Nottinghamshire.

stances , I shall cheerfully endeavour to fulfil the duties of the high position which has this clay been conferred upon me . In one of the addresses the hope was expressed that I might continue to fill this position for as many years as ivas held by my lamented predecessor . This is hardly , perhaps , a kind wish , though doubtless kindly meant ; for the lapse of such a period would bring me to that time of life at which I should scarcely be able efficiently to assist you—a time of life at AA-hich , supposing it fco be the will of the G . A . 0 . T . U .

that I should attain such an age , I ought to be devoting my attention to considerations affecting another and a better world . But I hope you will know me well enough to believe me when I assure you that as far as lays in my poiver I Aviil endeavour to discharge the duties of the position this day conferred upon me . ( Applause . ) Bro . ALI . ES " , the Prov . G . Secretary , then read the following address to the Most AA ' orshipful the Grand Master : — " To Thomas Dundas , Earl of Zetland , Baron Dundas , of Aslce , Co Yorkinthe of tlie United dom of Great Britain

, , Peerage King and Ireland , Lord Lieutenant of the North Riding of Yorkshire , anil Acting Grand Master of the Freemasons in Enr / land . " AVe , the Provincial Grand Officers , Past Officers , Masters of Lodges , and AVardcns , on behalf of ourselves ancl brethren of the ancient and honourable Order of Free and Accepted Masons of the county of Nottingham , mosfc gladly welcome the opportunity thus afforded us of approaching your Lordship with expressions of our profound gratitude for your presence amongst us , and of our affectionate attachment to your Lordship's person , as the head of our inestimable institution .

In celebrating the auspicious event which has this clay brought us together , we cannot overlook the fact that to your Lordship's ready acquiescence in our ivishes ancl cordial sympathy ivith our feelings , wo are in a great measure indebted for the happiness which this province enjoys , in being enabled to recognise as its Prov . Grand Master , ancl bringing into intimate communion ivith the Craft a nobleman of such rare virtues aud high qualifications as His Grace the Duke of Newcastle .

" May the Most Hi gh , under whose providence we are permitted to assemble here , long continue to us the fostering care of so kind and vigilant a Grand Master , and may Ho crown with success every endeavour of your Lordship to promote the prosperity of our institution , devoted as it is fco benevolence anil universal brotherhood . " Under such auspices , the grand cause of Masonry cannot fail to enjoy happiness and securit—and with the benefit of such influence

y and example , our ancient and mystic Order will not only in this province , but in every other under your Lordship ' s guidance and control , continue to maintain that high position which it has ever held , and spread wider ancl ivider those blessings which it is so well calculated to confer .

" A ' , e cannot conclude without expressing to your Lordship our sense of the honour conferred upon us by the presence in Nottingham of your amiable countess , and our deep sense of gratitude for her watchful care as patroness over those benevolent institutions which are alike tho honour and glory of our Order , and the brightest ornaments of our land ; and we earnestly hope that , whilst participating in the festivities at the close of tins day , she may not only observe a desire on the part of the brethren of this proi-ince to do

honour to the head of the noble house of * Newcastle , ' but to a fervent attachment ro that of < Zetland . ' ' * That the choicest blessings of Heaven may continue to rest upon her Ladyship , and that she ivith your Lordship may long be spared to each other , is the sincere and prayerful wish of ' your Lordship's iiiithful and loving brethren in Nottinghamshire . "Dated at Nottinghamthis seventh clay of December

, , one thousand eight hundred and sixty . ( Signed ) " Rrcnn . ALLEN " , "Prov . Grand Secretary . " lhe MOST AVonsiiirruL GHAKD MASTEI * , in rising to renly was received with considerable applause , and addressed the brethren as follows : —

" li . W . ancl AV . Brethren of the Province of Nottingham . "I thank you most sincerely for the kind and fraternal address which yon have presented to me , ancl for the assurance of your affectionate attachment to your Grand Master . It ivas with feelings of the greatest satisfaction that I learned the wishes of the Freemasons ol Notting ham to he ruled over by the noble Duke who has just been installed as my representative , and your Prov . Grand Master . Those wishes were in perfect accordance with inv own for after the lamented death of "

my sood friend , your late Grand Master , I had no doubt in my own mind , that if tho noble Duke would accept the high office in Masonry of your Prov . Grand Master , that from his position in the county , his acquirements and the exalted character which lie bears , ho was , without doubt ' the most lit man to rule over the Craft in this county ; and I need hardly assure yon that it is with the greatest satisfaction that I learned that tho noble Duke had consented to accept that office .

" I thank you , brethren , for the kind ancl flattering manner in which you hai'e been pleased to view my services as Grand Master . Having been on seventeen different occasions all but unanimously elected to that high position , I am well aware of the responsibility ivhich rests upon me in the selection of my representatives in the provinces ; and how much the prosperity of our Order , and the fostering of our institutions depend upon those representatives . Under the rule of the noble Duke I can have no fear for the

Province of Nottingham . " I beg to thank you mosfc sincerely for your kind expressions towards Lady Zetland , and fco assure you that , while she takes the greatest interest in our Benevolent Institutions , she ivill at fche same time highly appreciate the attentions ancl the welcome which you have afforded her in Nottingham . " ( Applause . ) The PROV . GiuifD MASTER then rose for the first time to ask if auy brother bad aught to communicate for the good of Freemasonry

in general , or this Prov . Grand Loclge in particular . Bro . FEAKCIS CEEIV , Secretary of the Freemasons' Girls' School , made an earnest ancl forcible appeal on behalf of that institution , and urged the claims of the other Masonic charities upon thebrethren of the province of Nottingham . He said : It was a very remarkable fact , and not less remarkable than gratifying , that of the hundreds of girls—the daughters of deceased ancl necessitous brethren—who had passed through the institutionof which he

, had the honour to be Secretary , there was not a single instance , from the very origin of the institution , in which any one of those girls had not so conducted herself , after leaving it , as to reflect credit upon the training which she had received whilst ; within its walls . ( Applause . ) The fact ivas that there ivas nofc

a single case in ivhich any one of those girls on leaving the institution , had acted in a manner which would bring discredit iipon it . AVhen he had the honour of attending the Prov . Grand Loclge of Yorkshire , he made an appeal similar to that which he was then making , and the result was an almost immediate subscription of a hundred guineas , and a total subscription from the Prov . Grand Lodge of no less than a sum of £ 730 . ( Loud applause . ) The PROV . G . M . saicl that he had no doubt that the brethren had

been duly impressed with the importance of what had fallen from their worthy Bro . Crew , and he ivould propose , therefore , that they should adopt the course usual ill such cases , ancl appoint a committee to consider ancl carry out the suggestions which had been placed before them . ( Hear , hear . ) It was no doubt very desirable to concentrate the attention of the brethren of the province on the subject ; and he thought that this coulcl best be secured in the manner be had indicated . ( Cheers . )

The PEOA ' . G . SEOKETAUY then read several letters of apology for unavoidable absence , amongst which ivere the folloiving : — " Gopsall , Atherstone , Dec . 4 , 1860 . "Dear Sir ancl Brother , — -It is ivith feelings of tho very deepest regret and disappointment that I am obliged to relinquish the long cherished hope of being present afc the interesting ceremony ofthe installation of the Duke of Newcastle . Nothing but the positive orders of my medical friend to avoid any distant fatigue

at this time of tho year , would have prevented my attending ,, and I must trust to your kindness to explain the reason of my absence to the Duke and the Grand Master . I feel deeply tho kindness which has prepared so hospitable a reception for Lady Howe ancl myself , which would have added greatly to the comfortof tho expedition .

" Believe me , very faithfully and fraternally , " R . Allen , Esq ., Prov . Grand Secretary . " " HOWE . " Chatsworth , Dec . 4 » , 1860 . "Dear Sir ancl Brother , —I regret extremely that it ivill not be in my power to attend tbe installation of the Duke of Newcastle on Friday next ,-as I had hoped to bo able to do , but having friends staying here at present , I shall not be able to leave

Chatsworth for a day . " I remain yours fraternally , "R . Allen , Esq ., Prov . Grand Sec . " " IlAETINGTOX . Tho PitoA * . G . M . then rose for the second and third time , and no further business having been brought forward , the M . W . G . M . brought the proceedings to a close in the usual way . THE BANQUET . Iii the afternoon , at three o ' clock , the brethren assembled in

great force at the Corn Exchange , where a substantial banquet had been provided by Bro . Ma ! pas , " of the Flying Horse Hotel . The noble Duke presided , and near him we observed the Right Hon . tlie Earl of Zetland , Mosfc AVorshipful Grand Master ; tho-Rev . J . AA ontworth Bowyer , G . Chaplain ; Bros . Stephen Barton AVilson , P . G . D . ; Henry Bridges , G . Sword Bearer ; R . C . AVilliam Spiers , P . G . Sword Bearer ; Charles AVilliam Elkington , P . G . Sword Bearer ; Capfc . Henry . Bowyer , Prov . G . Master of Oxfordshire ; Edmund Percy , D . Prov . G . M . of Nottinghamshire ; —Cullen , tho present Mayor of Nottingham ; Sir Thomas Parkyns ; the