Monthly Masonic Summary.

Monthly Masonic Summary .

The main event of the month has been the Installation of the Prince of AVales as Grand Master of English Freemasonry , at the Albert Hall , April 28 th . No such meeting of Freemasons has ever been held previously in England , and Ave shall

probably not very soon look upon its like again . Had there been room , Ave should probably have witnessed a muster of thirty thousand goodmenand true , instead of about eight thousand . Those AVIIO Avere privileged to be present will not soon forget the

proceedings of that clay . Despite the cavils of some , and the sneers of others , it was an event indeed long to be preserved in the memories of all true Freemasons . The sight Avas a wonderful one . That noble hall filled with TOAV upon row of serried

Craftsmen , the mass of blue intermingled Avith the purple , and here and there a sprinkling of red , all gave to the beholder a sense of vastness , accompanied by feelings of warm admiration . The reception of the Grand Master by this great assembly was from first to last most enthusiastic . At

times it almost seemed as if the cheering never would cease , as if the cheerers never Avould tire . The Prince of AVales himself Avas apparently much affected by that prolonged roll of deafening plaudits , which rose , as if from one man , from that dense mass of living beings before him . All the

arrangements Avere perfect , and reflect the highest credit on Sir Albert W . AVoods and Bro . Thomas Fenn , whose labours haA'e been untiring , but whose success has been unexampled . It may fairly be said that never Avere so many brethren so skilfull

y handled ; and so admirable , and yet so simple were all the details for admission and location of the brethren , that no hitch occurred , and all got to their places , and left them with ease , rapidity and comfort . Lord Carnarvon's speech as the Pro-Grand

Master was most happy and eloquent . It exactly suited the occasion . It spoke the truth , and it was thoroughly Masonic . Some one has said that if you say the right thing at the right time , and in the right way , you achieve a great result . And no

speech that Ave have ever listened to seemed to us more befitting the scene and the gathering . Our Royal Grand Master ' sspeech Avas admirably delivered , was well heard , and Avarmly received . It came evidently from the heart , and Avent to the heart .

Those Avho cheered him , and those who heard the cheering , will long remember the bursts of enthusiastic applause Avhich greeted his Avords , which hailed his advent , and which accompanied his departure . We all must feel g lad that Ave have been

privileged to see the 'installation , and will hope and pray that all good may accompany our Grand Master in his onward career and his exalted position , and that the link thus welded firm and fast between him and our good English Craft may never be broken .

The second great annual festival of our Charitable Institutions has passed over , and Avith signal success . Under the effective presidency of our worthy and distinguished Bro . the Lord Mayor , the Girls' School Anniversary , May I lth , has served to show how warm still are the

sympathiesofourbenevolentorder . £ 7 , 268 , returned by the SteAvards' list , is a striking amount both to collect and acknowledge . Thus the first two festivals of 1875 have produced £ 14 , 000 , and we trust that the Boys' School Festivalas we doubt not

, , will equally redound to the credit of the Craft , and equally advance the cause of Masonic charity . Here is our best , nay , the only reply we condescend to make to the childish censure and the uncharitable incrimination .

In France the Chapitres and the Grand Orient have come into collision , and though we believe that in their original proceedings the Grand Orient were in the right , we yet feel bound honestly to admit that we deem their present resolutions to be

entirely Avrong . We speak , hoAvever , with some reserve , as it is difficult for us in England , perhaps , to " envisager" the position of affairs in France . But we confess that our advice Avould be , let the Chapitres go their way and you go yours .

Do not begin an endless strife , to be accompanied by mutual recrimination . z