Consecration Of The Hadrian Lodge, No. 1970, South Shields.

Sec , Alexander Iley P . G . S . D ., T . G . Mabane Acting P . G . J . D ., G . Greenwell P . G . D . C , D . Sinclair Asst . P . G . D . C ., Malcolm Acting p . G . S . B ., George Porteous Acting P . G . Organist , I . Sinclair P . G . P ., and John Thompson Tyler . The Lodge having been raised , the brethren received the Most Noble the Marquis of Londonderry , K . P ., Lord Lieutenant of County Palatine of Durham , Provincial Grand

Master , in doe form , and the Marquis then proceeded to perform the Consecration according to the ceremonial provided , the solemn prayers and addressee being impressively rendered by the Rev . J . J . Brown P . G . Chaplain . The music incidental to the ceremony was very ably rendered by Bros . George Porteoaa acting P . G . Organist , E . J . Gibbon P . M . 541 P . P . G . O . Northumberland , G . J . Leatham 124 ,

J . G . Smith W . M . 48 , J . W . Woolner 240 , and Thomas Lnmley 240 . The Lodge having been consecrated , the first Worshipfnl Master , Bro . Thomas Coulson P . G . J . W ., was presented to the Provincial Grand Master , as were also the petitioners—Bros . G . S . Shotton W . M ., J . J . Athey P . M ., T . Potter P . M ., T . G . Mabane P . M . and P . P . G . R ., J . H . Morton P . M ., J . H . Thompson S . W ., and W . Davidson . Bro .

Thos . Coulson , W . M . designate of the new Lodge , wa 3 installed into the chair of K . S . by Bro . E . D . Davis , acting Depnty P . G . M ., as the first Master of the Hadrian Lodge No . 1970 . The W . M . then invested his Officers as follow : —Bros . Thomas Potter I . P . M ., J . J . Athey S . W ., W . Davidson J . W ., J . H . Morton P . M . Treasurer , J . Robertson M . C ., J . Heppell Sec , Walter Rosa S . D ., M . I . Wheatley J . D . J . R .

, Walker jun . I . G ., Colin Wawn and W . Dalziel Stewards , and J . Brown Tyler . Several new members to join the Lod ge were proposed , and the business of the day was conoluded b y the W . M . being congratulated by the representatives from the various visiting Lodges one being from Philadelphia in America . Afterwards the banquet ' was held in the Golden Lion Hotel ( Bro . Thomas Landerdalelate of

New-, castle ) , when nearly one hundred brethren sat down to a first-olass repast , which was served in excellent order b y the host . Tbe chair was occupied by the Marqnis of Londonderry , who was supported on bis left by Bro . Thomas Conlson W . M ., the vice chair being occupied by Bro . J . J . Athey S . W . The Loyal and Masonic toasts were duly

honoured , and the proceedings were enhanced b y some excellent glees and songs by the brethren who ofBoiated at the Lodge . It may be mentioned that most of the furniture , and the whole of the working tools , & o ., for the new Lodge were presented by the Officers and members , as under : —

Bro . Thomaa Coulson 'W . M . —The pedestal , Bible , and silver square and compasses . Bro . Thomas Potter I . P . M . —Cable tows . Bro . W . Davidson J . W . —Poinard . Bro . Walter Ross S . D . —Two cushions . Bro . M . I . Wheatley J . D . —Large ohest , deacons' wands , two sets

of squares , levels and plumb rules , and five gavels . Bro . J . H . Morton P . M . Treasurer and Dr . Dalziel Steward . —A handsome silk banner , bearing a representation of the head of the Emperor Hadrian and appropriate lettering in gold . Bro . J . Robertson P . M . M . C . —Working tools for the three degrees . Bro . J . H . Thompson . —Three mahogany columns . Bro . Thomas Tinmonth . —Silver salver .

Bro . Henderson . —Two mahogany desks . Bro . Dr . Bootiman . —Sword for Tyler . Bro . J . Heppell . —The book of bye-laws , beautifully engrossed on vellum and handsomely bound . Bro . George Wilson Organist 240 . —The W . M . 's Bible .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

— : o : — INSTALLATION OP THE PROVINCIAL GRAND M . M . M . OP BUCKINGHAMSHIRE .

THE old building known as the Town Hall , Newport Pagnell , has lately nndergone considerable alterations and improvements . A new , substantial , and convenient staircase has been added , making the ingress and egress considerably easier , and its construction is fortunately of such E , nature as to avoid any danger while ascending or descending , which is an important feature in all public buildings .

Several other acceptable improvements have been made . Shortl y hefore four o ' clock on Tuesday , the 13 th inst ., a large number of the M . M . Masons of the district assembled , and they were joined by several distinguished brethren from Grand Lodge and the Provincial Grand Mark Lodges adjoining the Province of Bucks , including the B . W . Bros . General J . Studholrae Brownrigg , C . B ., P . G . W ., D . M .

Dewar Asst . Grand Secretary , George P . G . Steward P . M . 265 , Hewens I-P . M . 245 a , nd P . P . G . S . D . of Leicestershire , Norfchants , anil Derby . Bro . General Brownrigg , addressing the brethren , said : I have to-day been commanded by Lord Henniker , the Grand Mark Master Mason of England , to act on his behalf in installing the first Provincial Grand Mark Master of this county . I am sure that the Grand

Master , in honouring me with this duty , knew how I , more than any other Mark Mason , wonld appreciate it . It wonld not bo becoming ' or mo to say much about your Provincial Grand Master , bnt I am snre that you will believe , without my telling you , that it will be his earnest endeavour to promote the interests of Mark Masonry in the Province . Bro . the Rev . J . Stndholmo Brownrigg P . G . C . was then presented to tho acting Grand Director of Ceremonies , Bro . T . Taylor ,

Ijnd w » 3 duly installed Provincial Grand Mark Master of Bucking-^ atnshire . The Provincial Grand Master , in acknowledging the high compliment paid him , said : Brethren , In tho first place I havo to than k you for the honour which has been done mo to-day . I can never forget that this patent is the result of a unanimous petition Jjom the Mark Master Masons of Buckinghamshire to the Grand lark Master Mason . I am proud to say that yon conspired together 0 0 Dtain for me what I did not seek , what I am conscious I did not

Mark Masonry.

deserve . To the best of my power I will endeavour to promote the welfare of this and every other legitimate branch of the Craft in this county . Bnt to pass from a personal to a more general conaideration of the matter . I am sure that Bro . Dewar will bear me out when I say that in whatever county the Craft is flourishing , there also from the parent stem is thrown out a vigorous and healthy

shoot of Mark Masonry . It is almost a necessary consequence . As soon aa men begin to value and appreciate the beauties of onr Order , they wish to advance to a more perfect knowledge of it , and the result is that they form a close union with their old Lodge , a Lodge of Mark Master Masons . We are happy to live in days when this is possible without even the suspicion of disloyalty to the chief

Masonio power of this country . The distinguished brother , whom I have to thank on your behalf for being to-day the Installing Master , can tell you how , in days when he first sat aa a Grand Officer of the Grand Lodge of England , there was a bitter feud between the two G . Lodges . In no measured terma did the one denounce the other . Time is the great softener of all things , and the same voices which

once spoke in discordant antagonism are now blended together in perfeet unison . Every shadow of ill-feeling is gone for ever , and , as I have said , a pi osperous Mark Lodge is sooner or later the natural out . come of every good Craft Lodge . But more than this . I hope that in this particular county Mark Masonry ia not merely following the lead of the Craft Province . I think that we are in one important

particular taking the lead . It has been argued that poor little Book , inghamshire cannot standalone , that we want the help and guidance of an elder sister . Brethren , the assemblage to-day is , I think , an answer . If three Mark Lodges , all in North Bucks , can bring together such a meeting as this , surely eleven Craft Lodges can do as much . There is a French proverb " Tout vient a celle oni qui pent

attendre — " Every thing comes to the man who knows how to wait . " But waiting does not mean sitting with our hands before ns , it does mean taking every legitimate step to prove the vitality and energy of our Buckinghamshire Masons . We have taken such a step to-day , let us make a few more like it , and in good time we shall ba allowed our independence , and the elder sister will be proud to see us walk

alone , while we shall not be forgetful of the days when she bore with onr infantine insubordination . Aa regards the Mark , we start to-day young , and perhaps foolish . We have all the dangers of infanoy before us , we have not yet even got through the discomfort of teeth , ing , we shall come to that direotly , when we discuss the Bye-laws ; but we come of healthy parents , and we do not mind a little hard

work . I hope none of us are afraid of the future . We mean to do our best . I am saying this for every Mark Mason in the Province , and I shall myself be glad to be the servant whenever there is any help wanted of every Lodge in the Province . I do not wish to sit on the right haDd of the W . M . if an Inner Guard is wanted . The Provincial Grand Master appointed his Officers as follow : —Bros . B .

Fountaine Prov . S . G . W ., McCubbin Prov . J . G . W ., W . H . Bull Prov . G . M . O ., W . Fitch Prov . G . S . O ., Mickley Prov . G . J . O ., Revs . C . F . L . West and F . W . Harnett Prov . G . Chaplains , H . Poynter Prov . G . Registrar of Marks , J . Williams Prov , G . Treasurer , J . R . Wilmer Prov . G . Secretary , J . Cuthbert Prov . G . S . D ., McDowall Prov . G . J . D ., R . King Prov . Inspeotor of Works , T . Taylor Prov . G . Director of

Ceremonies , J . Reeve Prov . A . G . Director of Ceremonies , J . H . Cox Prov . G . Sword Bearer , W . R . Parrott Prov . G . Standard Bearer , B . Wilford Prov . G . Organist , Howell G . I . G ., L . Cooper Prov . G . Steward . The Provincial Grand Lodge having been closed , the brethren adjourned to the Swan Hotel , for the banquet , which was catered for by host Cannon . At the conclusion of the repast , the

Provincial Grand Master gave the toast of the Queen and Craft , and remarked that whether at home or abroad Her Majesty always showed much concern for the welfare of her subjects . At the present time we were engaged in an anxious war , and he need scarcely say that the sympathies of the Queen were at that moment with those suffer .

ing in Egypt . It was , therefore , at such times that they and all her subjects should sympathise with her , and he was convinced that he was reiterating the feelings of all present when he said that he wished her a speedy and happy termination of the anxiety in whioh she is now placed . Other Masonic and complimentary toasts were given . —Newport Pagnell Weekly Standard .

Change In The Proprietorship Of The Freemasons' Tavern.

CHANGE IN THE PROPRIETORSHIP OF THE FREEMASONS' TAVERN .

ON WEDNESDAY last the above Tavern changed hands , after being under the conduct of Bro . Alfred Best for a period of five years . The well-known purveyors and caterers , Messrs . Spiers and Pond , now take possession , and we heartily wish them as much snecess as the previous proprietor haa achieved . So highly were Bro . Alfred Best ' s courteous and genial qualities esteemed , that , early

in the day before resigning bis management , tho members of the staff associated with him , in addition to a few intimate friends who desired to recognise his worth , assembled in one of the dining rooms , and presented him and his amiable wife ( who , however , was unable to be present ) with a very substantial testimonial , in the shape of an

American organ , of the newest principles , and a music chair . Brother Terry made the presentation , in happy and choice language , while Bro . Best responded in a manner that testified more than words could possibly havo done . So taken by surprise was he , that he seemed overcome by emotion , and could scarcely utter more than the plain but expressivo words , —I thank yon .

The Provincial Grand Lodge of Middlesex will be held , under the presidency of the R . W . Colonel Sir Francis Bnrdett , Bart . —P . G . S . W . of England , Representative from fclio Grand Lodge of Ireland , Prov . G . M . —at the Assembly Rooms , Teddington , on Saturday , 30 th September , at 2 . 80 p . m . precisely .