United Grand Lodge Of New South Wales.

His Excellency the M . W . GRAND MASTER then rose to respond , and was received with immense enthusiasm , the company rising en masse , waving handkerchiefs , and cheering for some time . As the brethren continued standing Lord Carrington desired them to resume their seats . His Excellency then said : Worshipful Brethren and Brethren , —I thank you for your fraternal and for your hearty welcome , and I join it myself , because I

know that it is not to me as an individual , but the welcome is given to the union which we have so happily accomplished this evening . Brethren , I am not here this evening to speak of myself . No honour is due to me . I speak of those to whom honour is due . When I first came into this happy colony two of the first addresses which I received were from the brethren of the Craft . I received an address of welcome from the brethren of the

English Constitution , and that address was signed by the District Grand Master , Bro . John Williams , a man whose name will always be treated with respect in this great colony . Fidelity is his motto , and I hope and trust that his long service in this colony amongst the Craft will be rewarded by some signal mark of favour from the English Constitution . I was also honoured with an address of welcome from the Grand Lodge of New

South Wales , and it was a matter of great grief to me that I could only receive that address as an address of loyalty , and not as an address of brethren who were as much Masons as myself . Thank God , brethren , that time has gone , and gone forever . Shortly after my arrival in the colony 1 was invited to a banquet of brethren of the English Constitution , at which 600 sat down . The year after that came the Jubilee year of her Most

Gracious Majesty the Queen of England , and we had another banquet . At that banquet a hope was thrown out that , in the Jubilee year at any rate , some recognition between those two great bodies might be effected . The enthusiastic way in which that hope was received was a prognostication of the success of it . We were fortunate enough ayear afterwards to be visited by a man not less distinguished and respected in politics than he is in

Freemasonry—Bro . Lord Carnarvon . It is , perhaps , impossible to say how much the brethren in this colony owe to Lord Carnarvon . He heard of our unhappy differences , and he met Bro . Tarrant , Bro . Sedgwick , and Bro . Stokes—these three names will always remain as long as the name of New South Wales remains as shining lights of the Craft . It was arranged by Masonry , and by Masons alone , that a conference should be come to , in

the hope that our unhappy differences might for ever be buried , and I should like to read the names of the 15 brethren who were selected , and to whom the great honour and credit accrues of having brought the conference to a satisfactory conclusion . The conference consisted of Bros . Rofe , Remington , Humphrey , Larsen , Spencer , Slade , Wright , White , Vaughan , Conway , Davidson , MacLachlan , Wynne , and Henry . And as the joint Secretaries

were appointed Bros . Bray , roomey , and Higstnm . Brethren , the result of that conference we have seen to-day . There may be some—I think there are but few—who think that the result of to-day ' s meeting would be a weakening of the ties which exist , and which , I hope , will always exist , between the mother country and these great colonies . I confess , brethren , that I am not one of those . And I know from looking round at this magnificent

banquet that no brother who is seated at a table here is one of those men . Had any such idea been entertained , the great honour which has been conferred upon the Governor of this colony would not have been offered to him ; and , if there had been any idea of that sort , I unhesitatingly say that no power on earth would have induced me to accept it . But I know , brethren , the kindly feelings towards the old mother country and towards the mother

lodge which prompted you to confer this great compliment upon myself ; and with gratitude and thankfulness I accepted this great distinction . And the fact of the brethren who are here present to-night proves there cannot be a word of truth in such an idea—for we have our distinguished Bro . Captain Hammill , the senior naval officer in command of the station ; we have Bro . Douglas , of Queensland , the head of the Scottish Constitution ;

and we have Bro . Lord Haldon , an officer of one of the English District Grand Lodges . Their presence here foreshadows that our union is complete , and foreshadows the recognition which we shall shortly get from the mother country and from the mother lodges . To those outside this building who have any fear of non-recognition , I would say that in command of the United Grand Lodge of England we have the Prince oi Wales , the chief of

English Masonry ; and , on the authority of Bro . Lord Carnarvon , I can say his Royal Highness has been cognisant of , and takes a deep interest in , all Masonic affairs in New South Wales . In Scotland we have a man—one of my oldest and best personal friends—Sir Archibald Campbell , of Blythswood . I do not speak of him as an old friend only ; I do not speak of him as the husband of my own sister ; but I speak of him as a man upon whom

we can confidently rely , and who will do his best to bring about the union we so ardently desire . In the hands of the Duke of Abercorn , in Ireland , we are perfectly safe . And now , brethren , it only remains my pleasing duty once more to thank you from the bottom of my heart , with all kindliness , and with all fraternal affection , for the great compliment you have been pleased to pay me this evening . Amongst all the kindnesses and all the

compliments—undeserved compliments and unmerited kindnesses—which I have received in the three happy years during which I have been Governor , this is one I shall never forget . And it is my pleasing duty—my pleasing office—to-night to propose to the brethren here assembled "' The Health of the distinguished and Most Worshipful Brother who has so signally distinguished himself in our proceedings this evening . " In mentioning the name

of Chief Justice Way , I am only expressing the good wish and the good feeling of every brother present here to-night . May his life be long and prosperous , every good fortune attend him , and may we soon have the great happiness and felicity of seeing him amongst us here again . With all cordiality , and with all honours , and with all affection , I give you the name of Chief Justice Way , the Most Worshipful Grand Master of South Australia . Loud cheers . ) The toast was drunk with Masonic honours .

Installing Master WAY , on rising to respond , was received with great cheering . He said he had to thank the Most Worshi pful Grand Master for the generous and fraternal terms in which he had proposed his ( Bro . Way ' s ) health , and he thanked the Right Worshipful brothers and the brethren for the enthusiastic manner in which they had received the toast .

He thanked them also for the honour they had done , not merely to himself , but to to the South Australian Constitution , in having invited him to take Part in the great and impressive ceremonial which they had attended that evening . When he got back to Adelaide he would have travelled 2 nnn

miles to perform the duties they had placed in his hands , but he felt it Would be worth travelling 20 , 000 miles to witness that demonstration—the nnest Masonic demonstration which had ever happened south of the line . He congratulated them on the consummation of Masonic union in New South Wales , and he congratulated them still more on having a Grand Master

United Grand Lodge Of New South Wales.

whom it was a pleasure , a privilege , and an inspiration to serve under . ( Cheers . ) Bro . Col . STOKES said , the toast which had been entrusted to his care was that of " Sister Grand Lodges throughout the World . " It was a subject so wide in its scope , so broad in its bearing , that it would be utterly impossible within the limits of a few remarks to render to it that justice which its importance merited . Freemasons throughout the length and

breadth of New South Wales would rejoice in the comforting thought lhat after long years of probationary division almost absolute unanimity had succeeded in constitutionally removing every bar to Masonic union , and in the proud reflection that they at last stood boldly and firmly together under the banner of a United Grand Lodge of New South Wales . They were conscious that every action which had been taken taken towards the consummation of that union had been in such strict consonance with

constitutional law and Masonic usage as must perforce command universal respect and sisterly reciprocation . They should be especially proud of their changed , though still maintained , relations with the noble and loved mother Grand Lodges ; for , while still remaining united to them in the bonds of Masonic love and loyalty , they would ever remain grateful to them for the fostering care they had bestowed upon them from their Masonic birth . They now saluted them as loved elder sisters , and with a love intensified

by tenderest recollections of past associations . They trusted that the desire for and spirit of Masonic union would before long become so irresistible in its impulse as to constitutionally sweep away all obstacles to that union , wherever they may exist , that each of the great Australian colonies would possess its United Grand Lodge , and that thus a great Masonic federation would be established and built up in these Southern seas , whose mighty influence should be exercised for the universal good . ( Cheers . ) The toast was honoured in an enthusiastic manner .

Bro . MUNRO , in responding on behalf of Victoria , thanked the brethren for having invited himself and his officers to witness the celebration that had taken place that day , the like of which had never before been seen south of the Line . He hoped that the day was not far distant when they in Victoria would have such a celebration as had that day taken place , and he thought they could rely upon England for sympathy and support . What had that day taken place would , he thought , cause those in Victoria who were wavering to throw in their lot with them .

Bro . DOWNER also responded , and congratulated the New South Wales brethren upon the achievements of the day , and spoke of the success which had attended the Masonic union in South Australia . Bro . SOLOMON also responded , as the only member of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Ireland in Victoria . He hoped that before the close of the present year the brethren in Victoria would invite the brethren of New South Wales and the other colonies to assist in forming a Grand Lodge in

Victoria . Bro . J . C REMINGTON , Grand Registrar , in proposing the last toast of the evening , that of " Our Visiting Brethren , " said it was one which never needed a speech to recommend it , for when they ceased to remember the duties of hospitality they would cease to be Freemasons . Never before in Australasia , and only once , so far as he knew , in the British Empire , had

such an assemblage of Freemasons gathered to an installation . They greeted first that night their sister Grand Lodge of South Australia . All honour to those worthy and energetic brethren who , by establishing a united governing body there , set so good an example . Their brethren from Victoria had arrived at a stage on the road to union which the Masons of New South Wales had reached some considerable time ago . Let them hope

that the efforts of the Masons of the sister colony might be crowned with equal success . This time , they must for once admit , poor old sleepy mother , New South Wales , had shown the way tor her energetic aud bouncing daughter , Victoria , to follow . From Queensland they hailed worthy representatives of the District Grand Lodges which still held sway there ; and if what he heard when in Brisbane not long ago were well founded , it

'" might not be long ere the Masons of New South Wales returned their visit , and on a similar occasion . Australasian Masonry was waking up , and even from the little island of Tasmania there came a whisper of possible amalgamation of the different Constitutions . It might be delayed longer by natural geographical limits in New Zealand , but in the long run it would come there also ; and who could doubt that some St . John's Day they

would see a Masonic convention representative of all Australasia . Now , what would their visiting brethren report on their return to their homes 1 They would tell of that vast assemblage which they had just quitted , meeting with all former divisions blotted out and forgotten , working together hand in hand , and parting in peace , love , and harmony . But would they not also carry with them a grander idea of Masonry , of its principles , and of their results ?—for he pitied the man , be he Mason or not , who could

have listened without feeling his heart beat with loftier aspirations as the choir , to whom they owed so much that evening , poured forth to grand music those beauttful words—Brothers all , of every nation , Ye who passed the high probation , This your task , by Heaven assigned , Weary hearts by hope to lighten , Darkened ways by truth to brighten ,

God to love , and all mankind ! Let them drink with hearty good wishes to "The Health of our Visiting-Brethren . " ( Loud cheers . ) The toast was drunk with Masonic honours . Bro . the Hon . J . DOUGLAS , in responding , said that when he arrived at

Brisbane and heard of this proposed gathering , he felt that he must not fail to avail himself of the opportunity of attending , and he felt bound to testif y to the pleasure and appreciation he experienced at the great work which had been accomplished , and to assure them that the brethren of the Constitution he represented rejoiced with them .

Bro . COPPIN also responded , and said that Victoria had always boasted that New South Wales had set her the example ot claiming sell-government , and he hoped that Victoria would follow New South Wales in the grand ceremony which had taken place that night . ( Cheers . ) The National Anthem was then sung with great spirit .

The brethren marshalled in procession and followed Lord Carrington to the door of the building . Cheers were given for his Excellency , and tie gathering closed amid much enthusiasm .

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