The Fabric, In Fact, Threatened To Collapse, For When The Third Annual Return To Grand Lodge Was Made It Became Necessary To Consider, In Obedience To Instructions From Grand Lodge, Whether Tho Constitution Of The Lodge Should Be Continued. The True Masonic Spirit Asserted Itself, However, Or The Taunton Freemasons Would Not To-Day Be

Masters , and that he should hold his first Provincial meeting under its banner . The next appearance of the Lodge in public was to take part in the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the Taunton College School , now the

King ' s College , which took place on the 16 th April 1868 . On the 7 th of October in the same year a motion of regret at the retirement , from the Provincial Grand Mastership , of Colonel Adair was passed by the Lodge , and at the same

time an address of congratulation was forwarded to the Earl of Carnarvon on his appointment to that important office , a position which his lordship has filled to this day . Bro . Charles Lake , who had held the office of Lodge

Secretary for five and twenty years , during perhaps its most prosperous period , died in 1870 , amidst the profound regret of the brethren , and a vote of condolence was passed on the occasion . From this dato until the beginning of 1879 the

records of the Lodge contain nothing more important than the ordinary routine business , the popularity of the Lodge increasing year by year . In Januaxy 1879 a very important and desirable departure was made in the history of

the Lodge , for on the loth of that month the brethren met to consecrate a Masonic hall , which had been provided by means of a Limited Company , entirely composed of Masons , with a capital of £ 1 , 500 in £ 5 shares , most of

which have now been taken up . A fair proportion of these shares have fallen into the Lodge by a very laudable practice which has arisen among the brethren , of presenting their shares to the Lodge upon passing the chair , so that

eventually the hall , which is now the property of the Company , will become the absolute property of the Lodge itself . Since then considerable alterations and improvements have been made , and the Lodge can now boast of having one of

the most suitable and spacious Masonic halls in the Province of Somerset . The ceremony of consecration was performed by the Provincial Grand Master , the Right

Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , who was assisted by his Deputy , Bro . Else , and a large number of distinguished Masons . The Master at that time was Bro . William

Adams , to whom , and to Bro . Villar ( both prime movers in the Masonic hall scheme ) , is also due the initiation of a scheme by which tho voting power of the Lodge in connection with the Central Charities

has been more than trebled during the last decade . We cannot do better than close our resume of this Lodge ' s career in the words of the local paper to which we have already referred as being the source from which we

have gathered these details . Our contemporary concludes as follows : —Thus from a small and almost insignificant organisation in Taunton , meeting in a small and insignificant private room with scarcely twenty members , this

Lodge has grown to a society of more than a hundred subscribing members , meeting in its own uoblo hall in the Crescent , flourish in «• in funds , and deh ' ghtfno ; in those Masonic excellencies which it is the pride and joy of ail

good Masons to cultivate . lb attains its hundredth year under especially favourable circumstances , and promises , important as it now is , to become a still more influential society in the town and Province .

It may be interesting to state that prior to tho removal of the Ilminster Lodge to Taunton , a Freemasons' Lodge existed in the town under the name of tho St . George ' s Lodge , which met at the Fountain Inn . It was limited by

its rules to about a score of members , who , from the minutes that are in the possession of Bro . T . Meyler , Town Clerk of Taunton , evidently comprised the leading

inhabitants of the town . How that Lodge became extinct , or whether it was merged into the Lodge of " Unanimity and Sincerity , " does not appear from the records to which reference hits been made .

It is not often our Loudon brethren are . so honoured ns to have to apply to Grand Lod < : ; c for a dispensation to hold the office of Worshipful Master in two Lodges ;„ ¦ one ;> , m'i tho same ; time . This was tho case , however , with lire . F . T . Bennett , yvlo , while hoklhio- tho office of \* or-sliiofiil

Master in the Si . Michael ' s Lodge , No . 211 , w : ; s elected aud in * sailed in a similar petition in the Gokion Iviuo Ledge , Isb . 12 ( 31 . We regret vc were unable to bo present and report tho proceedings in connection v / iili ir ,- > inslalhition at iho Golden Rule Lodge , which took place on the 7 th instant , but wo hopo to havo an opportunity of recording some of his doings there during his year >> c office .

Drury Lane Lodge, No. 2127.—Continued.

DRURY LANE LODGE , No . 2127 . —Continued .

Bro . Augustus Harris in reply said : I feel at a great disadvantage in having to rise after tho eloquent speech of Bro . Parkinson . I hardly think if I had known the arrangement I should have agreed to Bro . Parkinson proposiug the toast to which I am to respond . I did not knovv that Bro . Lord Londesborous » n . was not to be present ,

and it was only when I came here to-day I hoard of his indisposition . lb ia a disadvantage speaking after Bro . Parkinson , who is always so eloquent , and who therefore pats my little light very much in the shade—especially as I do not profess to be an orator . I think that one of the reasons why he should not have proposed this toast ia that

he was , to a' certain extent , proposing his own health , for all who have seen the working will agree that if any brother is a Past Master of the Lodge Bro . Parkinson certainly deserves that title . Bro . Parkinson has done more work than either Lord Londesborough or myself , and that he should get up and propose the toast of

the Past Masters is very much like proposing his own health . I am delighted he has said so many kind things , and in referenoe to the success of the Lodge , I am sure you must all agree that in tbe two years we have been constitnted this Lodge has made great strides , and has become very popular . I need not refer to the Jubilee year

when I tell yon that of the brethren who received Jubilee honours a large number belong to the Drnry Lane Lodge . That of itself shows that this Lodge is by no means a Lodge consisting of nobodies . We have in our ranks members of every profession , I may say leading members of every profession , and it has been a great pleasure to

me to be W . M ., and to preside over so many good and true men , I hope that the future of the Lodge will be no less brilliant than the past . When we meet , as I hope we shall a year hence , I trust it will be still more prosperous than it is to-day . I do not desire to break through the rule of brevity laid down by the W . M ., but I wish to

tell the brethren present that I shall be pleased to welcome them within the old portals of Drury Lane , where they can see our worthy Junior Deacon present herself before them in her regal robes , and I am sure our Sister Nicholls and our brother Campbell will be as happy to Bee yon as I shall be .

Bro . A . M . Broadley P . D . D . G . M . Malta , Secretary : The Drnry Lane Lodge is nothing if it is not representative , and if the duties of the Secretary are not altogether a sinecure he receives an ample reward when he is allowed to propose the toast of the Visitors . This is the third occasion on which I have been privileged to propose that toast

in this Lodge . It is impossible for me to oonceal from you my con . viction that had it not been for the amiability of Bro . Harris I . P . M . the Drnry Lane Lodge would not have been what it is to-day . To Bro . Harris will belong the greatest credit for the foundation of this Lodere , and I hope for many years to come he will be the moving

spirit in it . Looking back , he will feel considerable pride at the gathering assembled this evening to inaugurate the reign of his successor . There is no doubt that in Sir John Gorst we have fonnd a Worshipfnl Master who will maintain the traditions of this Lodge , and I think that if there is one thing that may be taken as an augury

of his reign ifc is the gathering of to-night . There are scarcely any Lodges that can boast of having received within their walls the Provincial Grand Masters , not onl y of the neighbouring counties , but brethren who havo come from Monmouthshire and Lancashire , and across tho seas , from the Isle of Man and Jersey . We have also

Bro . Sandeman present , whose memories will ever be associated with the District of Bengal . We have had a rare distinction , and have received nob only Lord Hersehell , the Past Lord Chancellor , but also the brother who now adorns the distinguished position of Lord Chancellor . This is not all . If we were to ask what profession ia

cot represented among us there would be no exceptions . Ia the law we have the Lord Chancellor ; in the Church we have a powerful bod y of Past Grand Chaplains ; and , as far us medicine is concerned , we have a great many distinguished members present . I am glad to sse Bro . A . Cooper , who adorns hi 3 profession , and , with regard to

tbe Army , we have Lord A . Paget , who holds a position in the Queen ' s Household ; whilst the Navy is ably represented by Lord Alcester . With a gathering Ike this we can only hope that the Lodge will go on and prosper , and I can say that if the Secretary can do anything for the Lod ge his services are at its disposal .

I mast be permitted to express my great satisfaction that Dorsetshire , in which 19 years ago I was initiated , is so well represented , by Bro . Moutagn . I thank that brother very much for his presence , and I trnat he will tako back to Dorsetshire a good report . I will conclude by expressing the pleasure we feel at receiving visitors from all parts of the world , and allow me to couolo with " the toast the

name 3 ot thoso brethren who represent a great tower of Masonic strength , v . honi we tiro proud to receive , and whom we shall be pleased to see ; urain within tbe portals of tho Drury Lane Lodgetho Lord Chancellor unci Lords Miiitown and Alcestev .

Iho Lord Chancellor : I yield not a tittle to the desire whioh has been expressed by my r . ohlo brother near me iu obedience to the constitnted authorities , bnt yon . and he will forgive me when I tell you that J always fchi ; : k tho . idrantngo is- iu the obligation , and not in tho abstract principle . I have nover hoard an orator begin by

assuring his audience that he intended making only a few remarks withoat trembling at what wcnld bo tho re 3 ult . I should like to say , if he will forgive me , thai , I ,-iin somewhat jealous of the title whioh he h -M assumed for the party to which he belongs . I always understoo d we were tho ' . stupid v . " v , and I protect against " any body

¦ taking from us that title , i :. ; Uccd thr . t the W . M . suggested that ! the rc ' . L'on why the Kp ; e / . 'ho 3 shonkl bo short was that some of yon j had other avocat i ons io p-iw v ,. i , i ;; w lam not surprised that he stink j in iho depth of that phnwe <> h > 2 y which is peculiar to the occupation I io which iio refer : rd . I h : i <; o no doubt lino ho rotors to that

nlacc-. whore ( - -pcoho : ' : iro not short , and wh ^ ro that brotherly love which ! we idmir ^ is n . - . t always provalo / it . I can only s- \ y th ' it those who ; l . kiMiiyee . i ' , i ; .: [ iiLi g to another region , fed the deepest cotnmiseraj tion for those who go to , —what tho Master described as other avoca-; tiuu 3 . It is a piecing thing to bo invited on such an occasion as