Grand Festival.

Bro . James Whittaker Burgess ... • ¦ 1 G . Std . Brs . Charles Pulman ... ... ... J " H . Walmesley Little , Mus . Doc . ... ... G . Org . " William Lake ... ... ... Asst . G . Sec . " C . Kupferschmidt ... ... ... A . G . Sec . Ger . Cor . " C . Felton Lancaster ... ... ... G . Purst . " William Kipps ... ... ... Asst . G . Purst .

Henry Sadler ... ... ... G . Tyler . The G . SECRETARY read the list of new Grand Steward ? , which Earl Amherst said the M . W . Grand Master had approved of , as follows : Bros . Benn Wolfe Levy , F . S . A ., i ; Herbert Francis Manisty , K . C , 2 ; Chetham Ellis , 4 ; Lieut .-Col . Charles D . Leyden . s ; Philip Herbert

Martineau , 6 ; Edwin Easton , S ; Richard Downe Hancock , M . A ., 14 ; Major Richard L . S . Badham , 21 ; Jocelyn Brandon , 23 ; William Hastings Beaumont , 26 ; Arnold Muir Wilson , 29 ; Charles Cockburn , 46 ; William Horace Charles Crump , 58 ; Herbert William Freshwater , 60 ; Alfred James Thomas , 91 ; Gerald Duckworth , 99 ; Frederick Neild , 197 ; and Lionel Edward Marmaduke Darell , 250 .

Earl AMHERST next stated that in consequence of the District Grand Lodge of Western Australia having merged in the newly constituted Grand Lodge of Western Australia before R . W . Bro . Sir Gerard Smith , K . C . M . G ., the late District Grand Master , had served as such the period

of three years necessary to qualify him to assume the rank of Past District Grand Master , His Royal Highness the Most Worshipful Grand Master had been graciously pleased to confer on him the rank and dignity of Past District Grand Master as from the date of his ceasing to be the District Grand Master .

Grand Lodge was then closed in ample form , and the brethren adjourned to Freemasons' Tavern , where they partook of a sumptuous banquet provided by the Grand Stewards . The toasts followed . Earl AMHERST , in proposing " The King and the Craft , " said that for the first time he supposed in the memory of the oldest Mason in the

company the first toast at Grand Festival was no longer given in the old terms . In a very few days Masons would take their mourning insignia off , but he thought many years would elapse before the name of her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen , which had been associated with them , would be forgotten . They had now to propose " The King , " and he must say he thought when he had the honour of attending at St . James ' s Palace with

many other Masons to present the memorial to the King , there was that ring in his response to that presentation that he ( Earl Amherst ) thought , and others thought no doubt rightly , that betokened a regret in the King ' s mind that he was no longer their Grand Master . Happily , he was their Protector ; they were his loyal subjects , and as such he asked the brethren to drink his health .

Earl AMHERST next proposed "The Most Worshipful Grand Master " who had been elected recently to rule over them . ( Applause . ) The Duke of Connaught was an experienced Mason ; he had been District Grand Master of Bombay and Provincial Grand Master for Sussex for many years , and in both capacities he had shown great skill . Besides which they had the advantage again of having one of the Royal Family at their head , an advantage which was so manifest that even if he had not been the

skilled Mason he was they would have been glad to accept him as their Grand Master . Since the brethren had left Grand Lodge an intimation had been received from his Royal Highness that the 17 th July , or the week in which the 17 th July occurred , would be convenient for him for his installation . This would be held at the Albert Hall ; it would give them time to make arrangements , and he thought it would be a gathering which would eclipse the Jubilee year . As gratitude was a lively sense of favours to come , he would give the health of the Most Worshipful Grand Matter .

Bro . GEORGE RICHARDS , District Grand Master of the Transvaal , proposed "The M . W . Pro G . M ., Earl Amherst . " They had drunk the health of their King , their Protector , and of the Duke of Connaught , their Grand Master . In Earl Amherst they had a Pro Grand Master who had shown as an old Prov . Grand Master those qualities as a governing Mason that they need not fear for the honour and dignity of Freemasonry being safe in his hands . Might T . G . A . O . T . U . long preserve him !

Earl AMHERST , in reply , said he was extremely obliged to the brethren for the kind way they had received the toast , and to the District Grand Master of the Transvaal for the way in which he had proposed it . Of course , there must be a certain amount of work in regulating the affairs of such a large society as the Craft was ; at the same time he thought the brethren would agree with him that the prosperity of the Craft was

worth all the trouble . There was one thing he would like to say that all the Grand Officers from the highest to the lowest felt that the prosperity of the Craft was a sufficient reward for the exertions they had undertaken . They had been prosperous in the past ; he hoped they would be prosperous in the future , and every one of the Grand Officers would agree with him that if that continued it would be an ample return and sufficient reward for any trouble they had .

Earl AMHERST proposed " The Sister Grand Lodges . " They had on all these occasions adopted this toast . On this occasion it had a peculiar significance , for they were honoured by the presence of the Grand Master of Scotland . He was sure the brethren would not forget how whtn Grand Lod ge held a special meeting in the Queen's Hall to pass a vote of condolence and congratulation , they were honoured by the presence of two sister lod ges—the Grand Lodges cf Scotland and Ireland , the former of which

was represented by the Grand Master of Scotland and the latter by the Grand Master of Ireland . He took this opportunity of telling the Grand Master of Scotland that he ( Earl Amherst ) on the occasion of the Special t - > rand Lodge had so much to think of that he forgot to move a vote of thanks—it escaped his recollection ; but he thanked him now , and hoped tne cordiality with which this toast was drunk would be some amends for trie omission on the previous occasion .

Bro . the Hon . J AMES HOZIER , in reply , said he thanked the M . W . Pro < jrand Master and the brethren from his heart for the kind and affectionate way they had proposed and accepted the toast ; he thanked them on behalf

C A 1 er " rant * Lodges , including the Grand Countries Lodge , for the JJrand Lod ge of Scotland , which he had represented since 1899 , and therere was in two centuries and two reigns . Scotland was a comparatively Poor country—( laughter)—but Scottish Masons knew what to do with their JH ° ? y—they gave it to Charity . They did not compete with England in rnbers , but they were 100 , 000 strong . Scotland ' s motto was " Second to one , and its Masons were second to none in enthusiasm for the principles 01 f reemasonry .

Grand Festival.

Sir J . B . MONCKTON proposed " The District and Provincial Grand Masters . " Bro . HAMON LE STRANGE , Prov . G . M . of Norfolk , replied . The District and Provincial Grand Masters strove to set an example in the working of the Craft , and to carry out the behests of the M . W . G . M . who had placed them as rulers of districts and provinces ; but they one and ail did but copy

the example set them by one who was nearly the senior Past Master of England , who had occupied more years than he cared to count the throne of the Province of Kent , and if they succeeded in following in his footsteps they would justify the confidence that had been reposed in them . Bro . MOLD , District G . Master Argentine Republic , proposed " The

Grand Officers , but wished the toast had been given to some one better known to them than one who had come from such a long distance . From what he had seen of the Grand Officers , however , and from a communication he had had outside , he had the greatest pleasure in proposing the toast .

Bro . CORNWALLIS , J . G . W ., replied . He had sympathy with the proposer of the toast , who had taken Grand Officers upon trust . S peech was silver , and silence was golden ; and he had nsver worn so much gold in his life—therefore he would be brief . On behalf of the Grand Officers he would say they could only answer for the future , and they made this promisethat they would do their very best to uphold the honour of the Grand Lodge .

Bro . T . L . WILKINSON , P . D . G . Reg ., proposed " The Masonic Charities . " Bro . F . R . W . HEDGES , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . I . G ., replied , and reminded the brethren that the Girls' School Festival would take place on May Sth , and that the Pro Grand Master would preside . He would inform the Grand Master of Scotland that the Masons of England also knew what to do with their money , and they gave it to the three Charities .

Earl AMHERST proposed " The Stewards , " who took upon their shoulders the burden of providing for the comfort ofthe brethren . In times past they had had to thank many , but the brethren to-night would agree with him that they had provided most handsomely . He thanked them for the trouble and expense they had been put to . Bro . SPENCER NORRIS , Chairman of the Board of Stewards , replied , thanking his brother Stewards for their exertions , and especially Bro . Husbands , the Secretary .

The brethren with Earl Amherst at their head , then proceeded to the Temple , where a grand concert was given under Bro . William Henry Thomas , Grand Organist , the executants being Miss Evangeline Florence , Miss Florence Holderness , Miss Clara Priddell , Miss Ethel Bevans , Madame Juanita Jones , Mr . Thomas Thomas , Mr . Ben Johnson , Bro . Arthur Oswald , the Guildhall Glee Singers ( Bros . Sydney Hart , Cyril Flamstead , Gilbert Locker , and Montague Borwell ) . Mr . Arthur Payne was violinist , and Bro . Harry Tipper plaved the bells .

The Grand Officers.

THE GRAND OFFICERS .

THE GRAND WARDENS . The Right Hon . Viscount TEMPLETOWN , who was appointed to the ofiice of Senior Grand Warden last year has been re-appointed and thus enjoys the twofold distinction , firstly of having occupied the chair ot SG . W . in the Grand

Lodges of England and Ireland concurrently , and , secondly , of having filled tnoie positions during the closing year of the 19 th and the openi-. g year of the 20 th century . The particulars of his lordship ' s Masonic career were published in our report of Grand Festival last year , and it is unnecessary , therefore , to repeat them .

Bro . FIKNNES STANLRY WVKEHAM CORNWALLIS , who for many years was member for Maidstone , was initialed in the Douglas Lodge , N > . 1725 , Maidstone , in 1889 , and was installed its W .. VI . in 18 94 . In 18 97 , he helpei to found and was instilled the lirst W . M . of the Crane Lodge , No . 2660 . Cranbrook . He is also a Royal Arch Mason , having been exalted in the Montreal Chapter , No . 2046 , Maidstone , in 18 95 , in which year also he had the honour of being appointed Prov . S . G . W . of Kent . He is a Life Governor of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls .

GRAND CHAPLAINS . Bro . the Rev . Sir BORRODAILE SAVORV , Bart ., is a son of the famous surgeon on whom , in recognition of his eminent services , the honour of a baronetcy was conferred in 1890 , and also rector of St . Bartholomew the Great , Smithfield , E . C . He was initiated in the Rahere Lodge , No . 2546 , on the Sth October , 1895 . In 1898 , he joined , firstly , on the 28 th January , the Studholme Lodge , No . ISOI ,

and , on the 21 st May , the Methuen Lodge , No . 631 , Taplow , and the following year had the honour of being installed W . M . of tne latter . He was appointed Prov . Grand Chaplain of Buckinghamshire in 18 98 , and was re-appointed in 1899 , and again last year . It was also on the 27 th April of last year that he was exalted a Royal Arch Mason in the Studholme Chapter , No . 1501 , and is likewise

a member of the Studholme Rose Croix Chapter , No . 67 . He is a Life and Annual Subscriber of the Boys' School , and a Life Governor of the Girls' and Benevolent Institutions , and , in 1900 , when Lord Addington , Prov . G . M . Buckinghamshire , presided as Chairman at the Festival of the latter Charity , he gave his services as Steward .

Bro . the Rev . WILLIAM CAMPBELL RILAND BEDFORD , Rector of Sutton Coldlield , is a son of Bro . the Rev . W . K . R . Bedford , M . A ., who was appointed Grand Chaplain in 1861 and 1862 , and is the senior surviving Past Grand Chaplain of England . He has been a Mason for upwards of a quarter of a century , having

been initiated in the Warden Lodge , No . 794 , Sutton Coldlield , in 18 75 . He was installed its W . M . in 1881 , and three years later was appointed Prov . S . G . Warden of Warwickshire . He is also a joining member of the Trinity Lodge , No . 254 , Coventry , and of St . Peter , Westminster , No . 1537 , is a Life Governor of our three Institutions , and has served as Steward for the Girls' School .

GRAND TREASURER . Bro . HORACE BROOKS MARSHALL , M . A ., J . P ., and Sheriff nominate for the City of London , is a son of the late Bro . Horace B . M irshall , who had ih : lionuur of being elected Grand Treasurer in 18 S 4 . He was inuiueJ in the Koyil Hanover Lodge , No . 1777 , and in 18 95 , and again ir I 8 J 6 , had the honour of being elected to preside over it as W . Master , his services in this capacity being recog-