GRAND MASTER OF THE FREEMASONS.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 325, 28 June 1875, Page 3

GRAND MASTER OF THE FREEMASONS.

The Pall Mall Gazette gives the following account of the installation of the Prince of Wales as Grand Master of the Freemasons of England:—The installation ceremony took place at the Albert Hall on Wednesday, and is described as having been the most imposing Masonic ceremony ever held in this country. Between 7000 and 8000 members of the craft were present, including the Duke of Connaught, who was raised to the degree of a Master Mason on the previous evening. The Grand Lodge was opened by the Earl of Carnarvon, and after the minutes of the last quarterly communication had been read and confirmed, a deputation was formed for the purpose of introducing his Royal Highness to the assembled Masons, several thousands in number. The Prince was received with enthusiastic cheers. Lord Carnarvon then delivered an address, to which the new Grand Master replied, pointing out that the chief watchwords of Masonry were “ loyalty and charity;” that, as a non-political institution, it exercised an influence in this country far greater than it had enjoyed in countries where it had dabbled, in politics, and that on this ground as well as for other reasons he regarded the order as a guarantee for the “ integrity of the throne and of this great Empire.” The March from “Eli” was performed upon the organ, and then, a telegraphic address of congratulation from the Grand Lodge at Genoa having previously been read, deputations from the Grand Lodges of Scotland, Ireland, Sweden, and Denmark were successively introduced. The Grand Master next appointed the Earl of Carnarvon to be Pro-Grand Master, Lord Skelmersdalc to be Deputy-Grand Master, and the Marquis of Hamilton and the Lord Mayor to fill two chief offices in Grand Lodge. The Other grand officers were then appointed, and the ceremony, which had lasted about two hours, was closed by the Prince being conducted to his retiring room by a procession of the principal brethren, in the evening a grand banquet was held in the great hall in Queen street. The Prince of Wales, the Most Worshipful Grand Master, presided, on his |right being the Duke of Connaught, and on the left Lord Skelmersdale, the Deputy Grand Master. The Earl of Carnarvon, Pro Grand Master, was not present on account of domestic affliction. The Most Worshipful Grand Master, the Prince of Wales, proposed the toast of the Queen ; and then the Duke of Manchester proposed the health of the Princess of Wales, for which the Duke of Connaught returned thanks observing that he spoke with some nervousness, as being the Junior Master Mason in England. He proposed the health of the Most Worshipful Grand Master, who replied, and proposed “ The Health of our illustrious brother the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Sweden his Majesty the King of Sweden and Norway.” The toast was replied to in French by Count Salcza, and the Prince of Wales then proposed the Grand Lodges of Scotland, Ireland, and Sweden. The toast was acknowledged successively by Lord Bosslyn, Mr Shekleton, and Admiral Oscar Dickson. In proposing the toast of “ The Pro-Grand Masters, the Deputy Grand Masters, the Provincial Grand Masters, and the Grand Officers,” the Prince of Wales expressed his deep regret at the absence of Lord Carnarvon and its cause. His Royal Highness added that from a report which ne had just received from Mr Cole, he was enabled to state that there were between 70®0 and 8000 brethren in the Albert Hall, and they all entered and left it without accident, which was a great thing to be able to say. After dinner the company retired to the Temple, where a splendid concert was given to the brethren and ladies. The Prince remained for some time.