The Late Duke Of Albany.

THE LATE DUKE OF ALBANY .

UNITED GRAND LODGE OF Iweieni , Jfrec aub ^ rccjjtcbgl ^ soits of $ nglmtb .

ON Thursday , a Special Grand Lodge was held at Freemasons' Hall , for the purpose of voting addresses of condolence and sympathy with Her Majesty the Queen , His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales Grand Master , and Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Albany , on the much resrretted death of His Royal Highness the Duko

of Albany , K . G ., Provincial Grand Master of Oxfordshire , Past Grand Warden , and to arrange for their presentation . The Earl of Carnarvon Pro Grand Master presided , Bro . W . W . Beach , M . P ., acted as Deputy Grand Master , General Brownrigg , C . B ., as Past Grand Master .

The other Grand offices were filled by the Earl of Milltown Senior Warden , Victor A . Williamson as Junior Warden , Revs . H . G . Morse and W . Oswell Thompson Chaplains , iEneas Molntyre , M . P ., Registrar , Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke Secretary , Wendt Secretary for

German Correspondence , Gooding and Devonshire Deacons , Sir Albert Woods D . C ., Bolton Deputy D . C ., Thrupp A . D . C ., Lieut .-Colonel Peters Sword Bearer , B . Bowyer Standard Bearer , Cusins Org ., Buss Assistant Sec , Littell Pursuivant , and Sadler Tyler . Among the Prov . Grand

Masters who were present were Col . Sir Francis Burdett ( Surrey ) , Sir Walter Burrell , Bart ., M . P . ( Sussex ) , Sir E . A . H . Lechmere ( Worcestershire ) , Col . J . A . Lloyd-Philipps ( South Wales West ) ; while among Past Grand Officers there were the Earl of Onslow and John Havers

Wardens ; Revs . Bent , Dr . Cox , Woodford , Hill , Dr . Sedgwick , and Martyn Chaplains ; Clabon , Rucker , Plucknett , Burney , Hughan , Wheeler , Peirce , Case , Fenn , Philips , Hutton , Richardson , Grey , Scott , Hogg , Gumbleton , Baron , Peter de Lande Long , Dumas , and Bird Deacons ;

Woodman , Greenwood and Nunn Sword Bearers ; Pigott , Lewis-Thomas and Dumas A D . C . ' s ; Willing Organist , Cubitt and Wright Pursuivants , Hyde-Clarke Rep . G . L . Columbia ,

the Marquis of Hertford , Sir Matthew White Ridley , & c . After Grand Lodge had been formally opened , the circular convening the meeting was read , and the Grand Secretary announced that he had received letters from the Earl of

Lathom and other distinguished Grand Officers , expressing regret at their inability to attend ; also their entire concurrence in the object of the meeting . The Earl of Carnarvon then rose and said : —

BRETHREN , —It becomes my duty to undertake the melancholy task of asking your concurrence in three addresses of sympathy and condolence with Her Majesty the Queen , His Koyal Higbness'tbe Grand Master , and Her Boyal Highness the Duchess of Albany . * My words need not be many on such an occasion , for there is but one thought in the minds of us all , and any expression of sympathy with those

who are suffering from tbis untimely and sudden bereavement will readil y find an echo with yon . From all parts , indeed , of the conntry , from Parliament , from the courts of quarter sessions from ohurches , from municipal assemblages , from wherever Englishmen have come together , has gone up a unanimous and very touching

sound ^ of sorrow ; and now I have to ask Grand Lodge to join them in that same public tribute of deep regret . Brethren , I need scarcel y remind you of the part that His Boyal Highness the Dnke of Albany took in Masonio affairs . When in the University of Oxford , or shortly afterwards , in the Apollo Lodge he became Worshi pful Master of tbat Lodge . He became then afterwards Junior

brand Warden of England in this Grand Lodge , and finally he became the Provincial Grand Master of Oxfordshire ; and , I believe , in each and all | of those situations he endeavoured to fulfil the duties that were incumbent upon him , as he certainly took the liveliest and most marked interest in all that concerned the welfare of the Craft . English history has more than once had occasion to lament some

young pnnce cut off in the prime and pride of life , and many students will remember the expressions of national sorrow which thoso deaths have called forth ; bnt never , I think , has there been greater sorrow telt and manifested than on this particular occasion , and never was there more real cause for it . The life of tbe Duke of Albany was a

» norc one measured by mere lapse of years ; but in tbat short period ne succeeded in making a career for himself , and leaving a mark upon his own generation . He bad many difficulties to contend with . * je was cut off b y constitutional delicacy of health from the profession of arms , and was unable to serve , as does his brother , in the naval service of the Queen . He was hindered all through life by repeated oneoks and interruptions which arose from feeble health ; and yet in spite of all that he made hia mark upon his time , and he left in the

The Late Duke Of Albany.

minds of his generation an affectionate remembrance of him ; and for this reason , that there was no good canse which lie was not ready to plead and in which he did not interest himself ; nnd whilst lie , from his stndious habits . ' and his literary tastes , knew how to throw a certain thoughtful grace around almost everything whioh he said , more than

this , over and above this , yon might always detect tho feelin ? of sympathy and the kindliuess of a true and affectionate heart ; and this , I think , it was that gave bim this hold npon his contemporaries . He has been cut off in the middle of that career , in the midst of all the promise , and has been taken away , as tho best very often are taken

away , in youth . Brethren , your sympathies will be , I am satisfied , heartily and freely accorded to those illustrious members of his family who mourn his loss—Her Majesty the Queen , onr illnstrions Grand Master the Prince of Wales , and the bereaved Widow . To all of these yon will , I am sure , join with me in proposing a heartfelt

vote of condolence and sympathy . If there be any one thing which could specially deepen your sorrow on this occasion , nnd could niako this vote even more unanimous than I know it will bo—it would be the recollection , which mnst be fresh in yonr mind , of that touching and noble letter whioh wo saw from the Qneen , published only a

few days ago . In that letter she has taken , as on former occasions also , her loving subjeots into her confidence . The duties of Kings and Queens and Princes in this generation of ours are difficult and delicate , but where they are discharged with tho affection of their subjects they become comparatively easy . That affection Her

Majesty has in no common degree , and that affection and those marks of loyalty must be her consolation in tho midst of this groat bereave , ment . Brethren , I have to ask you to agree to the three addresses , to Her Majesty the Queen , to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , the Grand Master , and Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Albany .

Bro . W . W . Beach , Provincial Grand Master Hampshire and the Isle of Wight , in seconding the motion , said : — In the absence of the Deputy Grand Master , the Earl of Lathom , I have the pleasure of seconding these resolutions . After the sentiments which the Pro Grand Master has so eloquently expressed it is

unnecessary to say much . All Englishmen mourn the loss of the Dnke of Albany , cut off in the prime of life , with snch bright promise for tbe future . He identified himself with many of tho pur . suits of Englishmen ; he gave up muoh time to literary pursuits ; and also in the cause of charity he showed himself an eloquent

advocate and assistant . But if Englishmen generally have cause to mourn his loss , we , a 3 Freemasons , have a double reason for doing ao . He took tbe most aotive interest in the welfare of our ancient Fraternity from the moment he was initiated into Freemasonry . He served an office in the Apollo Lodge , and speedily became its

Master ; and none can testify better than I am able to do to tho duties which devolve upon the Master of that Lodge—how necessary it is for him to make himself acquainted with the active working of the Craft , and to practise all those offices which were necessary for an able and accomplished Master of a Lodge to

possess . He then rose to higher distinction , but he never relinquished that active interest in tho welfare of the Craft which at the moment of his initiation he seemed to have contracted . Brethren , we need not entertain a doubt that if he had been spared to UB he would have achieved further distinction , and given greater promiao

for the future . But we must lamont bis loss , and if we do so , those who are so nearly and dearly connected with him must do so in a double , nay in a tenfold degree ; and therefore it is with the greatest gratification that I have the honour of seconding the motion that an address of condolence be presented to the Queen , one to the Grand Master , and one to the Duchess of Albany .

Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke Grand Secretary , having read the addresses , the propositions that they be severally presented was carried nem con . The Earl of Carnarvon said the Prince of Wales would sign and present the

addresses to to the Queen and the Duchess of Albany , and he ( the Eai 1 of Carnarvon ) would sign and present the address to the Prince of Wales . Grand Lodge was then closed in ample form .

PROFESSIONAL MEN IN AUSTRALIA . —It can never be too strongly insisted upon , that professional men , as a rnle , cannot get on so well in Australia as in Europe . Members of the legal profession are numerous in New South Wales , and it is necessary to success that they shonld have some knowledge of the land system of the Colony . For hard working medical men , content to bide their time , there

are plenty of openings in the country districts , and surgeons accustomed to practice in the mining or rural districts would have no difficulty in forming a connection . Schoolmasters possessing the requisite qualifications can readily obtain employment under the Department of Public Instruction , but there are comparatively few chances for those accustomed only to the work of classical

education . Clerks , book-keepers , shop assistants , and the like are not required . These form a large proportion of the unemployed in Sydney , as do the unskilled labourers . Agricultural workers and their families can always obtain employment , as can domestic servants , but farm managers , bailiffs , and superintendents have to learn

much before they are competent to undertake the charge of Colonial farms . Persons practically acquainted with the working of reapers and binders and other agricultural machinery can do well , as can almost any one having a knowledge of the principles of scientific farming .

J . K . SHA - & Co ., Wine Merchants ( Experts and Valuers ) . Well fermented old Wines and matured Spirits . 2 Albert Mansions , Victoria Street , London , S . W