New Hall At Calstock.

NEW HALL AT CALSTOCK .

IN the absence of the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe Prov . Grand Master of Cornwall , the new Masonic Hall , which has

been erected at Calstock at a cost , including the purchase of the site , of about £ 800 , was dedicated on Monday , 1 st inst , in the presence of a large number of Brethren , by Bro . P . Colville Smith P . G . D . England D . P . G . M . of Cornwall

The foundation-stone of the new Hall , a very handsome and commodious building , was laid by Bro . Colville Smith on the 21 st of August last , and the whole style and structure of the building does credit to the designers , Bros . H . Down and N . R . Rosekilly , the latter of whom has not

only built the Hall , but is the first W . M . to preside in the new Lodge . The Lodge Room itself , apart from the other portions of the building , is an attractive , lofty , and convenient one . It measures 23 feet by 32 , has an open hammer beam roof , is well lighted , and handsomely furnished , the

furniture including two imposing Corinthian columns , with Doric capitals , placed one on each side of the W . M . ' s chair , which were made in 1797 , and were originally the property

of Sir William Trelawny , of Harewood House , Calstock . These columns are the gift of Bro . H . Down . The Hal ] also includes a porch , a lobby , and two ante-rooms , and is altogether admirably suited to the purposes , of the Craft .

New Hall At Calstock.

made upon them , but he confidently looked forward to a better state of things in the future . The report having been adopted , Bro . H . btocker proposed the re-election of Bro . Lord as Hon . Treasurer , and highly eulogised the services he had rendered in the past . Bro . Lord had done splendid

work for a great number of years , and they would be wanting in their duty if they did not ask him to continue in the work so long as he was able and willing to undertake it . Bro . Parker seconded the motion , which was carried

unanimously , and Bro . Lord , in reply , said it would always be his pleasure , as it was his duty , to- do what he could to increase the usefulness of an Institution that had done so much good in the Province and was deserving of the cordial support of the Brethren at large .

Bro . C . Piper ( Exeter ) proposing the re-election of Bro . ¦ Gover as Hon . Secretary , remarked that all that had been said of Bro . Lord applied with equal force to Bro . Gover , who was one of the main pillars of the Institution , with which he had been usefully and honourably connected from

its very foundation . He had done valuable work for the Charity , and enjoyed the esteem and regard of every Mason in the Province , who honoured him for the work he had done .

Bro . Lavers seconded , and the motion was carried with acclamation . In returning thanks for his re-election , Bro . Gover said he was one of the founders of the Institution , and he hoped he might be permitted to die in harness .

On the motion of Bro . Gover , seconded by Bro . Sweet , Bro . W . H . Dillon was re-elected as Assistant Secretary , and cordially thanked for valuable and ungrudging service rendered to the Fund for many years . Bros . Allsford and Cornish were re-elected as Auditors ,

and Brothers C . G . Davie D . P . G . M ., J . Stocker Prov . G Sec , F . B . Westlake P . P . G . S . W , and H . Stocker P . P . G . T . were elected on the Educational and General Purposes Committee for the ensuing year , in addition to one member nominated by each Lodge in the Province .

The election of a child on the Fund was then proceeded with . There were three candidates for one vacancy , and a child from Exeter was elected by a very large majority ,

polling 2 , 810 , including 675 votes brought forward from the election in October last . The next candidate on the list , from Kingsbridge , obtained 1 , 47 6 votes , and these will count to his credit at the election in October next

The Chairman then remarked that seeing they had with them that day their respected and beloved Provincial Grand Secretary Bro . John Stocker , they could not separate without conveying to him their sincere and cordial congratulations on the fact that Grand Lodge honours had recently

been offered to , and would shortly be conferred upon him . They all knew , and greatly appreciated , the noble work he had done for Freemasonry in the Province of Devon for many years past . He had devoted himself unselfishly to the responsible and exacting duties of the Office which he filled

with so much ability , without fee or reward , and this was all the more deserving of recognition when it was remembered that in some Provinces the Provincial Grand Secretaries received salaries amounting to £ 250 and £ 300 a year . In the name of the whole of the Brethren he congratulated Bro .

Stocker on the well-deserved honour he was about to receive . Bro . Gover , as the oldest Freemason in the room , joined his congratulations to those of the Chairman . During his long connection with Freemasonry he had had experience of

several Provincial Grand Secretaries , all good men and true ; it was , therefore , no reflection on those who had gone before to say that they had never had a Prov . Grand Secretary who could compare with Bro . Stocker . He had never failed in his duty , and in the discharge of that duty he had succeeded

Western District Charity.

WESTERN DISTRICT CHARITY .

JLHE annual meeting of the Western District Masonic Association was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Princess Square , Plymouth , Bro . F . B . Westlake P . P . S . G . W . of Devon and P . P . G . D . C . of England presiding .

Bro . Withell reported that the uaiance of £ 4 13 s brought forward from last year had been increased to £ 6 4 s 9 d ; but in view of probable exceptional expenditure during the coming year , it was decided to make the usual call on the Lodp-es

On the motion of Bros . Allsford and Wilson , Bro . F . B . Westlake was unanimously re-elected as Chairman of the Association , and testimony was borne to the splendid services he renders to Freemasonry in the West . Bros . W . Staton and C . Mutten were elected as Vice-Presidents , Bro . Allsford was re-elected Hon . Treasurer , and Bro . Parker was elected

Hon . Secretary , in the place of Bro . Major Tracy , who resigned in consequence of the pressure of his many other engagements .

Devon Charity.

DEVON CHARITY .

THE annual meeting and election of the Devon Masonic Educational Fund was held on Wednesday afternoon , 3 rd inst , at the Freemasons . ' Hall , Princess Square , Plymouth . Bro . F . B . Westlake P . P . S . G . W . and P . G . D . D . C . of England presided over a large attendance .

Bro . Lord Hon . Treasurer reported that the receipts last year , including a balance of £ 659 brought forward , amounted to £ 1 , 082 12 s 9 d , and the total value of the Fund was now £ 2 , 013 14 s gd , including £ 1 , 600 on deposit at the Devon and Cornwall Bank , bearing interest at 2 ^ per cent .

They had been aiming for several years past to bring the value of their Fund up to £ 2 , 000 , and he was glad to say that that goal had now been reached . The subscription for the year was rather in excess of tihe amount received up

to the same date last year , and he hoped they had now turned the corner and that their financial condition would no longer give them any cause for anxiety . No doubt the falling off in the subscription last year was due to exceptional causes , other demands of a special character having been