S T. John's Lodge, No. 279, Leicester.

S T . JOHN'S LODGE , No . 279 , LEICESTER .

THE MASONIC JUBILEE OF BRO . WILLIAM KELLY , P . P . G . M . LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND . The last regular meeting of this lodge , held on Wednesday , the 7 th inst ., vvas a memorable occasion , it being the juuilee of Bro . William Kelly , F . S . A ., F . R . Hist . Soc , Past Provincial Grand Master Leicestershire and Rutland ,

and the Provincial Grand Master of Mark Masons of the Province of Leicestershire , Northamptonshire , Derbyshire , and Rutland , vvhich office he has held since 1 S 5 S . He is also Intendant-General of the Knights of the Red Cross of Constantine for the Province of Leicester , Rutland , Notts , and Hunts , and is in many ways actively and intimately connected vvith Freemasonry in all its branches .

who vvas initiated 50 years ago into this lodge , the date of his initiation being Wednesday , 7 th November , 1 S 3 S . Bro . Kellv is at this time filliner the chair of W . M . of his lodge for the fourth time , the first year of his occupancy being the distant one of 1 S 41 . Also at the present time Bro . Kelly is Grand Superintendent of the Royal Arch Masons of the Province of Leicestershire and Rutland ,

The occasion of his Jubilee , a period of service given to but very few to enjoy , called forth feelings of congratulation trom every brother in the province , for amongst all the name of Bro . Kelly is revered and loved for his many kindly qualities . The lodge having been opened , and the minutes read , The WORSHIPFUL MAJIHR cilled upan tiro . Rev . C .

Henton Wood , M . A ., P . G . Sec , to read a Paper , entitled " Fifty Years' Masonic Reminiscences Briefly Told , " on his behalf , as he ( the W . M . ) vvas suffering from a cold . The Paper was extremely interesting , and a concise report oi it is appended . Bro . Kelly commenced by expressing the opinion that , doubtless , on such an occasion it vvould be naturally

expected that he should relate some of the more prominent events vvhich have occurred during his connection vvith the Craft . Whilst deprecating any thought on the part of his hearers that he might be thought guilty of any undue selfglorification in relating ihe honours he had received , he thought his Masonic career might be useful in showing to the brethren generally that it vvas open to all of them to

achieve similar honours . His interest in Masonry commenced at an early period . His father vvas initiated a Mason and took the Royal Arch Degree in New York , and brought back vvith him Webb's " Masonic Monitor" ( then a standard work ) , and he—a schoolboy of 13—read it eagerly , and used to " pump" his father for information as to Masonry . As soon as he reached his majority , he

applied to a P . M . of St . John ' s Lodge to be admitted , but , owing to dissensions then prevailing , he vvas advised to wait , and it was three years later ( in 183 S ) he vvas initiated . He vvas initiated vvith two others , one of whom vvas now dead , but the other ( Bro . John Garle Browne ) vvas still alive , but ill-health prevented his presence that evening . On 17 th November , 183 S—50 years that very day—he was

initiated , and was raised on the gth January , 18 39 . At the next lodge he vvas made S . D . ; his lapid rise vvas owing to the small attendance at lodge . Frequently the minutes of that period vvere marked "no lodge held , " owing to the thin attendance , and the working of the lodge vvas very imperfect . He vvas appointed J . W . at the festival of the lodge in December , 1839 , Bro . Sir F . G . Fowke , Bart .,

D . P . G . M ., being present to install the W . M ., and he vvas appointed S . W . in December , 1 S 40 , and placed in the chair of K . S . in December , 1841 , there being only 15 brethren present , including three visitors . The ceremony was performed by Bro . Laurence Thompson , the Piestonian Lecturer , in the Lodge of Antiquity , vvho used to annually attend to perform that duty at the charges of the lodye

, there being no one competent to perform it , in the absence of the D . P . G . M ., Bro . Sir F . Fowke . He initiated two candidates after his installation , and during the year of his office he had the large number of 14 initiations , vvhich vvas unprecedented . During his year the scheme of building a Masonic HaU vvas mooted , it having been previously suggested in 1824 , and a site procured , but the idea lapsed .

During that year as many as 23 meetings vvere held , one of which vvas for making the arrangements for the Masonic funeral of Bro . Christopher Musson , who had annually expressed his desire at the festival that he should be buried as a Mason . He died in November , 1 S 42 , and was buried with Masonic ceremony , it being performed by Bro . Sir F . Fowke , D . P . G . M ., and it was the last of its kind , and the onl

y one in this century . At the next festival he installed his successor in the chair . His first Provincial office vvas that of J . D . in 1 S 41 , then S . D . in the succeeding year , and also as Junior and Senior Warden , the last in 1 S 46 . He presided at a Prov . Grand Lodge at Loughborough on July 2 4 th , 1 S 44 , the P . G . M . not arriving till the business vvas over—his usual custom ; and , the D . P . G . M . having to leave

immediatel y lodge vvas opened , he presided over the meeting and installed a Master in the Lord Rancliffe Lod ge . He vvas exalted in the Royal Arch in September , 1841 , in the Chapter of Foititude , No . 279 , and jn Ihe succeeding years filled the Principals' chairs , being "i . E . Z . in 18 43 and 1844 In the 18 4 6 the John

. year ° f Gaunt Lodge was formed , and the rivalry , if it may be so called , vvas productive of an increase of members of the t-raft , and an infusion of new life in the mother Lodge of at . John , and a Royal Arch chapter vvas obtained in the next year for the new lodge , called the St . Augustine ¦ -napter , it was consecrated , and Bro . Kellv was in .

"ailed M . E . Z . on 21 st June , 1847 ; in 1863 it was decided w unite the members of the two chapters in the Chapter of Au ^ ' and the C * P ter of St . Augustine vvas moved to ¦ shDy-de-la-Zouch , Bro . Kelly again presiding as M . E . Z . '"June , 184 S , at the festival of the lohn of Gaunt Lodp- « .

ro . Kell y was presented with a P . M . 's jewel , being the fst presented in the province . Lord Rancliffe , P . G . M . O'eoin 1 S 51 , after holding the office ot P . G . M . for 40 years ; 0 lt o * ir 6 ' ha" : ° * that P erioc * ' ne never l , e ' meeting insr n ' Grand Lodge * Bro . Kelly assisted at the stallation of his successor on the 2-ud April—it was

fi ' « excellent Mason , Sir Frederick Gustavus Fowke , * " ., vvho had been D . P . G . M ., and done the work for 20 on axil , ? ° ' " - was a PP ointed i > ir Frederick ' s Deputy did t pril ) I 8 5 2 J but his appointment vvith full powers 18- <; take P lace li " four J ears later , on the 19 th Feb ., KtlL h three months later Sir Frederick died , and Bro . a iv-^ bears eloquent testimony to his merits as a man and Sor tnfu „ Howe was appointed by patent as successienpri a ° -, ce on lSth J > lS 5 6 * and - on Oct . 14 th he honnnr c ° ' ^ Ws P atent as Deputy , and he had the 'o « r of installing him as P . G . M . on the iSth November .

S T. John's Lodge, No. 279, Leicester.

Then followed reminiscences of the connection of Earl Howe vvith St . John's Lodge , of vvhich he vvas VV . M . in 1 S 23 . At the time of the appointment of Earl Howe as Prov . G . M ., Masonry vvas at a low ebb in the province , several lodges having become extinct . But in July , 1858 , a lodge vvas resuscitated at Hinckley , and Lord Howe accepted the office of W . M ., and 13 candidates were

elected . In 1 S 59 , a third attempt to erect a Masonic Hall vvas successful , and Lord Howe , as P . G . M ., laid the foundation stone of the present Hall , and it was completed in the following year , vvhen it was duly consecrated by Earl Howe . In 1 SG 0 , a lodge vvas founded atAshby-de-Ia-Zouch by the late Earl Ferrers , vvho vvas nominated the W . M ., and Bro . Kelly was named in the warrant one of

its founders . But Lord Ferrers dying before it was consecrated , Bro . Kelly performed the ceremony , and installed Bro . Mammatt as the first W . M . ; and he later on initiated in that Iodge the present bearer of the title , and the present P . G . M ., and vvho has held the office for 17 years , and appointed Bro . Kelly his D . P . G . M . for two years . In 1 S 64 , a lodge at Loughborough was founded ,

called the Howe and ( . harnwood , and Earl Howe was its first Master ; in 1 S 66 , the Rutland Lodge was formed at Melton Mowbray , and for the first year Bro . Kelly acted as locum tenens for the W . M ., Bro . Geo . Norman , and the brethren , as a mark of esteem , at the close of the year presented him with a loving cup . Bro . Kelly vvas again VV . M . of the St . Jonn's , in 1867 , at the urgent request of

the brethren , and a testimonial was presented to him at the close of the year . He vvas advanced to the Mark Degree in the Newstead Lodge , Nottingham , in the year 1 S 58 , and charters were obtained in that year for the Fowke Lodge , No . 19 , and the Howe Lodge , No . 21 ; for the former We was nominated Master , and at the same time vvas honoured by receiving a patent of appointment

as Prov . G . M . Master of Leicestershire . At the close of the first year , no meetings of the two lodges were summoned , and the lodges were in abeyance eight years , but were again revived Feb . 20 , 1 S 6 S , Bro . Kelly occupying the chair of the Fowke Lodge ; the Howe Lodge vvas removed to Melton Mowbray , where it remains . A moveable Grand Mark Lodge vvas held at Leicester , Oct . 27 , 1870 , the

Rev . G . R . Portal being M . W . Grand Master , and Earl Percy the D . G . M ., and there was a large attendance , and again Leicester vvas honoured by the presence of Mark Grand Lodge in 18715 , when the Simon de Montfort Lodge , 194 , vvas formed , and Bro . Aid . Wm . Barfoot , the Mayor of Leicester , was installed the first W . M . A campliment was paid to Bro . Kelly in 1 SS 2 , when a charter vvas granted

for a lodge of Ark Mariners , to be named " The William Kelly Lodge , " and moored to the Fowke Lodge , ig . On Sept . 30 , 1 S 69 , Rutland vvas added to Leicestershire , under Earl Howe's rule , and the Vale of Catmos Lodge , 1265 , vvas consecrated , Bro . Kelly performing the ceremony , and at this provincial meeting Lord Howe expressed his wish to resign , on account of his health . At the banquet

succeeding the ceremony , Bro . Kelly expressed his intention to resign with Lord Howe , and a scene of excitement ensued , many brethren exclaiming that A- ; ought to succeed Lord Howe . To prevent misconception , he explained that three years before , Lord Howe , then thinking of retiring , urged him strongly to allow himself to be nominated as his successor , but Bro . Kelly declined , feeling he vvas not able to

occupy so exalted a position . The next meeting of Prov . G . Lodge passed a resolution unanimously , in his absence , in favour of his appointment to the office of P . G . M . Lord Howe resigned in Dec , 1869 , and Bro . Kelly was honoured with the appointment by patent on 3 rd January , 1 S 70 , Grand Master of the Province , and he also received his patent as Grand Supt . of Royal Arch Masonry , vvhich

he still holds . Bro . Kelly was installed P . G . M . on Feb . 10 , 1870 . Lord Howe , on Bro . Kelly ' s accession , gave him his handsome gold chain of office , vvhich Lord Howe had worn as Deputy G . M . of England . Then followed reminiscences of Bro . Kelly ' s part in the laying of the foundation stones of the churches ot St . Paul and St . Mark in May , 1870 , and another on

November 14 th , 1872—the Howe Memorial Church , ln July , 1 S 70 , he consecrated the St . Peter's Lodge , No . 1330 , and also the Commercial Lodge , No . 1391 . He also consecrated the Charwood Chapter in January , 1 S 73 , Earl Ferrers being installed M . E . Z . At the Provincial Grand Lodge on November 14 th , 1872 , he announced his intention through ill-health of resigning the office of

P . G . M ., and read a " Farewell Address , " vvhich was printed . His rule over the province , which had practically extended over 17 years , came to an end on 18 th April , 1873 , when he presided for the last time and installed his successor , Bro . the Right Hon . Sewallis Edward , Earl Ferrers . A beautifully illuminated address , bound in book form , was presented to him , and a purse of 150 guineas raised by a

limited subscription . On August 3 rd , 1 S 74 , the foundation stone of a new Town Hall , Leicester , was laid by Bro . Kelly , Bro . Earl Ferrers being out of the country , and having invited him to perform the ceremony , he assisted the Mayor in the work . On December 5 th , 18 S 2 , as Senior Prov . G . Mark Master , he assisted the late Duke of Albany in consecrating the Grand Masters Lodge of Mark

Masters . He consecrated the Albert Edward Lodge , No . 1560 , Leicester , by desire of the P . G . M ., Bro . Earl Ferrers , and installed Bro . Earl Ferrers as its first Master , and on the 14 th February , 1 SS 4 , he consecrated the Granite Lodge , No . 202 S , Narboro ' , installing as its first Master that zealous Mason , Bro . Rev . W . Langley ; and lastly , on March 2 nd , 1886 , he consecrated the St . George ' s Chapter

of Royal Arch Masons , as Grand Superintendent of the Province . On 29 th April , 18 S 4 , the brethren presented him vvith his portrait , which hangs in the Masonic Hall in company with the portraits of his predecessors , Bros . Sir F . Fowke and Earl Howe . Then followed an interesting account of his progress in the Degrees of Masonry usually called the " side Degrees , " and which it is necessary , owing to

limited space , to omit . And also an account of the progress of Mark Masonry in the county of Leicesierand its adjoining counties of Derby and Northampton , vvhich are under Bro . Kelly ' s rule , and in which Mailc Masonry has made rapid progress within the last lew years . He also mentioned with pleasure his admittance to membership of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , vvhich is limited to 40 memuers , on

September 3 rd , 1887 . After alluding to the loss of many early friends , he concluded with these words : "Ihank God , 1 am glad to feel that , although many highly valued friends have passed away , I have still many treasured friends in Masonry ; and that 1 have much to be thankful for under the protecting care ot T , G . A . O . T . U , So mote it be !"

S T. John's Lodge, No. 279, Leicester.

Following on the close of the reading- of the paper , Bro . C . STRETTON , P . M ., rose and said he vvas deputed to offer the sincere congratulations of the brethren of the lodge on their dear and revered Bro . Kelly reaching his 50 th year of membership . From his personal knowledge during the last 25 years he knew that Bro . Kelly was considered the embodiment of Masonry in the province . They all felt

indebted to him for many acts of kindness and for much encouragement . They vvere most gratified to see him in the chair on that occasion , and trusted that he might long be spared to visit them in lodge . He had the greatest pleasure in presenting Bro . Kelly vvith a loving- cup , on behalf of the brethren of the lodge , as a souvenir of fraternal connection and of this , a red-letter day for St .

John s Lodge . The cup , which is a very handsome and massive one of silver , weighing over 87 ounces , bears the following inscription : " Presented to the Right Worshipful Bro . William Kelly , F . S . A ., F . R . Hist . S ., Past Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Leicestershire and Rutland , Worshipful Master for the fourth time of St . John's Lodge , 279 , by the brethren

of the lodge , on the 50 th anniversary of his initiation therein , as a small token of affectionate regard and esteem for * The Father of the Lodge . ' Nov . 7 th , 1 SS 8 . " Bro . S . STEADS PARTRIDGE , D . P . G . M ., P . A . G . D . C . England , then rose to supplement the words of Bro . Stretton , and expressed his pleasure at being present on that great and almost unique occasion . He vvas specially

gratified at being there as an honorary member of the lodge , and as representing the Provincial Grand Lodge , to have the opportunity of conveying his congratulations . He , on behalf of the brethren of the province , who had not forgotten the auspicious occasion they vvere met to celebrate , presented to Bro . Kelly an illuminated address which was voted at the last Provincial Grand Lodge ,

on October 17 th , which was illuminated by Bro . T . P . Bovvn , and was as follows : " In view of the fiftieth anniversary of the initiation of the R . W . Bro . William Kelly , P . P . G . M ., now closely approaching , and in grateful recognition of the zeal and enthusiasm ever displayed by him in all Masonic matters , and of his valued and successful labours on behalf of Freemasonry generally , more especially

for the permanent [ welfare of this province , the members of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Leicester and Rutland most heartily congratulate their illustrious brother on the occasion , and offer their very sincere wishes that he may long be spared to enjoy the continued esteem and respect of his brethren whilst watching over the progress of the Craft he so loves and adorns , " and , as representing

thebrethren outside the lodge , he expressed the wish that they might for a long time have the pleasure of the visits and encouragement of their esteemed brother . Bro . KELLY said he felt scarcely able to express his thanks and gratification at these marks of esteem , and should deem himself but the holder of the loving cup in trust for his mother lodge , and which he should treasure so long as

he lived as a mark of affection from her . The address gave him the greatest possible gratification , coming as it did from the brethren of the province . He thanked them sincerely for the compliments paid him by the brethren of the lodge and the province . It having been moved that the address be printed , Bro . Kelly at once said , if the lodge desired it , he should have great pleasure in amplifying it

and printing it . Congratulations were received from many friends and lodges by telegram , and numerous letters vvere received from brethren of the lodge , the province , and others who were absent from ill-health and other causes , notably , a letter from Bro . W . Kelly ' s brother initiate , Bro . G . J . Browne , whose health did not permit him to be present .

Alter hearty congratujations had been given the lodge vvas closed . The brethren of the Iodge and visitors were afterwards entertained at a banquet by the W . M ., Bro . Kelly , who presided , being supported on his right by Bro . S . S . Partridge , D . P . G . M ., and on his left by Bro . Alderman Thos . Wright , P . M . 1391 , P . P . G . R . ( Mayor of Leicester ) , and

a large gathering of P . M . ' s of the Craft . Alter the usual loyal toast , Bro . STRETTON proposed "The M . W . G . M ., H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , and Grand Lodge , " to vvhich Bro . G . TOLLER , P . G . S . B . Eng ., responded .

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER proposed "The Provincial Grand Lodge , " coupled vvith the name of Bro . S . S . PARTRIDGE , D . P . G . M ., who responded , and expressed the pleasure he felt at being present with the Present and Past Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge at the celebration of the jubilee of so distinguished a brother of the Craft .

The toast of "The W . M ., Bro . W . Kelly , " vvas proposed by Bro . T . WRIGHT ( Mayor of Leicester ) in an eloquent and touching speech , vvhich deeply impressed thebrethren . He , in graceful terms , alluded to the W . M . 's experiences , and his influence in the province , both in past times

and at the present , eulogising the attention to , and the love for the duties of the Craft which Bro . Kelly had always and did now show , and in concluding , trusted that the remainder of his days might bring him health and happiness , cheered vvith the sympathy of the whole of tha brothert . ood .

The toast was drunk vvith the greatest enthusiasm , the brethren heartily singing " Auld Lang Syne . " Bro . KELLY , in words of emotion , thanked the brethren for the expressions of sympathy and brotherly feeling , and felt almost too overpowered to say what he did feel . He thought their brother the Mayor had said too much —( no , no)—but he vvas constrained to take their word for

it . He gave some interesting anecdotes of events vvhich he had seen , and , with a few hearty words , again expressed his pleasure at the presence of so many brethren on that occasion . It being a late hour , the W . M ., on the conclusion of his speech , wished the brethren good night , and on leaving the room the whole of the company stood up and

gave hearty cheers to the venerable brother . Ihe toast of '" The Visitors" was responded to by Bro . SPETH , of the Quatuor Coionati , and tiro . F . BINCKES , P . G . S . tS . Eng . The Tyler's toast brought an intensel y interesting and memorable gathering to a close .

During the banquet musical contributions vvere rendered by Bros . W . Ricnter , 229 ; W . H . Scott , 279 , P . P . O . Lincoln ; W . H . Noble , Stwd . 279 ; VV . H . Barrow , J . W . 523 , P . P . G . O . ; T . B . Laxton , 1391 , P . P . G . O . ; W . i ' . Rowlett , 523 , P . P . G . O . ; T . A . Wykes , 1560 , P . P . G . O ., P . S . G . W . ; A . Page , 1391 ; and C . H . Page , 1391 .