The Royal Visit To Brighton.

by the other ; and our Grand Master in his speeches touched the kevstore of sympathy of all when he declared that while Freemasonry confined itself to its grand

principles of Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth , and free from the entanglements of religion and polities , it wns " bound to flourish throughout the realms of Her Most Gracious

Miijesty the Queen . " Every credit is dne to the brethren upon whose shoulders devolved the duty of making the arrangements necessary for so important an event . On the arrival of the procession at the Pavillion grounds a

numerous company , consisting principally of ladies , attired in the prettiest summer costumes , had taken up " coigns o ' vantage" whence a view of tho approach could be commanded , and the scene presented was of the most

picturesque and animated description . Tho guard of honour was appropriately supplied by the 1 st Sussex ( Brighton ) Volunteers , under the command of Bro . Captain Hallett , arid the band of the regiment kept up a running fire of

excellent music prior to the arrival of tbe guests . The Prince of Wales , the Duke of Connau *? ht , and Prince Albert Victor , with their attendants , alighted at the main entrance to the Pavilion , and some little time was spent

there in clothing for the cererao-ny of the day . Soon after after half-past twelve the Royal party , with a perfect galaxy of Grand and Provincial Grand Officers , crossed in procession from the Pavilion rooms to the Dome , amidst

strains of martial music , the whole of the brethren being uncovered wifch the exception of the Grand Master , who frequently raised hie hat in acknowledgment of tho waving of handkerchiefs by the ladies and other demonstrations

of loyal feeling . Inside the Pavilion , the whole of the property of which had been placed at the disposal of the Craffc , the seene was one of imposing and picturesque grandeur . Tbe Committee , which included the Provincial

Grand Officers of Sussex for the year , and the Worshipful Masters of tbe twenty-five Lodges in the Province , had furnished and embellished the apartments in a sumptuous manner , befitting the occasion , the details being carried out

by a sub-Committee , consisting of Brothers J . Henderson Scott , Gerard Ford , J . M . Kicld , C . J . Smith , V . P . Freeman Provincial Grand Secretary , and B . Burfield Assistant Provincial Grand Secretary . The entrance hall

and vestibule were embowered wifch a perfect parterre of flowers , foliage plants and ferns , whilst the corridors and entrances to the Dome were draped with old gold lace curtains , and rich blue lace draperies . The staircases at

both ends of the corridor were veiled by large mirrors , in which were reflected pretty groups of flowering and foliage plants of dazzling colour and beauty . Provincial Grand Lodge was fitted and appointed in the most

approved manner for the carrying out of the ceremonial , of which a report is given elsewhere in our columns , and it is only necessary for our readers to glance over the names of the most prominent

and distinguished Officers present to enable them to form an idea of the magnificent and imposing spectacle that was presented when Prov . Grand Lod ge had assembled . The Grand Lodge Officers in their splendid regalia and

resplendent jewels filled the orchestra , forming a coup iVceil such as has perhaps only been surpassed once , namely—at the Installation of our Grand Master himself , at the Royal Albert Hall , in 1875 . To say that the ceremony was

perfectly rendered would be to make use of a trite and hackneyed phrase to those who can realise the character and composition of such an assemblage ; even those who were not present can readily form an idea of the effect

which such a gathering must inevitably have produced . On being proclaimed and saluted with the customary Masonic honours , a flourish of trumpets echoed the fact that the Duke had been duly installed as Provincial Grand

Master of Sussex . The investiture of Prov . Grand Officers was then proceeded with , and the ceremony , which lasted about an hour and a half , was concluded with the ancient rites so familiar to , and appreciated by , the Craft .

It was no matter for surprise that the event should have produced quite a flutter of pleasant excitement amongst the brethren of the Province of Sussex , for no appointment could bave been presented to them so agreeable to their

feelings than that of the Earl of Sussex as the successor of the late lamented Sir Walter Burrell , whose decease in February last caused so wide and genuine a sense of regret .

There is , of course , something peculiarly appropriate in fche Duke of Connaught holding the office of head of the Masonic body of Sussex , and it calls vividly to mind the services rendered to the Order by the First Duke of Sussex

The Royal Visit To Brighton.

during the thirty years he held the position of G . Master . The first Royal Duko of Sussex was initiated at the close of the last century , and was elected errand Master on the resignation of the Prince Regent in 1813 . In that year he

united under him all the Freemasons in England , and the Craffc made stead y progress , though of course little in comparison with the strides it has made since the accession to the supreme Head of our present Mosfc Worshipful Grand Master the Prince of Wales . As soon as the date of the

installation was fixed there was an eager solicitation for tickets , aud thus the assemblage was of the most numerous and representative character ever witnessed in this part of England . All parts of the United Kingdom and , indeed ,

the Dependencies of the British Crown were represented , and in its general conception and management the ceremony and attendant rejoicings were carried out in the most splendid , dignified , and befitting manner . The

luncheon which followed was a pattern of elegance , luxury , and refinement , and the after speeches , though brief , were interesting , as reflecting the credit that was justly due to the hospitality of the Province of Sussex , and the excellence

of the arrangements made by the Prov . Grand Officers and all b y whom they were associated . After the departure of the Royal visitors a garden party , on a mosfc extensive and

recherche scale , was given in the Pavilion Gardens , the varied character of the entertainment furnishing a most enjoyable finale to a day of bright and conspicuous splendour and interest in the annals of Sussex Freemasonry .

A Suggestion.

A SUGGESTION .

WHILST all Sussex is tingling with the glow of enthusiasm and satisfaction aroused by the installation of his Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught as its Provincial Grand Master , a thought occurs to us , in view of the Anniversary Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution

for Boys , which is to be held next week at Brighton , under the presidency of Lord Suffield . Not onl y were the whole of the twenty-nine Lodges in the Province represented at the stirring event of last Tuesday , but members of the

Craft from all parts of the Kingdom and many of the Colonies were also present ; and , seeing that the Boys ' Festival is so speedily to follow , at the same town and place , what better or more fitting opportunity to immortalise the

occasion than to seal it by some lasting memento of the Duke ' s acceptance of office , by raising a permanent addition to the funds of theBoys' School , the Festival of which is fixed to take place on Wednesday next ? We venture to suggest to

the brethren of the Province that a more graceful or practical outcome of Tuesday ' s gathering could not be imagined than that some substantial aid should be ensured to the approaching Festival , nor one that would give more real

and genuine satisfaction to the executive of the Institution at Wood Green , who are not too " strong " in funds at the present time . Surely amongst the " two thousand " distinguished members of the Craft who were privileged

to be present on the occasion we have described there might be found a sufficient number to subscribe collectivel y a sum amounting , at any rate , to a thousand pounds , in

order to create a fund which might be appropriately entitled the " Sussex p ile , " or perhaps better still the " Connaught pile , " in honour of the recently-installed Provincial Grand Master , whereby the Province could

secure a " Perpetual Presentation " to the Boys' School . Lord Suffield , the Right Wor . Provincial Grand Master for Norfolk , has not only kindly consented to preside over

the Brighton Festival , but also at the Annual Distribution of prizes amongst " Our Boys" at Woodgreen to-day ; and it may not be beyond the bounds of possibility—his Lordship being a personal friend of our

M . W . Grand Master and of the Dnke of Connaught—that one of those illustrious Rulers of the Craft mighfc be able to spare a brief space , amidst their multitudinous engagements , to pay another , though flying , visit to Brighton in

connection with the Boys Festival . Of course , we do not lose sig ht of the lavish and unstinted hospitality extended by our brethren in Sussex to the large number of visitors who crowded into Brighton , on their invitation , last

Tuesday . The splendid reception accorded to them must have involved no inconsiderable expense , both individually and collectively ; bufc in order to signalize the event , which was undoubtedly the most momentous and auspicious that has

ever graced the Province , would it not be a grand result