The Bi-Centenary Jubilee Of The Grand Master Of The Netherlands.

THE BI-CENTENARY JUBILEE OF THE GRAND MASTER OF THE NETHERLANDS .

LONDON , SATURDAY , FEBRTTABF 2 , 1867 .

ON November 27 th , 1 S 6 G , there was celebrated , as briefly announced in previous numbers of the FKEEHASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR , in Amsterdam , a festival altogether unique and unparalleled in the annals of Freemasonry ; it was

the fiftieth anniversary of the assumption of the Grand Mastership of the Netherlands by Bro . Prince Frederick . * Several reports of the proceedings at this gathering have reached us , but we naturally give the preference to that

drawn up by a brother holding a high position , under the Grand Lodge of Holland , and , although our space is too limited to admit of our giving it in full , we gladly find room for laying before our readers the substance of it , and we

need hardly apologise for adhering in the main to the reporter's own terse language . The celebration of the festival , originally

appointed to take place in May , had necessarily to be postponed , owing to the cholera epidemic then raging in the Netherlands , and the scourge of war threatening at the time to devastate the whole of Central Europe ; and there being at the Hague ,

the official seat of the Grand Orient , no assembly room spacious enough to hold the large number of brethren who were expected to join in the gathering , it was determined that the latter should take place on the 27 th of November , at the Palace

of Industry , Amsterdam , being an edifice particularly appropriate for a purpose of this kind . The nave of this magnificent building was divided in two parts ; two-fifths were allotted to the celebration of the festival ; the remaining three-fifths to

serve as banquet room , and both parts were splendidly decorated with Masonic emblems , arms , banners , and tapestry , and such flowers and arbusts as could be provided .

Eleven o ' clock in the morning was the hour appointed for the beginning of the feast . Long before that time , the rooms adjoining the hall were crowded by brethren from all parts of the country , the delegates from lodges and chapters being accommodated with rooms separated from those of the other visitors . At half-past nine the

Prince arrived at Amsterdam by a special train ,, and was met at the station by the Grand Directors of Ceremonies of the Grand Orient , of the Grand Chapter Rose Croix , and of the higher Master degrees , who conducted his Eoyal Highness to the

Palace of Industry , where he was received by the Grand Officers , the representatives of foreign Grand Lodges , and some more deputations from the same , and led to a private room elegantly furnished for his accommodation . At eleven ,

precisely the deputations of lodges and chapters were conducted into the nave , and took the seats appointed for them on both sides , the deputations on the first row , the Masters . Fellow Crafts , and Apprentices behind them . When all were seated ,

the Grand Officers and representatives entered in procession from the opposite side , and took their places under the dais . In the Netherlands , not more than three kinds of Masonry are recognised , viz . —1 st , the St .

John ' s Masonry , including the degrees of Master , Fellow Craft , and Apprentice ; 2 nd , the Rose Croix degree ; 3 rd , the degree of Master elect . The Prince is Grand Master of all three classes .

Now , it had been agreed that the feast should be celebrated by the three degrees combined , the Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Orient in the chair , and the Grand Wardens of the Rose Croix , and of the degree of Master elect , acting as Senior

and Junior Wardens . Everybody being seated , a deputation was formed , and sent forth to marshal in the hez'o of the day . After a short lapse of time he made his appearance , which was greeted by flourishes and music , and he was welcomed on

the throne by his deputy . After a brilliant musical overture , composed and conducted by Bro . Dunkler , the able band-master of the regiment of chasseurs , the first part of a co / utate was sung , the words being written by Bro . Ter Gould , the

music by Bro . Nicolai , principal of the Royal Academy of Music of the Hague . In the meantime , Bro . Jacob van Lennep , Grand Orator , had proceeded to a kind of pulpit erected for the occasion in the centre of the nave , and , after the

termination of the musical performance , he delivered an address , of which we here give the main passages . After some introductory words , Bro . van Lennep went on as follows : —

"On the 20 th of June , 1816 , at six o ' clock in the evening , three knocks at the door of the Grand National Mother Lodge Zu den drey WellJctigeln at Berlin , meeting in the first degree , Era . de Guionneau , . National Grand Master , in the chair , announced that a profane was standing outside , who wished to be received in the Order of Precmasonry . The usual