Special Grand Lodge.

Majesty on his accession to the Throne . He did noi claim for the Masons of England that thev were more loyal than other persons in the kingdom ; but be did say this that they were second to none in their loyalty , and notwithstanding the professions of loyalty expressed in the various addresses which had been voted , he was sure none would be received with greater pleasure by his Majesty than that which he submitted for the approval of Grand

Lodge of Freemasons . His Majesty the King had succeeded to no light inheritance . He had been called to rule an empire on which as had been said with regard to Masonry that the sun was always at its meridian , the sun never set—his Majesty the King had to follow a Sovereign who was endeared to all her subjects . A heavy burden had fallen on his Majesty the King , and he ( Earl Amherst ) was sure they would all pray that as his day

was so might his strength be . The communication he ( Earl Amherst ) would shortly have to read was that his Majesty had been resolved to retire from the office of Grand Master . However , in doing so he was but following the precedent of George IV ., who when he became King retired from the Grand Mastership and became the Protector of English Freemasons . His Majesty ' s connection with the Craft , of nearly 27 years , had been of such advantage to the Order that they rejoiced that they would not lose it

entirely . He would remain in their minds on account of the services in taking the chair for the different Charities , more especially when he took the chair for the Boys' School when ^ 144 , 000 was raised . His services to the Craft were many , and his services as Grand Master great . The position cf Masonry when he assumed the apron and collar of Grand Master was different to its position now . He hoped that under him as Protector it would be as prosperous as when he was Grand Mailer . The address to be submilted for the brethren ' s approval was as follows :

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY , We , the members of the Fraternity known as the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England ( including the Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch ) , by our Representatives in Especial Grand Lodge assembled , do venture humbly to express our respectful and profound sympathy with Your Majesty in the sorrow caused by the death of her late Majesty Oueen Victoria , whose memory is cherished in our hearts .

TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY

We further tender our dutiful and fraternal congratulations to Your Majesty on your accession to the Throne ; and beg to express our fervent hope lhat Your Majesty may be long spared to reign over the Kingdom and Empire under Divine Providence confided to Your Majesty . It is with much thankfulness that we have received Your Majesty ' s gracious intimation that you will be pleased to assume the position and title

of Prolrclor of English Freemasons ; and we feel assured that under such auspices the . Fraternity will continue to enjoy that prosperity which attended Your Majesty's connection with the Order , for upwards of a quarter of a century , as Most Worshipful Grand Master . Given under the Seal of the Grand Lodge 0 / England this 15 th day of February , 1901 .

Bro . W . W . B . BEACH , M . P ., acting Deputy Grand Master , said , in the absence of the Dep . Grand Master , the Earl of Warwick , he was called en to second the motion which had iust been moved , so ably submitted to thebrtthicn by the Pro Grand Master , and he availed himself of . that privilege with very great pleasure . As Freemasons they regretted the great sorrow v . hich had come on all Englishmen by the death of her late

Majesty , and they would no longer have at their festivities to propose the toast of " The Oueen and the Crait . " They knew that the Queen for the long lime she had ruled over them was enshrined in the hearts of her people , and it was vcry difficult for them to adequately realise the fact and to place another in her stead . But the Grand Master of the Order had done his very utmost to maintain the high position which the late Queen had won

for the Throne . In old times Princes of Wales had won renown by foreign war , by entering into successful enterprises , and had enshrined themselvei in the hearts of the people . But his Majesty the King , the late Prince of Wales , had not done that , but he had prepared himself for his position by many graceful deeds . He had visited that magnificent portion of the Empire of India , and had commended himself to the hearts of Freemasons ,

and impressed the Oriental mind . He ( Bro . Beach ) thought the Royal visit to India had caused the happy feeling which had existed between that portion of the Empire and the people of Great Britain . He might refer to the importance ot his support of Charities ; this had endeared him very much to the hearts of the people ; they knew that what he had done for the Masonic Charities had endeared him to the hearts of Masons ;

and not only so but he had endeared himself by many acts of courtesy and of kindness . The manner in which he had presided over the Masonic Charities had had the most powerful effect in promoting their success . ( Hear , hear . ) He regretted very much that his Majesty would no more preside over Grand Lodge as Grand Master ; but still he would not be

entirely cutoff from the brethren . Let them hope that he would take that interest in Freemasonry although not presiding as Grand Master . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) He ( Bro . Beach ) had the greatest pleasure in seconding this proposition , and he trusted that their late Grand Master might be blessed wilh health and strength to reign over a loyal and united people . ( Loud Applause . )

Earl AMHERST enquired whether any one present desired to say anything on the motion . Bro . Sir GERARD SMITH , M . W . Grand Master of Western Australia , then rose and asked to be allowed to express on behalf of that colonial Grand Lodge their respectful , cordial and sorrowful concurrence in all that had been said . Their Grand Master represented the Colonial Grand Lodge

of Australia . Might he be permitted to say that in no part of his'Majesty ' s dominions would his retirement from the presidency of the Craft in which he had been connected be more regretted than throughout the Australian Grand Lodges , and in no portion was there deeper felt an affectionate regret for the family loss the (' . rand Master had sustained . ( Applause . ) The Duke of AISEIUORN , as Grand Master of Ireland —( loud applause ) —hoped that he might be permitted to re-echo the expressions and

sentiments that had just been utlered by those speakers who had preceded him , and to express to his brethren that great feeling of sincere regret that the Masons of Ireland hnd experienced al the loss of their late beloved Oueen . ( Applause ) . As Masons in Ireland they were loyal as they were as Masons in England . ( " Hear , hear , " and cheers . ) Although he was proud to he Grand Master of Ireland , yet they claimed his Majesty the King as Patron of the Order in Ireland , and they gloried 111 that , and he was also proud to hope for a continuation of those Masonic favours which

Special Grand Lodge.

the late Grand Master of England had bestowed on the Order in Ireland . He trusted he would hereafter bestow those favours , and that the fact of his Majesty associating himself so closely with the Masonic body of this great Empire might lead to strengthen and to consolidate the ties which already existed between this country and the sister country of Ireland . ( General applause . )

Bro . the Hon . J AMES HOZIER , Grand Master of Scotland , said on behalf of the Grand Lodge of Scotland at home , in India , and in the Colonies and foreign parts , he begged to express their entire concurrence in what had been said , and their complete sympathy with the words of the address . In Scotland Masonry was in the same position with reference to

his Majesty as was the Grand Lodge of Ireland . Hitherto the King , as Prince of Wales , had been the Patron of the Scottish Order , and it was their earnest hope and sincere prayer that his Majesty might still continue to be the Patron of all Scottish Freemasonry . ( Cheers again and again renewed . )

Bro . GEORGE RICHARDS , District Grand Master of the Transvaal , said he thanked the Grand Lodge as District Grand Master of the Transvaal , as representing the Freemasons ot the English Constitution out there , for allowing him to add their testimony to their sincere and deep grief at the death of her late Majesty , and their regret that the Grand Master was about . to retire from the position ot Grand Master . To their feeling of affection for him as Grand Master they would now add their feeling of undying loyalty to him as King . ( Cheers . )

Earl AMHERST then put the resolution , which was ] carried in silence , all the brethren standing . Earl AMHERST next said he had now to make a communication he had

received from his Majesty" 14 th January , 1901 . " The King very much regrets that he ceases to be Grand Master of the Freemasons of England , and thinks it would be convenient that he should follow the example of George IV . when he became King , and resigned the same office and became Protector . "

On the motion of Bro . J . STRACHVN , K . C , G . Reg ., seconded by Bro . E . BEAUMONT , Deputy G . Reg ., it was resolved that this communication be recorded on the minutes . Bro . J STRACHAN , K . C , G . Reg ., next said that in consequence of this Communication it became necessary to deal with the situation thus created . As his Majesty ceased to be Grand Master , and assumed the

position and title of Protector of English Freemasons , it was essential to take the proper step by filling up the election of Grand Master , which , according to the present mode , had to be done at Quarterly Communication in March . The nomination had to take place at the immediately preceding meeting of Grand Lodge . That portion of the Constitutions had been fulfilled , and the nomination having been made at the Ouarterly

Communication in December , 1900 , it had now become inoperative by reason of its being impossible tor his Majesty to be elected to the position of Grand Master . Another distinguished brother would have to be nominated and elected . The emergency having arisen , it rested with the Grand Lodge as the supreme controlling authority of English Freemasonry appointed by the

Constitutions to decide all matters of the kind . A brother must be nominated at Grand Lodge preceding the Quarterly Communication of March . He begged to move that the nomination be now made . B : o . E . BEAUMONT , Deputy Grand Registrar , seconded . The motion was carried .

Bro . VESEY FITZGERALD , K . C , then proceeded to nominate . He said they mourned ihe loss of the greatest lady whose health , as had been said , had been announced and drunk at their festivities beyond the memory of any living brother . By reason of her death their Grand Master , who had ruled over them with happiness and satisfaction to himself for nearly 27 years , was now no longer Grand Master . He

( Bro . Vesey Fitzgerald ) confessed that he had hoped that his Alajesty would have continued as Grand Master even after ascending the Throne of England . But he ( Bro . Fitzgerald ) could well understand his time was fully taken up more than it was with King Solomon , and he was obliged to resign the position of Grand Master , and it became necessary to choose a successor in his stead . They might easily be placed in a difficulty

in that respect . But when they looked abroad they found a brother of ability and distinction whom they could easily elect , a brother of whom they had experience in the past . There was one brother who , he thought , was most fitted to preside over them ; he was a Past Grand Warden , a Past Grand Master , a District Grand Master in India , and a Provincial Grand

Master in this country . In all those positions he had proved himself to be well skilled in the noble science , courteous in manner , easy of address , steady and firm in principle ; and , therefore , he should nominate for the ofiice of Most Worshipful Grand Master , his Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught . ( Loud Applause . ) He was sure he should have the sympathy of every brother when he nominated him for that high office .

Earl AMHERST : Does any brother present desire to nominate any one else to the office of Grand Master ? ( Laughter . ) Grand Lodge was then closed in ample form , and the proceedings were brought to a conclusion by the singing of the first verse of the National Anthem .

Grand Mark Lodge.

GRAND MARK LODGE .

THE KING AND MARK MASONS

A Special Grand Lodge of English Mark Masons was held on Tuesday last at Mark Masons' Hall , Great Queen-street , W . C , the object being to vote an address to his Majesty the King on the death of the late Queen and to take steps consequent upon a communication which the M . W . Pro Grand Master had to make concerning information he had received on behalf of the King .

Ihe M . W . Pro G . M ., Bro . the Earl of Euston , presided ; R . W . Bro . the Hon . Alan de Tatton Egerton , Deputy G . M ., was on his right ; R . W . Bro . Charles Letch Mason , Prov . G . M . of West Yorkshire , acted as Past

Grand Master ; Bro . Viscount Doneraile was S . G . W . ; Bro . Charles Belton , P . G . W ., acted as J . G . W . ; and among other brethren present were Bros . John Strachan , K . C ; R . Loveland Loveland , K . C , President of thc Committee of General Purposes ; C . F . Matter , P . G . W ., G . Sec . ; F .