Masonic Demonstration At Washington

welcoming not only our distinguished brethren from England , but the Grand Masters of many sister jurisdictions in the United States . It was our desire to give to this meeting an international character by presenting here the Masonic fraternity of the New World in the attitude of welcoming to our shores the representatives of the Masonic fraternity of the Old World . Iu pursuance of that design we have invited here all the Grand Masters of the United States . Some , we are most happy to say , have accepted

our invitation , and are present with us . Others have responded to our call in writing , regretting their inability to attend , and expressing their cordial sympathy in the purpose we have in view . After welcoming , as I now most cordially do , in the name of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia , all our guests who have honoured us with their presence to-night , I will call on our R . W . Brother Grand Secretary to let us hear the voices from our distant brethren , wdio are with us in spirit ,

and whose bodily absence cannot be more deeply regretted by themselves than it is by us . " The Grand Secretary then proceeded to read letters from the Grand Masters , regretting their inability to be present . Grand Master Stansbury then continued his remarks , as follows : —The letters which have just been read show how cordially our Masonic brethren from sill quarters unite with us in the fraternal feelings which have promoted this re-union . I have now the p leasure to introduce to the brethren assembled tho guests who liave come to unite with us in the pleasant cereinoiiies of this

occasion . Grand Master Stansbury next called the roll of the visitors , each of whom rose as their names were called . After the name of Earl de Grey was mentioned the Grand Master called up the brethren , aud tho visiting guests were saluted with the Grand Honours of Masonry . The Grand Master announced tho regular toasts in their proper order : Brethren , the toast which I am now about to propose

is one in which I am sure you will all join with more than usual p leasure , as we are seldom afforded , in our social assemblies in this country , ' an opportunity of expressing in this manner those sentiments of respect and admiration which are felt for tho present Sovereign of GreatBritain . As the first lady in her realm , and the representative ¦ of the British empire , it would , on this occasion , bo but a proper act of courtesy to her high office , without reference to her

personal claims to esteem and honour . But Queen Victoria , by the purity of her character aud her exemplary virtues in the relations of daughter , mother , and ruler , has achieved a title to reverence which could never arise from her regal dignity alone . As the daughter , wife , and mother of a Mason , a sentiment in her honour has a peculiar propriety in this presence . The portrait of her Majesty , which forms tho chief decoration of this hall , recalls to my mind a circumstance which is so interesting from an American point of view that I know you will pardon me taking a moment to relate it . I had the pleasure of attending iu London a banquet given by our late

distinguished countrymen—George Peabouy—m celebration ot the anniversary of American independence . Mr . Peabody desired to adorn the walls of the banquet hall with the portrait of the Queen . This fact becoming accidentally known to her Majesty , she voluntarily directed that the celebrated portrait by Winterhalter , of herself and Princo Albert , which hung in her palace , should be placed at Mr . Peabody's service , and they were bung at the head of the banqueting table . And there was presented

the interesting and somewhat extraordinary spectacle of a celebration of the independence of these States , held in the British capital , not only with the sanction , but with the cordial participation of the British Queen , and that Queen the granddaughter of George HI . Brethren , I give you , and ask you to driuk , with all the honours , "The Queen of Great Britain . " The music then played "God Save the Queen , " after which the second toast was given to " the Pres ' -dent of the United

States . " The next toast was to Earl de Grey , who replied as follows : —Most Worship ful Sir and Brother : I have to return to you most grateful thanks for the very kind reception which you have been pleased to give mo this evening . I feel proud of that reception , because I know that it has been accorded to mo as the representative of the great body of English Masons , and therefore I think I may venture to say , as the representative of my countrymen , sir , the leading princip le of our ancient Craft is ' fraternity among all the members who belong to it , whatever may be their race or nation ; and , therefore , it would not he wonderful that American Masons should be willing to greet with

fraternal feeling any foreigner who might come among them . But , sir , I do not feel that here , in the United States , [ ought to call myself a foreigner . I am constantly forgetting I am not at home , and while it is true our fraternity extends beyond the bounds of nationality , it is no less true , on every Masonic principle , that the ties which ought to bind American and English Masons are particularly close and dear in their character . I believe all true Masons are inspired by a feeling of patriotism ,

and that men are better citizens of the United States and better subjects of the crown of England because they are members of our ancient fraternity . If that be so , Masonry ought to add one more tie to those with which nature has bound America and England togethei ' . Sir , the remarks which you have made this evening , partly those to which wc have just listened , aud partly those you have addressed to us iu another place , have reminded me of an old electioneering

story , which is connected with a name , I suspect , as dear ( o America as it is to England — the name of Mr . Burke . Standing for Bristol with his colleague , who was a better commercial man than speaker , and having made an able and eloquent address to his constituents , he was followed by that colleague , who had nothing to say to the electors except , " I say Ditto to Mr . Burke . " So I have little to say to that part of the Grand Master ' s remarks except that I say " ditto . " Yes , sir , it is true we have the same history ; it is true we belong to a common ancestry . The greatest heroes of English story , the noblest works of English art , belong to your country as well as

to ours ; and therefore it is not strange yon have been pleased to accord to me , as , the representative ^ of English Masons in this country , a warm and cordial reception . If I mistake not , you still cherish in some of your ancient lodges warrants bearing date in England . Your Masonry , like your history , has sprung from the Old Country , and tho Old Country has not forgotten the glorious empire which has sprung from her loins . Well , then , if this be so , and if I have rightly interpreted the meaning

of the hindness you have done to me to-day , you will not he surprised that I shall carry with me from this assembl y recollections of the deepest gratitude . I shall take back to my Grand Lodge an account of the occurrences of to-day , aud I am confident when 1 relate them they will be received but with one feeling , and that a feeling for a closer union between the Masons of both nations . And , sir , 1 will take back with me across the Atlantic another recollection , and that is the manner— most dear

to me—in which you received this evening the health of my illustrious sovereign . You said , sir , her Majesty the Queen was the granddaughter of George tho Third . Happy is it that time has healed the wounds of the past . Happy is it that I , the Minister of the Crown of England , and esteeming her as I do most truly , should have the signal honour on this occasion of sitting by the side of a Grand Master adorned with the sash of Washington , and using the gavel of tho first president of the

United States . Sir , I can truly say the memory of this day will not soon fade from my mind . I believe it is for the highest interests of civilization hi the world , I believe it is for the highest interest of America and England , that there should be the closest

and most intimate union between the two governments . It it should bo my good fortune to contribute , in however small a degree , to that great raid noble object 1 shall deem myself most happy . The fifth toast was "The Masons of England . " Brethren , — It is the glory of Masonry that it is not only the emblem of universality , and it is our boast that a Mason may find a home in every clime , and a brother among men of every nation .

Profanes may sneer at this pretension , but we know by innumerable proofs that the sentiment of Masonic charity does constantly rho , above the temptations of self-interest , tho solicitations of passion , and even the fear of deafh itself . Let us invoke this potent principle in drawing more close the cords that bind us to the land of our forefathers . I give you , " Our Masonic brethren of England , " and associate with the toast the name of Lord Tenterdeu . "

Lord Tenterdeu responded . The regular toasts having been concluded , Earl de Grey and P . ipon begged leave to present a volunteer toast , " The Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia , " In so doing lie made a brief speech , expressing the gratitude of himself and his associates for the welcome so cordially extended to him . The Table Lodge was then closed .