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Nottinghamshire.
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE .
W ITH befitting ritual an impressive ceremony was performed in Nottingham on Thursday . In the presence of members of the Craft assembled from all parts of the Province , as well as many of influence from distant centres , his Grace the Duke of Portland was installed as Provincial Grand Master of Nottinghamshire , in succession
to the late Duke of St . Albans , who held the office with distinction for many years . To those associated with a body whose ramifications are widespread , the event would necessarily arouse keen interest . But in this instance there were considerations which were not limited to a particular
organisation . It had been appropriatel y arranged to embody in the proceedings elements which are significant of the basis upon which the Craft rests . In the memorable Jubilee
period of 18 97 the pressing need for the extension of the Nottingham General Hospital appealed to people of all classes who were desirous of aiding in the extension of the oldest of local medical institutions . How liberal was the
response for funds is a matter of history . Thanks to conspicuously large donations , supplemented by contributions of smaller volume , the result was highly encouraging . And as a corrolary to that which was practically a private function on Thursday , nothing could have been more appropriate than
that with Masonic honours the corner stone of the new wing of the hospital should be laid by the Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire , who has thus succeeded the late Duke of St . Albans in a dual capacity . In the Masonic sense the occasion suggests some interesting reminiscences . The
proceedings recalled the fact that nearly twenty-five years had elapsed since there was a similar Masonic function in relation to a public building in Nottingham . It was upon Thursday , 22 nd October 1863 , that the foundation stone of the School of Art in Waverley Street was laid by his Grace
the Duke of Newcastle , then Grand Master of the Province . Upon that occasion a procession was formed at the Exchange Hall , and proceeded by way of Clumber Street , Mansfield Road , and through the Arboretum to the building . Mr . Richard Birkin was the Mayor of the borough during that
year , and upon the day referred to the Duke of Newcastle delivered a most interesting speech . The gathering was notable by reason of the presence of many members of the Craft from a distance . The proceedings subsequent to the foundation stone laying included a dinner at the Exchange
Hall , at which there was a representative assembly , the enterprise of the residents in liberally supporting the scheme for the establishment of a School of Art being referred to in commendatory terms . As is known , the institution which was for many years carried on under the direction of a
committee representing a private body of subscribers has since passed into the hands of the Corporation , and is now the centre of much useful work under its altered title of the Municipal School of Art and Design . The ceremony of 1863 presents significant facts illustrative of the growth of Masonry
in Nottinghamshire . At that time the only Lodges in existence , to give them in the order of seniority , were the Newstead , Royal Sussex , Commercial , and Pelham . Since then no fewer than fourteen Lodges have been added to the list representing the Province , and proportionately the
measure of philanthropic work sustained through the medium of the Craft has been strikingly developed , as is illustrated by contributions to its two chief Educational Charities the Masonic Schools for Boys and Girls , and also to the Masonic Benevolent Institution , and other agencies . The foundation
stone laying in 186 3 was the last event of the kind associated with Masonic matters in Nottingham itself , but in the interval there has been one important ceremony of a similar nature performed outside the county town , this being in relation to
the Brunt s 1 echmcal School at Mansfield , where there was a large assembly of members of the Craft on 12 th June 18 93 , when the ceremony was performed by the Duke of St . Albans .
The Duke of Portland has succeeded to an office which has been held with distinction by many notable members of the Craft , the last of whom , the Duke of St . Albans , expired as recently as gth May , at Brooke House , Isle of Wight , the residence of Sir Charles Seely , Bart ., where his Grace had
been staying for some weeks for the benefit of his health . The first Grand Master of the Province was Thomas Boothby Parkins , afterwards first Lord Rancliffe , who was appointed in 1783 . Lord Rancliffe ' s successor was Admiral Sir John
Borlase Warren , Bart ., installed in 1 S 02 , this distinguished officer being succeeded in 1823 by Colonel Thomas Wildman . Colonel Wildman held the office for thirty-seven years , with conspicious advantage to the Craft , and was followed in i 860
Nottinghamshire.
by Henry Pelham , fifth Duke of Newcastle , K . G . Henry Pelham Alexander , sixth Duke of Newcastle , succeeded to the position of Grand Master m 1865 , and upon his death the late Duke of St . Albans was , to the gratification of all
Nottinghamshire Masons , called upon to assume the appointment in the year 1877 . It is interesting to recall that the Duke of St . Albans had previously served as Prov . Grand Master of Lincolnshire , in which county , at Redbourne , he then resided . He was installed as Prov . Grand Master of
Lincolnshire at the Assembly Rooms in the county town , on 29 th April 1862 , in the place of the late Earl of Yarborough , and Dr . Oliver , the great Masonic authority , presided upon that occasion . His Grace , whose recent death is so deeply lamented , filled the office in Lincolnshire for sixteen years .
The Duke was installed as head of the Nottinghamshire Province upon 20 th September 1878 , the ceremony , which took place at the Castle Museum , being conducted by the
Earl of Carnarvon . At a banquet which was subsequently held at the Albert Hall his Grace , in response to the toast of his health , referred with interest to the' fact that when he undertook the duties of Grand Master for Lincolnshire there
were ten Lodges , which had , up to that time , been increased to twenty , with a proportionate accession of membership . He could not see why in Nottinghamshire they should not also increase . Neither Newark , Mansfield , nor Retford at this time possessed Lodges , the only place of importance
outside Nottingham in which any practical interest in the Craft was manifested being Worksop , where the Pelham Lodge was founded in 1862 . His Grace ' s tenure of office was sufficiently long to enable him to witness the abundant
fulfilment of his hopes , the number of Lodges having since 1878 more than quadrupled . It may be of interest to recall the circumstance that upon the occasion of his installation the late Duke of St . Albans stated that he had invited Bro .
Close the late Deputy Provincial Grand Master to act , but in consequence of advanced age he had declined the office , which was thereupon conferred upon Bro . John Watson . The latter discharged the duties with characteristic assiduity
as long as his health permitted , the vacancy which was caused by his death being filled by the appointment of Lieut-Col . Wm . Newton , of Newark , the present occupant of the office . A conversazione at the Castle Museum wound
up the proceedings in connection with the installation which took place nearly twenty years ago . The increased membership was not the only matter in regard to which the late Duke of St . Albans ' s hopes were realised . At the banquet to which reference has been made the idea of establishing a
Masonic Hall was mooted , and met with the hearty support of his Grace . The object was realised by the erection of a building in Goldsmith Street , which was opened in 1880 , and serves the purpose of a meeting place for the Lodges , as well as that of a Masonic Club . It is also interesting to notice
that recently the idea of forming a Masonic Museum in connection with the building has assumed practical shape , with the result that the nucleus has been formed of that which , in relation to Masonic literature , jewels , emblems , & c , promises ere long to prove a valuable collection . To
the great regret of the members of the Craft , reasons of failing health necessitated the resignation in December last of the position of Provincial Grand Master held by the Duke of St . Albans . The announcement , which unhappily had not been entirely unexpected , was made b } ' his Grace in person
at a Provincial Grand Lodge meeting held at the Masonic Hall on gth December . The Duke had up to that time held the office for a little over nineteen years , and those whose privilege it was to hear the valedictory address will long preserve recollections of the deep impression which it created .
When , a few months since , it was announced that H . R . H . the Prince of Wales had invited the Duke of Portland to fill the vacancy , and that his Grace had been pleased to comply with the request , it was felt no more fitting choice could have been made . The Duke has ever displayed the heartiest
interest in matters appertaining to the Craft , and follows a distinguished line of predecessors in upholding its prestige in Nottinghamshire , as throughout the country generally . His Grace was originally initiated into the Craft as a member of the United Lodge , at the Freemasons' Hall , in London . He
is also a member of the Household Brigade Lodge , and of the Royal Alpha Lodge , London , of the latter of which he is at present S . W ., and of the Forest , and Duke of Portland Lodges , Notts . His Grace has held the office in Grand Lodge as Warden .
Not the least interesting circumstance in connection with Thursday ' s proceedings was that the installation ceremony was performed by Lord Henry Cavendish Bentinck , M . P ., brother of the duke , and himself the Provincial Grand
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Nottinghamshire.
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE .
W ITH befitting ritual an impressive ceremony was performed in Nottingham on Thursday . In the presence of members of the Craft assembled from all parts of the Province , as well as many of influence from distant centres , his Grace the Duke of Portland was installed as Provincial Grand Master of Nottinghamshire , in succession
to the late Duke of St . Albans , who held the office with distinction for many years . To those associated with a body whose ramifications are widespread , the event would necessarily arouse keen interest . But in this instance there were considerations which were not limited to a particular
organisation . It had been appropriatel y arranged to embody in the proceedings elements which are significant of the basis upon which the Craft rests . In the memorable Jubilee
period of 18 97 the pressing need for the extension of the Nottingham General Hospital appealed to people of all classes who were desirous of aiding in the extension of the oldest of local medical institutions . How liberal was the
response for funds is a matter of history . Thanks to conspicuously large donations , supplemented by contributions of smaller volume , the result was highly encouraging . And as a corrolary to that which was practically a private function on Thursday , nothing could have been more appropriate than
that with Masonic honours the corner stone of the new wing of the hospital should be laid by the Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire , who has thus succeeded the late Duke of St . Albans in a dual capacity . In the Masonic sense the occasion suggests some interesting reminiscences . The
proceedings recalled the fact that nearly twenty-five years had elapsed since there was a similar Masonic function in relation to a public building in Nottingham . It was upon Thursday , 22 nd October 1863 , that the foundation stone of the School of Art in Waverley Street was laid by his Grace
the Duke of Newcastle , then Grand Master of the Province . Upon that occasion a procession was formed at the Exchange Hall , and proceeded by way of Clumber Street , Mansfield Road , and through the Arboretum to the building . Mr . Richard Birkin was the Mayor of the borough during that
year , and upon the day referred to the Duke of Newcastle delivered a most interesting speech . The gathering was notable by reason of the presence of many members of the Craft from a distance . The proceedings subsequent to the foundation stone laying included a dinner at the Exchange
Hall , at which there was a representative assembly , the enterprise of the residents in liberally supporting the scheme for the establishment of a School of Art being referred to in commendatory terms . As is known , the institution which was for many years carried on under the direction of a
committee representing a private body of subscribers has since passed into the hands of the Corporation , and is now the centre of much useful work under its altered title of the Municipal School of Art and Design . The ceremony of 1863 presents significant facts illustrative of the growth of Masonry
in Nottinghamshire . At that time the only Lodges in existence , to give them in the order of seniority , were the Newstead , Royal Sussex , Commercial , and Pelham . Since then no fewer than fourteen Lodges have been added to the list representing the Province , and proportionately the
measure of philanthropic work sustained through the medium of the Craft has been strikingly developed , as is illustrated by contributions to its two chief Educational Charities the Masonic Schools for Boys and Girls , and also to the Masonic Benevolent Institution , and other agencies . The foundation
stone laying in 186 3 was the last event of the kind associated with Masonic matters in Nottingham itself , but in the interval there has been one important ceremony of a similar nature performed outside the county town , this being in relation to
the Brunt s 1 echmcal School at Mansfield , where there was a large assembly of members of the Craft on 12 th June 18 93 , when the ceremony was performed by the Duke of St . Albans .
The Duke of Portland has succeeded to an office which has been held with distinction by many notable members of the Craft , the last of whom , the Duke of St . Albans , expired as recently as gth May , at Brooke House , Isle of Wight , the residence of Sir Charles Seely , Bart ., where his Grace had
been staying for some weeks for the benefit of his health . The first Grand Master of the Province was Thomas Boothby Parkins , afterwards first Lord Rancliffe , who was appointed in 1783 . Lord Rancliffe ' s successor was Admiral Sir John
Borlase Warren , Bart ., installed in 1 S 02 , this distinguished officer being succeeded in 1823 by Colonel Thomas Wildman . Colonel Wildman held the office for thirty-seven years , with conspicious advantage to the Craft , and was followed in i 860
Nottinghamshire.
by Henry Pelham , fifth Duke of Newcastle , K . G . Henry Pelham Alexander , sixth Duke of Newcastle , succeeded to the position of Grand Master m 1865 , and upon his death the late Duke of St . Albans was , to the gratification of all
Nottinghamshire Masons , called upon to assume the appointment in the year 1877 . It is interesting to recall that the Duke of St . Albans had previously served as Prov . Grand Master of Lincolnshire , in which county , at Redbourne , he then resided . He was installed as Prov . Grand Master of
Lincolnshire at the Assembly Rooms in the county town , on 29 th April 1862 , in the place of the late Earl of Yarborough , and Dr . Oliver , the great Masonic authority , presided upon that occasion . His Grace , whose recent death is so deeply lamented , filled the office in Lincolnshire for sixteen years .
The Duke was installed as head of the Nottinghamshire Province upon 20 th September 1878 , the ceremony , which took place at the Castle Museum , being conducted by the
Earl of Carnarvon . At a banquet which was subsequently held at the Albert Hall his Grace , in response to the toast of his health , referred with interest to the' fact that when he undertook the duties of Grand Master for Lincolnshire there
were ten Lodges , which had , up to that time , been increased to twenty , with a proportionate accession of membership . He could not see why in Nottinghamshire they should not also increase . Neither Newark , Mansfield , nor Retford at this time possessed Lodges , the only place of importance
outside Nottingham in which any practical interest in the Craft was manifested being Worksop , where the Pelham Lodge was founded in 1862 . His Grace ' s tenure of office was sufficiently long to enable him to witness the abundant
fulfilment of his hopes , the number of Lodges having since 1878 more than quadrupled . It may be of interest to recall the circumstance that upon the occasion of his installation the late Duke of St . Albans stated that he had invited Bro .
Close the late Deputy Provincial Grand Master to act , but in consequence of advanced age he had declined the office , which was thereupon conferred upon Bro . John Watson . The latter discharged the duties with characteristic assiduity
as long as his health permitted , the vacancy which was caused by his death being filled by the appointment of Lieut-Col . Wm . Newton , of Newark , the present occupant of the office . A conversazione at the Castle Museum wound
up the proceedings in connection with the installation which took place nearly twenty years ago . The increased membership was not the only matter in regard to which the late Duke of St . Albans ' s hopes were realised . At the banquet to which reference has been made the idea of establishing a
Masonic Hall was mooted , and met with the hearty support of his Grace . The object was realised by the erection of a building in Goldsmith Street , which was opened in 1880 , and serves the purpose of a meeting place for the Lodges , as well as that of a Masonic Club . It is also interesting to notice
that recently the idea of forming a Masonic Museum in connection with the building has assumed practical shape , with the result that the nucleus has been formed of that which , in relation to Masonic literature , jewels , emblems , & c , promises ere long to prove a valuable collection . To
the great regret of the members of the Craft , reasons of failing health necessitated the resignation in December last of the position of Provincial Grand Master held by the Duke of St . Albans . The announcement , which unhappily had not been entirely unexpected , was made b } ' his Grace in person
at a Provincial Grand Lodge meeting held at the Masonic Hall on gth December . The Duke had up to that time held the office for a little over nineteen years , and those whose privilege it was to hear the valedictory address will long preserve recollections of the deep impression which it created .
When , a few months since , it was announced that H . R . H . the Prince of Wales had invited the Duke of Portland to fill the vacancy , and that his Grace had been pleased to comply with the request , it was felt no more fitting choice could have been made . The Duke has ever displayed the heartiest
interest in matters appertaining to the Craft , and follows a distinguished line of predecessors in upholding its prestige in Nottinghamshire , as throughout the country generally . His Grace was originally initiated into the Craft as a member of the United Lodge , at the Freemasons' Hall , in London . He
is also a member of the Household Brigade Lodge , and of the Royal Alpha Lodge , London , of the latter of which he is at present S . W ., and of the Forest , and Duke of Portland Lodges , Notts . His Grace has held the office in Grand Lodge as Warden .
Not the least interesting circumstance in connection with Thursday ' s proceedings was that the installation ceremony was performed by Lord Henry Cavendish Bentinck , M . P ., brother of the duke , and himself the Provincial Grand