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Article GRAND FESTIVAL. ← Page 3 of 3 Article GRAND FESTIVAL. Page 3 of 3 Article GRAND FESTIVAL. Page 3 of 3
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Grand Festival.
valuable support , as he has already given it once to my knowledge within this last twelvemonths . Brethren , I have to give you " The Health of the Past Grand Masters of England . " The Acting GRAND MASTER : Brethren , I have to remind you that here in England , though
we meet as a Grand Lodge , and though Grand Lodge is no doubt the first and the paramount thought in our minds , there are two sister Grand Lodges which , on an occasion like this , we certainly cannot afford to overlook . It is my duty , and a most satisfactory duty , to ask you
to fill your next glass in honour of the Grand Lodge of Scotland and the Grand Lodge of Ireland . Scotland , as we all kpow , is a country having a soil rugged in external appearance ; but she has indemnified herself well for her natural drawbacks by the high qualities of her
people—( hear , hear)—and their great virtues and power ; and on no soil , I think—if even the thistle has bloomed upon the Scotch soilhave all the great Masonic virtues found a kindlier root than they have there . Brethren , I may say the same of Ireland . We sometimes
hear of lodges in Ireland of a somewhat questionable frame and character ; but I do not think there has ever been one hint of a doubtful character which could be urged against Irish Masonry . ( Hear , and cheers . ) Whatever may have been the unhappy circumstances and
feelings m other parts of Ireland , Irish Masonry , so far as I know it , has been loyal to the crown and to the connection with this country . ( Hear , hear . ) Brethren , may these two great sister Grand Lodges be long , steadily , and firmly united to each other , and to us , and may they
and we take to heart a maxim which , I remember , is written upon one of the halls of one of our great London companies , and which Masonry , like every other society , may read , and mark , and hold with advantage : Concordia res parva erescunt ; discordia res maxima diminuuntur . I give you " The sister Grand Lodges
of Scotland and Ireland ; " and though I wish there were present many representatives from each , I am glad to think that we have present here at least one , Captain Gordon , who will worthily represent , and , I doubt not , worthily answer on behalf of , the Grand Lodge of his own most illustrious country .
Captain GORDON : Most Worshipful Grand Master , officers , and brethren , I must say that the lines might have fallen to me in more pleasant places . I never thought when I came this evening into this fine hall that I should be called upon to respond for the Grand Lodge of
Scotland , because your present Senior Grand Warden , Lord Lindsay—than whom there is no better or more ardent Mason—I thought , would have been here to reply to the toast . But he has left , and the duty has devolved upon me to return thanks on behalf then of Grand Lodge of Scotland . I beg to thank you for the kind manner
m which you have drunk its health . Although some quarrels have occasionally arisen , yet , as the Right Worshipful Grand Master has said , let discord cease , let concord reign , and let our motto be " upwards and onwards . " On behalf of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , I beg to thank you .
The Acting GRAND MASTER : Brethren , I have now to give you "The health of Provincial Grand Masters . " We are not favoured this evening with the presence of very many ; but we are grateful to those who have attended . The duty of a Provincial Grand Master is really
an important one ; it is sometimes a difficult one . I belong myself to the confraternity , and I know sometimes how many are the difficult and the delicate questions which come before us ; but this , at least , I can say from personal experience , as I believe most of my brother
Provincial Grand Masters might also say that any Province to which you appeal loyally and frankl y will always answer you in the same spirit , and as I look back myself with feelings of great gratitude to my Province for the support which
I have uniformly received at their hands , I am confident that the great , majority of Provincial Grand Masters in England know that they have but to deal frankly and straightforwardly with the brethren of their Province to insure also at
Grand Festival.
their hands the most hearty and cordial support . Brethren , I have to give you the " Health of the Provincial Grand Masters ofEngland , " and with that toast I will take the liberty of joining the health of my Right Worshipful brother , Bro . Bagshaw , on my left . His merits are well known
to you here in London , just as they are even better known , if I may say so , in his own Province of Essex . Let me give you " The health of the Provincial Grand Masters of England , " coupling with it the name of Bro . Bagshaw . ( Cheers . )
Bro . R . J . BAGSHAW : Brethren , I am sorry to say that I am hoarse , and shall scarcely be heard ; but it affords me very great satisfaction to express to you our gratitude for the honour you have conferred on us in drinking our health . As an old Provincial Grand Master , I feel that we have
ever received the support of Grand Lodge of England , and I can only say I hope the Provinces will long continue to work most heartily with the Grand Lodge of England . I will not further inflict on you the punishment of listening to a hoarse voice , but will only add that I am
very much indebted to you for your kindness in acknowledging our services . The Acting GRAND MASTER : Brethren , one of the most important duties which call us together this evening in Grand Lodge is , as you are well aware , the appointment of the Grand
Officers for the ensuing year ; and it is now my pleasing duty to ask you , nearly at the close of my list as I am , to fill your glasses and to drink then in honour of the Grand Officers for the ensuing year . The duties in Grand Lodge are not very onerous , or , generally speaking , very
difficult ; but at the same time they do require attention and care ; and I trust that the Grand Officers of this year will set the example , which I am confident they can set , of steady attention to , and a careful performance of , their duty , and
of a perfect knowledge of all those details of their relative positions which we expect at their hands . It is by these qualities that in a great measure the dignity of Grand Lodge and the prosperity of our proceedings is preserved ; and I look forward with confidence to those brethren
who have accepted offices this day , discharging those duties fully and effectually . I regret that my noble friend , Lord Lindsay , who has received the office of Senior Grand Warden , is not present at this table . He was obliged , sorely against his will—for I believe there is no more
unwearied , no more earnest , Mason within the four seas than he — he was obliged to leave us very early ; but we are fortunate in having his colleague here present , the Junior Grand Warden , Colonel Whitwell , and I shall take the liberty of joining with the toast his
name . I am satisfied that all those duties in Grand Lodge , to which I have adverted , are in very good and safe keeping when they repose in his hands . Brethren , " The Grand Officers , not merely of this year , but of the past yearthe Grand Officers both Past and Present . "
Bro . Col . WHITWELL , J . G . W .: Most Worshipful Grand Master , you cannot regret the absence of my brother , our Senior Grand Warden , Lord Lindsay , much more than I do ; but like my friend who responded to the last toast , though I regret it , I feel that it is the duty of every Mason
when the front rank is vacant to obey the commands of you , my lord , and to step into his place as becomes a good soldier of the great Fraternity of Masonry . But when I reflect upon the heavy responsibility devolving upon me to respond for not only the present officers but
for tlie past , I feel overcome with the difficulty . I call to remembrance that honourable descent and uninterrupted succession from times long gone by into the dark vista of history , of which we are the notable , and I trust , the faithful representatives . Talk of an aristocracy , talk of antiquity , the officers of this
lodge represent an aristocracy and an antiquity beyond any other known aristocracy orantiquity in the world . I say , my lord , when I remember this , and when I consider for an instant that if all the illustrious men who bore office in this Grand Lodge were figured on the walls of this hall , I suppose they would not be sufficiently large to afford accommodation for the artist to
Grand Festival.
paint them . I trust , my lord , that your observations will not be in vain , and that the honourable distinction you conferred on the present officers will be amply fulfilled , and that they will do their duty like those who have gone before them . One tiling , however , we do learn ,
and that is this : In our punctuality and in the order and solemnity of our proceedings we learn the duty of obedience to higher authorities , the duty of order , and faithfulness and truth ; and in endeavouring to fulfil those great duties , officers in past times have always succeeded , and I
trust all officers will so succeed in times to come . I have to ask the cordial concurrence of my brethren in drinking the next toast , I mean the toast which I have the permission of the chairman to propose , and that is , a toast which commends itself to every Masonic heart , that of " The Masonic Charities . " If I possessed the
eloquence of our Bro . Binckes , who is known far and wide , in every extremity of this United Kingdom , I might ask you to " lend me your ears " for a little time longer ; but the advocacy of those charities is much better in his hands than mine . One thing I do rejoice in , that in those charities our order has manifested that
farseeing , intellectual desire for advancement which is now only coming to . be apparent in the world at large , and not like the almshouses and the hospitals , built in many cases as the only relics of those that have gone before us , Masonry has added to her charity the duty of
educating her children ; and while the country is awakening to a sense of the importance of education , Masonry has for a long series of years anticipated that sense in advocating the charities of our order . We do it , not only to promote the moral and the intellectual , but also
the best interests of the children under our care . I have to remind this assembly that the meeting of the Girls' School and the Festival take place on Monday week , and I would not only support it myself in answer to the invitation from the chair , but I would hope that every
brother who is able to be present on that occasion will be present . Bro . E . H . Patten , P . G . S . B . : Right Worshipful Dep . G . Master , before I return thanks for the toast which has just been proposed , you must allow me to thank you personally for the very kind manner in which you introduced a
notice of the Girls' Festival in proposing the health of the Prince of Wales , and I only hope the brethren will take your advice and come . I beg to announce to the brethren that it is nothing new to them , because they are all aware that the festival will take place on the 8 th of May , on which occasion His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales will take the chair . I am
only afraid that the brethren who attend that festival will be short of accommodation , and there may be some inconvenience ; but if there is , I must ask them to make every allowance for us , and do their best to conduce to the
success of that meeting . And now I thank you all very heartily for drinking this toast . Bro . IE . J . M'Intyre , G . Registrar , proposed "The Grand Stewards , " to which Bro . W . SUTTON GOVEU , President of the Board of Stewards , replied .
" The Ladies " having been duly honoured , the company adjourned to the Temple , where a vocal and instrumental concert was given , in which , under the direction of Bro . Jas . Coward , P . G . Org ., Madame Florence Lancia , Miss Dalmaine , Miss Julia Elton , and Bros . Barnby .
Carter , Montem Smith , and Distin took part ; Mr . J . C . Arlidge performing some beautiful solos on the flute . The musical selections were carefully made , and all the vocalists were in fine voice . We have never found such an excellent musical provision at any of the Masonic festivals ,
and have much pleasure in recording the fact as a testimony to the care taken by the Grand Stewards , who were very attentive to the wants of the visitors , and were the recipients of much laudation , both by the brethren for their care of them , and by the ladies for the alacrity with which their needs were supplied .
The duties of toastmaster after the banquet were performed by Bro . T . Spencer with his accustomed ability .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Grand Festival.
valuable support , as he has already given it once to my knowledge within this last twelvemonths . Brethren , I have to give you " The Health of the Past Grand Masters of England . " The Acting GRAND MASTER : Brethren , I have to remind you that here in England , though
we meet as a Grand Lodge , and though Grand Lodge is no doubt the first and the paramount thought in our minds , there are two sister Grand Lodges which , on an occasion like this , we certainly cannot afford to overlook . It is my duty , and a most satisfactory duty , to ask you
to fill your next glass in honour of the Grand Lodge of Scotland and the Grand Lodge of Ireland . Scotland , as we all kpow , is a country having a soil rugged in external appearance ; but she has indemnified herself well for her natural drawbacks by the high qualities of her
people—( hear , hear)—and their great virtues and power ; and on no soil , I think—if even the thistle has bloomed upon the Scotch soilhave all the great Masonic virtues found a kindlier root than they have there . Brethren , I may say the same of Ireland . We sometimes
hear of lodges in Ireland of a somewhat questionable frame and character ; but I do not think there has ever been one hint of a doubtful character which could be urged against Irish Masonry . ( Hear , and cheers . ) Whatever may have been the unhappy circumstances and
feelings m other parts of Ireland , Irish Masonry , so far as I know it , has been loyal to the crown and to the connection with this country . ( Hear , hear . ) Brethren , may these two great sister Grand Lodges be long , steadily , and firmly united to each other , and to us , and may they
and we take to heart a maxim which , I remember , is written upon one of the halls of one of our great London companies , and which Masonry , like every other society , may read , and mark , and hold with advantage : Concordia res parva erescunt ; discordia res maxima diminuuntur . I give you " The sister Grand Lodges
of Scotland and Ireland ; " and though I wish there were present many representatives from each , I am glad to think that we have present here at least one , Captain Gordon , who will worthily represent , and , I doubt not , worthily answer on behalf of , the Grand Lodge of his own most illustrious country .
Captain GORDON : Most Worshipful Grand Master , officers , and brethren , I must say that the lines might have fallen to me in more pleasant places . I never thought when I came this evening into this fine hall that I should be called upon to respond for the Grand Lodge of
Scotland , because your present Senior Grand Warden , Lord Lindsay—than whom there is no better or more ardent Mason—I thought , would have been here to reply to the toast . But he has left , and the duty has devolved upon me to return thanks on behalf then of Grand Lodge of Scotland . I beg to thank you for the kind manner
m which you have drunk its health . Although some quarrels have occasionally arisen , yet , as the Right Worshipful Grand Master has said , let discord cease , let concord reign , and let our motto be " upwards and onwards . " On behalf of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , I beg to thank you .
The Acting GRAND MASTER : Brethren , I have now to give you "The health of Provincial Grand Masters . " We are not favoured this evening with the presence of very many ; but we are grateful to those who have attended . The duty of a Provincial Grand Master is really
an important one ; it is sometimes a difficult one . I belong myself to the confraternity , and I know sometimes how many are the difficult and the delicate questions which come before us ; but this , at least , I can say from personal experience , as I believe most of my brother
Provincial Grand Masters might also say that any Province to which you appeal loyally and frankl y will always answer you in the same spirit , and as I look back myself with feelings of great gratitude to my Province for the support which
I have uniformly received at their hands , I am confident that the great , majority of Provincial Grand Masters in England know that they have but to deal frankly and straightforwardly with the brethren of their Province to insure also at
Grand Festival.
their hands the most hearty and cordial support . Brethren , I have to give you the " Health of the Provincial Grand Masters ofEngland , " and with that toast I will take the liberty of joining the health of my Right Worshipful brother , Bro . Bagshaw , on my left . His merits are well known
to you here in London , just as they are even better known , if I may say so , in his own Province of Essex . Let me give you " The health of the Provincial Grand Masters of England , " coupling with it the name of Bro . Bagshaw . ( Cheers . )
Bro . R . J . BAGSHAW : Brethren , I am sorry to say that I am hoarse , and shall scarcely be heard ; but it affords me very great satisfaction to express to you our gratitude for the honour you have conferred on us in drinking our health . As an old Provincial Grand Master , I feel that we have
ever received the support of Grand Lodge of England , and I can only say I hope the Provinces will long continue to work most heartily with the Grand Lodge of England . I will not further inflict on you the punishment of listening to a hoarse voice , but will only add that I am
very much indebted to you for your kindness in acknowledging our services . The Acting GRAND MASTER : Brethren , one of the most important duties which call us together this evening in Grand Lodge is , as you are well aware , the appointment of the Grand
Officers for the ensuing year ; and it is now my pleasing duty to ask you , nearly at the close of my list as I am , to fill your glasses and to drink then in honour of the Grand Officers for the ensuing year . The duties in Grand Lodge are not very onerous , or , generally speaking , very
difficult ; but at the same time they do require attention and care ; and I trust that the Grand Officers of this year will set the example , which I am confident they can set , of steady attention to , and a careful performance of , their duty , and
of a perfect knowledge of all those details of their relative positions which we expect at their hands . It is by these qualities that in a great measure the dignity of Grand Lodge and the prosperity of our proceedings is preserved ; and I look forward with confidence to those brethren
who have accepted offices this day , discharging those duties fully and effectually . I regret that my noble friend , Lord Lindsay , who has received the office of Senior Grand Warden , is not present at this table . He was obliged , sorely against his will—for I believe there is no more
unwearied , no more earnest , Mason within the four seas than he — he was obliged to leave us very early ; but we are fortunate in having his colleague here present , the Junior Grand Warden , Colonel Whitwell , and I shall take the liberty of joining with the toast his
name . I am satisfied that all those duties in Grand Lodge , to which I have adverted , are in very good and safe keeping when they repose in his hands . Brethren , " The Grand Officers , not merely of this year , but of the past yearthe Grand Officers both Past and Present . "
Bro . Col . WHITWELL , J . G . W .: Most Worshipful Grand Master , you cannot regret the absence of my brother , our Senior Grand Warden , Lord Lindsay , much more than I do ; but like my friend who responded to the last toast , though I regret it , I feel that it is the duty of every Mason
when the front rank is vacant to obey the commands of you , my lord , and to step into his place as becomes a good soldier of the great Fraternity of Masonry . But when I reflect upon the heavy responsibility devolving upon me to respond for not only the present officers but
for tlie past , I feel overcome with the difficulty . I call to remembrance that honourable descent and uninterrupted succession from times long gone by into the dark vista of history , of which we are the notable , and I trust , the faithful representatives . Talk of an aristocracy , talk of antiquity , the officers of this
lodge represent an aristocracy and an antiquity beyond any other known aristocracy orantiquity in the world . I say , my lord , when I remember this , and when I consider for an instant that if all the illustrious men who bore office in this Grand Lodge were figured on the walls of this hall , I suppose they would not be sufficiently large to afford accommodation for the artist to
Grand Festival.
paint them . I trust , my lord , that your observations will not be in vain , and that the honourable distinction you conferred on the present officers will be amply fulfilled , and that they will do their duty like those who have gone before them . One tiling , however , we do learn ,
and that is this : In our punctuality and in the order and solemnity of our proceedings we learn the duty of obedience to higher authorities , the duty of order , and faithfulness and truth ; and in endeavouring to fulfil those great duties , officers in past times have always succeeded , and I
trust all officers will so succeed in times to come . I have to ask the cordial concurrence of my brethren in drinking the next toast , I mean the toast which I have the permission of the chairman to propose , and that is , a toast which commends itself to every Masonic heart , that of " The Masonic Charities . " If I possessed the
eloquence of our Bro . Binckes , who is known far and wide , in every extremity of this United Kingdom , I might ask you to " lend me your ears " for a little time longer ; but the advocacy of those charities is much better in his hands than mine . One thing I do rejoice in , that in those charities our order has manifested that
farseeing , intellectual desire for advancement which is now only coming to . be apparent in the world at large , and not like the almshouses and the hospitals , built in many cases as the only relics of those that have gone before us , Masonry has added to her charity the duty of
educating her children ; and while the country is awakening to a sense of the importance of education , Masonry has for a long series of years anticipated that sense in advocating the charities of our order . We do it , not only to promote the moral and the intellectual , but also
the best interests of the children under our care . I have to remind this assembly that the meeting of the Girls' School and the Festival take place on Monday week , and I would not only support it myself in answer to the invitation from the chair , but I would hope that every
brother who is able to be present on that occasion will be present . Bro . E . H . Patten , P . G . S . B . : Right Worshipful Dep . G . Master , before I return thanks for the toast which has just been proposed , you must allow me to thank you personally for the very kind manner in which you introduced a
notice of the Girls' Festival in proposing the health of the Prince of Wales , and I only hope the brethren will take your advice and come . I beg to announce to the brethren that it is nothing new to them , because they are all aware that the festival will take place on the 8 th of May , on which occasion His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales will take the chair . I am
only afraid that the brethren who attend that festival will be short of accommodation , and there may be some inconvenience ; but if there is , I must ask them to make every allowance for us , and do their best to conduce to the
success of that meeting . And now I thank you all very heartily for drinking this toast . Bro . IE . J . M'Intyre , G . Registrar , proposed "The Grand Stewards , " to which Bro . W . SUTTON GOVEU , President of the Board of Stewards , replied .
" The Ladies " having been duly honoured , the company adjourned to the Temple , where a vocal and instrumental concert was given , in which , under the direction of Bro . Jas . Coward , P . G . Org ., Madame Florence Lancia , Miss Dalmaine , Miss Julia Elton , and Bros . Barnby .
Carter , Montem Smith , and Distin took part ; Mr . J . C . Arlidge performing some beautiful solos on the flute . The musical selections were carefully made , and all the vocalists were in fine voice . We have never found such an excellent musical provision at any of the Masonic festivals ,
and have much pleasure in recording the fact as a testimony to the care taken by the Grand Stewards , who were very attentive to the wants of the visitors , and were the recipients of much laudation , both by the brethren for their care of them , and by the ladies for the alacrity with which their needs were supplied .
The duties of toastmaster after the banquet were performed by Bro . T . Spencer with his accustomed ability .