Sussex Masonic Club.

SUSSEX MASONIC CLUB .

THE new room attached to the Masonic Club , 25 Queen ' s Road , Brighton , the foundation stone of which was laid in November last by H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught , was formally opened on Saturday , 2 nd inst ., when Bro . Gerald

W . E . Loder , M . P ., Provincial Senior Grand Warden for the year , marked the inauguration by inviting his brother Provincial Officers , the members of the Club Committee , and the Past Masters of his Lodge ( the Earl of Sussex ) to a luncheon .

After the Loyal toast Bro . Loder proposed the M . W . Provincial Grand Master H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught , and after alluding to his kindness in laying the foundation stone , said he had received a letter expressing the extreme regret of his Royal Highness that other engagements prevented him from being present that day .

Sir W . T . Marriott proposed success to the Club , and congratulated the Craft upon having such comfortable premises , and such a splendid additional room . The Chairman of the Club Committee Bro . A . Lloyd responded . He stated that it had been a great pleasure to those connected with the management that they had been

able to secure such convenient premises , and trusted the Club would receive that support from the Freemasons in the Province which it deserved . He concluded by proposing the health of Bro . Gerald W . E . Loder , M . P ., thanking him on behalf of the Brethren for his kind invitation , which had resulted in such a happy re-union .

Bro . Loder expressed his pleasure in being able to entertain his Brethren , and thanking the Committee for allowing him the use of the room , regretted that he was obliged to leave early to attend a function at Hove . The Brethren then separated , after a most enjoyable and successful meeting .

Freemasons throughout the Province of Sussex have learnt with unfeigned satisfaction that H . R . H . the Prince of Wales has appointed Bro . Alfred King , Mus . Doc . ( Oxon ) , F . R . C . O ., as Grand Organist of England for the ensuing year—an office previously held by a Sussex Freemason some

twenty years since , when Bro . W . Kuhe received the high appointment , says the " Sussex Express . " Bro . King has had a distinguished Masonic career . In 1877 and the two following years , and also in 1891 , he officiated as Provincial Grand Organist of Sussex ; in 1883 he was elected W . M . of

the Royal Clarence Lodge , and was similarly honoured by the Brethren of the Earl of Sussex Lodge in 1891 ; while in 18 93 he was appointed Provincial Grand Senior Warden . In the Provincial Grand Chapter he has held the post of

Organist , with the exception of three years , from 188 4 up to the present time , and in 1861 was appointed Provincial Grand J ., while in 18 94 he occupied the post of Grand Junior Warden in the Provincial Grand Lodge of Sussex Mark Master Masons .

Annual Supper Of The Selwyn Lodge Of Instruction.

ANNUAL SUPPER OF THE SELWYN LODGE OF INSTRUCTION .

THIS flourishing Lodge of Instruction held its annual supper on Friday , the 1 st inst ., at the Montpelier Hotel , Choumert Road , Peckham ( Host Bro . Fred Pow ) , under the presidency of its late Preceptor Bro . Anderson P . M .

Bro . Mercer P . A . G . P ., responding to the toast of the Grand Officers , observed that they looked upon Lodges of Instruction with a great deal of interest , as ifc was only through them thafc members of the Craffc were enabled co carry out their duties on attaining office in their various Lodges . He congratulated the Selwyn Lodge of Instruction upon their new Preceptor . There was no Brother in the Lodge who was more respected than Brother Wimble , who had been appointed to fulfil the duties .

Bro . Martin A . G . P . referred to their late Preceptor Bro . Anderson , as one whom thoy all loved and revered , and concluded by saying " Long may the Selwyn prosper , and nofc only may it prosper , but long may our dear friend now ia the chair he an Honorary Member of this Lodge . " The Selwyn Lodgo of Instruction was next presented by Bro . Harry Ford W . M .-elect of fche Selwyn Lodge , who remarked thafc fchey took ifc thafc their own Lodge of Instruction was second to none . He coupled with the toast the name of their President , under whoso able Preceptorship tho Lodge had been carried on for the pasfc eleven years .

The President , who on rising was received with great cordiality , thanked the Brethren present for the kind remarks which they had made concerning him . Time crawled along with them as it did with everyone , but they found after awhile , that it had moved only too quickly . After thirty-eight years of official duty he was resigning in June next , and that step made it impossible for him to cany on the Preceptorship of the Lodge for another year . In

looking round on the Brethren present he could see the progress which the Selwyn Lodge of Instruction had made for years past . The prosperity of that Lodge had been his ambition . He thanked Bro . Pow for the kind assistance he had rendered to the Lodge as Treasurer for many years past , and also P . M . Wimble . Ho was deputed by the Lodge to thank Bro . Wimble for his kind services . Industry must he cultivated , and ability must always be rewarded . That was thc feeling of the members of the Lodge , who , recognising those

Annual Supper Of The Selwyn Lodge Of Instruction.

qualities in a high degree in Bro . Wimble , had deputed to him the honour of making Bro . Wimble a little present , which had been subscribed for by about fifty of the Brethren , as a small reward for his services , and for the handsome way in which he had carried out his duties as Secretary , and as some slight recognition of fche esteem and honour in whioh they held him . Bro . Anderson then presented to Bro . Wimble a handsome gold watch , beaiing the following inscription :

Presented to BBO . JAMES MATTHEW WIMBLE Past Master 1901 , by the Brethren of the Selwyn Lodge of Instruction , as a mark of regard .

1898 . The toast of Bro . Wimble ' s health was drunk with musical honours and the utmost enthusiasm . On rising to respond , Bro . Wimble was received with loud and continued applause . With evident sincerity he said he was never more surprised in his life than he was that night to receive thoir handsome gift . He had himself subscribed to the presentation—to something—he did not know to exactly

what—or to whom it was to have been presented . He hardly knew how to thank them . His work as Secretary of the Selwyn Lodge of Instruction had been a labour of love to him , and it would be a labour of love to him to perform the duties of Preceptor . He should endeavour to discharge the office so that each member entrusted to his oare would become as efficient as possible . He asked for their hearty support , and felt assured that he should not be disappointed . He considered the money he had subscribed to the presentation had been obtained from him unlet * false pretences .

The Chairman proposed the Officers of the Selwyn Lodge of Instruction , to which Bro . Wimble briefly responded . Bro . F . E . Pow W . M . 1901 , whose name was also coupled with the toast , said his duties as Treasurer were of a very light character . The funds were always in good order ; there was always a balance in hand ; and every now

and then he was sending money to one or fche other of the Masonic Charities . It was a particular pleasure to him to hold the office of Treasurer to their Benevolent Association . He was also Treasurer to the fund for the presentation to Bro . Wimble , and had thrown tons of dust in his eyes . Bros . Pointon Secretary , and Faull Organist also replied .

The President proposed the health of the W . M .-elect of the Selwyn Lodge . Bro . Harry Ford assured the Brethren present that he felt the honour of the position very much , and would to the utmost of his ability use every * endeavour to carry out ' the duties of the office and maintain the dignity , credit , and prestige of the Selwyn Lodge .

Entertainment Notes.

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES .

BRO . GEOEGE JACOBI , who for the last twenty-six years has been the leader , organiser , and director of fche orchestra at the Alhambra Theatre , has resigned his post . During that time he has composed the music for over a hundred ballets . BRO . WILHELJU GANZ P . G . O . will celebrate his professional jubilee by

a grand concert at the Queen's Hall , on 7 th June . Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales , the Duke and Duchess of Connaught , and other members of the Boyal Family head a long list of patrons ; while almost every artiste of note , from Adelina Patti downwards , has offered to take part in the entertainment .

Miss JESSIE MILLWARD , the friend and colleague of our late Bro . Wm . Terriss , is about to leave us to fulfil an engagement on the American stage . It is only natural , after the terrible tragedy at the Adelphi Theatre , thafc she should prefer to begin with a spell of acting elsewhere , and we are sure she will take the best wishes of her many admirers with her across the water .

WE are glad to announce that Bro . 0 . Dundas Slater , for many years acting manager at the Empire Theatre , has been appointed manager of the Alhambra . Bro . Slater ' s long experience and genial courtesy eminently qualifies him for this responsible position , and we tender him our hearty good wishes .

Mr . Beerbohm Tree announces a special matinee for Monday , 25 th inst ., at 2 . 30 p . m ., at Her Majesty ' s Theatre , in aid of the London Lifeboat Saturday Fund , when " Captain Swift " will be presented .

THE ECCENTRIC CLUB "AT HOME . " A LARGE assembly of people , numbering well on towards a thousand , attended the " At Home " given by the Eccentric Club at the Hotel Cecil last Wednesday afternoon . The members had invited their wives and sisters and cousins and aunts , who came in elegant toilettes—some tinged

with " bizarrcrie , " doubtless as a compliment fco their hosts- —and thronged the Grand Hall to witness an entertainment that could be seen nowhere else . All artistic Bohemia appeared to be present , and even anxious to assist at this unique function , so that it became quite perplexing for the committee to select artistes from this " embarras des richesses . "

The Cecil Orchestra , under the direction of Bro . Norfolk Megone , and the Croatian Band discoursed sweet music at intervals , and among those who kindly gave their services were Mesdames Ada Blanch , Marian Blinkhorn , Lucy Clarke , Belle Cole , Fedrica and Nora Conway , Marguerite Corneille ,

Rosa Davies , Kate Flynn , Kitty Loftus , and Helene Michaelis , Bros . Harrison Brockbank , Lionel Brough , W . Churchier , Franklin Olive , Charles Coborn , Richard Green , John Le Hay , James Kift , and Fred Russell , together with Messrs . Wilfred Edwards , Mauris Farkoa , Lewis Waller , G . Robins , Imro Fox , & c .

It is quite needless to record the success of fche entertainment , which was under the direction of Bros . J . A . Harrison , Tom Kraser , and George Moore ; but it was rather too bad for tho Committee to issue photographs of their cosy club , unless they are prepared to receive lady members , for we fear the feminine heart was considerably exercised with the final commandment in consequence . Refreshments were served in the adjoining Victoria Hall , and it was with feelings of regret at having to part that the company separated at the termination of this very enjoyable afternoon .

The meetings of the Eccleston Lodge of Instruction , No . 1624 , are now held at 12 and 13 Wilton Road , S . W ., each Saturday evening , at 7 . 30 o ' clock .