Provincial G.L. Of Staffordshire , Installation Of A Grand Master.

a vote of thanks to him , they must also feel grateful to the Grand Master of England for having permitted them to meet iu the manner they had done , and have as their Master ono whom they all had so long loved . Bro . Foster Gongh seconded the motion , which was carried with a cordial expression of approval . Tho Earl of Lathom , in acknowledging the vote , said ho had experienced great pleasure iu

coming amongst them . It always gavo him pleasure to go about to different provinces and see how they were prospering , and how the work was being done . Wherever he went ho had to thank the brothren for the hearty reception he met with , whioh made him tho more anxious to discharge tho small duties which he had to do as D . G . M ., and so long as the G . M . thought fit to continue him in office he hoped

he should never bo found wanting in doing thoso duties . On the suggestion of Bro . Cartwright , tho sum of £ 52 10 s was voted to be added to the list of subscriptions to be taken by Bro . Bodenham to the next Festival of the Boys' School . The brethren then adjourned to St . Mary's Church , where divine service was held . Tho prayers were read by the Rev . T . Smith , and the lessons by the Revs . W .

Randall and E . C . Perry P . P . G . Chaplains . The Ven . Archdeacon lies preached an excellent sermon , in which he dwelt on the great principles of liberty , equality , and fraternity , as carried out by Freemasons . The amount of the collection was £ 12 7 s 6 d , which on return to the Lodge was voted as follows . — £ 3 3 s to the Schools connected with St . Mary's Church ; £ 3 3 s to the Chaplains' Schools ;

£ 3 3 s to the Staffordshire Infirmary ; and the remainder between the Hospitals of North and South Staffordshire . Bro . Fowke very efficiently acted as Director of Ceremonies throughout the day . After the Lodge had been closed , about two hundred of tho brethren sat down to an excellent banquet provied by Bro . Nutt , of the North-Western Hotel , the R . W . D . G . M . presiding . At the conelusion of the repast , tbe Loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured . In

responding on behalf of the M . W . Pro G . M . the R . W . D . G . M ., and the other grand Officers past and present , the Earl of Lathom said the Pro Grand Master , than whom no better Mason lived , was soon corning back to England with , he ( Earl Lathom ) hoped , renewed strength from Madeira . Col . Gierke many of them were acquainted with , and it was impossible for any man to do his work better than did the Grand Secretary . He was sure that all the Officers of the Graud

Lodge did their work thoroughly and conscientiously , and he hoped that would always be the case . He was grateful for the hearty welcome he had met with in Staffordshire , and he was happy to find that the province was flourishing and that it was placed under the rule of so good brother as Major Tudor . Masonry has made immense strides in the last few vears . He might say that since he had had the

honour of holding the office he now occupied , he thought it was not wrong in saying that upwards of three hundred new Lodges had been consecrated . He thought it was a very small average to pat it at thirty to forty members for each Lodge , and that would give them a slight idea of the enormous increase going on in their brotherhood dnring the past few years . His own province of Lancashire was

prosperous , because though the great depression of trade had prevented many people from joining , still iu the last few years the nnmber of Lodges had increased from 69 to 81 , many of them having as many as a hundred members . If Masonry increased and prospered in bad times , what might it do in good times ? There was every reason to hope that the Craft would prosper , and that their good works

would expand and show themselves to the onter world . After a short interval , the Earl of Lathom proposed the health of tbe newlyinstalled P . G . M . Before he came to Stafford he had heard how popular the appointment of Bro . Tudor would be amongst the brethren in the province , and he must say the reception he had met with had fully confirmed the report . He should be happy to tell his Royal

Highness the Prince of Wales that in selecting a brother to rale over the province his choice had fallen on the ri ght man . Major Tudor briefly acknowledge the compliment , stating that he hoped , with the assistance of the brethren , he should discharge bis duties with honour to himself and advantage to the province . Bro . Col . Gierke proposed the health of the D . P . G . M ., referring in terms of praise to

the manner in which Bro . Foster Gough had formerly discharged the duties of that high office . The toast having been cordially received , Bro . Goagh responded , observing that the encomiums passed upon him relative to his past services were far beyond what he deserved . He could , however , assert that the same spirit animated him now as when he took the office some years ago . The Masonic province of

Staffordshire was a splendid one , and that day marked the restoration to Masons of their governor . When the ruler of a kiugdom was hereditary his loss was great , but when ono died who was not an hereditary ruler there was still greater regret felt at his death . The Masons of Staffordshire were now able to hold their proper position in the Masonic world . He had no wish to find fault with Bro . Macintyre

, indeed , he had no hesitation in affirming that it was impossible to find within the limits of the Grand Lodge a brother under whose rule the province would be more prosperous than under that of the Grand Registrar . But still it was a matter for congratulation that they were enabled to see in tbe position of P . G . M . one of themselves , one whose earnest zeal and watchfulness for the protection of tho Craft

would lead to their best interests being kept steadily in view . The P . G . M . was one who admirably obtained order and maintained discipline , which were vital to the wellbeing , if not the existence of the fraternity . Bro . C . H . Dudley gave the toasts of " the Provincial Grand Officers past and present , " for whom Bro . Gotbard P . S . G . W . responded ; Bro . Cartwright proposed " The Visitors , " on whose behalf

Bro . Bristowe P . G . Sec . Worcestershire responded ; Bro . the Rov . E . C . Perry gave tlie toast of " The Masters of Lodges , " acknowledged by Capt . Thorne ( Tudor Lodge of Volunteers , Wolverhampton ) ; Bro . Cartwright presented the toast of " P . G . Stewards , " for whom Bro . Dr . Hayes responded . Tho proceedings concluded with tho Tyler ' s toast . The enjoy merit of the company was enhanced by thu admirable singing of the Birmingham Glee Union . \ % A Mason without a God ! A ship without a rudder ! A world without light !"—Grand Master Rand , of Dacota .

New Zealand.

NEW ZEALAND .

Our Auckland correspondent supplies us with the following items : — Ara Lodge ( I . C . )—The regular meeting of this Lodge was held on Oth January , at tho Masonic Hotel , Princes-street . There was a very large attendance of the members of the Lodge and of visitin » brethreu . Bro . Durance , the outgoing W . M ., occupied the chair , and

amongst the Masonic dignatanes present were the Right Worshipful Provincial District G . M ., Bros . G . P . Pierce , Rattray Prince of Wales Lodge , Wright Waitemata Lodge , Suiter United Service Lodge , aud tho following Past Masters : —Bros . Robinson , Rees , Russell , Mitchell , Page , Roycrol ' t , Niccol , Rov . Nelson , Leers , Philips , Moat , Hewson , Trimble , Basley , Fenton , Dawson , and Rev . Dr . Xidd . Bro . Rees

P . M . officiated as Installing Master , and carried out the dnties impressively and to tho satisfaction of the old Masons present . Thefol . lowing is a list of the Officers installed : —J . B Crothers W . M ., Arthur Wright S . W ., C . S . Western J . W ., Rev . Dr . Kidd , M . A . Chaplain , Mitchell P . M . Treasurer , Russell P . M . Secretary , A ., Linahury S . D ., F . Quick J . D ., Rees P . M . Organist , Page P . M . D . of 0 .,

F . Kummer I . G ., W . H . Fenton and Young Stewards , 0 . Porter Tyler . A banquet was subsequently laid in the large room of the hotel by Mr . Panter , in a very creditable style , and was done full justice to . Afterwards the brethren adjourned to the Lodge room , where the tables were spread , and the usual toasts proposed and suitably responded to .

Coromandel Lodge , No . 450 ( I . C)—The annual installa . tion of Officers of this Lodge took place at the Lodge room , Coromandel Hotel , on the evening of Wednesday , 12 th January . Lodge was opened by tbo retiring W . M . Bro . Andrew King . The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed . A gentleman who was proposed at a former meeting was successfully balloted for .

Lodge was then passed to the second degree , and Bro . J . B . Gatland W . M . elect was presented by Bros . J . A . Dobson and J . H . Har . rison , P . M . ' s of the Lodge , for installation . Tho ceremony was con . ducted by Bro . A . King , the Master of the Lodge , ably assisted by the P . M . ' s . After the new W . M . was duly installed in the chair of K . S . he was saluted in the different degrees . He then invested his

Officers as follow : —Bros . R . Nazer S . W ., C . H . J . Hovell J . W ., C . H . Bennet Secretary and Treasurer , H . McDonald S . D ., A . Kelso J . D ., 0 . Grant I . G ., C . Coijlau Tyler . The addresses to the newly , installed Master and Officers were delivered in a most impressive manner by the Installing Master . The retiring W . M . received the congratulations of the brethren present on the efficient manner in

which ho had conducted the ceremony . He , in reply to all the kind things said , made a suitable answer , and took the opportunity to glance at the difficulties that beset him during his two years' term of office , and congratulated the Lodgo on its present prosperous state as compared with that when he took the chair . He had no doubt , with tho improved prospects of the district Masonry would advance

too . Hearty good wishes were tendered from the United Service Lodge by visiting Bro . Captain Hargreaves , and from Eden Lodge by visiting Bro . Fortzer , who also kindly offered to present the Lodge with a set of Masonic candles . The offer was accepted , with thanks . Lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned at the invitatiou of the new W . M ., to light refreshments , wheu a cheerful

hour was spent . St . Andrew's Lodge , No . 418 ( S . C . )—An emergency or adjourned meeting of this Lodge was hold on 14 th January , at the Masonic Hotel . The business was the installation of Officers for the ensuing year . Lodge was opened in due form by the retiring R . W . M . Bro . Ellison , and his Officers , after which Bro . Hewson P . M .

assumed the chair as Installing Master . Amongst the Visitors present were Bros . P . M . ' s Leers , Rev . Tebbs , H . G . Wade , J . Hatswell , Carlaw and Donall . Apdogies were received from Bros . Sniter W . M . Waitemata Lodge , W . P . Moat D . G . Registrar E . G ., G . P . Pierce R . W . D . G . M . I . C ., Rev . C . M . Nelson , and others . The Installing Master invested and proclaimed Bro . M . Niccol as R . W . M ., in

accordance with ancient custom . Bro . Niccol then installed his Officers as follow : —J . Slator S . W ., J . J . Payne J . W ., H . A . H . Hitchens Treasurer , George P « j ne Secretary , N . McCulsky S . D ., F . B . Hughes J . D ., W . A . Clarke I . G ., 0 . Porter Tyler . After the regular business , it was unanimously resolved that a letter of condolence be sent to the widow of the late Bro . Thomas Whitson , and that as a mark of respect for his memory , the Lodge be kept in mourning for three

months . The usual congratulations from the visiting brethren having been tendered , and the Lodge closed in peace , love and harmony , an adjournment was made to the dining-room , where Mr . Panter had provided an excellently-laid and well-served banquet , replete with all the delicacies of the season . The usual toasts on such occasions wero proposed and responded to , and a most agreeable evening passed .

Eden Lodge , JNO . 1580 ( E . G . ) . —The anniversary of this Lodge was held at the Masonic Hall , Newton , on 19 th January , and took the form of a ball , which commenced at nine o ' clock . There was a moderate attendance , but those present entered heartil y into the spirit of the entertainment , and a very enjoyable evening was

passed . Mr . Wright s string band contributed the necessary music : JJros . Chapman , Stephenson and Warren Stewards , arranged the details of the gathering in the best manner possible . A spread was laid in tbe upstairs room by Mr . Dallcn , iu a very creditable style , and the whole proceedings wont off in an agreeable and entertaining manner .

rpHE consecration and dedication of tho new Masonic Hall , erected JL by the Star of the North Lodge , No . 1 ( H 7 E . G ., Whangarei , took place on Saturday , loth January . Bro . Lodder and the Officers of the District Grand Lodge , who took part in the ceremony , accompanied by a number of brethreu , left Auckland by the s . s . Argyle on

CONSECRATION OF A MASONIO HALL .