Wiltshire.

A very hearty vote of thanks was passed to the Installing Master , and Lord Lathom , in reply , congratulated his noble relative on being called to rule if a comparatively small , a united Province , and wishing him a long and prosperous reign expressed a hope that he might revisit the Province on a future occasion .

A well deserved meed of praise was bestowed by the Prov . G . M . upon Bro . Frank Richardson Director of Ceremonies , and a hearty vote of thanks was given to him for his attendance and services . Brother Richardson , in response ,

expressed his pleasure to do anything for the advancement of Masonry , and mentioned that it had given him peculiarpleasure to be present that day , as he filled a similar Office on the installation of the late Earl of Radnor .

The alms collected at the close of the Lodge were voted to Salisbury Infirmary , of which Lord Radnor is the President . The business of Provincial Grand Lodge having been transacted the Brethren proceeded to the new Masonic Hall in Crane Street , where the Prov . G . M . laid the foundation

Stone in the north-east corner of the building . This new Masonic Temple is being built by Bro . Kite , from the design of Bro . A . C . Bothams . The building is well advanced , and it is hoped that it will be completed and fit for occupation in the autumn . The members walked in two processions , the

first consisting of the ordinary members of the Lodge , Past Provincial Officers and visitors , and the second of the Prov . G . M ., the D . P . G . M ., the Installing Master , the Grand Officers and Officers of Prov . G . Lodge . The processions caused no little wonderment among the residents and those who happened to be in the neighbourhood .

Arrived at the site , the W . M . of the Elias de Derham Lodge ( Bro . H . J . Gibbs ) , addressing the Prov . G . M ., asked his lordship to lay the Foundation Stone of the New Hall .

He expressed the sense of the pleasure and gratitude of the Brethren that his lordship ' s first official act as Master of the Province was to lay the Foundation Stone of a new home for the Craft in Salisbury .

Lord Radnor signified his willingness to comply with the request , and his acknowledgment of the honour thus conferred upon him . The formal proceedings of a Masonic stonelaying having been carried through , and the stone having been declared well and truly laid , the W . M . of the Elias de

Derham Lodge asked the Prov . G . M . s acceptance of a silver trowel and an ivory mallet as a souvenir of the occasion . Lord Radnor gratefully acknowledged the gift , and said he should value it as well for its own intrinsic worth as a memento of his first official act as Master of the Province .

With the presentation of the plans by the Architect , their acceptance by the Prov . G . M ., and prayer by the Chaplain ( Rev . E . G . Wyld ) , the proceedings closed . The processions returned to tire Assembly Rooms , and Provincial Grand Lodge having been closed the proceedings ended .

A banquet at the Council House followed , a large company sitting down under the presidency oi the Provincial Grand Master . — " County Mirror and Express . "

** # * # ** # ***** ## *** The members of the Loyal Berkshire Lodge , at Newbury , presided over by Brother John Rolfe Worshipful Master , recently assembled at the Masonic Flail , and gave a hearty welcome to Bro . Colonel Gerald Ricardo on his return from

South Africa , where he commanded a squadron of the Berkshire Imperial Yeomanry . The gallant Colonel was invested with the Past Master ' s jewel , having been elected as Worshipful Master for two successive years . Colonel Ricardo was subsequently entertained at a complimentary banquet .

********** An expedition to the north pole will shortly leave Dundee under the command of Bro . Evelyn Baldwin . On leaving the northern town , in the " America , " the course will be steered for Archangel , where the expedition will receive its Arctic

equipment , which includes 400 dogs and fifty Siberian ponies . She will then proceed as far northward as the ice permits Then the ponies and dogs will convey the equipment to an extreme northern point , where a camp will be made . Brother Baldwin intends to establish advance depots to facilitate a

dash for the Pole next April . The crew will consist of forty men , all experienced in Polar work . Most of them are foreigners ; the officers are American . Several scientific men will accompany the expedition . Bro . Baldwin is a prominent Freemason , and will take a number of Masonic flags , and affix

Wiltshire.

them at various points in the Polar regions . Fie will also carry a number of balloons with buoys attached containing messages , which will be dropped at different points along the route . Our enterprising Brother is confident of hoisting- the American flag at the Pole .

********** Brethren of Derbyshire especially wih be interested in a sonp- which the Rev . T . Wilson Parry , M . A ., of Youlgreave , and a member of the Dorothy Vernon Lodge , has just published , and which has been dedicated by permission to

H . R . FI . the Duke ol Connaught , K . G ., M . W . G . M . of England . The proceeds of the sale are to be devoted to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , and inasmuch as Derbyshire , so-ricn in votes for the Boys School , is weak as regards the Sister Institution , it is hoped that the Freemasons of the

county for this reason only will purchase the song—the price is only is 6 d—from the composer direct . The words of the composition are excellent , and they are set to an air which

is sure to become popular at all Masonic gatherings at which the song is sung . There are three verses , and a very attractive chorus , the Rev . T . Wilson Parry , for his work , deserves the congratulations of the Craft .

********** Freemasonry is a fearful and wonderful repertory of mysteries , and persons who dabble in its secrets should take care they do not muddle up the signs , lest their last state should become worse than their first . The annals of the

Craft contain many cases where , by a motion of the hand , men ' s lives have been saved on the field of battle or the axe of the executioner turned aside from their necks . On the other hand , there is the startling example of the individual who , falling into the power of the Inquisition , thought he

recognised in the man who was turning the rack a Past Master of the Craft , and made him a sign . Unfortunately , in the hurry of the moment and the anguish of his creaking bones , he gave the wrong turn to Jus wrist , the motion he made signifying " screw it up , " instead of " slow down , " and before

the mistake could be rectified the Inquisitioner had obeyed the instruction so literally that no correction was possible . The latest victim to muddled symbolism is Flarry Kirk , a hairdresser , of Newington Causeway and Carshalton , who was guilty of tne un-Masonic conduct of travelling on the London

and Brighton line without a ticket . When he entered the dock he smile . d at the magistrate , and commenced making mysterious signs with his hands . Probably he made a hash of them . At all events , Mr . Paul Taylor told him to stop his antics , and not make a fool of himself , and completed the

confusion of tire mystic-monger by fining him 40 s , and ordering him to pay £ 3 3 s in costs as well . This will impress on his mind and pocket the self-evident proposition that Freemasonry and free travellinp- are totally distinct items in social life . — " Daily Telegraph . "

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