This was the fourth procession of the kind in the Province, and far eclipsed its predecessors. There was no denominational dissension or political difficulty, no Masonic prayer or invocation to annoy the religious consciences, no emblem steeped in the poison of party fanaticism to offend any nationality ; and the occasion was a general ovation, which, more or less touched a sympathetic chord in every heart. T h e procession formed in front of the Government Offices in William Street, now the new L a w Courts, but then a large enclosed area, and proceeded over the n e w bridge to the grounds n o w occupied by Government House. T h e procession and the crowd that jammed the streets numbered about fifteen thousand persons—an immense aggregation for the period. T h e greatest novelty of the occasion was the turn out of the Melbourne printers, w h o had, mounted on a huge waggon, lent by the Messrs. Langlands of the foundry, a printing press belonging to the Herald. A platform was erected as standing room for Messrs. J. P. Fawkner (the father of the Port Phillipian Press), William Clarke and Samuel Goode (two well-known typos). T h e concern was ornamented with a small grove of evergreens, and to it were attached eight well-conditioned horses, supplied by M r . Bradley of Albury. T h e animals were smothered in ribbons, and during the progress of the procession, the press was kept going, sheets worked off and sent flying. These printing specimens were neatly-bordered tracts, surmounted by a press and medallion likenesses of the Queen and Prince Albert. T h e letterpress was a chronological epitome of the most notable dates and events in Port Phillip between 1835 and 1850, and was the production of Fawkner. Of all the individuals who "composed" this "typo" contingent, only three veterans (so far as I know) survive in Victoria, viz,, Messrs. Samuel Goode, John Ferres, and Benjamin Lucas. T h e banners and costumes of several of the Societies were remarkable for style and brilliancy, and had an imposing appearance. The Masonic brethren were particularly noticeable in consequence of their display of official jewellery, and some of them wore a large number of jewels. O n e of the most prominent was Mr. John Stephen, whose decorations were profuse, and who, in addition, sported a green scarf, through his being a member of St. Patrick's Society. O d d Fellowship also did its duty. T h e members of the various Lodges assembled in force, and the difference in their costumes had, by the contrast, a very happy effect. Their banners were very good, and emblematic of those great virtues which, if generally practised by all, would confer m u c h benefit upon the h u m a n race. T h e banners of the St. Patrick Society appeared to m u c h advantage, and were objects of much interest and inspection from the circumstance that they had been systematically misrepresented and reported to be highly offensive to the feelings of a certain class of the community. This exhibition had, however, given the lie to such insinuations, and so far from being regarded with aversion, "standards of green unfurled" were regarded with admiration, especially a new one prepared particularly for the day, one side of which represented the Queen assenting to the Magna Charta of her namesake and youngest colony. T h e several Orders of Teetotalism showed off some very becoming banners, including a full-length portrait of Father Matthew, the great Irish Apostle of the cause. It would be unfair to omit the Germans, who, though necessarily few in number, made a respectable turn out, and showed three handsome banners. O n arriving upon Prince's Bridge, the Freemasons opened their ranks right and left, to afford a passage for his Honor the Superintendent and Staff to the centre of the arch, upon reaching which Mr. John Stephen, P.G.M., attended by the Masters of the several Masonic Lodges, approached his Honor, and thus addressed him :— " MAY
IT P L E A S E Y O U R
HONOR :
" T h e period having arrived for the proclamation of the Prince's Bridge, as being dedicated to the use of the public of Victoria, I a m directed by the Ancient and Honourable Society of Freemasons to deliver up to your Honor the plans and drawings of this noble and elegant structure. Having assisted your Honor to lay the foundation stone, we have upon the present occasion to express our congratulations upon its completion in accordance with the design. In the name of the Fraternity
