Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Installation Of Earl De Grey And Ripon As Grand Master.
as a Mason under such painful circumstances . For myself , Most Worshipful Sir , having served with you so long at the head of the Craft , and having found you always ready to give me the best assistance—and the most admirable assistance too—and to take my duty off my hands whenever it has been
inconvenient or impossible for me to come forward , I am sure this large body of Masons here present , will all be well aware how gratifying it is to me to find you unanimously elected as my successor in this chair . I feel that the Masons of England , having known you for so long a time , in unanimously
electing you to this chair , only responded to the general feeling of the Craft throughout the country . I shall now call upon you , Most Worshipful Sir , to come forward and take the obligation of Grand Master . Bro . Grand Chaplain , I call upon you for the prayer . The Earl De Grey having knelt , Bro . the Rev .
T . F . Ravenshaw , G . C , offered up the customary prayer , after which Bro . T . H . Hall , Prov . G . M . for Cambridge , recited the obligation , which Earl De Grey repeated in a very subdued voice . The Earl of Zetland , on Earl De Grey rising , invested him with the insignia of his office , and placed
him on the Throne . The GRAND MASTER immediately invested Lord Zetland as Past Grand Master , and placed him in the P . M . chair between himself and the Prince of Wales . SlRAi . BERTWoODS ( Garter ) , G . Dir . of Cer ., there
upon came forward and announce the new Grand Master by all his names and titles , and called on the brethren to salute him in the usual form . This having been done , The GRAND MASTER ( still speaking under feelings of strong emotion ) said : Brethren , under other
circumstances it would have been my desire to address to you some observations ; first to convey to you the expression of my deep thankfulness for the honour which you have conferred upon me , and then to speak somewhat of thc principles by which I should endeavour to bc guided so long as you
may continue to place this great trust in my hands . But , brethren , at the present time I know that your kindness will excuse me—( hear , hear , )—if I am unable to do more than to convey to you the expression of my deep gratitude in the simplest terms—terms thc not less sincere because words fail
me—if 1 say only , from the bottom of my heart I thank you . The GRAND MASTER : Brethren , I appoint our Right Worshipful Brother , the Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , to be Deputy Grand Master —( applause , )—and brethren , 1 have to express to you on Lord Carnarvon ' s behalf his great regret that it is
impossible for him to be present here , as he had fully intended to-day ; but , as the nearest representative of his murdered cousin , he is detained by sad duties in the country , which render it absolutely out ofthe question that he should bc here ; and I am sure that I rightly interpreted your feelings when I told him that I was confident that there was no brother in the Craft who would not excuse his
absence to-day . ( Hear , hear . ) SIR ALBERT WOODS declared the Earl of Carnarvon duly appointed Deputy Grand Master , and after thc usual salutes , thc following appointments of Grand Officers were made : —
Earl of Jersey , Senior Grand Warden . Sir F . Martin Williams , M . P ., Junior Grand Warden . ReviWahe ^ R ' short , J Grand explains . Samuel Tomkins , Grand Treasurer .
/ Eneas J . Mclntyre , Grand Registrar . John Hervey , Grand Secretary . Emii Wcndt , Grand Secretary for German Corres pondencc . Horace Lloyd , Q . C , \ c •^ J ^ W . Romaine Callender , } Semor Grand Deacons .
E . Barker Sutton . ) •^ , ~ E . Turner Fay , J J unior Grand Deacons . F . P . Cockcrell , Grand Superintendent of Works . Sir Albert W . Woods , Garter , Grand Director of Ceremonies .
Conrad C . Dumas , Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies . Hollon , Sword Bearer . James Coward , Grand Organist . James Brett , Grand Pursuivant . John Coutts , Assistant Grand Pursuivant . C . B . Payne , Grand Tyler .
The GRAND MASTER ; I now invest Br . Frederick Dundas , Past Grand ( Warden , with the insignia of his office , as representative ofthe Three Globes and Grand Countries' Lodges in Berlin . The GRAND SECRETARY read the following names which had been returned by lodges as Grand Stewards for the year ;—
. . Lodge . Noyes eg Stoltenofi * \\ , 21 Fordati . ' ,, 2 Bailey ... " 4 Craddock ... , , . „ ' . " . $ *
Installation Of Earl De Grey And Ripon As Grand Master.
Brand ... 6 Edmonds 8 Bristow 14 May ¦ 23 Mourilyan ... ... ... ... 26 Lyncs ... ... ... ... 29
Williams 46 Goodwin ... ... ... ... 50 Fish ... ... ... ... 91 Scott ... 99 Havil ... ... ... ... 197 Cooke ... ... ... ... 259
The GRAND MASTER * . Brethren , there remains one duty to performed , and it is one in which I am confident every brother in this great hall will most heartily join ; it is to present to our Most Worshipful Brother the Earl of Zetland the address which was voted to him at the last Quarterly
Communication by this Grand Lodge . ( Turning to the Earl of Zetland , the Grand Master said ) : Most Worshiptul Sir , the sentiments of this Grand Lodge are embodied in that resolution , which shows how deeply they feel the many and great services which you have rendered to the Craft during the quarter
of a century , through which , for our great benefit , you have ruled over us ; and it records the feelings of affection and respect which the Craft will ever cherish when it remembers the nature and the extent of those services —( hear , hear)—and it concludes by expressing that which I am confident is the
ardent wish of every brother here , and of every brother throughout the country , that you may long be spared to take a part in the deliberations of this Grand Lodge —( hear , hear)—and to aid us with that lengthened experience and that matured wisdom which has enabled you for so long , and with such
eminent success , to guide the destinies of Masonry . My Lord and Brother , on behalf and in the name of the great Craft of Freemasons in England , 1 now present to you this emblazoned resolution as a small but most sincere testimony of our gratitude , affection and respect . ( Cheers ., )
The ' * resolution " was in thc following words : — "United Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of England—At a quarterly communication holden at Freemasons' Hall , London , on Wednesday , the 2 nd of March , 1 S 70 , it was proposed by Earl Dc Grey and Ripon , and seconded by Bro . J . P . Dumas—That this Grand
Lodge desires to record its sense of thc eminent services which have been rendered to Masonry by the Right Hon . the Earl of Zetland in the course of the 26 years during which he has presided over the Craft as Worshipful Grand Master , and to convey to his lordship the expression of heartfelt regret of the members of this Grand Lodge at the termination of the intimate connection which has existed
for so long a period between him and them , and of their hope that they may still bc permitted to enjoy for many years the great benefit of his presence among them , and of his counsel and guidance , and to assure him lhat the manner in which he has always discharged the important duties of his high office has won for him the lasting respect and affection of this Grand Lodge . "
The EARL of ZETLAND , Past G . M . : Most Worshipful Sir , I have to thank you most sincerely for thc kind manner in which you have presented me with the address voted hy Grand Lodge on the occasion of my retirement from office . I assure you , Sir , 1 can say most truthfully , that I have not
words to express my feelings of this occasion . I have always endeavoured to do my duty to the best of my power , and you have always given me credit for it ; but I cannot express in such pathetic language as is in that address , my gratitude for your
kindness . It makes me feci , that the compliments paid me arc higher than I deserve . ( No , no . ) It is true I have done my best , but I have to thank many good friends and good Masons for thc constant assistance they have given me in carrying out that which I was most desirous to do—the best
measures for the good of the Cralt . I will not attempt further to persuade you of the heartiness of my sentiments . I assure you I deeply feel the compliment you have paid me , and shall always cherish it ; and I know the brethren will excuse me if I cannot find words to express how deeply I feel the
compliment . ( Protracted cheering . ) Bro . HAVERS : My Lord Zetland , I have thc honour to address your lordship on behalf of the Committee ofthe Zetland Memorial Fund . I esteem it no little honour and privilege to have the request made to me , that I should address you . I have to
present to your lordship this evening , a sum amounting to £ 2 , 730 , together with that little inkstand which I am told meets with your lordship's approbation , as a souvenir of the occasion . It is right that I should state to your lordship for the information of those brethren who arc present , the circumstances connected with the gift . It was thc wish
and desire of a large number of brethren to commemorate by a limited subscription their appreciation of the long services of Lord Zetland as Grand Master of the'O rder . His Iordship , in thcoutset ofthe movement , let it be known that he would not consent to receive any large sum of money in the form of a personal testimonial to himself ; but at the same time , he said he would be willing to receive it to de-
Installation Of Earl De Grey And Ripon As Grand Master.
vote it to some purpose of Masonic Charity , and at the same time to accept something as a souvenir for himself , which might be transmitted on his death to his descendants . My lord , it is my duty for the information of your lordship and of Grand Lodge to say , that had you been willing to accept
something personal to yourself , the amount which we have now raised would have been trebled , ay , even quadrupled . I am also able to say , that the question you submitted to us as to the disposition of the sum was fully considered , and that the schemes met with very considerable opposition . For
myself , I can now say , that I entirely agree with the opinion of the majority , that nothing could be better or more desirable , than the present disposition of the fund . In such a large society as ours there must ever be some , who having fallen from a good position in life to a point of distress , would shrink from
disclosing their distress and trouble before a committee , no matter how kind those who compose it might be . For such as these , the Zetland Fund will be a great boon . We trust and hope it is the nucleus of a larger fund , which will be hereafter contributed to by benevolent individuals for the assistance of
thosedistressed Masons , who failing this fund , might have gone unaided in their hour of need . That fund is invested in the names of the following Trustees , according to your lordship ' s wish : —The Earl of Zetland , thc Earl De Grey and Ripon , the Earl of Carnarvon , and Bros . John Havers , Victor
Williamson , Samuel Tomkins , . / Eneas J . Mclntyre and Llewellyn Evans . To them your lordship has confided the duty of framing the rules and regulations by which the fund is to bc distributed , and the strictest care will be taken that while every deserving person shall apply to the Grand Secretary , no
personal application shall be made either to you or to your successors . And now , having stated the amount of the fund and the objects to which it shall be devoted , I am sure I shall bc pardoned if I trespass on your time , by taking a very brief and rapid review of the numerous important events which
have occurred in Freemasonry during your lordship ' s Grand Mastership . Beginning first with the most important matters , I will take our charities , and I find that during your reign the annuities for aged women have been founded . When you first became Grand Master , there was no annuity for
them . Last year the income was £ 2 , 017 . When your lordship became Grand Master the number of aged annuitants was 87 , it is now 96 . During your reign the Girls' School has been rebuilt , and the children in them have been increased from 70 to 100 . The Boys' School has also been rebuilt ,
and the boys therein increased in number from 70 to 115 . Turning to the number of lodges in the Craft , under the Grand Lodge of England , I find that in 1844 there were 723 lodges , in 1870 there are 1 , 310 . The certificates issued , I find in 1844 were 1 , 584 ; in 186 9 , 7 , 000 . Without occupying the time
of Grand Lodge unnecessarily , I may be permitted to state , that as to thc income , it stands thus . The income of Grand Lodge from the Fund of Benevolence and thc fund of charitable purposes , has risen from . £ 12 , 153 in 1 S 44 , to £ 3 8 , 025 in 1869 . My lord , last , but not least , in this matter , in your reign this
great and noble hall has been built , and we , the Grand Lodge of England have been freed from what I am afraid was thc just reproach of having held our meetings for 100 years at a tavern . There are other circumstances which have influenced the Craft materially . Thc great relief which our colonial
brethren have received in a large amount of taxation being taken off , and by their having taken a very important voice in thc election of Grand Officers . I would next point out with regard to Grand Lodge Officers , the object of rewarding worthy Masons has not been confined to London Masons only , and as in
years gone by to certain favoured lodges ; but you have sought far and wide to reward good services and merit wherever you have found them throughout the kingdom . Pursuing its path free from intolerance , free from any disposition to enter into political or religious discussion , and always loyal , Grand Lodge
has under your management represented almost thc best form of government . You have been our sovereign : we have been content to be your subjects . You have learned thc great art of allowing people to govern themselves ; and the Craft have governed themselves well—to their advantage
and to your honour . As under a wise monarchy of free institutions , people , trades , arts , and commerce flourish , so under your wise and benignant rule Freemasonry has flourished . We are , I was about to say , a nation amongst ourselves—I might say a great nation—and , though dispersed , bound
together by the closest ties . We have been honoured by having a nobleman of your unimpeachable honour and integrity to preside over us . ( Cheers . ) But , my lord , on the other hand , I am sure you will permit me to say that the high position you have so
well filled is one which the highest nobleman , nay , even a prince , might well be proud of . The influence of Freemasonry can hardly be over-rated . It is a most powerful agent in this country for good . It is no small matter for a man to know that he has at
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Installation Of Earl De Grey And Ripon As Grand Master.
as a Mason under such painful circumstances . For myself , Most Worshipful Sir , having served with you so long at the head of the Craft , and having found you always ready to give me the best assistance—and the most admirable assistance too—and to take my duty off my hands whenever it has been
inconvenient or impossible for me to come forward , I am sure this large body of Masons here present , will all be well aware how gratifying it is to me to find you unanimously elected as my successor in this chair . I feel that the Masons of England , having known you for so long a time , in unanimously
electing you to this chair , only responded to the general feeling of the Craft throughout the country . I shall now call upon you , Most Worshipful Sir , to come forward and take the obligation of Grand Master . Bro . Grand Chaplain , I call upon you for the prayer . The Earl De Grey having knelt , Bro . the Rev .
T . F . Ravenshaw , G . C , offered up the customary prayer , after which Bro . T . H . Hall , Prov . G . M . for Cambridge , recited the obligation , which Earl De Grey repeated in a very subdued voice . The Earl of Zetland , on Earl De Grey rising , invested him with the insignia of his office , and placed
him on the Throne . The GRAND MASTER immediately invested Lord Zetland as Past Grand Master , and placed him in the P . M . chair between himself and the Prince of Wales . SlRAi . BERTWoODS ( Garter ) , G . Dir . of Cer ., there
upon came forward and announce the new Grand Master by all his names and titles , and called on the brethren to salute him in the usual form . This having been done , The GRAND MASTER ( still speaking under feelings of strong emotion ) said : Brethren , under other
circumstances it would have been my desire to address to you some observations ; first to convey to you the expression of my deep thankfulness for the honour which you have conferred upon me , and then to speak somewhat of thc principles by which I should endeavour to bc guided so long as you
may continue to place this great trust in my hands . But , brethren , at the present time I know that your kindness will excuse me—( hear , hear , )—if I am unable to do more than to convey to you the expression of my deep gratitude in the simplest terms—terms thc not less sincere because words fail
me—if 1 say only , from the bottom of my heart I thank you . The GRAND MASTER : Brethren , I appoint our Right Worshipful Brother , the Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , to be Deputy Grand Master —( applause , )—and brethren , 1 have to express to you on Lord Carnarvon ' s behalf his great regret that it is
impossible for him to be present here , as he had fully intended to-day ; but , as the nearest representative of his murdered cousin , he is detained by sad duties in the country , which render it absolutely out ofthe question that he should bc here ; and I am sure that I rightly interpreted your feelings when I told him that I was confident that there was no brother in the Craft who would not excuse his
absence to-day . ( Hear , hear . ) SIR ALBERT WOODS declared the Earl of Carnarvon duly appointed Deputy Grand Master , and after thc usual salutes , thc following appointments of Grand Officers were made : —
Earl of Jersey , Senior Grand Warden . Sir F . Martin Williams , M . P ., Junior Grand Warden . ReviWahe ^ R ' short , J Grand explains . Samuel Tomkins , Grand Treasurer .
/ Eneas J . Mclntyre , Grand Registrar . John Hervey , Grand Secretary . Emii Wcndt , Grand Secretary for German Corres pondencc . Horace Lloyd , Q . C , \ c •^ J ^ W . Romaine Callender , } Semor Grand Deacons .
E . Barker Sutton . ) •^ , ~ E . Turner Fay , J J unior Grand Deacons . F . P . Cockcrell , Grand Superintendent of Works . Sir Albert W . Woods , Garter , Grand Director of Ceremonies .
Conrad C . Dumas , Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies . Hollon , Sword Bearer . James Coward , Grand Organist . James Brett , Grand Pursuivant . John Coutts , Assistant Grand Pursuivant . C . B . Payne , Grand Tyler .
The GRAND MASTER ; I now invest Br . Frederick Dundas , Past Grand ( Warden , with the insignia of his office , as representative ofthe Three Globes and Grand Countries' Lodges in Berlin . The GRAND SECRETARY read the following names which had been returned by lodges as Grand Stewards for the year ;—
. . Lodge . Noyes eg Stoltenofi * \\ , 21 Fordati . ' ,, 2 Bailey ... " 4 Craddock ... , , . „ ' . " . $ *
Installation Of Earl De Grey And Ripon As Grand Master.
Brand ... 6 Edmonds 8 Bristow 14 May ¦ 23 Mourilyan ... ... ... ... 26 Lyncs ... ... ... ... 29
Williams 46 Goodwin ... ... ... ... 50 Fish ... ... ... ... 91 Scott ... 99 Havil ... ... ... ... 197 Cooke ... ... ... ... 259
The GRAND MASTER * . Brethren , there remains one duty to performed , and it is one in which I am confident every brother in this great hall will most heartily join ; it is to present to our Most Worshipful Brother the Earl of Zetland the address which was voted to him at the last Quarterly
Communication by this Grand Lodge . ( Turning to the Earl of Zetland , the Grand Master said ) : Most Worshiptul Sir , the sentiments of this Grand Lodge are embodied in that resolution , which shows how deeply they feel the many and great services which you have rendered to the Craft during the quarter
of a century , through which , for our great benefit , you have ruled over us ; and it records the feelings of affection and respect which the Craft will ever cherish when it remembers the nature and the extent of those services —( hear , hear)—and it concludes by expressing that which I am confident is the
ardent wish of every brother here , and of every brother throughout the country , that you may long be spared to take a part in the deliberations of this Grand Lodge —( hear , hear)—and to aid us with that lengthened experience and that matured wisdom which has enabled you for so long , and with such
eminent success , to guide the destinies of Masonry . My Lord and Brother , on behalf and in the name of the great Craft of Freemasons in England , 1 now present to you this emblazoned resolution as a small but most sincere testimony of our gratitude , affection and respect . ( Cheers ., )
The ' * resolution " was in thc following words : — "United Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of England—At a quarterly communication holden at Freemasons' Hall , London , on Wednesday , the 2 nd of March , 1 S 70 , it was proposed by Earl Dc Grey and Ripon , and seconded by Bro . J . P . Dumas—That this Grand
Lodge desires to record its sense of thc eminent services which have been rendered to Masonry by the Right Hon . the Earl of Zetland in the course of the 26 years during which he has presided over the Craft as Worshipful Grand Master , and to convey to his lordship the expression of heartfelt regret of the members of this Grand Lodge at the termination of the intimate connection which has existed
for so long a period between him and them , and of their hope that they may still bc permitted to enjoy for many years the great benefit of his presence among them , and of his counsel and guidance , and to assure him lhat the manner in which he has always discharged the important duties of his high office has won for him the lasting respect and affection of this Grand Lodge . "
The EARL of ZETLAND , Past G . M . : Most Worshipful Sir , I have to thank you most sincerely for thc kind manner in which you have presented me with the address voted hy Grand Lodge on the occasion of my retirement from office . I assure you , Sir , 1 can say most truthfully , that I have not
words to express my feelings of this occasion . I have always endeavoured to do my duty to the best of my power , and you have always given me credit for it ; but I cannot express in such pathetic language as is in that address , my gratitude for your
kindness . It makes me feci , that the compliments paid me arc higher than I deserve . ( No , no . ) It is true I have done my best , but I have to thank many good friends and good Masons for thc constant assistance they have given me in carrying out that which I was most desirous to do—the best
measures for the good of the Cralt . I will not attempt further to persuade you of the heartiness of my sentiments . I assure you I deeply feel the compliment you have paid me , and shall always cherish it ; and I know the brethren will excuse me if I cannot find words to express how deeply I feel the
compliment . ( Protracted cheering . ) Bro . HAVERS : My Lord Zetland , I have thc honour to address your lordship on behalf of the Committee ofthe Zetland Memorial Fund . I esteem it no little honour and privilege to have the request made to me , that I should address you . I have to
present to your lordship this evening , a sum amounting to £ 2 , 730 , together with that little inkstand which I am told meets with your lordship's approbation , as a souvenir of the occasion . It is right that I should state to your lordship for the information of those brethren who arc present , the circumstances connected with the gift . It was thc wish
and desire of a large number of brethren to commemorate by a limited subscription their appreciation of the long services of Lord Zetland as Grand Master of the'O rder . His Iordship , in thcoutset ofthe movement , let it be known that he would not consent to receive any large sum of money in the form of a personal testimonial to himself ; but at the same time , he said he would be willing to receive it to de-
Installation Of Earl De Grey And Ripon As Grand Master.
vote it to some purpose of Masonic Charity , and at the same time to accept something as a souvenir for himself , which might be transmitted on his death to his descendants . My lord , it is my duty for the information of your lordship and of Grand Lodge to say , that had you been willing to accept
something personal to yourself , the amount which we have now raised would have been trebled , ay , even quadrupled . I am also able to say , that the question you submitted to us as to the disposition of the sum was fully considered , and that the schemes met with very considerable opposition . For
myself , I can now say , that I entirely agree with the opinion of the majority , that nothing could be better or more desirable , than the present disposition of the fund . In such a large society as ours there must ever be some , who having fallen from a good position in life to a point of distress , would shrink from
disclosing their distress and trouble before a committee , no matter how kind those who compose it might be . For such as these , the Zetland Fund will be a great boon . We trust and hope it is the nucleus of a larger fund , which will be hereafter contributed to by benevolent individuals for the assistance of
thosedistressed Masons , who failing this fund , might have gone unaided in their hour of need . That fund is invested in the names of the following Trustees , according to your lordship ' s wish : —The Earl of Zetland , thc Earl De Grey and Ripon , the Earl of Carnarvon , and Bros . John Havers , Victor
Williamson , Samuel Tomkins , . / Eneas J . Mclntyre and Llewellyn Evans . To them your lordship has confided the duty of framing the rules and regulations by which the fund is to bc distributed , and the strictest care will be taken that while every deserving person shall apply to the Grand Secretary , no
personal application shall be made either to you or to your successors . And now , having stated the amount of the fund and the objects to which it shall be devoted , I am sure I shall bc pardoned if I trespass on your time , by taking a very brief and rapid review of the numerous important events which
have occurred in Freemasonry during your lordship ' s Grand Mastership . Beginning first with the most important matters , I will take our charities , and I find that during your reign the annuities for aged women have been founded . When you first became Grand Master , there was no annuity for
them . Last year the income was £ 2 , 017 . When your lordship became Grand Master the number of aged annuitants was 87 , it is now 96 . During your reign the Girls' School has been rebuilt , and the children in them have been increased from 70 to 100 . The Boys' School has also been rebuilt ,
and the boys therein increased in number from 70 to 115 . Turning to the number of lodges in the Craft , under the Grand Lodge of England , I find that in 1844 there were 723 lodges , in 1870 there are 1 , 310 . The certificates issued , I find in 1844 were 1 , 584 ; in 186 9 , 7 , 000 . Without occupying the time
of Grand Lodge unnecessarily , I may be permitted to state , that as to thc income , it stands thus . The income of Grand Lodge from the Fund of Benevolence and thc fund of charitable purposes , has risen from . £ 12 , 153 in 1 S 44 , to £ 3 8 , 025 in 1869 . My lord , last , but not least , in this matter , in your reign this
great and noble hall has been built , and we , the Grand Lodge of England have been freed from what I am afraid was thc just reproach of having held our meetings for 100 years at a tavern . There are other circumstances which have influenced the Craft materially . Thc great relief which our colonial
brethren have received in a large amount of taxation being taken off , and by their having taken a very important voice in thc election of Grand Officers . I would next point out with regard to Grand Lodge Officers , the object of rewarding worthy Masons has not been confined to London Masons only , and as in
years gone by to certain favoured lodges ; but you have sought far and wide to reward good services and merit wherever you have found them throughout the kingdom . Pursuing its path free from intolerance , free from any disposition to enter into political or religious discussion , and always loyal , Grand Lodge
has under your management represented almost thc best form of government . You have been our sovereign : we have been content to be your subjects . You have learned thc great art of allowing people to govern themselves ; and the Craft have governed themselves well—to their advantage
and to your honour . As under a wise monarchy of free institutions , people , trades , arts , and commerce flourish , so under your wise and benignant rule Freemasonry has flourished . We are , I was about to say , a nation amongst ourselves—I might say a great nation—and , though dispersed , bound
together by the closest ties . We have been honoured by having a nobleman of your unimpeachable honour and integrity to preside over us . ( Cheers . ) But , my lord , on the other hand , I am sure you will permit me to say that the high position you have so
well filled is one which the highest nobleman , nay , even a prince , might well be proud of . The influence of Freemasonry can hardly be over-rated . It is a most powerful agent in this country for good . It is no small matter for a man to know that he has at