The Grand Mastership.

THE GRAND MASTERSHIP .

1 PIE installation of H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught as Grand Master will take place on Wednesday next , at the Royal Albert Hall , and will doubtless be attended by Brethren from all parts of the country—we might almost say from all

parts of the empire , as any distinguished visitors in the country will no doubt be provided for . The immense seating capacity of -the Albert Hall will be taxed to the utmost , but it is satisfactory to know that a very large proportion of those who

applied for admission can be accommodated . The event has been anxiously looked forward to for some time . We hope it may pass off most successfully , and that the new Grand Master may be installed for a long and prosperous reign .

Wiltshire.

WILTSHIRE .

THE Cathedral City of Salisbury was on Wednesday , 3 rd inst , the scene of a large gathering of Freemasons from all parts of Wiltshire , the occasion being the installation of

the Earl of Radnor as Grand Superintendent and as Grand Master of the Province , and the laying of the Foundation Stone of the new Masonic Hall , which the Brethren of the Elias de Derham Lodge , No . 586 , are building in Crane Street . The concurrence of three such events is rare , and in

itself was sufficient to make the day memorable in local Masonic annals . Apart from its official and ceremonial character , which is important and dignified , the personal element invested the proceedings with peculiar interest , significance and pleasure . The Earl of Radnor is a near

neighbour , an . d is held in high honour by all classes and parties as well for himself as for what he has done . But we have only now to speak of him as a member of the Masonic body in which he has been equally happy . When , therefore , the Province had been bereft of its head by the death of the

noble Earl s father , it was a source of lively satisfaction and gratitude to the Brethren throughout the county that the Most Worshipful Grand Master the Prince of Wales had appointed as his successor the son of the late Provincial Grand Master . PL ' s patent of appointment is dated last October ,

its issue having been delayed by Lord Radnor ' s illness , contracted on service in South Africa , the family mourning , and other circumstances . Since then , many things have happened . Through the death of the Queen the King has resigned the Grand Mastership and become the Protector of the Order

as well as the supreme Office in the Royal Arch degree , in which he has been succeeded by his brother H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught , who signed Lord Radnor ' s patent as Grand Superintendent . Another interesting personal fact was the presence of the Earl of Lathom , who inherits his father ' s

great love for and interest in Masonry , and who as a Grand Officer , Provincial Grand Superintendent and Provincial Grand Master of Lancashire Western Division , had the pleasure of installing his brother-in-law in the corresponding Offices in Wiltshire .

There was a full muster of the local Brethren , and all the Chapters and Lodges in Wiltshire were more or less strongly represented . Many visitors were present from neighbouring Provinces and even from Staffordshire , Lancashire , and other counties . There was also a srood SDrinklin ? of

Officers of Grand Lodge . The meeting place was the Assembl y Rooms , which have recently undergone considerable renovation , so that a complete and welcome transformation has been made . Besides this much eood and

effective decorative work was specially done for the occasion . The entrance hall and stairs were laid with crimson carpet and adorned with flowers and plants . At the top of the stairs on the right hand side a room was set apart for members

Wiltshire.

of Grand Lodge . This was richly" furnished and the walls were draped with red , white , blue and green art muslin . The rooms on the opposite side were fitted up as reception and cloak rooms , while the large Hall was furnished as Lodge Room . This was charmingly decorated . All the

arrangements were left in the hands of Mr . Simmonds , and the general opinion was that he excelled himself in the taste displayed in the decorations . There was a choice collection of palms , ferns and foliage and flowering plants ( kindly lent by Lord Radnoir ) , and the effect was very striking .

Provincial Grand Chapter was opened at one o ' clock by the Installing Companion the Earl of Lathom , assisted by the Provincial Grand H . and J . Formal business of the convocation having been transacted Lord Lathom in a few words voiced the feelings of the Companions as to the loss the

Province had suffered by the death of the late Lord Radnor , and expressed his own personal sense of honour and pleasure in being called upon to instal as his successor the son of the late G . Superintendent , a relative of his own . Lord Radnor

was escorted into- the Chapter by a deputation of Principals and Past Principals , and with the usual ceremonial was placed in the chair . This done he appointed and invested the Officers , as follow :

Comp . Rev . F . W . Macclonald ... H . W . E . Nicolson Browne ... J . H . Bevir ... Scribe E . F . Pleydell Goddard ... Scribe N . G . M . Wilson ... Treasurer

r . E . Streeten ... Registrar E . Hale ... Principal Sojourner F . Bendlc ... 1 st Assist . Soj . J . O . Hogarth ... 2 nd Assist . Soj . Geo . Harris ... Sword Bearer

J . P . Martin ... Standard Bearer E . A . B . Elers ... Dir . of Ceremonies J . Chandler ... Assist . Dir . of Cers . W . S . Bambridge .:. Organist W . Dean ... Janitor .

After luncheon at the Council Plouse the Brethren returned to the Assembly Rooms , their numbers being largely reinforced , for the business of Provincial Grand Lodge . This was opened at 2 . 30 by the Earl of Lathom as Installing Master , supported on the dais by many Officers of Grand

Lodge . His lordship , as in the Chapter , paid a tribute to the memory of the late Prov . G . M ., laid stress upon the fact that he had ruled the Province wisely and well , and , making generous and sympathetic reference to the Prov . G . M .-designate , he expressed his pleasure that a good father was

being succeeded in the capacity by a good son . The principal business of the Lo . dge being the installation of its chief , Lord Radnor was introduced and escorted according to the prescribed ritual , and having been installed in the chair , the Brethren paid him the homage due to his position .

In characteristically frank and manly fashion the noble Earl addressed the Brethren , and avowed his desire and intention to rule justly and generously , and to do all in his power to strengthen the Fraternal bonds and bc » advance the edification of the Order in the Province .

The new Prov . G . M . received the hearty acclamations of the Brethren , which he duly acknowledged , and appointed and invested as his Deputy Bro . C . N . P . Phipps , who filled a similar position under his father , and since his death has been D . P . G . M . in charge of the Province . That the appointment was a popular one was evidenced by the greeting Brother Phipps received .

At the instance of the Prov . G . M . a resolution was passed expressing the profound regret of the Province at the death of the Queen , and offering congratulations to the King on his accession .