Nottinghamshire.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE .

PEOYINCIAI CtEAND EODGE . —I 8 BTAXIATI 0 X OE HIS GEACE THE DUXE OE NEWCASTLE AS r . G . SI . On Friday , December 7 th , ivas celebrated one of those " Masonic Festivities " which have been the talk of this county , in the Craft and out of it , for a very long time past . We have had placards , and circulars , and newspaper notices—in fact every form of advertisement and announcement AA'hich ingenuity could devise , and industry ,

combined -with liberality , carry into execution . All the lodges took the matter up , and brethren from- the neighbouringprovinces flocked to this fine olcl county town to meet the Duke , and the Grand Master ivho hacl done himself the pleasure , ancl his Grace the honour , of being present to instal him in the dignified ^ situation , for ivhich he is fitted alike by his official ancl personal position ancl popularity in the province , his status as a statesman , and his many Masonic virtues and his political services to his country , and the colonies

connected with it . The brethren congregated in large numbers , and put on their Masonic attire at the Mechanics' Hall , betiveen eleven ancl twelve ¦ o ' clock . Shortly after the time appointed for the commencement of the proceedings the approach of the Mosfc AA ' orshipful the Grand Master was announced , ancl the organ struck up a lively voluntary . The brethren remained standing and uncovered . The procession entered in due form , ancl the Grand Master and his Officers , together

ivith the Prov . Grand Officers for the county , were received Avith loud applause . The noble Earl ascended the Throne , and the Prov . Grand Loclge was opened in clue form , and ivith solemn prayer , the Rev . Br , o . AVentworth Bowyer , Grand Chaplain of England , officiating . Amongst the Rev . Brethren present ive observed the Rev . Bro . Jackson , Prov . G . Chaplain of Notts . ; Rev . Bro . Charles Hudson , Rev . Bro . AVilkins , Rev . Bro . J . Lawrence Prior , Rev . Bro . Jones , Rev . Bro . J . Denton , Prov . G . Chap ., Leicestershire , & c .

In order to avoid the obvious inconvenience of requesting brethren of the various degrees to withdraw , the ceremony of Installation ivas performed in another apartment , to ivhich the noble Earl , the Grand Master , ancl his grand officers retired for the mirpose .

On their return to the Prov . Grand Loclge they were accompanied by the noble Duke , ancl ivere received with loud applause , ancl the business of the Prov . Grand Loclge proceeded . Bro . RICHAED AELEN , the Prov . G . Sec , then read the warrant -of appointment . The Mosfc AVorshipful Grand Master then set forth in the usual Avay the important qualifications required of a brother occupying the position of Prov . Grand Master .

Bro . ALIEN then recited the ancient charges of the Order , to aU of which his Grace signified his assent in tho usual way ; and subsequently took the oaths impressively administered by lira . Stephen Barton AVilson , one of the Grand Deacons . His Grace was then formally placed in the chair amidst loud applause , and the gavel was handed to him . His Grace was next saluted in due form ancl loudly cheered , in the midst of ivhich the organ struck up Avith . some pleasing variations upon the ivell-knoivn

air of " See the conquering hero comes . " His GEACE having been duly saluted and proclaimed , Bro . Danks was appointed Prov . S . G . AV ., and Bro . John Comyn , Prov . J . G . AV . These brethren ivere invested and escorted to their rilaces by the Deacons . The rest of the Prov . G . Officers ivere reappointed , the same brethren consenting to serve under his Grace who had so efficiently fulfilled their duties under our late lamented Prov . G . M .,

Bro . Col . AVudman , of Newstead Abbey . The roll of members ivas presented to his Grace , and the Masters ancl Wardens of the Newstead , Sussex , Commercial , and Forest Lodges were successively presented , and delivered brief but appropriate addresses , ivhich were acknowledged by his Grace . Bro . PEBCY , the D . Prov . G . M ., then read the following address from the Freemasons of the Province to his Grace , the newly-appointed Prov . G . M .:

" To the Most Noble Henry Pelliam Pelliam Clinton , Duke of Newcastle , of Clumber Park , Worksop Manor anil Nottingham Castle , all in the County of Nottingham ; Lord Lieutenant and Custos Sotulorum of the County of Nottingham , one of Her Majesty ' s Principal Secretaries of State , $ e ., ' Provincial Grand Master of the Free and Accepted Masons of Nottinghamshire . " The Freemasons of this Province hail your presence amongst them with feelings of unfeigned joy , sincere respect , and profound

attachment , and are peculiarly bound to offer their humble congratulations to your Grace on the celebration of the auspicious event of your installation as tlieir Prov . Grand Master . " It has been the happiness of the brethren for the period of thirty-five years to have been presided over by our late lamented Colonel AVilclman , whose unwearied zeal ancl meritorious services in the cause of Freemasonry have deservedly endeared his memory to "fche heart of each of us .

" Upon the severance of that tie , the Freemasons of this Province felt deep anxiety as to his successor ; but AA'ith one mind their hopes centred on your Grace ; and ivere it possible to hold communion with the dead , there is no brother on whom our late Prov . Grand Master Avould have preferred his mantle to descend more than on your Grace . " Being aware how your Grace ' s time is occupied in the service of our beloved Sovereign and country , and by the cares and

responsibilities of a landlord , it ivas no matter of surprise that your Grace should have hesitated before undertaking other duties . Our gratification ivas however complete , and our debt of gratitude enhanced , ivhen you ivere pleased to overcome those scruples , and consent to rivet more firmly the mystic tie of brotherhood by becoming our chief . "AVe behold in your Grace that high character AA'hich calls forth the respect ancl approbation of the fraternitivhose confidence you

y , have gained , and we not only appreciate your worth as a nobleman , senator , neighbour , and friend , but it ivill be our happiness to yield a ready obedience to your commands , ancl by our united efforts to support intact the great principles of our Order , by cementing them ivith every moral ancl social virtue . " Henceforth rest assured that your Grace will have the heartfelt wishes and prayers of the brethren , that it may please the

Almighty ruler of events , in His goodness and mercy , to grant your Grace increasing happiness ancl prosperity in this life ; and when time shall be no more , ancl earfchly honours have passed away , that you may be received into that Grand Lodge above , where the World ' s Great Architect lives and reigns for ever . "Dated afc Nottingham , this 7 th clay of December , 1860 . " ( Signed ) " E . PEECYD . Prov . G . M .

, " Richard Allen , Prov . G . Secretary . " To which his GEACE replied as follows .- — " To receive such an address as this which you have presented to me from any body of honourable men amongst Avhom life ' s lot has been cast , nnisfc . ever be an incident of the deepest gratification ; and I assure you-that I have listened to these Avords of

congratulation , and their earnest ivishes for my happiness from the free ancl accepted Masons of Nottinghamshire ivith no ordinary sense , both of the mark of confidence and honour which has been conferred , ancl of the increased obligations which have been imposed upon me by the position which I am called to occujiy amongst my neighbours ancl friends . " It is true that I hesitated for some time to add another duty to those whichwhether of a public or private naturemake such

con-, , stant demands upon my attention , —but I felt compelled to withdraw a refusal ivhich appeared opposed to your ivishes , though even now I am but too conscious how unworthy a successor has been appointed to that chair which for so many years was filled hy our deeply-lamented brother ancl friend , Colonel AVilclman , ivhose services can never be replaced by any efforts of mine . " To the Mosfc AVorshipful Grand Master of England I am under

great obligations for his personal attendance here to-day to inaugurate my appointment in this province , —and to him as representing the'Fi-cemasons of the kingdom , as well as to you , the brethren of Nottinghamshire , I beg to tender the assurance of my earnest desire to uphold those principles of the Order which are based in the virtues of social life , and strengthened by the ties of charity . " May it be my good fortune , whilst I continue to hold my present position amongst you , to contribute in ever so small a degree to the happiness ancl welfare of the humblest of the brethren . "

After reading the above , the noble Duke addressed to tho brethren some extemporaneous observations—remarking that he felt ifc his duty , when informed on the previous evening thafc this address would be presented to him , that he should , in addition to the observations he had just made , also make some response to the kindness of the brethren of those four lodges ivhich had just reported to him , in so interesting a manner , as to their present conditionancl expressed themselves so kindly with respect to his

, appointment . His Grace continued—I feel deeply flattered by the offer of the distinguished position in the Craffc to ivhich I have just been appointed , although I feel that I am A'ery inadequate to succeed to so worthy a Brother as Col . AVilclman , ivho so efficientlypresided over you for the long period of 35 years . Kind reference has been made to the fact that I at first declined the honour , but I assure you , brethren , that that step was taken through no

unwillingness to assist in their laudable endeavours my friends and neighbours in this country . Bufc , brethren , although I do not feel myself adequate to serve you in this important position , yet I feel sure that I shall receive , on every occasion , your kind consideration and your indulgence for any deficiencies which I may display in the conduct ; of my duties . I have the satisfaction also of knowing that I shall receive the invaluable assistance of those Prov . Grand Officers who have been kind enough to accept , under me , the positions which they held under my respected predecessor . Under these circum-