Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Installation Of Lord Carrington As Provincial Grand Master Of Buckinghamshire.
find addressed the brethren , remarking that he was fully conscious of the fact that the distinction which he en joj ed in takingpart in the procedings on that great historical occasion , was due to the circumstance that he had been honoured with the friendship of Lord Carrington , and had been associated with him in Masonic labours on the other side of the globe , and he accepted the distinction thus conferred upon him as a token of the fraternal feeling of the members of the Craft in the Province
of Buckinghamshire with their Australian brethren . He offered his fraternal congratulations to the brethren on the favourable circumstances under which the newlyformed Provincial Grand Lodge of Buckinghamshire had been completely constitnied by the installation of his noble friend , Lord Carrington . They were honoured with the presence of a gallant and noble brother , Admiral Lord Alcester , whose career forms one of the brightest pages in the glorious annals of the British
Navy . They were also honoured with the presence of his Grace the Duke of Abercorn , Most Worship ful Grand Master of Ireland . He took it that the Duke of Abercorn ' s attendance was not merely a gracious act of courtesy and fraternal feeling towards Lord Carrington and that Prov . Grand Lodge , but also as furnishing striking evidence of the imperishable alliance existing between England and Ireland . They were also honoured with the presence of the Provincial Grand Master of
Berkshire , H . R . H . the Duke of Clarence and Avondale , who had so well installed their Provincial Grand Master . It was impossible to say how much the growth of Masonry in this kingdom , and indeed all over the world , was due to the gracious countenance and support it had received from members of the Royal Family of England , and from the occupants and heirs of the Throne for four generations and more than 100 years . The latest service to Masonry by a member of that Royal
House had been rendered by the Duke of Clarence on | that occasion , and he felt that however long and distinguished the history of the Province of Bucks might be , its members would always recall with pride and gratitude the fact that their first Provincial Grand Master was installed by H . R . H . the Duke of Clarence and Avondale , the son of the Prince of Wales , the honoured and beloved Grand Master of the Masonic Order , the grandson of the Queen , and himself in the direct line of
succession to the British Crown . He claimed , on behalf of his Colonial brethren , to share in the distinction which marked that day ' s proceedings , inasmuch as the Right Worship ful brother whom the Duke of Clarence had installed in the chair was Past Grand Master of New South Wales . He congratulated the Provincial Grand Master upon the great honour conferred upon him by the Prince of Wales in selecting him for that appointment in anticipation of his return to England ,
which , to his mind , afforded conclusive evidence that , although English and Colonial Masons might be ranged under different Constitutions , they were reall y one Brotherhood , and that distinguished service to the Craft on the other side of the world was not overlooked by the Grand Master , and was no disqualification for high office in Masonry in England . He thought all present would agree with him that the Province of Buckinghamshire had reason to feel grateful to
H . R . H . the Prince of Wales for appointing Lord Carrington to be their P . G . M . He desired for a moment to recall the prestige which Lord Carrington brought to his office , his lordship having been one of the most successful Pro-Consuls in the empire as Governor of New South Wales , and also the supreme ruler of the Craft in that great colony . Passing by those advantages of rank and fortune which fell to the lot of but few , and without pausing to dwell on those qualities of mind , of
manner , and of heart which had won for Lord Carrington the admiration and affection oi troops of friends all over the continent of Australia as true and as loyal as any of his brethren in Buckinghamshire , let him cite two testimonies as to Lord Carrington ' s capacity as a ruler . He would read to them a few lines , copied from The Sydney Morning Herald—The Times of New South Wales—in reference to Lord Carrington . The writer in that journal said : " People of our race would
not long be satisfied by a Governor characterised merely by qualities of amiability . To retain their regard it is requisite that he have also the qualities of ' grit' and backbone . Lord Carrington has shown that this quality was not wanting . On three occasions ,-when unsupported by Ministerial advice and unsheltered by Ministerial responsibility , and called upon to determine for himself , he showed us that he could boldly justify his decisions . " He would ask them to listen to a few
words uttered in reference to Lord Carrington by Sir Henry Parkes , the nestor of Australian politics , and the " Old Man" eloquent of New South Wales , at a great banquet given in honour of Lord Carrington . Sir Henry Parkes said : " I who claim to have been a student of the public history of this colony regard him as one of the wisest Governors this colony has ever had . Any intelligent man now listening to me knows that we have had very critical and very great difficulties
to deal with , and Lord Carrington at every juncture took a right view to find the right path , and did it in the large and liberal interpretation of an English statesman . His five years have been an eventful five years of Australian history , fyfe have had to deal with questions which at no previous time we had to deal with—questions which touched the inmost fibres of the nalion ' s heart , and which urge us on to the performance of a nation ' s destiny . In all these circumstances ,
in all these times of trouble , Lord Carrington had in him the instincts of a noblehearted Briton , who loved his Queen , who loved his country , and who loved the country he was presiding over , and , above all , and on account of his love for these , he loved the preservation of liberty most . " Chief Justice Way , continuing his address , said -. Passing on to the great services which Lord Carrington rendered to Masonry in Australia , he could not help recalling that dramatic scene—the most
imposing Masonic gathering south of the line , and rarely surpassed in English Masonic history—when in the presence of 4300 Freemasons assembled to do Lord Carrington honour , both as her Majesty ' s representative and also as head of the Craft , he . was installed as the first Grand Master of New South Wales . Nor could he forget the great occasion when , supported by more than 3000 Masons , Lord Carrington installed Sir William Clarke as first Grand Master of Victoria ,
or his travelling between 2000 and 3000 miles to install his ( Chief Justice Way ' s ) own illustrious Masonic chief , the Earl of Kintore , as Grand Master of South Australia ; or , again , the voyage they took together when they crossed Bass ' Straits'in one of the heaviest gales which ever swept across that stormy channel , in order that Lord Carrington might install the Rev . Paulet Harris as the first Grand Master ot Tasmania . But these services , great and laborious and
invaluable as they were , after all were occasional and incidental . Lord Carrington ' s great service to Australian Masonry was the patient , the persistent , the statesmanlike , and the effectual influence he exerted in bringing about Masonic union in New South Wales , Victoria , and Tasmania , and in his firm and wise government of the Craft in New South Wales . His Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence had travelled in Australia , and had had unusual opportunities of stud ying and
forming an ' accurate opinion on the conditions of life in each of the colonies in that continent , and he was sure he might appeal to his Royal Hi ghness to bear him out in saying that the development of their political institutions and the right that had been granted to them to manage their own local affairs had in no way diminished their love for the Mother Country , or their loyalty and devotion to the person of their Queen . In like manner the great movement for removing
from Masonry in Australia the reproach of being divided into different Constitutions , and for cementing the Craft in each colony into one united Brotherhood , and which had had the approval and support of his Royal Hi ghness the Grand Master of England , had not lessened , but rather increased their Charity , their loyalty , their faith , and their affection for their English brethren . But it was hi gh time
they got back from Australia to Buckinghamshire . Their Provincial Grand Lodge had now been completely constituted under the most distinguished and auspicious circumstances . The laggard sun had even shone out bri ghtly on their proceedings . He felt sure the Provincial Grand Master would be assisted by a band of able and tried officers , and that he would have the confidence and support of the members of the Craft throughout the province . He could not doubt but that under Lord
Installation Of Lord Carrington As Provincial Grand Master Of Buckinghamshire.
Carrington ' s wise and benignant rule the Province of Buckinghamshire would take high rank in provincial Masonry , and that his lordship ' s connection with it would be for the advantage of the Craft , that it would bring new lustre to a noble name and a distinguished public and Masonic career and above all , that it would be
crowned with the blessing and approval of the Great Architect of the Universe . In conclusion , the learned speaker , whose eloquent and interesting address was listened to with deep attention , offered his hearty good wishes and congratulations to the Provincial Grand Lodge of Buckinghamshire , on behalf of the Masonic brethren in Australia .
At three o clock the Provincial Grand Lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to the Corn Exchange , where a cold collation had been provided . The balcony was occupied by ladies . The PROV . GRAND MASTER , who presided , proposed the first toast , " The Queen and the Craft , " which was followed by the National Anthem , led b y Lord Carrington himself .
The PROV . GRAND MASTER next proposed " The Health of the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " and said he was sure the brethren would heartily join with him in offering their respectful solicitations on the happy event which had just occurred—the birth of the first grandchild of the Prince and Princess of Wales . " God bless the Prince of Wales " having been sung ,
The PROV . GRAND MASTER proposed "The Health of the Pro G . M ., the Earl of Lathom ; the Deputy G . M ., the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe ; and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " associating with the toast the name of Lord ALCESTER , who briefly responded . Bro . Chief Justice WAY gave "The Health of the Installing Grand Master , his Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence , " thanking him for his attendance , and
complimenting him upon the manner in which he had performed the dut y that had devolved upon him . That was the first visit of his Royal Highness to the old borough of Aylesbury , but , on behalf of the burgesses , he ventured to express his hope that it would not be the last visit which the Prince would make to that town . The display of beauty in the balcony , which he did not think could be surpassed by any other town in the kingdom , was doubtless due to the presence of the Royal Duke , whose health he had now the pleasure of proposing .
The Duke of CLARENCE , who was greeted with loud cheers , expressed his warmest thanks to the brethren for the very flattering manner in which they had received the toast of his health , and he also thanked Chief Justice Way for the far too kind and flattering terms in which he had submitted the toast . He assured them that it had afforded him very great pleasure to have had the opportunity of coming down to Aylesbury that day for the purpose of installing his worthy friend
Lord Carrington as Provincial Grand Master of Buckinghamshire . He was deputed by his Royal Highness the Grand Master to perform the ceremony , and he felt at once that it would be a great pleasure and honour to do so . Lord Carrington was one of his father ' s oldest and dearest friends , and he ( the Duke ) was glad to be able to say that he had had the pleasure of knowing Lord Carrington for many years , and before sitting down he desired to propose Lord
Carrington ' s health as their Provincial Grand Master . He felt sure Lord Carrington would ably fulfil the duties which the office would impose upon him ,. It was not necessary that he should dwell upon what Lord Carrington had done for Masonry in Australia , as they had been so well informed upon that subject by Chief Justice Way , and therefore he would content himself b y simply proposing his lordship ' s health .
The PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER , who was enthusiastically cheered , replied at some length . In the course of his speech his lordship observed that he had been on various occasions and under varying circumstances on his hind legs a good many times in that historic hall , but he had never risen with such feelings of gratitude as on this occasion to tender his thanks for the very kind manner in which he had been received b y his Masonic brethren . He valued that
demonstration all the more because he was born and bred in the county , and he knew the men of Buckinghamshire very well , and that they never said what they did not mean . He heartily thanked the Duke of Clarence for having come among them , and said he regarded the presence of his Royal Highness not only as a compliment to the Masonic brethren of this count y , but also as a compliment to the ' county itself . He hoped the demonstration of that day in which all classes had participated , would be accepted by the Duke as a proof of their loyalty to the Throne
and to their Royal House , of which the Prince was such a popular member . The P . G . M . proceeded to refer to the prominent part which members of the Royal Family took in furthering every good work , and of the loyalty which pervaded every class and creed , not only in this country , but also in the Colonies and in our vast possessions in other parts of the globe . Having referred to the progress of Masonry in the Australian Colonies , his lordship expressed his hope and conviction that there would be mutual trust between the brethren and the lodges of the Province of Buckinghamshire , and that there was a bright and g lorious future in store .
The PROV . GRAND MASTER then proposed " The Health of the Duke of Abercorn , Grand Master of Ireland , " wishing success to the sister Grand Lodges all over the world . The Duke of ABERCORN briefly replied , and spoke of the Grand Lodge of Ireland as being in a flourishing condition . Although comparatively poor and small in numbers , they were nevertheless a very loyal body .
The PROV . GRAND MASTER , in complimentary terms , gave "The Health of the Deputy Prov . Grand Master . " Bro . BROWNRIGG , in responding , said that Buckinghamshire had a Provincial Grand Master of its own in 1796 , and he felt very pleased and thankful that after an interval of 95 years they had again a Provincial Grand Lodge of their own , with such an able , distinguished , and popular Provincial Grand Master as Lord
Carrington . He desired to offer his hearty thanks to the W . M ., officers , and brethren of the Buckingham Lodge for the valuable help they had given to the Prov . Grand Secretary and himself , and for their indefatigable labour and careful attention to detail . He hoped the Buckingham lodge might long continue to deserve the distinction of being the premier lodge of the province , and he had much pleasure in proposing prosperity to it , coupled with the name of the Worshipful Master .
Bro . MAYNE , the W . M . of the lodge , having suitably acknowledged the compliment , The PROVINCIAL GRAND SECRETARY gave " The Health of the Visitors , " for whom Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke , Grand Secretary , and Bro . Richard Eve , Past Grand Treasurerrespectively returned thanks .
, The DEPUTY PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER gave "The Health of the Provincial Grand Officers , " and bore testimony to the valuable services rendered by the Provincial Grand Secretary , observing that it was impossible to over-estimate the work and anxiety that had lately devolved upon him . He also alluded to the
services of the Provincial Grand Treasurer , Bro . Williams , and to the energet ^ exertions of Bro . Martin , the Secretary of the Buckingham Lodge . Not only his own personal thanks , but also the gratitude of the whole province were due to Bros . Mayne , Martin , Poulton , and others for what they had done with the object of making that gathering the great success it had proved .
Bros . Bowen , Williams , and Martin severally responded , and the company separated shortly afterwards . The Duke of Clarence returned with Lord Carrington by special train to High Wycombe , driving from the station to Wy corn Abbey . In the course of the afternoon vocal selections were admirably g iven by Br ° ^' George May , William Coates , and Sutton Shepley , who also sang in the lodg ¦ Bro . R . S . C . Keymer presided at the organ ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Installation Of Lord Carrington As Provincial Grand Master Of Buckinghamshire.
find addressed the brethren , remarking that he was fully conscious of the fact that the distinction which he en joj ed in takingpart in the procedings on that great historical occasion , was due to the circumstance that he had been honoured with the friendship of Lord Carrington , and had been associated with him in Masonic labours on the other side of the globe , and he accepted the distinction thus conferred upon him as a token of the fraternal feeling of the members of the Craft in the Province
of Buckinghamshire with their Australian brethren . He offered his fraternal congratulations to the brethren on the favourable circumstances under which the newlyformed Provincial Grand Lodge of Buckinghamshire had been completely constitnied by the installation of his noble friend , Lord Carrington . They were honoured with the presence of a gallant and noble brother , Admiral Lord Alcester , whose career forms one of the brightest pages in the glorious annals of the British
Navy . They were also honoured with the presence of his Grace the Duke of Abercorn , Most Worship ful Grand Master of Ireland . He took it that the Duke of Abercorn ' s attendance was not merely a gracious act of courtesy and fraternal feeling towards Lord Carrington and that Prov . Grand Lodge , but also as furnishing striking evidence of the imperishable alliance existing between England and Ireland . They were also honoured with the presence of the Provincial Grand Master of
Berkshire , H . R . H . the Duke of Clarence and Avondale , who had so well installed their Provincial Grand Master . It was impossible to say how much the growth of Masonry in this kingdom , and indeed all over the world , was due to the gracious countenance and support it had received from members of the Royal Family of England , and from the occupants and heirs of the Throne for four generations and more than 100 years . The latest service to Masonry by a member of that Royal
House had been rendered by the Duke of Clarence on | that occasion , and he felt that however long and distinguished the history of the Province of Bucks might be , its members would always recall with pride and gratitude the fact that their first Provincial Grand Master was installed by H . R . H . the Duke of Clarence and Avondale , the son of the Prince of Wales , the honoured and beloved Grand Master of the Masonic Order , the grandson of the Queen , and himself in the direct line of
succession to the British Crown . He claimed , on behalf of his Colonial brethren , to share in the distinction which marked that day ' s proceedings , inasmuch as the Right Worship ful brother whom the Duke of Clarence had installed in the chair was Past Grand Master of New South Wales . He congratulated the Provincial Grand Master upon the great honour conferred upon him by the Prince of Wales in selecting him for that appointment in anticipation of his return to England ,
which , to his mind , afforded conclusive evidence that , although English and Colonial Masons might be ranged under different Constitutions , they were reall y one Brotherhood , and that distinguished service to the Craft on the other side of the world was not overlooked by the Grand Master , and was no disqualification for high office in Masonry in England . He thought all present would agree with him that the Province of Buckinghamshire had reason to feel grateful to
H . R . H . the Prince of Wales for appointing Lord Carrington to be their P . G . M . He desired for a moment to recall the prestige which Lord Carrington brought to his office , his lordship having been one of the most successful Pro-Consuls in the empire as Governor of New South Wales , and also the supreme ruler of the Craft in that great colony . Passing by those advantages of rank and fortune which fell to the lot of but few , and without pausing to dwell on those qualities of mind , of
manner , and of heart which had won for Lord Carrington the admiration and affection oi troops of friends all over the continent of Australia as true and as loyal as any of his brethren in Buckinghamshire , let him cite two testimonies as to Lord Carrington ' s capacity as a ruler . He would read to them a few lines , copied from The Sydney Morning Herald—The Times of New South Wales—in reference to Lord Carrington . The writer in that journal said : " People of our race would
not long be satisfied by a Governor characterised merely by qualities of amiability . To retain their regard it is requisite that he have also the qualities of ' grit' and backbone . Lord Carrington has shown that this quality was not wanting . On three occasions ,-when unsupported by Ministerial advice and unsheltered by Ministerial responsibility , and called upon to determine for himself , he showed us that he could boldly justify his decisions . " He would ask them to listen to a few
words uttered in reference to Lord Carrington by Sir Henry Parkes , the nestor of Australian politics , and the " Old Man" eloquent of New South Wales , at a great banquet given in honour of Lord Carrington . Sir Henry Parkes said : " I who claim to have been a student of the public history of this colony regard him as one of the wisest Governors this colony has ever had . Any intelligent man now listening to me knows that we have had very critical and very great difficulties
to deal with , and Lord Carrington at every juncture took a right view to find the right path , and did it in the large and liberal interpretation of an English statesman . His five years have been an eventful five years of Australian history , fyfe have had to deal with questions which at no previous time we had to deal with—questions which touched the inmost fibres of the nalion ' s heart , and which urge us on to the performance of a nation ' s destiny . In all these circumstances ,
in all these times of trouble , Lord Carrington had in him the instincts of a noblehearted Briton , who loved his Queen , who loved his country , and who loved the country he was presiding over , and , above all , and on account of his love for these , he loved the preservation of liberty most . " Chief Justice Way , continuing his address , said -. Passing on to the great services which Lord Carrington rendered to Masonry in Australia , he could not help recalling that dramatic scene—the most
imposing Masonic gathering south of the line , and rarely surpassed in English Masonic history—when in the presence of 4300 Freemasons assembled to do Lord Carrington honour , both as her Majesty ' s representative and also as head of the Craft , he . was installed as the first Grand Master of New South Wales . Nor could he forget the great occasion when , supported by more than 3000 Masons , Lord Carrington installed Sir William Clarke as first Grand Master of Victoria ,
or his travelling between 2000 and 3000 miles to install his ( Chief Justice Way ' s ) own illustrious Masonic chief , the Earl of Kintore , as Grand Master of South Australia ; or , again , the voyage they took together when they crossed Bass ' Straits'in one of the heaviest gales which ever swept across that stormy channel , in order that Lord Carrington might install the Rev . Paulet Harris as the first Grand Master ot Tasmania . But these services , great and laborious and
invaluable as they were , after all were occasional and incidental . Lord Carrington ' s great service to Australian Masonry was the patient , the persistent , the statesmanlike , and the effectual influence he exerted in bringing about Masonic union in New South Wales , Victoria , and Tasmania , and in his firm and wise government of the Craft in New South Wales . His Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence had travelled in Australia , and had had unusual opportunities of stud ying and
forming an ' accurate opinion on the conditions of life in each of the colonies in that continent , and he was sure he might appeal to his Royal Hi ghness to bear him out in saying that the development of their political institutions and the right that had been granted to them to manage their own local affairs had in no way diminished their love for the Mother Country , or their loyalty and devotion to the person of their Queen . In like manner the great movement for removing
from Masonry in Australia the reproach of being divided into different Constitutions , and for cementing the Craft in each colony into one united Brotherhood , and which had had the approval and support of his Royal Hi ghness the Grand Master of England , had not lessened , but rather increased their Charity , their loyalty , their faith , and their affection for their English brethren . But it was hi gh time
they got back from Australia to Buckinghamshire . Their Provincial Grand Lodge had now been completely constituted under the most distinguished and auspicious circumstances . The laggard sun had even shone out bri ghtly on their proceedings . He felt sure the Provincial Grand Master would be assisted by a band of able and tried officers , and that he would have the confidence and support of the members of the Craft throughout the province . He could not doubt but that under Lord
Installation Of Lord Carrington As Provincial Grand Master Of Buckinghamshire.
Carrington ' s wise and benignant rule the Province of Buckinghamshire would take high rank in provincial Masonry , and that his lordship ' s connection with it would be for the advantage of the Craft , that it would bring new lustre to a noble name and a distinguished public and Masonic career and above all , that it would be
crowned with the blessing and approval of the Great Architect of the Universe . In conclusion , the learned speaker , whose eloquent and interesting address was listened to with deep attention , offered his hearty good wishes and congratulations to the Provincial Grand Lodge of Buckinghamshire , on behalf of the Masonic brethren in Australia .
At three o clock the Provincial Grand Lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to the Corn Exchange , where a cold collation had been provided . The balcony was occupied by ladies . The PROV . GRAND MASTER , who presided , proposed the first toast , " The Queen and the Craft , " which was followed by the National Anthem , led b y Lord Carrington himself .
The PROV . GRAND MASTER next proposed " The Health of the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " and said he was sure the brethren would heartily join with him in offering their respectful solicitations on the happy event which had just occurred—the birth of the first grandchild of the Prince and Princess of Wales . " God bless the Prince of Wales " having been sung ,
The PROV . GRAND MASTER proposed "The Health of the Pro G . M ., the Earl of Lathom ; the Deputy G . M ., the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe ; and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " associating with the toast the name of Lord ALCESTER , who briefly responded . Bro . Chief Justice WAY gave "The Health of the Installing Grand Master , his Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence , " thanking him for his attendance , and
complimenting him upon the manner in which he had performed the dut y that had devolved upon him . That was the first visit of his Royal Highness to the old borough of Aylesbury , but , on behalf of the burgesses , he ventured to express his hope that it would not be the last visit which the Prince would make to that town . The display of beauty in the balcony , which he did not think could be surpassed by any other town in the kingdom , was doubtless due to the presence of the Royal Duke , whose health he had now the pleasure of proposing .
The Duke of CLARENCE , who was greeted with loud cheers , expressed his warmest thanks to the brethren for the very flattering manner in which they had received the toast of his health , and he also thanked Chief Justice Way for the far too kind and flattering terms in which he had submitted the toast . He assured them that it had afforded him very great pleasure to have had the opportunity of coming down to Aylesbury that day for the purpose of installing his worthy friend
Lord Carrington as Provincial Grand Master of Buckinghamshire . He was deputed by his Royal Highness the Grand Master to perform the ceremony , and he felt at once that it would be a great pleasure and honour to do so . Lord Carrington was one of his father ' s oldest and dearest friends , and he ( the Duke ) was glad to be able to say that he had had the pleasure of knowing Lord Carrington for many years , and before sitting down he desired to propose Lord
Carrington ' s health as their Provincial Grand Master . He felt sure Lord Carrington would ably fulfil the duties which the office would impose upon him ,. It was not necessary that he should dwell upon what Lord Carrington had done for Masonry in Australia , as they had been so well informed upon that subject by Chief Justice Way , and therefore he would content himself b y simply proposing his lordship ' s health .
The PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER , who was enthusiastically cheered , replied at some length . In the course of his speech his lordship observed that he had been on various occasions and under varying circumstances on his hind legs a good many times in that historic hall , but he had never risen with such feelings of gratitude as on this occasion to tender his thanks for the very kind manner in which he had been received b y his Masonic brethren . He valued that
demonstration all the more because he was born and bred in the county , and he knew the men of Buckinghamshire very well , and that they never said what they did not mean . He heartily thanked the Duke of Clarence for having come among them , and said he regarded the presence of his Royal Highness not only as a compliment to the Masonic brethren of this count y , but also as a compliment to the ' county itself . He hoped the demonstration of that day in which all classes had participated , would be accepted by the Duke as a proof of their loyalty to the Throne
and to their Royal House , of which the Prince was such a popular member . The P . G . M . proceeded to refer to the prominent part which members of the Royal Family took in furthering every good work , and of the loyalty which pervaded every class and creed , not only in this country , but also in the Colonies and in our vast possessions in other parts of the globe . Having referred to the progress of Masonry in the Australian Colonies , his lordship expressed his hope and conviction that there would be mutual trust between the brethren and the lodges of the Province of Buckinghamshire , and that there was a bright and g lorious future in store .
The PROV . GRAND MASTER then proposed " The Health of the Duke of Abercorn , Grand Master of Ireland , " wishing success to the sister Grand Lodges all over the world . The Duke of ABERCORN briefly replied , and spoke of the Grand Lodge of Ireland as being in a flourishing condition . Although comparatively poor and small in numbers , they were nevertheless a very loyal body .
The PROV . GRAND MASTER , in complimentary terms , gave "The Health of the Deputy Prov . Grand Master . " Bro . BROWNRIGG , in responding , said that Buckinghamshire had a Provincial Grand Master of its own in 1796 , and he felt very pleased and thankful that after an interval of 95 years they had again a Provincial Grand Lodge of their own , with such an able , distinguished , and popular Provincial Grand Master as Lord
Carrington . He desired to offer his hearty thanks to the W . M ., officers , and brethren of the Buckingham Lodge for the valuable help they had given to the Prov . Grand Secretary and himself , and for their indefatigable labour and careful attention to detail . He hoped the Buckingham lodge might long continue to deserve the distinction of being the premier lodge of the province , and he had much pleasure in proposing prosperity to it , coupled with the name of the Worshipful Master .
Bro . MAYNE , the W . M . of the lodge , having suitably acknowledged the compliment , The PROVINCIAL GRAND SECRETARY gave " The Health of the Visitors , " for whom Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke , Grand Secretary , and Bro . Richard Eve , Past Grand Treasurerrespectively returned thanks .
, The DEPUTY PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER gave "The Health of the Provincial Grand Officers , " and bore testimony to the valuable services rendered by the Provincial Grand Secretary , observing that it was impossible to over-estimate the work and anxiety that had lately devolved upon him . He also alluded to the
services of the Provincial Grand Treasurer , Bro . Williams , and to the energet ^ exertions of Bro . Martin , the Secretary of the Buckingham Lodge . Not only his own personal thanks , but also the gratitude of the whole province were due to Bros . Mayne , Martin , Poulton , and others for what they had done with the object of making that gathering the great success it had proved .
Bros . Bowen , Williams , and Martin severally responded , and the company separated shortly afterwards . The Duke of Clarence returned with Lord Carrington by special train to High Wycombe , driving from the station to Wy corn Abbey . In the course of the afternoon vocal selections were admirably g iven by Br ° ^' George May , William Coates , and Sutton Shepley , who also sang in the lodg ¦ Bro . R . S . C . Keymer presided at the organ ,