Ar00903

SATURDAY , 12 TH OCTOBER 1889 .

Prov. G. Chapter Of Leicestershire And Rutland.

PROV . G . CHAPTER OF LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND .

' PHfi annual convocation of the Provincial Grand 1 . Chapter of Leicestershire and Rutland was held at ! ' :-umasoos' Hal ) , Leicester , on Tuesday , the 1 st inst ., by invitation of tho St . George ' s Chapter , No . 1560 .

Comp . S . S . Partridge P . G . S . B . England , Provincial Grand H ., presided , in the absenco of the Grand Superintendent M . M . Comp . William Kelly . The following also attended Comps . G . Toller P . G . S . B . England P . P . G . H ., the Rev . W . Langley P . P . G . H ., the Rev . 0 . Henton Wood Prov . G . S . E ., J . HasaaH

Prov . G . S . TST ., J . Tuckfieli Prov . G . Treasurer , Edgar Taylor Prov . Grand Registrar , G . T . Willan Prov . G . P . S ., E . Simpkin Prov . G . S . B ., Miles J . Walker Prov . G . D . C ., F . Amatt P . P . G . A . S ., T . A . Wykes P . P . G . O ., T . Ooltman P . P . G . Treasurer , J . D . Harris P . P . G . S . B ., T . Worthirigton P . P . G . P . S ., W . J . Freer P . Z . 1130 , J . G . F . Riohardson Z . 1560 , J . Webb H . 779 , F . G . Boden J .

779 , B . A . Smith J . 1560 , S . Knight , A . Lawrence , W . D . Grant , W . 'J . Curtis 279 , W . M . Williams 1007 , S . F . M . Stone 1560 , T . Dnnn and J . Tanser Prov . G . Janitors . The St . George ' s Chapter having been previously opened , the acting Provincial Grand Superintendent and Provincial Grand Officers were received , and the

Provincial Grand Chapter was opened . Before proceeding with the business of the day , the Provincial Grand H . stated that he had received a letter announcing that the Provincial Grand Superintendent Comp . Kelly was prevented , by ficvero indisnosition . from attending the meeting , it hairier

t , "O OJ © the first occasion during his nineteen years' rule of Royal Arch Masonry in the Province on which he had been absent , and the Provincial Grand H . felt sure that the esteemed First Principal's accustomed presence would be very much missed by the Companions . He would

therefore move a resolution expressing the regret of the Provincial Grand Chapter at Comp . Kelly ' s enforced absence , and their best wishes for his speedy recovery . The proposition was seconded by Comp . Langley , and cordially adopted , and a copy of the resolution ordered to be forwarded to

Comp . Kelly . Tho rolls of the several Chapters and of the Provincial Grand Officers were then called , and duly responded to , after which tho minnte 3 of the previous annual convocation , which had been printed and circulated , were taken as read , and wure duly confirmed . The report

of the Audit Committee upon the Provincial Grand Treasurer ' s account , which showed a balance in hand of £ 22 4 s 2 d , was read , and upon motion duly made tho account was passed , and a vote of thanks accorded to the Provincial Grand Treasurer for his services . The

Provincial Grand Registrar ' s report was next read , showing a decrease of three in the number of subscribing members in the Province . Comp . J . Tuckfield was re-elected Provincial

Grand Treasurer . The Provincial Grand Superintendent having selected the following as his Provincial Grand Officers for tbe ensuing year , they were duly invested by tho Provincial Grand H . : —

Comp . S . S . Partridge P . Z . 279 15 G 0 II . T . Wortbington P . Z . 279 . ; . J . . 1 . G . F . Richardson Z . 1560 ... S . N . liev . O . Henton Wood P . Z . 279 ... S . E . J . Tuckfield Z . 779 ... ... Treasurer

F . Amatt P . Z . 1007 ... ... Registrar J . U . Harris P . Z . 279 Z . 1130 ... Principal Sojourner J . II . Marshall 1007 ... ... 1 st A . Sr . j . Carl Lowcnstein 1007 ... 2 nd A . Soj .

J . II . Thompson 279 ... ... Sword Bearer B . A . Smith J . 15 C 0 ... ... Standard Bearer Miles J . Walker P . Z . 1130 ... D . of C . J . Webb J . 779 ... A . D . of 0 .

T . A Wykes 1500 ... ... Organist James Tanser 279 ... ... Janitor The Provincial Grand Scribe E . read a communication which had b : en received from tho Provincial Grand Secretary of Dorset , with reference to a resolution

Prov. G. Chapter Of Leicestershire And Rutland.

passed at tho annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodgo of Dorset , expressing confidence in tho ability and impartiality of tho members of tho Committee of investigation appointed to inquire into the management ,

& c , of Iho Royal Masonio In > titution for B ivs . After some discussion it was conswjpral that at present the circumstances did not cull for any expression of opinion on tho

part of this Provincial Grand Chapter . An appeal was also read from certain brethren at Peterborough , soliciting contributions for tho erection of a stall or stalls in the

newly restored choir of Peterborough Cathedral , and upon motion duly made a contribution from tho funds of the Provincial Grand Chapter was voted to that object .

Apologies for absence were read from Comps . Col . Lo Gendre Starkie , W . J . Hughan , 0 . Fendelow , R . Brewin , and others . No other business being forthcoming , the Provincial Grand Chapter was closed , and a banquet followed .

Star Chapter of Instruction , Wo . 1275 . — On Friday , 4 th inst ., at the Stirling Castle , Camberwell . Present : —Comps . F . Hilton Preceptor , Moore M . E . Z ., Grammanfc H ., Fleok J ., Captain Vincent P . S ., Stono S . B ., C . H . Stono S . N ., North and Addington The Chnpter was regularly oponed . The ceremony of installation of Z . was performed in splendid Btyle by Companion Hilton . The

ceremony of exaltation was rehearsed , Companion North candidate . Companion Grummaut was eleoted M . E . Z . for the next meeting . A very hearty vote of thanks was given to Companion Fleok for hia rendering of the duties of J . ao ably , for the first time . It was aanonnoed that an installation ceremony will be rehearsed at the next meeting .

Completion Of The New Masonic Hall At Dunblane.

COMPLETION OF THE NEW MASONIC HALL AT DUNBLANE .

ON tho 16 th ult ., the new Masonic Hall for Lodge St . John , No . 9 , was formally opened for working , the painting and decorating of the building having now been thoroughly completed . The erection of thi 3 Hall owes its origin chiefly to the generosity of Colonel Stirling , of Kippendavie , whose enthusiastic interest in Freemasonry is now well known to the Craft all over Scotland . Although a

comparatkely young Mason , Colonel Stirling ha 3 already done a great deal of good sound work for the Craft , not only in hia own immediate district , but in various parts of the country . When the Colonel succeeded to the property , he learned that his father , amongBt his multitudinous engagements , took a great-personal interest in the

work of Freemasonry , and four years ago the Colonel expressed a desire that , if it were agreeable to the brethren , he would be pleased to connect himself with a body with whioh the Stirrings of Kippondavie had long been associated . The application received a cordial welcome from the brethren , and Bro . Thomas Hunter , then R . W .

Master of Scone and Perth , No . 3 , and his Office-bearers were invited to perform the ceremonies of initiation , passing , and raising . Colonel Stirling was shortly afterwards installed as R . W . Master , and he signalised the occasion by intimating his intention to erect a suitable hall . The Colonel did not allow the grass to grow under

his feet , ns on tho 26 th June 1886 the foundation stone was laid with foil Masonio honours , and amidst much popular rejoicing . On 21 * t June 1887 the hall was duly consecrated as part of the procsedings on the ever-memorable Jubilee of tho accession of Queen Victoria to the throne . The hall was built from a design by the lato

Mr . J . M'Lean , architect , Stirling , and may fairly claim to be one cf the most handsome Masonio Temples in the country , both as regards its design , its furnishings , and its general arrangements for working . The furnishings are of a particularly elegant and ornate

description , the designs being specially prepared by the architect . The mantelpieco consists of a beautiful piece of oak carving , showing the Stirling crest and motto , " Gang Forward , " combined with Masonic ambloma and mottoes . Towards the Main Street there is a

magnificent memorial window bearing a representation of Hiram Abiff and St . John , the upper part of the window and borders being filled in with Masonio emblems in harmony with the figures . Tho window—which was put in by Messrs . Swaine and Bourne , Birmingham , and is a highly artistic piece of work—bears the following inscription : —

Presented by the office-bearers and brethren of St . John's Lodge , No . 9 , in memory of their late R . W . M ., Brother John Stirling , of Kippondavie . 1887 . The work of decorating the hall was entrusted to Messrs . G . R . Douglas and Son , Perth , and the way in whioh thoy hava carried out

this part of their work is not only highly creditable to the firm , but most satisfactory to the Lodge . The ceiling , which is divided into varied panels by plaster members running throughout , has been painted a fine pale blue , and ornamented with gold stars . The members aro fiuished in shades cflmff and green , lighter shades of the

same colour being used on the coutre pieces , the festoons of which are effectively tipped with gold . In a circular panel at either end of the ceiling the usual Masonic devices aro very artistically introduced . Tho walls are coloured a dark rose pink , and the cornice is done ia shades of buff and pink—the egg and dart ornaments

confuting of pink , picked out with blue , whilo the trusses , beads , & c , are richly hatched with gold . The frieze , an exceedingly b ? antifal one , is also remarkably neatly finished . Tho design of tho friezo consists of altornate panels of figures and festoons in bas-relief , divided by gold lines , the ligurea aud festoons boing white and