The Late Bro. Richard Seddon

¦ was exceedingly large—in fact the largest ever gathered together in any one part of the colony—and the general ¦ demeanour strikingly evinced not only that our late brother was held in the highest esteem , but how he had entwined himself in the deepest affections of the people . Every . governing body , from the Parliamentary Legislature to the

smallest borough council , the various professions and trades , and every association of importance , thought it incumbent to be fittingly represented on the sad occasion , the one exception being the bod } - of which our late brother was so distinguished a member , and which he held in such high esteem .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Northumberland.

Provincial Grand Lodge of Northumberland .

INSTALLATION OF BRO . MAJOR A . E . BURDON AS PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER .

A SPECIAL Meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Northumberland was held at the Assembly Rooms , Westgate Road , Newcastle , on July 26 th . There was a very large attendance of brethren , both of the home and neighbouring provinces , to witness the installation

of W . Bro . Major Augustus Edward Burdon , Past Grand Deacon of England , as Provincial Grand Master of Northumberland , in succession to the late W . Bro . Viscount Ridley , P . G . M . The installation of Bro . Major Augustus Edward

Photo Jag . Paeon 4 ' Son * , Tfeteeaf / le-on-T ^/ ie . BRO . MAJOR . A . E . BURDON . Burdon was undertaken by Bro . the Right Hon . Lord Barnard , D . C . L ., Provincial Grand Master of Durham , who was accompanied by many officers of his Province .

Provincial Grand Lodge was opened by V . W . Bro . R . H . Holmes , P . G . D . Eng ., Deputy Provincial Grand Master-in-Charge , and a large number of Provincial Grand Officers and brethren were present . Lord Barnard and the Grand Officers of England entered

the hall , and the P . G . M . of Durham , taking the chair , commenced the installation proceedings , and called upon Bros . J . Cartmel Ridley , P . Prov . S . G . W . ; Arthur C . Richardson P . Prov . S . G . W . ; Capt . G . Lisle , P . Prov . G . W . ; G . Charlton , P . Prov . G . W . ; R . Weddell , P . Prov . G . W . ; and J . Thompson , P . Prov . G . W ., to introduce Bro . Major A . E . Burdon , and he

was duly installed as Prov . G . M . of Northumberland by Bro . the Right Hon . Lord Barnard , according to the ancient usages of the Craft . Bro . Major A . E . Burdon , Prov . G . M ., then appointed Bro . Aid . Richard Henry Holmes , J . P ., as Deputy Prov . Grand Master , and in doing so stated that Bro . Holmes would now

have served under three Prov . Grand Masters . The new R . W . Prov . Grand Master announced that the present officers of the Prov . Grand Lodge of Northumberland would be re-appointed , and retain their positions until their next regular annual meeting later in the year .

A vote of sympathy with the Prov . D . of C , Bro . T . Pickering , who was prevented attending owing to a serious illness , was approved on the motion of Bro . Major A . E . Burdon , seconded by Bro . R . H . Holmes .

Addressing the brethren , R . W . Bro . Major A . E . Burdon , Prov . Grand Master , said it was undoubtedly the proudest moment of his life . He appreciated very much the high honour conferred upon him by His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught , the Grand Master of England , and would continue to do so as long as he lived . The career of the late

R . W . Prov . Grand Master of Northumberland was a brilliant chapter in Masonic history in this country . He lent dignity to all the work he undertook , and he was known to them all for many years as a true ornament to Masonry . It was a great comfort also to him to know that he was to have the

support of Bro . R . H . Holmes , and his appointment as Dep . Prov . Grand Master must be very acceptable to them all . He also commented upon the fact that a new lodge bearing his ( Major Burdon ' s ) name was shortly to be consecrated .

The proceedings soon afterwards terminated . During the ceremony music was provided by a choir consisting of Bro . C . Catcheside , Organist of Lord Armstrong Lodge and Provincial Grand Organist , and Bros . E . Craven , W . Self , J . W . Stoker , Taylor-Wood , E . J . Gibbon , L . C . Guthrie , Stuart Mcintosh , and T . P . Vinton . Solos were sung by

Bro . Stuart Mcintosh . An ode , set to music specially composed by the Provincial Grand Organist , and dedicated to the W . Deputy Provincial Grand Master ( Bro . Aid . Richard Henry Holmes ) , was also given . In the evening a banquet was held in the Assembly

Rooms , the R . W . Provincial Grand Master ( Bro . Major Augustus Edward Burdon ) presiding over a large company , supported by the Right Hon . Lord Barnard and many other prominent Masons .

[ FROM A CORRESPONDENT . ] It seems but yesterday that the Provincial Grand Lodge of Northumberland was called upon to cast the sprig of acacia in reverent homage to the memory of their late Provincial Grand Master , Lord Ridley ; and we all remember

the sorrow felt and expressed by Freemasons everywhere for the loss of so distinguished , loyal , and courtly a leader as men knew him to be . His place was hard to fill , and perhaps will never be filled . But the building of the temple never stops for the lack of any one leader , however great and

statesmanlike . As the building reaches new stages on the way tocompletion , new kinds of mankind are required to attack new difficulties and solve new problems by new forces and attitudes .