Presentation To Bro. Sir Hedworth And Lady Williamson.

PRESENTATION TO BRO . SIR HEDWORTH AND LADY WILLIAMSON .

T . „ assembled in the Masonic Hall , Old Elvet , i m on Monday afternoon , the 27 th ult ., an unusually ^ W umber of Freemasons from all parts of the province

large ••- presentation to the Kight Worshiplul the t 0 - rial Grand Master and the Lady Elizabeth Wiliam-Provin ^ celebration of their silver wedding . The s ° ' ntation consisted of a massive silver vase and an Mi ^ minated address . The vase occupied a prominent Von on the table , and is designed from the celebrated P tjful marble basin of a fountain still in existence at Piff Villa Albani in Rome . The subject engraved upon it the VIH * "'"•* ,-,. „* . „ t u „„„ i „„ TI , « „ ,- •„¦;„ , 1 ; , the apotheosis of Hercules The original is

. presents . Temed one of the finest productions of the kind , and is * f Creek workmanship . The vase bears the following •iotion : " Presented to Sir Hedworth and Lady FIVabeth Williamson on the celebration of their silver riding by the Freemasons of the Province of Durham , A February , iSSS . " As mentioned above , in addition to ? i [ „«( . a handsome address , illuminated with Masonic fhe VtlSC «* f || 1 j ¦ 1 1

,..... y _| .. _ u blems , and beautifully bound in russet-coloured plush '" orange blossoms and a pair of love birds worked on the cover , was presented to Sir Hedworth . _ . The presentation vvas made and the chair occupied by n , „ lhe Rev . Canon Tristram , D . P . G . M ., and amongst XL present were Bros . Lionel Booth , P . S . G . W . ; H . J .

¦ nTrnbul ! , P . J . G . W . ; R . Hudson , P . G . S . B . En *** ., P . G . I ¦ R . W . Simpson , P . J . G . D . ; J . J . Clay , P . G . D . C ; R Dickinson , P . G . Std . Br . ; J . Barker , P . G , Org-. ; J . R Pattison , P . A . G . Sec . ; J . W . Barnes , P . P . S . G . W . ; Les Monks , P . P . S . G . W . ; R . A . Luck , P . P . J . G . W . ; C Wood , P . P . J . G . W . ; C . H . Backhouse , P . P . J . G . W . ;

RVV T I . Brown , P . P . G . C . , * Rev . G . R . Bulman , P . P . RC •B . Boulton , P . P . G . Treas ., * W . Logan , P . P . G . R . ; R Lick , P . P . G . R . ; T . M . Barron , P . P . G . R . ; VV . Rric-nal P P . G . R . ; Aldtrman W . C . Blackett , P . P . S . GD . ( Mayorof Durham ) j J . C . Moor , P . P . J . G . D . ; T . Coulson , P . P . J . G . D . ; C . S . Lane , P . P . J . G . D . ; A .

Currie , P . P . G . D . C ; E . Hudson , P . P . G . D . C ; Wm Gray , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; S . Fenny , P . P . G . S . B . ; W Crawford , P . P . G . Org . ; J . F . Hiller , P . P . G . Org . ; W A Malcolm , P . P . G . P . ; D . Whitehead , P . P . G . O . ; E Shewbrooks , W . M . ; W . Brown , J . VV . ; and Rev . W Bowker , Chap ., of 48 ; J . Nicholson , W . M ., and T

Atkinson , I . P . M ., of So ; R . Singleton , I . P . M . ; W . Birch , and J . F . Napier , of 97 ; W . C . Barron , I . G . mjT . Bell , P . P . S . G . D ., W . M . ; T . Dunn , S . W . ; J . Smith , S . D . ; C F . Dawson , P . S . W . ; M . Fowler , Treas . ; C . Dawson , j . Walker , P . P . G . O . ; R . Hauxwell , P . M . ; Rev . F . Glanvill , W . Goodenough , J . Nutton , H . Brown , J . H . Veitch ,

W . H . Watson , G . Hewitt , G . Gregson , and VV . Shell , of 124 ; J . G . Wilson , W . M . 375 ; H . B . Olsen , W . M . 764 : W . Crawford , W . M . naij R . Appleton , W . M . 2104 ; J . Atkinson , W . M . 1230 ; G . S . Shaw , W . M . 13345 w - Arrowsmith , W . M . zoig ; J . Robinson , W . M . 1650 ; G . Lazonby , P . M ., and C . Allan , I . P . M ., of 940 ;

Calvert , P . G . S . ; W . Shell , Richardson , and Humphrey , of 2135 : Henry Hayes , 1389 ; A . W . Kindler , 210 4 , - W . Nelson , P . M . 509 ; T . Wilkes , P . M ., and E . F . Wallace , P . M ., of 1418 ; W . Darbyshire , T . Parkinson , and J . H . Nightscales , of 940 ; W . Sanderson , J . W . ; R . Ritchie , John Willan , Treas . ; and James Willan , of 1334 ; VV . Parkin , J . W . ; W . H . McLean , J . Archbold , G . Melvin ,

G . Nesbitt , and W . Clarke , S . VV ., of 1274 ; E . Miiburn , J . W ., and J . H . Gowland , of 2019 ; J . Swan , J . VV . 94 ; VV . Cochrane , 1121 ; Holland , 764 ; E . Cooper , W . M ., ar , dC . D . Hill Drury , P . P . G . R . Norfolk , S . W ., of 1379 ; and about 30 brethren whose names were not recorded . Bro . Rev . Canon TRISTRAM , who was loudly cheered on rising to make the presentation , said in order to explain

to their Right Worshipful Prov . G . Master why he had been invited there that afternoon , and why he ( Canon Tristram ) had presumed to stand in the front of that chair which typified the Prov . G . Master ' s presence , and why he ( Sir Hedwoith ) had been asked to take a seat on his ( the Canon ' s ) right , he might be permitted to read the following address , which explained the purport of their meeting * .

"To Sir Hedworth Williamson , Bart ., R . W . P . G . M . of the Province of Durham . " Right Worshipful Sir , —On behalf of the Freemasons of the Province of Durham , over whom you so ably rule , we are deputed to approach you on this occasion cf the celebration of your silver wedding , in order to express our

hearty congratulations and our sincere trust that the Great Architect of the Universe may accord to you and the Lady Elizabeth Williamson many years of domestic happiness , surrounded by loving children and true friends . 'We also earnestly hope that you may have health and strength to discharge for many years to come those high ¦

Masonic duties vvhich you now perform vvith conspicuous ffliciency and genial tact , to the great advancement and "Ii i Freemasonry . As a memorial of the happy celebration , and as a token tu C p ' we ask your acceptance of a silver vase from : he freemasons of the province

„ . « Sat f d the 3 rd day of February , 18 S 8 . On behalf of the brethren , " H . B . TRISTRAM , W . D . P . G . M ., Chairman . r R . HUDSON , Past Grand S . B ., Secretary . " amvn . tram then handed 'he address to Sir Hedworth amidst rapturous aoolause . Continuing , the Canon said .

naving thus briefly and formally introduced the matter , Wort , - that the address now presented to Sir Hedrth might long remain an accepted ornament in his " " ?* ~** -roorn . He also ventured to draw Sir Hedworth's a re A ' ° a more substantia ' and at least as permanent of Dk " * ^ '' S ° f the Freemasons of the province j am Freemasonry hadin England especiall

n ,,- . , y , WA \ PA \ ' and u P on eac ^ ° ^ 'hose sides he might be perwhich 1 ° ? S ratulate Sir Hedworth upon the position ma he had held so worthily in this province . FreebeneC 1 t- " ts ancient and historic side . It had also its side a A •Slde " ^ ^ a ' ' mora ' s'de , its domestic VM- . , . social side . And many-sided as Freemasonry was ro * - — --- » ' *•' oi ^ -e . rviiu luai-y-aiucu «* -, k ic ^ Miaaumj

]| f e in if J ? S the heart , and reaching to every relation of SMierall ¦ ctSj '' would be strange indeed if Freemasonry its moral * * ? . uch as one of the very first principles of the wiu- ' interests and assistance in the affairs and fleeneS of thek brethren , if it did not feel the Worshinf ! *?? y an < 1 interest in all that related to their They a , *? Grand Master , their local honoured head . / «* > freemasons must take an interest in the domestic

Presentation To Bro. Sir Hedworth And Lady Williamson.

happiness and welfare of him who ruled over them . Sir Hedworth vvas connected vvith Freemasonry in general , and vvith the Freemasonry of that province by many ties and in many ways . He was not the first of the name who had held the highest position which a Freemason could hold in that province . His respected father before him occupied the same chair which he so worthily and with such genial

hearty sympathy always filled . And they had not forgotten how for many years Sir Hedworth had served with distinction in that high office for which he had , with a partiality which he ( the speaker ) could not defend , selected himself ( Canon Tristram ) to succeed him—how he filled that office for many years under him who was the first Freemason of the kingdom , he meant the senior P . G . M . of England in

his day , their late Right Worshipful Bro . John Fawcett . There were those in that room who were present at that magnificent Masonic ceremony in the Royal Albert Hall , London , when their Royal Grand Master was placed in the Master's chair , and who remembered with what pride they saw that the ceremony was performed for the heir to the crown of these realms by the Grand Master of Durham ,

John Fawcett , Senior Provincial Grand Master of England . Sir Hedworth had had yet further experience in serving under their late revered Grand Master , the Marquis of Londonderry , who filled that chair with such _ dignity and grace and urbanity . Right worthily had Sir Hedworth been selected by his Royal Highness the Grand Master of England to occupy in succession to that noble brother the

chair , which by his death was left vacant . They welcomed him then , and welcome him still , whenever he came amongst them . They recognised vvith gratitude how often he had sacrificed his own personal convenience in his devotion to his Masonic duties . After so many years of service in Masonry , years which extended beyond the quarter of a century of his married life , it was

a happy thought which suggested itself to one of their brethren in front of him , the P . G . Secretary , that they should not allow the occasion of his silver wedding to pass over without recognition . They did it vvith pleasures of anticipation as well as pleasures of memory , because they anticipated , looking at his robust and vigorous frame , that their sons in Masonry hereafter , five and twenty years

hence , might be called upon to make another presentation . Let him , in conclusion , draw Sir Hedworth ' s attention to that small teslimony of the regard ar . d esteem with which he ( Sir Hedworth ) was held by the brethren of the province . That Albani vase was an exact model of one of our most celebrated " chef d ' eeuvres " of ancient art , which , he believed , was still to be seen in the Albani Palace of Rome , or in Dresden . But , whatever be the history of it , they

trusted that it would remain as many centuries as that of which it was a copy as an ornament and a heirloom in the house of Williamson . In conclusion , Canon Tristram turned to Sir Hedworth and said : Allow me to present to you , on behalf of the Freemasons of Durham , this silver memorial , in classic style , of your happy silver wedding . Canon Tristram , then amidst the greatest enthusiasm drank health and happiness to Sir Hedworth and Lady Elizabeth Williamson .

Bro . Sir HEDWORTH WILLIAMSON , P . G . M ., on rising to thank the donors , was greeted with loud applause . He said he vvas afraid Canon Tristram had erred in initiating , and the brethren had more or less erred in receiving these initiations , with so much apparent cordiality , because he was afraid nothing he had done could ever deserve the high encomiums Canon Tristram had passed upon him

and the magnificent gift they had given him . Canon Tristram , with his usual eloquence , had dilated upon , he was afraid , more virtues and excellences than he ( Sir Hedworth ) possessed . And he therefore hoped that the canon and the brethren would not be angry vvith him if he ventured in a commercial phrase to ask them to discount those remarks by at least go per cent . For if what the

canon had said was half true , or even a quarter true , he had put him ( Sir Hedworth ) in a very difficult position , because if half or quarter of it be true , it must be quite clear to himself and everybody present that during his reign over that province he must have arrived as near perfection as possible . Now , if that was the case , it was perfectly clear that if he had for some time

exercised perfection , it was also possible for him to continue to do so . He could only say he would try his best to do so . But it was rather hard to expect an humble individual like himself to continue for any length of time without erring . He feared that a great many of Canon Tristram's kind remarks were not earned by his ( Sir Hedworth ' s ) efforts , but he could fairly say that he had tried to lay down his

line of conduct since appointed by endeavouring to do his best . He was sure he should not have succeeded as well as he had done if it had not been for the great and zealous support he had not only received from his excellent friend Canon Tristram , but also from all his officers in the Prov . Grand Lodge , during the years in vvhich he had had the proud happiness to appoint them , and also from all the

Masters and Wardens of the various lodges in his province . Canon Tristram had alluded to his ( Sir Hedworth ' s ) silver wedding . It was true that that was the anniversary of his silver wedding . He could only say he hoped every brother present who had been married 25 years could look back upon those 25 years with the satisfaction he could . He was afraid , if it was not wrong to say so , that although that

was his silver wedding he was more or less of a bigamist , because long before he married his good wife he vvas wedded to Masonry , and if he vvas only spared for two short years they might then have to congratulate him , not upon his silver wedding , but upon his golden wedding vvith Freemasonry . They need not be alarmed , however , for if even he celebrated his golden wedding to Masonry he should

not expect another testimonial , because the testimonial and address he had just received were quite as much as anyone could expect , and much more than he himself deserved . Bro . Tristram had told them that the vase was an exact model of a fountain either in the Palace Albani or the Dresden Gallery . He did not care where the original was situated , whether in Dresden , or Rome , or France , or anywhere else ,

so long as he had that most beautiful copy . He did not pretend to be much of a judge of art , but he knew perfectly well when a thing was solid and massive , and handsome , and in good taste , and he saw quite enough of the vase from where he was to see that it possessed all those three

qualifications . And he was also emboldened in his opinion that it vvas a real handsome piece of plate , because his brother , who was very learned in these matters , was fortunate to see it , and gave it his unqualified approbation . Now , they had presented him with that beautiful piece of plate , and he could only say that he looked upon it not

Presentation To Bro. Sir Hedworth And Lady Williamson.

only as a gift from the Freemasons of that county in doing honour , as it were , to him as their Grand Master , but he hoped it might be considered as a personal gift from many private Iriends . Of course it was impossible for him to know personally the numberless Masons in his province , and it was equally impossible for all of them to know him . Nothing would be wanting on his part in the future to try

and extend his personal acquaintance amongst the Masons in the province to the utmost of his power . He could only say , in conclusion , that the vase and the very beautiful address would be kept by him with great pride and satisfaction . He would forthwith take pains that measures be taken that the vase should be made an heirloom of his family , so that his children , and grandchildren if he had

any , might look upon it as a proud token of the kindness and affection of his brother Freemasons in the Province of Durham . Sir HKDWORTH then pledged the healths of the brethren present , and the compliment having been returned , The MAYOR of DURHAM asked the brethren to

acknowledge in the most cordial manner possible the services rendered by the Chairman , the R . W . D . P . G . M ., to Freemasonry in general , and also the very able manner in which he had conducted the present ceremony . Bro . T . BELL , W . M . 124 , P . P . G . D ., seconded the motion , which was carried by acclamation . Bro . Canon TRISTRAM having briefly acknowledged the compliment , the proceedings terminated .

West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution.

WEST LANCASHIRE MASONIC EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION .

A meeting of the Court of Governors of this Institution was held an Friday , the 2 nd inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Hope-street , under the chairmanship of Bro . T . H . VV . Walker , one of the Vice-Presidents . There vvas a very large attendance , and the proceedings were of a most interesting character . The minutes of the last Court , General Committee , House Committee , and Finance Committee having been read and confirmed , a number of

children were elected on the foundation of the Charity , involving an additional outlay of about £ 210 . On the proposition of Bro . R . Martin ( one of the Hon . Sees . ) , it was resolved that the Annual Court of Governors of the " West Lancashire" should be held in future on the first Friday in October , at the Masonic Hall , Liverpool . Bro . J . T . Callow , the Honorary Treasurer , presented his report for the year , vvhich was of a most gratifying kind , and the proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman .

The Leeds Masonic Educational And Benevolent Institution.

THE LEEDS MASONIC EDUCATIONAL AND BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The annual meeting of this prosperous Institution has just been held at the Masonic Hall , Great George-street , Leeds . Bro . Richard Wilson , P . M ., was elected President , Bros . Dr . Smyth and C L . Mason , P . P . G . Treas ., Vice-Presidents ; and the following Committee : Bros . G . F . McGill , P . M . 1311 ; J . Dyson , P . M . 206 ; J . M . Hollingsworth , P . M . 1311 ; R . Thompson , P . M . 1042 ; R . Kingston ,

P . M . 1221 ; W . E . Asquith , P . M . 1311 ; Tudor Trevor , W . M . 206 9 ; W . F . Tomlinson , P . M . 304 ; J . Brownfoot , P . M . 304 ; H . Banks , 1042 ; W . VVarren , 1211 ; T . Winn , P . M . 1211 ; J . Dobson , P . M . 289 ; J . Jaques , P . M . 1211 ; J . Stansfield , 1211 ; H . Cowbrough , Treas . ; and C Lowrey , Hon . Sec . The HON . SEC . ( Bro . Chas . Lowrey ) submitted the

eleventh annual report of the Committee as follows : " Your Committee in presenting their eleventh annual report of the working of this Institution , have again to congratulate the Patrons , Governors , Subscribers , and friends on its continued success . During the year last past , the Capital account has been increased by the creation of two Perpetual Governorships ot Xio ios . each , in the persons

of the Senior and Junior Deacons of the Zetland Lodge , and the further sum of £ 2 4 s . 7 d ., on account of a fuither Perpetual Governorship , in the name of the Inner Guard , the whole being the result of an entertainment , in which Bro . Sir Geo . W . Morrison and other members of the Zetland Lodge took a prominent part ; also by the sum of £ 18 4 s . 4 d ., being the amount of the offertory alter a

Sermon preached by Bro . the Rev . Canon Bullock ; two Life-Governorships of £ 5 5 s . each in the persons of Bro . Sidney Galvayne , of the Fidelity Lodge , and Bro . Thomas Sutton , of the Excelsior Lodge ; £ 2 2 s ., being the completion of the purchase of a Life-Governorship by Bro . Wm . Furze , ol the Goderich Lodge , ^ under Rule 14 ; £ 2 2 s . from Bro . Jno . Grimshaw ; and £ 1 is . each from Bros .

Yates , Rickard , Hattersley , Pocklington , and Suddick , al ! of the Philanthropic Lodge , being payments on account of Life-Governorships , under Rule 14 ; and £ 2 2 S . from the Charity Box of the Fidelity Lodge—and now amounts to £ 1560 is . id . Thi fund is invested as follows , viz .: in the purchase of £ 1000 Leeds Corporation 4 per cent . Stock , at a cost of £ 1036 us . 8 d ., and in the purchase of

£ 450 32 * per cent . Leeds Corporation Stock , £ 454 18 s . 1 id ., and the balance in the Leeds and County Bank . The Revenue account for the year is as follows , viz .: Balance brought over from last year , £ 3 8 15 s . 4 d . ; Interest from the Leeds Corporation , £ 54 2 s . 6 d . ; Bank Interest , £ 1 14 s . ; and Subscriptions , £ 54 13 s . ; making together the

sum of £ 149 4 _ s . iod . The payments for education have amounted to £ ' 51 6 s . yd ., and for incidental ^ expenses to £ 11 ios . 1 id ., together , £ 62 17 s . 6 d ., leaving to carry forward the sum of £ S 6 7 s . 4 d . There are now on tht books of the Institution six boys and three girls . " This report was unanimously adopted .

Bros , Lawson , Amherst , A . Acland , Sir John Ellis , Bart ., and Marriott , Q . C , are members of tha House of Commons Committee vvhich will continue tho inquiries instituted last year respecting town holdings , with special reference to the question of leaseholds . H . R . H . the Crown Prince of Denmark , brother

of the Piincess of Wales , left Copenhagen , via Kiel , for London on the 2 nd inst ., in order to be present at tha silver wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales . The Crown Princess and her husband arrived in town on Tuesday , and are now the guests of the Prince and Princess of Wales at Marlborough House .