereign . He had come amongst them that evening , without the slightest idea that he should be called upon to take a position he had filled so unworthily ( No , no . ) in the absence of the Earl of Bective , who for

so long a time had given so much satisfaction to the Sir Knights ofthe Order . He felt extremely grateful for the manner in which they had received him , and it would stimulate him to renewed exertions for the benefit of the Order .

Bro . Lester sung Sir H . Bishop s beautiful recitative and air "The Pilgrim of Love , " in a manner which called for enthusiastic applause , and there was a marked desire to have it repeated , but that was not permitted , on account of the long programme ' - of toasts be gone through .

The M . P . Sovereign , [ having called upon the Sir Knights to fill their glasses in honour of the next toast he had to propose , said he said it was a pleasure to them to know that the Red Cross Order wasextending farand wide in different countries throughout the world , but that could not have

occurred had they not had an efficient bod y and able staff" to carry out the regulations ofthe Order . They had among them a certain number of lntendant Generals , who were assiduous in carrying them out in the best way they could . The lntendant Generals were like General Officers in the

Army , and each of them was responsible for the conduct of those under his command , and he believed , that one and all , they had done their duty in a manner most satisfactory , both to the Order and the Grand Council who had to receive

the report of their proceedings . General Munbee was one of the oldest members of the Order , and he believed that he could not do better than call upon him to represent the lntendant Generals on this occasion . He concluded by proposing " The Illustrious Intendants General of the Order .

( Cheers . ) General Munbee said—Illustrious Sovereign and Sir Knights of the Order of the Red Cross—1 feel that I can hardly describe the pleasure I experience in having my name coupled with the toast of the lntendant Generals , and I

congratulate you on the amount of prosperity which has attended the Order , and the rapid strides it has made , and is making , in all parts of the Avorld , and the best principles are flowing from it . What goes on , from the Grand Council to the

lowest of the Sir Knights , and induces them to carry on their duty in a proper manner , and the excellence of their Christain principles has brought with it support and success that was not only unexpected , but altogether unexampled . I had no doubt whatever that it would succeed