Royal York Lodge. No 315

ROYAL YORK LODGE . No 315

VISIT OF TEIE PROV . G . MASTER AND THE OFFICERS OF PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE .

THE regular meeting of tho Royal York Lodge , No . 315 , which was held on Tuesday , tho 3 rd inst ., was specially interesting from the fact that the Prov . G . Master with several of his Officers attended the meeting . The Lodgo was formally opened at the Royal Pavilion , Brighton , nndcr tho presidency of the W . M . Bro . A . J . Hawkes , supported by Bros . C . W . Hudson and J . Packham , tho Senior and

Junior Wardens respectively . Tho other offices were filled as follows . —R . J . Pope Sec , W . Gibson S . D ., Ash J . D ., W . J . Smith I . G ., Payne Steward , nnd Devine P . G . O . Organist . Among the Past Masters were Bros . Foat I . P . M ., W . J . Nell , W . R . Wood , Eborall , T . Hughes , II . II . Hughes , & o . Tho nsual preliminary business having been disposed of , the ballot was taken for Bro . Paige , and he

was declared duly accepted as a joining member ; the ballot was again brought into requisition , this time on behalf of Mr . J . Saxby , who having been accepted was initiated into the Order . After some other matters had engaged tho attention of tho members , the Lodge was closed and the brethren adjourned to a banquet presided over by tho W . M . Tho various dishes provided having received the

attention of the members , grace was said , and the toasts of the evening wero commenced , tho two which usually head our lists being appropriately introduced by the W . M ., and meeting a most hearty reception , the members joining in the anthems which followed . Bro . R . W . Wood P . M ., P . G . S ., now assumed the gavel , and directed the attention of tho brethren to the important duties devolving on

the Pro G . M . Tho Earl of Carnarvon , who , he said , was not only a . prominent Mason but also a great statesman . Ho was zealous in the performance of the duties required of him in connection with Freemasonry , ancl , in fact , thoroughly carried out anything ho took in hand . He ( Bro . "Wood ) hart the pleasure of being present when his Lordship was advanced to the Royal Arch degree , ancl although that

¦ connection was but trifling , he was gratified at being able to refer to it , and now felt it an honour to have the opportunity of proposing tho health of his noble Bro . and Comp . After a song , Bro . Stride P . M ., P . P . G . J . W ., introduced the next toast on the list , Lord Skelmersdale and the the rest of the Grand Officers past and present . Ho was pleased at being deputed to propose this toast , and coupled

the name of Bro . Wood therewith . That Brother having replied , the W . M . rose . He had great pleasure in giving what all must admit was tho toast of the evening . He referred to the progress Masonry had made in the Province of Sussex since it had been under the rule of its present governor , and expressed his pleasure at being Master of the Royal York Lodgo at the time the Provincial Master had

honoured it with a visit . He thought that few of tho Past Masters . could boast of such an exceptional distinction , as it was twenty-five years since any Provincial Grand Master had been within its walls . He referred to the gratification it afforded the Masters of the Sussex Lodges to avail themselves of his Lordship ' s invitations to attend the summer picnics hegave , aud hoped thathc would long bospared to

rule and j » uide the Masons of Sussex . An excellent recitation from the S-W . followed tho toast , and then the Prov . G . Master rose to respond . He thanked the brethren for the hearty way in which they hud received the mention of his name , and expressed his regret that illness iiad prevented his attending their installation meetin -in March last . Their Master had refeired to the progress made during the past few

years in Sussex Masonry , but he hoped at the next meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge to be in a position to present a report far in advance of any that had yet been given . He pointed out that the principal aim of Freemasons shou d be the support of their charitable institutions , and for this purpose he urged the advisability of combination . He saw that the Province of Herefordshire had jnst taken the matter

in hand , and ho hoped it would not be long before every Province iu England which had not yet its charity committee would follow the example . He hoped ( hat the annual receipts of the three Charities would increase year by year , and that the time would come when it could be said that every Mason contributed something to their maintenance . The W . M . next , gave tho toast of the visitors , he apologised

for diverging from the list laid before him , but hoped the members would excuse his so doing as several of their friends had soon to leave . He coupled with tho toast the name of the Mayor of Brighton , Bro . Slay all , who briefly responded on behalf of the visiting brethren . He had been a Mason 27 years , but hitherto had taken very little interest in tho working of the Craft . The remarks of the Prov . Graud

Master on the requirements of the Charities had induced him to decide that henceforth ho would devote more attention to the work of the Order , and he hoped for the future to carry out Freemasonry in its integrity . The health of the Deputy Prov . G . Master was next given from the Chair , together with that of the rest of the Prov . G . Officers . The Muster regretted that the absence of the Deputy Prov . Grand

Master from this country prevented his being among them on the present occasion ; iu his absence he wonld call on Bro . Dixon , the S . W . of the Province , to respond . That Bro . congratulated the Royal York Lodge on the honour conferred on them by the visit of the Prov . (} . Master ; ho rcurectod the absence of the Deputy of tho Province , but hoped he would bo able to attend at some future meeting .

Hitendered the hearty thanks of the whole of tho Prov . G . Officers . j ! ro . Farncombu P . G . S . followed Pro . Dixon , adding his personal { hanks . Bro . Stride P . M . gave the next toast , that of the W . M . Since Bro . Hawkes had occupied the chuir of the Lodge , ho han unvoted his energies to making everything as comfortable and diu'flionious as possible , ancl ho felt tho whole of the member *

/ oE-jcl agree that ho had been successful . Tlie Worshipful Mastei ; i reply considered it a great thing to bo able to say that he washonoured at his Installation by a larger gathering than had ever assembled in Brighton under similar circumstances ; he , throughout hi . occupation of tho chair , had met with every consideration it was possible to bo shown him , The health of tho P . M . ' s was next given , nod

Royal York Lodge. No 315

responded to by Bros . Wood , Stride , and Sandeman . That of the Offi . cers followed , acknowledged by the Senior Warden , after which the initiate of the Evening was toasted , and he replied iu a capital speech . Throughout the evening several of those present endeavoured , by songs and recitations , to make the meeting pass pleasantly , and if wo may judge from the good feeling displayed throughout , they wer successful . Tho Tyler was summoned ancl gave the farewell toast of the meeting

New Zealand—Napier.

NEW ZEALAND—NAPIER .

NO better evidence of the spread of Freemasonry in Hawke ' a Bay could possibly bo given than that which is furnished by the fact that it has been found necessary iu the best interests of tho Craft to erect another Hall in Napier . It is now twenty years ago since tho first Lodge was opened in this town , at which time , and for that purpose , the late Colonel McGregor ,

Mr . Michael Fitzgerald , Mr . J . A . Smith , and others , obtained a dispensation from the Grand Lodgo of Ireland . Tho first meetings were held in the upper floor of a store at the Spit , and though the most primitive furniture ancl accessories wero well in keeping with the cheerless appearance of the apartment in which the brethren assembled , the warmth of heart ancl Masonic spirit that wero there

engendered gave ample promise of bearing good fruit . The canopy of Heaven being the roof tree of Masonry , it mattered little to the fathers of the Craft in Napier where they practised the rites ancl ceremonies of the Order so that they could secure freedom from prying eyes , and listening ears . But no groat length of time elapsed before better accommodation was obtained , and in due course laud waa bought ,

and the first building dedicated to Masonry was erected in this town . By this time Scindo Lodge , 419 I . C , numbered amongst its members nearly all tho principal people of the province , and until about two years ago was the only Lodge iu Hawke ' s Bay . With the growth of population came brethren of other Constitutions , who naturally aud loyallv desired to see another Lodgo established . Some old Masons

of the English Constitution thereupon met , and decided to form a Lodge which , under tho name of " Victoria , " has gone on prospering until it became necessary for the convenience and comfort of both Lodges that another Hall should be erected . This building is now completed , and was formally consecrated to-day . Situated on a section at tho corner of Munroe and Dickens-streets ,

tho now hall presents a striking appearance , the front being remarkably classic iu its design . The facade of the edifice is of the Doric style of architecture , having three windows and four fluted columns , with entablature surmounted by pediment . Admission to the building is obtained by a door , the only one , on the north side , whioh leads into a vestibule seven feet wide , from whence entrance is gained

both into the Lodge-room and into the ante-room . This latter apartment is 20 feet long by 18 feet wide , and will be ordinarily used as a refreshment room . Tho Lodge-room is an extremely handsome hall , 40 ft . in length and 20 ft . in width , having plastered walls and cove ceiling , finished with hoavy cornices . In the east , west , and south walls there are alcoves for tho chairs of tho three principal officers , whose

stations are in those situations , the eastern alcove being surmounted with cornice and crimson canopy . The Chairs are placed on dais painted to represent black and white marble . Running round tho walls are stuffed spring seats covered with crimson rep . The Masonio furniture is very handsome and complete , and much of it being tho gift or manufacture of the members , no expense has been spared to

make tho several presentations worthy of the Lodge . The officers pedestals and the altar are beautifully designed , the tops resting on entablatures supported by columns in groups of three , having carved capitals , with moulded bases and cornices complete ; each pedestal represents one of the three orders , Doric , Ionic , or Corinthian . Until jjas is laid on , the hall is lighted by a kerosene chaudalier , and

ventilated by patent ventilators . The contractors for the building were Messrs . Baillie and Davis , who have performed their work in a manner that has given the great , est satisfaction . Indeed every oue connected with the Victoria HaU appears to have vied with the other to make the building at once an ornament to the town and a credit to the Craft . We should

mendon that the architect is Mr . VV . A . Dugleby , whose knowledge of tho requirements of a Masonio Lodge , combined with his professional ability , has left nothing to be desired . To the untiring energy of J . M . Batham , Esq ., the present Worshipful Master of the Victoria Lodge , is also greatly due that Masonic spirit and zeal that have animated the brethren , by which , without any assistance , they have

quietly and unostentatiously worked together to that result which shows itself in the completion of as handsome a Lodge as any in this colony . The consecration of the new building was fittingly appointed to take place ou tho Masonic Festival of St . John the Baptist , and the august ceremony was attended by every Mason in Hawke ' s Bay who

could be present . The ordinary inoutnly meeting of the brethren of the Victoria Lodge was held at three p . m ., and tho Lodge having been duly formed iu the Third Degree , the Delegates of the Provincial Grand Lodge , were admitted at A- p . m ., with the usual honours . The Delegates were brother Past -Wasters Batham aud Harwood , Bro . P . M . Batham taking tho chair . The brethren then resumed

their seats , nnd the Secretary having read the delegation , temporary Graud Officers were appointed , P . M . ' s Kennedy and Wuudrum occupying respectively the Senior and Junior Wardens' chairs . The ceremony of dedication then commenced by the Rev . Chaplain reading the first three verses from the 1 st chapter Genesis , which was followed

oy the beautiful anthem " Father of Light , " which was most impressively snug . On the application of Brother P . M . Dransfield , the Lodge was formally examined , and Brother Architect Dugleby having returned the Working Tools , the D . P . G . M expressed his approval , Bro . P . M . Prico then announced the desire of the Brethren that tha Hall should be consecrated according to ancient form and usage ,