Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Installation Of The Earl De Grey And Ripon As Most Worshipful Grand Master, And Grand Festival.
As regards the number of lodges , they have increased from 723 in 1844 to 1 , 310 in 1869 . The number of certificates to newlymade Masons have increased from 1 , 584 to 7 , 000 per annum . As regards the income of the Craft from all sources , including the Fund for Benevolence ancl the Fund for General Purposes , as well as the charities , the increase has been from a little over
£ 12 , 000 in 1814 to over £ 38 , 000 in 1869 . This noble hall has likewise been built , and we are now saved from the reproach which almost all other Grand Lodges had earlier shaken off , that we are no longer compelled to hold our meetings in a tavern . There are one ov two other matters to which I would
wish to refer , and amongst them the fact that under your rule our Colonial brethren have been relieved of a very considerable tax upon their resources , and they have been enabled to exercise a voice , and a very important voice , in the choice of their rulers-Under your rule the appointments to Grand Office , the legitimate object of ambition to many good and worthy brethren , have
not been confined , as cf old , to London Masons only , and even to some favoured London lodges , but you have sought for and rewarded merit and long service to the Craft in every part of the kingdom . Holding" its own path , avoiding sudden change , but ever progressing , free from intolerance , free from any disposition to religious or political interference , ancl always loyal ,
intent only on its great work of brotherly love and charity , the Grand Lodge of England has , under your management , prospered , almost beyond belief . As under wise and prudent govern monts , peoples and trades , arts and commerce flourish , so under wise and paternal rule the Craft here flourished . You have been its sovereign , but you have been content to be its guide . You
have long learned the great art of letting- people govern themselves . The Craft have governed themselves ; they have governed themselves well , to their advantage and to your honour . AA o are in ourselves—I was about to say a little nation—I may say we are a great nation , and , though widely dispersed , still closcly bounel together . AVe have had , like other nations , our storms ,
now happily forgotten , and though you have had much trouble and many anxieties , it has been your good fortune to see us all for many years happy , united , and prosperous . It has been our
good fortune to have you for our Grand Master ; we have been highly honoured by having a nobleman of your your position , and I venture to add , even in your presence , of your unimpeachable honour and integrity to preside over us , but , on the other hand , I am sure you will forgive me for saying that ike post which you have so long and so worthil y filled is one which any noble , or indeed which any prince , might be proud to hold . The
influence of the Craft in England , or of their Grand Master , can hardly be overrated . Masonry is a powerful engine . Conducted as it is iii this country it is a very powerful engine for good . It is no light matter for any man , however exalted in rank , to have at his back the goodwill , the confidence , and the determined support of hundreds of thousands of his fellow-men .
It is no light matter to be the head of a society which possesses so much influence over the whole of the habitable globe . Though other ties may influence us as men , the mysterious bond of Masonry holds us still , and is not the less binding because it is not always understood . Looking at the past , comparing it with the present , looking at tlie events which have taken place ,
looking at the advancement of our noble charities , at the general progres we have made , and last , but not least , at the gratifying circumstance , that during your rule , our Prince , the future King of this mighty Empire , has , to use the words of our ancient charge , " not thought it derogatory to his dignity to patronise our mysteries , and to join in our assemblies . " Looking , I say , to all these things , it is not too much to claim for your lordship that your name will be inseparably connected with some of the
brightest days in the annals of Freemasonry . My lord , in the name of this Grand Loclge , in the name of all my brethren , I present to you this deed and this little gift . In their name I assure you of our gratitude , respect , and affection , and in their name I add the expression of an anxious and heartfelt hope that you may long be spared to gladden us by your presence , to aid
and assist us by your counsel and advice . The Earl of Zetland briefly responded , and said that he felt most deeply the warm and fraternal sentiments expressed so kindly ancl so eloquently by Bro . Havers , and that as long as he lived he would do his best to promote tho welfare of tho Craft . The deeds of conveyance of the amount subscribed , and a
splendid inkstand having been presented to the noble earl , the Grand Lodge was closed iu ample form and with solemn prayer by Bro . the Rev . AValtor P . Short , G . Chap .
THE BANQUET . At seven o'clock the brethren assembled in the new grand hall , where the banquet was served , and the only drawback was that it was inconveniently crowded , upwards of 400 brethren being seated . The Earl of Zetland presided , Earl de Grey and Ripon being unable to remain on account of the arrival of
the body of his brother-in-law from Greece . The cloth having been drawn , The Earl of Zetland said : Brethren , we are all attached to the toast that I am now about to give you , and I have no doubt you will drink it with all the honours clue to it by long ancl affectionate regard to the person whose health I am now
about to propose . AA e have been honoured to-day by the presence of tho Prince of AVales , and I am sure every brother will rejoice to see the heir to the Crown take such a deep interest in Freemasonry as he does , and as the Queen is the patron of our institutions we must all feel how much we owe to the patronage of the Royal Family . Still , I am sure no deeds of
this kind are needed to recommend tho toast I am now about to propose , as all good Masons are always loyal to the Throne . I give you "The Queen , " with three times three . The Earl of Zetland : Brethren , it is now my pleasing duty to propose to yon the njxt toast , which is "The Prince of AVales , the Princess of AA ales , ancl the other members of the Royal
Family . " I am sure you will all drink this toast with grateful ancl kind feelings , and I need not say that the Prince of Wales has his heart in Freemasonry . Seeing how much tho Prince of AVales endears himself to us by joining the Craft , we cannot but take an interest in the Royal Family that has so pong and so advantageously presided over the destinies of this country . I give you " The Prince and Princess of AA ales and the other members of the Royal Family . " —Drunk with great enthusiasm .
Tlie Earl of Zetland . —I claim your attention to the toast that I have now to propose for the first time , whichis "The Health of Earl de Grey and Ripon , Most Worshipful Grand Master , " and in doing so I trust you will drink this toast with peculiar satisfaction . The Earl De Grey and Ripon served the office of Deputy Grand Master for seven or eight years , and has
now been unanimously elected Grand Master , and I have no hesitation in expressing my opinion that a better Grand Master could not have been elected , for he has a peculiar adaptation for the high honour conferred upon him . It is most gratifying to me that ho has been choson as my successor , for during the seven or eight years he has acted as Deputy Grand Master when
other matters called me from you he was always willing to supply my place . In all difficult questions we have acted most harmoniously together , and in no single instance has there been any difference of opinion between us . You have elected a Grand
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Installation Of The Earl De Grey And Ripon As Most Worshipful Grand Master, And Grand Festival.
As regards the number of lodges , they have increased from 723 in 1844 to 1 , 310 in 1869 . The number of certificates to newlymade Masons have increased from 1 , 584 to 7 , 000 per annum . As regards the income of the Craft from all sources , including the Fund for Benevolence ancl the Fund for General Purposes , as well as the charities , the increase has been from a little over
£ 12 , 000 in 1814 to over £ 38 , 000 in 1869 . This noble hall has likewise been built , and we are now saved from the reproach which almost all other Grand Lodges had earlier shaken off , that we are no longer compelled to hold our meetings in a tavern . There are one ov two other matters to which I would
wish to refer , and amongst them the fact that under your rule our Colonial brethren have been relieved of a very considerable tax upon their resources , and they have been enabled to exercise a voice , and a very important voice , in the choice of their rulers-Under your rule the appointments to Grand Office , the legitimate object of ambition to many good and worthy brethren , have
not been confined , as cf old , to London Masons only , and even to some favoured London lodges , but you have sought for and rewarded merit and long service to the Craft in every part of the kingdom . Holding" its own path , avoiding sudden change , but ever progressing , free from intolerance , free from any disposition to religious or political interference , ancl always loyal ,
intent only on its great work of brotherly love and charity , the Grand Lodge of England has , under your management , prospered , almost beyond belief . As under wise and prudent govern monts , peoples and trades , arts and commerce flourish , so under wise and paternal rule the Craft here flourished . You have been its sovereign , but you have been content to be its guide . You
have long learned the great art of letting- people govern themselves . The Craft have governed themselves ; they have governed themselves well , to their advantage and to your honour . AA o are in ourselves—I was about to say a little nation—I may say we are a great nation , and , though widely dispersed , still closcly bounel together . AVe have had , like other nations , our storms ,
now happily forgotten , and though you have had much trouble and many anxieties , it has been your good fortune to see us all for many years happy , united , and prosperous . It has been our
good fortune to have you for our Grand Master ; we have been highly honoured by having a nobleman of your your position , and I venture to add , even in your presence , of your unimpeachable honour and integrity to preside over us , but , on the other hand , I am sure you will forgive me for saying that ike post which you have so long and so worthil y filled is one which any noble , or indeed which any prince , might be proud to hold . The
influence of the Craft in England , or of their Grand Master , can hardly be overrated . Masonry is a powerful engine . Conducted as it is iii this country it is a very powerful engine for good . It is no light matter for any man , however exalted in rank , to have at his back the goodwill , the confidence , and the determined support of hundreds of thousands of his fellow-men .
It is no light matter to be the head of a society which possesses so much influence over the whole of the habitable globe . Though other ties may influence us as men , the mysterious bond of Masonry holds us still , and is not the less binding because it is not always understood . Looking at the past , comparing it with the present , looking at tlie events which have taken place ,
looking at the advancement of our noble charities , at the general progres we have made , and last , but not least , at the gratifying circumstance , that during your rule , our Prince , the future King of this mighty Empire , has , to use the words of our ancient charge , " not thought it derogatory to his dignity to patronise our mysteries , and to join in our assemblies . " Looking , I say , to all these things , it is not too much to claim for your lordship that your name will be inseparably connected with some of the
brightest days in the annals of Freemasonry . My lord , in the name of this Grand Loclge , in the name of all my brethren , I present to you this deed and this little gift . In their name I assure you of our gratitude , respect , and affection , and in their name I add the expression of an anxious and heartfelt hope that you may long be spared to gladden us by your presence , to aid
and assist us by your counsel and advice . The Earl of Zetland briefly responded , and said that he felt most deeply the warm and fraternal sentiments expressed so kindly ancl so eloquently by Bro . Havers , and that as long as he lived he would do his best to promote tho welfare of tho Craft . The deeds of conveyance of the amount subscribed , and a
splendid inkstand having been presented to the noble earl , the Grand Lodge was closed iu ample form and with solemn prayer by Bro . the Rev . AValtor P . Short , G . Chap .
THE BANQUET . At seven o'clock the brethren assembled in the new grand hall , where the banquet was served , and the only drawback was that it was inconveniently crowded , upwards of 400 brethren being seated . The Earl of Zetland presided , Earl de Grey and Ripon being unable to remain on account of the arrival of
the body of his brother-in-law from Greece . The cloth having been drawn , The Earl of Zetland said : Brethren , we are all attached to the toast that I am now about to give you , and I have no doubt you will drink it with all the honours clue to it by long ancl affectionate regard to the person whose health I am now
about to propose . AA e have been honoured to-day by the presence of tho Prince of AVales , and I am sure every brother will rejoice to see the heir to the Crown take such a deep interest in Freemasonry as he does , and as the Queen is the patron of our institutions we must all feel how much we owe to the patronage of the Royal Family . Still , I am sure no deeds of
this kind are needed to recommend tho toast I am now about to propose , as all good Masons are always loyal to the Throne . I give you "The Queen , " with three times three . The Earl of Zetland : Brethren , it is now my pleasing duty to propose to yon the njxt toast , which is "The Prince of AVales , the Princess of AA ales , ancl the other members of the Royal
Family . " I am sure you will all drink this toast with grateful ancl kind feelings , and I need not say that the Prince of Wales has his heart in Freemasonry . Seeing how much tho Prince of AVales endears himself to us by joining the Craft , we cannot but take an interest in the Royal Family that has so pong and so advantageously presided over the destinies of this country . I give you " The Prince and Princess of AA ales and the other members of the Royal Family . " —Drunk with great enthusiasm .
Tlie Earl of Zetland . —I claim your attention to the toast that I have now to propose for the first time , whichis "The Health of Earl de Grey and Ripon , Most Worshipful Grand Master , " and in doing so I trust you will drink this toast with peculiar satisfaction . The Earl De Grey and Ripon served the office of Deputy Grand Master for seven or eight years , and has
now been unanimously elected Grand Master , and I have no hesitation in expressing my opinion that a better Grand Master could not have been elected , for he has a peculiar adaptation for the high honour conferred upon him . It is most gratifying to me that ho has been choson as my successor , for during the seven or eight years he has acted as Deputy Grand Master when
other matters called me from you he was always willing to supply my place . In all difficult questions we have acted most harmoniously together , and in no single instance has there been any difference of opinion between us . You have elected a Grand