Freemasonry In 1887.

desire is strong among the Craft in those two colonies for the maintenance of thrir existing relations with the United Grand Lodge of England . The ordinary proceedings of Grand Lodge need not engage our attention for long . At the March communication Bro . Richard Eve was elected Grand Treasurer by a very large majority over Bro . A . F . Godson , M . P . The sum cf Xicoo was unanimously granted to the Royal Masonic

Benevolent Institution in order to enable , it , having regard to the very considerable number of candidates for election in May , to increase the number of its annuitants . Lastly , the question of Past Masters' collars , which had been raised by Bro . Nicholl the previous December and defeated by the narrow majority of one vote , was reconsidered , and it was settled that these brethren should wear their collars on all proper occasions and that the necessary

amendments in the lawsshould be introduced by the Board of General Purposes with a view lo making the necessary provision for the new arrangements . These alterations were accordingly made and approved by Grand Lodge in September , so that our worthy Past Masters appear to have obtained their desire . In June Bro . Edis was appointed and invested as G . Superintendent of Works in place of Bro . Sir Horace Jones deceased , and Bro . A . A .

Pendlebury was rewarded for his long and valuable services in the Grand Secretary ' s office by being appointed and invested as Assistant Grand Secretary . On the recommendation of the Board of General Purposes and in consideration of the large increase of work resulting from the extension of late years of Craft and Arch Masonry the salary of Grand Secretary was increased to j £ iooo per annum , and Bro . H . Sadler was appointed to

the office of Sub-Librarian with the modest addition of £ 20 annually to his salary as G . Tyler . The announcement of these appointments ar . d of the increase in the emoluments assigned to Col . Clerke , as G . Secretary and G . Scribe E ., was received with strong manifestations of approval from ail parts of Grand Lodge . The question as to the best mode of counting the voles on a division being taken also engaged the attention of Grand Lodge ,

and Rule 75 , which deals with llie subject , was so altered as to place the matter in the hands of the Grand Director of Ceremonies ( Bro . Sir Albert Woods ) , the Board of General Purposes , from whom this suggestion emanated , appearing to be of the opinion that this distinguished Grand Officer would be able to formulate some plan by which the inconvenience caused by the arrangements previously attempted

would be put an end to . We have no doubt the confidence reposed in the ability of Bro . Sir A . Woods to remedy an admitted evil will be amply justified . At the Communication held early in the present month of December Bros . Asher Barfield and S . B . Wilson were nominated for the office of Grand Treasurer for next year , and a sum of £ 500 was voted as a contribution towards the Fund for the relief of distress among the deserving poor of the

Metropo is . It was also unanimously resolved that , in view ofthe near appro £ ch of the 251 b Anniversary , or Silver Wedding-day , of the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., and the Princess of Wales , an Address of Congratulation should be prepared for presentation to their Royal Hi ghnesses , and be accompanied by a suitable gift to the Princess , and in order to give effect to the latter part of this resolution , the sum of ^ 500 was granted from the Fund of General Purposes .

It will be seen from this brief review that the proceedings in our Grand Lodge have been for tho most part of the ordinary character , the affairs of our Society being in the main so admirably administered as to render the intervention of Grand Lodge quite unnecessary except on very rare occasions . But if the general business has been comparatively unimportant , the auspicious event which will always be associated in the annals of the British

Empire with the year 1887 , namely , the celebration of the Jubilee of our beloved Queen ' s accession to the throne , has elicited such a display of enthusiastic loyalty on the part of the Craft as has rarely been equalled and never surpassed at any previous period in our history . There never could have been the slightest doubt that an event of such rare occurrence as this was certain to arouse the liveliest feelings of affection and respect amono- the

membersof a Society whose guiding principles are loyalty to the glorious constitution under which they liveand Charity towards all men . But ' it is probable the manifestations of loyalty , accompanied as they were by munificent gifts to our Charitable Institutions , must have exceeded the expectations even of the most sanguine brethren . At all events , it is beyond question that . the Masonic celebration of the Queen ' s Jubilee was worth y ct so gracious

a Sovereign and oi the dignity 01 so ancient and respectable a bod y . The splendid scene in the Royal Albert Hall on the 13 th June last , when upwards of 6000 brethren met together from all parts of the kingdom , and , with the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., and the other dignitaries of our Order , at their head , passed an Address of Congratulation to the Queen , was one that cm never be forgotten by those who were present , and , Tike the equally

impressive scene at the installation of his Koyal Highness as G . M . in April , 1875 , will always remain as one of the grandest Masonic gatherings of this or any other epoch . But this was very far from being ihe whole of the commemorative programme which Grand Loelge had marked out for itself , At the Quarterly Communication immediatel y preceding this grand convention , Grand Lodge passed a resolution giving a sum of / 6000 for

distribution in equal parts among our three Institutions , and it had been previously arranged that the gross proceeds of the sale of admission tickets to the Albert Hall should be di . tributed equally among the same Charities , Grand Lodge defraying out of its own funds the expenses of the meeting . The sum realised by the tickets exceeded ^ 6300 , and the whole of this , in addition to the / . ' 6000 already referred to , was handed over intact to the

Charities , each cf which has thus received upwards of ^ 4100 into its treasury as a memorial of Queen Victoria ' s Jubilee . In addition , there is ' every reason to believe that , when the various contributions have been received , it will be found that our lodges and individual brethren have not overlooked the claims upon their support of the National Memorial of the Jubilee , and that a by no means inconsiderable sum has been raised for the Imperial Institute for the United Kingdom , India , and the Colonies , the first stone of

which her Majesty has already laid ; while , as regards the local Masonic celebrations and the gifts of brethren to local Charities in honour of the same event , it is no exaggeration to say their number is legion . In fine , our Society on this occasion , if on no other , has fully justified itself before the world as a loyal and Charitable body , and even our bitterest censors must allow that it is not without reason we feel somewhat proud of the achievements of the past year .

I he moil notable gathering of the year was that held in the Royal Albert Hall , South Kensington , on the 13 th June , to which we have just alluded . For many previous weeks grand preparations had been made for this assembly , the arrangements being in the hands of the Grand Director of Ceremonies , Bro . Sir Albert Woods , and Bro . Thomas Fenn , President of the Board of General Purposes . H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M-., presided , and was supported by , among other illustrious and

Freemasonry In 1887.

distinguished members , Prince Albert Victor of Wales , S . G . Warden ; the Duke of Connaught , P . S . G . W . and Prov . G . Master of Sussex ; Bro . the Earl of Carnarvon , Pro G . Master ; and Bro . the Earl of Lathom , D . G . Master , by whom the address to her Majesty was respectively moved and seconded , the Grand Officers for the year , very many Prov . and Dist . G . Masters , and a host of brethren of every grade in Masonry , the total

number present being upwards of 6000 . From a spectacular point of view the scene was one of unparalleled brilliancy , while , as regards the enthusiasm displayed towards her Majesty , nothing could have surpassed it , the Prince of Wales , on taking his seat on the dais as M . W . G . Master , being also the recipient of a splendid ovation . The brethren on whom brevet rank in G . Lodge was conferred in honour of the event were heartily

cheered , and his Royal Hi ghness having graciously accepted the Jubilee medal presented by G . Lodge , the proceedings closed with the National Anthem . The arrangements were perfect and most successfully carried out , and in September G . Lodge formally expressed its gratitude to Bros . Sir A . Woods and T . Fenn by passing a vote of thanks to them , and at its meeting

during the present month these votes of thanks , having in the meantime been beautifully engrossed and illuminated on vellum , were handed to them in open Grand Lodge . We may Conveniently add here that a medal commemorative of the Jubilee was specially struck by Bro . George Kenning , and that most favourable opinions have been expressed everywhere as to its artistic merits .

Of other meetings held in celebration of the sara * memorable event , the most important was that which took place in the ancient city of York , on the 14 th July , under the auspices of the Prov . G . Lodge of North and East Yorkshire . On this occasion Bro . the Earl of Zetland , G . Master of the Province , presided , and the meeiing , which included the officers and

members of the Prov . G . Lodge of VVest Yorkshire , headed by Bro . Tew , P . G . M . ; of that of Durham , under Bro . Sir H . Williamson , Bart ., P . G . M . ; and a host of other visitors , was similarly , and indeed equally , enthusiastic with that in the Albert Hall , our northern brethren being as heartily demonstrative of their loyalty , but fewer in number .

The other important meetings of the year include that held at Great Yarmouth on the 18 th May , when H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . Master , supported by the Officers of the Prov . Grand Lodge of Norfolk , under Bro . Lord Suffield , P . G . M ., laid the first stone of the local hospital with full Masonic ceremonial . On the iSth October Prince Albert Victor of Wales , S . G . W . of England , supported by many Grand Officers

and the Prov . Grand Lodge of Northants and Hunts , laid the foundationstone of the Northampton General Infirmary ; and on they'll July the Duke of Connaught , Prov . G . M . of Sussex , consecrated at Brighton the Earl of Sussex Lodge , No . 2201 , Bro . Gerard Ford , D . P . G . M ., being the Master designate . On the 15 th April Bro . Lord Egerton of Tatton was installed , at Chester , Prov . G . M . of Cheshire , in succession to Bro . Lord De Tabley ,

whose death some months later in the year was the subject of very general regret throughout the Province with which he had been associated ' for so many years , and , indeed , throughout the whole of the English Craft . Oct the 17 th October Bro . the Earl of Euston was installed Prov . G . M . of Northants and Hunts , in succession to Bro . the Duke of Manchester , resigned ; and on the 12 th November the Dukeof Connaught was installed

District G . M . of Bombay , in place of Bro . E . Tyrrell Leith , resigned , who , to his sorrow , was prevented , by unavoidable circumstances , from having the honour of installing his Royal Highness . At the same time , and in accordance with the custom of our Scotch brethren in Bombay , the Duke had the rank of Past G . M . of all Scottish Freemasonry in India conferred upon him . Among other changes in the higher Provincial ranks must be

mentioned the appointment of Bro . the Hon . Judge Lloyd as D . P . G . M . Cheshire , under Lord Egerton of Tatlon ; of Bro" ! Gerard Ford as D . P . G . M . Sussex , vice Bro . J . Henderson Scott , deceased ; of Bro . W . E . Brymer as D . P . G . M . Dorsetshire , vice Bro . C . T . Hambro , resigned ; and ol Bro . J . T . Collings , D . P . G . M . Warwickshire , vice Bro . Lieut .-Col . Machen , since deceased .

Among the minor events we note the consecration of many already popular lodges , but notably of the Savage Club and Anglo-American Lodges ; the entertainment by the latter of Bro . Shryock , G . M . of Maryland , and ot the same distinguished visitor as well as of the American Pilgrims—in their Crait Masonic capacity—by the Lodgeof Eboracum , No . 161 r , York ; the Masonic Exhibition at Plymouth , which was organised by our worthy

Bro . W . J . Hughan , P . G . D . ; the installation of Bro . R . F . Gould , P . G . D ., as W . M ., in succession to Bro . Sir Charles Warren , of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , No . 2076 ; the banquets at the Mansion House by Bro . Lord Mayor Hanson , on the first occasion , to the Studholme Lodge , N 0 . 1591 , of whom at tne time his lordship was W . M ., and on the second to Bro . the Earl of Lathom , D . P . G . M ., and the Grand Officers , Present and Past ; the

dedication of the new Masonic Hall at Brixham by the D . P . G . M . of Devonshire ; the presentation by Bro . T . H . Tilton , Past District G . M . of New York , to Bro . Capt . N . G . Philips , P . G . D ., of a member ' s jewel of the Masonic Veterans' Association of New York , and of a diploma of the Colonial and Indian Exhibition , 1886 , to the Empire Lodge , No . 2108 ; the presentation of an address by Lodge No . 1578 , Pontypridd , to the Grand Secretary , and of a testimonial to Bro . V . P . Freeman , Prov . G . Sec . and G . Scribe E . of

Sussex ; and the visit to the Girls' School towards the end of November of Bro . Lord Mayor De Keyser and the Lad y Mayoress . In all these cases , and in many others which we have not space enough to enumerate , the proceedings were of the usual character , while the manner in which they were carried out reflected the greatest credit on all concerned . In short , the ordinary , as well as the extraordinary , work of Craft Masonry has prospered almost beyond our most sanguine expectations .

ROYAL ARCH MASONRY . Though this branch of Freemasonry , so iar as its government is concerned , has a separate and distinct organisation from Craft Masonry , yet , as it is constitutionally recognised as being part and parcel of Ancient Free and Accepted Masonry , it musl be said to a certain extent to shine with a reflected light . If the Craft fares well , so in chief measure does the Royal

Arch , while if bortune shows herself unkindly to the former , the latter suffers in about the same proportion . This year there have been issued warrants for 15 chapters , ol which 10 are added to the Provincial roll , and the remaining 5 to that of Colonial and Foreign chapters , the Metropolis not being- able to boast of a sin trie addition to its arnv . Ot the

new Provincial chapters , three have been consecrated in the Eastern Division of South Wales , while the remaining seven are distributed among Dorsetshire , Essex , Kent , Oxfordshire , Somersetshire , Staffordshire , and Surrey . The five foreign chapters belong to China ( Canton ) , Eastern Archioelago , Madras ( East Indies ) , New South Wales , and Canterbury , New Zealand .