FREEMASONS' ADDRESS TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1417, 2 June 1868, Page 3

FREEMASONS' ADDRESS TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH.

Amongst the numerous addresses from bodies corporate, fraternities, local councils, and. highway® boards, which have been drawn up for presentation to His lioyal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, there is, perlv-ps, no one that should carry with it so much influence as that coming from the Masonic body. The " ancient and honorable order of accepted Masons," is a constituency which recognises no other limits than those of this habitable globe. Its constituents have been the most illustrious of mankind. The Society claims to be founded on the practice of " social and moral virtue," and the three words which form its motto are " Love, Relief, Truth whether all the claims of Freemasonry have been established we will not pause to say; or whether the encomiums of its advocates or the obloquy poured on it by its enemies are deserved, it is not necessary in this place to inquire. But it is unquestionable that one of the distinguishing features of Freemasonry in England has been enthusiastic loyalty to the Throne and attachment to the person of the Sovereign. Whether ts origin was Greek or Egyptian—whether its framework was supplied by the Pythagoreans or the Essenes is at present beside the question. It is true that all great combinations leave behind them the spirit of the influence which they wield in their time, and where the essence of the bond has been rather in the spirit of the Association than the material, measure, or object of the work, while these crumble the spirit is perpetuated. One of the most enthusiastic of Freemasons was the late Duke of Sutherland, and his portrait must be familiar not only to every STason, but to every Englishman under whose observation has come the good works and unostentatious charity of the present Eoyal Family of England. It is as true as the observations of the ordinary senses that the affections will concentrate around the memories which evoke them long after the substance upon which they can be expended has ceased to have existence. To some such causes as these the ancient and honorable fraternity owes its worldwide influence.

It had been strange, therefore, if, either for the purpose of obtaining personal or political influence, the most illustrious monarch had not sought admission to its lodges. The number of English monarchs, noblemen, men illustrious by their talents, their energies, and their enthusiasm who have enrolled themselves amongst the brotherhood, may be seen in their portraits which hang round the noble room in winch the Grand Lodgo assembles in England. That the Freemasons of Auckland should have a peculiar right to address the Duke of Edinburgh need surprise no one, for if we mistake not the Duke of Kent was a zealous mason as well as the Duke of Sussex, and the late Prince Consort was also a member of ihe fraternity. There is now being exhibited at Mr. Leech's in Shorfland-street, an address from the Freemasons of Auckland to his Koyal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, which -is a remarkable specimen of the draftsman's art. Before we speak of the artistic ornamentation which surroundsit, we may as well give our readers a cop? of the address itself. It is addressed to His Koyal Highness Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, K.Gr., from the Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and accepted Masons residing in the Province of Auckland.

" May it please your Eoyal Highness,— "We, tlie Brethren of the Most Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons resident in Hie Province of Auckland, in the Colony of New Zealand, beg to express the sincere regret and deep disappointment we feel at being deprived of the privilege of tendering your Eoyal Highness in person a most cordial unci hearty welcome. Still more deeply do we deplore the distressing circumstances which have led your Eoyal Highness to abandon your projected visit to this colony; and in common with our Brethren and fellow-colonists in New South Wales, we burn with intense indignation at the appalling atrocity and fiendish malignity which prompted the attempt on your lioyal Highness's life while their guest engaged in the sacred cause of charity. We blush with honest shame that the ruffian should have disgraced the hospitality of that land which generously afforded him protection, but happily did notgive him birth.

Loyalty to the Crown, respect for the instituted and submission to the laws, nave from time immemorial distinguished our Ancient and Honorable Society* whose glory and happiness ii has ever been to have its interests espoused by the greatest, the noblest, and the most honored of this world; and we devoutly trust_ that your Boyal Highness will receive with thisassurance of respectfulregard for yourself, the renewed assurance of our devoted loyalty to the throne, and respectful attachment to the person of Her Majesty, cultivated by all the Members of our Mystic Craft, and that you will believe that she has specially endeared herself to us, as Masons, by her kindly sympathy with sorrowing and distressed humanity and modest dispensation of her bounty. Her works praise her in the gates, and the grateful tears of the poor and the needy sparkle like precious jewels in her diadem. "We venture to hope that at no distant period your Royal Highness will honor this remote portion of Her Majesty's dominions by a visit,_ and afford us an opportunity of evincing the sincerity of these sentiments. "We congratulate your Boyal Highness on your partial restoration to health, and trust that your recovery may be speedy and complete. "We commend your Boyal Highness to the care of that Supremo Being who so signally interposed on your behalf, and whose everlasting purposes embrace the most untoward events, converting them to good; and when your course on earth shall terminate may He crown you with endless bliss in the expanded realms of a boundless eternity." " Such it the earnest prayer of your Eoyal Highness's devoted Servants. John L. Tole, E.W.P.G.M., Irish Constitution. Andrew Beveiudge, D.P.G.M., Scotch Constitution. John Vakty, K, Eoyal Arch Chapter, 348, I.C. J. H. Hooper, W.M., Lodge Ara, 348, I.C. P. A. Phillips, W.M., Lodge Waitemata, 689, E.C. D. Stephenson, W.M., Lodge St. Andrew, 418, S.C. James C. Douix, W.M., United Service Lodge, 421,1.C. Charles Field Goldsbro', W.M., Onehunga I Lodge, 420, I.C. This address is in some respects, the most elaborate work of the kind that has yet been executed. Some parts of it display exquisite taste for delicacy of color, but the whole conception is not in every instance realised by harmony of detail. The seal is a massivo square gilding with an illustration of the Good Samaritan in the centre. The initial letters of the inscription are very exquisite examples of fancy as applied to caligraphic art. Some of these capital letters are of the mediaeval forms, others belong to the Byzantine period, several of them having been copied from an old Greek missal. The form of the text, however, has been made subsidiary to some very elegant scroll work in the body of each letter, and the color is unquestionably in the shading most delicate, consisting of bright blue and gold, green and gold, whilst the shading is of a feather pattern, suggested, probably, by the winged Egyptian emblem, which is so observable upon antique coins of the early period of the Soman Empire, and over Egyptian monuments. The color of this shading is a very delicate cerise, the direction oblique. The engrossing is a most perfect specimen of this kind of writing. We have not seen anything here equal to it for evonness and uniformity. The appearance of the illumination is, we take leave to think, much impaired by the effect of a dark green border, with a vertical design, which throws in the delicate colors upon the first view. It is hardly necessary to say that it is against the effect of any design to surround the oblique ccntrc shading of made colors by a vertical design with positive shades. This border appears to us to be the principal defect of the design. It is composed of a green and black with spaces for the Masonic emblems, which, being one of the most significant types of the business of the craft, form but secondary objects. The only Masonic emblem to which duo prominence is given is the radiance from the " all-seeing eye " whioh is bold and well drawn. Notwithstanding these defects the whole thing is a very beautiful specimen of illuminated ornament and Old-English and medieval lettering. The address is signed by Jno. Tarty, K., Eoyal Arch Chapter, 345, 1.0.; P. A. Phillips, W\3VE., Lodge Waitemata, 639, E.C.; D. S. Stephenson, Lodge St. Andrew, 413, S.C. ; Jno. Hooper, W.M., Lodge Ara, 1.C.; Jas. C. Doull, W.M., United Service Lodge. The fabric is of white silk bound by a border of blue silk and gold, i and a gold tassel at each of the four corners.