United Grand Lodge Of England.

were present , who took such an interest in the Masonic Charities , that he felt he could not do adequate justice , in their presence , to the toast . But he ven tured to bring before the brethren the toast in the abstract , and not in detail . The brethren were all proud of their Charities , but he ventured to think that they did not do for them one quarter that they ought to do .

Considering the large number of Masons there were in England , if they gave one shilling or five shillings a head to them they would be supported 3 hundredfold more than they were now . Without further prelude he would g ive the toast of " The Masonic Charities , " coupling with it the names of Bro . Binckes , Secretary of the Boys' School , and Bro . Hedges , Secretary of the Girls' School .

Bro . B INCKES , who was received enthusiastically , said he was not taken entirely by surprise at having his name honourably associated with the toast of " Success to the Royal Masonic Institutions , " and therefore he should make something in the shape of a reply . It had always been a matter of duty with him on an occasion like this , which was an

exceptionally festive occasion , to say very little . To say much would be not only 1 moolitic , but really and truly in bad taste ; it would be a waste of the time of experienced brethren who were assembled at the annual Grand Festival gatherings to make any stated or studied appeal on behalf of one or other of the Masonic Institutions . But at the same time he thought it must be a

source of intense gratification that , while the brethren were indulging in all the enjoyments peculiarly incidental to this one Festival of the year , one more prominent than any other Festival held in connection with Freemasonry , the wants of the poorer and distressed , under whatever category they mig ht come—whether the young who were just on the entrance of life

or the aged of either sex—were not forgotten ; that their sympathies were at all events stimulated to some extent ; and that they bore in mind in the midst of their highest enjoyment that considerations of a serious nature oug ht to weigh with them all . Therefore , while congratulating the Craft on the enormous success that from time to time attended the celebration of

their Masonic Festivals—going only a year back , he might say the gigantic success of the Girls ' School , which was a source of intense pride to every Mason—and congratulating the Craft on the great success of the Benevolent Institution in February last , he had only one word to utter , in the smallest , simplest , most persuasive tone he could use , to indulge in the hope ,

which he trusted , would not merely be an anticipation—that the year 1889 , so far as regarded the Boys' School , would result in a success of which they might all be proud , and which would p lace that Institution once more in a position of prosperity , which , he said , without fear of contradiction , it deserved On behalf of all the Institutions , he returned his sincerest thanks . ( Loud

cheers . ) The CHAIRMAN proposed " The Grand Stewards , " whose privilege it was to wear the red , and he congratulated them on the splendid entertainment they had provided for the brethren . Bro . Sir P . KEYSER ( Chairman of the Board of Grand Stewards ) ,

in reply , said on behalf of the Grand Stewards he thanked the Chairman and the brethren very sincerely for the great honour just done them in so handsomely acknowledging the services the Stewards had rendered to the grand cause of Freemasonry generally , and on this occasion in particular . They had , however , but done their duty—done that which many

others had done before ; but they hoped and trusted that what they had done had met with the brethren's approval . He had to apologise for having made a very great mistake . He had said " we ; " he ought to have said " the Grand Stewards , " who had really done the work , and he truly was not one of them , for he , unfortunately , had been called away , as the brethren were

aware , on and other important duties . but he should not be excused even for that were he not to mention that those duties were duties of a national character . His friends and colleagues , the Board of Grand Stewards , had done all the work , and he could not refrain from mentioning the names of Bros Shoppee , the Hon . Sec , and Pullman , the Treasurer . He ought not to

omit to mention the others , for they had all individually and collectivel y done their duty as Grand Stewards . It had been to all of them a labour of love , but they were amply repaid for any anxiety in the matter if the

brethren had spent a pleasant evening . Before he sat down , he desired to thank the Chairman for coupling his name with the toast , and also on behalf of his colleagues , who shared with him the pride he had of being appointed one of the Grand Officers in Grand Lodge of England . ( Cheers . )

The brethren then adjourned to the Temple , where , under the direction ° f Bio . W . A . Barrett , P . G . Org ., a beautiful selection of music was performed by Bro . R . de Lacy , Miss Marian McKenzie , Mr . Harper Kearton , Madame Agnes Larkcom , Mr . Andrew Black , Miss Anna Lang , Miss Pauline Barrett , Bro . A . Lawrence Fryer , and Miss Norah Phyllis .

The New Grand Officers.

THE NEW GRAND OFFICERS .

SENIOR GRAND WARDEN . Bro . Lord GEORGE HAMILTON , M . P ., First Lord of the Admiralty , Whom his Royal Highness the Grand Master has selected lor the honour oi j " g the Senior Grand Warden's chair , belongs to an essentially Masonic arru . y . His father , the first Duke of Abercorn , was installed Grand Master h j \ f- ^ J anuar y > ^ 75 ' succession to the late Duke of Leinster , who aa died the preceding year . His eldest brother , at the time Marquis of arrulton , was appointed S . G . Warden of England at the memorable of w in the Roval Albert Hall , on the 28 th April , 1875 , when the Prince in R ( f ' was installed M . W . Grand Master , and on the death of his father m Ib ° 5 . was elected to the Grand Mastership of Ireland . Many other ^ . . rs of the family have been or are Freemasons , while Lord George s initiated in a lodge under the Grand Lodge of Ireland . But the jvj SSUre of political affairs prevented him taking any active part in n ) e ^ ° _ y until quite recently , when , having been elected , in 1886 , a joining Seni w ?^ ' Chiswick Lodge , No . 2012 , he was last year appointed its or Warden , and this year elected and installed its Master .

The New Grand Officers.

JUNIOR GRAND WARDEN . Bro . Sir J E . GORST , Q . C , M . P ., Under-Secretary for India , is a Mason of some years' standing , having been initiated in the Scientific Lodge , No . 88 , Cambridge , on 1 ith June , 1855 . In ^ 67 he joined the Isaac Newton University Lodge , No . 8 59 , and in 1875 the Pentangle , No . 1174 , Rochester . But , like his Brother S . G . W ., he has been prevented by the

exigencies of political affairs from taking a very active part in the proceedings of the Craft until quite lately , when he became associated with Bro . the Earl of Londesborough , Bro . Augustus Harris , Bro . Admiral E . A . triglefield , and others , in the foundation of the Drury Lane Lodge , No . 2127 , and figured in its warrant of constitution as J . W . designate . The year following he was advanced to the post of S . W . . and in February , 1888 , was

installed W . M . On the completion of his year of office he received a Past Master ' s jewel in recognition of his services in the chair . He takes an active part in the work of the lodge as far as his professional and ministerial duties will permit , and from their long Parliamentary experience , both Lord George Hamilton and he will prove a valuable addition to the ranks of the Grand Officers . Bro . Sir John E . Gorst has constituted himself a Life-Governor of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls . GRAND CHAPLAINS . Bro . the Hon . and Rev . FRANCIS E . CECIL BYNG , Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons , third son of the second Earl of Strafford , and brother of Lieut .-Col . the Hon . H . VV . J . Byng , who was appointed a Past G . Warden of England at the Masonic celebration of the Queen ' s Jubilee , was initiated into Freemasonry in the Apollo University Lodge , No . 357 , Oxford , in 1853 , among his contemporaries being Bro .

Earl Cowper , K . G ., then Viscount Fordwich , the late Bro . the Duke of Newcastle , Prov . G . Master of Nottinghamshire , 1865-77 , and the Hon , William J . W . Vernon . He joined the Canterbury Lodge , No . 1635 and , in due course , was elected W . Master , and is also a member of the Ancient and Accepted Rite , having been perfected Rose Croix , 18 , in the Canterbury Chapter , No . 72 , of that degree , and having subsequently presided as its M . W . S .

Bro . the Rev . T . BARTON SPENCER , M . A ., Yicar of St . James ' s , Preston , son of the late Bro . Dr . Spencer , J . P ., and Mayor of Preston in 1856 and 1870 , was initiated in the Lodge of Peace and Unity , No . 314 , Preston , on the 14 th June , 1875 , and after holding various offices , was elected and installed W . M . in 1880 . During his Mastership he arranged with the brethren of the town to attend divine service at St . James ' s

Church , and preached a sermon in aid of the West Lancashire Masonic Charities , the result being a collection amounting to £ 26 . In 1881 he was appointed Prov . G . Chaplain of West Lancashire , and in that capacity rendered such efficient service at the laying of the foundation stone of the Harris Free Library with Masonic ceremonial b y Bro . Earl of Lathom , Prov . G . Master , as to elicit expressions of approbation from his lordship

and the late Dr . Frazer , Bishop of Manchester , who was present . He also preached at Bispham Church when the Earl of Lathom unveiled the stained-glass window which had been presented by the Freemasons of the neighbourhood , and delivered the oration at the consecration of the Lathom Lodge , No . 2229 , Liverpool , which is restricted to present and past Grand Officers of the Province . He was exalted in the Chapter of Unanimity

, No . 113 , Preston , on the 21 st February , 18 77 , joined the Royal Architect Chapter , No . 314 , and was installed M . E . Z . of the latter in 1886 and 1887 . He acted as Prov . G . J . at the consecration of the Lindsay Chapter , No . l 3 Z 5 i Wigan , in 1886 , and the year following was appointed Prov . G . [ . by the Earl of Lathom . He was advanced in the Preston Mark Lodgej No . 113 , on the 27 th March , 1 S 7 6 , and installed W . M . 1883 . At the annual

meeting of the Prov . Grand Mark Lodge of Lancashire in 1884 , when Bro . the Earl of Lathom , P . G . M . M . M . consecrated the Lawrence Lodge , Bro . Spencer , at a few minutes' notice , delivered the oration , and this so pleased his lordship that he appointed him Prov . G . Chaplain . Bro . Spencer is also a Rose Croix , 18 , having been perfected in that degree last year , and is an annual subscriber to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls .

GRAND TREASURER . Bro . EDWARD O'CONNOR TERRY , who was elected Grand Treasurer for the ensuing year at the regular Quarterly Communication of United Grand Lodge , on the 6 th March , by 8 41 votes , as against 617 votes polled for his worthy competitor , Bro . George Everett , is on the eve of completing what may be termed his Masonic majority , having been initiated in the

Royal Union Lodge , No . 382 , Uxbridge , on the 26 th May , 1868 . He subsequently joined the Asaph Lodge , No . 1319 , of which he was installed VV Master in 1877 , and the St . Alban ' s Lodge , No . 29 , which he represented on the Board of Grand Stewards for 1885-6 , and of which he is also a Past Master . He was one of the founders of that popular lodge , the Savage Club , No . 2190 , and succeeded Bro . Henry Irving as Treasurer in 1888 .

In Royal Arch Masonry he ranks as P . Z . of the Asaph Chapter , and has been perfected Rose Croix , 18 , in the A . and A . Rite , being a member of Palestine R . C . Chapter , No . 29 . He has also been for two years on the Board of General Purposes ; while as regards our Charities , he has served five Stewardships for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , of which he is a Life Governor , two Stewarships for the Girls' School—one at the

Centenary Festival last year—for which he has qualified as Vice-President , and two for the Boys' School , of which he is a Life Governor . The esteem and respect in which he is held is evidenced , not only by the large number of votes that were polled for him at the contest in March last for the office he now holds , but also by the fact that they were recorded to a very great extent by Provincial brethren who attended from all parts of the country in order to help him to secure the victory .

SENIOR GRAND DEACONS . Bro . Sir LIONEL E . DARELL , Bart ., was initiated into Freemasonry while at Christ Church , Oxford , in the Apollo University Lod ge , No . 357 towards the close of the year 1864 , and later on joined the Churchill ' No . 478 , which is largely recruited from the ranks ot University brethren . Subsequently he became affiliated to the Studholme Lodge , No . 1591 and

was in time elected to the chair of W . Master . He joined the Prince of Wales Ludge , No . 259 , in 1878 , and represented it on the Board of Grand Stewards , ol which he was President , in 1887-8 . He is also a member of the Royal Gloucestershire Lodge , No . 839 , Gloucester ; while in R . A . Masonry he is a member of the Studholme Chapter , No . 1591 . In the Mark Degree he is a member of the Onslow Lodge , No . 361 , and less than