Consecration.

Ihe Lodge starts well , among the gifts to the Lodge being —Holy Bible , Bro . the Eev . H . Tower ; Tyler ' s sword , Bro . S . J . Flood , Surgeon-Major A . M . S . ; Inner Guard sword , Bro . Lieutenant W . C . Cox , O . S . Department ; square and compasses , Bro E . G . Stocker , L . R . C . S . ; and cushion for Bible , Miss and Master Cox .

The Consecrating Officer was Bro . E . Letchworth Grand Secretary of England , in the unavoidable absence of the Earl of Euston . The Lodge was opened shortly before two o ' clock , and the

ceremony of Consecration was performed with dignity , ease , and impressiveness by the Grand Secretary , assisted by Bro . Hodgson Provincial Grand Chaplain , who gave an eloquent address on the nature and principles of the Institution . Bro . E . J . Gibbs Prov . G . Organist presided at the organ .

The new Lodge having been consecrated and dedicated , the following Brethren , who were the Pounders , were appointed and invested : —Bro . S . J . Flood , Surgeon-Major A . M . Staff , 2195 , W . M . ; W . 0 . Cox , Lieut . Ord . Store Department , 2380 , 445 ,

P . M . 914 , Acting P . M . ; W . Smith , Sergeant-Major E . A ., P . M , 2380 , S . W . ; James H . Morlye , P . M . 1413 , J . W . ; E . G . Stocker , 2380 , Treasurer ; C . Walsh , 873 , Secretary ; Rev . H . Tower , 2380 , S . D . ; W . G . Weston , 1093 , J . D . ; H . H . Jones , 743 , I . G .

J . Cleland , 196 , and G . O . M . Waite , 297 , Stewards ; G . Taylor , 215 , Tyler . The banquet was held at the Horse Shoe Inn , being provided by Host Hamson , whose catering gained the greatest satisfaction .

The new W . M . gave the Queen and Craft , and followed with the Grand Master the Prince of Wales , under whom Freemasonry had flourished all over the world . No matter , he said , where you went you would find Lodges established under the Grand

Lodge of England . The other clay a Lodge was constituted at Free Town on the West Coast of Africa , with a membership of negroes ; and if you went to India you would find a Parses Lodge , which those who had been present would agree was admirably worked—and that was under the Grand Lodge of England .

Bro . W . C . Cox P . M . in a few , well-chosen words , gave the health of the Prov . G . M . the Earl of Euston , the Deputy Prov . G . M . Bro . Haviland , and the Officers of Prov . Grand Lodge of Northants and Hunts . He regretted the absence of Lord

Euston ancl Bro . Haviland , but he appropriately testified to the fact that the Provincial Grand Lodge could not be better officered . Under Lord Euston Freemasonry in the Province had widely and hanpily extended .

Bro . Ellard Prov . D . C , in reply , expressed , on behalf of the Officers of the Province , their warmest wishes for the success of the new Lodge . The number of candidates announced indicated that they had got a good deal of work before them , which he was satisfied from his knowledge of the Founders would be well done .

Bro . Cox said he could not , as probably the youngest Mason who had passed the chair , and as Immediate Past Master of the new Lodge , refrain at this point from asking them to drink fche health of the Grand Tyler of England—Bro . Sadler , who was present that evening .

Bro . Sadler wished all success to this Anglo-Irish Lodge . He had seen much of the working of Irish Lodges , and was glad to meet with such cosmopolitan Masons as he had found in this and other like Lodges . Bro . Buckle Prov . Grand Sec . proposed prosperity to the

newly-consecrated Lodge . As almost a great grandpapa in Freemasonry he rejoiced that he had seen the number of Lodges in the Province increase from eight to fifteen . " There was , " as they knew , " a tide in the affairs of men which , taken afc its flood leads on to fortune . " And that flood , be felt sure , they would

take advantage of at Weedon . In some respects it would be a military Lodge , and being " the Centre of England , " where guns and ammunition were stored , they had been establised in a very important position , where he had no doubt they would do good

for Masonry . He had seen a barge , possibly of cordite , as they came along ; from that cordite he deduced with great humour certain lessons which gave him confidence in England ' s Centre Lodge , and he resumed his seat amid laughter and applause .

The W . M . Bro . Flood responded , and said it was the wish of himself and the Brethren of the Lodge that they should make the Lodge subservient to the best interests of Freemasonry . Bro . Smith P . M . proposed the Visiting Brethren , coupled with the name of Bro . H . H . Packer , who gave a felicitous response .

Bro . Cox gave the Press , to which Bro . S . S . Campion , of the " Northampton Mercury" and the " Northampton Daily Reporter" responded . The Tyler ' s toast concluded the programme ; several of the Brethren contributing songs to the harmony of the evening .

Telegrams of Fraternal greetings were received by Surgeon-Major Flood from Lodge Montgomery , Belfast ; and Lodge 10 Belfast ; besides greetings from many other quaiters . — "Northampton Mercury . "

Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

We shall be pleased to receive particulars of Masonic meetings for insertion in our columns , and where desired will endeavour to send a representative to report Lodge or other proceedings . — : o : — CRAET : METROPOLITAN .

PROSPERITY LODGE , No . 65 . rriHE Brethren held their annual summer banquet and ladies' day at the J _ Royal Pavilion , Brighton , on the 9 th inst . The banquet took place in the Banqueting Room , at two o'clock , under the presidency of Bro . W . G . Thomas W . M ., those present including a fair sprinkling of ladies , numbering about one hundred and twenty .

After visiting the various places of interest in the town , the company returned to the Royd Pavilion , where a dance took place in the Music Ro jm , light refreshment being served in the North Drawing Room .

Craft: Provincial.

CRAFT : PROVINCIAL .

— . o . — LODGE OF FREEDOM , No . 77 .

THE original Warrant of this ancient Lodge was dated ath June 1751 , during the Grand Mastership of William , Lord Byron , when its number was 211 , on the Register . Altogether it has had nine numbers granted to it . The second change was to No . 148 in 1755 , and in 1770 it became 118 . Owing to an error in the new numeration its fourth change raised it to No . 96 , but altered to No . 97 in tho following year , at which number it remained till 1792 , when it was allotted No . 89 . On the revision

of tho Roll at the Union in 1814 , the Lodge became No . 113 ; in 1832 it became No . 91 , and was finally altered to No . 77 in 1863 . The centenary warrant was granted to the Lodge in 1870 . With such a record it is not surprising that the annual festival occasions no small stir in tho Province , and that representatives from most of the surrounding Lodges were sent to take part in the proceedings , of last Monday , when Bro . J . A . Whitfield was installed as W . M .

The Town Hall of Gravesend was placed at the disposal of the Brethren by Bro . E . Caspar Paine , mayor , who is a member of the Lodge , and was initiated therein ; and a special dispensation being granted by Earl Amherst the Provincial Grand Master , the furniture was removed to the Large Hall , which formed an excellent Temple . The present and past Provincial Grand Officers were ranged upon the dais , forming an imposing body in full panoply of Masonic state , while several jewels glittered on the breasts of Brethren on the floor of the Lodge .

The Worshipful Master Bro . Thomas Nettlingham opened the Lodgo punctually at half-past three , and was supported by the following Brethren -. Alfred Spencer P . G . S . B . Provincial Grand Secretary of Kent , James Ter-y P . G . Sw . B ., Wm . Russell Prov . G . Tr ., R . J . Beamish P . G . D . C ., J . 0 . Biggs P . G . D . C , G . R . Cobham G . S . of W . Essex , Joseph Hartley P . G . S . W ., G . Adamson P . G . J . W ., Rev . Augustus Jackson , and Rev . J . E . Player Prov . Grand Chaplains , Henry Doughty P . G . Std . Br ., Thomas Deane P . G . Std . Br .

Past Masters : —Joseph Solomon , George Rackstravv , W . H . Hedger , F . Teece , Orlton Cooper 211 , J . P . White 2402 , Hy . Forss 917 , C . Westwood 1343 , W . J . Hayward 483 , J . Driscoll 1531 , J . H . Roach 1527 , T . T . Hogg 483 , G . A . Burrell 1424 . Worshipful Masters : —! . H . Lygo 483 , J . G . Turner 299 , W . Dawson 829 , G . Munro 1424 , H . Rowley 907 . Bros . Stanley , Hogg and Beamish representing Scotch Lodges , also Bros . Dr . Sells , Caspar Paine , W . Mills , Prior , Davis , Martin , & c .

Tho minutes having been read and confirmed , the Treasurer's report was presented showing a substantial balance , and thereby proving the prosperity of the Lodge . The chair was then taken by Bro . William Russell , who proceeded with the Installation ceremony . The choice of the Brethren having fallen upon Brother James Albert Whitfield he was brought before the Lodge by Brother Nettlingham , and

signified his assent to the ancient charges and regulations . A Board of thirty-two Installed Masters was formed , when Bro . Whitfield was regularly placed in the chair and invested his predecessor as I . P . M . Upon the re-admission of tho Brethren the new W . M . was duly saluted in the various degrees , aud then invested the following Brethren as his Officers for the year : R . C . Fowle S . W ., W . Gunn J . W ., George Rackstraw P . M . Treasurer ,

J . C . Biggs P . G . D . C . Secretary , Rev . Augustus Jackson , M . A ., P . G . C . Chaplain , George Masters S . D ., John Solomon J . D ., F . SV . Martin I . G ., F . Hitchens P . M . D . C ., Joseph Davis A . D . C , R . Matthews Organist , E . B . Wilks and A . Reid Stewards ; George Martin ( for the fifty-first time ) was appointed Tyler . Bro . Frank Hitcheus was re-appointed Charity Steward ot the Lodge for the year .

When investing Bro . George Martin as Tyler for the fifty-first year the W . M . said it was a circumstance quite unique in the Masonic world , and the annals of Freemasonry had no record of a similar case . He had much pleasure in handing him the testimonial and purse of fifty sovereigns that bad been subscribed by the Brethren . The testimonial ran thus : —

To Buo . GEORGE MARTIN , Tyler of thc Lodge of Freedom , No . 77 . We , the undersigned members of the above Lodge , heartily congratulata you upon having completed fifty years service as Tyler . We cannot allow so interesting an event to pass unnoticed , and we therefore beg your acceptance of this address and the purse which accompanies it , a small token of our appreciation of services so long and faithfully performed . July 1895 .

It was signed by Earl Amherst Prov . G . M ., J . S . Eastes D . P . G . M ., T . Nettlingham W . M ., and by the majority of the Brethren . As might be expected Bro . Martin was greatly overcome by this unexpected present , which had been kept a secret in order to afford him a pleasant surprise , and he said that words failed him to express his gratitudd

to the Brethren . He could only return his sincere thanks for their kindness , which was a reward of labour indeed . The old gentleman then shook hands with everybody in the room , and retired amid the applause of tho Brethren . Bro . Russell delivered the addresses in a very impressive manner , which subsequently obtained for him a vote of thanks from thc Lodge .

The W . M . presented Bro . Nettlingham with a handsome Past Master's jewel , observing that he was held in the highest esteem and affection by the Brethren , and trusted ho would long be spared to wear the jewel as a souvenir of his successful year of office .