TWO HUNDRED YEARS OF MASONRY.

THE KING'S MESSAGE.

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More than 8000 brethren assembled in the Albert' Hall on Saturday afternoon ait an Especial. Grand Lodge of Masons to celebrate the bicentenary of the foundation of the Grand Lodge of England in 1717. . -

The Lodge was opened by tho Deputy Grand Master, Mr. T. F. Halsey. A procession was formed and the Duke of Connaught, Grand Master, took Uis seat oh the Grand Master’s throne, supported on his right by the Deputy Grand Master, and, in the Wardens’ chairs, by Lord Rhondda and Lioutenant,General Sir Francis Lloyd, the Senior and Junior Grand Wardens for the year. There were also present Lord Donoughmore, Grand Master of Ireland, with six other of the Grand Officers of Ireland ; BrigadierGeneral Gordon Gilmour, Grand Master Mason of Scotland, with Lord Blythswood, Lord Montgomerie, Sir Robert Inches, and four other of the Grand Officers of Scotland; Major"T. F. Cooper, District Grand Master of Malta, the District Grand. Masters of Argentina, Ceylon, and Bengal; the Provincial Grand Masters of Gloucester, Surrey, Yorkshire (West Riding), Leicestershire and Rutland, Monmouth, Somerset, Hereford, Berkshire, Essex, Lincoln, Bucks, Cambridge, Oxford, Northumberland, Worcester, Kent, Devonshire, Norfolk, and Middlesex.

The Duke of Connaught announced that in the name of the brethren be had sent the following telegram to the King:—.

“ Eight thousand Masons are assembled in the Albert Hall to celebrate the two hundredth armiyersary of British Freemasonry in England. I desire on their behalf, to take,this opportunity of renewing our expressions of loyalty and devotion to your Throne and person and to. wish you long life and happiness. We pray that victory may crown your Armies and that a, just and lasting peace may be the result.—Arthur, Grand Master.’’

His Majesty’s reply was as follows:—

I have received with much satisfaction the message which you, as Grand. Master, have conveyed to me from 8,000 Freemasons who to-day . celebrate the two hundredth anniversary of British • Freemasonry in England. Please thank them most cordially in my name. The traditional loyalty of British Freemasons is a force upon which the Sovereign of this country has ever reckoned and has been to me a proud memory during the anxious years through which we are passing.—George B. and I.

Growth op Grand Lodge.

The Deputy Grand Master, in the absence of the Pro Grand.-Master, Lord Amp thill, who is on service at the fronts detailed the growth of Grand Lodge during the 200 years of its existence, from four Lodges to 3,226 in active work throughout the...