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Knights Templar.
Sir P . Colquhoun , LL . D ., Past Grand Chancellor ; Hyde Pullen , P . G . D . C . ; Charles Grillion , Studholme Preceptory ; J . Lockhart Sim , and Standish Grove Grady . The muster roll was read , and the minutes of last preceptory were read and confirmed . Apologies were received for non-attendance from Sir Knights Col . Burelett , Cr . Wi ' . lett . T . W . W . Bullock , and C . H . Rogers Harrison . Comp . Ralph
Gooding , B . A ., M . D ., London , of Heath Lodge , and of Prince of Wales Chapter , 259 , was balloted for , and installed . The preceptory was closed at 5 . 30 p . m ., and the Provincial Priory was opened , the Harcourt having previously received the provincial officers . Present : Sir Kts . Shad well H . Clerke , Great Sub-Prior , as Installing Officer ; Rev . A . W . Hall , Prelate ; F . W . H .
Ramsay , Sub-Prior ; G . Harcourt , M . D ., P . P . Prior ; Hyde Pullen , as Constable ; G . E . Wainwright , as Marshal ; J . Lockhart Sim , as Sub-Marshal ; K . H . Thrupp , Chancellor ; Frank Richardson , as D . C . and Captain of the Guard ; J . R . Boor , Registrar andTreasurer ; W . F . Nettleshtp , Herald ; E . M . Lett , as Organist ; Ralph Gooding , ( just installed ) . Visitors : V . E . Sir Kt . Shadwell H . Clerke ,
Gr . Sub-Prior , Installing Officer ; Sir Kts . Chas . Goolden , K . C . T ., Treas . Gt . Priory ; Hon . R . W . Giddy , Prov . Prior S . Africa ; Sir P . Colquhoun , LL . D ., Past Grand Chancellor ; Hyde Pullen , P . G . D . C ; Charles Grillion , Studholme Preceptory ; J . Lockhart Sim , Standish Grove Grady . The V . E . the Prov . Prior nominate , V . E . Sir Kt . General John Studholme Brownrigg , C . B . ; the V . E . Sir .
Kt . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , Great Sub-Prior , Installing Officer , and other Grand Officers and Officers of Provincial Grand Priory were rtccived under the Arch of Steel . The Prov . Priory was then opened , muster roll called , letters of apology for nem-atteudance read from Sir Knights same as at Harcourt Preceptory . Minutes of last Provincial Priory , held at the Gre ) hnund , 28 th July , 1876 ,
read and confirmed . Sir Kt . J . R . Boor . Prov . Registrar and Treasurer , then gave his report : Balance in hand on geneial account £ 28 10 s . fid ., on Alms account £ j 2 s . fid . ; total , JJ 3 $ 13 s . Accounts audited and found correct by Sir Kis . Thrupp and Nettleship . The report being considered satisfactory , Sir Kt . Boor was again reelected Treasurer by ballot . The V . E . the Prov . Prior then
appointed his officers , viz ., sir Kts . Dr . Ramsay , bub-Pnor ; W . F . Nettleship , Constable ; G . E . Wainwright , Marshal ; Rev . A . W . Hall , Pielate ; li . H . Thrupp , Chancellor ; J . R . Boor , Registrar andTreasurer ; V . W . Bullock , 1 st Std . Br . ; Capt . Blake , 2 nd Std . Br . ; Ralph Gooding , Sub-Marshal ; W . H . Dodwell , Captain of the Guard ; F . Richardson , 1 st Herald ; Alfred Isaac Bristowe , 2 nd
Herald ; E . M . Lott , Org . ; Frater Geo . Harrison , Equerry . Alms collected £ 1 5 s . 6 d . Prov . Priory closed , 6 . 15 p . m . A procession was formed and entered the preceptory , passing under the Arch of Steel , and the chair was taken by Sir Kt . Col . Shadwell Clerke , the G . Sub-Prior of England . After opening the Provincial Priory Sir Kt . Shadwell Clerke addressed the assembled Knights , and informed
thern that in consequence of the resignation of Sir Kt . Harcourt as Provincial Pr ' . or of Surrey , Gen . J . Studholme Brownrigg , C . B ., had been appointed by the Great Prior to be P . G . P . of Surrey , and that it would be his duty that evening to instal Sir Kt General Brownrigg . He allueled to the valuable and eminent services which had been rendered by Sir Kt , Harcourt , and said that he was sure
that the appointmt nt of Sir Kt . Geneial Brownrigg , who already held high Masonic honours in the county , and was well-known as a most energetic Mason , would be most beneficial to the province , and he congratulated both Gen . Brownrigg and the province on the appointment . General Brownrigg then took the required obligations , and a procession beir . g formed he advanced through the Arch
i > l Steel to the east , and was duly installed by the Great Sub-Prior , and was saluted by the assembled Knights . After having thanked the Knights for his reception , the Prov . Prior expressed his sense of the valuable services vvh ' uli had been rendered by his friend and predecessor Sir Kt . Harcourt , whose position in the province it would be eliffieult to fill , and Sir Kt . Harcourt having responded ,
the P . Prioiy proceeded to thc discharge cf its dunes , and Ihe P . P . appointed his officers [ or the ensuing year . The prec .-ptoiy having been closed the Sir Knights adjourned to bai . quet , and afterwards proposed and drunk the usual K . P . toasts . General Brownrigg having proposed thc toast of " The Queen , " which was drunk in usual K . T . form , gave "The Master of the Order , " and this
toa ^ t having been honoured , General Brownrigg said : Sir Knighls , on a recent occasion that official , whose health I am about to ask you lo drink , the Eminent Grand Prior , remarked ( I thought very justly , and at all events had my entire syiriathy ) how very advisable it would be that speeches on all occasions , especially on Masonic occasions , should be made as short as possible . I am sure you must
all agree v > ith me bow sensible the icmatk WAS , and how wise it would be fur us to follow it . I will thank ynu , therefore , now to drink " The Health of Lord Skelmersdale , the Great Piiir of England and Wales . " Most of us know him peisonally , and have seen the way he performs all his duties . It is not only the charming manner that he has about him , but I do think that as a fine ,
upstanding , handsome Englishmen he is very well worth looking at . He holds his position well wherever he goes . I am old enough to remember him when a very little boy , and I have watched his career since he was that small boy and until he grew the fine man he is . He takes a leading part in all manly English pursuits and sports . In those pursuits and sports , in cricket for instance , he excels , and it is
gratifying to us , who are members of this Order , to have such a fine type of an Englishman at our head . Up to this point I have omitted the name of a distinguished visitor which I ought to have coupletl with this toast . That distinguished visitor has done me the honour to-day of installing me in the dignified position I now hold . With "ihe Health of Lord Skelmersdale" I beg to give you " The
Knights Templar.
Health of the Sub-Prior , Col . Shadwell Clerke . " He comes next in rank to Lord Skelmersdale , and we are all aware how able a lieutenant Lrrd Skelmersdale has in him . Aware as we are of this fact , I am sure none of us are more aware of it than Lord Skelmersdale himself . His ability was shewn most manifestly to-day . I must say I am deeply impressed with the ceremony in which I took
a principal parr . I have never seen it before , and what pleased me more than anything else was that all the Sir Knights were permitted to see the whole ceremony . We old Masons can see the necessity of a Board of Installed Masters , where every one but an installed Master is kept out of the lodge at an installation ; but in this degree everybody is allowed to be present to see what is done ,
and I was particularly gratified to find that they had the opportunity of witnessing a ceremony performed in an admirable manner . It was a very beautiful ceremony , and I am quite sure I had the sympathies of you all when I submitted to that patriarchal benediction which -was so ably delivered . Col . Shadwell Clerke , in reply said : I thank you very sincerely indeed for this toast . Having
had the privilege of knowing your Provincial Prior for many years it was a high honour for me to attend to instal him . I felt at the same time very sorry indeed that that was in succession to so good and so worthy a Sir Knight as I have on my right ( Dr . Harcourt . ) Still , these things must be done when ordered , and consequently I am here to-day . As I said just now , it was verv gratifying to
me to put so good and worthy a brother in the chair . I omitted to tell you that Lord Skelmersdale fully intended to be down here ; but at the last moment there was an important whip in the House of Lords . He told me yesterday that it was perfectly impossible he could attend here , and he begged me to apologise to thc Provincial Prior and the Sir Knights present . All you who know Lord
Skelmersdale will credit him with a desire to be here . The Duke of Connaught would also have been here , but I know of my own knowledge that it was simply impossible he could attend . As short speeches are the order of the day , I will not say more than that I am very much obliged to you indeed , and also tender my best thanks to the very
important officer , the Prelate of the Order , who assisted me , and whose duties gave great zest to the proceedings . Dr . Harcourt proposed the next toast , and said : I am just placed in that position to observe a happy metlium . I am afraid of saying too much , and I should be ashamed if I said too little . I cannot
sufficiently praise the high individual : o whom this glass is dedicated—the Provincial Prior of Surrey . You need not any great or grand language from me to show you the charm he feels in Masonry , the interest he takes in it , or how much the welfare of this province must increase under his auspices . I think you are fortunate in having so able and so excellent a Sir Knight to preside over you . I have
no doubt that he will properly exact from you due obedience to his orders , and that at the same time those orders will be such as will entitle him to the love and esteem of every member of the province . From circumstances of many years' standing I might say a great ileal more , but the order of the day is short speeches , and if I made a speech of an hour I could not add to the high position our
Provincial Prior has taken in the Craft , and not only in the Craft but in the province and in society . General Brownrigg , in reply , said : I hope that when the time arrives that I find myself in the position the Sir Knight who has just preceded me finds himself , I may be enabled to retire with thc grace and dignity with which he has retired from his office . I think nothing can be moie touching
than the way in which he has spoken to us . We all know the admirable way in which he has performed his woik , and it makes it aM the more difficult for those who succeed him to perform their duties . I will , however , sincerely do my best to follow the good example he has set me . I must own that I feel disappointed at the state of thc Order in the province . At this Provincial Priory one
preceptory is not represented at all , and one preceptory is almost extinct . However , I was a little bit encouraged by a conversation I had with one of the members of the Grove Preceptory , and 1 am not without hope that with a little good fee-ling , and a little give-md-take on both sides we may be able to recuscitate that . I think with the instincts of an old soldier I may be able to impress upon
them that obedience—and not only obedience , but in fact fidelity to our Masonic promises—should induce them to come under our banner again . I have good hopes that we may be able to succeed . I thank you Sir Kt . Harcourt for the kind way you have spoken of myself , and I can only say that 1 trust when the fime of my retirement comes I may retire as full of years and as full of honours as you do .
General Brownrigg : Sir Knights , I ou-jht to have coupled the few observations I ventured to make in our excellent Sir Knight Harcourt ' s presence with a command that you should join me and show your old fidelity by drinking his health . 1 am sure there has been no toast drunk this evening with greater warmth , affection , or fervour than the toast I now ask you to drink to "Our Past Excellent
Prior . " Dr . Harcourt , in acknowledging the toast , said If there is one thing more than another that I dislike it is " ego " -ism ; yet from the veiy candid way in which this toast has been received , I find that if I were to give way to it I could only talk of myself . That I beg to decline . At the same time , 1 feel how grateful I am at having the good opinion of those with whom I have been so long in contact . It was certainly a source of much regret on my
pail to retire from the high position that 1 held ; but there were vaiious reasons for it . I found that 1 had not the energy that is absolutely necessary in these days to carry on the work . I felt tint my time was getting past , and that a new Provincial Prior would give life and energy to the Order . That was one reason why I wished to retire ; I do not intend to retire altogether . I hope for a long time to cornel may , like the old soldier , " shoulder
Knights Templar.
my crutch , " and see in preceptorics how the work is done . Col . Shadwell-Cletke , in proposing " The Health of the Rev . Ambrose W . Hall , " said : We have met here to-day under the banner of the Harcourt Preceptory . Before the Provincial Priory was opened we met in the Harcourt Preceptory , and I believe every one here will agree with me that we were charmed with the beautiful work we saw
there . I never saw better work in the course of my life , and I must congratulate the Harcourt Preceptory on the manner in which it was done , and mote especially on having an Eminent Preceptor who could do the work so beautifully . Our Bro . Sir Knight Ambrose Hall has made his name in the Order of the Temple , as he has done in other Orders ; whatever Orders he has entered into he has
made his mark there . I have had the privilege of know ing him some years , and I do really mean it when I say that a more enthusiastic and a more effective worker in all these different Orders wc belong to I have never come across in my life . It is , therefore , Sir Knights , a very great and peculiar pleasure to me to be permitted to propose to-night his health , as the Preceptor of the Harcourt
Preceptory , to thank him personally for the treat he has given me and the other visitors , in shewing how the Templar ceremony should be worked in its proper manner . I congratulate thc candidate to-night , our Sir Knight , Dr . Gooding , on having really received that degree in proper style , which is not always the case in this Order , as fretiueiitly the reception of other dcgiees is not in their
respective Orders . It is a very great pleasure to me to see our Bro . Hall perform that work , and I , therefore , have even unusual pleasure in proposing his health to-night , as the Preceptor of the leading preceptory in the Provincial Priory of Surrey . The Rev . Ambrose W . Hall in reply said : I consider this a proud day for the Harcouit Preceptory ; but at the same time , I consider that my name
being drunk alone is not quite what it should be , because we of the Harcourt Preceptory are as a body entertaining the Provincial Priory of Surrey . At the same time , for the kind words that have emanated from our very excellent and worthy Grand Sub-Prior I assure you that I , as Eminent Preceptor of this preceptory ( and 1 feel and speak the sentiments of all the Sir Knights
belonging to it ) have very great pleasure in seeing so cminen t a Mason as himself , and the very eminent men who compose the Provincial Priory of Surrey , in our midst . He has alluded to the Harcourt Preceptory as thc first of this province . Although the prcceptories here are small in numbe , we are the £ head of them , and I have endeavoured , by good work , though not of the quality
Col . Clerke has made it , to make the preceptory a good one . That I shall continue to endeavour to do , and I know the other Sir Knights who succeed me will do as I have done . Thus we shall keep the Harcourt Preceptory in the proud position it now holds in this very important province . I trust that our very Excellent and Eminent Provincial Grand Prior will have the opportunity of often
coming among us , and when he does he may be assured that he will have that kind and brotherly greeting which we have endeavoured to hold out to him to-day . Speeches , as you say , should be short , and therefore I will not say much more , except that this preceptory , standing , as it does , in an excellent position , will , I hope , give an impetus to the other prcceptories of the province , which I
think have not done their duty towards our very Eminent Provincial Grand Prior—that it will show them what they ought to do . I think they ought to have been represented here to-day , and I hope and trust that thc preceptory , to which the Eminent Prior has alluded , at Ewell , thc Grove Preceptory will , through his influence—and I know his influence is great , and his persuasion and kind courtesy
of manner is still greater—pcrsuaele that preceptory to hold its own again in this province . General Brownrigg : Sir Knights , there is at least one more toast , which perhaps we ought to have drank before , the toast of " The Visitors . " Wc have several distinguished visstors here ; but there is one especially who has made his mark in our Order , and who has done right
and real good service . All those who know him and have the advantage of his personal acquaintance love and respect him ; and therefore in giving " Thc Health of the Visitors , " 1 shall couple with it " The Health of Sir Kt . Patrick Colquhoun . " I could say a great ileal more , but in his presence I would rather not do so . We began by saying we would make short speeches , but I fear we have
gone into longer ones than I intended . I ask you to drink thc toast of " The Visitors , " and to receive it with all the warmth of fraternal affection , coupling with it the name of Sir Kt . Patrick Colquhoun , Past Grand Chancellor of the Order . Sir Patrick Colquhoun—On behalf of the visitors , and on my own behalf , I return you my hearty thanks for the compliment paid to me individually , and to the visitors through me . I speak to you as a kind of corpus
mortuum , and you will look upon me in the light of a resurrection . If you will allow me to say , it puts me in mind of that distinguished prophet and that unfortunate monarch who read the writing on the wall on a certain palace . On my own behalf and on that of the visitors 1 thank you cordially and heartily , and I think I have now made the shortest speech of the evening . ( Laughter . ) The Equerry ' s toast was next given b y Sir Kt . George Harrison , and drank by the Sir Kni ghts , after which thc company returned to town .
On the occasion of the inspection of the squadron at Spithead by her Majesty , on Tuesday next the 13 th inst ., there will be no general issue of tickets , as only a very limited number of vessels can be set apart for the conveyance of official visitors . Naval officers on half-pay , and
military officers of Portsmouth , garrison , will be accommodated on board her Majesty ' s ships Valorous and Dasher respectively , and should apply to the Commaneler in Chief ' s office at Portsmouth Dockyard . The inspection will take place at four p . m .
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Knights Templar.
Sir P . Colquhoun , LL . D ., Past Grand Chancellor ; Hyde Pullen , P . G . D . C . ; Charles Grillion , Studholme Preceptory ; J . Lockhart Sim , and Standish Grove Grady . The muster roll was read , and the minutes of last preceptory were read and confirmed . Apologies were received for non-attendance from Sir Knights Col . Burelett , Cr . Wi ' . lett . T . W . W . Bullock , and C . H . Rogers Harrison . Comp . Ralph
Gooding , B . A ., M . D ., London , of Heath Lodge , and of Prince of Wales Chapter , 259 , was balloted for , and installed . The preceptory was closed at 5 . 30 p . m ., and the Provincial Priory was opened , the Harcourt having previously received the provincial officers . Present : Sir Kts . Shad well H . Clerke , Great Sub-Prior , as Installing Officer ; Rev . A . W . Hall , Prelate ; F . W . H .
Ramsay , Sub-Prior ; G . Harcourt , M . D ., P . P . Prior ; Hyde Pullen , as Constable ; G . E . Wainwright , as Marshal ; J . Lockhart Sim , as Sub-Marshal ; K . H . Thrupp , Chancellor ; Frank Richardson , as D . C . and Captain of the Guard ; J . R . Boor , Registrar andTreasurer ; W . F . Nettleshtp , Herald ; E . M . Lett , as Organist ; Ralph Gooding , ( just installed ) . Visitors : V . E . Sir Kt . Shadwell H . Clerke ,
Gr . Sub-Prior , Installing Officer ; Sir Kts . Chas . Goolden , K . C . T ., Treas . Gt . Priory ; Hon . R . W . Giddy , Prov . Prior S . Africa ; Sir P . Colquhoun , LL . D ., Past Grand Chancellor ; Hyde Pullen , P . G . D . C ; Charles Grillion , Studholme Preceptory ; J . Lockhart Sim , Standish Grove Grady . The V . E . the Prov . Prior nominate , V . E . Sir Kt . General John Studholme Brownrigg , C . B . ; the V . E . Sir .
Kt . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , Great Sub-Prior , Installing Officer , and other Grand Officers and Officers of Provincial Grand Priory were rtccived under the Arch of Steel . The Prov . Priory was then opened , muster roll called , letters of apology for nem-atteudance read from Sir Knights same as at Harcourt Preceptory . Minutes of last Provincial Priory , held at the Gre ) hnund , 28 th July , 1876 ,
read and confirmed . Sir Kt . J . R . Boor . Prov . Registrar and Treasurer , then gave his report : Balance in hand on geneial account £ 28 10 s . fid ., on Alms account £ j 2 s . fid . ; total , JJ 3 $ 13 s . Accounts audited and found correct by Sir Kis . Thrupp and Nettleship . The report being considered satisfactory , Sir Kt . Boor was again reelected Treasurer by ballot . The V . E . the Prov . Prior then
appointed his officers , viz ., sir Kts . Dr . Ramsay , bub-Pnor ; W . F . Nettleship , Constable ; G . E . Wainwright , Marshal ; Rev . A . W . Hall , Pielate ; li . H . Thrupp , Chancellor ; J . R . Boor , Registrar andTreasurer ; V . W . Bullock , 1 st Std . Br . ; Capt . Blake , 2 nd Std . Br . ; Ralph Gooding , Sub-Marshal ; W . H . Dodwell , Captain of the Guard ; F . Richardson , 1 st Herald ; Alfred Isaac Bristowe , 2 nd
Herald ; E . M . Lott , Org . ; Frater Geo . Harrison , Equerry . Alms collected £ 1 5 s . 6 d . Prov . Priory closed , 6 . 15 p . m . A procession was formed and entered the preceptory , passing under the Arch of Steel , and the chair was taken by Sir Kt . Col . Shadwell Clerke , the G . Sub-Prior of England . After opening the Provincial Priory Sir Kt . Shadwell Clerke addressed the assembled Knights , and informed
thern that in consequence of the resignation of Sir Kt . Harcourt as Provincial Pr ' . or of Surrey , Gen . J . Studholme Brownrigg , C . B ., had been appointed by the Great Prior to be P . G . P . of Surrey , and that it would be his duty that evening to instal Sir Kt General Brownrigg . He allueled to the valuable and eminent services which had been rendered by Sir Kt , Harcourt , and said that he was sure
that the appointmt nt of Sir Kt . Geneial Brownrigg , who already held high Masonic honours in the county , and was well-known as a most energetic Mason , would be most beneficial to the province , and he congratulated both Gen . Brownrigg and the province on the appointment . General Brownrigg then took the required obligations , and a procession beir . g formed he advanced through the Arch
i > l Steel to the east , and was duly installed by the Great Sub-Prior , and was saluted by the assembled Knights . After having thanked the Knights for his reception , the Prov . Prior expressed his sense of the valuable services vvh ' uli had been rendered by his friend and predecessor Sir Kt . Harcourt , whose position in the province it would be eliffieult to fill , and Sir Kt . Harcourt having responded ,
the P . Prioiy proceeded to thc discharge cf its dunes , and Ihe P . P . appointed his officers [ or the ensuing year . The prec .-ptoiy having been closed the Sir Knights adjourned to bai . quet , and afterwards proposed and drunk the usual K . P . toasts . General Brownrigg having proposed thc toast of " The Queen , " which was drunk in usual K . T . form , gave "The Master of the Order , " and this
toa ^ t having been honoured , General Brownrigg said : Sir Knighls , on a recent occasion that official , whose health I am about to ask you lo drink , the Eminent Grand Prior , remarked ( I thought very justly , and at all events had my entire syiriathy ) how very advisable it would be that speeches on all occasions , especially on Masonic occasions , should be made as short as possible . I am sure you must
all agree v > ith me bow sensible the icmatk WAS , and how wise it would be fur us to follow it . I will thank ynu , therefore , now to drink " The Health of Lord Skelmersdale , the Great Piiir of England and Wales . " Most of us know him peisonally , and have seen the way he performs all his duties . It is not only the charming manner that he has about him , but I do think that as a fine ,
upstanding , handsome Englishmen he is very well worth looking at . He holds his position well wherever he goes . I am old enough to remember him when a very little boy , and I have watched his career since he was that small boy and until he grew the fine man he is . He takes a leading part in all manly English pursuits and sports . In those pursuits and sports , in cricket for instance , he excels , and it is
gratifying to us , who are members of this Order , to have such a fine type of an Englishman at our head . Up to this point I have omitted the name of a distinguished visitor which I ought to have coupletl with this toast . That distinguished visitor has done me the honour to-day of installing me in the dignified position I now hold . With "ihe Health of Lord Skelmersdale" I beg to give you " The
Knights Templar.
Health of the Sub-Prior , Col . Shadwell Clerke . " He comes next in rank to Lord Skelmersdale , and we are all aware how able a lieutenant Lrrd Skelmersdale has in him . Aware as we are of this fact , I am sure none of us are more aware of it than Lord Skelmersdale himself . His ability was shewn most manifestly to-day . I must say I am deeply impressed with the ceremony in which I took
a principal parr . I have never seen it before , and what pleased me more than anything else was that all the Sir Knights were permitted to see the whole ceremony . We old Masons can see the necessity of a Board of Installed Masters , where every one but an installed Master is kept out of the lodge at an installation ; but in this degree everybody is allowed to be present to see what is done ,
and I was particularly gratified to find that they had the opportunity of witnessing a ceremony performed in an admirable manner . It was a very beautiful ceremony , and I am quite sure I had the sympathies of you all when I submitted to that patriarchal benediction which -was so ably delivered . Col . Shadwell Clerke , in reply said : I thank you very sincerely indeed for this toast . Having
had the privilege of knowing your Provincial Prior for many years it was a high honour for me to attend to instal him . I felt at the same time very sorry indeed that that was in succession to so good and so worthy a Sir Knight as I have on my right ( Dr . Harcourt . ) Still , these things must be done when ordered , and consequently I am here to-day . As I said just now , it was verv gratifying to
me to put so good and worthy a brother in the chair . I omitted to tell you that Lord Skelmersdale fully intended to be down here ; but at the last moment there was an important whip in the House of Lords . He told me yesterday that it was perfectly impossible he could attend here , and he begged me to apologise to thc Provincial Prior and the Sir Knights present . All you who know Lord
Skelmersdale will credit him with a desire to be here . The Duke of Connaught would also have been here , but I know of my own knowledge that it was simply impossible he could attend . As short speeches are the order of the day , I will not say more than that I am very much obliged to you indeed , and also tender my best thanks to the very
important officer , the Prelate of the Order , who assisted me , and whose duties gave great zest to the proceedings . Dr . Harcourt proposed the next toast , and said : I am just placed in that position to observe a happy metlium . I am afraid of saying too much , and I should be ashamed if I said too little . I cannot
sufficiently praise the high individual : o whom this glass is dedicated—the Provincial Prior of Surrey . You need not any great or grand language from me to show you the charm he feels in Masonry , the interest he takes in it , or how much the welfare of this province must increase under his auspices . I think you are fortunate in having so able and so excellent a Sir Knight to preside over you . I have
no doubt that he will properly exact from you due obedience to his orders , and that at the same time those orders will be such as will entitle him to the love and esteem of every member of the province . From circumstances of many years' standing I might say a great ileal more , but the order of the day is short speeches , and if I made a speech of an hour I could not add to the high position our
Provincial Prior has taken in the Craft , and not only in the Craft but in the province and in society . General Brownrigg , in reply , said : I hope that when the time arrives that I find myself in the position the Sir Knight who has just preceded me finds himself , I may be enabled to retire with thc grace and dignity with which he has retired from his office . I think nothing can be moie touching
than the way in which he has spoken to us . We all know the admirable way in which he has performed his woik , and it makes it aM the more difficult for those who succeed him to perform their duties . I will , however , sincerely do my best to follow the good example he has set me . I must own that I feel disappointed at the state of thc Order in the province . At this Provincial Priory one
preceptory is not represented at all , and one preceptory is almost extinct . However , I was a little bit encouraged by a conversation I had with one of the members of the Grove Preceptory , and 1 am not without hope that with a little good fee-ling , and a little give-md-take on both sides we may be able to recuscitate that . I think with the instincts of an old soldier I may be able to impress upon
them that obedience—and not only obedience , but in fact fidelity to our Masonic promises—should induce them to come under our banner again . I have good hopes that we may be able to succeed . I thank you Sir Kt . Harcourt for the kind way you have spoken of myself , and I can only say that 1 trust when the fime of my retirement comes I may retire as full of years and as full of honours as you do .
General Brownrigg : Sir Knights , I ou-jht to have coupled the few observations I ventured to make in our excellent Sir Knight Harcourt ' s presence with a command that you should join me and show your old fidelity by drinking his health . 1 am sure there has been no toast drunk this evening with greater warmth , affection , or fervour than the toast I now ask you to drink to "Our Past Excellent
Prior . " Dr . Harcourt , in acknowledging the toast , said If there is one thing more than another that I dislike it is " ego " -ism ; yet from the veiy candid way in which this toast has been received , I find that if I were to give way to it I could only talk of myself . That I beg to decline . At the same time , 1 feel how grateful I am at having the good opinion of those with whom I have been so long in contact . It was certainly a source of much regret on my
pail to retire from the high position that 1 held ; but there were vaiious reasons for it . I found that 1 had not the energy that is absolutely necessary in these days to carry on the work . I felt tint my time was getting past , and that a new Provincial Prior would give life and energy to the Order . That was one reason why I wished to retire ; I do not intend to retire altogether . I hope for a long time to cornel may , like the old soldier , " shoulder
Knights Templar.
my crutch , " and see in preceptorics how the work is done . Col . Shadwell-Cletke , in proposing " The Health of the Rev . Ambrose W . Hall , " said : We have met here to-day under the banner of the Harcourt Preceptory . Before the Provincial Priory was opened we met in the Harcourt Preceptory , and I believe every one here will agree with me that we were charmed with the beautiful work we saw
there . I never saw better work in the course of my life , and I must congratulate the Harcourt Preceptory on the manner in which it was done , and mote especially on having an Eminent Preceptor who could do the work so beautifully . Our Bro . Sir Knight Ambrose Hall has made his name in the Order of the Temple , as he has done in other Orders ; whatever Orders he has entered into he has
made his mark there . I have had the privilege of know ing him some years , and I do really mean it when I say that a more enthusiastic and a more effective worker in all these different Orders wc belong to I have never come across in my life . It is , therefore , Sir Knights , a very great and peculiar pleasure to me to be permitted to propose to-night his health , as the Preceptor of the Harcourt
Preceptory , to thank him personally for the treat he has given me and the other visitors , in shewing how the Templar ceremony should be worked in its proper manner . I congratulate thc candidate to-night , our Sir Knight , Dr . Gooding , on having really received that degree in proper style , which is not always the case in this Order , as fretiueiitly the reception of other dcgiees is not in their
respective Orders . It is a very great pleasure to me to see our Bro . Hall perform that work , and I , therefore , have even unusual pleasure in proposing his health to-night , as the Preceptor of the leading preceptory in the Provincial Priory of Surrey . The Rev . Ambrose W . Hall in reply said : I consider this a proud day for the Harcouit Preceptory ; but at the same time , I consider that my name
being drunk alone is not quite what it should be , because we of the Harcourt Preceptory are as a body entertaining the Provincial Priory of Surrey . At the same time , for the kind words that have emanated from our very excellent and worthy Grand Sub-Prior I assure you that I , as Eminent Preceptor of this preceptory ( and 1 feel and speak the sentiments of all the Sir Knights
belonging to it ) have very great pleasure in seeing so cminen t a Mason as himself , and the very eminent men who compose the Provincial Priory of Surrey , in our midst . He has alluded to the Harcourt Preceptory as thc first of this province . Although the prcceptories here are small in numbe , we are the £ head of them , and I have endeavoured , by good work , though not of the quality
Col . Clerke has made it , to make the preceptory a good one . That I shall continue to endeavour to do , and I know the other Sir Knights who succeed me will do as I have done . Thus we shall keep the Harcourt Preceptory in the proud position it now holds in this very important province . I trust that our very Excellent and Eminent Provincial Grand Prior will have the opportunity of often
coming among us , and when he does he may be assured that he will have that kind and brotherly greeting which we have endeavoured to hold out to him to-day . Speeches , as you say , should be short , and therefore I will not say much more , except that this preceptory , standing , as it does , in an excellent position , will , I hope , give an impetus to the other prcceptories of the province , which I
think have not done their duty towards our very Eminent Provincial Grand Prior—that it will show them what they ought to do . I think they ought to have been represented here to-day , and I hope and trust that thc preceptory , to which the Eminent Prior has alluded , at Ewell , thc Grove Preceptory will , through his influence—and I know his influence is great , and his persuasion and kind courtesy
of manner is still greater—pcrsuaele that preceptory to hold its own again in this province . General Brownrigg : Sir Knights , there is at least one more toast , which perhaps we ought to have drank before , the toast of " The Visitors . " Wc have several distinguished visstors here ; but there is one especially who has made his mark in our Order , and who has done right
and real good service . All those who know him and have the advantage of his personal acquaintance love and respect him ; and therefore in giving " Thc Health of the Visitors , " 1 shall couple with it " The Health of Sir Kt . Patrick Colquhoun . " I could say a great ileal more , but in his presence I would rather not do so . We began by saying we would make short speeches , but I fear we have
gone into longer ones than I intended . I ask you to drink thc toast of " The Visitors , " and to receive it with all the warmth of fraternal affection , coupling with it the name of Sir Kt . Patrick Colquhoun , Past Grand Chancellor of the Order . Sir Patrick Colquhoun—On behalf of the visitors , and on my own behalf , I return you my hearty thanks for the compliment paid to me individually , and to the visitors through me . I speak to you as a kind of corpus
mortuum , and you will look upon me in the light of a resurrection . If you will allow me to say , it puts me in mind of that distinguished prophet and that unfortunate monarch who read the writing on the wall on a certain palace . On my own behalf and on that of the visitors 1 thank you cordially and heartily , and I think I have now made the shortest speech of the evening . ( Laughter . ) The Equerry ' s toast was next given b y Sir Kt . George Harrison , and drank by the Sir Kni ghts , after which thc company returned to town .
On the occasion of the inspection of the squadron at Spithead by her Majesty , on Tuesday next the 13 th inst ., there will be no general issue of tickets , as only a very limited number of vessels can be set apart for the conveyance of official visitors . Naval officers on half-pay , and
military officers of Portsmouth , garrison , will be accommodated on board her Majesty ' s ships Valorous and Dasher respectively , and should apply to the Commaneler in Chief ' s office at Portsmouth Dockyard . The inspection will take place at four p . m .