In Memoriam.

In Memoriam .

THE EARL OF ZETLAND , P . G . M . A solemn and affecting duty now devolves upon us . The Earl of Zetland is no more ! and

in simple , but heart-felt praises , we wreathe oar chaplet for his tomb .

In our lamented departed brother , Freemasonry has lost a fervent friend , and the cause of progress in general an ardent and generous supporter .

No career in the Craft—not even excepting that of the late Duke of Sussex—was ever so distinguished , and few brethren—if any—have wielded the sceptre of Grand Master of England ; j J

with so much credit to the Order . We say this without being guided in the least by thc old ! quotation—De mortttis nil nisi lonum . Lordj

Zetland was not merely noble ; he personified nobility , and all those who have enjoyed the ! honour of intimacy with our deceased illustrious ;

brother can testify in the strongest manner to his ; urbanity , and kindly bearing . ! The writer of this tribute to our late chief ' s memory feels that words which he had the

privilege to indite upon the occasion of Lord Zetland ' s retirement from the government of the

Craft arc somewhat apposite to the present melancholy occasion , inasmuch as they embody and express the universal sentiment of the Craft

as to his Lordshi p ' s merits , in connection with a brief but accurate statement of the Earl ol Zetland ' s Masonic career .

We simply echo the feelings of every English Mason when we say that Lord Zetland has endeared himself to all our hearts , not only

by his unswerving devotion to the high and holy principles of Freemasonry , but by thc courtesy , the urbanity , and the dignity with

winch he has performed his duties as Grand Master of England . The post that his Lordsh ip occupies is one of the most lofty and

honourable positions to which a man can aspire during his earthly career . We vwivikl rather be the ruler of a aflorious fraternity

1 > 1 good and true men , than the monarch of many a European realm . We would rather reign , as the Earl of Zetland has reigned ,

' ¦ Hi the " hearts and affections" of his brother . -iJasons than exorcise command over their" lives j and fortunes . " We would rather have thc

cpi'iiph placed over our tomb that we had served " » r fellow-men , and advanced the interests of truth and virtue , than to have recorded there

"lose titles of majesty unci dominion which « it so sadl y on the cold brow of death . Give vis the , ; "lectionate rcmcmbirance of those whom we

In Memoriam.

loved and cherished , give us a name like that of Thomas Dundas , a Nobleman m every sense of the word , a Mason in every signification of the

name , a Man in the most exalted acceptation of the term . It is true that we have a right to expect in the Grand Master of the Mother Grand Ledge of the world , a knight , like Bayard , MW

rcprocl / e ; it is true that we rely implicitly on the ( honour , the integrity , and the zeal of the brother ! who rules the Freemasons of England , and it j . ( is equally true that in our present Grand Master

i fwehavehadonetowhom wecottldpoint with pride , i lone whose consistency as a gentleman and a Freemason has never been questioned , and who will hand the sceptre of his office to his

succes' sor untarnished by a single stain . Thc Earl of Zetland comes of a good Masonic ' stock , as we shall prove in a few words . His

grandfather , the hrst Lord Dundas , was Deputy Grand Master under thc Duke of Sussex , in 1853 and his father , the first Earl of Zetland , afterwards tilled the same post , and died in 18 , 59 ,

Pro . Grand Master of England . Our Most Worshipful Brother was born on the 5 th of February , J / pj . His Masonic career dates

trom the 18 th J une , 1830 , when as the " Honourable Thomas Dundas , " he was initiated in the Prince of Wales Lodge , No . 259 , in which lodge

-ne eventually occupied tne cnair ot Worshipttu Master . His lordship was appointed Senior Grand Warden on the 25 th April , 1832 ; he J succeeded the late Earl of Durham , as Deputy

Grand Master , on the 24 th April , 18 . 39 , anc ' ifollowed the same lamented nobleman in theoffice of Pro . Grand Master in 1840 ; this high ' post he held at th- death of H . R . H . the Duke

. of Sussex , in April 18 4 . 5 , when by the Consti-1 tutions of the Order , the Earl became the ruler '' of the English Craft until the next period ol ; ; ! election , at which time , namely on the 6 th of

March , 1 S 44 , his lordship was elected Most . ' Worshipful Grand Master , and was installed asj ! such on the 24 th of April following . In Royal !

Arch Masonry , Lord Zetland s career has been ' . equally brilliant ; he was exalted on the 1 st June , 18 . 32 , in the Prince of Wales Chapter , No . 259 ,, and duly served in each of tlieprincip . il chairs ;)

he was appointed one of the Grand Sojourners ; iu 18 . 52 ; as Deputy Grand Master he became , ) ' -e . c ufl'tcw , Second Grand Principal , and or course las Grand Master he was elevated to thc dignity

; f j of Supreme Grand Z ., m accordance with the ' ' regulations of the Order . His lordship has alsO sheen l'rovincial Grand Master for the North and . East Ridings of Yorkshire since J 835 .

It now only remains to trace the progress of I English Freemasonry under his benign sway-From seven hundred and sixteen lodges at . the time of Lord Zetland ' s installation as Grand

In Memoriam.

Master , we have increased to nearly thirteen hundred . ' From an estimated membership of twenty-seven thousand , we have increased , in

England alone , to eighty-four thousand live hundred , and the increase in our Foreign and Colonial lodges is far greater in proportion . The immense Masonic constellation that now

shines in the far Pacific Seas , has arisen in light and beauty during the period of our present Grand Master ' s rule . Remote and almost mythical corners of the g lobe have received the

benefits of Freemasonry under hisauspices . From Japan to Gibraltar , from the Gold Coast to the Himalayan mountains , through the ancient empire of Cathay , and the bleak regions of

Newfoundland , the blessings of our friendly Craft have been spread , through the fostering care of the Earl of Zetland . This is a result of which any man might be justly proud , and like

his great predecessor , Sir Christopher Wren , posterity will be able to say of our noble chief , " If you seek his monument , look around . " The universe of civilisation will bear his name

and the hearts of men will hymn his praises . It is therefore with pain that we shall witness the retirement of one who has for such a lengthened period filled the foremost place in the regard of

his brethren : we shall miss the stately presence , and the suave dignity , which so fitly represented the innate nobility of the Masonic Institution . In this brief notice we shall not sav one word

of the future—it is all too feeble a tribute to a loved and venerated name—but as the accepted organ of the great English Craft , as the voice of many thousands of the household of faith , we

i tender to the Most Worshipful Grand Master , our unfeigned gratitude for his lile-long devotion to the interests of the Order ; for his recognition jand support of those principles which are dear to

the hearts of all Masons , and we cordially wish him , on his retirement from the active duties of Freemasonry , that repose and happiness which are ever the accompaniment of a

con-1 ( science void of offence to all mankind . •Let us but add to the above that , although Lord Zetland ' s career has not been greatly prolonged , he leaves behind him not only

remem-: brances in many hearts , but an imperishable ( memorial of charity , in the shape of the Zetland ¦ Fund , which by our late brother ' s own desire , is jto be devoted to the relief of distress and

afflic-! ( tion arri'marst those who have rendered eminent ' services to thc Craft . We have every reason : 1 > .-Ii > . .. - i . Kt . T

! ; ( days ot Lord Zetland were p . MC .-. lul and hippy . J We know that his interest in Freemasonry never slumbered—full of honours—burdened so to 1 ispoflk—with good wishes nn . l with the gratifying

1 j I testimony of a good conscience . The Venerable Earl h ; is gon- j to his rest , ' lamented by Freemasons more particularly , but

j ! ' ' also by the great body of his countrymen , to 1 whom lie had ever presented an example " void jof all offence . ' ] Peace to his wanes and may his jsuccessor in the family honours , who we rejoice virtues 01

, to know is a Mason , emulate the me igre-at and good Dundas , whose ashes we now ' reverently commit to the dust .