Consecrations.

initiation , and the names of several joining members were handed in , so there is every likelihood that the wish of Bro . Letchworth may be realised . The visiting Brethren having tendered their congratulations to the Master , the Lodge was closed and the meeting adjourned .

The consecration banquet was served in the handsome Crown Room , and reflected credit upon the staff of the establishment . Bro . Bartley Denniss presided , and the company present numbered over a hundred . A very beautiful programme of the proceedings was designed and executed by

Messrs . Unwin Brothers , and will doubtless be prized as an elegant souvenir of the occasion . During the dinner some very clever sketches of well known Masons were circulated round the room and much appreciated , though out of consideration to our talented but daring Brother we will not

mention his name . Harmony , wit , and good-fellowship , so appropriate of " the fellow of infinite jest " after whom the Lodge is named , were the keynotes of the evening , though a tinge of sorrow , occasioned by the lamentable disaster to our troops in the Transvaal , was evidenced in the remarks of some of the speakers .

The W . M ., when rising to propose the first toast , met with an enthusiastic reception . He made reference to the trouble in South Africa , and said that our Gracious Sovereign

would be grieving that day at the disaster to her troops at Ladysmith ; but he trusted that in a short time the mischief would be repaired , and the nineteenth century close in peace and prosperity .

The toast was drunk with cheers , which also greeted the name of the Grand Master , to whom Bro . Denniss made respectful reference .

Bro . Sir John Monckton responded for the Grand Officers in a humorous speech , which was heartily enjoyed . He congratulated the Lodge on its excellent start , and wished it a thorough Masonic career .

Bro . John Strachan kept the ball of merriment rolling in his reply for the Consecrating Officers . He expressed the pleasure they all had in having assisted at the launching of so excellent a Lodge . He made , a witty disquisition—equal to

Ingoldsby s Earl of Burleigh—upon the name of the Lodge , and amusingly proved that Horatio was really Hamlet's father , by the latter ' s remark in the Graveyard scene of the play . He said that men were of two classes : Bohemians and

Behome-ians , and considered that Masons belonged to the latter , as they made a point to be home—some time . He was glad to see men of art supporting Freemasonry . Art was not confined to the brush or pencil , there was the art of the pen , the art of law , and the art of depicting humanitv

upon the stage . He believed if Yorick were alive he would be a member of a Masonic Lodge . He was a lovable man , fond of good cheer , good humour , and good children , as Hamlet declared that he , Yorick , had often carried him on his back . He trusted therefore that the Yorick Lodge would

be a most lovable Lodge , where the principles and tenets of the Craft would be found shining in all their splendour . Bro . Strachan concluded a very notable speech by alluding to the reverse to the British arms that day , and begged that the Brethren would remember , whatever their opinions were ,

that among the contending armies were many Freemasons , both English and Dutch , there being nearly fifty Lodges in South Africa . All must hope that the right would prevail ,

but we should not cast any slur on our Brothers who differed from us . Hearty applause greeted Bro . Strachan as he resumed his seat , and he was obliged to rise again and bow his thanks .

In response to a call for a speech Bro . Fernandez said that Bro . Strachan had really left him nothing to say , but if he might make a personal remark he would express his

pleasure that the youngest member of Grand Lodge had assisted at the consecration of the youngest Lodge . He heartily wished the Brethren every success , and might there never be occasion to say " Alas ! poor Yorick . "

Bro . Loveland Loveland , in felicitous terms proposed the health of the Worshipful Master , and bore testimony to his capacity for the post . Bro . Bartley Denniss returned thanks , and in the course of a neat speech said that he had now occupied the chair of

Master five times , though he had only been a Freemason ten years , but he was so thoroughly imbued with the spirit of the Craft that he seemed to have been a Mason all his life . He was not insensible to his duties as Master of the Lodge , and he would endeavour so to conduct its affairs that the Brethren would not suffer from inefficient direction . Archdeacon Sinclair acknowledged the toast of the Visitors , and said it was with great diffidence he followed the

Consecrations.

previous speakers , as his heart was tinged with sorrow at the lamentable news that had reached them that day . He hoped the sad trouble would soon be over , and that the Boers

would some day become members of the British Empire . He was always glad to assist at the foundation of a new Lodge , as he considered that Freemasonry called forth all that was good in man , especially Charity .

Bros . Courtenay Luck P . G . W . of Queensland , and Guy Repton W . M . of the Drury Lane Lodge , also spoke to the toast .

Bro . J . Morrison McLeod spoke on behalf of the Masonic Charities ; and the Officers of the Lodge having been complimented , the proceedings were brought to a close with the Tyler ' s toast .

Richard Eve Lodge.

RICHARD EVE LODGE .

THIS new Lodge was consecrated on Saturday , at Freemasons' Hall , London , b y Bro . E . Letchworth Grand Secretary , in the presence of nearly one hundred Brethren . It is established ' . n connection with the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys—of the Board of Management

of which Bro . Richard Eve Past Grand Treasurer is Chairman , and is intended as a recognition of Bro . Eve ' s services , not only to Masonry and the Institutions generally ,

but with regard to his eminent usefulness to the Boys School at its Centenary Festival in 18 9 8 , when the Grand Master presided at the Albert Hall , and obtained from the Craft the unprecedented subscription of - £ " 140 , 000 . ;

Bro . Eve was installed as First Master of the Lodge , and Bro . Harry Manfield , of Northampton and London , and Bro . J . Morrison McLecd Secretary of the Boys School were invested as his Wardens . : Bro . Eve undertook the Stewardship of the Lodge for the next Festival of the Boys School .

Asheton-Egerton Lodge.

ASHETON-EGERTON LODGE .

IN regard to the formation of a new Lodge at Peel Causeway , the " Manchester Herald " understands considerable progress has been made , and hopes to give names of founders and other particulars in the near future . The title

of the Lodge will be the Asheton-Egerton Lodge , recognising at once the name of an old Ashley family descended from the Breretons , one of whom was the famous parliamentarian leader in the Civil War , and that of the Provincial Grand Master Earl Egerton of Tatton .

Merton Lodge.

MERTON LODGE .

A WARRANT for the formation of this Lodge has been granted by the Grand Master . For its accommodation a hall is being erected by Bro . John Innes , J . P ., on a site adjoining the Manor Club , in Kingston Road . Bro . E . W . Pillinger , of Merton Schools , is the Secretary pro . tem .

Legge Lodge.

LEGGE LODGE .

nnHE Grand Master H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , has I given his sanction for this new Lodge to be consecrated at West Bromwich , on 28 th November . It is anticipated the ceremony of consecration will be performed by Lord Dart » mouth Provincial Grand Master .

It is an old tale that it is an easy task to teach your grandmother to suck eggs , and some of our younger Lodges are quite as egotistical in this particular as the most up-todate outsider could possibly be . It is probably such a spirit as this which induced a speaker at the installation meeting

of the Cornish Lodge , in London , to remark that the Masons in Cornwall should look up to the Cornish Lodge to set them an example in Freemasonry . It is a pity the Brother is not named in the report we have before us , as then we might be in a better position to judge of the value of his opinion , but

probably there are very many Brethren in Cornwall who will feel as we do that the county has long forgotten more than its London namesake has ever learned . Metropolitan Freemasons , like Londoners of many other classes , imagine they are far in advance of the rest of the world—if some of

them travelled a bit , with their eyes open , they might meet with much to cause them both wonder and surprise ; and this might even apply to members of the Cornish Lodge , should they condescend to revisit the county of their childhood , which is a district by no means behind iu evidences of true Masonic principles .