Blyth Masonic Hall.

has a frontage of about forty-two feet , and . is eighty-six feet deep . The building has been specially constructed for the convenience of the Blagdon Lodge . This Lodge , it may be mentioned , was consecrated about forty-three years ago , the Warrant bearing the signatures of the Earl of Zetland M . W . G . M ., and Baron Yarborough D . G . M . Por many years afterwards the regular

Lodge meetings were held at the Eidley Arms Hotel ; in fact , it is only about twelve years since the Lodge was removed to the Mechanics' Hall . _ rom time to time several attempts were made to obtain premises specially adapted for Masonic work , and the movement which has now been brought to a successful issue had its inception in 1888 , when at one of the Lodge sittings Bro .

Edward Forster , the then Worshipful Master , moved that an effort be made to build a Masonic Hall in Blyth . A strong Committee was appointed , and fche scheme was pressed forward with much enthusiasm . An eligible site was secured , and as the proposed hall was to be built by subscription , several of the popular methods of increasing the funds were started and carried

through . In order to carry the scheme forward as speedily as practicable a building sub-committee was appointed , consisting of Bros . E . Forster P . M . P . P . G . St . B ., John Tweedy P . M . P . P . G . S . of W ., James Carmichael P . M . P . P . G . St . B ., Eobert T . Guthrie P . M . D . G ., and John Whitfield W . M ., and it was through the energetic efforts of this sub-committee that the hall has now become an accomplished fact .

The building is an imposing structure , the front being artistically designed with Masonic emblems . It is built of red pressed bricks , with terra cotta facings . The large bay windows have camber arches , and are also ornamented with terra cotta . The passage and hall are beautifully tiled . On the basement there are two rooms on each side of a heavily panelled entrance

door , wifch smoke and club rooms in the rear . The Lodge room is upstairs , and has two ante-rooms attached at the west side , being in all respects a most commodious meeting place . There is also a caretaker ' s house attached to the building . The whole range of the premises is heated by means of hot water pipes , and ventilated by Boyle ' s patent ventilators .

The contractors for the building were Messrs . Jno . Gonlding and Sons , Blyth ; the plumbing has been done by Mr . Thomas Poulter , Blyth ; the painting by Messrs . Ternent and Nicholson , and the furnishings have been supplied by Mr . Jno . Mouat , Cowpen Quay . Bro . Jno . Whitfield is the Chairman and Treasurer of the building fund , and Bro . John Tweedy is Secretary—an honorary position which the latter has held since

Blyth Masonic Hall.

the project was resuscitated in 1888 . The hall , which will cost upwards of £ 1 , 000 , will- prove a useful institution at Blyth , and great credit is due to tbe building committee in carrying the project to a successful issue . — " Newcastle Daily Chronicle . "

THE CRAFT IN POONA . A LARGE gathering , numbering in all seventy , assembled in the Masonic Hall , on Wednesday , 20 th ult ., to witness the installation of Capt . W . 3 . D . Dundee as Worshipful Master of Lodge Orion in the West , No . 415 ( E . G . ) . His Excellency Lord Sandhurst Pro District Grand Master and other distinguished Masons were present . The retiring Master Bro . 3 . A . Rowlands said the Lodge had passed

through a bad time , and he believed the same might be said of all the other Lodges in Poona . He had unfortunately fallen sick , and had to go home ; his Senior Warden had been called away from Poona by his official duties ; and several members had been away on leave . The principal item of expense during the past year had been their new and beautiful banner , for the design of which they were indebted to Colonel Newnham-Smith . The Installation ceremony was then performed by Captain 0 . D . Wise .

The Pro District Grand Master Lord Sandhurst congratulated the new Master on his installation , and pointed out the great responsibilities of the duties he had undertaken ; but he had no doubt that the new Master would well and worthily fulfill the duties he had assumed that evening . He felt he must say a word as to the most efficient manner in which Captain Wise had performed the installation ceiemony , and referred to the great obligation Masonry in Bombay was under to that Brother . He thanked the members

of the District Grand Lodge , many of whom had coma all the way from Bombay to be present ; and the large gathering of Brethren who had ventured out to visit tbe Lodge in such inclement weather , as it showed the respect in which Lodge Orion was held . Ho congratulated the Brethren on the state of their Lodge , as shown by the favourable report which tho Deputy District Grand Master Bro . Shields had been able to give of the Lodge . He regretted he could not accept their invitation to dinner , as he had an

engagement in his own house . He would make one remark that he had made before in other Lodges which he had visited officially , that the character of the Lodge did not depend so much upon having many members upon its books , as upon the peace and harmony which prevailed in it . He might say that he had . been in India now for some three-and-a-half years , and that his next

official visit would probably be the last he would pay to the Lodge . He was glad , indeed , to be able to observe the harmony which prevailed between the two Constitutions of the Fraternity , especially so because he held office in both Constitutions—of Pro District Grand Master in the one , and Grand Master in the other . He congratulated the Master and the Brethren , and trusted that the harmony and prosperity of tbe Lodge would continue .

The newly-installed Master Captain Dundee thanked the Pro District Grand Master for his kindness in attending in such very inclement weather , and also the Deputy District Grand Master . He thanked the Brethren , and hoped they would so support him as to make his year of office successful . Shortly afterwards the Lodge closed , ;> nd the Brethren adjourned to an excellent banquet . — " Times of India . "

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