Reception At Carlisle.

RECEPTION AT CARLISLE .

ON Friday night , 29 th ult ., there was a brilliant Masonic gathering in the County Hall , Carlisle , on the occasion of a reception and dance given by the Mayor , who is the W . M . of the Bective Lodge , and the Mayoress . The invitations , which had been limited to the members of the Bective and Union Lodges , and the Officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge

of Cumberland and Westmorland , with their wives and their lady friends , had been issued from the office of the Town Clerk , and with a few exceptions had been accepted , so that the

number of ladies and gentlemen present was about four hundred , including several unattached Freemasons . The reception of the guests continued from eight o ' clock till nine , dining which time Mr . Felix Burns ' s band played a selection of music in the County Hall . J

The guests were received near the main door by the Mayor and Mayoress , with whom were Mr . Ernest White , Miss Edith and Miss Dora White , Mr . and Mrs . A . F . Helps , Miss Helps , and Miss Edith Klyne . The Mayor wore the regalia of Provincial Seuior Grand Warden of Cumberland and Westmorland , which office he holds in addition to that of Worshipful Master of the Bective Lodge . His Worship also wore the new civic gold chain ,

while the Mayoress wore the civic badge . The mace and sword bearers and the mace sergeant were in attendance in their uniforms , and behind the Mayor was displayed the banuer of the Bective Lodge . A special dispensation allowing Freemasons to appear in their regalia having been obtained from London , the Masons who attended the reception wore aprons and jewels . Dancing commenced at nine o ' clock , and was kept up until about two o ' clock in the mornine .

Eefreshments were purveyed by Mr . aud Mrs . Koster , of the County Hotel , under whose direction the main entrance to the Hall , the vestibule , and the annexe were decorated with foliage plauts from the Knowefield Nurseries .

Maldon's Historic Tower In Danger.

MALDON'S HISTORIC TOWER IN DANGER .

rT ^ HE borough of Maldon contains many ancient buildings , JL but probably the oldest of them all is St . Peter ' s Church , now disused , at the top of Market Hill , in tbe High Street . The nave fell about the year 1665 , but the tower remains , and there is a brick school building adjoining , erected by Dr . Thomas Plume , Archdeacon of Rochester and founder of the Plumerian

Professorship of Astronomy , at Cambridge , who was a munificent benefactor to Maldon , his native place . Dr . Plume died in November 170 ± , and just before his death he built the present brick building to serve as a free school , and to contain his library , which he presented to the town . The library , now under the care of the Vicar , the Eev . E . R . Horwood , J . P ., consisted of about

5 , 000 volumes , mostly of a theological character . Many of the editions are rare and in fiue condition , and there are also several valuable topographical works , together with a number of old portraits . The ground floor of the building adjoining the tower is in the occupation of the St . Peter ' s Lodge of Freemasons , and has been so for some thirty years ; while the Plume Chapter of Royal Arch Masons also hold their meetings there .

Some twenty years ago the tower began to show evidences of weakness , and it was supposed that these were due in a great measure to the passing of heavy traction engines . The Rev . E . R . Horwood , who was also Vicar at that period , called in an ecclesiastical architect , and under his direction the place was

supported by timber and iron bands , and so on . During the past two years , possibly owing to the very dry summers and to the churchyard being honey-combed with graves , the tower seems to have bulged about midway up on the east side . This has been more noticeable during the last few months , but last month when

a few members of the local Lodge went in to hold a Committee meeting , an unmistakable increase in the breaches in the wall induced them to consult the borough surveyor , Mr . P . M . Beaumont , who , after inspecting the tower as far as he could the same night , at once gave it as his opinion that while perhaps not

immediately dangerous under ordinary circumstances , it might collapse in tbe event of a high wind ; and , therefore , he recommended the Brethren not to use the rooms again until something had been done . The Mayor kindly gave permission for the use of the Council Chamber at the Town Hall for the meeting of St . Peter ' s Lodge the following Wednesday evening ,

and the same course will probably be pursued until the tower is repaired . The Rev . E . R . Horwood , as the librarian , and the Rev . D . Gotto , the curate , have been accustomed to hold meetings in the library room , and they have also noticed ominous signs that the building was in a very dangerous state , although the damage was not then so serious . The entrance to the library is by a small door at the bottom of the turret at the north-west angle of the old embattled flint and

Maldon's Historic Tower In Danger.

stone tower ; and the spiral staircase leads to the roof , from which a good view of the surrounding country can be obtained . The great fear is that as the tower bulges in the direction of the library , which is situated over ths , Masonic rooms , it may , should it collapse , destroy the school building as well . Within the past two years the Vicar has spent considerable sums in shoring up and strengthening the buttresses and other parts of the tower .

The free school is no longer held in the building adjoining the tower , its quarters having long since been removed to the London Road .

In the east window of the scaoolroom are the arms of Henry VIII . impaling those of his consort , Jane Seymour . There are also a Royal crown , two shields , and other old stained glass , doubtless removed from a window of a church and here preserved . The Vicar has been in communication with the Mayor , Alderman Fitch , as to the repair of the tower , and it is not

improbable that the matter will be undertaken by public subscription . The Society for the Preservation of Ancient Buildings aud the Essex Archaeological Society will probably be asked to contribute , and it is thought that there will be no difficulty in raising the amount necessary to put the tower in a thoroughly

safe condition . It is to be hoped that this will be quickly done , as the valuable works in the library are now in danger of being totally destroyed , to say nothing of the prospect of the borough losing such an ancient and historic building . — " Essex Weekly News . "

First Annual Dinner Of The Eyre Lodge Of Instruction, No. 2742.

FIRST ANNUAL DINNER OF THE EYRE LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , No . 2742 .

Presentation to the Preceptor . AN important meeting in the history of this Lodge took place on Wednesday of last week , when tbe first annual dinner was held at tho house of Bro . 0 . Murless , the Eyre Arms Hotel , St . John's Wood , and a presentation was made to the popular Preceptor Bro . H . J . Weston P . M ., in the form of a collar and jewel as Grand Superintendent of Works of Middlesex , to which office he was appointed at the last meeting of that Provincial Grand Lodge .

The chair was taken by Bro . A . Cra 3 dock S . W . of the Mother Lodge , whilst Bro . J . D . Graham P . M . occupied the vice-chair , and there were between forty and fifty other Brethren present , among them being Bros . H . J . Weston P . M . Preceptor , G . Murless Treasurer . P . J . Weeden Secretary , S . A . Weeden , G . E . Thompson , \ V . Handford , W . C . Bersey , W . 3 . Mitchell , T . E . Mitchell 2271 , J . E . Culverhouse , J . Cosham , H . Martin P . M . P . Z ., A . Barrell ( Managerof the Hotel ) , T . A . Marks J . W . 1977 , H . Bertram , Howard , W . P . Olark , Morgan , Harris P . M ., Hardley , H . Cooper . Berry , Dewhurst , Jewell , Allen , G . Dodd P . M . 1194 , G . Harris , J . Wynman , & o .

After an excellont repast the President proposed the Loyal toast of the Queen and the Graft , and followed on with that of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales Grand Master , as also that of the Grand Officers , coupling with the latter the names of Bro . Weston Prov . G . S . of Works Middlesex , and Bro . E . J . Lynn P . P . G . P . Middlesex , the latter of whom , responding to the toast , said he had to heartily thank them for the cordial greeting they had given

to tho toast . He was there that night to help to honour Past Master Weston , the Preceptor of the Eyre Lodgo of Instruction , as Provincial Grand Superintendent of Works—the highest honour the Harrow Lodge had ever conferred on one of its members—and likewise to see him presented with the jowol and clothing of his office , by the members of that Lodge of Instruction and the Harrow Lodge of Instruction , held at the Waterloo Arms , High Street , Marylebone .

Bro . Weston thanked the Brethren for their reception of the toast , and Bro . Lynn for his kind utterances in his behalf . He was proud of being promoted to Provincial Grand Office , and assured them that whatever he could do for the welfare of Lheir Lodge , or for the Craft in general , he would be happy to undertake . The Chairman now had very much pleasure in submitting the toast of

Bro . Weston , congratulating him on the honour recently conferred on him by the Provincial Grand Master of Middlesex , and complimenting him on his position as Preceptor of that and the Harrow Lodge , No . 1301 . By desire of the Brethren of those Lodges he had now considerable gratification in asking Bro . Weston ' s acceptance of a Provincial jewel and clothing , which had been well-earned , and was given with the sincere wish that the recipient might live many years to wear thetn , in good health and prosperity .

Bro . Weston's popularity was evidenced by the ovation with which he was received on rising to respond . He was most thankful to the Brethren of his two Lodges of Instruction for their bandsomo testimonial , and tendered his heartfelt thanks to all who had subscribed towards it . Once again he could assure tho Brethren of the two Lodges that he would do everything in his power to make the Eyre and tho Harrow Lodges of Instruction great successes .

Bro . Weston then in brief terms proposed the health of the Chairman Bro . Craddock , coupling with it that of Bro . J . D . Graham P . M . the Vice-Chairman of the evening . It would indeed be difficult , he said , to find better or more capable men . Bro . Craddock S . W . of the Mother Lodge bad presided that evening as representative of the Master of the Mother Lodge , and he felt all would agree the position had been most ably filled .

In acknowledgment , the Chairman said he had acted to the best of his ability , and was very ploased to soo so many familiar faces around him . He wished the . Eyre Lodge of Instruction every prosperity . Bro . Graham also replied , thanking the Preceptor for coupling hirn with the toast . He was sure there was no better Mason than Bro . Weston , who deserved the honourable position ho had won in Provincial Grand Lodge , and the hearty congratulations of hia fellow members in the two Lodges of Instruction . The President next proposed the toast of the Visitors .

Bro . Martin P . M . P . Z . responded , saying how much obliged he was to them for their kind reception . With so excellent a Preceptor as Bro . Weston he felt sure the Lodge would prosper . The working of the present day was very different to what it was thirty years ago , and much of the improvement was due to such persevering Masons as Bro . Weston . Bro . T . E . Mitcholl 2271 said he had thoroughly enjoyed himself and felt