FREEMASONRY.

Evening Star, Issue 3852, 29 June 1875, Page 3

FREEMASONRY.

M^ e n n 5 al ! at i 6n ? f Vae Prince of Wales as M.W.G.M. took place in the Royal Albert Hall on April 28. Aided by weather which was royal m its splendor, the event proved pei feebly successful in every particular, and such a sight was presented to the brethren as they had never before had an opportunity of witnessing. It is now eighty-five years since a Prince of Wales became G.M, and an event so rare deserved to be celebrated with more than ordinary maenifi cence. Nearly 8,000 brethren came bom all parts of the country, and at an early hour in the morning of April ?8 there was a great stir m the neighborhood of the Royal Albert Hall. Long before eleven o’clock in the morning the stewards wended their way to the scene of operations, and at tb?A hornthey repaired to the west crush room, to clothe They were then marshalled according to the : r squadrons, and instructed in their duties. Shortly before one o’clock when the general body of brethren were to be admitted, they were posted at their respective stations, and so well lad thev become acquainted with what they had to do, that when the doors were throws open the enormous number of 7,600 brethren were passed to their seats without any trouf£° r r . To tbos « who. were inside the building beforehand, the whole building appeared to till unper ceptibly, and m the course of an hour a hS there were no vacant spaces left eicen those which were reserved on the dais for

the Grand and Past Grand officers, who were to form the procession. The appearance of the hall was very pleasing. The brethren were in evening dress, with their collars and jewels of office; and every brother wearing both collar and badge, there was no break of unifoimity except where a military brother were his scarlet tunic. The throne was again, after .the lapse cf many years, surmounted by the Prince’s plume, and behind the throne and in front of the organ, concealing the organist, was the Royal standard, with the Masonic banner. The steps leading to the throne were decorated on either side by a grand assortment of choice flowers, and a splendid carpet made for the occasion was laid over the steps and along the route through which the procession had to The whole arrangement had been carefully studied, and no opportunity had been lost of producing a harmonious and agreeable effect. About a quarter past throe the four trumpeters who were placed in the organ loft announced that the opening part of the ceremony was on the eve of development, and the brethren rose to receive the Provincial Grand Master and Grand Officers. Emerging from a door at the head of the stairs behind the P.W. chair, the first individual inf the procession made his appearance, and then came the rest walking two and two down the stairs, and along the avenue leading to the throne. The procession included H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught, the Junior Master M asou of England, representatives from the G. L. cf Denmark, and deputations from the 6.L.’s of Ireland, Sweden and Scotland. As soon as the Earl of Carnarvon was descried, he was received with deafening cheering, which did not abate until some time after he had taken bis seat on the throne, having the oldest P.G.M, (Mr Fawcett, of Durham) on his right, and the Duke of Connaught two seats off him on his left. The Earl of Carnarvon, who could not restrain his emotion on the cordiality of Lis reception—• for such a reception never greeted Grand Master before—repeatedly bowed Lis acknowledgments. Another procession was formed, and passed up the centre of the Hall, the organ playing a processional march composed for the occasion by Brother Sir M. Costa. The Prince cf Wales was then conducted to a chair on the left of the Pro, G.M., and tho brethren took their respective seats, except those bearing the insignia, who stood behind the chair. H.R.H. was then constituted M.W.G.M., am' conducted to the right hand of the throne, when the ProG,M. invested him with the insignia of his office, and conducted him into tho chair of the G.M. The G.D, of ceremonies (> r A. Woods, Garter at Arms), proclaimed the installation, after sound of trumpets, and called upon the brethren to salute the G. M. according to ancient form. The Earl of Carnarvon then addressed the assembly in the following terms Your Royal Highness and Most Worshipful Grand Master, —lt has been from time immemorial the custom when any Master of the Craft was placed in this chair to remind him of the duties. that he then undertook, and although it is unnecessary that I should remind your Royal Highness, who is so conversm with all the affairs of the Craft, of those duties, it is right that that, old and time-honored custom should not absolutely disappear, and therefore it is my duty to address to you a few words on. this occasion. Your Royal Highness knows well that Freemasonry possesses many titles to respect, even in the eyes of the outer world. It has first a great antiqnity—an antiquity ascending into the sphere of immemorial tradition. Secondly, it is known and practised in every country, in every clime, and by every race of civilised men; and lastly, in this country especially, it has associated itself with human sympathies and charitable institutions. Let me say, further, that whilst in these modern times it has changed its character in some respects, it has lost nothing which can claim the respect, of men. Formerly, thiough the dim period of the middle ages, it carved its records upon the public buildings of Europe, upon the tracery of the cathedral windows, the ornamentation of palaces. Now it is content to devote itself to works of sympathy and charity, and in them finds its highest praise and reward. Let me draw one farther distinctionno one will say that it is an invidious one. In some other countries it has been unfortunately the lot of Freemasonry to find itself allied with faction and ■'intrigue—with what I may call the darker side of politics. In England it has been signally the reverse. The Craft here has allied itself with social order, with the great institutions of the country, and preeminently Monarchy, the crowning institution of all. Your Royal Highness is not the first by many of your illustrious family that have sat in tout chair. By the lustre of your great position you will reflect honor upon the Craft to-day; but it is a'so something- to be at the head of such a body as this vast assembly now represents. I may say that never before in the whole history of Freemasonry has such a Grand Lodge been convened as that on which my eyes rest at this moment; and there is this further and inner "view to be taken, tbat while my vision ranges over those serried ranks of white and blue, of gold and purple, I recognise in them men who have solemnly undertaken obligations rf worth and morality, men who have undertaken the duties of citizens and the loyalty of subjects. I am but expressing, though very feebly, the feelings and aspirations of this great assemblage when I say that I trust tbat the connection of your Royal Highness with the Craft may be lasting, and that yem may never have reason for one moment’s regret or anxiety when you look back upon the events of to-day.—(Loud cheers.)

His Royal Highness the Grand Master, who, on rising, was received with enthusiastic applause, said : Brethren I am deeply grateful to the Most Worshipful Pro-Grand Master for the excessively kind words which he has just spoken • and to you, brethren, for the cordial reception which has been given to them. It has been your unanimous wish, brethren, that I should occupy the chair in which you have this day installed me as your Grand Master. It is diffi cult for me to find words adequately to express my deep thanks for the lugA honor thKs been bestowed upon me—an honor which has already been bestowed on several members of my family my predecessors-and, brethren n whose footsteps it will always bo my most ardent and sincere wish to walk and hv p, ,i»o help to Mfi! the duties ofthe’ high office to Wrfo 1 Calle, \ to ' day in the ®me way To. vZ r. > Predecessors fulfilled them. Ss ftsMssa “ «!r ■ spacious hall, and see those who have come thewest, tot present ““thi'.'"'”' ea,t ! ‘" <l Sion, it is, X «*£ have du tics whieh in my position I ouen'W o« P r 1 riot er,able me so freJLf; ‘ ,ty as 1 c " uld to attend to my mauv du ms connected with the craft. But you Brethren, may rest assured that IshSldomv relative to FreeTnason..? £ ro Gv ?}'< l Master influence will tend to rnahlt^ l 'll.' 1 - its benl gn this greatempirc. VS. hj “••flSty'rf brethren, for vonr , w r V* yo V once more, flap, and » r ,Sy“£wW , ™ , ’ f "' e “>• immense distances to welcome tST’ 0 *u” e such sion. I assure von T Kh.iiT me rne r on this occa(Great cheering.) ‘ llever f,)r S e t to-day, for W75 w r inlrc *'« 1 ' O fluvwH lor 75 were appointed

among others the Earl of Carnarvon as Pr oGrand Master, Lord Skelmersda’e as D. G. M,, the Marquis of Hamilton as S. G. W., and the Lord Mayor as J.G.W.), H.R.H. himself ' investing his officers. The G.L. was closed in ample form, H.R. H. being conducted to hia room amid reiterated cheering, which completely drowned the powerful notes of the organ as it again pealed forth the special processional march. In a quarter-of-an-hour afterwards all the brethren had left the hal : , and the streets were thronged with eager sightseers watching the departure of the largest grand lodge of Freemasons ever held.