Consecration: Barnet, No. 2509.

from their Lodge for 1895 , as its first care should be to support the Institution with which its Master was associated , but he hoped to be remembered in 1896 , and in view of the position of the Lodge , on the fringe of the active Province of Hertfordshire , which was so

consistent a supporter of the Institutions , he hoped to have a good return . While desiring to see all the Institutions supported he thought the old people were entitled to every consideration , as it was to them the present generation owed everything—and , as was well known , ingratitude was a crime worse than murder .

The Master next proposed the toast of the Visitors , of whom they had a large array , notwithstanding which they had hoped for ten more , among whom were such distinguished local Masons as Bros . Halsey and Keyser . He had much pleasure in coupling with the toast the

name of Bro . Everett , who fully deserved all the honours conferred upon him ; Bro . Tombs , for many years Provincial Secretary of Wilts ., and now its Scribe E . ; Bro . Cox the Master of the recommending Lodge—the Fidelity , No . 3—to whom they were much indebted ;

Bro . Barnsdall W . M . 25 ; and the Masters of the two local Lodges , the Gladsmuir and the Ravenscroft . The Barnet Lodge members were particularly gratified at the attendance of the latter , and hoped their presence would prove but the cement of the good wishes they entertained towards their older neighbours .

Bro . Everett replied . It was an unusual departure from custom to call upon a Brother already toasted to reply as a Visitor , besides which the Master appeared to have overlooked the fact that he had just taken part in

making him ( the speaker ) a member of the Lodge . He knew of no more pleasant duty for the Grand Officers than to assist in such a work as had occupied them that day . The pleasure was greatly enhanced by the fact that the members had chosen as their first Master their

good Bro . McLeod , who had made himself very popular throughout the Craft , not only finding his way to the hearts of the members , but ' likewise to their pockets , on

behalf of the Boys Institution . He was sufficiently behind the scenes to know it was due to the efforts of the different Secretaries , and the way in which they advocated the claims of the various funds , that the success of the Masonic Charities was to be attributed . Bro . Tombs followed , and in expressing his thanks

desired to show appreciation of Bro . McLeod by handing him the name of a young lady as Steward for his next Festival , yet he could hardy do this , as he remembered that she was not yet christened , still he hoped his grand-daughter ' s support of Bro . McLeod ' s Institution would be none the less welcome on that account .

Bro . Cox expressed the pleasure he felt at being present , and witnessing the successful start of the Lodge for which they had given their recommendation . Bro . Collingwood W . M . of the Gladsmuir saw no necessity for rivalry , and hoped the new Lodge would work with the older ones of the district , and that each

would show friendliness towards the other . The toast of the Treasurer , Secretary and other Officers was honoured , and was acknowledged by Bros . Matthews , Plowright and Cranston , after which a compliment was paid to Bro . Mantell ( Messrs . Spiers

and Pond ) for the excellence of the catering , and to Bro Fitzgerald , who had had the direction of the musical arrangements , in which he was assisted by Bro . Dr . Haskins , Daniel Price , George May and Maldwyn Humphry s .

North And East Yorkshire.

NORTH AND EAST YORKSHIRE .

THE Fourth Festival of the Educational Fund or Charities Association of this Provincial Grand Lodge was held on the 23 rd ult ., at York . The general

meeting of the Association took place in the afternoon , in the Eboracum Lodge , at which there was a large attendance of charity representatives from all parts of the Province .

The report of the Provincial charity representative ( Bro . W . H . Cowper , Middlesbrough ) was first received . This recorded that at the April election one boy was successfully elected to the Boys school , and that at the May election three aged Masons were elected to the

North And East Yorkshire.

benefits of the Masonic Benevolent Institution , and they will each , as a consequence , receive an annuity of £ 40 a year . The position of the Province , so far as voting

power in the elections is concerned , is good . In connection with the local educational fund , six new candidates were placed on the list . A number of grants were renewed , and the total annual sum now being paid

is £ 104 . Bro . J . W . Woodall P . G . T . presided over these proceedings , with the support of the Hon . W . T . Orde-Powlett Deputy Prov . Grand Master . Subsequently the Brethren , to the number of about forty , dined together in the Masonic Hall of the York Lodge , under

the presidency of the Marquis of Zetland Prov . Grand Master . The repast ended , the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed , and were followed by that of " The Educational Fund of North and East Yorkshire . "

The Marquis of Zetland on this subject said that the fund was established in 1886 , and held its first festival in 1889 , when the late Duke of Clarence was present , and the sum realised was £ 1 , 054 . Two festivals had been held since , at which a little over £ 500 was

contributed at each , making the total sum then contributed £ 2 , 085 . The festivals are now triennial , the present being the initiatory one , and he trusted it would turn out to be quite as successful as those which had preceeded it .

Bro . M . C . Peck ( Prov . Sec . ) then read the report of Lodge and other contributions of the Festival , which in the whole amounted to about £ 490 .

Bro . Todd P . P . W . and Prov . Treasurer responded to the toast , after which the toast of the great Masonic Charities was given by the noble Chairman , and responded to by Bro . W . H . Cowper . The latter Brother said that the Central Schools were finding all

necessities and education for 260 boys and 260 girls , whilst the Benevolent Institution gave £ 40 a year to 190 old Freemasons , and £ 32 to 240 Widows of deceased Freemasons ; yet this was not a charity association .

East Lancashire.

EAST LANCASHIRE .

THE Annual Meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the Town Hall , Rochdale , on the 24 th ult . Bro . Colonel Le Gendre N . Starkie P . G . W . Prov .

Grand Master , occupied the throne . There was a large attendance of Brethren . Of the 107 Lodges of the Eastern Division only one was unrepresented . Grand Lodge having been opened in due form , letters of apology for absence were read from the D . P . G . M .

Bro . Geo . Mellor P . G . D ., Bros . Geo . Galloway , J . W . Kenyon , and several other Provincial Grand Officers . The minutes of the meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge , held at Manchester on 24 th November last , were passed . Colonel Eaton P . G . T . submitted the accounts for

the past year , the accuracy of which was confirmed by the Auditors . It was stated that there was an excess of income over expenditure of £ 273 2 s Id . The accounts , after some questions had been asked and answered , were passed unanimously .

For the office of P . Grand Treasurer , Bros . Thomas Stott ( Rochdale ) , and J . Frost ( Castleton ) were proposed , but on being put to the vote Bro . Stott was elected by an immense majority .

Bro . J . Chadwick then read his annual report , in the course of which he stated that the Prov . G . M . had been called upon during the year to consecrate and constitute two new Lodges , viz ., Longsight , No . 2464 , and

the Duchess of York , No . 2482 ( Manchester ) , bringing up the aggregate to 107 . Since the Prov . G . M . had been installed there had been an increase of thirty-one Lodges , and more than 1 , 000 members . The number of subscribing members at the last annual meeting was 4 , 333 . This year they had a total of 4 , 554 . Their new

members numbered 464 . It was a matter of congratulation that the Derby Lodge , which had its warrant restored in August last , was working steadily and har * moniously . Great good had been effected by the visits of P . G . Officers to Lodges . He sincerely congratulated the Province on the fact that after years of difficulty and