The Prince Of Wales At Birmingham.

THE PRINCE OF WALES AT BIRMINGHAM .

rpHE Prince of Wales visited Birmingham on Friday , tho 27 th ult ., ¦•' ¦ for the purpose of visiting the . Taffray Suburban Hospital , founded by the proprietor of the Birmingham Daily Post , for the inception of ohronio and convalescent oases from the General Hospital . The Prince arrived at two o'clock from London , and was

received at New-street Station by the Mayor ( Mr . Alderman Martir . eau ); the Town Clerk , Mr . J . Jaffray ; Lord Leigh , the Lord-Lieutenant of Warwickshire ; Major-General Willis , commanding the Northern Division ; Majors Knollys and Coke Gollis , Colonel Fielden , and other gentlemen . Tickets to witness the arrival had been

issued by the Railway Company to about 15 , 000 ladies and gentlemen , and when the Prince stepped from the saloon carriage in which he had travelled he was received with round after round of cheering . The band of the 1 st Warwickshire Rifle Volunteers , which Corps

provided a guard of honour , played the National Anthem . The station had been most elaborately decorated , and the scone presented was very bright and animated . On alighting the Prince shook hands warmly with Mr . Jaffray , the Mayor , and Lord Leigh , with whom he remnined in conversation for several minutes . Ho was

accompanied by Lord Snffield ( Lord in Waiting ) and Colo > el Ellis , his Equerry . Three carriages were in waiting at the end of the station . In the first of these sat Mr . John Lowe and Capt . Boultbee , representing the Cattle Show Society ; in the second Lord Leigh , Gen . Willis , Colonel Ellis , and the Town Clerk ; and in the third , an open

lnndan , with four horses and out-riders , were the Prince , Lord Snffield , the Mayor , and Mr . Jaffray . Tho procession , escorted by a troop of Hussars , left the station at a walking pace , and proceeded through the town to the Hospital , which is situated several miles from Birmingham , at a village called Gravelly Hill . The streets all

along the line of route were more or less decorated with banners , flags , nnd shields , by Messrs . Defries , of London . The chief embellishments were in New Street , Corporation Street , Aston Street and Aston Road . The thoroughfares were thronged by spectators , and the Prince met with a most gratifying reception at every point , the

cheers being continuous from the time he left the station until he reached the hospital . There he was accorded a most enthusiastic greeting by a large crowd , which , notwithstanding the severity of the weather ( and during the wh ; le of the day it was most inclement ) ,

had gathered in front of the Institution . The Prince was presented by Mr . A . Baker , Chairman of the Hospital Committee , with an elaborately wrought gold and silver key , with which His Royal Highness unlocked the door of one of the wards . Proceeding to a room

which had been set apart for the formal ceremony , the Prince was presented by Lord Brooke with an address of welcome . In reply his Royal Highness said : — Lord Brooke and Gentlemen , —I thank you for your address , and for the welcome which you offer me on the occasion of my visit to

the Suburban Hospital . Both the Princess of Wales and myself take a sincere interest in anything relating to the arrangement and administration of hospitals ; and while , therefore , it gave me great pleasure to accept your invitation to perform the duty which I have just fulfilled , it was a matter of deep regret to the Princess that

circumstances prevented her from accompanying me hero to-day to take part in a work which so specially occupies our attention . I myself , in common with all the inhabitants of this district , offer my tribute of thanks to the generous founder of this Institution , who , assisted by some charitable friends , has come forward in the most munificent

manner to fill a serious want , and to relieve the strain which was placed upon the resources of the General Hospital by erecting this building for the reception of all cases of a chronic nature . This new departure marks a fresh era in hospital organisation , and I venture to think that it is one deserving the liberal and warm support of the

benevolent , as well as of all those who approve of the movement . I cannot doubt of its success , and I earnestly pray that the bright example which has been so nobly set may be followed by other communities , and that ere long we may see establishments of a similar useful character in the course of erection throughout the kingdom .

Lord Leigh , as Grand Master of the Warwickshire Province of Freemasons , presented an address to the Prince , in reply to which the following address was handed to the noble Lord : — " BRETHREN , —I have read with feelings of deep satisfaction your loyal and fraternal address , and I con assure you that I am much

gratified by the warm terms in which you welcome me here to-day . I learn with pleasure that the munificent founder of the Suburban Hospital is a most respected member of the Craft , and I rejoice to find that we number amongst us a brother who comes forward so nobly , in the cause of charity . I earnestly pray that the Great

Architect of tbe Universe will watch over and protect the interests of this Institution , and that it may be the means of affording relief to the many patients who , victims to chronic disease , will meet in this branch establishment with all the care and attention that kindness and medical skill and foresight can devise . "

Iv . o cheques of the value of £ 1 , 250 each were handed to Mr . Jaffray , one from a private donor , and the other from the Birmingham and Aston Licensed Victuallers' Association , for the endowment of beds in the Hospital . The Prince of Wales gave Mrs . Jaffray a copy of the presentation key in the form of a

brooch , and shortly after tbe Prince declared the Hospital open . Subsequently , his Royal Highness proceeded to Gravelly Hill Work , house , where he was presented with an address by the inmates . Thence he drove to Ferry Hall , where he will be the guest of the Hon . A . G . 0 . Calthorpe during his stay in the neighbourhood . —Evening Standard .

Ad01102

DANCING .-To Those Who Have Never Learnt to Dance .-Bro . and Mrs . JACQUES WYNMANtf receive daily , and undertake to toacli ladies and gentlemen , who have never had the slightest previous knowledge or instruction , to go through every fashionable ball-dar . ee in a few easy lessons . Private lessons any hour . Morning and evening classes . FKOSPECTCS OtT APPLICATION . ACADEMY—74 NEWMAN STREET , OXFORD STREET , W .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

H ' e do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Cor respondents . All Letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot tmdertake to return rejected communications .

THE UNIVERSALITY OF FREEMASONRY . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DUAR SIR AND BROTHER , —A choice little illustration of this subject recently came under my observation at a banquet at which I was a Visitor ; and I think it is too good to " waste its fragrance on the desert air . " Under the impression that many other brethren

might like to hear the story , I will relate it as nearly as memory serves me . In responding to the toast of the Visitors , a venerable Past Master said he was aware that religious and political subjects were strictly prohibited in Masonic Lodges , and ho did not intend to break that wholesome law . But as a Jew he must make a few

remarks . Whatever their religion , Masons acknowledged each other as brethren ; they were children of the same parents , inhabitants of the same planet , partakers of the same oath ; aud each had Eternity in view . In Masonry they were joined hand in hand with every being on the face of the earth ; religion , politics , colour or clime

made no difference from that point of view . Then onr estemed brother related , with greater detail , and I am afraid with much greater eloquence than I can even fairly convey , a circumstance which occurred to him a quarter of a century ago , when he was Master of a very old Lodge in the West of England . He said " Onr

Organist , who was in a very bad state of health , and felt his end approaching , said to me when I visited him in his sick chamber , ' Worshipful Master , I have a very particular request to make to you ;' and I promised him that if it were within my power , to grant it . It was that the brethren of his Lodge might be allowed to follow

him to his last resting-place , and accordingly on his death I wrote to the Provincial Grand Master , who gave me a dispensation permitting the brethren to walk in procession at our brother ' s funeral . His remains were brought to the Lodge-room , and taken thence to the burial-ground , where there were between 1 , 000 and 2 , 000 persons

assembled around the grave , having come from various places . We had invited several brethren from neighbouring Lodges to join in tho procession , and amongst them was a Turkish brother , wearing a turban and Oriental dress , and also a man of colour whom a gentleman had brought from abroad as his servant . I instructed the

Director of Ceremonies to place these two brethren hand in hand in the procession , and they walked thus to tho churchyard . The minister having completed the burial-service , I took the head of the grave , having the Chaplain of the Lodge before me , with the Volume of the Sacred Law , and I read a funeral address . At that time a

variety of interesting observations were made . One said , " There is So-and . So—a Jew—reading prayers over a Christian brother , and close by there is a Turk and a negro hand in hand . What a beautiful symbol of the universality of Freemasonry ! " Then , continued the speaker , " the observations made respecting this funeral were most

gratifying to me , showing that there is no distinction between Christian , Jew , Turk , or Ethiopian ; they are each of them children of the Great Architect of the TJuiverse , as God and Father of us all . "

Tho " old man eloquent" spoke much more than I can recollect , but the above little outline may prove of some interest to your readers , should you think it worthy of a corner in the columns of your valuable and much-prized journal .

I remain , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours sincerely and fraternally , SCRIBO .

We have just had presented to us a notice intimating that Brother G . S . Graham intends giving his twentieth grand annual concert , at St . Andrew ' s Hall , Balham , on Tuesday evening next . Our old and genial favourite will

be assisted on the occasion by an array of talent such as is rarely brought together , except at special times , in the South of London , and we may anticipate a treat , it * one may judge from the judiciously selected and varied prooramme issued . To the readers of the FREEMASON '

CHRONICLE the name of Brother Graham " needs no bush , " for who does not recollect him , in early clays , when his singing and whistling formed such a novel and attractive feature of the entertainments at which he was

the principal figure ? Although we entertain a feeling of regret mingled with our pleasure in revisiting Brother Graham ' s concerts , seeing that a couple of decades remind us that we are growing older , yet we can assure our leaders

that our versatile brother is yet able to amuse and entertain his audiences , and that his transatlantic experiences recently have not detracted from his inimitable powers of

pleasing . We anticipate that in completing his twentieth year of public life , in contributing to the wholesome recreation of a very wide circle of friends and supporters , he will meet with a very cordial reception next Tuesday , at Balham .