The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-05-23

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Till the HOURS of waiting are weary to
bear,
And the courage is hard to keep!
Nevertheless, know
Out Of the dark must grow,
Sooner or later, whatever is fair,
Since the heavens have willed it so.
The GRANDRsT MASONIC CEREMONY OF
THE CENTURY.-A latter, dated London,
April 20, says: Yesterday, H. R. III. AL
bert Edward. Prince of Wales, next King
OF the United Kingdom, was installed as
Nd. w. Grand Master Of England, in the
presence of the largest Masonic body
| ever convened since the building Of
King Solomon's Temple. 1000 of the
| most advanced, intelligent and eminent
Masons of England assembled in Albert
Hall, and participated in the heceremonies.
The Hall is situated on the Kensington
| road. opposite the South side of Hyde
Park. 1t was built by stock company,
and named after the late Prince Albert.
It has large and magnificent organ in
the South end, in front of which, for the
installation. stood the great chair of NJ.
w. G. Nj. The ceiling Of the entire room
is of glass, arched in the form of q dome.
The seating capacity is just 1000; but
had the hall been ten times greater it
would have been crowded. The COM
mittee, however, limited the tickets of
admission to the exact number of sents
and confined their invitations to officers
| of the various grand lodges. to a few re-
porters and to eminent members of the
craft from abroad. So greet was the
general anxiety Of the craft to be present
on this auspicious occasion, that from
ten to twenty pounds was offered for the
privilege of acting az substitute for dele
gates, but each ticket was filed with the
recipients name. and the owner was
| made to understand that the card was
not transferable.
The ball is oval in form, with An i'm
mense n ems concave 'parq.uette holding about
1900 persons. Rising above this, and
extending clear round the building-ex-
cepting where they are broken by the
| organ-are five tiers of boxes, or galle-
| ries. The front of the platform, contain
ing the Grand Masters chair, was pro-
fusely garnished with rare plants and
flowers in pots arranged with artistic
| effect. The three chairs used by the
Grand Master, the Senior Warden and
the Junior Warden were large and an
| cient frames covered entirely with heavy
gold leaf, and tho upholstering was in
rich blue silk velvet. Near each chair
was lighted wax candle, representing
the three "lesser lights" supported by
magnificent golden candle-sticks. A
new and gorgeous carpet, ten feet in
width, having light-blue ground with
appropriate figures in yellow and orange,
was laid in the broad centre aisle, from
the grand Northern entrance to the front
OF the platform in the South end. From
the top Of the Grand Masters chair
4 wQvQ6 70 1uhS 4 1
traditional plume Of the Prince of Wales.
| Every man was dressed in a fine black
coat, vest and pantaloons, white shirt
and collar, with white neck-tie, and
white kid gloves. Over and around the
shoulders were worn Masonic collars Of
gold, scarlet, purple, and q dozen tints
Of blue. Through these shone the i'm.
macuiate white shirt and neck-tie. sur
mounted by heads supporting flowing
locks of black. gray and white. For the
effect Of light and shade, nothing could
be grander. The brothers all sat so lear
together that the grouping of colors was
| continuous in one immense circle, like
tho interior Of large and brilliant
flower. The time was passed in social
conversation and in forming new ac-
quaintances until 8 o'clock. Then the
officers Of the Grand Lodge, followed by
| II. H. H. tuo xIlQO0 OF WAleS ana his
brother Arthur, the Duke of Connaught,
entered the room, passed up the grand
aisle, and took seats ON the platform.
The Earl Of Carnarvon, Lord Lieutenant
of Ireland, who was acting az Pro Grand
Master, now administered the necessary
oath to H. r. H. in the most impressive
manner. 1t was a fine illustration of the
spirit of Masonry, the futnre King of
England kneeling before his subj jects
while taking the necessary obligation.
After the Prince had risen from his
knees he was invested with richly en-
broidered apron, collar and jewels and
proclaimed Grand Master, end then he
was greeted with round after round Of
applause. Then he seated himself in
tho great throne, or "Chair Of the East, f"
clothed in his rich Masonic apparel, his
face beaming with delight, blended with
thorough consciousness of the solemni-
ty of his obligations. He was now well
coined in q congratulatory speech by the
Earl Of Carnarvon. The Prince arose
and replied in q short speech of about
five minutes, in voice Of deep, mellow