New Hall At Oswestry.

landmarks of their society , which might God protect as it seemed to Him-best . And as the first duty of Masons in all their undertakings was to ask the blessing of the Great Architect of the Universe upon their work , he called upon them to join with their Chaplain in presenting a prayer to the Throne of Grace .

The Senior Prov . Grand Chaplain ( Rev . Reginald W . Williams , Ph . D . ) then offered prayer . By the direction of the Prov . Grand Master , the Prov . G . Registrar read the scroll , and the P . G . Sec . read the inscription on the plate . Then the P . G . Treas . deposited a vase containing coins in the

cavity , and the inscription plate having been placed over the cavity , the Prov . Grand Master , assisted by an Entered Apprentice ( Bro . Arthur Gough ) spread the cement on the lower stone . While the upper stone was . being slowly lowered , with three distinct stops , the choir chanted the

Psalm " Except the Lord build the Flouse . " Finally , the Provincial Master proved the just position and form of the stone by the plumb rule , level , and square , and having pronounced that it was " a well wrought stone , square , level , perpendicular , and fitted to form the foundation of the

intended work , " he sealed the ceremony by giving three knocks with the mallet . Finally vases containing corn , wine , oil , and salt , emblematic of abundance and plenty , strength and gladness , peace and harmony , and wisdom , fidelity , and perpetuity were emptied upon the stone , and the plans of

the Flail were handed by the P . G . Supt . of Works to the Provincial Grand Master , who passed them into the keeping of the architect . The choir then sang the ode " Prosper the

Art" ( G . Plargreaves ) , the solo part being rendered by Bro . Knight . Bro . Rev . T . Redfern P . G . C . afterwards offered prayer and pronounced the Benediction , and the ceremony ended with the National Anthem .

Afterwards a banquet was held at the Wynnstay Flotel , when the toast of " Success to the Oswestry Freemasons ' Hall , " proposed by the Prov . Grand Master was responded to by Bro . O'Conor W . M . — " Shrewsbury Chronicle . "

## ***** -i < - ********** The Clarendon Lodge , No . 1166 , late of Hyde , has removed its headquarters to Sale . The Prov . Grand Master of Cheshire ( the Hon . Alan de Tatton Egerton , M . P . ) attended its opening meeting a few days ago .

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

"A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

BY the death of Bro . Charles Stephens , brother of the Dean of Winchester , which occurred at his residence , at Woodley Hill , near Reading , on Friday , 4 th inst ., Berkshire lost one of its most prominent and respected public men .

Bro . Stephens , who was in his seventy-first year , was a son of the late Mr . Charles Stephens , the head of the well-known banking firm of Stephens , Blandy and Co ., of Reading , Maidenhead , and elsewhere . He was a magistrate for Reading and Berkshire , and served the office of High Sheriff

of that county in 1884-85 . When the Volunteer movement was inaugurated , he supported the arrangements made by the late Lord Wantage for the formation of the 1 st Administrative Battalion of Berks Rifle Volunteers , and held a commission in the regiment until 186 9 , when he retired with the

rank of major , and was presented with an illuminated address from the officers and men . Throughout his life he was actively engaged in the banking business , and eventually became the head of the firm , retiring from that position a few years ago when the business was transferred to Lloyds

Bank ( Limited ) . For a lengthened period Bro . Stepnens took a great personal interest in Freemasonry , and up to the time of his death he held the Office of Provincial Grand Treasurer . He took a prominent part in the formation of the Mark Province of Berkshire and Oxfordshire , and was

appointed by the Earl ot Jersey ( the first Provincial Grand Master ) as his Deputy . Mainly in consequence of his association with one of the old Reading banks he acted as Treasurer to a large number of public bodies and institutions . In this capacity he did much to promote the welfare of the

Royal Berkshire Plospital , which he had served as Treasurer since 1867 . He was also Treasurer to the Corporation of Reading and the Royal Berkshire Friendly Society , with which he had been associated from 1872 , when it was founded

by the late Lord Wantage , Mr . Benyon , and other large Berkshire landowners . He rendered great service as local Hon . Secretary to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution , towards the funds of which he had annually raised a considerable sum of money . On his retirement through ill-health

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

he received a letter of thanks from the King ( then Prince of Wales ) . THE funeral of the late Master Cyril Shaw , who died as the result of a cycling accident under sad circumstances , took place on Saturday , 28 th ult , at Mount Jerome Cemetery .

The deceased was elected to the Dublin Masonic Orphan Boys School in November 1894 , and entered as a pupil in January 1895 . Having spent six and a half years in the Institution , his time expired , but owing to the industry and zeal he had displayed in his studies , and his anxiety to qualify

for the Civil Service , he was retained by the Governors for a longer period than usual . During his school career he gained exhibitions at the Intermediate Examinations every year he went forward , in the Preparatory , Junior , and Middle Grades , and at the last examinations succeeded in securing the

distinction of retaining the exhibition he held . There was a very large attendance at the funeral , the cortege including the deceased ' s late fellow pupils of the Masonic Boys School to the number of over eighty , who were in charge of Bro . James Moore , B . A ., Plead Master ; and Messrs . J . M .

Hamilton , O . Armstrong , and C . Bain , assistant masters . They wore suitable memorial badges , and were drawn up at each side of the avenue of Mount Jerome Cemetery as the coffin containing the remains was being conveyed to the Mortuary Chapel . In the course of the service in the

Chapel , the Rev . Monck Gibbon , Incumbent of Taney , Dundrum , and Catechist in the Masonic School , delivered a very touching and suitable address , which was especially directed to the pupils of the School . Fie referred to the esteem in which the deceased was held , not alone by his fellow-students ,

but by the masters , and added that Master Shaw was one of the most industrious boys that ever belonged to the School . He was also one of the most conscientious of boys , and furnished a bright example which all the boys should follow .

THE funeral of the Rev . Frederick King , M . A ., who for the last quarter of a century had been the respected vicar of Southmolton , took place at that town on the 4 th inst . A large number of the inhabitants wended their way to the vicarage , which is situate in its own ground , about half a

mile north of the town . The cortege left about three o ' clock in the afternoon , and included the leading residents and members of every public body with which the deceased was connected . The members of the Masonic Lodge , of which the deceased was an active member , joined the cortege at the

Parish Church , which was crowded by a congregation wearing tokens of mourning . The hymn " Now the labourer ' s task is o ' er " was sung both at the service in the church and at the graveside . The procession having re-formed , with the addition of the Freemasons , proceeded to the cemetery ,

where the concluding part of the service was conducted by Archdeacon Seymour . At the close a muffled peal was rung on the bells of the parish church . The wreaths were numerous and included one from the Brethren of Loyal Lodge of Industry , No . 421 , a beautiful wreath in the form of the Masonic square and compasses .

THE death took place , very suddenly , on Thursday , 3 rd inst ., of Bro . J . PL Beckett , of Corbar Hall , Buxton . In the early morning he complained of his heart , and Dr . Hannah , his medical attendant , was promptly called in , but death occurred from angina pectoris . The deceased gentleman

had been attending , as usual , during the week , to his business in Manchester , and his death came as a great shock to the family . He was ex-captain of the Buxton and High Peak Golf Club , and a P . M . or the Buxton Lodge and of the Duke of Connaught Lodge of Freemasons .

THE death of Bro . Joseph Witham , of Southport , which occurred early on Saturday morning , 5 th inst ., has caused widespread regret within the borough . Deceased , who was sixtv-eight years of age , was one of those energetic and

public-spirited men to whom the credit of pioneering the development of Southport is due . He was P . M . of the Unity Lodge , No . 613 , and was founder of the Rose of Lancaster Lodge , No . 2325 .

THE funeral of the late Bro . William Parham , who died at Bath , on Wednesday , 2 nd inst ., took place at Bathwick cemetery the following Saturday . The ceremony , at the express wish of the family , was performed in a quiet and semiprivate manner , but a large number of" Masonic Brethren attended to pay a last tribute of respect ,