Knights Of The Red Cross Of Constantine.

Some other alterations of the statutes were proposed and agreed to , after which two lines . were formed of the armed knights . The ist Division under the command of the V . 111 . Sir Kt . Colonel Burdett , and the 2 nd Division

, under the command of Sir Kt . Angelo Lewis , assisted by V . E . Sir Kt . Dr . Woodman ; and an arch of steel being formed , the G . Sovereign and the members of the Grand Council retired , preliminary to the election of a Grand Sovereign for the ensuing three years .

Sir Frederick Williams , M . E . V ., then occupied the throne , and alluded to the highly satisfactory manner in which the Earl of Bective had discharged his duties , and said it gave him great pleasure to propose the re-election of the Earl of Bective as Grand Sovereign for the ensuing

three years . Sir Kt . Gumbleton seconded the motion , which was carried unanimously . The Grand Sovereign was then re-introduced , the Knights standing and saluting , and was conducted to the chair in front of the high altar ,

where the G . High Chancellor administered the oath of fidelity , after which the G . Viceroy invested the Grand Sovereign with the robe of state , and he was also presented with the sword of state . The Sovereign was then proclaimed by

his style and titles , and being saluted by the Knights who passed in procession , the ceremony of enthronement was brought to a close . Sir Kt . Hubbard having tendered his resignation as Grand Treasurer , he was unanimously reelected to that office .

Sir Kt . Busher said he thought the time had arrived when , considering the hard way in which Sir Kt . Little had worked for the good of the Order , that he should receive some substantial recognition of his services , and as a mark of their good feeling towards him , he moved that the sum of 50 guineas should be given from the funds of the Grand Conclave towards the "Little

testimonial Fund . Sir Kt . Dr . Woodman , M . D ., had great pleasure in seconding the motion , which , was put and carried unanimously . The Grand Conclave was then closed in

Imperial form , and the Knights adjourned to the banqueting hall , over which the 111 . G . Sovereign presided . At the conclusion of the repast , the loyal toasts were proposed and drank with all honours .

Sir I \ t . Colonel Burdett then rose and said he need say little as to the toast he was about to propose , as he was quite sure it would be received in an enthusiastic , and he was almost going to say in an uproarious , manner . ( Cheers and laughter . ) They had , at their head , a nobleman

who had , for three years , served them in a manner which was creditable to them and honourable to himself , and therefore he ( Col . Burdett ) had the greatest pleasure in proposing his health —( cheers)—which was that of their Illustrious Sovereign , the Earl of Bective . ( Renewed

cheering . ) They had him in the position of their Sovereign , and they were greatly indebted to him for the support which he had given to their Order , and under his rule every thing had gone on and answered so well , that he had great pleasure in voting that he should be re-elected

as their Grand Sovereign for the ensuing three years . He need say little about him , as he was well . known to them all , and he did not come amongst them as a stranger , but one who had well done bis duty . Whenever he was in London he always came amongst them , and , therefore ,

he had great pleasure in proposing " The health of their 111 . Sov ., the Earl of Bective , " asking them to receive it with the same hearty cheers as they had always received it before . ( The toast was most enthusiastically responded to . ) The Earl of Bective said : Sir Kt . Col .

Burdett and Sir Kts ., all thanks to you for the hearty manner in which you have drank my health , and thanks to you , Colonel Burdett , for the kind way in which you proposed it . I can say that I have endeavoured , to the utmost of my ability , to do

my best to secure the bright position which Col . Burdett has so kindly put before you . I can assure you that I feel it to be a great honour to be connected with this Order , which has extended so rapidly , not only over Europe , but

Knights Of The Red Cross Of Constantine.

over the Continent and the whole of the globe , and as it goes on it will extend those kindly feelings for which it is distinguished . I feel indebted to you for your good opinion , and although I am occasionally absent from you , I can assure you that does not arise from any want

of zeal , but from circumstances which prevent me from being with you , and of forwarding the Order which I have most at heart . ( Cheers . ) You have heard to-day from our Grand Recorder in the Conclave , the excellent state of our Order , and I was sorry that I then had not the

opportunity of returning thanks for the honour of being again re-elected as your Grand Sovereign for three years ; but I considered that so far as we were transacting the stern business of the Grand Conclave , we should avoid speech-making as much as possible , and that was the reason that

induced me to reserve what I had to say until a later period in the evening . ( Loud cheers . ) I am sorry that the extension of our Order does not meet with the encouragement of which it is deserving from some sections in Freemasonry , who look upon it with feelings of jealousy , but

in doing so I am afraid that this section , setting aside those great principles of Freemasonry which ought to guide them in respect to other Orders , have fallen into the wrong path and have not regarded our Order with those feelings which ought to have actuated them as

Freemasons . ( Cheers . ) They have gone so far as to say that we have asserted rights which we have never asserted , and we have not attempted to extend our Order by connecting it with one with which we have not the slightest claim . We have no desire to connect our Order

with a dynasty long since scattered to the winds , and we only wish to preserve the traditions and mysteries of our Order , which has a distinct claim upon us as Masons . The time was when our Order on the field was baptised in blood ,

and that sealed the conquest that was won . We now go forth with an allegorical morality , presenting to the breasts of all not the sword but the cross , and ask all to go with us hand in hand in promoting the goodwill and prosperity of the world . We seek to bind all in concord

and affection by those bonds which are known all over the world ; we seek , not to fetter any with links of iron , but with noble hearts and an unsullied conscience . ( Loud cheers . ) As our empire extends over the whole world , so may extend the breastplate ( as we understood the

the noble lord to say ) of the Swiss Confederation ; and even in the late war which desolated Europe , and when the storm of war rolled the bloodstained billows to the shores of England , that sign protected many of our fellow-creatures from the ruthlessness of misguided men , and saved

them from that fury which would have destroyed them . I hope that while future generations will remember this , that they will also remember that it is the sign and symbol of the Red Cross Order . ( The noble lord sat down amidst loud cheering . )

The Earl of Bective proposed " The Health of the Most Eminent Grand Viceroy , Sir Frederick M . Williams , Bart , M . P ., and the rest of the Grand Conclave , " coupling with the toast ( in the absence of Sir F . Williams ) the name of Col . Burdett .

Col . Burdett returned thanks , and said they would not relax in their endeavours to promote the prosperity of the Order . Bro . Theodore Distin sang " The Red Cross , " the words by Bro . Little , and he was loudly cheered , after which the author , Bro . Little , was called for .

Sir Kt . Little said , if his humble verses had pleased them , he was highly gratified , but he thought much more was due to the manner in which they had been sung , and the music with which they had been accompanied ; but he hoped they would be handed down in connection with their noble Order .

The Grand Sovereign next gave " The Illustrious Intcndants-Gcneral of the Order , " coupling with the toast the name of Captain Irwin , of Bristol . Sir Kt . Irwin , on behalf of the Intendants-General , returned thanks for the manner in which their names had been received , and said

Knights Of The Red Cross Of Constantine.

nothing should be wanting on their part to promote the interests of the Order , and alluded to the great enthusiasm with which the name of the Grand Sovereign was always received . Sir Kt . Gumbleton proposed " The Grand Senate , " and , in the absence of Lord Lindsay ,

coupled with the toast the name of Sir Kt . Levander , the senior member present . ( The toast was well received . ) Sir Kt . Levander said he regretted that Lord Lindsay was not present , as he would have done more justice to the toast than he could , and in

his name , he ( Sir Kt . Levander ) had to thank them for the honour they had' done them in drinking their healths that evening . It was a great pleasure to co-operate with the Grand Council in promoting the Red Cross Order When lastthey met he belonged to the youngest

conclave then formed , which was No . 6 ; but now there was No . 56 , showing that the Order was making great progress , which , he believed , would continue so long as they acted up to the watchwords of their Order , which were " Faith , Unity , and Zeal , " and so long as they were

adhered to , the Order could not fail to prosper . " Representatives of Conclaves and Knights of the Grand Cross" was proposed , and acknowledged by Sir Knts . Thomas Angelo Lewis , Raynham Stewart , Captain F . G . Irwin , K . G . C . ; and George Kenning , K . G . C .

Some other toasts were given , and all were well received . The musical arrangements were under the direction of Sir Kt . Henry Parker ( who presided at the grand pianoforte ) , assisted by Madame Emmeline Cole , Bro . Kerr Gedge , and Bro , Theodore Distin , and the whole proceedings gave entire satisfaction .

The Freemasons' Life Boat.

THE FREEMASONS' LIFE BOAT .

The monthly meeting of the Committee was held at Bro . Eorster ' s , the Railway Tavern , London-street , E . C ., on Thursday , the 2 nd instant , Bro . A . E . Harris in the chair . There were also present : Bros . S . Davis ( Treas . ) , E . Goltheil ( Hon . Sec . ) , xMortlock , W . Mann , Lacey , 1 ) . Beck , II . M . Levy , John Boyd , N . Gluckstcin ; visitors , Bios . M . Davis , D . C . 141 , and Charles Dairy , 141 .

The minutes of ihc previous meeting were confirmed . The following brethren were then severally proposed and accepted as members of ihe Committee : John Coutts , P . M . 27 and 1310 , P . Z . 382 , 177 , A . G . l' . ; C . A . Cottebriine , P . M . 733 . 957 . . ' 257 , P-Z . 177 , 733 . 77 i J- Cohen , 174 ; and Charles Dairy , 141 . The I Ion . Sec . communicated the pleasing fact that the

Grand Lodge had voted the sum of , £ 50 towards the f und . Upon that the following resolution was proposed by Bro . S . Davis , seconded by Jiro . II . M . Levy and carried by acclamation :- - " That a vote of thanks be recorded on the minutes to the proprietor of THIS FREEMASON for the

valuable aid he has rendered in promoting the interests of the movement . " Additional subscriptions were then announced , viz .: — £ «¦

collected from 337 individuals ) 500 1 lumber Lodge , 57 ... ... 220 United Service ( Ireland ) , 21 5 ... 100 Bro . L . Lazarus , 188 ... ... 050 ,, Gompertz , P . M . 869 ... o . 2 6 ,, Chas . Dairy , 141 ... ... 110

,, K . l ' embeiton , 214 ... ... o 10 o A Scotch Brother ... ... 010 Eastern Star Lodge of Instruction ... I I o Prudent Brethren , 1 45 ... ... 500 Capper Lodge , 1076 ... ... 220 Bro . Ashdown , 1076 ... ... o 10 6 ,, Pinnell , 1067 ... ... 026

,, Ed . West , P . M . 107 C ... o 10 o ,, Park , Treasurer 1076 ... o 10 o ,, J . Watkins , P . M . 1076 & 212 o 10 o ,, Capn . Melmore , 371 ... 050 „ Blake , 1 S 6 ... ... ... 050 ,, Jacob Cohen , 1 74 ... ... 050 „ Hunt , 34 ... ... ... 026 ,, Hopkins , 87 ... ... 026

Total ... £ 264 8 o A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings , and the meeting was adjourned until Thursday , 6 th proximo , at S p . m .

"TEMPLE" BALL . —The ball of this old and flourishlodge ( 101 ) , look place on Tuesday , the 21 st ult ., under the presidency of Bro . Grimsby , at Freemasons' Tavern . The company were very numerous ; indeed we hear that this year was the most successful of the many gatherings

that have taken place . Dancing commenced at 9 p . m ., to the lively strains of Bro . Adams ' s band , and was continued without intermission till supper was called , which was well served about half-past twelve . After which dancing was resumed , and kept up with unflagging spirit until nearly four o ' clock in the moaning .