A Notable Celebration.

November of next year , liis lordship ( then Lord Skelmersdale ) having been appointed to the charge of the Province on 22 nd November 1872 , but the intervening months before the actual completion are

none too many in which to bring the subject under the notice of the Craft , and arrange the form of any testimonial that may be decided upon in connection with the auspicious event , or it may be that the

brethren of his Province will prefer to arrange some celebration either to mark the 21 st anniversary of Lord Lathom ' s appointment , or the anniversary of his actual installation . Lord Lathom ' s services to English Freemasonry are

too well known to need any recapitulation on this occasion , suffice it to say that wherever or whenever his name is mentioned in one of our Lodges it is received with cordiality and enthusiasm , and this

testimony to his worth is by no means ; le outcome of fulsome flattery of one in authority , but rather a sincere expression of regard . Lord Lathom is universally recognised as having faithfully performed his dutv . discharging his hish functions with ability , and

in every way acting in his position as a ruler m Freemasonry in such a way as to deserve and merit the approbation of the Craft under his control , and we feel convinced that will be the opinion of every Mason

approached on the question of arranging some general recognition of his twenty-one years' service , when once it is made known outside his own Province that such a project is contemplated . It is not for us to forestall the work of any

Committee that may be formed for considering this question , but with the desire that has always actuated us to advance the welfare of the Masonic Institutions , and recognising that any celebration of his Lordship's accession to power would in all probability become a

national one , it is permissible to point to the precedency of one or other of the Charity Festivals of the year aB an appropriate and at the same time the most national way of celebrating the event . The whole of the next year's Festivals will be held

during the Earl of Lathom's twenty-first year of Provincial Mastership , so that the opportunity is provided for such a celebration as we point to , should it be found to accord with the views of the Craft , and fall in with his lordship's ideas of what is desirable .

Moreover , West Lancashire has not supplied a chairman for one of the central Institutions for some years past , and that fact would seem to provide further inducement for the consideration of this suggestion , but it is bv no means compulsory that the celebration

we speak of should take the form of a special effort on behalf of one of our Charitable Institutions . Many other ways can be found of doing justice to this auspicious occasion , but we have referred to this one in particular as being , so to speak , ready to hand , and

as being likely to fall in with Lord Lathom ' s well known views as to the first duties of the Masonic Craft in England . Before the subject has to be settled we can imagine numerous suggestions being put forward to provide what should prove in every

way a notable celebration , worthy of the fullest support from the Craftsmen of England , who certainly regard their Pro Grand Master as one of the most distinguished and hard working members the Craft has ever known .

Consecration Eccentric, No. 2488.

CONSECRATION ECCENTRIC , No . 2488 .

THIS new Lodge was consecrated on Friday of last week at the Cafe Royal , Eegent Street . A large company assembled to witness tbe ceremony , which was performed by the Graud Secretary of England , Brother Edward

Letchworth P . G . D ., assisted by Bro . Thomas Fenu , Kobevt Grey , tho Rev . J . S . Brownrigg , Frank Richardson , and C . F . Matier . Colonel Noel Money , Sir E . Englefield , Captain N . G . Philips , Sir J . R . Sorners Vino , Bro . Charles Bolton , Major-General J . C . Hay , and Bro . J . H . Matthews

Consecration Eccentric, No. 2488.

wero among the wearers of the purplo who were present . Sir Angastns Harris , Past Grand Treasurer of England , was installed as the Worshipfnl Master for tho first year , and his officers comprised the names of Brothers J . H . Hawkins , W . J . W . Beard , W . E . Chapman , W . S . Hooper ,

L onel Brougb , J . A . Harrison , T . Honey , James Wyatt , and Arthur Tite . Sir Augustus Harris presented tho Lodge with some of tho most expensive furniture , and

other oflicers rmJe additional presents . A founders jewel was givou to the onseciMting officer 0 , who wero also elected honorary members of tho Lodge . A grand banqnet followed tho work of tho day .

Oxfordshire.

OXFORDSHIRE .

npHE annual Provincial Grand Lodge was held on JL Monday , IGth inst ., in the University Masonic Hall , Oxford , tho Earl of Jersey in the chair . There wns a numerous attendance of brethren , all anxious to welcome the Provincial Grand Master on his return from tho

colonies . On his entrance to tho Lodgo ho was received with marked applause . The usual business having been carriod through , the brethren adjourned to tho Randolph Hotel , where at six o ' clock about 120 sat down to tho

annual banquet . Tho banquet was of a inost satisfactory character , and tho wines , which were presented by tbo Provincial Grand Master , were of an excellent quality . The usual toasts were given and responded to .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

we do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of ou Correspondents . All Letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . Wo cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

"CAN A MASTER ERR ?"

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Yonr corro 3 poui ) ent " EDGARDO , " wbo asks this question is not sufficiently explicit . Ho should have given your readers the full text of hia motiou if he wauted them to assist him in answering his qa ° slior . The Mastor tuny hive been fully

justified in declining to insert his uotico of mulion in tho Lodgj summon ? , and in all likelihood ha son ^ ht c . rnp 3 teut udvico beforo coming to his decision . J ( e was most certainly justified in refusing to pnt to the Lodge a mction of which no notice whatever had been givon , even though it was " seconded amongst morks of distinct

approval . " The Master extended an indulgence to "EDGAUDO " whioh " EDGAUDO " had no right to expect , viz ., in allowing him and his seconder to speak on an un-uotifietl motion . If " EDGAUDO " had done what he had dono f > t this last meetiug of his Lodgo , that ia , handed in to the Master tho terms of his motion he thou intended

proposing , no doubt tho Master would have saved him tho unplesantnessof being ignored , but" EDGAUDO " has only himself to blame for it . As to "EDGARDO ' S" " scheme" fcr improving the Lodge ' s " working , " your readers of course cannot judge until they know what its details are , but as an outsider , and judging from what

" EDGAUDO puts before your readers , I should coucludo that he ia a young P . M ., fuller of Masonio zeal than discretion—one who thinks that tho be-all and eud-all of Masonry is in working ceremonies , and he will find , as ho gathers more experience , thnt his viewB will bo considerably modi lied . Yours fraternally , ESTABLISHED USAGE .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —The letter of your correspondent " EDGARDO , " last week , not only proves the fallacy of the ruling yon laid down a few weoks baok , to tho effect that the Worshipfnl Master of a Lodge cau do no wrong , bnt it seems to me to also prove the

presence in our midst of brethren armed with power who are not conversant with the first principles of tho rules which govern debate , much lees qualified to preside over such a body as a Masonic Lodgo . I presume tho notice of motion to which yonr correspondent refers was " regularly" made , and duly seconded , and that being so I fail

to see on what ground tbe W . M . can justify himself when be determines to ignore it , and refuses to submit the question to the voto of his Lodge , Does ho decido it to bo a question outside the scope of

Freemasonry t or what is tho ground of his objection to its being regularly considered by the members under his charge ? I await further information on the subject with some concern , and as a lover of Freedom of speech and action on all controversial sub . jects , subscribe myself , Yours fraternally , FAIR PLAV ,