United Grand Lodge Of England.

UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND .

An Especial Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England was held on Wednesday , at Freemasons' Hall , to consider and resolve upon addresses of condolence on the death of his Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence and Avondale , K . G ., Provincial Grand Master of Berkshire , Past Grand Warden , and to arrange for their presentation .

Grand Lodge , which was draped for the occasion , was attended by over 500 brethren , including a large number of Grand and Past Grand Officers . The Rig ht Hon . the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , Deputy Grand Master , presided . Bro . Col . Le Gendre Nicholas Starkie , Provincial

Grand Master for East Lancashire , acted as Deputy Grand Master ; Bro Thomas F . Halscy , M . P ., Provincial Grand Master for Hertfordshire , as Past Grand Master ; and Bros . Sir Francis Beilby Alston , K . C . M . G ., P . G . W ., as S . GAV . ; Admiral Sir E . Inglefield , K . C . B ., J . G . W . ; and others .

Grand Lodge having been opened in due form , Bro . PK . YDLEIH ' , Assistant Grand Secretary , by direction of the Grand Master in the chair , read the notice convening the Special Grand Lodge . Bro . F . A . P HILBRICK , O . C ., Grand Registrar , said : Mos't Worshipful

Grand Master on the Throne , I regret to have to state to Grand Lodge that I have received this morning a letter from the Most Worshipful the Pro Grand Master , stating that he is prevented by severe indisposition from being present in Grand Lodge on this mournful occasion .

Bro . PEXM . EBURY said : Rig ht Worshipful Deputy Grand Master , letters have been received from Lord Henniker , Prov . Grand Master for Suffolk ; Lord Valentia , P . G . W . ; the Earl of Limerick , P . P . G . M . for Bristol ; Lord Dungarvan , Prov . G . M . for Somersetshire ; and Bro . Powell , Prov .

G . M . for Bristol , expressing their deep regret at not being able to attend the Special meeting of Grand Lodge through sickness and other causes . Bro . Tysscn-Amherst , P . G . W ., and numerous other Provincial Grand Officers and Grand Officers of the Grand Lodge of England have also

written . Bro . the Earl of M OUNT EDGCUMBE then rose and said : Brethren , the occasion which has brought us here to-day is , perhaps , the saddest upon which the Grand Lodge of England has ever been assembled , not onl y within the memory of those here present , but at any period in its past history .

From time to time we and our fathers have had cause to mourn the loss of brethren in high p lace in Masonry and in the affection of their brothers in the Cralt ; but in such cases we can recognise how all must learn that the departed brother had in a greater or a less degree accomplished his mission in this life before he was called away . To our finite vision it would seem that

the brother whom we mourn to-day had only passed the probationary stage of life , which wc fondl y hoped was to have prepared him for a long career of public usefulness in his high station , and of unalloyed domestic happiness , when he was taken from his country , from his parents , from his betrothed bride by the inscrutable decree of the Most Hi gh . We dare not

question the wisdom and mercy of that decree . We know that the young Prince lived long enough to win the love of all who knew him well by his unselfish kindness , his affectionate disposition , and his sensitively conscientious character . Those qualities and the universal sympathy which his death has evoked throughout not onl y England , but

the world , and especially throughout her Majesty ' s wide dominions , cannot be without a far-reaching influence , which makes us feel that short as has been his life , untimely as his death must seem to us , he has not lived or died in vain . But it is to those in the bereaved home that our thoughts turn most sadly to-day . Brotherly love , however munificent in deeds ,

would be little worth if it could be severed from that instinctively human sympathy which can truly rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who grieve . Three days before the telegraph announced to the world the fatal news , our thoughts had been on )) ' of rejoicing . We were rejoicing with our Oucen in the prospect of an event which promised to add a new

and cheery interest to the remainder of her life . We were rejoicing with our Grand Master , whose constant sympathy in the sorrows and the joys of others tends to , 1 believe , his receiving a cordial return from the people of England . And 1 need scarcely say to those in the ranks of the Craft over whom he rules , we were rejoicing with the gentle lady , the

Princess of Wales , whose smile we have ever been wont to associate with all that is bright and happy . Wc were rejoicing to think , or we trusted , that a time of gladness was coming to her after the strained period of anxiety and care through which she had so recently passed . We had been thinking what wc could best offer as a token of our congratulation to their

beloved son and to his future bride , the fair young English princess upon whom his choice had fallen—a choice which had been received throughout the country with such general pleasure and joy . In three days from that time all was changed . We cannot now speak of the happiness that might have been without intensifying the pain of the present sorrow . We are not here

to discuss it or to analyse that sorrow ; it would be a profanation ; we are not here to parade our sympathy in sensational language ; we are here simply to record it as the only offering that we can make to those to whom

we would give comfort if we could . 1 shall venture now to read to you the resolutions that have been drafted of addresses of sympathy both to the Queen and to his Royal Highness the Grand Master . His lordship then read the addresses , which were adopted .

liro . LE Gr . NDUi : A . STAKKIE , Prov . G . M . for East Lancashire : Most Worship ful Grand Master on the Throne , 1 rise to second those motions of condolence to our Most Gracious Majesty the Queen , and our Most Worship ful Grand Master , his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales . Those words of sympathy which have been uttered from the Throne b y the M . W .

United Grand Lodge Of England.

Grand Master on the Throne must , I feci , be echoed in the hearts of all the assembled brethren who on this melanchol y occasion come to testify their sympathy to those bereaved members of the Royal Family . As the Most Worshipful Grand Master on the Throne has said , it is no ordinary occasion ; and I believe when we look upon this assembled multitude of

Freemasons we look on a universal multitude outside not only of the Englishspeaking nations but of the Fraternity all over the world . There has been a sympathetic feeling extended in this calamity not only by the Colonies and Dependencies of this mighty Empire , but from all parts of the world . It seems as if the Creator had designed the ocean to convey

the feeling all round the world that Nature should bring back to them their sympathetic feelings of sorrow . Brethren , it may be hoped that those kind expressions which have been embodied in those resolutions may be a solace to a certain degree to the Royal Family in the loss which it has pleased Providence to place on them ; and if it is in our power on this occasion to

extend the charity and benevolence of our kin to those who are so deeply afflicted , let us do so as far as we possibly could to alleviate their sorrow , and they will find by that that loyalty , benevolence , charity , and sympathy with

the great heads of the nation , are the principles that actuate the Masonic Order . Most Worshipful Grand Master , I have great pleasure in seconding both those votes of condolence to her Majesty and his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales .

The motion was put and earned . The Earl of MOUNT EDGCUMBE , the addresses have been unanimously voted : I will undertake that they shall be presented with the usual formalities . Grand Lodge was then closed .

The following music was played by the Grand Organist , Bro . Cutler Dead March in "Saul" ( Handel ); Riere re OfTertoire sol mineur ( f Wely ); Funeral March from the Sonata in A flat ( Beethoven ) ; and Sicg frieds Tod GoUerdammcrung ( Wagner ) .

Grand Mark Lodge.

GRAND MARK LODGE .

A Special Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales and the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown was held on Wednesday , at Mark Masons' Hall , to consider and resolve upon addresses of condolence on the much regretted death of the Duke of Clarence and Avondale , K . G ., and to arrange for their presentation .

The Earl of Euston , D . G . M ., presided , as' Grand Master ; Bro . T . F . Halscy , M . P ., Prov . G . M . Herts , as Deputy Grand Master ; Lord Cremorne , as S . G . W . ; Sir Reginald Hanson , Bart ., M . P ., J . G . W . ; Bros . Robert Grey , R . Clowes , and C . H . Driver , as Grand Overseers ; Col . Harding , as D . C . ; Col . A . 13 . Cook , Pres . General Board , as Grand Secretary .

Apologies for non-attendance were received from the Marquis of Hertford , Pro G . M . ; Lord Limerick , P . G . M . ; Lord Henniker , P . G . M . ; Lord Egerton of Tatton , P . G . M . ; Viscount Valentia , Prov . G . M . Berks and

Oxon ; W . A . F . Powell , Prov . G . M . Bristol ; R . V . Vassar-Smith , Prov . G . M . Gloucestershire and Herefordshire ; R . C . Else , Prov . G . M . Somersetshire ; Rev . Thomas Robinson , Prov . G . M . Kent ; Rev . R . P . Bent , P . G . Chap . ; Rev . J . A . Lloyd , P . G . Chap . ; and others .

Bro . Col . A . 13 . COOK , by direction of the Acting Grand Master , read the notice calling the meeting . The Earl ol EUSTON said : Brethren , I have to announce to you that I

have had a communication from the Pro Grand Mark Master , the Marquess of Hertford , stating that he deeply regrets he is prevented by illness from attending . He is forbidden by the doctors to leave the house , and is thus prevented from taking the chair to-day .

The Earl of Et'sTox then said : Brethren , we are met here to-day to express , I may say , our devotion , and to show our true spirit of Masonry towards those who are in trouble and distress—those whom we look up to in England—ow Most Gracious Queen , his Royal Highness the Most Worshipful Grand Master , the Princess of Wales , and also one who

was to have been the wife so shortly of the Duke of Clarence and Avondale . We are met here to express our feelings of condolence with them , and I am certain quite that any man in this assembl y can well sympathise with the great grief which has stricken not only his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales as a father , the Princess of Wales as a mother ,

and her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen as a grandmother , who had been training up her grandson to follow in their footsteps , till the da ) ' came when it pleased the Grand Overseer of the Universe to lake him to himself . We . 'ire met here to-day to sympathise with them , and I am sure no words of mine can fully express that condolence to her

Majesty , to the Grand Master , and to tlu Princess of Wales . They all have our most heartfelt feelings of sympathy . Anyone who knew the late Duke of Clarence and Avondale , and came across him since lid was a boy , as I had many opportunities ol doing , would know he was one ol the most charming young men one could meet ; one who was the soul of honour and

well fitted to occupy the position he was supposed to be destined for . All the facts iu connection with this untimely death are too sad for us to dwell on . But as they arc so tragic , and as so s . ad and heavy a blow has fallen not only on England , but on all the dominions where the British Hag flies , and wherever ( he English language is spoken , wc all desire to express our

sympathy with the heartfelt grief of the Royal Family in the sudden and bitter calamity which has overtaken them . I propose that an . address shall be presented to her Majesty , to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , and

toher Royal Highness the Princess of Wales , recordingourhcartycondolencc and our great grief , and that we sympathise with them most deeply , and I trust that the Grand Overseer of the Universe will give them strength to bear the grief well . In a future day they may look back upon the addresses not