The Installation Of The Right Hon Earl Percy, At Alnwick.

THE INSTALLATION OF THE RIGHT HON EARL PERCY , AT ALNWICK .

On Tuesday last , an event occurred which is fraught with the hig hest interest to the Freemasons of this province , aud to the Masonic Fraternity generally , an event which will become historical , and a source of gratifying reminiscence to those who had the good fortune to take a part in it . At the annual meeting

of the Alnwick Lodge , No . 1167 , presided over by Bro . James Heatley , the Right Hon . Henry Georg' 3 , Earl Percy , Prov . Senior Grand Warden of England , was installed Master of the lodge for the ensuing twelve months . The ceremony being

impressively conducted by Bro . E . D . Davis , of Newcastle , supported by the brethren of the Alnwick Lodge , aud by officers of the Prov . Grand Lodge , among whom were , Tho P . G . Chaplain , and Bros . L . M . Cockcrot ' t , J . S . Challoner , J . Anderson , T .

Y . Strachan , Smales , Allen , W . E . Franklin , G . Thompson , J . II . Thompson , and J . A . Hair , all from Newcastle-on-Tyne , aud Bros . Braithwaiti , R . King , Reed , & c , from Morpeth . The Right Noble Earl appointed and invested the following officers to serve under him , Bros . James Heatley , P . M . ; Hy .

H . Blair , S . AV . ; AVm . Brown , J . W . ; Rev . E . L Marrett , Vicar of Lesbury , G . Chaplain ; Edw . T Tuvnbull , Treas . ; Thos . Robson , Sec . ; G . AV Busby , S . D . ; J . P . Simpson , J . D . ; Hy . Candlish I . G . ; Thos . Pickard , Tyler ; Heatley , and A . Robert son , jun ., Stewards ,

After the ceremony a banquet was served in the Town Hall , to which about seventy of the brethren sat down , the Right Hon . Master occupying tbe chair , and stating he was very sorry for the absence of the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master , the Rev . E . C . Ode , of Kirklcy , but must really plead

guilty to being the cause of it in a second sense , as important circumstances which he really could not help , made it impossible to invite the Grand Master to stay at the castle just at tbe present time . ( The noble Earl was understood to allude to the hourly expected birth of an heirto that nob ' ehouse . ) He

announced his intention of undertaking the duties of Ins office as far as his time would allow , and signified his intention to accept the office of Steward of the Boys ' School , and hoped the brethren would liberally support him in his representation of that valuable institution . Bro . DAVIS , in proposing the health of the newly

installed Master , referred to the enthusiasm with which the toast of our beloved Queen was always received , and stated that it would be absolutely impossible , under the very walls of Alnwick Castle , to greet the heir of the House of Percy in such a character as that which he had now assumed , without tho Utmost enthusiasm . Tbe Masons had conferred

upon him the highest honour in their power by electing him to be their Master , and be fully appreciated the compliment , and would rule over them worthily and aright , and give them the benefit of his experience and exalted position . He hoped his lordship ' sacceptance ' of the chair was a foretaste of tho

honour which awaits the Alnwick Lodge for ages to come , and that our children ' s children when scores aud scores of years have passed since the first Percy was placed iu the chair , may still have one of the House of Percy to preside over them . The NOIILE EARL , in replying assured the

brethren that this was bnt another of those proofs of cordiality and kindness towards himself aud his family that are always uniform and always extreme , but to-day it is called forth iu a peculiar manner , I cannot feel that I have not earned my post , but it shall be my endeavour to justify your choiceaud I

, will attend ou all possible occasions to the duties which I have this day undertaken . I will now propose the health of the present officers of the lodge , the chief of whom I reinstate , to prevent injustice being done by my having temporarily superseded them . I cannot take credit for acutcucss in their

selection , but 1 know they are the best men , and I couple with the toast , the name of Bro . Heatley . Bro . J . wins HEAT-LEY , P . M ., in responding said : Right AVorshipful Earl Percy , dignitaries and brethren all , it would be a piece of sheer afl ' ectatiou on my part , and I sli . mld be guilty indeed of

gross hypocrisy did I not admit that I feci proud of the circumstances in which I now rise to address you ; true it is that " soma achieve greatness , while others have greatness thrust upon them . " The latter has been especially my case in regard to Freemasonry , the force of circumstances , and not any

merit on my part has placed me in the honourable position of Past Master in the Alnwick Lodge . 1 thank you cordially for the honor you have just done me in drinking my health at the call of ' the Junior Warden , ami I am sure that Bro . Burn will

excuse me if I say that be has been more than usually exuberant in his language . Pardon nic however if in tho company of so many distinguished Masons I venture in expressing my thanks , to recur a little to tho past , as well as to congratulate our-

The Installation Of The Right Hon Earl Percy, At Alnwick.

selves on the auspicious occasion on which we have assembled this day . Not quite three years ago , the determination was formed to restore the light of Masonry to Alnwick , which bad erewhile been extinguished ; along with a few brethren whom I see around me I then became a humble instrument

in rekindling the flame . I can assure you it did appear to us rather a hazardous undertaking . But the attempt was made in hope , as well as in fear . How these hopes have been more than realised , ye are witnesses this day . The ray was at first feeble , and , in some respects , indeed , mig ht have been

regarded as a borrowed light , for we needed much assistance from another lodge ( I mean the Lodge De Ogle ) , which I must say was cheerfully accorded . Now however at the close of the second year of our history , numbering forty-five members , we may surely congratulate ourselves on having reached

the glorious sunlight ; while the presence of Earl Percy in the chair this day as AV . M . for ( he ensuing year , inspires us with the confidence ! that in the future that lig ht will steadily advance onward to the " Perfect day . " Brethren , in electing Earl Percy you acted in accordance with the strictest tenets of

our Order , for I unhesitatingly affirm that irrespective of every other consideration you then elected the best Mason in our lodge . Allow me to ask in all seriousness , what is Freemasonry ? You know , of course , the answer which would be returned were the question put in another

place—but at present in view of our many responsibilities as Masons , —responsibiliti-. s to ourselves , to the Craft , and to mankind in general , I would say it is the very touchstone of honor . Masonry has been beautifully compared to a golden thread , running through the waifs and woof ' s of existence . It is all

that , and it is something more . Like that divine faith in which we all trust , it must be something more than a mere profession—something more than a mere ritual , be it ever so gorgeous—it must be the Life , the living Life itself , otherwise it is without value to the possessor aud worthless unto others .

It is the cultivation and the embodiment of that heavenly virtue , the endowment of which we are told in holy writ is better far than the eloquence of men or even the tongue of angels . Masonry knows no condition , no color , no clime , while respecting all law and order , both human and divine , it

recognizes no nationality , it is confined to no continent , but like the circumambient air itself is bounded only by earth aud heaven . To the enquiry , AVhat has Masonry done 1 I would rejoin , what has it not done ? It has burst the bonds of antagonistic creeds , it has surmounted the barriers of political

differences , it has budged across the extremes of social rank , and teaching us to look beyond the narrow limits of particular institutions , whether civil or religious , it has enabled us to view in every son of Adam a biother of the dust . It has brought men into fraternal intercourse who otherwise would

have passed through life in utter ignorance that they possessed one kindred feeling . It has smoothed down tho asperities which are ever springing up in the pathway of this world through the conflicting interests of human effort ; and it has quelled the note of discord which so often mars the poetry ot

existence . AVhenever it has laded in any one instance to accomplish either of these grand and heavenlike results , it can only be when the spirit of Masonry has never enshrined within the bosom its noble principles received into the heart , or its sublime dictates allowed to regulate the conduct .

I now come to the discharge ol a very pleasing duty , that is to thank those officers who have along with myselfperfornied the work of the lodge duringtlicpast year . I have to thank them personally for the kind approval and brotherly assistance which thoy have at all times afforded me , indeed , I have to thank all

the brethren for the timely . brbearancc and generous sympathy which I have always received at their hands . The attendance at the lodge has been well sustained , and the work within it has been cheerfully dune . But when I say within the lodge , I do not mean to exclude that important officer who stands

without . The duties of Tyler have been discharged by Bro . Mulvany with such unswerving fidelity as to ' merit the highest meed of commendation . There is another office also involving a great deal of trouble and self-denying labour , which deserves special mention at my hands . I mean the office of

Secretary . That laborious post was accepted so willingly by Bro . Turiibull , and its duties have been so energetically fulfilled by him , that it affords me the greatest pleasure to associate his name with the toast I have now to propose , viz ., that of the Past Officers . I can safely say that during the twelvemonth

which have elapsed since we last met together ill a similar capacity , not one jarring note has been heard within yon sacred enclosure—we care not for the attacks of the cowan from without , but wo do care that peace love , and honour may ever reign within .

But at best , brethren , it can only bo regarded as a temporary judgment . In a few years most of us will have passed away , admitted I trust into that Grand Lodge above , where the G . A . O . T . U . ever lives and reigns—that lodge which is never closed , where work

The Installation Of The Right Hon Earl Percy, At Alnwick.

will be worship , and labour will be prayer ; and when those who may still remain shall be further down the stream of time , then we trust amongst all tbe hallowed memories of the past , not the least pleasant will be the recollection of the early history

of this Masonic Lodge . Bro . TUKNBULL having suitably responded , and seme other appropriate toasts having been duly honoured , the auspicious ceremony was brought to a close .

It may be remarked that the banquet was of the most attractive character , aud the choice fruits which were abundantly clispered over the tables led to the impression that the noble chairman had munificently seconded the successful efforts of the Stewards , to whom a vote of thanks was proposed by Bro . D . E . Franklin aud cordially accorded by the meeting .

Provincial Grand Lodge Op Lincolnshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OP LINCOLNSHIRE .

CONSECRATION OF A HEW LODGE AT BRIGG . A most interesting and successful meeting was held here on Monday the 2 oth October , to constitute and consecrate a new lodge under the name of the Ancholme Lodge , No . 1283 . The ceremony , which

was complete , has never been more beautilully rendered than it was under the presidency of W . Bros . Major Smyth , D . P . G . M ., assisted by Captain E . Locock , ( 712 , ) S . AV . ; AV . II . Radlcy , ( 838 ) , J . W . ; W . G Moore , ( 297 ) , R . ; C . M . Nisbitt . ( 712 ) , T . ; C . E . Lucas , ( 712 ) , Sec ; the Deacons and other Officers

Bro . C . E . Lucas , performed the duties of . Chaplain and also gave a short congratulatory address . He was very warmly received , as indeed he always is whenever he presents himself to the brethren . There was only one circumstance which tended to throw a cloud over

the meeting , and that was the unavoidable absence of His Grace the Duko of St . A loan ' s , P . G . M . A letter from His Grace was read stating the deep regret he felt at being unable to be present . The lodge was held in the Town Hall , which had been most tastefully decorated for the occasion by Bro . II . L . Simons .

assisted by Miss Kirkham , the daughter of Bro . Kirkham of the Angel Hotel . A large number of the principal inhabitants were admitted alter the Ceremony was over to view the room , and the rich illuminated emblematical devices and gorgeous banners , and tho exquisitely chaste new furniture , together

with the jewels and the magnificicnt silver vessels containing the elements , were the theme of admiration . Though the railway accommodation is of the worst possible description making it a matter of the greatest difficulty to pi osccute the double journey in one day , no less than seventy brethren were present . After the

imposing ceremony of consecration had been brought to a close by singing a beautiful anthem , which was accompanied on the harmonium by Bro . AVnite , of Louth , in his usual felicitous style , the installation of the AV . M . took place . Bro . Valentine Dudley Carey Ehves , P . M . was presented by P . M . Bro . Fowler , 712 ,

P . P . G . S . of AV . and duly p laced in the chair . He then installed Bro . Gecrye Nelson , of Great Limber , as his S . AV ., and Bro . D . Rohbs as his J . W ., and the other Officers , and there is no doubt from the efficient way in which they performed the duties of their office that the Ancholme Lodge will bo well

worked . If report speaks true as to the number of candidates seeking admission , there will be no excuse for their not becoming proficient . The addresses to tho Wardens and the Brethren were given iu a . most impressive manner b y \ V . Bro . F . 11 . Larkcn , AV . M ! . 297 , and the P . G . T . Bro . Ncsbitt . At an earlier part

of the Ceremony the D . P . G . M . gave an oration which will be remembered by the brethren , and which was full of good advice to the young lodge . From the earnest and trul y Masonic spirit which pervades the brethren in general , and the W . M . in particular , we nrophecy a career of great prosperity for the new * « - _

. ... A sumptuous banquet was provided by Br . Kirkham , at the Angel Hotel , which was attended by all the brethren , and presided over hy the W . M . Bro . J . D . C . Elwes , his S . AV . taking his place in the West . The usual loyal and complimentary toasts were given with much eclat . Bro . Capt , Locock in proposing the

Masonic Charities made a powerful appeal on behalf of the R . M . S . for Boys , and announced his intention of representing the Province as Steward at the next Festival . Bro . C . E Lticus , trusted that Bra Locock , would be as well supported , and take up quite as large

a sum with him ( viz .: — £ 112 ) ns he did this year . He also alluded in glowing terms to the satisfactory position which the P . G . L . Benevolent Fund had arrived at , and thanked tho brethren very warmly for the support they bad given to his put child , hoping that it would grow in vigour and usefulness for many a year .