The Royal Jubilee.

THE ROYAL JUBILEE .

EROM end to end of the " vast domain " over which her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria sways her

benign sceptre , and upon which it has ever been our proud boast that " the sun never sets , " we hear sounds of preparation to celebrate the jubilee of her glorious reign . Wherever the English language is spoken patriotic hearts

are beating high in anticipation of being permitted to take some personal share in the festivities which are to grace the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Coronation of Britain ' s greatest aud most beloved Sovereign . It would be vain to

attempt to speculato upon tho various forms which this celebration will assume , for the same spirit of loyalty permeates all sorts and conditions of men , both at home and throughout tho Dependencies of the British

Crowna spirit of loyal rivalry as to how in the most befitting way to signalise an event so dear to the heart of every Englishman . In the Church , the various Departments of the State , our Universities , the Army and Navy , in everv

grade of social and political life , schemes are being propounded by which to give dignity and eclat to the jubilee year of the world ' s most illustrious Monarch ; and during this year the old refrain which we have loved to sing from

our earliest childhood will reverberate with xmprecedented strength of meaning throughout Her Majesty ' s dominions — " God save the Queen . " Foremost amongst the grand designs which are under consideration for raising a lasting

memento of the glorious event is the inauguration of an " Imperial Institute of the United Kingdom , the Colonies and India , " a suggestion worthy of the inception of our

Most Worshipful Grand Master the Prince of Wales , and which is receiving most earnest and practical support from all classes of the community .

It is , however , with special reference to the Ancient and Honourable Institution to which we belong , which is graced by the immediate patronage of our beloved Queen , and governed by her illustrious son , that the Jubilee

preparations come home very near to the hearts of English Freemasons ; and it would have been impossible that the occasion could have passed unnoticed by the great and

influential body of men ranged under the banner of the Order , whose standing motto has ever been " Loyalty to the Throne and Devotion to the Craft . " Thus it is no

matter for surprise that English Masons everywhere are asked to " reason together " as to the most suitable and practical manner in which the Jubilee shall be signalised within their own ranks , apart from the modes that may be

adopted by other sections of public and private men . Within the last few days a circular has been issued by the Earl of Carnarvon , in his capacity as Pro Grand Master , inviting the attention of the members of the Craft

everywhere within the jurisdiction of Grand Lodge to a series of proposals in reference to the Jubilee Celebration . Notwithstanding that , for some reason , the document is headed " confidential , " it is now the common property of the

Masonic body ; and , without giving the actual text , we feel justified , as officially representing the journalism of the Craft , in saying a few words on the salient points contained in a communication upon which Masons are requested

to express an opinion . Already in many of our Lodges the note of preparation has been sounded , and everywhere within the next few weeks similar appeals to the patriotic sentiments of the Masonic body will be submitted for con-

The Royal Jubilee.

sideration and report to Grand Lodge . It is scarcely necessary to say that we echo with every feeling of welcome and heartiness the confidence expressed by our noble

Pro Grand Master the Earl of Carnarvon , that whereas tbo event will be " welcomed most enthusiastically by all classes of Hor Majesty ' s subjects , " it will be especially so by those than whom " none are more loyal or devoted to their Sovereign than the Freemasons who owe allegiance to the Grand Lodge of England , under our Most Worshi pful

Grand Master His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales . " It is admitted that certain difficulties surround the question of how a Masonic Commemoration of the event can be most fittingly carried out , for it is obviously impossible

that anything like a concentration of all who would desire to take part in it could be arranged at any given centre . The privileged few who were enabled to secure admission to the Royal Albert Hall when His Royal Highness was

installed as Grand Master , in the year 187 o , will still have vi , id recollection of the many disappointments then expressed by those who were less fortunate ; and the enormous increase of the Craft since that period will render

the task of arranging a similar gathering under the special auspices of the Jubilee year doubly difficult and perplexing . The suggestion at present before us is that " a great representative meeting of English Freemasons in

Masonic clothing" shall be held during next summer , in London ; and , in the event of the number of applications for admission exceeding the limits of the Albert Hall , then the gathering shall be transferred to the new leviathan building , " Olympia , " which is just now the centre of

so much popular attraction , at Kensington . At such meeting , of which the Grand Master has approved , and over which he has consented to preside , an address of

congratulation to Her Majesty will be agreed to " from her faithful subjects the Freemasons of England . " To such a proposal every individual member of our great Fraternity will gladly assent , inasmuch as it will be an embodiment of all those sentiments of fealty and love which we are accustomed to hear on every occasion when members of

" ye mystic tie" assemble either for labour or refreshment . Tho details of the proposed scheme are as yet , of course

unmatured , and it is requested from the highest authorities that members of Lodges under the jurisdiction of Grand Lodge , both at home and abroad , should consider the proposal that has been shadowed forth , and communicate the result of their deliberations as early as possible to headquarters .

We repeat we have no desire to treat otherwise than " confidential" the circular issued by our Pro Grand Master , or to prompt the brethren as to any course they should pursue in relation to it . But , inasmuch as tbe

document is now in the hands of Worshipful Masters of Lodges , and has been read to thousands of our brethren everywhere , it is impossible to avoid reference to it in these columns , and we do so in cordial appreciation of the general

outlines which have been imparted to the Craft for their serious consideration . There can be little doubt that such a concensus of opinion will be returned by the various sections of our Order as will materially assist tho Executive in

framing a comprehensive and satisfactory arrangement for carrying their design into execution ; and it may be expected that the " Masonic Commemoration " of the Jubilee

will form an item in the national programme as strikingly magnificent as it will be distinctive . One portion of the plan submitted is that an admission fee of from one to two