Herefordshire.

as his guide , he will find that all the social and moral virtues do prevail in his Order , and , in the future as in the past , the prosperity of Masonry and the progress of the world will be commensurate and continual . At the banquet , after the customary toasts , an extra one

was deservedly introduced by command of the Chairman , says the "Hereford Times , " the task being entrusted to the Worshipful Master of the Palladian Bro . W . W . Robinson . He said he had first of all to propose the health of Worshipful Bro . the Hon . and Very Rev . the Dean ,

thanking him for his kindness in inviting the Provincial Grand Lodge to the Cathedral , and arranging for the special service and for the use of the Cathedral Library , which , he remarked , had been erected soon after the appointment of the Dean to Hereford . Bro . Robinson also thanked the

Dean for the admirable sermon which he had preached , in which he told the outside public what Freeinasons were and also what they ought to be . Included in the toast was the health of the Provincial Grand Organist Bro . Sinclair , whom he thanked on their behalf for the zeal and ability

with which he had arranged the musical portion of the service , which had contributed so much to the success of the celebration . ( Bro . Robinson asking if the Brethren endorsed his acknowledgment ; the Brethren assented with warm applause ) . Bro . Robinson went on to embrace in the toast

a vote of thanks to the Prov . Grand Secretary Bro . Maddison , for the kindness with which he had given his services in making the celebration a success . A word of thanks was

also conveyed to the P . G . Director of Ceremonies Bro . S . G . Yates , who had come over to Hereford on Saturday to see what arrangements had to be made , and had done his work well .

The combined toast was received with expressions of approval . The Dean of Hereford , received with enthusiasm ,

reciprocated the kind sentiments which had been expressed , and said the praise for the arrangements , as far as the service was concerned , was really due to Bro . Sinclair , who had made all the preparations during his absence .

Bro . Sinclair and Bro . Yates also responded . Bro Maddison had left .

An interesting episode of the evening was the unveiling of a portrait of Bro . H . C . Beddoe P . M . of the Palladian and Deputy Prov . G . M . The ceremony was performed by the W . M . of the Palladian , who said he had very great

pleasure in having the portrait of the oldest subscribing Brother of the Palladian , as Deputy Provincial Grand Master , added to the collection of portraits adorning the Lodge room .

Kent.

KENT ..

AT the meeting of Mark Grand Lodge , to be held at Mark Masons' Hall , Great Queen Street , London , on Tuesday , 30 th instant , Bro . Hughes-Hallett Deputy Prov . Grand Master will present to Gra ' nd Lodge , on behalf of the Brethren of Kent , the portrait of the Right Hon . Earl Amhetst M . W . Past Grand Master . *

The Provincial Grand M . M . has expressed a wish that all the Lodges may be represented on the occasion , and desires the Brethren of the Province to support the Deputy Provincial Grand Master in large numbers .

It has been suggested that the Kentish Brethren should dine together at the Holborn Restaurant immediately after the Grand Lodge , at which the Provincial Grand Master hopes to be present .

Brethren who wish to dine will please communicate with Bro . J . G . Podevin Provincial Grand Secretary P . D . P . G . M . ( 2 Church Villas , Dover ) , on or before 24 th instant , so that a suitable room may be retained . Dinner Tickets will be five shillings , without wine .

On Wednesday of last week the foundation-stone of the additional Municipal buildings adjoining and forming part of the Clerkenwell Town Hall , Eosebery Avenue , was laid by Bro . Eobert Stebbings P . M . P . G . D . C . Essex . Bro . Charles Evans Vaughan , of the St . Martin ' s Lodge , is the architect of the new

addition , says the " Holborn Guardian , " as he is also architect of the main building , wbich has the just repute of being a splendid building with tine acoustic qualities . There was an important assemblage at the ceremony , in which Bro . Stebbings was the principal .

Conseceration.

CONSECERATION .

' — . o * . — VICTORIA DIAMOND JUBILEE LODGE . IT is quite in accordance with the fitness of things that a Freemason ' s Lodge should be established to commemorate the exceptional and magnificent reign of our Most Gracious Patroness , and it was decidedly a happy thought on the part of the Pounders to celebrate the Queen ' s Diamond Jubilee by the foundation of a Lodge which shall henceforth perpetuate that

unique event . Other Provinces have honoured Her Majesty ' s previous Jubilee , and Essex naturally has its Eoyal Victorian Jubilee Lodge , No . 2184 , which meets at Eainham ; but so far as we remember , there is as yet no other Lodge named after the Diamond Jubilee . Its inception is due to Bros . 0 . J . Smith , G . Gratton , P . Banger , H . Ffrench Bromhead , Eev . T . Lloyd , A . F . Lay , J . F . Saunders , and others , and the necessary

permission from the Grand Master having been obtained , the Consecration was fixed for the 10 th inst ., when a goodly number of Brethren , mustering over two hundred , assembled at the Casth Hotel , Woodford , to take part in this always interesting ceremony . Although to all intents and purposes the new Lodge belongs to Essex , and most of its members reside in that Province , it is actually within the metropolitan jurisdiction , and therefore the Founders were able to secure the services of the

Grand Secretary for the consecrati > n . Bro . Letchworth appointed Bro , Major C . W . Carrell P . G . Swd . Br . as S . W ., Bro . W . A . Scurrah P . G . Std . Br . as J . W ., the Ven . Archdeacon T . Stevens P . G . C . as Chaplain , Bro . Frank Richardson P . G . D . as D . C , Bro . C . J . E . Tijou P . A . G . P . as I . G .. and Bro . William Shurmur P . G . S . B . to assist him .

The Lodge was duly opened in the three degrees , after which Bro . Letchworth addressed the assembly upon the motives of the meeting , to further the cause that all present had at heart , and to advance the best interests of the Craft in that locality . Tlie venerable Chaplain offered up the prayer for Divine blessing on the proceedings . The Founders , who numbered about fifty ,

then stood in the body of theLodge , while Bro . Frank Eichardson addressed the W . M ., and afterwards read the Warrant from Grand Lodge which sanctioned its establishment . The Brethren having signified their approval of the Officers named in the Warrant , Bro . Stevens delivered a fine Oration on the nature and

principles of Freemasonry , which evoked Masonic applause from the assembly . The customary ceremony was then carried out in all its details , and the new Lodge was dedicated "To the service of God and the welfare of our fellow creatures . " Tha anthem having been sung , the Patriarchal Beneliction brought this portion of the proceedings to a close .

Brother Charles James Smith having been unanimously selected as the first Master of the Lodge , was then presented to Bro . Letchworth by the D . C , for the purpose of receiving at his hands the benefit of installation . This ceremony was also conducted by the Grand Secretary in the same admirable manner as the Consecration , and his subsequent delivery of the addresses elicited tbe heartiest approval of the Brethren . Although Bro

Smith is already a Past Master , he was again called upon to repeat the obligation and give his assent to the ancient charges aud regulations . This done , a Board of Installed Masters ( of whom there were nearly fifty present ) was formed , and Bro . Smith was regularly placed in the chair of the Lodge . After the usual salutations the Master was proclaimed , and the Warrant delivered to his keeping by Bro . Letchworth .

The following Officers were then invested : —Bros . G . E . Gratton S . W ., F . Eanger J . W ., Eev . T . Lloyd P . M . P . P . G . C . Chaplain , J . F . Saunders P . M . Treasurer , H . Ffrench Bromhead P . M . P . PG . S . W . Secretary , E . Cuer S . D ., Eev . C . Hoyle J . D ., J . Edwards I . G ., E . E . Alexander D . C , W . T . Barwell A . D . C , Jetferson Davis Organist , F . D . D . Coard , F . S . Collier , F . Cuzner , J . Hadwen , J . Hertz and W . E . James Stewards , and David Legg P . M . Tyler .

The W . M ., when investing his Officers , exhorted them to be punctual in their attendance , and to attain perfect proficiency in their duties , in order that the work of the Lodge might be conducted with order and propriety . Bro . Smith proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the Consecrating Officers for the very able and efficient manner in

¦ which they had conducted the ceremonial . Speaking on behalf of the Founders he said they felt under a deep debt of gratitude and obligation to them , in coining so far to perforin the ceremony ; it was usually the custom to present the Consecrating Officers with a Founder ' s jewel , but on this occasion it was considered

advisable , seeing that they must have more jewels than they could wear , to take a new departure , and humorously suggested that as they had met together to celebrate a great and glorious reign ( rain ) the best thing they could do was to present them with an appropriate souvenir . He therefore requested the acceptance by each of a gold mounted umbrella .