Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Festival Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
assembled to do honour to the occasion . The appearance presented in the Grand Hall and the ladies' galleries , which were crowded long before six o ' clock , was magnificent ; tho Wending of tbe Masonic insignia with the elegant toilettes of the ladies presenting a tout ensemble rarel y if ever excelled . On tbe arrival of the Prince of AVales , who was accompanied by a large number of noblemen and gentlemen , be was ushered to
the Grand Master ' s room , from whence , having attired himself in the insignia of his rank in Grand Lodge , the procession was marshalled , under the direction of Sir Albert AV . AV . AVoods , Grand Dir . of Cers .
Punctually at half-past six o'clock H . R . H . occupied his place at the head of the table . On his immediate right , supported by the Earl De Grey and Ripon , K . W . D . G . M . and M . W . G . M . elect , and Earl Percy ; on the left by the Duke of Manchester , tho Marquis of Hartington , Lord Kenlis , and others . Previous to the repast , Grace was said by Bro . the Rev .
Martyn , G . Chap . During dinner , the band of the Coldstream Guards played a selection of choico music under the direction of Mr . Prod . Godfrey . At the conclusion of the repast , the grace " For these and all thy mercies , " was sung by Bros . G . Pen-in , Fielding , Distin , and Hutton .
Bro . tbe Prince cf AVales rose and said .- Brethren , the first toast which I have the honour to propose to you this evening will require but little preface from me ; it is " The Health of her Majesty the Queen . " I have peculiar pleasure in proposing to you this toast , as her Majesty has been the patroness of this Institution since 1852 . It affords in e great pleasure to announce that in addition to her annual subscription her Majesty has this
day given the sum of one hundred guineas . Brethren , I call on you to drink to the health of the Queen . The toast having been duly honoured , the National Anthem was admirably sung . The Prince of Wales again rose and said : Brethren , the next toast is one which I give you will feelings of mingled pleasure
and sorrow . It is " The Health of the Earl of Zetland , M'WGrand Master . " I propose ids health with sorrow , because he is about to resign a post which he has held so much to the advantage of Alasonry ior so n . r . ny years ; but with pleasure , because it Is gratifying to bear testimony to the merits of one who lias a ! ways been so popular with the brethren . I drink his health , too , nut only as Grand Master , but also as the president of this charily , to
which he has been a subscriber for many years . It Mould be needless for me to make any remarks in his praise , and you ail know what are the benefits he has conferred on the Craft , and how much he has done to uphold the charities of the order , i therefore call ou you to drink the health of the Grand Master-Bro . the Earl dc Grey and Ripon then rose to propose " Tiie
btalth of Bro . II . lt . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . P . G . M ., Chairman of the Festival ; H . R . H , the Princess of AVales , and the rest of the Royal Family . " The toast lyus received with most enthusiastic and prolonged cheers . The Prince of AVales then said : Brethren , I feel deeply
touched at the very kind maimer in which this toast has been received by you ; aud let me take this opportunity of thanking you for the very kind reception you have given me this evening ; and I feel an especial and heartfelt pride in being so received by my brother Alasons . I feel deeply grateful for the kind words which have fallen from tbe Deputy Grand Alaster , and it will be my pride to walk in the footsteps of my great uncles who were all distinguished members of the Craft . Thos e who know nothing about Freemasonry have said that it is a
Festival Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
Secret society , and some go to the length of saying it is irreligious ; but I maintain firmly that that is not the case , and I feel sure that you will cordially support me iu that assertion , for I am confident that amongst her Majesty ' s subjects there are none more loyal to her than the body of Freemasons . I may recall now to you that about 75 years ago , when it became
necessary on the part of the Government of that time to put down secret societies , my late great uncle , the Duke of Sussex , stood up in Parliament and demanded that Freemasons should be exempt from being put down as a secret society , and that demand was granted . Freemasonry , being devoid of politics , has ever devoted itself to charity and the good of mankind . As
there are several toasts still to be given , I shall not further occupy your time ; but from my heart I thank you for the kind welcome you have given me this evening , and I think yon may well rest assured that the interests of Freemasonry will be respeeked and upheld in my bands . Let me also thank you , iu the name of the Princess of AVales and tho other members of the Royal Family , for the excessively kind manner in which you have received their names .
Tho Prince of Wales again rose and said—Brethren , —It is now my pleasing duty to propose to you another toast , and I feel certain it will be received with cordiality and unanimity . I propose the health of tbo R'ght Worshipful the Deputy Grand Master the Earl de Grey and Ripon , who is also M . W . G . M . elect and Provincial Grand Alaster for West Riding , Yorkshire , and President of the Board of Stewards of this Festival . It is
difficult to praise a person who is present—perhaps it is not difficult but it puts me in an awkward position—for I can say nothing in his favour but what ia known to you all . He is now your Grand Alaster elect , and will in the course of a month be installed as Grand Alaster . And I hope , if I am iu Loudon , to have the j-leasure of supporting him on that occasion . I deeply regret
the resignation of the late Grand Master , but that regret is diminished when wo know who will bo his successor in the Ctu . iy ; and I am sure its interests will be greatly advanced under his rule . Let me now propose " Tbe health of the Deputy Grand Master and the President of the Board of Stewards , ' and as representing that body I congratulate him upon such a
successful and well-arranged festival , and , as you are doubtles already aware , they have to pay the expenses . Brethren , I propose ' Tiie health of Earl db Grey and Ripon aud the Board o £ Stewards . "
Bro . Earl De Grey aud Ripon in responding to the toast o his health , which was proposed by the Prince of Wales inlau d .-. tovy tmns , thanked his Royal Highness for having shown so deep an interest in an object which the Craft had so much at heart . He urged the brethren to make great exertions on this occasion , which was a critical one to the Charity , and an - nounced that he had determined to double his subscription .
Bro . Earl de Grey and jjiipon in proposing the toast , Ihe Provincial Grand Alasters aud Present and Past Grand Officers , '' exeusud himself as being both a Grand Officer and a Provincia l Grand Alaster . He did not propose the toast in his official capacity , but in the name and at tbe request of their Royal Chairman . He remarked that nothing wits more important to Freemasonry than to secure a , good body of Provincial Grand
Alaster . ; . Their influence was necessarily and justly great , and when the properly discharged their duties , as he was happy to say they now did throughout the length aud breadth of tbe land , they deserved the gratitude of every true-hearted Freemason . As to the Grand Officers , the admirable manner in which they fulfilled their duties was so well known to the whole Craft , that it needed no mention on his part .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Festival Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
assembled to do honour to the occasion . The appearance presented in the Grand Hall and the ladies' galleries , which were crowded long before six o ' clock , was magnificent ; tho Wending of tbe Masonic insignia with the elegant toilettes of the ladies presenting a tout ensemble rarel y if ever excelled . On tbe arrival of the Prince of AVales , who was accompanied by a large number of noblemen and gentlemen , be was ushered to
the Grand Master ' s room , from whence , having attired himself in the insignia of his rank in Grand Lodge , the procession was marshalled , under the direction of Sir Albert AV . AV . AVoods , Grand Dir . of Cers .
Punctually at half-past six o'clock H . R . H . occupied his place at the head of the table . On his immediate right , supported by the Earl De Grey and Ripon , K . W . D . G . M . and M . W . G . M . elect , and Earl Percy ; on the left by the Duke of Manchester , tho Marquis of Hartington , Lord Kenlis , and others . Previous to the repast , Grace was said by Bro . the Rev .
Martyn , G . Chap . During dinner , the band of the Coldstream Guards played a selection of choico music under the direction of Mr . Prod . Godfrey . At the conclusion of the repast , the grace " For these and all thy mercies , " was sung by Bros . G . Pen-in , Fielding , Distin , and Hutton .
Bro . tbe Prince cf AVales rose and said .- Brethren , the first toast which I have the honour to propose to you this evening will require but little preface from me ; it is " The Health of her Majesty the Queen . " I have peculiar pleasure in proposing to you this toast , as her Majesty has been the patroness of this Institution since 1852 . It affords in e great pleasure to announce that in addition to her annual subscription her Majesty has this
day given the sum of one hundred guineas . Brethren , I call on you to drink to the health of the Queen . The toast having been duly honoured , the National Anthem was admirably sung . The Prince of Wales again rose and said : Brethren , the next toast is one which I give you will feelings of mingled pleasure
and sorrow . It is " The Health of the Earl of Zetland , M'WGrand Master . " I propose ids health with sorrow , because he is about to resign a post which he has held so much to the advantage of Alasonry ior so n . r . ny years ; but with pleasure , because it Is gratifying to bear testimony to the merits of one who lias a ! ways been so popular with the brethren . I drink his health , too , nut only as Grand Master , but also as the president of this charily , to
which he has been a subscriber for many years . It Mould be needless for me to make any remarks in his praise , and you ail know what are the benefits he has conferred on the Craft , and how much he has done to uphold the charities of the order , i therefore call ou you to drink the health of the Grand Master-Bro . the Earl dc Grey and Ripon then rose to propose " Tiie
btalth of Bro . II . lt . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . P . G . M ., Chairman of the Festival ; H . R . H , the Princess of AVales , and the rest of the Royal Family . " The toast lyus received with most enthusiastic and prolonged cheers . The Prince of AVales then said : Brethren , I feel deeply
touched at the very kind maimer in which this toast has been received by you ; aud let me take this opportunity of thanking you for the very kind reception you have given me this evening ; and I feel an especial and heartfelt pride in being so received by my brother Alasons . I feel deeply grateful for the kind words which have fallen from tbe Deputy Grand Alaster , and it will be my pride to walk in the footsteps of my great uncles who were all distinguished members of the Craft . Thos e who know nothing about Freemasonry have said that it is a
Festival Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
Secret society , and some go to the length of saying it is irreligious ; but I maintain firmly that that is not the case , and I feel sure that you will cordially support me iu that assertion , for I am confident that amongst her Majesty ' s subjects there are none more loyal to her than the body of Freemasons . I may recall now to you that about 75 years ago , when it became
necessary on the part of the Government of that time to put down secret societies , my late great uncle , the Duke of Sussex , stood up in Parliament and demanded that Freemasons should be exempt from being put down as a secret society , and that demand was granted . Freemasonry , being devoid of politics , has ever devoted itself to charity and the good of mankind . As
there are several toasts still to be given , I shall not further occupy your time ; but from my heart I thank you for the kind welcome you have given me this evening , and I think yon may well rest assured that the interests of Freemasonry will be respeeked and upheld in my bands . Let me also thank you , iu the name of the Princess of AVales and tho other members of the Royal Family , for the excessively kind manner in which you have received their names .
Tho Prince of Wales again rose and said—Brethren , —It is now my pleasing duty to propose to you another toast , and I feel certain it will be received with cordiality and unanimity . I propose the health of tbo R'ght Worshipful the Deputy Grand Master the Earl de Grey and Ripon , who is also M . W . G . M . elect and Provincial Grand Alaster for West Riding , Yorkshire , and President of the Board of Stewards of this Festival . It is
difficult to praise a person who is present—perhaps it is not difficult but it puts me in an awkward position—for I can say nothing in his favour but what ia known to you all . He is now your Grand Alaster elect , and will in the course of a month be installed as Grand Alaster . And I hope , if I am iu Loudon , to have the j-leasure of supporting him on that occasion . I deeply regret
the resignation of the late Grand Master , but that regret is diminished when wo know who will bo his successor in the Ctu . iy ; and I am sure its interests will be greatly advanced under his rule . Let me now propose " Tbe health of the Deputy Grand Master and the President of the Board of Stewards , ' and as representing that body I congratulate him upon such a
successful and well-arranged festival , and , as you are doubtles already aware , they have to pay the expenses . Brethren , I propose ' Tiie health of Earl db Grey and Ripon aud the Board o £ Stewards . "
Bro . Earl De Grey aud Ripon in responding to the toast o his health , which was proposed by the Prince of Wales inlau d .-. tovy tmns , thanked his Royal Highness for having shown so deep an interest in an object which the Craft had so much at heart . He urged the brethren to make great exertions on this occasion , which was a critical one to the Charity , and an - nounced that he had determined to double his subscription .
Bro . Earl de Grey and jjiipon in proposing the toast , Ihe Provincial Grand Alasters aud Present and Past Grand Officers , '' exeusud himself as being both a Grand Officer and a Provincia l Grand Alaster . He did not propose the toast in his official capacity , but in the name and at tbe request of their Royal Chairman . He remarked that nothing wits more important to Freemasonry than to secure a , good body of Provincial Grand
Alaster . ; . Their influence was necessarily and justly great , and when the properly discharged their duties , as he was happy to say they now did throughout the length aud breadth of tbe land , they deserved the gratitude of every true-hearted Freemason . As to the Grand Officers , the admirable manner in which they fulfilled their duties was so well known to the whole Craft , that it needed no mention on his part .