Worcestershire.

WORCESTERSHIRE .

rriHE Prince of Wales has appointed Bro . A . F . Godson , M . P . I to the office of Provincial Grand Master of Worcestershire , " n succession to the late Sir Edmund Lechmere . We tender our congratulations to Bro . Godson , who , as Deputy of the Province 0 f Worcestershire in tlie Craft , clnof of the county in the Mark decree , and in many other ways has long beeu a leading light in Worcestershire Masonry .

Order Of The Secret Monitor.

ORDER OF THE SECRET MONITOR .

THE Saturday after Good Friday was a memorable day at Eastwood , when , under the kindly auspices of Brothers Marshall and Eagdale , of Manchester , a new Conclave , the Cockcroft , No . 25 , of this growing Order , was formed and

consecrated at this important Masonic centre . In some departments of Masonry the centre at Eastwood is older than Grand Lodge itself , and it seemed fitting that the circle of its accomp lishments should be completed by the addition of a Conclave of the Order of the Secret Monitor , to the * roll of Lodges and Councils the valley contains .

The consecration ceremony was undertaken by Bro . F . A . Philbrick , Q . C , Past Grand Supreme Euler in the Order , and Grand Eegistrar of the Craft , assisted by Bros . Japheth Tickle , C . C ., P . G . Guide as C , with John Marshall P . G . Counsellor as

Chap ., and J . Eagdale P . G . Counsellor as Guide . Bro . J . J . Pakes Grand Visitor undertook the duties of inducting and Installing Officer , while Bro . W . J . Spratling Grand Eecorder acted as Director of Ceremonies .

The Brethren had nominated Bro . W . Cockcroft as the first Supreme Euler , Bro . Daniel Hargreaves as the first Counsellor , and Bro . David Bradley , M . D ., as the first Guide , and to these Brethren the Consecrating Officer committed the destinies of what will become an important Conclave , whose establishment will mark an epoch in higher Masonry in Yorkshire .

The Brethren being assembled , Bro . Pakes , assisted by the other Grand Officers , proceeded to induct the new members into the Order , preparatory to the more important portion of the ceremony . This being done the Grand Officers retired , and presently entered the Conclave wearing their robes of office and preceeded by the Chaplain , bearing the V . S . L .

Tbe Brethren having duly signified their adherence to the choice of Officers named on the Warrant , the ceremony was proceeded with in the usual form . Bro . Philbrick delivered the following Oration : —Brethren : We are met this day in this distinguished Masonic centre to

complete , as it were , the circle of your Masonic honours , by consecrating in your midst , in this beautiful corner of Yorkshire , a Conclave of the Order which acknowledges the inter-dependence of man upon man , and stimulates the fraternal zeal of Brother in assisting Brother . The love that David bore to Jonathan

which lasted until death , is a fitting type of the friendship which we hope to see cultivated here , and which , springing from the warm hearts of Yorkshiremen , will bind Brother to Brother in a bond still stronger than that which Craft Masonry has already formed .

Our Order , Brethren , is not a thing of yesterday ; true it has been only recently revived and re-organised in this country ; but , arising at a remoter period when the hand of Brother was turned against his fellow , and when the heart craved for some trustworthy tie , it has survived , more or less continuouslv , from

ancient times , and was especially cultivated when in the great rebellion which led to the formation of the United States , and later , at the time of the Civil war , it formed an inner band of union among Masons themselves , and on many occasions was the means of establishing fraternal relationships , where .

but for it , matters would have proved disastrous in the extreme . Our Order has been long cultivated in America , where it consists of a single degree , and it is only quite recentl y that a large number of Brethren who have taken this one rlperee . havo nnanimnnslv n . nnliprl tn t . lio dr-a-nA

Council in England for power enabling them to cultivate the higher degrees , which confirm , establish and intensify the Brotherly tie which already exists . This petition Grand Council has been pleased to grant , and we hone soon to hear that thn

beautiful ritual of which they are now in possession is appreciated by our American Cousins , and that the Conclave they have formed under this jurisdiction may be the pioneer for many others , to the strengthening of our Order , and the spread of its estimable virtues .

Brethren it is not necessary for me to refer to the distinguished part this little township of Eastwood has played in Masonic literature ancl activity ; suffice it to say that there is no corner of England where the ancient traditions have been more faithfull y observed and handed down , and I venture to prophesy that the traditions embodied in the Order of David and

Order Of The Secret Monitor.

Jonathan , introduced to you this day , will form no exception to the rule , but that as you meet from time to time and become better acquainted with the rituals , the sentiments they express will appeal more and more strongly to your hearts , and that the great duties you have undertaken , to caution , to warn , and to

support each other , will be faithfully observed in your daily conduct towards each other , and will be earnestly cultivated in your periodical meetings . For this Order makes a positive duty of what might otherwise be looked upon as an impertinent curiosity . The Visiting Deacons of your Conclave are specially

charged to be active in discovering and bringing comfort and consolation—be it mental or pecuniary—to any of their Brethren in need thereof . Every meeting must include in the order of its business a report from the Deacons , and I feel assured that the Brethren I now see before me are not the men to neglect or

allow others to neglect this , the fundamental principle of our Order . Ever on the alert , ever on the watch , ever ready to warn , or to advise , standing shoulder to shoulder , giving mutual support , may the Conclave established this day become a power

in the county , a centre to which the weary heart may turn , and from which may flow in no stinted measure that sympathy and that truly Masonic Benevolence which vivifies all it touches , and restores humanity to that level from which it formerly fell .

The ceremony of Consecration was then proceeded with in due form , and , being ended , Bro . J . J . Pakes duly installed and commissioned Bro . Wm . Cockcroft as S . E . within the Order .

He distributed to the Brethren the accustomed presents , and appointed his Officers . The Conclave being duly closed , ample justice was done to a sumptuous repast , spread by mine Host of the Station House

Hotel , and with hearty good wishes for a pleasant meeting on Monday at Manchester , where the Grand Officers present were expected to consecrate another Conclave , No . 26 , '' Champion , " the Brethren separated for their respective homes . [ We shall give a report of this second consecration in our next issue . —Ed . F . C ]

The bazaar held at Arbroath , under the auspices of the Panmure Lodge realised a total of £ 620 18 s 5 d in the way of sales during the first two days , £ 484 lis 2 d being taken the first day , and £ 136 7 s 3 d the second .

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GAIETYRESTAURANT, ST-RAlsm . LUNCHEONS ( HOT and COLD)—At Popular Prices , in BUFFET and EESTAUEANT ( on 1 st floor ) . Also Chops , Steaks , Joints , Entrees , & c , in the GEILL EOOM . AFTERNOON TEJAConsisting of Tea or Coffee , Cut Bread and Butter , Jam , Cake , Pastry , ad lib , at 1 / - per head ; served from 4 till 6 in EESTAUEANT ( 1 st floor ) . DINNERS IN RESTAURANTFrom 5-30 till 9 at Fixed Prices ( 3 / 6 and 5 / - ) and a la Carte . In this room the VIENNESE BAND performs from 6 till 8 . Smoking after 7-45 . AMERICANBAR. THE GRILL ROOM is open till Midnight . PRIVATE DINING EOOMS FOR LARGE AND SMALL PARTIES .