Arrival In England Of The Most Worshipful Grand Master.

Master opened the lodge in dne form , -and directed the Grand Secretary to read the summons calling the Grand Lodge . After this the Prov , Grand Secretary read the following telegram which he had received . From Knollys , Madrid , to Provincial Grand

Secretary , Southampton , England . " The Prince of Wales will be happy to receive an address at the railway station at Portsmouth ; but he regrets it cannot be read , but only handed in . " The Prov . G . Master then rose and said r

Brethren , we have assembled together on a peculiar but gratifying occasion , viz ., to present an address to our Royal Grand Master on his return from a foreign country , and certainl y the Provincial Grand Ledge of Freemasons never assembled with such an interesting purpose in

view . Brethren , in former ages Princes of Wales have gained honour and distinction on the field of battle ; they have extorted the admiration of surrounding nations by the prowess they have displayed ; and they have been cited as ornaments to their order . But , brethren , there are other

distinctions to be won , and there are other honours to be achieved besides those of the battlefield ; and probably he has not done the least in his generation who has contributed in some degree to cement the blessings of peace , amity , and good-will among the various nations of the

earth . ( Applause . ) Brethren , the relations which England holds to India are very peculiar ; there is no record in history presented which affords an equivalent to it . The throne over which the mighty Akhbar and Auring-zebee the magnificent once presided has

been for many a long year vacant . But it has been the valour , the talent , the splendid qualities of Clive , of Hastings , and many other eminent men whose memory is recorded wherever history presents the page , that have contributed to turn the trading settlements of a company into a

mighty empire united with this . Brethren , as our relations are peculiar , and as we have assumed the rule oi that great country , the permanence of that rule must depend upon the conviction which must be instilled into its inhabitants that we hold this great position for their good and for

their happiness . ( Applause . ) And I believe though occasionally difficulties have occurred , though many wars we have had to sustain , yet I believe on the whole we have established the principle that England has so wielded her single power as to tend to produce happiness and

security among the people of India . ( Renewed applause . ) And in what better manner could the interest which is sustained b y England iu that great country be displayed than when the heir of our throne takes upon himself to visit that country , and personally to enquire into the

various circumstances which there exist ; into the welfare of the people , into their wants and their habits , and so make himself well acquainted with everything which can tend to enable him one day to rule over that great country . ( Applause . ) And brethren , during that visit which

he has paid , every one must have been struck with the conciliatory demeanour , and with the manner in which he has on every occasion conducted himself . The acclamations with which the feudatory princes and the people of India have greeted him have

shewn that they entertain feelings of loyalty to him , which feelings of loyalty will be cemented by the personalities which his presence among them cannot have failed to inspire . Long may the feelings which he has instilled be continued . May India long be united with this

country by the most inlimate ties , and may the visit of the Prince of Wales be the harbinger of peace and happiness to that country , and be the means of strengthening the ties between India and England . ( Renewed applause . ) Brethren , there is a united feeling in favour of

congratulating the Prince of Wales on his return to this country which is felt throughout the whole of onr land ; but by no body of men can it be more sincerely and heartily felt than by those Freemasons , over whom , we are proud to think , he is

cur ruler . ( Applause . ) Brethren ,, we cannot but have been aware that during the time he has been away tlie Pi ince of Wales has not neglected the principles of our order ; he has taken every opportunity of joining in Masonic ceremonies ,

Arrival In England Of The Most Worshipful Grand Master.

and has shown his interest in Freemasonry in every part of the world that he has visited . Then I am sure it will be with one hearty acclaim , with a united feeling of congratulation , that we

are ready to vote an address to him to express our pleasure at his return , our hearty congratulations on the success which has attended his expedition . ( Applause . ) I will read the address now , which is as . follows r—

" To His Royal Highness Albert Edward Prince of Wales , the Most Worshipful Grand Master ofthe Ancient and Honourable Order of the Free and Accepted Masons of England and Wales .

May it please your Royal Highness , We , the Provincial Grand Master , the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Wardens , Officers , and Brethren of the Ancient , Free , end Accepted Masons of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight , desire to approach your Royal Hi ghness and to offer you

our sincere and hearty congratulations upon the successful termination of your important mission to India , and upon your safe return to your native land . We deem this a fitting opportunity to acknowledge with pride and pleasure the hearty reception accorded to yonr Royal

Highness by the Princes and people of that country ; such reception was indeed worthy of your exalted position , as the representative of Her Most Gracious Majesty , and a fitting tribute to the esteem and regard in which Her Majesty is held by her subjects in those distant lands . We have

watched with much interest the many useful and benevolent undertakings which your Royal Highness , in your exalted position as Grand Master of our Ancient Order , as well as the Heir to the Throne of these ^ Realms , has so auspiciousl y inaugurated . We

pray that those works of charity and public usefulness may result in the realisation of your most cherished anticipations . Permit us to offer to your Royal Highness a fraternal greeting on your arrival in this province , an I we pray the Great Architect of the Universe may long spare

your valuable life to the service of the Ancient Order over which you so worthily preside , and enable you to realise to a still greater extent the noble objects you have always had in view—the promotion of the happiness and prosperity of the people of Englanrl , and of peace and amity among the different nations of the earth .

" By order of the Provincial Grand Lodge . " W . W . B . BEACH , P . G . Master . "W . HICKMAN , D . P . G . Master . " Countersigned , " J . E . LE FEUVRE , P . G . Secretary . "

I beg to move that this address be signed on the part of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Hampshire and the Isle of Wi ght . Bro . Hickman , D . P . G . M ., in seconding the motion said : It affords me great pleasure to second the proposition of our Grand Master

which he has enunciated in so eloquent a manjier . I will merely add to the observations he has made , that we in this province feel peculiar interest in the arrival of the Grand Master , inasmuch as his first step on English ground is on the shore of our province after a splendid tour

in India ; and I am sure the gratification we ourselves feel in presenting the first address to him , will be felt generally throughout the country by the whole bod y of Freemasons . I beg leave most cordially to second the proposition of our Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master .

The motion having been unanimouslyadopted , the Prov . Grand Master said that the Grand Treasurer had a number of tickets for the brethren for the railway station . He was afraid , however , that the space was hfit circumscribed , but some brethren mi ght perhaps prefer to take

their chance of seeing His Royal Highness in the streets . Those brethren who chose to apply were at liberty to do so . The tickets were then distributed , and the brethren closed the lodge , and in plain clothes proceeded to the railway station , where the

address was handed in to His Royal Highness , who graciousl y received the same . We may add that His Royal Hi ghness ' s reception throughout his route was of the most enthusiastic and cordial description , and b y the side of the railway along which the Royal special ran groups both of old and young gathered to

Arrival In England Of The Most Worshipful Grand Master.

cheer him and his amiable partner and their family witb their utmost strength of lung . The Royal party seemed much pleased with their reception .

Funeral Of The Countess Dowager Of Derby.

FUNERAL OF THE COUNTESS DOWAGER OF DERBY .

The funeral of the late Dowager Countess of Derby took place on Thursday morning , thc 2 nd inst ., at Knowsley Church , in the presence of a large congregation , consisting mainly of the Knowsley tenants and the villagers of the neighbourhood . The remains of the deceased lady ,

who died in London on the 26 th ult ., where brought by train to Huyton the previous day , and taken thence to Knowsley . By the express wish of the family , the funeral obsequies were of the most private character possible , with thc exception of the assembly of the congregation in the church . Thc body was conveyed from the hall to the church in a bcarse drawn by four horses , and was followed

by four mourning coaches and one of the family carriages . The chief mourners were the Earl and Countess of Derby , Bro . Colonel the Hon . F . A . Stanley , MP ., D . G . M ., W . L .-, Lady Constance Stanley , Colonel thc Hon . Charles J . F . Stanley , Rev . Canon Moopwood , Bro . Lcrd Skelmersdale , D . G . M ., Eng ., P . G . M . ; Mr . Arthur Wilbraham representing his father , Co , thc Hon . E . B .

Wilbraham , ( at present in Rome ) , Admiral Hornby , Mr . G . C . Hale , Mr . T . II . Sanderson , private secretary to Lord Derby ; and Mr . William Moult . The body was met at the church gate by the Rev . W . L . Fielden , rector of the parish ; thc Rev . J . B . Boulton , curate ; and the Rev . O . Ii . L . Penrbyn , rector of the adjoining parish of Huyton , r . nd taken into the church , where the service of

the Church of England was impressively read . The bearers of the coffin—which , upon being taken from the hearse , was covered wilh a black pall bordered with white —were old labourers upon the estate . The coffin was deposited in thc family vault under the nave of the edifice ,

vvhich previously was tenanted only by that of the late Earl of Derby . It is a fac-simile of that wbich contains the remains of th : late earl , being covered with crimson velvet , and having brass mountings . Upon a massive brass plate in the lid was engraved the following inscription : —

EMMA CAROLINE , COUNTESS DOWAGER OF DERBY ; _ Born , March 17 th , 1805 . Married Edward Geoffrey , 14 th Eirl of Derby . May 3 ist 182 ; .

Died April 26 th , iSff . The flag at Huyton Chdrch was hoisted half-mast high , and the peal of bells ( muffled ) rang at intervals during the morning . At the close of the service , Lord and L ady Derby nnd the other chief mourners descended

into the vault ami took a last look at the comn , and afterwards thecongregauon availed themselves of thc privilege accorded to them to inspect the resting place of the deceased and her illustrious husband . Lord Derby left in thc afternoon for London .

A movable Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons was held on Friday , the 28 th ult ., at the Masonic Hall , Bristol . A report of the proceeding will appear in our next . .-...- j A sermon will be preached by Bro . the Rev-A . F . A . Woodford , P . G . C , on Sunday the 21 st inst ., at St .

Michael and All Angels , North Kensington , and a collection will be made in aid of the payment of a debt due to the estate of the late esteemed Bro . John Cow-land . The Marquis of Hartington , P . G . M . Dtrb shire , the leader of the liberal party in the Hou'e Commons , hael a parliamentary dinner on Wedn •4 cvenint- at Devonshire House , Piccadilly .

Vi HEN the summer , with all its attendant pleasures , comes round , there is invariably an increased demand for sparkling wines . Under this head , however , a gooel many things arc sold which do not resemble the juice of the grape except in name . It is a fact that since wines have been more generally consumed the consumption of spirits has decreased in proportion to the population ,

and so much having been gained it would be well to go a step further by drinking wines of pure quality only . This is especially essential in regard to sparkling wines , vvhich are perhaps the more generally " doctored " of all . It is , therefore , with satisfaction that we have noticed the endeavours of such a firm as McCracken ' s , of Queen-street , who have earned -a reputation in the City for more than

forty years for supplying wines of the finest vintages at fair prices , to introduce a good sparkling ¦ wine under its own name , and thus let us know what we arc drinleing . Thc wines of Neuchatel vvere first brought before the readers of thc Press by the " Times " some years ago , when reference was made to thc Neuchatel Champagne , imported by the firm wc have named , in thc highest terms .

bince then the demand m the upper circles for this genuine sparkling wine , instead of the inferior qualities from the districts round the Marne , has steadily increased , so much so that Bouvicr Freres , whose vineyards are in proximity to the lake from whence the wine takes its name , have found it necessary to double the extent of their plant to keep pace with the demand . When it is remembered that

so far back as 1862 , and again in 1867 , the wine received medals at both Exhibitions it is not surprising that it should have gained further in public opinion . And when we consider that the price of the wine is only 42 s . per dozen , and that the quality is above reproach , we may fairly confirm the high medical opinion expressed by the " Times ' to the effect that it is really invaluable in the hands of the physician .