United Grand Lodge.

the throne , supported by Bro . John Fawcett , Prov . G . M . for Durham , as D . G . M ., and tlio other Grand Officers , as given ahove . Grand Lodge having been opened in due form , Bro . J . HuvsnE , P . G . Chap , offered up the following prayer : —" Vouchsafe Thy blessing , O Lord of Heaven and Earth , \ ipon this Grand Lodge here assembled in Thy presence . May our

labours this day be conducted in a spirit of unity and brotherly love , and grant that they may tend to promote the welfare of our fraternity , and above all , extend the honour and glory of Thy most holy name . " Grand Lodge having declared open , The G . SECRETARY read the minutes of the last Grand Lodge ,

referring to the election of the M . AV . G . Master whieh were confirmed , and he was then proclaimed and saluted with the usual honours . The G . MASTER said , —Brethren , I thank you most sincerely for again electing me to the honourable office of Grand Master . I can assure you that I value your confidence most

sincerely , and my only wish was that I should have been enabled to perform my duties more regular than ifc was in my power fco do in the last year , but the ill-health of Lady Zetland on two occasions prevented me from appearing ^ before you . I

have now had the honour of being elected as your Grand Master for 21 years , ancl during the whole of that time I have received fche most cordial support from all the brethren , and I may say during the whole of thafc time I believe I have not made a single enenij-. During the time also that I have had the honour of filling that office , our Charities havo increased to

a degree which was never expected 21 years ago ; and as they are all in a most flourishing state , ifc is most gratifying to me , and reflects the highest credit upon the Craft . I feel that I am getting old in your service , but I am most anxious to do my duty , and I hope I shall continue to receive that support which has always been accorded to me . ( Cheers . )

The G . MASTER said , —I reappoint as Deputy Grand Master the Earl de Grey and Ripon , and I may say thafc this morning I received a letter from him apologising for his absence , as this day there is an unusual amount of business sit the AVar Office , no less than three foreign mails going out , avid which engage his attention . I may say , however , that no Cabinet Minister

ever devoted so much time to Masonry as Earl de Grey ancl Ripon . ( Hear , hear , and . cheers . ) The D . G . Master was then proclaimed , and saluted in the usual manner .

The G . MASTER then proceeded to appoint the Grand Officers for the year as follows : — Bro . Earl de Grey and Ripon ... Deputy Grand Master . „ Sir Michael E . Hicks Beach Senior Grand Warden . „ Victor Williamson Junior Grand AVarden . RevJohn SedgwickDD ") .

„ . , .. „ , ... . . j Rev . Charles Jltikes Davy ... j Gralld O' ^' -mis . „ Samuel Tomkins Grand Treas . ( elected . ) „ - 'Eneas J . Mclntyre Grand Registrar . „ AA'm . Grny Clarke .. ¦> Grand Secretary . „ Richard Brandt ] G' Sec - * German Corj respondenee . ,, J . S . Pullen 1 „ . ,-, , ,, beni 01 ' brnnd Deflcons

,, George Cox 5 - „ James Merry weather 7 T ,-. i-r > „ Charles Beaumont j Jum 01 ' Grantl Deacons-„ Fred . Pepys Cockerell G . Supt . of Works . „ Albert W . AVoods G . Dir . of Cers . „ Thomas Fenn Assist . G . Dir . of Cers . Richard B . Cope G . Sword Bearer .

„ „ William Farnfield Assist . G . Secretary . „ James Coward Grand Organist . „ John Emmens G . Pursuivant . „ Thomas Lewis Assist . G . Pursuivant . „ Charles B . Payne ,., Grand Tyler .

The G . MASTER then approved ths following brethren as Grand Stewards for the year : — [ ntrodacGd by Bro . Heather Bigg , 1 Bro . Francis W . Truscott . „ John Sampson Pierce , 2 „ Charles A eniiell . „ Henry Lumley , 4 „ Francis T . Barry . „ Alexr . Young Spearman , 5 ... „ John F . Jackson . Harry Hankey Dobree 6 Colonel H . Daniel ! .

„ , „ , „ George P . Clark , 8 „ A . A . Richards .-. „ Stanley Robinson , U „ AA alter Richardson ; . „ Richard Baker , 21 ,, Stephen P . Norris . j , James Thomas Hooper , 23 ... ., AVilliam Kirby . „ James Coxon Richardson , 2 G „ AVilliam Smith . „ Owen Bowen , 29 „ T . Y . C . Bambridge . „ Conrad Clunie Dumas , 46 ... „ Frederick Heritage .

„ Leonard Harris , 58 „ Edmond Fienniby . „ Edward Henry Watts , 60 ... „ George W . Rope . „ Henry Norman , 91 „ David Shrewsbury . „ Henry J . P . Dumas , 99 „ Frederick Wells . „ S . Kemball Cooke , 197 „ Alexander G . Linn . „ Robert Grey , 259 „ Edward Routh . The G . MASTEE said , —I give notice that I shall at the next

Grand Lodge move that Bro . Dickie shall take the rank p . nd wear the clothing of P . G . Purst . There being no further business the Grand Lodge was closed in due form , and with solemn piayer .

THE BANQUET . At half-past six o'clock the Grand Master and tho rest of the Grand Officers proceeded iu procession to the great hall where the brethren had already assembled , and having made onecircuit of it , the noble Earl took fche chair , supported by Bro . Fawcett , Bro . Lord Sherborne , Bro . Col . Bowyer , Provincial Grand Masters , aud many Grand Officers , Past and Present ,

and tlie body of the hall was completely and almost inconveniently crowded . The banquet was served in a very satisfactory manner , and embraced everything of delicacy which the season could afford , and ifc is needless to say that full justice was dono to them .

Grace was sung by the professional singers . On the withdrawal of the cloth , The G . MASTER said , you will all anticipate as loyal Masons and loyal subjects the toast I am now about to propose to you , which is the health of fier Majesty the Queen ; and ib requires no effort on my part fco persuade you to drink a toast which all Englishmen receive with the utmost enthusiasm , and no

Englishman more so than a Free aud Accepted Mason ( hear , hear )" Brethren , ifc has been lately mentioned , and in public speeches lamented , that her Majesty should not show herself more to her people . I am quite sure that however much we as Masons may lament her Majesty's absence from public life , yet as Masons we also sympathise with her Majesty's feelings , and I am sure there

is no good Mason who would venture to blame her Majesty for indulging her feelings of affection for that bereavement which has so unfortunately come upon her . Although her Majesty may dislike to appear in public , yet no one can say thafc she neglects her duty as Sovereign of these realms , and I feel certain that the Craft in general sympathise most deeply with ,

her Majesty ; but though we might rejoice to see her more in public , yofc we respect and venerate that conjugal grief which lies upon her up to this time ( hear , hear ) . Brethren , I need not ask you to join wifch me in drinking with the greatest cordiality and sincerity "The Health of her Majesty the Queen . " ( Loud cheers ) .

" God save the Queen . " The G . MASTEB , —Brethren , the next toast 1 have to propose is one which must be exceedingly acceptable to this company ; it is the health of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , the Princess of Wales , and the rest of the Royal Family . Iu giving the toasfc , brethren , I must say a few Avords as to tho