Provincial Grand Lodge Of Sussex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SUSSEX .

VISIT OF H . R . H . THE DIKE OF CONNAUGHT . Worthing was selected as the place of meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Sussex this year , and the inhabitants made the visit the occasion of a hearty welcome to his Royal Highness . The Duke , contrary to usual custom , kindly consented to receive an address at the hands of the Mayor and Corporation ; Colonel Sir Henry Fletcher promised a guard of honout of the 2 nd Sussex Volunteers , and the tradesmen fell in to a large extent

wilh a suggestion by the Corporation that the day should be made one ol general holiday . Very many visitors found their way to the town , and Worthing looked her best , the sun shining gloriously at mid-day on the waving flags and banners , while the streets were full of people . The Duke arrived at 1 . 3 = 5 . H'S Royal Highness was accompanied by his equerry , Col ,

Egerton . and Sir VV . T . Marriott , Q . C . He was met on the pla form by Sir Henry Fletcher , Bart ., M . P ., and Lord Henry Thynne , the former ol whom introduced the Mayor ( Councillor W . H . B . Fletcher ) to his Highness . His Worship , of course , wore his robes and insignia of office , and was accompanied by the mace-bearers .

A guard of honour , consisting of 100 men of the Arundel , Chichester , and Worthing Companies of the and Volunteer Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment , was formed up in line in the roadway . As the Duke came from the station the regimental band struck up the National Anthem , while a resident in the neighbourhood , who had improvised some light artillery on his premises , fired a royal salute .

Mr . VERRALL , having been presented to the Duke , with whom he shook hands , read the following address :

To his Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn , K . G ., & c , & c . Mav it please your Royal Highness , We , the Mayor , Aldermen , and Burgesses of the Borough of Worthing , respectfully offer to your Royal Highness a most sincere and hearty welcome to our town .

We cannot but remember that the popularity of the health resorts of the Sussex Coast had , to a very great extent , its origin in the favour shown to them in former years by members of your illustrious house , and we look upon the fact that your Royal Highness has to-day departed from your usual custom when visiting a town in the capacity of Grand Master of the Freemasons of this Province , by graciously accepting our loyal address as a signal m-irk of the continued interest of the Royal Family in the welfare and prosperity of the rapid ' y-increasing town of Worthing .

We beg to thank your Royal Highness most heartily for this proof of your interest in our town of Worthing , and to assure you of the loyalty and affection which we , in common with all her Majesty ' s subjects , feel for her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen , your Royal Highness , and the other members of the Royal Family .

Given under the Common Seal of the Mayor , Aldermen , and Burgesses of Worthing , this 17 th day of November , 18 94 . W . H . B . FLETCHER , Mayor . W . VERRAI . I ., Town Clerk .

The Mayor having handed the address and case to his Royal Highness , the latter said : I desire to thank you , Mr . Mayor and gentlemen , for the very kind address you hive presented to me on this occasion . I am glad to have this opportunity of visiting Worthing , and hope the expm'e and trouble you have taken to make Worthing as good a health resort as possible will be very amply repaid , and that the town will thoroughly

prosper . Afterwards the Duke inspected ( he troops drawn up near thc station , and a long procession , which included some 30 carriages , then made its way to the Assembly Rooms . The Masonic dignitaries came first in order , followed by the members of the Corporation , lhc members of the Committee who bad arranged for thc icception , and lastly , the Duku and Mayor , with the troops .

The Assembly Rooms had been most tastefully decorated for the occasion , the wills being festooned and tapestried with coloured fabrics , while the stage was decorated with flowering and foliage plants , and choice hot-house flowers embellished the tables . The brethren , who , to the number of nearly 150 , had secured seats at the luncheon , and the ladies who occupied

lhe gallery , gave their Prov . G . Master a very enthusiastic reception as he entered the room with the Deputy Prov . G . Master , Bro . the Right Hon . Sir W .. T . Marriott , Q . C , the applause being continued until he had taken lhe chair . The post-prandial proceedings were of a brief but very hearty character .

The Duke of CONNAUGHT opened the toast list by proposing " The Queen and the Craft . " A toast which he said he was sure would be received with enthusiasm . That toast having been duly honoured , he next submitted " The M . W . Grand Master H . R . H . the Prince of VVales . " For many years , he said , the Prince of Walts had been at the ht ' ad of the Craft , and as years rolled

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Sussex.

by the brethren had learned to appreciate more and more his great efforts on behalf of Freemasonry . He was now with the Princess of Wales in Russia under sad and painful circumstances , and he was sure that both the Prince and Princess had the entire sympathy of the whole Masonic Craft . His Royal Highness the DUKE OV CONNAUGHT then proposed " The

M . W . Pro Grand Master , the Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom ; the R . W . Deputy Grand Master , the Right Hon . the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe ; and the Officers of Grand Lodge , Present and Past . " The Craft were , he said , deeply indebted to the Grand Officers for their help and support on all occasions , and the Sussex Freemasons , he knew , apprtxi tied the frequent visits which many of the Grand Officers had made to the province .

Bro . Lord HENRY THYNNE , in britfly thanking the brethren for the hearty manner in which thev had received the toast , congratulated the Province of Sussex on their grand gathering that day . The Mayor of Worthing , Bro . Councillor W . H . B . FLETCHER , who was greeted wilh cordial applause , proposed "The M . W . Prov . Grand

Master , his Royal Highness the Dukeof Connaught . " As a very young Mason , he said he felt that in submitting such an important toast in the presence of so many brethren of high standing his words would be weak , but he wished in all sincerity to acknowledge the admirable manner in which the members of the Royal Family discharged the duties lying before them .

As Freemasons all present appreciated the work of his Royal Highness that day as Provincial Grand Master . As M tyor of Worthing he wished to heartily thank his Royal Highness for his visit to the town , and to say how glad he felt in having the opportunity of testifying to the deep loyalty and

devotion of the burgesses of the town to the Royal Family , and also to express , on their behalf , their warm appreciation of the high compliment which had been paid them that day by the visit of his Royal Highness . The toast was received with enthusiasm .

The Duke of CONNAUGHT , on rising to respond , was greeted with hearty and prolonged cheers . In acknowledging the toast , he thanked the Mayor of Worthing for the kind manner in which he had proposed it , and the brethren for their cordiality in responding 10 it . He said he was accustomed to be received by the Freemasons of Sussex in the kindest and most friendly

manner , and , in his own name , and on behalf of other brethren , he expressed the pleasure he felt in holding the Provincial Grand Lodge at Worthing . He desired to thank the Mayor , the W . M ., and the brethren of the Worthing Lodge of Friendship and the local Committee , for their preparations and arrangements for their comfort , and also to thank ihe citizens of

Worthing for the cordial reception they had extended to him . He then proposed " The VV . Deputy Prov . Grand Master , Bro . the Right Hon . Sir W . T . Marriott , Q . C , P . G . Steward . " He said they were all indebted to their Deputy Provincial Grand Master for the interest he took in the province , and

for the ready manner in which he came amongst them . He ( Bro . Marriott ) was a busy man in his profession and in politics , and personally he was much indebted to him for the ready support and assistance which at all times he gave him .

Bro . Sir W . T . MARRIOTT , in responding , thanked the Prov Grand Master tor the too kind manner in which he had proposed tne t « as .. He had little lime for Freemasonry , but whatever sp ire 11 . ue tie nad wa-. at iluir service . He had received invaluable assistance lrom th « Prov . Grand

Officers , and it was his pleasing duty to propose " The W . Prov . Senior Grand Warden , Bro . VV . E . Morrison ; the W . Prov . Junior Grand Warden , Bro . Dr . J . Ewart ; and the Officers of Prov . Grand Lodge , Present and Past . "

Bro . W . E . MORRISON , in responding , said the enterprise and progressive character of the town of Worthing had undoubtedly been communicated to the compilers of the toast list , for he believed it was the first occasion on which a future Prov . Grand Officer had been asked to respond for the Prov . Grand Officers . He , however , desired 10 express the devotion and loyalty of the officers to the Craft and to the province .

Bro . Sir RAYMOND BURRELL , P . P . G . W ., in briefly proposing " The Visitors , " gave them a hearty welcome . Bro . Dr . STRONG , in responding , thanked H . R . H . the Duki of Conn . iughl for his prts nice that day , reman * ing that his visit would bt : t ie best recommendation the town could possibly h ive .

Owing to the pressure of time , " ihe S . ewards , " and the Tyler ' s toast were omitted .

Time did not permit of a lengthy musical programme Bro . HChipman sang the solo of the N < tional Anthem , and M "> s Eiiith Cnaplm sang ' God bless the Prince of Wales , " and nlso one song , the duties of accompanist being in the hands of Bro F . D . Carnell .