Consecration.

Ceremonies . The solo '' Be thou faithful " was sung by Bro . Jas . Cawthrop with organ and ' cello accompaniments , with very impressive effect , after the obligation . The newly Installed Master having been saluted by the Brethren , invested his Officers , as follow : —Bro . W . R .

Bennett I . P . M ., George Rankin S . W ., W . H . Oldham J . W ., F . T . Rushton Treas ., D . D . West Sec , J . Curran Organist , J . M . Payne S . D ., H . Wakerell ] . D ., A . Slee I . G ., Charles Lewis D . C ., and Wedmore and Appleton Stewards .

. , The Consecrating Officers were elected Hon . Members of the Lodge , and were presented with Founders' jewels in commemoration of the occasion , the same being acknowledged iH' ! gr | jceful language by the Grand Secretary and Bro . Br ^ wni ; igg .

. __ .. The- Lodge being closed the Brethren adjourned to the banqueting room adjoining , where an elegant and sumptuous repast was enjoyed . The toasts of the Queen and the Craft and the Most Worshipful Grand Master having been duly and

enthusiastically honoured , the Brethren settled down to a very enjoyable programme of music , under the direction of Bro . C . H . KemplingP . P . G . O . Essex , and Bro . J . Curran , F . C . O ., Organist of the Lodge . Songs were given by Bros . Bennett ,

May and Gawthrop—a 'cello solo by Bro . Geverding , two violin solos by Mr . Pollitzer , and two exquisite glees by the quartet above mentioned , whose services both at the Consecration and after the banquet were very greatly appreciated by the Brethren .

The toast of the Grand Officers was submitted by Bro . Charles Lewis , who said that while this gave them an opportunity of showing loyalty to the Grand Officers as a body , they desired especially to do honour to the distinguished Brethren who had favoured them by their presence on the

. In reply , Bro . Lord Addington Prov . G . M . of Bucks expressed the pleasure he had in being present to witness the ceremony of Consecration . He had heard of an occasion

when the ceremonies of Consecration and Installation had been performed in less than one hour—the Lodge in question might consider it held the " record , " but anyway the Kirby Lodge held the " Recorder . " ( Cheers and laughter . )

Bro . Guy Repton G . D . also responded , expressing his conviction that under the guidance of the W . M . Sir Forrest Fulton , assisted by the I . P . M . Bro . W . R . Bennett , the Lodge would have great success . The W . M . next gave the toast of the Consecrating

Officers , expressing , on behalf of the Founders , appreciation of the services that day of those distinguished Brethren . He was desired by Bros . Letchworth , Frank Richardson , and J . S . Brownrigg to express regret that a long standing

engagement prevented their remaining to the banquet . He therefore coupled the toast with the names of Bro . Sir Joseph Dimsdale P . G . T ., and Bro . C . E . Keyser P . G . D ., who had kindly acted as Wardens at the chief ceremony .

Bro . Sir Joseph Dimsdale , in reply , said he considered he had been complimented by being asked to act as one of the Consecrating Officers . This was not the first time he had met the Brethren , as a few years ago he acted as President at

a Festival of the Kirby Lodge of Instruction , and should never forget the earnest working he witnessed on that occasion . As a member of Lodge No . i , it was perhaps fitting that he should assist in Consecrating the youngest Lodge in the Craft .

Bro . C . E . Keyser , in a most cheery speech , expressed the pleasure he had in again meeting the Kirby Brethren , he also , like Sir Joseph Dimsdale , having acted as President at a Festival of the Kirby Lodge of Instruction . Although he did not pretend to be as accurate a worker as Emulation

members , still he had a certain reputation in the Provinces for good working , which he greatly appreciated and valued . Continuing , in a humourous vein , he stated he would have been quite prepared to assist in closing down the Lodge in the three degrees if he had been called upon to do so . Bro .

Keyser stated that he was a member of Lodge No . 2 , and caused considerable amusement by reminding the previous speaker that No . 2 Lodge was a much older Lodge than No . 1 . Bro . Keyser ' s cheery and encouraging speech was much appreciated .

The toast of the Worshipful Master was given by Bro . W . R . Bennett I . P . M ., who spoke with great feeling , in expressing the deep respect and affection in which Sir Forrest

Fulton was held by all the Founders . Bro . Bennett reminded the Brethren that their Lodge motto was "Mindful and Faithful" and that the motto under Sir Forrest Fulton ' s crest meant " Strength and Virtue , " The Lodge would

Consecration.

endeavour to perpetuate those mottoes by proving to the W . M . that they were a strong body cf Masons , to be relied upon—while they would endeavour to emulate the virtues and qualities of character which the W . M . possessed . The Worshipful Master , who was received with very

great enthusiasm , expressed in most kindly and graceful language the great interest he took in all that appertained to the Kirby Lodge of Instruction , and the pleasure it had given him to accede to the request of the Brethren to become the first Master of the Kirby Lodge . Although he had been a

Mason for nearly thirty years the demands of an exacting profession had prevented his giving the time and attention necessary to secure promotion in the Order until a few years ago , when having been appointed to the ancient and honourable position of Common Sergeant of London he found

sufficient leisure to renew his interest in the Craft . With the idea of mastering the details of the ceremonies he sought for a good Lodge of Instruction , and not daring to venture to work at the Emulation Lodge of Improvement Was recommended to the Kirby Lodge , which Lodge he attended

for some time , receiving the utmost kindness and consideration from the Preceptor and the members generally , who did all in their power to assist him in rehearsing the ceremonies of the Craft . He should always remember the association with pleasure , particularly as last year , having received the honour

of Grand Office , he was invited to preside : at the annual Festival of the Lodge . In the most kindly and encouraging manner Sir Forrest went on to recommend any Brethren present who had not yet attended one of those Festivals to take the next opportunity of doing so , feeling sure they

would be impressed as he had been , by the excellent and perfect working of the Lectures they would there witness ; As the Officers he had that day invested Were these same Brethren he had no hesitation in associating himself with them in a Regular Lodge , which he was sure was destined to be a great power in the Craft .

He then called on the Brethren to drink the toast of the Officers of the Lodge , coupling with it the names of Bro . Geo . Rankin S . W . ( Preceptor of the Lodge of Instruction ) arid Bro . Oldham J , W . The former feelingly expressed the devotion of himself and his Brother Officers to the newly installed W . M ., and

the great privilege they felt it to be to serve under so eminent a man and Mason . He also expressed the gratification of himself and fellow Officers at the true Masonic spirit

displayed by the Committee of the Lodge of Instruction , who , waiving their own claims , allowed precedence in Office to those of the Founders who were as yet below the rank of Installed Master .

The toast of the Visitors was responded to by Bro . Sir Homewood Crawford P . G . D . and others , and after the " Tyler's toast had been given a most enjoyable and memorable occasion was brought to a close . The jewels , & c , were supplied by the firm of Bros . Geo . Kenning and Son .

Bro . D . Murray Lyon , forty-six years a member of the Craft , and twenty-three years Grand Secretary of Scotlandj has earned an enviable popularity , and the circulation of the news that he was seriously ill has caused considerable anxiety . His splendid constitution , however , coupled with

the care of his wife and family , under the guidance of Dr . George Dickson , has pulled him through to the extent of having the prospect of being back in his sanctum , in George Street , last week . Though confined to the house , and for some time to bed , Bro . Lyon has never at any time

relinquished his Secretarial duties , so the business' of the Grand Lodge has been going on as usual . The wish that he has a speedy and complete recovery is echoed by the whole

Fraternity , says our contemporary , "The Mallet , " in the "Glasgow Evening News . " We cordially endorse the sentiment . # * *

Good ritualism is no sign that a Brother is a good Freemason ; nor is it evidence that he is a bad one , but it is evidence that he thinks enough of the Order to devote much valuable time to it , which should always be something in his favour . — " Texas Freemason . "

* * The quality and fineness of a man ' s nature are to be determined , not so much by his occupation or by the dialect or the grammar of his conversation , as by the character and colour of the thought to which he gives expression . —Ex ,