Nil Sine Labore Lodge.

NIL SINE LABORE LODGE .

WHEN the formation of a Masonic Lodge in connection with the Army Service Corps first suggested itself to the founder he could have had but little conception of the unanimity with which the proposition would be received at home and abroad . With a nucleus from Aldershot , and good support from

Woolwich and London , the possibility of making an influential Lodge , worthy of the increased importance and status of the Army Service Corps , became an accomplished fact within three months of its inception , notwithstanding that every part of her Majesty ' s dominions had to be reached through the post .

Much of the credit of the work connected with the preliminary arrangements belongs to Lieutenant and Quartermaster George McFarlane , who is well known at the War Office and elsewhere , in connection with the introduction of shorthand into the Army . This Officer has been serving with 18 Company at Altershot since leaving the War Office , and with him the

Secretarial responsibility has rested , with splendid results . In May last Lieutenant-Colonel G . J . Parkyn brought the question of a Lodge before the Corps at large in a letter , and after consultation with Colonel Boyd and Lieutenant-Colonel Clayton a circular was issued which resulted in a meeting in London on 23 rd July , at which the appropriate Masonic title of " Nil Sine

Lahore , " the Army Service Corps motto , was chosen for the new Lodge . The chief Officers-elect were also chosen , and in due course the number of the Lodge was notified as being 2736 on the Grand Lodge books . The Criterion , London , was selected as the meeting place , and there on Friday , 13 th inst ., the large Aldershot contingent and the other contributory members assembled for the consecration and banquet .

The impressive ceremony of consecration was conducted in the Prince ' s Hall by the Grand Secretary Bro . Edward Letchworth , F . S . A ., assisted by Bros . Colonel Sir Terence O'Brien , K . C . M . G ., P . G . D ., Colonel John Davis , A . D . C , P . D . G . D . C , Eev . J . Studholme Brownrigg , M . A ., P . G . Chaplain , F . Eichardson P . G . D ., and Major E . H . Murdock , E . A ., as Consecrating Officers . The ceremony was choral , the prayers being intoned by the Eev . Studholme Brownrigg .

In due form the installation of Bro . Lieutenant-Colonel G . J . Parkyn was proceeded with and the Officers invested . The banquet which followed waa held in the Victorian Banqueting Hall . Amongst those who sent letters regretting absence were Bros . Field Marshal Viscount Wolseley , K . G ., Sir

Albert Woods , Garter King of Arms , K . G . M . G ., Vice-Admiral Eawson , Sheriff Colonel Probyn , W . W . B . Beach P . G . M . Hampshire , E . W . Carus-Wilson , B . F . Edyvean , Col . Cockburn , C . F . Matier , Eev . H . Shuttleworth , W . H . Boys , Col . Pickanee , Eev . Norman Lee , & c .

The W . M . has signified his appreciation of the services of Bro . Lieutenant McFarlane by presenting him with a handsome founder ' s jewel . — " Aldershot News . "

Sir William Marriott , Q . C , P . G . D . Deputy Prov . Grand Master Sussex , while playing golf last Sunday with a friend on the Brighton and Hove Links , near the Devil's Dyke , slipped and had the misfortune to fracture his knee-cap . He went to Brighton for the week-end , but , as a result of the accident , will be compelled to remain for an indefinite time .

Attached to the Honourable Artillery Company is the Fitzroy Lodge , No . 569 , which last night , under the Mastership of Bro . H . J . Bertram , celebrated the commencement of its Jubilee year . The meeting took place at the headquarters of the corps , the

Armoury , Finsbury . To commemorate the occasion , Lieutenant-Colonel F . J . Stohwasser Past Master aud Secretary of the Lodge made a personal presentation to the Master and all the Officers of the Lodge , of chains and badges for their respective collars .

A shocking accident occurred on Tuesday near the tramway terminus at Upper Holloway , which resulted in the death of a boy named George Green , and in serious injuries to a lady . Mrs . Thompson , wife of Bro . Thompson , the landlord of the Whittington Stone , Highgate Hill , was driving a horse , which

suddenly bolted . When near the junction of Archway Eoad with Highgate Hill the animal swerved , and , crossing the pavement , smashed a huge plate-glass window of the Lion Hotel . A boy playing on the path was instantly killed , and Mrs . Thompson and a daughter who was with her were thrown into the roadway .

The girl escaped unhurt , but Mrs . Thompson was so severely injured thai she had to be taken to the Great Northern Central Hospital , where she lies in a precarious condition . We are pleased to hoar from Bro . Thompson that his wife is making satisfactory progress towards recovery , and is doing well .

Masonic Agitation For Disunion.

MASONIC AGITATION FOR DISUNION .

Suggested Division of the West Lancashire District . AMONGST the local Masonic Brethren a project is on foot to divide the West Lancashire district , which includes all the Fylde Lodges , and which is the largest Province under the English Constitution of Freemasonry . The suggestion for a division , we believe , originated in Blackpool .

The first note was struck on 9 th December last , when Bro . T . Forrester , of South Shore , called a meeting at the Palatine Hotel , to ascertain the feeling of the Fylde Lodges in the matter . At that meeting it was unanimously resolved that it was desirable , at this opportune time , to discuss the question of a division , and

it was further agreed that a petition embodying these views should be drawn up and signed by the Masters and Wardens of the seven Fylde Lodges . In due course this was carried out , 20 out of an available 21 members having signed the petition , which was forwarded to headquarters .

It was at this stage , apparently , that the trouble began . Shortly after the petition had been forwarded , Brother Forrester was summoned to appear before the Deputy Prov . Grand Master and the Prov . Grand Secretary , for the purpose , as they put it , of giving an account of his conduct in the matter . Bro . Forrester

obeyed the summons , and was desired by the officials to withdraw the petition . This he emphatically declined to do . Since then , considerable feeling has been manifested throughout the Province , accentuated by the fact that the suggestion originated before the appointment of the present Earl Lathom to the office of Prov . Grand Master in succession to his late father .

On Friday last ( the 20 th inst . ) , a meeting was called at Lytham , by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , and the Provincial Grand Secretary , bufc this , it is stated , was not a representative meeting , inasmuch as several Past Masters of local Lodges were not summoned , nor was Bro . Forrester , the

originator of the present movement . We might here state that Bro . Forrester , in order to test the feeling of the Province at large , on the 31 st December last sent to the Prov . Grand Secretary a notice of motion for the purpose of considering the question , at the first special , or general meeting of the Province that might

be called . Immediately after this had been despatched , Bro . Forrester received a reply stating that the Deputy Prov . Grand Master positively refused to allow such a notice of motion to appear on the agenda paper . Bro . Forrester then wrote asking permission of the Deputy Prov . Grand Master to submit his

letter giving the notice of motion , and tbe Prov . Grand Secretary ' s reply thereto to the Grand Secretary m London . Bro . Forrester maintains tbat as an individual he has a perfect right to give notice of motion to be considered by the Brethren at large , and that it is for them to determine whether the motion should he carried or not .

That the subject is not confined to Blackpool is shown in a letter to a Liverpool contemporary , in which the writer states that , to his mind , the petition sent by the Blackpool people seemed quite legal , respectful , and quite in order , and moreover was started before the reputed appointment of the present Provincial

Grand Master the Earl of Lathom . " But , " continues the correspondent , " even if it had not been commenced before bis appointment , the central powers in London knew quite welland have known quite well for many years—that it was the wish of a great number that this division should take place . I

therefore think that the fairest way in which to settle the question would be to call a general meeting , and not be dictated to by two members , no matter how high their position . " This is exactly what the Blackpool Lodges have recommended and desired .

Bro , Forrester , we may add , has submitted the whole of the correspondence in the matter to the Grand Secretary , but up to last evening had received no reply . For the present , therefore , the matter rests here , but it is evident the Fylde Brethren mean to press the question still further .

Another significant fact which illustrates their treatment from headquarters is that the premier Lodge of the Fylde has received only four Provincial honours since it was consecrated 41 years ago . This , it is maintained , is considerably below tbe average number of honours bestowed . —" Blackpool Herald . "

[ The " Preston Herald " also briefly refers to tbe matter , which we are pleased to learn is now " officially " , before the authorities in London . —Ed . F . C ]

Mrs Justice Bigham was on Wednesday installed Worshipful Master of the Northern Bar Lodge , No . 1610 , at the Cafe Eoyal , Begent Street , in succession to Bro . W . B . Ooltman . Among the distinguished Brethren present at the ceremony were , the Speaker

of the House of Commons ( Mr . Gully , Q . C ) , Mr . Justice Bruce , Mr . Justice Kennedy , Mr . Justice Bidley , Mr . Pope , Q . C , Mr , Augustine Birrell , Q . C , M . P ., Mr . Bramwell Davis , Q . C , Mr . P . 0 . Lawrence , Q . C .,. and Mr . Herbert Manisfcy .