Essex.

recollect , installed him into his office as Grand Superintendent , in which his lordship wished the Province every kind wish , and expressed a hope that the work which he had begun would go on and prosper . Referring to the discussion that had taken place recently in the Supreme Grand Chapter as to the appointment of a Companion as Grand Registrar

in the Craft entitling him to the same post in the R . A ., the Provincial Grand Superintendent said the practice in Provinces and districts had been quite uniform . Grand Superintendents had appointed Companions as Provincial or District Grand Registrars , whether they were so in the Craft or not . The whole question would be brought before the next Grand Chapter , and this practice would be

legitimatised . In conclusion , the Grand Superintendent thanked them all for the good will they had shown to himself and the Order in the Province , which had rendered the administration of the Province a perfect sinecure , and not only a source of pleasure , but of legitimate pride , coupled as it was with such marked tokens of esteem towards himself , which he treasured as the dearest recollections of his life .

The Companions then proceeded to the appointment of a Provincial Grand Treasurer , and Comp . Andrew Durrant was unanimously re-elected for the fifteenth time . The following Officers were appointed and invested by the Provincial Grand Superintendent : Comp . George Corbie 453 - - - H . Harris Hills 2154 - - - - J . Thos . J . Railing 51 ( 15 th year ) - - Scribe E .

R . K . Bull 1437 ... . Scribe N . Andrew Durrant 276 - - - Treasurer Rev . Thos . Lloyd 2005 - - - Registrar John Ramsey 214 - Sojourner T . J . D . Cramphorn 276 ... 1 st Assistant Sojourner T . Piper 2006 - 2 nd Assistant Sojourner

John Spencer 1437 ... Sword Bearer E . C . Talbot 2184 - - - - Standard Bearer A . Lucking 1000 ( 15 th year ) - - Director of Ceremonies A . F . Lay 2501 - - - - Assistant Dir . of Cers . J . Boreham 1437 - Organist W . M . Butcher 453 ... Assistant Scribe E . A . W . Martin - . - ... Janitor .

On the motion of the Provincial Superintendent , a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the Principals and Companions of the Francis White Chapter , for the excellent arrangements they had made for the meeting . The vote was acknowledged by Comp . Francis White Senior P . Z ., and the Provincial Grand Superintendent having announced that the next meeting would be held at Southend , the Chapter was closed .

The Companions , to the number of about fifty , afterwards dined together at the Golden Lion Hotel , an excellent repast being well served by the genial Host , Bro . Peter Reynolds . The Provincial Grand Superintendent presided in his accustomed happy manner .

Buckingham And Chandos Lodge.

BUCKINGHAM AND CHANDOS LODGE .

TIHHE progress of the Masonic Order in the peninsular of JL Wirral during the past year has been remarkable , and the record was emphasised on Saturday afternoon , 9 fch inst ., says tbe " Cheshire Observer , " when the Buckingham and Chandos Lodge , No . 2667 , was consecrated with the impressive ceremonial peculiar to the occasion , at the Royal Rock Hotel , Rock Perry , being instituted for the convenience of the Brethren resident in

the neighbourhood . The consecration proceedings were conducted by the Right Hon . the Earl of Egerton and Tatton Prov . Grand Master Cheshire , who was supported by a numerous gathering of his past and present Officers , together wifch a large number of W . M . ' s , P . M . ' s , Officers , and Brethren from Liverpool , Birkenhead , New Brighton , and various parts of the Province of Cheshire .

The founders of the new Lodge are : —Bros , the Hon . Alan de Tatton Egerton , M . P ., P . G . W . Eng ., Colonel G . S . Dean P . P . S . G . W ., Andrew H . Baird I . P . M . 2433 , Thomas Gladstone W : M . 356 I . C ., Henry F . Currie 680 , Max Isaac P . M . 1070 , Jas .

Cookson P . P . G . T ., Dr . H . Laird Pearson 2496 , George Gouvelas 680 , Edward Elamank 786 , G . de M . Mackirdy 2289 , E . W . Morrice 680 , Harry Turner 2289 , J . P . Griffith 477 , Lilley Ellis P . P . S . G . D . P M . 1289 , Walter 0 . Glover 2375 , John G . Forsyth P . M . 1473 , and T . Keene 2433 .

The ceremony of consecration was performed by fche Prov . Grand Masfcer , assisted by several prominent Provincials , and in the course of the proceedings an eloquent oration was delivered by Bro . C . Hylton Stewart P . G . C ., on the nature and principles of the Order . After referring to the ancient and honourable history and records of the Institution , the reverend Brother expressed a hope that the Lodge which was being consecrated that day according to the traditional ritual of the Order would

Buckingham And Chandos Lodge.

be ever the home of those sacred principles which the Brethren so deeply cherished . Masonry was a magnificent reality , being , aa had been well said , " a light that shines in a dark place , alight that brings peace and joy to the disconsolate , and the light that shines into the heart of the widow and helps the fatherless . "

The special music appertaining to the consecration pro ? ceedings , under the direction of Bro . John Forsyth , was sung with effectiveness hy the Minster Vocal Quartette . At the close of the consecration , Bro . A . H . Baird I . P . M . 2433 was duly installed the first W . M . of the new Lodge by Bro . J . Armstrong P . G . J . W .

Bro . Max Isaac was chosen Charity Representative . Towards the close of the proceedings the Prov . Grand Master aud Deputy Prov . Grand Master were elected honorarv members .

Victoria Lodge.

VICTORIA LODGE .

rip HE holding of the annual Provincial Grand Chapter of I Berkshire , reported elsewhere , was followed after a shortinterval by the consecration of the Victoria Lodge , No . 2671 , the interesting ceremony being performed at the Masonic Hall , Windsor , in the presence of a large and representative body of Masons , including some distinguished Officers of the Grand Lodge of England .

The choice of the first Worshipful Master of the new Lodge fell upon Bro . Edward Prince , who was initiated in the Etonian Lodge , No . 209 , in 1881 . After passing through the various offices , he was installed Worshipful Master of his Lodge eleven years later , and rendered excellent service as Steward at the Festivals of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution and the

Girls School , raising a mosfc liberal amount for each Institution , the result being that in due course he was presented with fche Provincial Charity jewel . Bro . Prince has also shown much interest in fche progress of Royal Arch Masonry in Berkshire , and as will be seen by our report , has just been advanced to an important position in the Provincial Chapter . "We may

mention fchat Bro . Prince has spent about thirty years of his life mainly in connection with the chief engineering staffs of the London and South Western Railway Company and the Great Western Railway Company , and his present professional engagements demand his residence in Reading , where the G . W . R . Company are carrying out important works , including the

erection of a new station . He is supported by a body of Officers who have bad varied experience in Masonic work , and the Victoria Lodge has therefore been inaugurated under most favourable and promising auspices . A handsome jewel has been struck for the founders , and miniatures of the same have been presented

fco fche Acting Provincial Grand Master and the Provincial Grand Secretary . The Worshipful Master has generously presented to the Lodge a handsome silk banner , and all the Brethren who have taken office in fche Lodge have , at their own cost , purchased their collars and silver jewels of office , to be handed on to their successors . The founders gave the visitors a cordial reception .

The consecration ceremony commenced at about five o ' clock , fche Acting Provincial Grand Master presiding , supported by Bro . C . E . Keyser acting as Senior Warden , Slaughter as Junior Warden , Rev . P . H . Ditchfield as Chaplain , J . Marlin as Secretary , T . Page as D . C , and E . Margrett as I . G . Bro . Lott , Mus . Doc , ably presided afc the organ , and the vocal portions of the ceremony were well sustained by Brothers T . W . Turner , M . Wybourn , E . Bryant , and Stanley Smith .

In the course of the imposing ceremony , the Provincial Grand Chaplain Bro . the Rev . P . H . Ditchtield delivered an eloquent and impressive oration , which was listened to with deep interest and attention . The Rev . Brother said : — Brethren , when the Great Architect of the Universe created man from the dust of the ground , He breathed into his nostrils

the breath of life , and man became a living soul . To-day , we supplicate Him who ruled the world to infuse the element of life into this newly-formed body , and to consecrate to His service that which , but for His benign influence , would be as lifeless as the clay . Under the shadow of the mighty Castle , for eight centuries the august home of our English sovereigns , reared by

the skill of the masons and artificers of ancient times , ye have raised this new Lodge to be the dwelling place of virtue , wherein brotherly love , relief , and truth are the solemn and serious obligations of all who aspire to come within its portals . Ye have called it after the name of the Royal Lady who has so long governed our nation , whose love for all and generous sympathy reveal a character which all true Masons may well desire to copy .

The name of the noble mother of the Grancl Master of English Masons fittingly adorns this Lodge , wherein truth , honour , and virtue are the brightest of our Masonic jewels , and all are pledged to live the happy life of love . Ifc is my duty to-night to interpret the signs and symbols which we used in performing the ceremony of consecrating this Lodge , and to address to you a few words on the nature and principles of the ancient Craffc of