The Jubilee Commemoration.

THE JUBILEE COMMEMORATION .

THB issue of a second circular by the Pro Grand Master the Earl of Carnarvon , respecting the manner in which Her Majesty ' s Jubilee should be commemorated by English Freemasons , is an indication that no time has

been lost in bringing that laudable project into working order . There was no necessity this time to make the communication " confidential , " and we ventured to suggest when the January circular was issued that it was ill-advised

to address it to the Masters of Lodges in any such ambiguous form . The impolicy of that step , however , was speedily seen and rectified , so that the circular was then placed unreservedly in the hands of the brethren of the Craft ,

and has since been fully considered and well thought out in most Lodges within the jurisdiction of the United Grand Lodge . It is no matter for surprise to find , as a result of the consensus of opinion which was invited , and which has been expressed , that the proposed celebration

has met with the unanimous approval of every section of English Freemasonry . We should have been not only disappointed , but astounded , had it been otherwise . The members of an Ancient and Honourable Institution , whose

watchword is " Loyalty to the Throne and Devotion to the Craft , " could not fail to recognise the proposal to mark the Jubilee year of their illustrious Patroness with anything but unanimous enthusiasm . In every county in the

United Kingdom—nay , we go so far as to believe in every town in which a Masonic Lodge has " a local habitation and a name "—the auspicious event will be celebrated by a special festival of some kind or other ; and our beloved

Sovereign may rest assured , if indeed any such assurance were needed , that by no body of her subjects will the Jubilee of her benign reign be more loyally and joyfully celebrated than by the solid and compact phalanx of men

who bow allegiance to her august son our Most Worshipful Grand Master . The manner in which the epoch is to be celebrated by private Lodges , in the Metropolis and throughout the Provinces , has assumed as diversified a character as the hundred and one other schemes in process

of development outside the pale of the Craft . Already we know of arrangements being actively carried on by committees of various London Lodges to make the occasion one in which their female friends may be

permitted to have a pleasurable participation in tbe Jubilee rejoicings . Wives and sisters , and sweethearts of ^ our brethren are even now cherishing golden visions of cosy pic-nics in sequestered nooks where flowers

abound and the trees are resonant of singing birds . With happy reminiscences of such reunions in years gone by it is no wonder that they should be on the tiptoe of pleasurable anticipation in regard to the extended scale in which the Jubilee entertainments are sure to be carried

out . Of course , in connection with any out-door festivities the weather is an important factor ; but there is little reason to apprehend that in the "leafy month of June " that ubiquitous individual the Clerk of the Weather will

go upon the spree , and leave Jupiter Pluvius and " rude Boreas blustering railer" to mar the pleasures of the Jubilee festivities . In some parts of the country , where the change of air and scene , the sight of fair fields

ana tbe music of gurgling streams , are not so deliciously welcome as to the pent-up Londoner , because of their accustomed familiarity , we hear of balls and parties and

The Jubilee Commemoration.

conversaziones in prospect , as a means of celebrating the event ; and , although it seems to us in town somewhat " unseasonable" to hold in-door entertainments in the sultry summer time , yet , by taking the inverse order of

things , we can readily understand that our country friends , who have fewer opportunities of participating in such gatherings than we enjoy in the metropolis , will find in

them far more real relaxation and pleasure than in picnicing on the greensward and dancing in a marquee . At any rate , the Jubilee of Victoria the Good has struck a chord which will vibrate throughout the whole of our Masonic ranks , and both in town and country will

reverberate the notes of hearty and loyal enthusiasm from the thousands who are ranged under the banner of our Order , and all who are near and dear to them .

± > ut , apart trom this general aspect or tne commemoration , our attention is drawn to the circular above alluded to , and which is now in the hands of the Masters of Lodges everywhere in the kingdom . It is , of course , a fact virtually accomplished that there shall be a great meeting of English Freemasons held in London this summer , under

the presidency of His Royal Highness the Most Worshipfnl Grand Master , when an address of congratulation to Her Majesty will be agreed to , and ordered to be formally presented to the Queen . It is further suggested that a commemoration jewel shall be instituted , which all Masons

who are subscribing members of some English Lodge on the 20 th June 1887 shall be entitled to wear . We need not weary our readers by commenting upon these portions of the Pro Grand Master ' s manifesto , for they were very exhaustively considered in these columns some weeks ago .

. But it is due to repeat that tne proposal to noid a great representative gathering of English Masons in the metropolis is one that could not possibly fail to have met with the approbation and welcome of the entire Craft ; and we ventured at tbe outset to predict that the idea was one

which would be at once grasped as a laudable one bj every member of the Fraternity . In his former circular the Pro Grand Master explained that the arrangements for the meeting in London could not then be made , but that ifc appeared appropriate and desirable that a considerable fund should be raised on that occasion in

behalf of our three Masonic Charities , and that an admission fee should be charged for this object , by means of tickets obtained beforehand through the Masters of the various Lodges . Earl Carnarvon now informs the brethren that it has since been decided by His Boyal Highness the Most Worshipful Grand Master that the meeting in i •111 1 111- 1 * 1 * 11 i TT 11 1 * it suaii neia in /

question oe me uoerc nan , during tho week commencing on the 13 th of June next , and that the fee for the ticket of admission thereto shall be one guinea , the proceeds going to the three Masonic Charities as proposed . It is , unfortunately , as yet impracticable to name the exact day , which will , however , be notified as

soon as it is possible to do so . As the accommodation , which necessarily varies in different parts of the hall , will not permit of more than five brethren being present from each Lodge , it is requested that Masters will

transmit to the Grand Secretary before the 10 th of May the actual number of tickets , not exceeding thafc number , required , accompanied by a remittance of one guinea for each ticket . It is almost to be regretted that a larger building than the Albert Hall could not

have been secured for this memorable event—one that certainly has no precedent , nor in all probability will it