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THEFREEMASON, SATURDAY , DECEMBER 21 , 1878 .

The Death Of The Grand Duchess Of Hesse-Darmstadt.

THE DEATH OF THE GRAND DUCHESS OF HESSE-DARMSTADT .

The dea'h of H . R . H . Princess Alice , as she is familiarly known anion ^ us all ( and always will be best known ) , will be deeply mourned for by all loyal Englishmen and Freemasons . The secomi daughter of the Queen , hoin in 1843 , she was

married in 1862 , and her marriage Lias b ^ cn one of great happiness , she herself winning golden opinions from all who knew her , for her amiability ami ability , her kindness and sociability , an J her desire to be useful and do good . Her

young and promising family has recentl y been attacked by diphtheria , and having nursed her husband and children through this dangerous anil mysterious malady , ( losing her youngest-bom in this * dire complaint ) , she has herself at last

succumbed to it—an irreparable lo-S to her deso late husband and orphans , to her mothei and her own family circle , to countless friends , and to an admiring people . It i .-well kno-Ati how she nursed and cheered

the last days of her lamented father , tne Prince Consort , just as in after years she nursed oui M . W . G . Master . and by a strange fatality—though not strange to the inscrutable Providence of the Most High , if strange to us poor wondering

mortals—she has been taken away on the actual anniversary of her great parent ' s death . Such a mournful episode most be a heavy blow to tin Queen ; and the feelings of all patriotic citizens , as well as of our always loyal Order , will be

turned anxiously towards her , who , in the goodp providence of T . G . A . O . T . U ., has had suchpj heavy trials to bear , in thc midst of such personally happiness , and such a glorious reign . We trust , ^ as we express the feelings , we know , of thi-Sjj entire English Craft , that she may be gracinush K

suppoited in her deep affliction by that Divimpower , to which we are taught , as Masons , tn look up confiding ') -, "in every 1 mergence of life for comfort and support . " H . K . H . fc

Princess Alice died at the Palace at Darmstadt . ! on Saturday morning , December 1 4 th , at 7 . 30 J ; a . m . The sad news Hushed far and wide , aniife teceived in genuine gritf , has made all in Englantlg feel as if they had lost a near relative . Lords Beaconsfield in a very striking letter to the British I Deputation from California , justly and eloquently 3

sums up the character and inestimable worth of the lamented Princess Alice , in these impressive words , when he terms her , " one of the most noble-minded and gifted of women , endeared to

the people of this country by her rich intelligence , ? and her life of perfect bliss and duty . " The heart-f felt symyafhy of our whole fraternity is with the I Royal Family in their great affliction , and with ! her Majesty the Queen in her most unspeakable ! bereavement . I

1878.

1878 .

Time , which is never still , and ever * ' moving on , " has brought us well nigh to the close ol ,

1878 , and the Freemason , therefore , thinks it ! light to issue its valtdictory memorial of another passing year , and to lay before its many kind and sympathetic readers a succinct resu me of theevents which have marked its progress , or signalized its passage . And if , on the whole , at home

especially , EngliMi Ficemasonry in 1878 has witnessed but little to affect the " even tentuir of its way , " if prosperity and pic-tige have maiktd ; its onward stej s , if pearel ' ulness and harmony

have shed abundantly their great blessing on the ! long and lengthening toll of Engli > -h lodges , ? yet , abroad espr . cially , events have transpired and ] occurrences have taken place , which have set !

their mark on 1678 in the annals , at any rate , of Cosmopolitan Freemasonry . We do rot | wish , however , to begin our review of 1878 with the accents of blame : 'nd compk . int ; as the events proceed we shall give again , as we have dene * before , our honest opinion , but we think it ri ght ; to remind our readers , for whom this recapitula '; tion of bygone episodes has a general as well as *

1878.

|| a particular interest , that such events have taken gfplace in 1878 , and while they are , happily , wifh-|| out their appreciable influence on Anglo Saxon 11 Masonry , they colour sadly and darkly the raivords and works of other jurisdictions at the Upresent time . But we shall hear more about

them as the roll of Masonic history for 187 S is unwound , and we beg our numerous readers to accompany us on the journey , with patience and perseverance , with attentive minds , and yet with lenient criticism .

J ANUARV . —January opened with a seasonable New Year ' s treat to the aged inmates of the Asylum at Croydon , which was graced by the presence of many ladies . Bro . Terry ' s admirable irrangements were highly appreciated . During

the month it was announced , ( a most gratifying fact to all Knglish Masons ) , that the receipts for thc Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution amounted to £ 16 , 308 8 s . 1 id ., for the Boys ' School to S £ I 4-, 36 Q 14 s- C » d ., for the Girls '

School to £ 11 , 80 c , in all £ 42 , 478 3 s . 8 d . A very noble total ! The annual Twelfth Night entertainment of the Girls' School took place with great eclat . During January a seasonable letter was published from the Grand Lodge of Hun

gary , repudiating all sympathy with the hurtful action of the Grand Orient of France , and the Grand Orient of Italy declined to adopt the course pursued by the French Grand body . Bro . Thtvenot , at this time , declared in

the Freemason that no schism existed in the Grand Orient of Fiance , ar . d that despite the minority , the action of the majority was agreeable to French Freemasons . The first meeting of the Board of Stewards for the Royal

Masomc Benevolent Institution took place , and Bro . Terry announced 18 9 Stewards . A voluminous correspondence now took place about the Charities and Charity Administration , the upshot of which seemed to be , " leave well alone . " The

| Mother Kilwinning Lodge held its annual meeting , and passed a resolution disapproving of the French innovation . 'Ihe old and well-known Lodge of Yoik , elected seven honorary members , Bros . Hughan , Woodford , Findel , D . Murray

Lyon , VE . J . Mclntyre , John Hervey , and G . F . Fort . Bro . Hughan was also elected honorary menib . T of Franklin Lodge , 134 . During Janu iry , the annual meeting of the Grand Lodge of Denmark took place , when H . R . H . the Crown

Prince was unanimously re-elected Grand Master , and a collection made at his request for the widow of a brother , who had lost his life on the ice . A numerously attended meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of the Eastern District

of Ireland took place during this month , when Sir J . Keanc resigned his office as Prov . G . M . A very interesting presentation took place to Bro . E . J . Morris , J . G . D . of England , by the brethren of Swansea , which was marked with much

good feeling and Masonic heartiness . The Muggeridge Testimonial Fund now reached thc sum of £ 215 , a worthy tribute to an old and deserving Mason . " Old Mug " has deserved well of the Craft . Two very successful Masonic balls took

place at Liverpool and Blackburn , in the former case the object was to support the West Lancashire Masonic Institution , a most useful educational endeavour , in the latter , the presentation of an illuminated address to Bro . Starkie , M . P .,

\ Provincial Grand Master . The Mount Lebanon I Lodge , 73 , celebrated its centenary , and the ; history of the lodge , by Bro . Dtxon , P . M ., was bordered to be printed . Two important Quarterly SCourts of the Boys' and Girls' Schools took place fthis month , when interesting discussions arose

ton several important grounds . The following { lodges were consecrated in January : —The Vl ' emple Bar I odge , 1720 ; the Cholmeley Lodge , ? J 7 31 , iu the metropolis , aud the Urtnston Lodge ,

li 730 , at Mat Chester . A new Masonic Hall at ^ Liverpool was also opened , named the Sktlmersgdale Hall , a building in Gothic style , costing r / ao . oco . We must not omit to mention that in

J January the Devonshire Freemasons sent £ 300 to ? the Indian Famine Fund , and that Bro . Sir F . M . ' , Williams w ; s appointed Grand Piior of Cornwall . J'lhe Lodge of Benevolence for Januaiy granted ' iLjfi ?) in Maso .-iic relief . Yietcr Emanuel , King ' •of Italy die d . Freemasonry in Italy being now ;' ' permitted piac .-fnlly to meet , the Italian Grand ' [ Orient passed a resolution of sympathy .

1878.

FEBRUARY . — February witnessed the . installation of H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught as Grand Prior of the Temple of Ireland , before one of the most remarkable gatherings ever congregated . The Provincial Grand Lodge of West Yoikshire met , and it was announced that its subscri ption to

the Charities for the year amounted to £ 1300 well done West Yorkshire . The Prov . Grand Chap ter of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight assembled under Companion Beach , M . P ., as Grand Superintendent . We had in this month the meeting of Grand Chapter , at which a grant of jftjoo

was made to the Boys' and Girl ' s Schools , and £ 1000 to t'ie Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , in all £ 2000 . The Quarterl y Communication of the Grand Lodge of Scotland took place , when the deaths of Lord Kinnaird and Bro . Ballantine were feelingly deplored , and a resolution passed

condemnatory of the action of the French Grand Orient . From New Zealand came the account of the installation of Bro . G . S . Graham as Deputy Grand Master at Auckland , before a most influential meeting , a striking and important event in the annals of Freemasonry at the Antipodes

The Royal visit cf our Grand Master and his amiable Consort to Dorsetshire came off in this month , and a loyal address was presented to H . R . H . the Prince of Wales by the Freemasons of the province . February beheld the Anniversary Festival of the Roial

Masonic Benevolent Institution , under the chairmanship of the Duke of Manchester , supported by the Earl of Mount Edgecumbe , and other distinguished brethren , and subscriptions were announced from thc Stewards' Lists to the amount of £ \ r , \ i 6 13 s . 6 d . In

February the Consecration of the Bayard Chapter , by Lord Skelmersdale , Grand H ., took place , before an influential assembly , as well as the Consecration of the Star Chapter , 1275 , Greenwich . A long correspondence took place about Bro . Hubert ' s refusal , under present

circumstances in France , to accept thc chair of his lodge . His honest decision was much approved of in England . In February two additions to Masonic Literature and artistic excellence , appeared— Bro . Kenning ' s Cyclopedia , edited by Bro . Woodford , P . G C , and Bro . Harty ' s

Engraving of the Installation of the Prince of Wales A very successful concert at Aberavon , under the patronage of Sir George Elliot , M . P ., Provincial-Grand Master , took place . Our worthy Bro . Dr .-Brette , a great friend of the Charities , was elected

and installed W . M . of the Aldersgate Lodge , a new but very flourishing lodge . In February died Pio Nono , Pope of Rome , who had foolishly sought to place Freemasonry under " ban Ecclesiastic . "

MARCH . — March witnessed the translation in the Freemason of Bro . Desmon ' s Report , to the Grand Orient , which startled greatly all honest Masons and un-jesuitical minds . Special pleading could " no further go . " The Langthorne Masonic Charitable Association met at

Stratford , and announced that the yearly subscriptions amounted to ^ 288 1 is . 6 d . The meeting of the Provincial Grand Chapter for Suffolk took place , when Comp . Rev . C . J . Martyn was installed Grand Superintendent by Lord Skelmersdale , G . H . The annual Masonic Ball of the St . James ' s Union Lodge , was held at

Freemasons' Hall , under most favourable auspices . In March the Quarterl y Communication of the Grand Lodge of England was held , the Earl of Carnarvon presiding , and the brethren present numbering about 700 . A grant of £ 100 was made to assist membeis of the Igualdad Lodge , No . 633 . West Indies , who had suffered from

Bjthe hurricane in September . Ihe report of ¦ j | a special Committee on the action of the Grand IjOrient was presented and certain resolutions

^ unanimously passed . H . R . H . the Grand a Master was re-elected . The announcement of Sthe failure of Grand Treasurer was made , and !? the appointment of a Committee to enquire and j . report on the finances carried . Grants were

ijconfirmed to the amount of £ 150 . Ihe ^ adjourned debate on the proposit'on for altering it the constitution of Lodges of Benevolence | , was resLiTi- 'd , and the proposal of Bro . Cla-^ brn negatived . Southam Lodge , r % o . J ° j 4 , |\ Vilmslow , was erased from the Roll of Lodges . JModels of the two Life Boats were presente d to