Col. Sir Francis Burdett, Bart., R.W. Prov. G.M. Middlesex.

COL . SIR FRANCIS BURDETT , BART ., R . W . PROV . G . M . MIDDLESEX .

Sir Francis Burdett , Bart ., who kindly undertook to preside at the One Hundred and Second Festival on Tuesday of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , ranks high among the notabilities of our Order , and , in addition , is most justly esteemed and respected not only in the Province of Middlesex ever since

it had granted to it a Provincial organisation , but likewise throughout the Craft generally . Indeed , his whole career fully justifies the respect that is everywhere shown him , while the geniality of his manner will fully account for the very great

popularity he enjoys . Sir Francis was originally an Irish Mason , and attained to such distinction in the Grand Lodge of Ireland that he was chosen in 1868 to represent it at our United Grand Lodge , with the rank of Past S . G . W . of England assigned him the year following . At the Grand Festival of the year mentioned Sir BVancis—then Bro . Colonel—Burdett , as the representative

of Ireland , in replying to the toast of the Grand Lodges of

Scotland and Ireland , is reported to have said in the course of his speech that " he had always been an Irish

Mason , but b y the kindness of the Grand Master "—the late Earl of Zetland— " he could then take his place

in the English Grand Lodge as one of their fellows , and he felt it an especial pleasure to be not only a Grand

Officer of Ireland , but also one of the Grand Lodge of England . " This position of representative he has

continued to hold ever since , and it is doubtless in a great measure due to the able fulfilment of his duties in

that capacity that the cordial relations existing in those days have been so successfully maintained till the

present day . In the latter part of 186 9 he was appointed Prov . G . M . of Middlesex , then for the first time

constituted as a Province , and early in the following year was formally installed in office . At this time the Province

mustered only some 11 or 12 lodges , but as showing the energy and zeal with which he has

presided over its fortunes we may state that the number now under his government

KKU . COLONEL SIR FRANCIS BURDETT , DART ., PROV . URAN 1 J MASTER MIDDLESEX .

is 39 . About the same time also the Burdett Lodge , No . 1293 , was founded , its warrant bearing date the 16 th of November , 1869 , wmle its consecration and constitution with our distinguished brother as principal Founder and W . M ., took place some few months later . In February , 1871 , a third

Royal Arch chapter—the Royal Middlesex Chapter , No . 1194—was constituted , with Comp . Col . Francis Burdett as its first M . E . Z ., and there being thenceforward the requisite number of chapters to constitute Middlesex a Royal Arch Province , the post of G . Superintendent was conferred on Comp . Burdett , and

he was installed in office in due course . Since then the number of chapters has increased to 14 , one of them being the Burdett Chapter , No . 1 293 , which was constituted , with him as Founder and first M . E ; Z . ¦ These services would alone entitle him to all honour , but he has by no means limited his attentions to the two principal branches of Freemasonry . In the Mark Degree he

Col. Sir Francis Burdett, Bart., R.W. Prov. G.M. Middlesex.

has presided as Prov . G . Master of Middlesex and Surrey for close on 20 years , and now has under his obedience some 33 lodges , several of which have Royal Ark Mariners lodges moored off them . In the Ancient and Accepted Rite he is a

Past M . W . S . of the Palestine Chapter ot Rose Croix , No . 29 , and an unattached member of the Supreme Council , 33 ; while in Ireland he is an honorary 33 of the Supreme Council for Ireland . In the Order of Rome and the Red Cross of

Constantine , after holding the office of Grand High Chancellor in 1868 , and that of M . E . Grand Viceroy in 18 74 , he was elected in 18 77 Most Illustrious Grand Sovereign of the Order , and has had the honour of being annually re-elected ever since . He has also been its Chief Intendant-General for Middlesex , Essex , and Surrey

since 18 74 . He is likewise Patriarch and Grand Commander of the K . H . S . and St . John the Evangelist Patriarchal Council , and one of the Hon . Vice-Presidents of the Rosicrucian Society . In addition to all this active participation in the government of the most important of our principal and subsidiary systems of Freemasonry , he has found ample time to give his attention to the

Charitable Institutions connected with our Order , and has constituted himself a Life-Governor of the Boys '

School and Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and something more than L . G . of the Girls' School , besides

serving several times as Steward for one or other of them . On Tuesday he extended his efforts in this branch

of Masonic work by presiding as Chairman at the Girls' School Festival , and the success of the service he

then rendered may be judged by the large total of subscriptions which it is our privilege to announce in another

column . But though we may have been able to specify the principal positions he has attained to in

Freemasonry under the Grand Lodges of Ireland and England and in other Masonic systems , it would demand

a far greater amount of space in order to set forth in a manner befitting their merit , the other numerous

services he has rendered in season and out of season , in the council chamber of the various bodies he is connected with , or in the lodges and chapters of which he has been or is a member . However , we have said enough in illustration of his

brilliant career , and to justify the feelings of respect in which he is everywhere held . We trust he may be spared many years to occupy the various positions he has so long adorned , and that our Middlesex brethren will always endeavour to support him to the utmost of their ability whenever he takes upon himself such a duty as that which he so gracefully performed on Tuesday .

Bro . Sir F . Burdett was formerly in the army , and was Lieutenant-Colonel of the 17 th Lancers . He is a Justice of the Peace for the Counties of Surrey , Wilts , and Derby , and a Justice of the Peace and Deputy-Lieutenant for Berks . He

has been twice married , and is related to the Baroness Burdett Coutts , whom he accompanied when that beneficent friend of our Order presented a set of chairs to the Burdett Coutts Lodge , No . 1278 .