The Address To The Queen.

prominent members of the Craft , who had travelled from all parts of the Empire in order to take part in the demonstration , amongst whom were representatives of the eighteen Red Apron Lodges , which have the exclusive

privilege of sending Grand Stewards to the annual Festivals . The Stewards , who carried wands of office , wore elaborate and brilliant clothing , and the green

aprons and collars of the Scotch and Irish Lodges formed a striking contrast to the purple and gold of the Officers of the Provincial Graod Lodges and the predominating blue of the majority of the brethren .

During the interval that elapsed before the arrival of the Grand Master a selection of mttsio was played on the orgau , by Bro . Sir Arthur Sullivan . A few minutes before four o'clock a flourish of trumpets sounded as the signal of the arrival of the Most Worshipful Grand Master , and

all was then a flatter of interesting excitement within the crowded hall . A procession , as set out in the order of the day , was then formed and walked from the grand entrance down the centre of the hall to the dais . Round after round

of cheering greeted the appearance of the Prince of Wales , who looked remarkably well and was in excellent spirits , aud was evidently highly delighted with the spectacle

¦ which met his gaze . His Royal Highness repeatedly acknowledged the salutations with which he was greeted , and which were continued until he took his seat on the

Throne . On his right was His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught , looking in excellent health , in spite of his recent journey home from India , to be present at his

Royal Mother ' s Jubilee ; the Pro Grand Master the Earl of Carnarvon ; the Maharajah of Kuch-Behar , in a sumptuous costume of purple velvet embroidered with gold ; Bro . Shackleton , Q . C ., Deputy G . M . of Ireland ; Lord Methnen , and Lord Wolseley . On the left of the Throne

sat His Royal Highness Prince Albert Victor , Senior Grand Warden , who had just returned from Gibraltar , to attend the Jubilee festivities ; the Deputy Grand Master , the Earl of Lathom ; General Dominis of Hawaii ; the

Earl of Rosslyn , Deputy Grand Master of Scotland ; Lord Leigh , Lord Suffield , General J . Studholme Brownrigg , Sir Daniel Gooch , & c . & c . The banners of the Grand

Lodge and of the M . W . G . M ., which had been carried in the procession , were placed at the side of the Throne , and assisted in completing what at the moment was a splendid

sight . All being ready . The Most Worshipful Grand Master , who was loudly

cheered on rising , said : — Brethren , —This is , I think , one of the largest gatherings of Freemasons I have ever seen , with the exception of that which took p lace at the time you conferred on me the high honour of Installing me as yonr Grand Master . It is most gratifying to me , and I am sure

it will also be to the Qaeen , that so large a gathering as the one assembled here to-day has taken place for the purpose of doing honour to her on the anniversary of her succession to the Throne . It will be a proof to her , as it is to me , of the great devotion and loyalty to the Throne manifested by the Free and Accepted Masons

of England . We are met here to-day to vote an Address to the Qaeen , congratulating her on having attained tbe fiftieth anniversary of her reign . Yon are well aware that my ancestors , former Sovereigns of England , have always done all they conld to -rapport Masonry , for they knew that , thongh we are a secret

Society , we are not a dangerous one . Among oar tenets and onr mottoes loyalty and philanthropy are two of which we are especially prond . It is most gratifying to me , as I said before , to see so large

•o important , and BO influential a gathering , and I am sure that in tbe events which are about to take plnce to celebrate the Jubilee of the Queen this meeting , in the Albert Hall , of Freemasons will stand one of tbe first on the list .

The Address of Congratulation to Her Majesty on the attainment of her Jubilee was then read by the Grand Secretary ( Bro . Shadwell H . Clerke ) , and was greeted ¦ with unbounded enthusiasm . The Address , which was

beautifully illuminated on vellum , and has the seal of the Grand Lodge attached to it , was enclosed in a casket of choice design , surmounted by the Imperial crown , the monogram V . I . R . and two medallions , one being a

portrait of Her Majesty , and the other a representation of the Arms of the United Grand Lodge , together with a scroll containing the words " Jubilee , June 1837—June

1887 . " Each of the corners is d- corated with a gold plate , having the Rose , Shamrock and Thistle , and the Square and Compasses engraved therein . The test of the Address was as follows : —

« To THE QUEEN ' S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY . " We your Majesty's loyal and dntifol subjects , the Free and Accepted Masons under the United Grand Lodge of England , most respectfully desire to approach the Throne , on the auspicious

The Address To The Queen.

occasion of your Mnj- » sty having oompleted the fiftieth year of your reun over the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , to assure yonr Majesty of our fervent and unabated attachment to your Majesty's Throne and Boyal person . " Founded , as our ancient Institution is , on principles of unswerving

loyalty to our Sovereign , and fidelity to our country—we rejoice to think that the great increase of our Order in all parts of your Majesty's dominions is in unison with the welfare of the notion and the maintenance of the established institutions of the land—whioh it will ever be our earnest desire to preserve inviolate .

' * We would humbly express our gratitude to the Great Architect of the Universe for having spared your Majesty to reign over these realms for eo extended a period , and we pray that He may continue to preserve your Majesty to rule with that full Sovereignty which affection can alone ensnre the hearts of your faithful snbjeots , and more especially of the Fraternity which we to-day represent .

" May the Almighty vouchsafe to your Majesty a long and happy continuance of your reign over a loyal and devoted people . " Dated , at tbe Boyal Albert Hall , London , thia 13 th day of Jnne 1887 . " ALBERT EDWARD , Grand Master . "SHADWELL H . CLKKKE , Grand Secretary . "

The Earl of Carnarvon , in moving the adoption of the Address , said : —

Most Illustrious Grand Master , your Boyal Highnesses , aud Brethren , —I hold it no light honour that you have been pleased to confer npon me in asking me to move the adop ' ion of thifl Address to Her Majesty the Qneen . It is carried , Sir , already by acclamation , and in moving it I can best b * gio by repeating your Royal Highnesa ' s

words . I see around me representatives from every pare of the civilised world , for it is the prerogative of Masonry that it has branches in every part of the globe . But whilst it has been alleged —I care not with how much truth—against some bianohes of our Order that they have been the friends of revolution , and the enemies

of government , as you have truly said to-day , in English Freemasonry order and law and loyalty to onr Sovereign are the pillars of our ancient Institution . Yonr Royal Highness alluded to those of your ancestors who have been patrons of the Craft . I believe , if I am not mistaken , that there have been 17 Princes of tbe Blood Boyal

of England who have belonged to Freemasonry . May I go a Btep further , and remind yon that Her M » J 4 Sty the Qneen is the daughter of a Freemason , that her uncles have been Freemasons , that her Royal sons are Freemasons , and that she has also a grandson in tbe Order . I might remind this great assembly of the vast increase in

Freemasonry during the reign of her Majesty , and I might remind them of the great inciease which has resulted from yonr Royal Tlighness ' s reign . But on this occasion our hearts rather turn to the wearer of the English Crown to assure her of the loyalty and devotion of Freemasons , to assure ber that amongst the millions of

her subjects who own her sway , whether amongst rich or poor , there are none who are animated by more henrtfelt loyal devoteduess to her Throne than the Freemasons of England . Yonr Boyal Highness spoke of tbe fiftieth year of the Queeu ' s reign . Fifty years tire not to be lightly spoken of . There are but three Sovereigns in English

history who have raled for half a century , all names tbat recall great woiks , tbe Thid Henry , tbe Third Edward , the Third George . It is a long period in the life of an individual , and even in the life of a nation when measured by such events as have crowded the history of the last half-century—dangers threatened , successes achieved ,

troubles passed through , and reforms accomplished . Above all , we have seen daring those last fifty years thrones crumbled to tbe dust , dynasties overthrown , old kingdoms disappear , new kingdoms created , storms sweeping over the face of the world , and the map of Europe remodelled . At home We have been at peace . We celebrate

to-day the Jubilee of the beneficial rule of that delicate hand that has presided over the government of England . We have seen industrial progress moving with gk-antic strides ; we have seen science passing into depths which we had never suspected before ; and we have seen social changes which , I hope and would fain believe ,

have made men and women better and happier than they were before . Iu England we have , in fact , seen parties united , and across the seas we have seen an Empire greater than any over which the eagles of Rome ruled , greater than any in fabulous story , built up by the sturdy hands and hearts of Englishmen . It is ft

marvellous picture , and if some shadows occasionally pass over the scene tbey simply warn ns that we are mortal , and that we hold the lease of onr Imperial life on the same conditions as individuals hold theirB , the conditions of well-doing . During all this time there has been one central figure . There have been Party watchwords , and

Party cries , there have been Ministers many , and great policies which have attracted attention , but they can all pass , and some of them have passed almost ont of the world . But tbe Queen of England has been through them all ; she has remained our great central figure , to which the hearts and affections of her subjects have year

by year more and more attached themselves , and whose influence has constantly grown . Her sway in public and in private life has no equal , as Sovereign on the Tbroue and as the first lady of tbe land . And this I can say with absolute truth , tbat there has never been any great movement of kindliness , of haman charity , and sym .

pathy in this country which has not received support aud help from our gracious Sovereign . Sir , in conclusion , I will only echo the last words of that address , and assure your Royal Highness , from the bottom of our hearts , that we all pray that God , tbe great King of aud of

kin ^ s Lord lords , the Great Architect of the Universe , may continue iu Hi 3 keeping , and preserve for many years to rule over her faithful people , in happiness and prosperity , the Queen of England . The Earl of Lathom in seconding the resolution , said -. —