Grand Festival.

Monckton and the other members of the Building Committee for the great artistic skill they had displayed and the success which had attended their efforts . When that great loss occurred two years ago , much anxiety prevailed as to what was the best course to pursue , but it culminated in the appointment of Sir John Monckton and a Building Committee , and he was

certain they had an arduous and anxious task to perlorm . How they had performed " it the brethren could best judge . He was quite sure that all the brethren thoroughly appreciated the efforts which the Committee had used and the success which had attended those efforts . It was no light matter to

restore a building which had been built and decorated many , many years ago , and which was well worthy of those who had then decorated it ; but he thought they might congratulate the members of the Building Committee on the skill they ' had shown and the taste they had displayed . He moved that the best thanks of Grand Lodge be given to Bro . Sir John Monckton , and the other members of the Building Committee , and also to Bro . Horace Jones , Grand Superintendent of Works , for the skill and ability with which they had carried out the trust imposed on them of restoring and redecorating the Hall after its destruction by fire two years ago .

Bro . BARON DE FERRIERES , M . P ., P . G . D ., in seconding the resolution , said he was sure that the very appropriate , yet modest terms in which Sir John Monckton had presented the restored Temple on behalf of the Building Committee must commend itself to every brother present . The wonder must be that the work had been done in so short a time . Those

brethren who attended last Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge would remember that even then the walls were not painted and the hall was a long way from being complete . It showed that Masohry could effect anything . When they considered what a long time it took to complete other buildings it was astonishing how short a time had been occupied in finishing the present hall . he to be

The Earl of LATHOM said that before putting the vote begged allowed to offer his congratulations to Sir John Monckton and the Building Committee on the great success of their work . He was sure that all the brethren were to be congratulated when they found themselves once more in their old home , not a new one , but looking as if it was fresh from the builders' hands . But more especially he wished to congratulate the Building Committee , and the Grand Superintendent of Works especially , on the Hall That

skill they had shown in adding to the accommodation of the . was , he thought , especially needed , and he was much pleased to see that above loo more brethren could be accommodated . Many of the brethren must have felt the inconvenience of want of space at the meetings of Grand Lodge . This was his first visit since its restoration , and he must say that the work was admirable and successful . It was not only artistic as regarded the building and decorations , but in the way the portraits had been restored , and he heartily congratulated all the brethren who had been concerned

in it . The vote was carried unanimously , and with loud applause . Sir J . B . MONCKTON , in the name of himself and the Building Committee , thanked the brethren for the vote . The Earl of LATHOM moved that the vote be engrossed on vellum , signed by the Grand Master , and presented to Sir J . B . Monckton and the Grand Superintendent of Works . Sir F . BURDETT seconded the motion , which was duly carried .

The minutes of the last Quarterly Communication , so far as regarded the election of the Grand Master , were then read , and Sir ALBERT W . WOODS ( Garter ) , G . D . C , then proclaimed H . R . H . the Prince of Wales rc-instalfcd as M . W . G . M . The Earl of LATHOM then announced that the Prince of Wales had reappointed the Earl of Carnarvon Pro Grand Master , and himself ( the Earl of Lathom ) , Deputy Grand Master . The following brethren were then invested as Grand Officers for the

year : — Bro . the Marquis of Hertford ... ... G . S . W . _ , Col . Sackville West ... ... G . J . W .

„ The Rev . Canon Portal ... ... G . Chap . „ The Rev . R . N . Sanderson ... ... G . Chap . „ Major John Woodall ... ... G . Treas . „ F . A . Philbrick , Q . C . ... ... G . Reg . „ Col . Shadwell H . Clerke ... ... G . Sec . „ E . E . Wendt , D . C . L . ... ... ... G . Sec . Ger . Cor . Alfred Meadows ... ... G . S . D .

„ „ John Watson ... ... ... •¦• G . S . D . „ R . Collier Driver ... ... G . J . D . „ F . Hastings Goldney ... ... •¦• G . J . D . „ Horace Jones ... ... ... G . Supt . of Wks . Sir Albert W . Woods ( Garter ) ... ... G . D . C .

„ „ Dr . John H . Paul ... ... ... G . D . D . C . „ Major Charles Harding ... ... ••¦ G . A . D . C . „ Charles Hammerton ... ... G . Swd . Br . .. Rntlfir Wilkins ... ... ... G . Std . Br .

„ George P . Brockbank ... ... ... G . Std . Br . „ E . M . Lott ... ... ... G . Org . „ Henry Garrod ... ... ••¦ G . P . „ A . Lucking ... ... ... ... G . A . P . . ; Henrv Sadler ... ... ... ... G . Tyler .

GRAND SECRETARY read the following list of Grand Stewards for the year : Bros . George Hughes , Charles Baxter Cousens , A . Taylor Day , George Ratcliff Steel , John Armytage Batley , Wm . James Ford , Baldomerodu Bertodans Lopez , Frederick Thos . Rushton , Edgar Figgess , Robert C . Grant , T . W . Chard Lenty , J . W . Robinson , Edward Terry , George Pitt Lewis , Arthur Josling , Thomas A . Logan , Henry Sutherland ,

M . D ., and Charles Barry . Grand Lodge was then closed . At the Grand Festival which followed , at Freemasons' Tavern , a large company sat down to a choice banquet , provided with great liberality by the Grand Stewards . The Earl of Lathom presided . In giving the toast of " Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen , " the CHAIRMAN said : I give you the health of her Majesty the Queen , the patron of our Order . The toast was drunk with enthusiasm , and was followed by the

National Anthem . The CHAIRMAN , in giving the toast of " The Princess of Wales and the other Members of the Royal Family , " said : The mere . name of the Princess of Wales will provoke a cheer among all Englishmen . It invariably does so whenever we as Masons meet in England . We congratulate her Royal Highness on having returned safe from her visit to the sister isle . This toast is put down rather as an un-Masonic toast , but it bears strong

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Masonic elements in it . In the first place we have the Duke of Connaught as a Mason ; in the second place we have enrolled on our list very recently as initiated an Entered Apprentice in this country , his Royal Highness Prince Albert Victor . I think that our Order is largely indebted to the Royal Family for belongingtous and upholding us , and I think that in their doing so lies a great portion of our strength in the future .

The CHAIRMAN : I now have to propose to you the toast of this evening . This is the Festival of Grand Lodge , but I think we may more properl y call it the Festival of the re-elections of H . R . H . our Grand Master . It Is impossible for any Mason who watches the events of his Royal Highness ' s life to see how he continually , at a great expense of time , and with great difficulty to himself , contrived to attend Masonic meetings here and there

That it would be otherwise it was impossible for anyone to expect . His Royal Highness ' s avocations were so numerous , and he was so much enengaged in performing every possible duty , that it was impossible for him to give more than its fair share to Masonry . His Royal Highness gave Masonry its fair share of his time , and he most heartily and thoroughl y entered into His Hi

Masonry . Royal ghness had had the intention of being present that evening , but his very recent return — his happy return from the sister isle , and the quantity of business he found waiting for him on his arrival , had prevented his being with the brethren , but he ( the Earl of Lathom ) had not the- slightest doubt that , though he was not among the brethren in person , he was there in his heart .

The Earl of LATHJM next proposed "The Earl of Carnarvon , Pro G . M ., " who the brethren knew was a true Mason , and who would have been present but for a previous engagement . Bro . BEACH , in proposing "The Earl of Lathom , Deputy Grand Master , " said the acclamation which greeted the announcement of the reappointment of the Deputy Grand Master was sufficient indication of the

popularity which attached to his name . Those brethren in the county palatine where the Earl of Lathom ruled—one of the most important provinces of England—could well appreciate the manner in which he discharged thc duties of his office , and all the brethren knew when he came to preside in that hall , and appreciated fully the geniality and the ability with which he did so . It was sufficient to say that whatever Masonic duty was assigned to him he performed it with courtesy and ability .

The Earl of LATHOM , in response , said he was much flattered by the kind words of Bro . Beach , and he only wished he thoroughly deserved them . He could only say that , as far as in him lay as Deputy Grand Master of England , he would always endeavour to do his duty . It was not often that he appeared among the brethren ; in fact , it was about a triennial arrangement . The Grand Master occasionally honoured them , Lord Carnarvon

occasionally honoured them ; and therefore he ( the Earl of Lathom ) came in third ; but whenever he came he was very glad to meet all the brethren . He then proposed " The Provincial Grand Masters . " It was true that without these brethren the Grand Master could do nothing . He had the good fortune to have Col . Starkie , of East Lancashire , by his side , who installed him ( the Earl of Lathom ) in West Lancashire . Next to him he

had the pleasure of seeing the last recruit to the ranks of Provincial Grand Masters—Bro . Tew , of West Yorkshire . Bro . Beach was too well known tothe brethren to require a word . When they looked round the country and saw the brethren on whom the Grand Master ' s choice had fallen , they would think he had most admirably done his work , and provided most excellent Provincial Grand Masters .

Col . STARKIE , in reply , said the brethren might rest assured that he spoke the feelings of all the Prov . Grand Masters when he said they all took a deep interest in their work . He was deeply indebted for the trust reposed in him , and all the Prov . Grand Masters would endeavour to the best of their ability to fulfil it with honour and esteem . The country brethren were

always to be found performing the good work of Masonry . He took that opportunity of expressing the thanks of the Prov . Grand Masters for the arrangements of the Building Committee in restoring and re-decorating the Temple . Long might all the brethren live to meet in it , to be true to the Order , true to its principles , and loyal to their chief .

The Earl of LATHOM next gave "The Grand Wardens and the other Grand Officers , Present and Past . " The toast was one that signified more than generally appeared to the public eye . It meant that the Grand Master had collected from the whole body of Masons those men he thought most capable and fit for promotion in the ranks of Masonry . This occasion was especially interesting to him , because among the number of Grand Officers

appointed that day he had the pleasure of noticing several old friends of his own . He would not be invidious , and he hoped those he did not name would not think he left them out from any disrespect . On his right he saw Canon Portal , a man whose name had been strong in Masonry for many years past , and he congratulated the Prince of Wales on having appointed

him Grand Chaplain . There was another brother appointed to office that day of whom he spoke as a Lancashire man , and it filled his heart with joy to see Bro . Brockbank appointed to office in Grand Lodge . He knew no brother who had done more for Masonry than Bro . Brockbank had done in the province of East Lancashire .

The Marquis of HERTFORD , replying , said he could assure all the brethren that all the Grand Officers very highly and thoroughly appreciated the great honour done them by the Grand Master in appointing them . If anything could make them still more thoroughly appreciate the honour it would be the terms in which this toast had been proposed , because , if he could quote the words righ t , the Deputy Grand Master saidthat all the Grand

Officers were picked out on account of their being efficient members of the Craft , therefore he thought they ought to be very proud of that . All he could say was he was a youn g Mason , of a few years' standing ; but one thing he had had thoroughly drilled into him at starting , and he should not lose sig ht of it now—that at all Masonic ban quels speeches were to be as short as possible . Therefore he should not detain the brethren , but for himself and all

the other Grand Officers he could say they thoroughly intended to do their duty during their year of office in every way they possibly could , and would advance the interests of the Craft by every means in their power . The Rev . Canon PORTAL proposed " The Ma sonic Charities , " a toast which was more essentially Masonic than any that could be introduced to the brethren ' s notice . It was well -known that there was no country m

Europe , and he supposed in the whole world , that was more distinguished for its munificent charities than England ; and in England there was no body or men who were more distinguished for their Charity than the great body ot English Freemasons . He need simply direct the brethren ' s attention to the magnificent amount of £ 23 , , which was on a very special occasion contributed to the Boys' School , and he would remi nd them that Bro . Terry succeeded in February last in getting together the magnificent sum ot £ 17 , 770 . Splendid at those sums were , he would venture most respectfully