who had been previously re-obligated and certified by the LODGE OF RECONCILIATION, and provided with tickets, signed and countersigned by the two Secretaries thereof, were arranged on the two sides in the following manner; that is to say: The Masters were placed in the front. The Wardens on benches behind. The Past Masters on rising benches behind them. And the Lodges were ranked so that the two Fraternities were completely intermixed. The Masters, Wardens, and Past Masters, all dressed in black (regimentals excepted), with their respective Insignia, and in white aprons and gloves, took their places by eleven o'clock in the forenoon. The Grand Masters, Past Grand Masters, Deputy Grand Masters, Grand Officers, and distinguished Visitors, of the two Fraternities, assembled in two adjoining rooms, in which they opened two Grand Lodges, each according to its peculiar solemnities, and the Grand Procession moved towards the Hall of Assembly, in the following order: Grand Usher, with his Staff. Grand Usher, with his Staff. The Duke of Kent's Band of Music, fifteen in number, all Masons, three and three. Two Grand Stewards. Two Grand Stewards. A Cornucopia, borne by a Master Mason. Two Golden Ewers, by two Master Masons. In single file, rank opposite to rank, with the The Grand Secretary, bearing the Book of The Pillar of the Junior Grand Warden on a The Junior Grand Warden, with his Gavel The Grand Chaplain, with the Holy Bible. Provincial Grand Masters, with their Gavels. The Pillar of the Senior Grand Warden on a The Pillar of the Senior Grand Warden, on a The Senior Grand Warden, with his Gavel. The Senior Grand Warden, with his Gavel. Two Past Deputy Grand Masters. The Deputy Grand Master. The Acting Deputy Grand Master. His Excellency the Count de Lagardje, the Swedish Ambassador, Grand Master of the first Lodge of the North, Visitor. His Royal Highness the DUKE of KENT, with the Act of Union, in duplicate. The Ionic Light. THE GRAND MASTER OF ENGLAND, THE GRAND MASTER OF ENGLAND, Two Grand Stewards. Grand Tyler. On entering the Hall, the Procession advanced to the Throne, and opened and faced each other, the music playing a march composed for the occasion. The two Grand Masters then proceeded up the centre, followed by the Grand Master Visitor, the Deputy Grand Master, &c. all in the order reversed; those the most advanced returning in single file, to turn, re-advance, and take their places. The musicians ranging themselves in the gallery over the Throne. The Brothers bearing the Cornucopias, Vases, &c. placing themselves in the seats assigned them. The two Grand Masters seated themselves, in two equal chairs, on each side the Throne. The Visiting Grand Master, and other Visitors of distinction, were seated on each side. The other Grand Officers and Visitors, all according to degree. The Director of the Ceremonies, Sir George Nayler, having proclaimed silence, the Rev. Dr. Barry, Grand Chaplain to the Fraternity under the Duke of Kent, commenced the important business of the Assembly with holy prayer, in a most solemn manner, The Act of Union was then read by the Director of the ceremonies. The Rev. Dr. Coghlan, Grand Chaplain to the Fraternity under the Duke of Sussex, proclaimed aloud, after sound of trumpet"Hear ye: This is the Act of Union, engrossed, in confirmation of Articles solemnly concluded between the two Grand Lodges of Free and accepted Masons of England, signed, sealed, and ratified, by the two Grand Lodges respectively; by which they are to be hereafter and for ever known and acknowledged by the style and title of The United Grand Lodge of Ancient Freemasons of England. How say you, Brothers, Representatives of the two Fraternities? Do you accept of, ratify, and confirm, the same?" To which the Assembly answered, "We do accept, ratify, and confirm the same." The Grand Chaplain then said, "And may the Great Architect of the Universe make the Union perpetual !" To which all the Assembly replied, "So mote it be." The two Grand Masters and the six Commissioners signed the Instruments, and the two Grand Masters then affixed the Great Seals of their respective Grand Lodges to the same. The Rev. Dr. Barry, after sound of trumpet, then proclaimed"Be it known to all men, That the Act of Union between the two Grand Lodges of Free and Accepted Masons of England, is solemnly signed, sealed, ratified, and confirmed, and the two Fraternities are one, to be from henceforth known and acknowledged by the style and title of The United Grand Lodge of Ancient Freemasons of England; and may the Great Architect of the Universe make their Union perpetual!" And the Assembly said "AMEN." Brother Wesley, who was at the organ, performed a symphony. The two Grand Masters, with their respective Deputies and Wardens, then advanced to the Ark of the Masonic Covenant, prepared, under the direction of the W. Brother John Soane, R.A. Grand Superintendent of the Works, for the edifice of the Union, and in all time to come to be placed before the Throne. The Grand Masters standing in the East, with their Deputies on the right and left; the Grand Wardens in the West and South; the square, the plumb, the level, and the mallet, were successively delivered to the Deputy Grand Masters, and by them presented to the two Grand Masters, who severally applied the square to that part of the said Ark which is square, the plumb to the sides of the same, and the level above it in three positions; and lastly, they gave it three knocks with the mallet; saying, "May the Great Architect of the Universe enable us to uphold the grand Edifice of Union, of which this Ark of the Covenant is the symbol, which shall contain within it the instrument of our brotherly love, and bear upon it the Holy Bible, square, and compass, as the light of our faith and the rule of our works. May he dispose our hearts to make it perpetual!" And the Brethren said, "So mote it be." The two Grand Masters placed the said Act of Union in the interior of the said Ark. The cornucopia, the wine, and oil, were in like manner presented to the Grand Masters, who, according to ancient rite, poured forth corn, wine, and oil, on the said Ark, saying-" As we pour forth corn, wine, and oil, on this Ark of the Masonic Covenant, may the bountiful hand of Heaven ever supply this United Kingdom with abundance of corn, wine, and oil, with all the necessaries and comforts of life; and may He dispose our hearts to be grateful for all his gifts!" And the Assembly said, "AMEN." The Grand Officers then resumed their places. A Letter was read from the R. W. Brother Lawrie, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, transmitting Resolutions of that Grand Lodge in answer to the letter of the M. W. the Grand Masters of the two Grand Lodges, announcing to them the happy event of the Union, and requesting them to appoint a deputation agreeably to Art. IV. of the Act of Union. And it was ordered that these Resolutions be inserted on the minutes of this day. A Letter was also read from the W. Brother W. F. Graham, Deputy Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Ireland, transmitting Resolutions of that Grand Lodge, in answer to a similar communication from their Royal Highnesses the two Grand Masters of the respective Fraternities in England. It was ordered that these Resolutions be entered on the minutes of this day. In consequence of its having been found impracticable, from the shortness of the notice, for the sister Grand Lodges to send deputations to this Assembly according to the urgent request of the two Fraternities, conferences had been held with all the most distinguished Grand Officers and enlightened Masons resident in and near London, in order to establish perfect agreement upon all the essential points of Masonry, according to the Ancient Traditions and general practice of the Craft. The members of the Lodge of Reconciliation, accompanied by the Most Worshipful his Excellency Count De Lagardje, Grand Master of the First Lodge of Freemasons in the North, the Most Worshipful Brother Dr. Van Hess, of the Grand Lodge of Hamburgh, and other distinguished Masons, withdrew to an adjoining apartment, where, being congregated and tiled, the result of all the previous conferences was made known. The Members of the Lodge of Reconciliation, and the distin guished Visitors, on their return, proceeded slowly up the centre in double file; and as they approached the two Grand Masters they opened, and the Grand Visitors advanced; when his Excellency the Grand Master of the First Lodge of the North audibly pronounced that the forms settled and agreed on by the Lodge of Reconciliation were pure and correct. This being declared, the same was recognised as the forms to be alone observed and practised in the United Grand Lodge, and all the Lodges dependant thereon, until time shall be no more. The Holy Bible, spread open, with the square and compasses thereon, was laid on the Ark of the Covenant, and the two Grand Chaplains approached the same. The recognized obligation was then pronounced aloud by the Rev. Dr. Hemming, one of the Masters of the Lodge of Reconciliation; the whole Fraternity repeating the same, with joined hands, and declaring," By this solemn obligation we vow to abide, and the Regulations of Ancient Freemasonry now recognized strictly to observe." The Assembly then proceeded to constitute one Grand Lodge; in order to which, the Grand Masters, Deputy Grand Masters, Grand Wardens, and other acting Grand Officers of both Fraternities, divested themselves of their Insignia, and Past Grand Officers took the chairs; viz. the R. W. Past Deputy Grand Master Perry in the chair, as Deputy Grand Master; the R. W. Robert Gill, as Senior Grand Warden, and the R. W. James Deans, as Junior Grand Warden. His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent then, in an eloquent address, stated that the great view with which he had taken upon himself the important office of Grand Master of the Ancient Fraternity, as declared at the time, was to facilitate the important object of the Union which had been that day so happily concluded. And now it was his intention to propose his illustrious and dear relative to be the Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge; for which high office he was in every respect so eminently qualified. He therefore proposed his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex to be Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of Ancient Freemasons of England for the year ensuing. This was seconded by the R. W. the Hon. Washington Shirley; and, being put to the vote, was unanimously carried in the affirmative, with masonic honours. His Royal Highness was placed on the Throne by the Duke of Kent and the Count Lagardje, and solemnly obligated. The Grand Installation was fixed for St. George's Day. Proclamation was then made, that the Most Worshipful Prince Augustus Frederick Duke of Sussex, Earl of Inverness, Baron Arklow, Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, was elected and enthroned Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of Ancient Freemasons of England. And his Royal Highness received the homage of the Fraternity. H. R. H. the Grand Master then nominated the Grand Officers for the year ensuing; and, as it will be interesting to all our ma sonic readers to know who were the first officers under the Union, we shall here insert their names: Brother the Rev. Samuel Hemming, D.D. Senior Grand Warden. Isaac Lindo, Esq. John Dent, Esq. William Meyrick, Esq. William Henry White Rev. Edward Barry, D.D. Sir George Nayler It was then solemnly proclaimed, that the two Grand Lodges were incorporated and consolidated into one, and the Grand Master declared it to be open in due form according to ancient usage. The Grand Lodge was then called to refreshment; and the cup of Brotherly Love was delivered by the Junior Grand Warden to the Past Deputy Grand Master, who presented the same to the Grand Master; he drank to the Brethren-" Peace, good will, and brotherly love, all over the world;"-and he passed it. During its going round, the vocal band performed a song and glee. The Grand Lodge was re-called to labour; when, as the first act of the United Fraternity, his Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, after an elegant introduction, moved "That an humble Address be presented to his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, respectfully to acquaint him with the happy event of the Re-union of the two Grand Lodges of Ancient Freemasons of Englandan event which cannot fail to afford lively satisfaction to their illustrious Patron, who presided for so many years over one of the Fraternities, and under whose auspices Freemasonry has risen to its present flourishing condition. That the unchangeable principles of the Institution are well known to his Royal Highness, and the great benefits and end of this Re-union are to promote the influence and operation of these principles, by more extensively inculcating loyalty and affection to their Sovereign-obedience to the laws and magistrates of their country—and the practice of all the religious and moral duties of life-objects which must ever be dear to his Royal Highness in the Government of his Majesty's United Kingdom. That they humbly hope and pray for the continuance of the sanction of his Royal Highness's fraternal patronage; and that they beg leave to express their fervent gratitude for the many blessings which, in common with all their fellow-subjects, they de |