A Reform In Masonic Toasting.

of superior knowledge on the part of our contemporary , we can sympathise with Bro . Eve , in being thus made the laughing stock of the readers of the paper referred to , but is it not childish in the extreme to make so much out of so little when , with a very small amount of trouble , a dozen

interesting items and as many real grievances mi g ht be discovered , with which to air one ' s editorial superiority ? Had it been the " contemptible rag" which another very prominent official of the Boys School lately referred to in our presence that had thus criticised Bro . Eve , the onslaught

would no doubt have been treated with the scorn it deserved , but—Et tu , Brute!—this is too awful to contemplate . Those who live in glass houses should certainly be careful how they throw stones , and accordingly we hesitate to direct the

attention of our Bro . Editor to his ninth and tenth paragraphs on page 281 . We think there is sufficient therein to cause him to ponder before he again makes so merry over the " viel" of a fellow sufferer . All things come to those who wait !

When we saw a representation of the Lodge meeting held in the quarries of King Solomon ' s Temple , at Jerusalem , at the time of the Masonic Cruise organised by Bros . Lunn and Perowne , we thought was a splendid idea it would be to hold , open air meetings during the summer months , provided proper arrangements could be made for efficient Tvlin _ . and

the matter is this week brought to our mind when we read the report sent us of the Royal Alfred Lodge of Instruction , wherein it is mentioned that the grounds of Bro . Purkiss ' s Star and Garter Hotel , at Kew Bridge , are just now well worthy a visit . How enjoyable it would be to hold an

Instruction meeting , or , better still , a Provincial Grand Lodge , in the open air ; and in the latter case , at least , there should not be much difficulty in making such arrangements ' as to render the gathering possible . It would only require a dozen or so assistant Tylers or sentries , and there should be plenty of Brethren willing to undertake the duties .

Last week we had no time to do more than briefly refer to what Bro . J . H . Whadcoat had done for Masonic and other Charity Funds—splendid donations on his part having been referred to from time to time in our pages , but his latest exploit in this direction , the gift of 1 , 000 guineas to the

Boys School Centenary Fund , well entitles him to further reference on this occasion . We first had the pleasure of making Bro . Whadcoat ' s acquaintance when he was installed as Master of the Royal Athelstan Lodge , on which occasion he said so important a Lodge ought to possess a permanent

Benevolent Fund , and begged to be allowed to make a contribution towards starting such a Fund—something to form a nucleus on which to work in the future . His offer was accepted , and it was not until one of the rulers of the Lodge determined to explain matters to the Brethren that

they were made aware of Bro .. Whadcoat ' s generosity—his " modest " contribution on that occasion being a cheque for 250 guineas . Quite recently , too , our Bro . Whadcoat has

interested himself in the work of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution , to the funds of which he very largely contributed in connection with the Life Saving equipment at Poole , where he has lately resided—as reported by us at the time .

Bro . Whadcoat was initiated in the St . James Lodge , No . 44 8 , Halifax , Yorks , in 1880 , and is at the present time a member of the Grand Master ' s Lodge , No . 1 ; the Royal Athelstan , No . 19 ( P . M . ); the Amity , No . 137 ( P . M . ) : the

St . Aldhelm ' s , No . 2559 ; and the Old Masonians , No . 2700 ( one of the Founders ) . He is also a member of the Amity Chapter , No . 137 ( S . E . ); Amity Mark Lodge , No . 132 ( W . M . and Prov . G . J . D . ); Invicta Chapter R . C , No . 10 ; and Hyde Preceptory K . T ., Wimborne ( First Constable ) .

The special donation made to the Boys School in answer to the appeal of the Prince of Wales is by no means the first contribution Bro . Whadcoat has made to the Charity Funds of the Order , he being a Patron of each of the three

Institutions , and a Vice-President of the Dorset Masonic Charity , so that we were quite justified in speaking last week of his splendid donations to Masonic and other Charity Funds . 000 In public life he fills the position of Mayor of the town and county of Poole _ , is Aldeiman and J . P ., and a member

A Reform In Masonic Toasting.

of the Dorset County Council . Member of the Society of Arts , F . R . G . S ., F . C . A ., F . S . S ., Member of St . George ' s Society ( London ) , Deputy Chairman of the Poole Conservative Association , President of St . George ' s Guild ( Poole ) ,

and , above all , a thoroughl y genial and companionable Brother , whose acquaintance is esteemed by all who know him . May we include him in the wish we expressed last week , and hope he may live for many years to see the result of the great efforts made on behalf of the Boys School Centenary—to the success of which he added in so marked a manner .

King's Court Lodge.

KING'S COURT LODGE .

THE consecration of the King ' s Court Lodge , No 2689 , Gillingham , was performed on Thursday , 2 nd inst ., by the Provincial G . M . of Dorset Bro . Montague J . Guest , and the ceremony was largely attended by Brethren from the surrounding district , about 120 members of this and other Lodges in Dorset and adjacent counties being present . The premises in which

the Lodge meetings are held have been erected on the site of an old malthouse , adjacent to the Phcenix Hotel , the designs for the Lodge room and appurtenances being drawn up by Bro . Miles ( Hants ) . The Lodge Room , which has a separate entrance in the lane leading from the Square , is handsomely designed , and

the ante rooms and lavatory are also fitted up with every convenience . The furniture is of a choice description , being of carved oak in the Jacobean style . A beautiful banner was presented by the " Friendship and Sincerity" ( Shaftesbury ) Lodge to the Gillingham Brethren . It is thoroughly illustrative

of the newly consecrated " King ' s Court" Lodge . There are four coats-of-arms painted on it , representing four Kings who occupied the King ' s Court Palace , and surmounting them is King John ' s crown , the banner being otherwise adorned with Masonic emblems , and the motto " Usque stat Fortuna Domus . "

At one o'clock the Brethren assembled at the rooms , but the consecration ceremony was , in order that the large company of visiting Brethren might be accommodated , performed at the Drill Hall , kindly lent for the occasion by Capt . Freame , and to which furniture and other appurtenances of the Lodge were conveyed for the purpose . The Deputy P . G . M . Bro . Colonel Brymer , M . P ., was amongst those present at the consecration service .

The consecration ceremony was followed by the installation of the W . M . designate , Bro . P . J . Gavin P . M . P . J . G . D . by Bro . Harry Strange P . M . P . P . G . S . B . Shortly before four o ' clock the members and visiting Brethren marched from the Drill Hall to the Parish Church , in full regalia . The Vicar ( Rev . Canon Davies ) conducted a short

service before a crowded congregation . The service was fully choral . The sermon was preached by the Rev . Rowland Hill Prov . G . Ch ., vicar of Lyme Regis , who took his text from Matthew xiii , 33 , " Another parable spake He unto them : The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven , which a woman took , and hid in three measures of meal till the whole was leavened . "

Our Rev . Brother compared the operation of leaven to God's works , which he pointed out were performed secretly and quietly , but the results were open and praiseworthy . He thought no more appropriate portion of Scripture than his text could be found for the representation of the work of a Masonic Lodge . From the effect of the works of the inner natural world God

failed not to bring about good times and mighty changes in the outer world . He implored his fellow members to be ever working with the grace and power of God , and with uplifted hands in prayer , and then he felt certain they would be rewarded with prosperity , and when they stood before God ' s throne that which was faithfully and secretly practised and offered would be rewarded and its result seen in the fulness of revelation .

" We give Thee but Thine own " was the hymn sung while the offerory was being taken on behalf of Masonic Charities by eight members of the Craft . After the blessing , pronounced by the Vicar , " Our day of praise is done " was sung as a recessional , and the congregation dispersed , the " Hallelujah Chorus" being played by the organist ( Bro . J . Ley ) , who had the direction of all the musical services of the day .

The newly installed W . M . presided at a banquet subsequently held in the Market Hall , which had been elaborately decorated for the event . Music was furuished by the Westminster singers , in a programme of glees and part songs . The caterer was Bro . H . A . Norris .

It may be mentioned that the collections taken at the church and banquet in aid of the Masonic Charities realised a sum of nearly £ 14 . A letter congratulating the W . M ., Secretary , and all

concerned in the initiation of the new Lodge , on the arrangements made for the opening ceremonies and gatherings , and on the success attending their efforts in that direction , has been received from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Dorset .