Grand Lodge Of Mark Master Masons.

herein this country , and when we , as I have already said , so lately joined in wishing her with the Duke of Albany all the happiness that they might with reason look forward to . But now she is left a widow amongst us , and I think we can see that it is here , as wc might expect , that she has found warm hearts to mourn with her . Brethren , 1 shall say no more , but I shall ask you to pass votes of condolence to her Majesty the Queen and to the

young widow her Rojal Hig hness the Duchess of Albany , and I am sure that I shall call forth but one feeling , and that is one of warm sympathy with the Queen , with the Duchess of Albany , and the whole of the Royal Family , not only in this Grand Lodge , but among all the Mark Masons all over the world . The following is a copy of the addresses :

To the Queen ' s Most Excellent Majesty . VVe , the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales and the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown , in Grand Lodge assembled , respectfully approach your Majesty with the expression of our most sincere sympathy and deep grief at the loss which your Majesty has sustained by the untimely death of our dearly beloved and much lamented Past Grand Master H . R . H . the Duke of Albany , K . G .

During his connection with the degree of Mark Master , H . R . H . always took the most lively interest therein , and by his many acts of brotherly kindness had endeared himself to every member . While thus expressing our condolence , our most earnest and fervent prayer is that the Great Overseer of the Universe may endue your Majesty with fortitude to support you in the hour of your affliction , and that He may vouchsafe to you a continuance of that health and strength which is so precious to all the loyal and faithful subjects of your most Gracious Majesty .

To H . R . H . the Duchess of Albany . VVe , the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales and the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown in Grand Lodge assembled , desire to express to your Royal Highness our deep grief and sympathy with the loss you have sustained by the untimely death of our much esteemed and lamented Past Grand Master , H . R . H . Prince Leopold , Duke of Albany , K . G . In this the sad hour of your grief we offer you our most sincere condolence on the sudden termination of the happiness we hoped you would have enjoyed for many years , and we pray the Great Overseer of the Universe may sustain and protect your Royal Highness in this your hour of supreme trial .

Bro . W . W . B . BEACH , M . P ., Prov . Grand Master of Hants and the Isle of Wight : Most Worshipful Grand Master , as Acting Deputy Grand Master it is my duty to second the resolution which you have just proposed to Grand Lodge , and I am certain that it is unnecessary for me to add anything to those words which have so well expressed the sentiments which actuate us all . The late lamented Duke of Albany was snatched away from us in early life ; he had not the opportunity of completing the career

of which his early life gave so much promise . You , Most Worshipful Grand Master , have alluded to the sympathy which has been evoked in every part of England , in every part of the kingdom , and in every part where Englishmen congregate , at his untimely death ; but what is almost more remarkable is the spontaneous manner in which the sympath y has been expressed . It has burst forth from the hearts of Englishmen without waiting to be appealed to , and certainly it must have occurred to them that his

early career gave us so much hope for the future that as he had to some extent it was thought overcome the delicacy of constitution which was his attribute in earlier years , so there was a hope that he would have achieved distinction and usefulness for his country for many years to come . It was not to be so ; and if Englishmen as a whole mourn his loss , so do wc as Masons , and particularly as Mark Master Masons possess that feeling in a still greater degree . It will be in the recollection of all of us that he has

come among us , and he has discharged Masonic duties with ability and with grace . He never refused to perform a duty when he thought by so doing he could prove of service ; and the manner in which on every occasion lie performed those duties endeared himself to those with whom he came in contact . Brethren , I am sure wc , as Mark Master Masons , must deplore him as having occup ied the distinguished position of a Grand Mark Master , and wc had looked forward fondly to the belief that , acting in that duty , he would have taken the most active interest , as he always did , in the

interests of Mark Masonry . Brethren , if wc mourn his loss , as our Grand Master has said , there are others who must mourn it still more . The Oueen must naturally deplore the loss of her youngest son , who , as the Grand Master has so truly said , was perhaps in her company more than any of the others . And if the mother mourns him , so must the youthful widow also mourn her young husband ; and wc cannot do better than give our unanimous assent , as 1 am sure we shall do , in the most touching manner to the address which has been proposed for the acceptance of Grand Lodge . -

The M . W . GRAND M ASTER then put the addresses to Grand Lodge , and they were carried unanimously . Bro . the Rev . Canon PORTAL , Past Grand Master : M . W . G . M . and brethren , I have to propose that an address be presented to H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , one of our Past Grand Masters , expressing the sympathy of Grand Lodge with him on the loss he has sustained in what is also our great loss , and which makes the first breach in the ranks of our

Past Grand Masters . Those who had the privilege of being present when the Prince of Wales was advanced as a Mark Master Mason by the late Duke of Albany must have been struck not more I think by the admirable manner in which that ceremony was performed than by the evidence which was then given us of the exceedingly affectionate relations which existed between the two brothers . It was , if I may so say , a most touching siirhl , and one which I think all who were present felt it to be a very great

privilege to be allowed to witness . 'The death of Prince Leopold will have alTccted his Royal Highness , our Past Grand Master , not only as of course it necessarily must as the loss of one so near and dear lo him , but also as the loss of one who seconded him so ably in all those matters which the Prince of Wales has so much at heart . 1 suppose it is not too much to say

that none of the Royal Family have so followed in the steps of his lamented father as H . R . H . Prince Leopold , whether in Masonry or in those objects of general utility—utility to the country at large—which the Prince of Wales also has so much at heart . In those he was seconded by the Duke of Albany , and his loss will be proportionately great to his brother . 'The vote I propose is as follows :

To H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , Past Grand M . M . M . of England , & c , & c . We , the M . W . G . M . M . M ., the Grand Officers , and Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons , desire to approach your Royal Highness with our heartfelt expression of sympathy at the untimely death of H . R . H . Prince Leopold , Duke of Albany , Past G . M . Master of England , & c . We are deeply conscious of the loss which the whole nation of England has sustained in the premature removal from amongst us of one who had ever desire to effort that had for its object the benefit of

evinced so earnest a promote every his fellow men . The support which our late Past G . M . M . M . has ever extended to this Order calls for our warmest and abiding recognition . We humbly pray that the Great Overseer of the Universe may soften this blow to your Royal Highness , and ever extend His protection to your Royal Highness and to the Royal Family . That is the address 1 would propose should be sent lo His Royal Highness .

Grand Lodge Of Mark Master Masons.

Bro . Sir FRANCIS BURDETT , R . W . Prov . G . M . for Middlesex and Surrey : I rise to second this address , there is not much left for mc to say in consequence of the admirable way in which it has been put before the brethren by the Past Grand Master , Bro . Portal . I myself have had a great deal of suffering in different ways , but I do not believe any one has felt so severely and acutely as H . R . H . the Prince of Wales did on the death of

his brother , the Duke of Albany ; for we must recollect that from the time he had intelligence at Liverpool of the death of his brother to the time he arrived at Cannes he took no rest , and from the time he got there where the body lay he never left it till he saw it safel y deposited at Windsor . Brethren , without any further preface I second the motion made bv Bro Portal .

The motion was put by the M . W . Grand Master and carried unanimously . The MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND MASTER : Then , brethren , I will direct Grand Secretary to have these addresses properly engrossed , and with your permission 1 will consult H . R . H . as to the proper manner in which we should approach her Majesty in presenting them . If you leave it to mc I will see they are presented in a manner that is agreeable to her Majesty and the Prince of Wales .

'Ihe M . W . GRAND MASTER having asked whether there was anything further before Grand Lodge , GRAND SECRETARY said there was nothing further before them , and the present was perhaps a fitting opportunity for him to announce an event whicli occurred very suddenly , and which he * had meant to consult his lordship about in the Grand Officers' room , if time had permitted—whether some

public notice ought not to be taken of the event . He had the melancholy duty of communicating to Grand Lodge that the Assistant Grand Secretary , Bro . Donald M . Dewar , died very suddenly on Wednesday morning . Having been actively engaged in the service , 'of Grand Lodge , he could safely say for himselt that the sad event , happening so unexpectedly , had fallen as a heavy blow on all connected with the interests of the Order . lie

had more than once had the pleasure of bearing testimony to Bro . Dewar ' s devotion to the performance of his duly . Now that the Grand Overseer ot the Universe had taken Bro . Dewar lo himself , it did not become him ( Bro . Binckes ) to do more than to say that Bro . Dewar did the duties of his office in an admirable and most efficient manner . As his death might cause some delay in the answering of communications , he must ask the kind

consideration and indulgence of lodges and brethren for the next few days until arrangements could be made , should such communications not receive that prompt attention which the influx of business in other directions in which he was concerned rendered it difficult to give . He was sure he should not ask in vain . He sent out announcements as soon as lie heard of the event . He would further indulge in the hope that whatever arrangements it initrht

please the Grand Master to sanction the result would be a benefit to the Order , and that every care would be taken that its interests would be studied in everything and in every way . The funeral of Bro . Dewar would take place on the morrow , at St . John ' s Church , Hammersmith , at 2 . 30 p . m ., and at Brompton Cemetery at 3 . 30 . He would ask

permission to state that there was on that day a very important quarterly meeting of the Boys' School , at which his presence was absolutely necessary , and that that meeting would also require the attendance of other friends , who unquestionably but for that would have paid the last mark of respect lo their late lamented brother .

The MOST WORSHUTUL GRAND MASTER : Brethren , I am sure you have all heard the announcement of the death of Bro . Dewar with the greatest possible regret . All I can say is that jusl as I was yesterday leaving home to attend this Grand Lodge I read the letter announcing that Bro . Dewar died suddenly the day before . It was a very great blow to mc , for I had a great personal regard for Bro . Dewar . I have come constantly

in contact with him during the last three years ; you must know it is my duty to be in constant communication with the Grand Secretary and Assistant Grand Secretary . 1 had the g reatest possible regard for Bro . Dewar . It is perhaps invidious to make distinctions , because we have so many good Masons , who have done their very best for the good of Mark Masonry for many years past ; but 1 believe , whether in the working of the ritual , whether

in the duties ol Orand Lodge , or the promptness with which he attacked the business of the Grand Lodge in his capacity of Assistant Grand Secretary , Mark Masonry had no stronger friend and active supporter than Bro . Dewar . I think we owe him a great deal , and however we may fill his place , for a long time we shall find it difficult ; and at our meetings we shall miss his face for many years to come . I fancy the feel ingol ' other Mark Masons

will be something like my own—that wc should wish to show in some way or another our appreciation of his services to Mark Masonry . How wc shall be able to show it is a matter of consideration , for this event has come unfortunately suddenly upon us , and we have not had the opportunity of thinking upon it ; but I have no doubt the brethren or some Committee will be able to suggest some plan by which we can show to those left behind him

our appreciation of the services of Bro . Dewar . All I can say is that I shall be happy to join in any movement of that kind , and 1 believe it will meet with warm and hearty response all over the country . Bro . Canon PORTAL : I feci it is onl y fitting and right that , having the honour to hold the office of President of the General Board , 1 should repeat what your lordship has been pleased lo express , that 1 believe the Order of

Mark Masons hare had no more zealous servant and faithful worker than Bro . Dewar . With regard to what your lordship has thrown out as to the necessity of the Order at large in some way or another taking steps to mark their appreciation of Bro . Dewar ' s services . 1 suppose the most effectual way in which we can do that will be to make some provision for his widow ; and perhaps the better plan will be that there should be an early meeting called

of the General Board at which the matter can be thoroughly discussed . Wc shall be very happy of any suggestions the brethren can make to us , and after that meeting we shall be prepared with some suggestion or another to lay before the Grand Lodge in June . I will therefore content myself by saying a very early meeting of the Board shall be held for that purpose , and I feel as strongly as the Grand Master can do that this should be done .

Bro . 1 '' . DAVISON , Grand treasurer , supported most heartily what had been said by the Grand Master and the Past Grand Master . The motion was carried . The MOST Wousnii ' i'UL GRAND MASTER- . I should explain that if I had been able to be in London to-morrow I should have been very glad

indeed to be present at the funeral of Bro . Dewar , to show my great respect to him . I am obliged this evening to go back to the country , but I cannot help saying I should otherwise have made a point of being at the funeral of Bro . Dewar . Grand Lodge was then closed ,