Inauguration Festival At Freemasons' Hall.

Past Grand Registrar . Grand Registrar ( carrying the Seal ) . Grand Treasurer . Past Grand Chaplains . Past Grand WardenB .

Past Provincial Grand Masters . Provincial Grand Masters . Visitors of Distinction . The Column of the J . G . W . borne by the Master of a Lodge The Junior Grand Warden ( with Plumb Rule ) . The Column of S . G . W ., borne by the Master of a Lodge .

The Senior Graud Warden ( with Level ) . Junior Grand Deacons . Grand / The Grand Chaplain , ) Grand Steward . \ bearingtheSacredLawonaCushion . ) Steward The Deputy Grand Master -with the Square .

The Grand Sword Bearer . Grand Steward . THE GRAND MASTER . Grand Steward Senior Grand Deacons . Two Grand Stewards . Grand Tyler .

The M . W . Grand Master having taken his place on the throne , Grand Lodgo was opened with solemn prayer . The Grand Superintendent of Works then approached the throne , and handed to the Grand

Master the plans of the new and now completed buildings . The GRAND MASTER then addressed the brethren in the following terms : Brethren , we are on this day honoured by the atteudauce of the Right Hon .

the Earl of Dalhousie , Grand Master of Scotland ; and therefore I shall ask that two Past Wardens , two Deacons , and two Stewards shall retire and conduct him into Grand Lodge . The Wardens , Deacons , and Stewards then

retired for the purpose , and on their return escorted his lordship in a formal manner to the dais , where he took his seat on the left of the M . W . Grand Master . His lordship was received with loud and

enthusiastic ajsplause , and was saluted with the grand honours by the brethren under the direction of the Grand Director of Ceremonies , at the conclusion of which

His LORDSHIP rose and said : Brethren , I will not detain you or cause any interruption of the proceedings by making a speech at this time , but I cannot help thankiug you most cordially , in the name of my Scottish brethren , for the reception you

have given me as their Grand Master , and I say that I accept it as a proof of the brotherly love and affection which , I trust , will always subsist between the two countries . ( Loud and prolonged cheering . ) Bro . HERVEY , the Graud Secretary , read the

summons convening the Special Grand Lodge for that day . The GRAND SECIIETAUY then read a letter from the Earl do Grey and Ripon , stating that ho was unable to attend , having only recently received the

commands of Her Majesty to attend a Council at Windsor . Therefore , he could not refrain from obeying Her Majesty to attend the Council , but still he would have been amongst them at a later period of the day had Her Majesty not also invited

him to dinner with her at Windsor Castle . Such being the case his lordship would be quite unable to be present . Bro . J . HAVERS , P . G . W ., and Chairman of the Building Committee , then addressed Grand Lodge .

He said , on the present occassion it was his duty to address a few observations in reference to the building they were about to inaugurate , but as he should be followed by the Grand Chaplain , who would deliver an oration iu which the subject would be

fully treated , he should only give a short statement as to the origin and completion of the building . For a long period there had existed an earnest desire amongst many members of Grand Lodge that they should have a fitting home for English

Freemasons , and when a committee was formed to consider that subject they approached the task with Teat difficulty , for as all large bodies were difficult

to move , they found that tho Masonic body did not materially differ from others in that respect . It was about ten years ago when the subject was first mooted , but it was not until 1862 that the Building

Inauguration Festival At Freemasons' Hall.

Committee was formed , and the work was nearly completed in 1867 . He understood that the principle of competition was received with disfavour amongst architects , but the execution of this work by the Grand Superintendent of Works , had tended

to rescue the system of competition from the disfavour that was previously cast upon it , as it was believed the Committee had accepted the best design . The money for the erection of the building had been borrowed on the credit of Grand Lodge , and

although the Committee had obtained powers to borrow an extra £ 3 , 000 for the completion of this temple , he was glad to say that their anticipations of the probable cost were correct , and they were not required to draw the extra £ 3 , 000 . The Committee

felt that there was considerable elasticity in the Craft ; they possessed their confidence , and they believed that they could build the building for the sum named , and that they would never miss the money . When they proposed to build this new

building , they did not expect to get a return for the erection of their house , but at present they received a rental of £ 1 , 200 iu addition to a premium of £ 5 , 000 , and in a few years the rental will be £ 3 , 140 . It must , however , be borne in mind that this amount

was not all clear profit , for there were increased taxes and other charges . There was one matter that he referred to with regret , for there was a coffeeroc : n and library for the use of the brethren , comfortable in all respects , and yet not more than thirty

members availed themselves of it , although there was no entrance-fee to be paid , and the whole subscription was one guinea per annum . He was happy to say that with the exception of some small articles of furniture still required , all bills were

discharged and all debts were paid . It was a subject of great congratulation to the Building Committee , and to himself in particular , that they were approaching the termination of their seven years ' labour , and they felt that under very trying

circumstances , to the best of their ability , they had performed their duty , but at the same time he asked the indulgence of the brethren for any shortcomings they might perceive , and he begged to tender to his Lordship his very best thanks

for the undeviating confidence which he had from the first reposed in the Building Committee . There was another source of congratula tion to them , and one of which they were justly highly proud , viz ., that the good work had been

begun , carried on , and completed during his Lordship ' s term of office as Graud Master of England , and although the waves of Masonry at one time ran high , all was now calm , and there was not a portion of the building but would be identified with the name

of Zetland , and it would also be cherished in the hearts of Freemasons . ( Cheers . ) He should be lacking in gratitude if he did not also express it to every one of his colleagues for the kindness and kind support they had at all times given him , and

particularly to his esteemed Brother G . Plucknett , to whom he was greatly indebted for the assistance he had given him . In conclusion , he said he had seen carried out the dearest wish of his heart , in the

separation of tavern accommodation from Masonry , for they now fortunately possessed a fitting temple for the practico of their art , and he hoped that it would long flourish . ( Hear , hear . )

Under the direction of Bro . James Coward , Grand Orgauist , assisted by Bros . R . Barnby , Fielding , Walker , Wilbyc Cooper , Montem Smith , Theodore Distiu , and Winn , tho following anthem was sung : —

" I Have Surely Built Theo an House . " I have surely built thee nn house to dwell in : a settled place for thee to abide in for ever . But will God indeed dwell on earth t behold the heaven , and heavon of heavens , cannot contain thee : how much

les * this house that I have builded . Yet have thou respect ur . to tho prayer of thy servant , O Lord my God . That thino eyes may bo opened towards this house night and day , even toward the place of which thou hast said ,

My Name shall bo there . And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant , and of thy people Israel , when thoy shall pray towards this placo : aud hear thou iu heaven thy dwelling place ; and when thou hearest , forgive .

Inauguration Festival At Freemasons' Hall.

If there be in the land famine , if there be pestilence whatsoever plague , whatsoever sickness there be : What prayer and supplication soever bo made by any man , or by all thy people Israel , which shall know every man the plague of his own heart , and spread forth his

hands towards this house : Then hear thou iu heaven thy dwelling place , aud forgive .

And the Lord said to Solomon , I have heard thy prayer : I have hallowed this house which thou hast built , to put my name there for ever : and mine eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually .

Amen . Hallelujah . The M . W . Grand Master then descended from the Throne , and a procession was formed in the following order : — The Grand Chaplain ( carrying on a Cushion the Volume

of Sacred Law ) , with the Square and Compasses . The Junior Grand Warden , carrying the Cornucopia , with Corn . The Senior Grand Warden ( carrying tho Ewer , with Wine ) The Deputy Grand Master ( carrying the Ewer , with Oil ) .

The Grand Sword Bearer . THE GRAND MASTER . The procession moved three times round the Grand Lodge , and the Wine , Corn and Oil were then sprinkled by the Grand Master , and the usual

dedication to the great pz-inci ]> les of which they are symbolic was then made . The Rev . Robert J . Simpson , Grand Chaplain , then delivered an Oration which was listened to

with marked attention , and at the end much applauded . The following Anthem was then sung : — Hail ! Immortal Lord ! By heaven and earth adored ,

All hail ! great God ! Before Thy name we bend , To us thy grace extend , And to our prayer attend . All hail I groat God !

With solemn prayer the Grand Lodge was closed , and the brethren retired to an excellent

BANQUET , which was served in the large Dining Hall , where a procession was formed of the Provincial Grand Masters aud Grand Officers , who preceded the

Most Worshipful Grand Master and his lordship took his seat at the head of the table . Grace having been sung by the professional brethren , the creature comforts were partaken of , and for the pains and attention bestowed the brethren have to thank Bro .

Charles Gosdeu , the Manager . The arrangements were complete and gave general satisfaction . Theclothhavingbcen drawn , the National Anthem was sung , tho solo parts being given by Mdlle . Carola , Madame Bodda-Pyne , and Bros . Wilbye

Cooper and Winn . The GRAND MASTER in proposing the health of Her Majesty the Queen , said he was glad to see she was coming more often among her subjects , none of whom were more loyal than the Freemasons . He

was also very glad to find how much she had lately improved iu her health and spirits to enable her to transact the important duties of her high station . The toast was drunk with applause . The GRAND MASTER said the next toast he had

to propose , was that of the " Health of the Prince of Wales , the Princess of Wales , and the other members of the Royal Family . " The Grand Master said he was sure that all those Brethren who heard him , would cordially endorse his sincere wishes for

their welfare , and would join with him inexpressing delight in seeing the Royal Famil y growing up and being educated under Her Majesty ' s careful guidance . ( Loud cheers . ) The toast was well received , and it was remarked

that , contrary to the anticipation of several Brethren no allusion was made to His Royal Highness the Prince of AVales in connection with Freemasonry . Song , by Madame Bodda-Pyne . In allusion to a desire for an encore the M . W .

GRAND MASTER roso and said : —There are twentyeight different songs to be sung this evening . It is impossible to allow encores .

Bro . HALL , Provincial Grand Master for Cambridgeshire , proposed the ' Health of the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Ancient , Free and Accepted Masons of England , the Right Honourable