The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-05-04

The following account OF the reception
and banquet given at the Masonic Tenn
pie to Earl De Grey, the Grand Master
of England, we clip from the Chicago
Tribune of April 18th:
HIGH COMMISSIONERS FEAsTED.
Earl De Grey, Lord Tenderten, Sir
John Macdonald, Mr.. Northcote, son Of
Sir Robert Northcote, and Lestrange,
Secretary of the British Legation, at
tended the reception and banquet at the
Masonic Temple, this evening, given by
the Masonic fraternity of the district in
honor of the Earl. The Masons as
sembled were about one hundred and
seventy in number, including eight SEN
ators and thirty-four members of the
House, among them members of former
Committees on Foreign Affairs. When
the Earl De Grey was escorted into the
Grand Lodge room, he was invited to oc-
cupy the Grand Masters Chair, and af-
ter a few minutes had passed, Grand
Master Stansbury delivered an address,
breathing the warmest words Of fraternal
welcome.
Earl De Grey, in response, spoke as
follows:
"Most Worshipful Sir and Brothers
l trust you will permit me to return tC
YOU and to the Grand Lodge of the Dis
trict of Columbia my most grateful thanks
for the very kind and fraternal welcome
which you have given me on this oc'
casion. | assure you, sir, that | esteem
it the greatest honor to have thus been
received, and to have had the opportun
l., Nv TO q
Lodge Of the District of Columbia, al
honor which, am well aware, | owe MOI
to my personal worth, but to the fact
and the most important and significant
fact-that | am the representative of the
Grand Lodge of England, holding the
highest office that can be conferred on {
Mason in England-that of Grand Mas
ter-and, sir, [ esteem it a most fortunate
occasion-fortunate for me as an indi
vidual, and fortunate for Masonry il
both countries-that there should a
length have taken place so close a unioI
between Missionary in America and Ma
sonary in England and that you should
now for the first time, as you tell me, re
ceive within the walls of this importan
Grand Lodge Of Freemasons, the Crane
Master of England. We all know tha
fraternity is the first principle of Mason
airy, and therefore it is that all must re
joice at every thing which tends to binc
more closely together the Masons of diff
ferent countries. |, sir, esteem mysel1
very fortunate, indeed, to have had it in
my power to attend here tonight l shall
carry away from this Grand Lodge the
most grateful recollections of your kind
ness. | shall make it my first duty tc
tell my brethren in England of the mag
nifcent reception which has been accord
ed their Grand Master tonight, and | am
confident that | do not misinterpret the
feelings with which they will receive the
information when see them. They will
indeed rejoice that the first step has been
taken which will tend to a closer and
more intimate union between American
and English Masons. (Great applause
A union which, for my part, l always be-
'lieved existed, but which | believe will
be closer and more intimate in the fu-
ture"
The Earl was applauded as he resumed
his seat. The company sat down to BAN
quet. AT the removal of the cloth table
lodge was opened, and the government
of the Grand Lodge was supreme as in
the Grand Lodge. Grand Master G. f.
Stansbury wore the apron and sash and
used the gavel which formed part of the
insignia OF Washington. None but Ma
sons were admitted to any of the cere-
monies. Even the caterers servants and
musicians belong to the fraternity.