Dedication Of A New Masonic Hall At Taunton.

DEDICATION OF A NEW MASONIC HALL AT TAUNTON .

rpiIE Freemasons of Taunton have hitherto held their meetins JL at an hotel in tho town , but recently a company waa formed among members of the Craft for tho purpose of purchasing the building in the Crescent , which was originally built for a Eoman Catholic Chapel . This was found to be admirably suited for Masonic purposes ; and ; i * it was secured on very favourable terms the brethren wero ablo to expend a eonsidoi able sum in decorating nnd beautifying it .

The ceremony of dedication was performed on Monday , for which day a Lodgo of Emergency was called by the Provincial Grand Lodgo of Somerset . The occasion created an interest beyond local Masonic circles , and a gathering of Freemasons was witnessed without equal in tho history of the quiet county town . There were brethren present from Bristol , Ivebridge , Bridgwater , Tiverton , Bath , and other places ,

from this and the neighbouring provinces , the interest being increased by tho fact that the ceremony of dedication waa to be performed by the Earl of Carnarvon , Provincial Grand Master of Somerset and Pro Grand Master of England . Tho day ' s proceedings commenced with Divine service afc the church of St . Mary Magdalene . The brethreu , to the number of 300 ,

met afc tho school room , near where they clothed themselves in Masonic attire , and then walked in procession , the juniors leading , to the chnrch . Arrived afc the church , the junior members opened outwards , allowing tho members of provincial lodges to pass through . By arrangement with the llev . Prebendary Clark , vicar , the Masons occupied the centre aisle of the church , and there was a very numerous

congregation of the non-Masonic public . 'Ihe sermon waa preached by the Eev . T . Eandall , M . A ., P . P . G . C , Chaplain , from the text 1 Thessalonians v . 11 , "Wherefore comfort yourselves together , aud edify one another even as also ye do . " At the close of the rev . gentleman ' s discourse , tho Masons returned in inverted procession to the school room , where they took off their

Masonic clothing , a special prohibition having been made against a public procession . Tho ceremony of dedication took place afc the New Hall at halfpast ouo o ' clock . The craft brethren having taken their seats in the Lodge room , received the Provincial Graud Lodge in due form , and the Provincial Grand Lodge was then opened by the Provincial Grand

Master , the Earl of Carnarvon , when tho ceremony of dedication was performed . During tho ceremony a choir composed of members of Lodge 261—Unanimity of Sincerity—sang Weldon ' s anthem in G , " Praise God in His Holiness , " aud two suitable hymns , also giving the responses in a very creditable manner . Brothers Baily and

T . G . Williams presided at tho organs . Iho ceremony concluded with the singing of tho National Anthem . Before proceeding with the dedication , Earl Carnarvon congratulated tho Lodge upon tho spacious aud fine Locige room . He said it was worthy of the placeworthy of the brethren who called ifc into existence—worthy of the interest they all had at heart , and worthy of the Craft in that

province-After the ceremony of dedication had been performed , Brother Elie D . P . G . M . proposed a vote of congratulation to the Earl of Carnarvon on his recent marriage , wishing him and Lady Carnarvon all tho happiness thia world could afford . The motion waa seconded by Brother Payne P . G . Treasurer , and carried by acclamation .

The Earl of Carnarvon , in responding , apologised for tho inconvenience he might have caused the brethren in nofc attending on the date first fixed , but they had learnt what the cause of this disappointment was . He knew the kindliness and sympathy of his Somersetshire brethren , to which he had never appealed in vain , would find a better excuse for him than any words ho could use . He was not

surprised at the reception ot the resolution , because there was nothing since he had been connected with Somersetshire which had ever occurred to him which had not their kindly feeling of sympathy . He felt completely identified with Somersetshire Masons , and appreciated most deeply thia present evidence of their friendship and regard , when they were good enough to congratulate him , he should

say he had very good cause to be congratulated . He knew that ladies could not be admitted to any participation in Masonic proceedings , still , as a humble outsider , there was no one who sympathised more with the objects of the Craft , respected the work they had set before them , and , above all , gave more hearty good wishes to the Masons of Somersetshire than did Lady Carnarvon ; aud he hoped he

should not bo committing any breach of the secrecy to which he was sworn so many years ago as a Mason , when with every injunction for the most solemn secrecy , he informed her on his return that amongst the objects iu which they were engaged to-day , there was one in ¦ which hev happiness and -welfare were bound up . Amongst the many good wishes that he had received none were more sincere

than those which he had received that day , and there were none that were appreciated more highly . The -. ims collt-L'tt'd u . . ho co ' ielusion of the service , amounting tr over £ 7 , were devoted to tho relief of the distress in Taunton . The banquet was held at the Victoria Rooms in the evening , the Eari of Carnarvon presiding . In responding to the toasfc of his health

as Provincial Grand Master of Somerset , the Earl of Carnarvon aaiu that no doubt we now lived in a very peculiar stage of Masonry . Within the last few years Masoury bad been passing through a period such as their Masonic forefathers knew nothing of , ancl such as might issue in very great good , but which had also its difficulties and its dangers . When ho was initiated Masonry was very prosperous in England apparently , lmr ho was struck with its enormous increase

of prosperity . Dmijg the la . it ten or fifteen years Masonry bad become much largei in p . hit "f numbers , much more important in respect to the wealth , which had flowed in from all sides , and it stood in u position perhaps of greater dignity aud external ceremonial than it formerly did , but o . » ilm ot hi r hand there was a reverse side of tht picture . Ail this maitral well-being had a teudency sometimes t « lead Masonry out of the straight road and to set up idols , go to apeak ,

Dedication Of A New Masonic Hall At Taunton.

of false gods , unless it be very carefully watched . They must not fall into the grave error of supposing that tho ease and luxuries and mero material welfare waa all Masonry had to look to . They were not to suppose that Lodges were to become mere convivial clubs . They must keep before the mind the fact that Maaonrv had great

practical duties , and the code that Masonry had laid down was one of very high and great morality . There was another temptation they had to guard against , the danger of allowing politics to have anything to do with the Craft a departure from thia rule—respecting which all Masons had been educated—would be one of the moat fatal blowa

which could be afcruck afc English Freemasonry . Lastly , ho referred to the exclusion of the name of the Deity by tho Grand Orient of Franco , and said that foreign Freemasonry waa distinctly contrasted with Masonry in England , inasmuch aa here it waa a loyal supporter of tho Constitution , while ou the Continent it was to be found plotting and planning against existing order . — Daily Chronicle .

The Mason's Wife.

THE MASON'S WIFE .

" ... Gentle sharer of hia joys and sorrows , Ende Boreas blew rather ruder than usnal , Dying and dim waa the fire in tho grate ; " Oh , Masons ! " she nratter'd , " may Bacchus confuse you all—Keeping my husband so terribly late !

Since eight by the clock Pre been sitting and wondering When he'd escape from your treacherous snares ; Expecting each moment to hear him come blundering—Tipsily blind—up the second-floor stairs !

But Hope all too vainly his coming has prophesied Still by myself am I left to repine . Until this sad night he has straight from his office hied , Eeaching hia home ere the clock announced nine .

And now 'tis eleven ! Oh , woe!—the mero thought of ifc Makes my heart flutter with timorous fright , For should he keep on , he'll begin to think nought of ifc , Coming home later and later each night .

I , thinking him coming , observed to tho maid just now , ' Mnry , your master is not hero to sop , And therefore the supper-things need nofc bo laid just now—Pray do nofc hurry in bringing them up . '

Bah 1 fool that T . was , to consider and study hia Comfort by letting the supper await ! I thought to myself , ' If he cold , wet and muddy is , Supper he'll welcome , tho' never so late . '

Later each night ! Yes , he ia ou the brink of ifc ; Soon ho'd come home afc the dawning of day ; At once I must cure him , and not let him think of ifc—Now must I act towards gaining the sway !

Hark ! that is his footstep ! Yes , now will I give it him ; Courage , my heart ! we shall victory win ! Oh , now is the moment ; to conquer and rivet him ! Back he shall go , for I won't let him in ! " Quick , seizing a pillow she rush'd to the banisters ,

Hurling her charge at the up . coming form , And then—Oh , good gracious!—dish covers and caaistera , Knives , forks and spoons !—what ; a metally storm !

Shriek follow'd shriek , and tho loud sound of crockery Smashing to atoma was heard thro' the night ! The dame hurried dowu , with a laugh of grim mockery , Finding her maid iu a terrible plight !

For there on the landing poor Mary waa tarrying , Woefully groaning aud rubbing her head , Surrounded by ev ' ry thing she had been carrying-Pickles , beer , cutlets , salt , pepper and bread !

Ancl just at that moment , as ill-luck directed it , Very sedately the husband walk'd in , Amidst the confusion , aud slowly inspected it , Marvelling much at the harrowing din .

" Yon wretch . '" cried his wife , " you—yon villainous gad-about j These are your doings , you horrible bear ! " Oh , roundly she rated him , until she had about Used all the breath she could manage to spare ,

He listen'd aghast to the epithets numerous , Lost aa to how he had got in disgrace ; But his face wore a look that vas certainly hutnorons When he arrived at the truth of the case .

" My dear , " he remark'd , with a grave jocularity , " I am a Mason , Accepted and Free ; A virtue that Masonry teaches is charity—Therefore is charity seemly in me .

And , since you declare reparation I owe to you , — Being the innocent canse of your grief , — My charity true will I hasten to show to you , Taking a step for your speedy relief . "

And so , with a will , like the great moral sages , He utter'd the word , and then actel upon it . For very next day he increased the mail ' s wages , Aud bought his good lady a beautiful box net ! F . JULIAN CHOGEH . 5 Islington-green , London , 9 th January 1879 .