Field-Marshal Bro. Earl Roberts, Kg.

FIELD-MARSHAL BRO . EARL ROBERTS , KG .

Field-Marshal Lord Roberts , whom on the occasion of his visit to the Queen at Osborne on Wednesday on his return from South Africa , her Majesty was pleased to create an Earl of the United Kingdom with special remainder , and to confer upon him the vacant Garter in recognition of his latest military

services , has been a member of our Order for upwards of 45 years , but it will be readily understood that so distinguished a soldier , who has been on active service during nearly the whole

of his long career , can have had but little leisure to devote to the duties of Masonry . His lordship was initiated in the Kyber Lodge , No . 5 8 3 , Peshawur , in 1853 , and a few years later was elected and installed its W . M ., while in 18 55 he was exalted

Field-Marshal Bro. Earl Roberts, Kg.

to . the Royal Arch Degree in the Border Chapter attached to his mother lodge , and meeting in the same city . In 1895 his Royal Highness the M . W . G . Master appointed him

to the chair of S . G . Warden , and on his lordship advancing to the dais for the purpose of being invested , the reception accorded him was most enthusiastic . The exigencies of military service have , as we have said , prevented Lord Roberts

from engaging actively in Masonic pursuits , but while in South Africa he attended some of our lodge meetings , and we are g lad to be in a position to announce that though the actual day has

not been fixed , his lordship has accepted an invitation to dine with the Jubilee Masters' Lodge , No . 2712 . For fuller particulars we must refer our readers to the report which appears in another column , or to Bro . J . D . Langton , P . Dep . G . D . C , the Secretary .

Ireland.

Ireland .

THE PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTERSHIP OF ANTRIM . FORTHCOMING INSTALLATION OF BRO . THE EARL OF SHAFTESBURY .

A grand Masonic ceremonial of more than ordinary interest will take place in Belfast on the 15 th instant , the occasion being that of the installation of Bro . the Right Hon . the Earl of Shaftesbury as Prov . G . Master of the Province of Antrim . The last ceremonial of a similar kind in this city was the installation of the Most Hon . the Marquis of Hertford as Prov . G . Master , in the month of October , 1889 , on which occasion a grand banquet

was given by the Masonic body in the Ulster Hall . Bro . the Marquis of Donegall , who was installed as Prov . G . Master of Antrim in the year 1864 , was , on his death , succeeded by Bro . Sir Charles Lanyon , D . L ., a most distinguished and deservedly popular member of the Masonic Fraternity , and the position of Prov . G . Master on his death was filled by the appointment , in the year 1889 , of Bro . the Marquis of Hertford , who is

now retiring from office , after a period of 11 years' zealous service in that exalted position . The gift of the dignity of Prov . G . Master is the especial prerogative of his Grace the Duke of Abercorn , M . W . G . Master of Ireland , and the lot has fallen most worthily upon Bro . the Earl of Shaftesbury , who resides in their midst , and who promises to become exceedingly popular among his brethren of the important Masonic province of Antrim .

Ireland.

A special communication of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Antrim will be convened on the 15 th instant in the Exhibition Hall , Botanic Avenue , at 4 p . m . At this meeting the Duke of Abercorn will preside as M . W . Grand Master of Ireland , and he will be attended by the R . W . Deputy Grand

Master , Sir James Creed Meredith , LL . D ., and officers of the Grand Lodge of Ireland . The newly-appointed Provincial Grand Master will then be formally installed with the customary ceremonial by the Duke of Abercorn , and having been duly saluted , the Provincial Grand Lodge will be closed .

Later in the evening a grand banquet will be given in the Ulster Hall , under the auspices of the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , Bro . R . J . Hilton , J . P ., and the officers and members of the Prov . Grand Lodge of Antrim , in honour of the installation of the Earl of Shaftesbury , and at this banquet the Duke of Abercorn will preside . The hall will be gaily

and handsomely decorated for the occasion , and the arrangement of the tables will be similar to that of the banquet recently given to General Sir George White . The balcony has been specially reserved for the use of ladies , who will be supplied with refreshments in the Ulster Minor Hall during the evening .

Arrangements have also been made for an orchestral band to be in attendance on the occasion , and a choice vocal musical programme has been prepared to enliven the intervals between the various toasts . The members of the Order will appear at the banquet in full Masonic costume , representing the various Degrees of Freemasonry .

The Ulster Hall will , therefore , on this occasion present a spectacle more than usually gay and imposing ; and there can be little doubt that the muster will be a large one , as such an opportunity rarely presents itself to the Fraternity in the northern province of Ireland . We understand that special arrangements are to be made with regard to late trains to suit the brethren attending the banquet .