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    Article LODGE TRUE FRIENDSHIP, No. 218, CALCUTTA. ← Page 2 of 2
    Article LODGE TRUE FRIENDSHIP, No. 218, CALCUTTA. Page 2 of 2
    Article OPENING OF THE MASONIC EXHIBITION AT SHANKLIN, ISLE OF WIGHT. Page 1 of 1
Page 3

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Lodge True Friendship, No. 218, Calcutta.

Grand Master of Bengal , its number being 12 of Bengal ; but according to some of our oldest Past Masters there is a tradidion that it was in existence long before that date , being attached to a regiment servi ng in the West Indies , afterwards transferred to the East , and had we been properly registered in the books of the Grand Lodge of England , no doubt we should be found to be one of the oldest lodges on the English rolls , and

certainly No . I of Bengal . But in the absence of such registration , and with no books of District Grand Lodge or of our own to refer to , we must for the present rest content with the numbers we now hold—we say for the present , hoping that we may some day , through any of our energetic past members who may visit England , be enabled to establish our priority . We can , therefore , with the limited material at our disposal , only commence

this brief sketch from the above date , at which time Masonry must have been in a very flourishing condition in Bengal , there being some 14 lodges at the different civil and military stations . Of these , three were in Calcutta , viz ., Star in the East , No . 1 ; Industry and Perseverance , No . 2 ; and Humility with Fortitude , No . 11 ; Trus Friendship , No . 12 , not becoming a Calcutta lodge until 17 S 7 , when the third Army Brigade moved into Fort William .

About 1781 appears to have been a most disastrous time for Masonry in Bengal , the Carnatic War being the reason given for it , and every lodge , with the exception of Industry , No . 2 , went into abeyance ; even the Provincial Grand Lodge being closed from that year until 17 S 5 , when , mainly through the action of " Industry " in ascertaining that so long as a

single lodge remained working , Provincial Grand Lodge would not cease to exist , it was reconstructed . Star in the East and True Friendship seem to have been the first lodges that got revived , for , on 28 th February , 1787 , we find the Provincial Grand Lodge writing to the Grand Lodge of England : —

" Of the lodges in these provinces we believe all have ceased to exist , except the lodges Nos . 1 and 2 , and one consisting of non-commissioned officers and privates belonging to the Third Brigade . " About this time the Third Brigade moved into Fort William , and on 24 th December of the same year , the Secretary of True Friendship wrote to Provincial Grand Lodge setting forth that in December , 1773 , they had

received a warrant from M . W . Bro . Samuel Middleton , but that from sundry causes such warrant had not been replaced by a regular Constitution , and praying that such Constitution mig ht be granted . The Constitution was granted and a renumbering of the lodges took place . Masonry in Bengal was at this time represented by the Calcutta lodges alone , another having in the meantime been added to their number , viz ., " Unanimity , " which ,

doubtless through the irregularity of " True Friendship s" not having a regular constitution , had also borne the number 12 . By the new numbering 1 and 2 remained as before , 3 to 8 were left open in case any of the Mofussil lodges should revive , and "Unanimity" was made No . 9 , " True Friendship , " No . 10 , and " Humility with Fortitude , " which had also by this time been revived , No . 11 . The first Master of " True Friendship" under its new

constitution was its former Secretary , James Davis , and the constitution was delivered to the lodge at a visit paid to it by Provincial Grand Lodge on 22 nd January , 178 S . The Third Brigade did not , however , remain long in Fort William , and moved in the same year to Berhampore , taking the lodge with it . This seems to complete the record of the original Lodge " True Friendship . "

On 27 th February , 17 88 , we find seven members of " True Friendship petitioning Provincial Grand Lodge to be allowed to form a separate lodge , as they could not leave Calcutta when the Third Brigade went to Berhampore . The petition was acceded to , and Bro . Edward Griffith was elected first Master of the new "True Friendship , " which received the number 12 ; but before the constitution could be prepared , a hitch arose from three out of the seven

members who had signed the petition withdrawing their names from it . It does not appear how the difficulty was got over ; but in any case the constitution was signed on 24 th July , 1788 , and on 28 th October of the same year the Provincial Grand Lodge wrote to the Grand Lodge of England that the lodge was regular and orderly , Bro . Griffith being Master . This brother was re-elected Master for 1789 .

For some years after this time the records of Provincial Grand Lodge are wanting , and all the old records of " True Friendship " having been destroyed under peculiarly unfortunate circumstances , nothing can be ascertained regarding the lodge until towards the close of the century , when the Calcutta lodges had been increased to seven by the addition of "Anchor and Hope " and " Marine . " None of the Mofussil lodges for which numbers

had been reserved seem to have been revived , and it is difficult to say whether the original " True Friendship , " No . 10 , which went to Berhampore ever re-amalgamated with its offshoot No . 12 , or if it became extinct , and "True Friendship" was represented by No . 12 alone . In any case we find " True Friendship " was the first to resent the monopoly that " Star in the East" and " Industry and Perseverance" had obtained of having

thc oflicers of Provincial Grand Lodge uniformly selected from the members of these lodges , and throwing off allegiance to the Grand Lodge of England , applied for , and obtained , a warrant from the Antient York Constitution ( Athole Masons ) . The warrant , which we still work under , is dated 27 th December , 1797 , and the number of the lodge was 315 , being No . 1 of Bengal under that constitution ; and this is peculiarly but , at the same time ,

most satisfactorily vouched for by that portion of the inscription on the grand heirloom of the lodge ( viz ., our punch bowl ) , on which is inscribed " Bengal , No . 1 . " Our records having been unfortunatel y lost and destroyed , we have no opportunity of ascertaining what position in the lodge the generous donor of this

magnificent piece of China held . We only find that it was given to us by one Bro . Hugh Adams , and for over 70 years it has been an emblem , useful as well as ornamental , of the hospitality of Lodge True Friendship , and now serves also as a surviving landmark of our antiquity . As a record of our possessing this valuable token of fraternal esteem and regard , it is advisable to give a slight sketch of the Punch Bowl . It is 22 inches in

Lodge True Friendship, No. 218, Calcutta.

diameter , 10 inches in height , and capable of holding gi gallons of Punch It is most beautifully enamelled , the ornamentation being in lasting gold and rich colours . Within the Bowl under a gold rim , we find the inscription "This Bowl is presented to the Worshipful Master . Wardens , and brethren of the Lodge True Friendship , Bengal , No . I , as a mark of esteem by their Brother , Hugh Adams . " Under this inscription is a very beautiful

frieze of coloured bunches of various flowers on a gold ground . At the bottom of the Bowl is the old emblem of Royal Arch Masonry , with the double triangle , pickaxe , and shovel , and on a blue ribbon the motto , "Sit lux et lux fuit . " On the outside on the upper ed ge is a gold Grecian border on a Royal blue ground , and on the body are four compartments , the first of which represents the emblems of the 1 st , 2 nd , 3 rd , and Installed

Master Degrees , with the Volume of the Sacred Law opened at II . Chron ., Chap , iii ., and a ribbon with motto , " Fide , Spe , et Charitale . " In the second we find the stars and symbols of the Red Cross of Babylon and of the Order of the Knights of Constantine . In the third divisio n are the Knights Templars' star and cross with the emblems of mortality and the double cross of a Commander ; and in the centre the elapsed hands of True Friendship , the Badge of the Provincial Grand Master of Beneal , and

the inscription " Lodge True Friendship , Bengal , No . 1 , G . L . E ., No . 315 . " On the rim of the base is the inscription : " This Bowl made by Syng Chong , China Merchant , Canton , A . D . 1813 . " Lodge Humility shortly followed True Friendship in seceding from the Grand Lodge of England , and received from the Antient York Constitution the number 317 , or No . 2 of Bengal : Anchor and Hope , and Marine followed some three years later , when they also obtained warrants from the Antient York Constitution .

About the begining of the present century the three lodges working under the Grand Lodge of England , from various causes , fell into abeyance , and for some years Masonry in Bengal was represented by the four lodges working under the Antient York Constitution alone , but before the union of

the Grand Lodges in iS 13 , Star in the East , and Industry and Perseverance had been revived , Unanimity having disappeared for ever . At the union of the Grand Lodges True Friendship received the No . 383 , and at the renumbering of the lodges in 1832 it got No . 265 ; in 186 3 11 s present No . 218 was assigned to it .

Since the union there is only one event of any moment connected with the lodge and that is its amalgamation with Lodge Aurora on the 17 th Augus \ 1830 . This lodge ( Aurora ) was constituted in 1814 , fell into abeyance in 1820 , but was revived in 1824 , and at the time of the amalgamation it appears to have been in a very flourishing condition , more so , in fact , than True Friendship , which seems to have secured unusually favourable terms in the transaction .

In conclusion , it should be recorded that Lodge True Friendship has always maintained an even position in its numbers , and has been comparatively free from the vicissitudes of other lodges . It has for the last 40 years been celebrated for the number of its old Past Masters who have filled the highest offices in Masonry , and been conspicuous for their staunch support of the District Grand Lodge . Peace and harmony have long reigned in our midst , and that these may continue we heartily pray .

Opening Of The Masonic Exhibition At Shanklin, Isle Of Wight.

OPENING OF THE MASONIC EXHIBITION AT SHANKLIN , ISLE OF WIGHT .

[ BY TELEGRAPH . TheopeningceremonyoftheMasonicexhibition at Shanklin , Isleof Wight , was somewhat marred by unfavourable weather , but in every other respect the proceedings were satisfactory . The brethren assembled , and clothed at an adjacent house to the Swiss Chalet , at which the exhibition is on view . A large

number of brethren were present , including Bros . W . W , B . Beach , Prov . G . M . ; Capt . Hector McLean , Prov . G . M . of Lanarkshire ; Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , Grand Sec ; Lieut . Black , Prov . G . S . W . of Lanarkshire } J . E . Lefeuvre , Deputy Prov . Grand Master of Hampshire ; E . Goble , Prov . Grand Sec ; Alfred Greenham , W . M . of the Chine ) Lodge , the

Masters of the other lodges in the Isle of Wight , Southampton , and Portsmouth . The brethren went in procession to the Swiss Chalet , where the Prov . Grand Master in opening the exhibition said it was ill for the welfare of a nation when it tried to efface the memories of the past , for it was by the recounting of noble deeds and noble memories that people were

stimulated to emulate the great actions of their forefathers , that was true of all nations . We Masons , he continued , had a history of the past , the past of which they were justly and truly proud , they pointed with pride to those who had gone before them , and they tried to emulate their example and carry out their principles . Masons knew they had a long past , reaching back into

a remote antiquity , they , however , knew little of the origin of the Craft , but they could trace it back by existing things . Freemasonry had been preserved wherever knowledge existed , and it had exercised civilising and humanising influence in every country where it existed ; it was even met with in barbarous countries . They might congratulate themselves on the

present age , when Masonry was making such rapid strides , and when the members of the Craft were imbued wilh those great principles which had been handed down to them , principles conducive not only to reverence , to good , and loyalty to ihe Sovereign , but devotion to

their country . He trusted that the Masons of the day would never lose sight of those great principles , or of the claims of Charity and the ties of Brotherhood . The Provincial Grand Master then formally declared the Exhibition open .

Bro . POPHAM WHITE , the lord of the manor , on behalf of the Chine Lodge , presented the Provincial Grand Master with agold medal , struck in commemoration of the day ' s event . The Master also presented the Provincial Grand Master , Deputy Master , and the Provincial Grand Secretary with beautifuly bound catalogues .

In the evening a celebration dinner , at which many Grand Officers , including Bro . Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke , Grand Secretary , attended , was held , and the grounds of the Swiss Chalet were illuminated . During the Exhibition Promenade Concerts will be given by the Band of the Royal Irish Rifles and the Shanklin Town Band .

“The Freemason: 1886-09-11, Page 3” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 8 Aug. 2025, django:8000/periodicals/fvl/issues/fvl_11091886/page/3/.
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Untitled Article 1
Untitled Article 1
LODGE TRUE FRIENDSHIP, No. 218, CALCUTTA. Article 2
OPENING OF THE MASONIC EXHIBITION AT SHANKLIN, ISLE OF WIGHT. Article 3
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To Correspondents. Article 5
Original Correspondence. Article 5
Masonic Notes and Queries. Article 5
REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS. Article 6
INSTRUCTION. Article 6
Royal Arch. Article 7
INSTRUCTION. Article 7
Scotland. Article 7
Egypt. Article 7
PRESENTATION TO THE UNANIMITY AND SINCERITY LODGE , No. 261. Article 7
FREEMASONRY IN DEVON AND CORNWALL. Article 7
THE LATE MISS JARWOOD. Article 8
ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. Article 8
AMERICAN MASONIC COURTESIES. Article 8
THE "LIGHT" OF FREEMASONRY. Article 8
MASONIC CHARITY IN WEST LANCASHIRE. Article 8
A MASONIC ANECDOTE . Article 8
FREEMASONS AND EMIGRATION. Article 9
The Craft Abroad. Article 9
THE THEATRES. Article 9
MASONIC AND GENERAL TIDINGS Article 10
METROPOLITAN MASONIC MEETINGS. Article 11
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Untitled Ad 11
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WILLING'S SELECTED THEATRICAL PROGRAMME. Article 11
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Lodge True Friendship, No. 218, Calcutta.

Grand Master of Bengal , its number being 12 of Bengal ; but according to some of our oldest Past Masters there is a tradidion that it was in existence long before that date , being attached to a regiment servi ng in the West Indies , afterwards transferred to the East , and had we been properly registered in the books of the Grand Lodge of England , no doubt we should be found to be one of the oldest lodges on the English rolls , and

certainly No . I of Bengal . But in the absence of such registration , and with no books of District Grand Lodge or of our own to refer to , we must for the present rest content with the numbers we now hold—we say for the present , hoping that we may some day , through any of our energetic past members who may visit England , be enabled to establish our priority . We can , therefore , with the limited material at our disposal , only commence

this brief sketch from the above date , at which time Masonry must have been in a very flourishing condition in Bengal , there being some 14 lodges at the different civil and military stations . Of these , three were in Calcutta , viz ., Star in the East , No . 1 ; Industry and Perseverance , No . 2 ; and Humility with Fortitude , No . 11 ; Trus Friendship , No . 12 , not becoming a Calcutta lodge until 17 S 7 , when the third Army Brigade moved into Fort William .

About 1781 appears to have been a most disastrous time for Masonry in Bengal , the Carnatic War being the reason given for it , and every lodge , with the exception of Industry , No . 2 , went into abeyance ; even the Provincial Grand Lodge being closed from that year until 17 S 5 , when , mainly through the action of " Industry " in ascertaining that so long as a

single lodge remained working , Provincial Grand Lodge would not cease to exist , it was reconstructed . Star in the East and True Friendship seem to have been the first lodges that got revived , for , on 28 th February , 1787 , we find the Provincial Grand Lodge writing to the Grand Lodge of England : —

" Of the lodges in these provinces we believe all have ceased to exist , except the lodges Nos . 1 and 2 , and one consisting of non-commissioned officers and privates belonging to the Third Brigade . " About this time the Third Brigade moved into Fort William , and on 24 th December of the same year , the Secretary of True Friendship wrote to Provincial Grand Lodge setting forth that in December , 1773 , they had

received a warrant from M . W . Bro . Samuel Middleton , but that from sundry causes such warrant had not been replaced by a regular Constitution , and praying that such Constitution mig ht be granted . The Constitution was granted and a renumbering of the lodges took place . Masonry in Bengal was at this time represented by the Calcutta lodges alone , another having in the meantime been added to their number , viz ., " Unanimity , " which ,

doubtless through the irregularity of " True Friendship s" not having a regular constitution , had also borne the number 12 . By the new numbering 1 and 2 remained as before , 3 to 8 were left open in case any of the Mofussil lodges should revive , and "Unanimity" was made No . 9 , " True Friendship , " No . 10 , and " Humility with Fortitude , " which had also by this time been revived , No . 11 . The first Master of " True Friendship" under its new

constitution was its former Secretary , James Davis , and the constitution was delivered to the lodge at a visit paid to it by Provincial Grand Lodge on 22 nd January , 178 S . The Third Brigade did not , however , remain long in Fort William , and moved in the same year to Berhampore , taking the lodge with it . This seems to complete the record of the original Lodge " True Friendship . "

On 27 th February , 17 88 , we find seven members of " True Friendship petitioning Provincial Grand Lodge to be allowed to form a separate lodge , as they could not leave Calcutta when the Third Brigade went to Berhampore . The petition was acceded to , and Bro . Edward Griffith was elected first Master of the new "True Friendship , " which received the number 12 ; but before the constitution could be prepared , a hitch arose from three out of the seven

members who had signed the petition withdrawing their names from it . It does not appear how the difficulty was got over ; but in any case the constitution was signed on 24 th July , 1788 , and on 28 th October of the same year the Provincial Grand Lodge wrote to the Grand Lodge of England that the lodge was regular and orderly , Bro . Griffith being Master . This brother was re-elected Master for 1789 .

For some years after this time the records of Provincial Grand Lodge are wanting , and all the old records of " True Friendship " having been destroyed under peculiarly unfortunate circumstances , nothing can be ascertained regarding the lodge until towards the close of the century , when the Calcutta lodges had been increased to seven by the addition of "Anchor and Hope " and " Marine . " None of the Mofussil lodges for which numbers

had been reserved seem to have been revived , and it is difficult to say whether the original " True Friendship , " No . 10 , which went to Berhampore ever re-amalgamated with its offshoot No . 12 , or if it became extinct , and "True Friendship" was represented by No . 12 alone . In any case we find " True Friendship " was the first to resent the monopoly that " Star in the East" and " Industry and Perseverance" had obtained of having

thc oflicers of Provincial Grand Lodge uniformly selected from the members of these lodges , and throwing off allegiance to the Grand Lodge of England , applied for , and obtained , a warrant from the Antient York Constitution ( Athole Masons ) . The warrant , which we still work under , is dated 27 th December , 1797 , and the number of the lodge was 315 , being No . 1 of Bengal under that constitution ; and this is peculiarly but , at the same time ,

most satisfactorily vouched for by that portion of the inscription on the grand heirloom of the lodge ( viz ., our punch bowl ) , on which is inscribed " Bengal , No . 1 . " Our records having been unfortunatel y lost and destroyed , we have no opportunity of ascertaining what position in the lodge the generous donor of this

magnificent piece of China held . We only find that it was given to us by one Bro . Hugh Adams , and for over 70 years it has been an emblem , useful as well as ornamental , of the hospitality of Lodge True Friendship , and now serves also as a surviving landmark of our antiquity . As a record of our possessing this valuable token of fraternal esteem and regard , it is advisable to give a slight sketch of the Punch Bowl . It is 22 inches in

Lodge True Friendship, No. 218, Calcutta.

diameter , 10 inches in height , and capable of holding gi gallons of Punch It is most beautifully enamelled , the ornamentation being in lasting gold and rich colours . Within the Bowl under a gold rim , we find the inscription "This Bowl is presented to the Worshipful Master . Wardens , and brethren of the Lodge True Friendship , Bengal , No . I , as a mark of esteem by their Brother , Hugh Adams . " Under this inscription is a very beautiful

frieze of coloured bunches of various flowers on a gold ground . At the bottom of the Bowl is the old emblem of Royal Arch Masonry , with the double triangle , pickaxe , and shovel , and on a blue ribbon the motto , "Sit lux et lux fuit . " On the outside on the upper ed ge is a gold Grecian border on a Royal blue ground , and on the body are four compartments , the first of which represents the emblems of the 1 st , 2 nd , 3 rd , and Installed

Master Degrees , with the Volume of the Sacred Law opened at II . Chron ., Chap , iii ., and a ribbon with motto , " Fide , Spe , et Charitale . " In the second we find the stars and symbols of the Red Cross of Babylon and of the Order of the Knights of Constantine . In the third divisio n are the Knights Templars' star and cross with the emblems of mortality and the double cross of a Commander ; and in the centre the elapsed hands of True Friendship , the Badge of the Provincial Grand Master of Beneal , and

the inscription " Lodge True Friendship , Bengal , No . 1 , G . L . E ., No . 315 . " On the rim of the base is the inscription : " This Bowl made by Syng Chong , China Merchant , Canton , A . D . 1813 . " Lodge Humility shortly followed True Friendship in seceding from the Grand Lodge of England , and received from the Antient York Constitution the number 317 , or No . 2 of Bengal : Anchor and Hope , and Marine followed some three years later , when they also obtained warrants from the Antient York Constitution .

About the begining of the present century the three lodges working under the Grand Lodge of England , from various causes , fell into abeyance , and for some years Masonry in Bengal was represented by the four lodges working under the Antient York Constitution alone , but before the union of

the Grand Lodges in iS 13 , Star in the East , and Industry and Perseverance had been revived , Unanimity having disappeared for ever . At the union of the Grand Lodges True Friendship received the No . 383 , and at the renumbering of the lodges in 1832 it got No . 265 ; in 186 3 11 s present No . 218 was assigned to it .

Since the union there is only one event of any moment connected with the lodge and that is its amalgamation with Lodge Aurora on the 17 th Augus \ 1830 . This lodge ( Aurora ) was constituted in 1814 , fell into abeyance in 1820 , but was revived in 1824 , and at the time of the amalgamation it appears to have been in a very flourishing condition , more so , in fact , than True Friendship , which seems to have secured unusually favourable terms in the transaction .

In conclusion , it should be recorded that Lodge True Friendship has always maintained an even position in its numbers , and has been comparatively free from the vicissitudes of other lodges . It has for the last 40 years been celebrated for the number of its old Past Masters who have filled the highest offices in Masonry , and been conspicuous for their staunch support of the District Grand Lodge . Peace and harmony have long reigned in our midst , and that these may continue we heartily pray .

Opening Of The Masonic Exhibition At Shanklin, Isle Of Wight.

OPENING OF THE MASONIC EXHIBITION AT SHANKLIN , ISLE OF WIGHT .

[ BY TELEGRAPH . TheopeningceremonyoftheMasonicexhibition at Shanklin , Isleof Wight , was somewhat marred by unfavourable weather , but in every other respect the proceedings were satisfactory . The brethren assembled , and clothed at an adjacent house to the Swiss Chalet , at which the exhibition is on view . A large

number of brethren were present , including Bros . W . W , B . Beach , Prov . G . M . ; Capt . Hector McLean , Prov . G . M . of Lanarkshire ; Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , Grand Sec ; Lieut . Black , Prov . G . S . W . of Lanarkshire } J . E . Lefeuvre , Deputy Prov . Grand Master of Hampshire ; E . Goble , Prov . Grand Sec ; Alfred Greenham , W . M . of the Chine ) Lodge , the

Masters of the other lodges in the Isle of Wight , Southampton , and Portsmouth . The brethren went in procession to the Swiss Chalet , where the Prov . Grand Master in opening the exhibition said it was ill for the welfare of a nation when it tried to efface the memories of the past , for it was by the recounting of noble deeds and noble memories that people were

stimulated to emulate the great actions of their forefathers , that was true of all nations . We Masons , he continued , had a history of the past , the past of which they were justly and truly proud , they pointed with pride to those who had gone before them , and they tried to emulate their example and carry out their principles . Masons knew they had a long past , reaching back into

a remote antiquity , they , however , knew little of the origin of the Craft , but they could trace it back by existing things . Freemasonry had been preserved wherever knowledge existed , and it had exercised civilising and humanising influence in every country where it existed ; it was even met with in barbarous countries . They might congratulate themselves on the

present age , when Masonry was making such rapid strides , and when the members of the Craft were imbued wilh those great principles which had been handed down to them , principles conducive not only to reverence , to good , and loyalty to ihe Sovereign , but devotion to

their country . He trusted that the Masons of the day would never lose sight of those great principles , or of the claims of Charity and the ties of Brotherhood . The Provincial Grand Master then formally declared the Exhibition open .

Bro . POPHAM WHITE , the lord of the manor , on behalf of the Chine Lodge , presented the Provincial Grand Master with agold medal , struck in commemoration of the day ' s event . The Master also presented the Provincial Grand Master , Deputy Master , and the Provincial Grand Secretary with beautifuly bound catalogues .

In the evening a celebration dinner , at which many Grand Officers , including Bro . Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke , Grand Secretary , attended , was held , and the grounds of the Swiss Chalet were illuminated . During the Exhibition Promenade Concerts will be given by the Band of the Royal Irish Rifles and the Shanklin Town Band .

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