Western District Association.

WESTERN DISTRICT ASSOCIATION .

THE annual meeting of this Association was held on the 23 rd ult ., at the Freemasons' Hall , Princess Square , Plymouth . Bro . J . Kinton Bond , B . A ., presided , and there was a large attendance .

The Hon . Treasurer Bro . Allsford read the balance-sheet , which showed that , after paying all liabilities , the credit balance of £ 1 18 s 4 d brought forward from the last meeting now stood at £ 13 s .

On the motion of the Chairman , seconded by Bro . Lord , it was unanimously resolved that Bro . F . B . Westlake should be President of the Association for the coming year . Both speakers bore testimony to the great esteem m which Bro . Westlake was held throughout the Province , and to his devotion to the interests of the Masonic Charities .

Bros . J . R . Wilson and W . A . Staton were elected as Vice Presidents . Bros . W . Allsford and Major Tracy were re-elected Hon . Treasurer and Hon . Secretary , and cordially thanked for their valuable services during the past year .

Bro . F . B . Westlake reminded the meeting that by an arrangement which had worked very satisfactorily for many years the Exeter and Plymouth districts had the nomination alternately of a Brother for the Office of Provincial Grand Treasurer of the Craft . This year the turn came to Plymouth

, and he had great pleasure in nominating Bro . C . Mutten . Bro . Mutten was a very old Freemason , was a Past Master of Lodge Prudence , and as Charity Steward of that Lodge had worked hard and successfully on behalf of the Devon Masonic

Chanties . He was well known throughout the Province , and was thoroughly deserving of the hoaour now proposed to be conferred upon him . Bro . G . Dunsterville seconded , and Bros . Allsford and Lavers supported the motion , which was carried unanimously .

Bro . J . R . Lord nominated Bro . W . Sweet as Prov . Grand Treasurer of Arch Freemasonry . Bro . Sweet , he said , took a great interest in all branches of Freemasonry , and was a frequent attendant at meetings held to promote the

welfare of the Order . He was also a generous contributor to the Masonic Charities . Bro .-W . Lavers seconded , and Bros . F . B . Westlake and C . G . Withell supported the motion , which was carried with acclamation . It is understood that the Provincial Grand Lodge will be invited to hold its next annual meeting at Plymouth .

February , under the presidency of Bro . J . J . Howes P . M . 1623 Treasurer , with Bro . F . P . Weinel P . M . 1828 J . W . 1745 M . E . Z . 1745 Preceptor in the Vice-chair . The Fifteen Sections were worked here on the 7 th ult .. and that

The West Smithfield Lodge of Instruction , No . 1623 , which meets on Wednesday evenings , at 7 p . m ., at the City Scotch Stores , 27 Knightrider Street , St . Paul ' s , E . C ., has had some most successful meetings during the present year , the most notable being the annual supper , which was held in

also was a successful gathering . The Secretary of the Lodge is Bro . J . A . Hoffman D . C . 1623 , who will , we are convinced , be pleased to welcome any Brethren who may attend the Lodge .

Consecration.

CONSECRATION .

GUILDHALL SCHOOL OF MUSIC CHAPTER . A NKW Royal Arch Chapter was consecrated on Friday , the 30 th ult ., at the Holborn Restaurant , having ita origin in the Guildhall School of Music Lodge , No . 2454 . Consequently it is intimately connected with the Corporation of the City of London , and it has amongst its members several corporators . Its founders are Companions W . H . Cnmmings , F . S . A ., P . G .

Organist Essex , Principal of the Guildhall School of Music , T . Hastings Miller , CO ., P . G . Std . B ., W . H . Thomas Grand Organist , W . J . Batho M . E . Z .-elect 1366 , Hermann Klein P . G . Organist , G . . F . Smith P . G . Organist , T . R . Busby , Fountain Meen , and Arthur Thompson .

The Consecrating Officers were Comps . B . Letchworth , F . S . A ., Grand Scribe E . ( who presided ) , Sir John B . Monckton P . G . S . N . as Second Principal , Rev . Canon Brownriag Grand

Superintendent of Bucks as J ., C . B . Keyser P . G . Swd . Br . as Scribe N ., and Frank Richardson Grand Director of Ceremonies as D . C . The other Companions who attended were , besides the founders , Alderman Sir Reginald Hanson , Bart ., M . P ., P . G . S . N .

Consecration.

A . W . Buret P . Z . 382 P . P . G .-J . Middlesex , A . C Spaull P . D . G . D . C ., J . T . 0 . WinkfieW P . A . G . D . G ., E . Austell J . 410 , R . Boner , T . Grummant P . Z . 1275 2005 , A . Dentsch 2103 , J . C . Underwood 2182 , J . Russell ; 28 , D . W . Freeman 1708 , L . A . Graddage 1708 , H . Sadler Grand Janitor , H . Massey P . Z . 619

and 1928 , H . Parker P . G . Organist Middlesex , C . E . Tinney 1319 , G . May , E . E . Cooper P . Z . 19 , J . T . Houghton P . Z . 382 , R . Grey P . G . S . N ., B . A . George Free P . S . 2395 , and H . Guy P . Z . 2182 . Comp . G . F . Smith P . G . Organist ; coudueted the musical portion of the ceremonies .

Comp . Letchworth , in his address at the opening of the Chapter , said it was difficult to realise that eight years had passed since he had the honour of assisting at the Consecration of the Guildhall School of Music Lodge . That Lodge had had so successful a career that it now prided itself on having a Royal Arch Chapter attached to it . That was a subject of congratulation ,

and he was giving expression to the feelings of all present when he said he hoped the Chapter would have a career worthy of the Lodge , and of the great Order of Masonry . The ceremony was then proceeded with , and at its completion Comp . W . H . Cummings was installed as M . E . Z . of the Chapter , W . H .

Thomas Grand Organist as H ., and W . J . Batho as J . Comp . T . Hastings Miller , C . C ., P . G . S . B ., was invested to act as I . P . Z ., Comp . Hermann Klein was elected and invested as Treasurer , G . F . Smith Scribe E ., T . R . Busby Scribe N ., Fountain Meen Principal Sojourner , A . Thompson 1 st Assistant Sojourner , and Patrick P . Z . Janitor .

A Committee , consisting of the three Principals and the two Scribes , was appointed to frame the bye-laws of the Chapter . On the motion of Comp . W . H . Cummings , seconded by Comp . W . H . Thomas , a vote of thanks was accorded to and the honorary membership of the Chapter conferred upon , the Consecrating Officers . Comp . Letchworth acknowledged the compliment , and was afterwards presented with a founders ' jewel .

The Chapter was then closed , and the banquet enjoyed . Between the toasts which followed a charming musical programme ' was given , the entertainers including : Miss Jlatherine Nash , Miss Maude Elliott , and the Guildhall Glee Singers : Comps . Sydney W . Hart , Cyril W . Dodsley-Flamstead , G . Stewart Lockyer , and Peter W . Wilkes .

Sir John B . Monckton responded to the toast of the Grand Officers .

Comp . W . H . Cummings , in proposing the health of the Consecrating Principal Comp . E . Letchworth , complimented him on the splendid example of good Royal Arch working which he had set the Companions that day . As a musician accustomed to study the art of sound and harmony , he had highly appreciated the beautiful intonations of Comp . Letchworth , and the elocution

he had exhibited in his delivery of the principal portions of the Consecration ceremony . It was all so thoroughly from the heart that he was deeply affected by it . The Chapter was greatly indebted to Comp . Letchworth , who , as he was now an honorary member of the Chapter , would , he hoped , be seen among tbe members for many years to come .

Comp , Letchworth replied , repeating what he said at the Convocation , and stating that it had given him great pleasure to see the success which had attended the Guildhall School of Music Lodge . Alderman Sir Reginald Hanson , Bart ., M . P ., proposed the health of the M . E . Z ., and claimed some connection with the Lodge and Chapter , as he was largely concerned in the promotion and

establishment of tbe Guildhall School of Music . In that connection he might say that the Guildhall School of Music had conferred honour on the City in having been the means of extending the knowledge and practice of good music . Those associated with the School had taken pains to select as the Principal a most accomplished singer , and a most accomplished glee writer , and Comp . Cummings had shown himself possessed of all the true qualities which should distinguish a Mason .

Comp . Cummings , in acknowledging the toast , said that when he was elected Master of the Guildhall School of Music Lodge he determined to make himself perfect in the working of Craft Masonry , and having a good memory he had done so . He now sincerely promised that he would endeavour to do the same in the working of the Chapter .

Comps . Spaull , Ansted , and Cooper replied to the toast of the Visitors ; and Comps . Thomas and Batho to that of the Second and Third Principals . Comps . Hermann Klein Treasurer , George F . Smith Scribe E ., and Fountain Meen responded to the toast of the Treasurer , Scribe E ., and other Officers of the Chapter .

Before the proceediugs closed Comp . Cummings thanked Comps . Thompson , Guy , May , and Tinney for their beautiful rendering of the musical portion of the Consecration ceremony , and informed the company that they were entirely indebted for that part of the service to Comp . George F . Smith . The Janitor ' s toast brought the proceedings to a close .