Consecrations.

CONSECEATIONS

— : o : — PAPYRUS LODGE .

THIS new Lodge was consecrated on Monday , at the Criterion , by Bro . Letchworth Graud Secretary , assisted by Bros . P . H . Waterlow Past Grand Deacon , Herbert G . Adams Past Grand Sword Bearer , the Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg Past Grand Chaplain , Frank Richardson Past Grand Deacon , and W . R . Smith W . M . 217 .

The Lodge is founded for the convenience of members of the wholesale paper trade . Bro . Stephen A . Hardiman was installed as * the first Master , the Senior and Junior Wardens being Bros . Bertrand Grant and S . Charles Phillips .

The Manchester Lodge.

THE MANCHESTER LODGE .

ONE of the most brilliant and successful Masonic functions of recent days was that connected with the consecration of this Lodge , to which we briefly referred last week as taking place at the Masonic Hall , Cooper Street , Manchester , on Friday , the 14 th inst . So far as the arrangements were concerned , there

was not a single hitch from the time of opening proceedings until the final closing of the festive board , and fche Founders may congratulate themselves upon having launched their bark , increasing the number of Lodges in the Province of East Lancashire , under exceptionally happy auspices .

Brother Col . Starkie Provincial Grand Master had given a conditional promise to be present , but some days prior to the date of consecration it was known that he would be unavoidably detained , and he thereupon evinced a wise choice in relegating

his duties to Bro . J . H . Sillitoe P . G . Std . B . England P . P . G . W . East Lancashire , who undertook them with an alacrity which is one of his distinguishing characteristics , and performed them with a precision which reflected upon him the greatest possible credit .

The bright promises which an early morning sunshine appeared to proclaim were not fulfilled , and long before the time appointed , dark clouds settled over fche city , which ultimately burst into heavy downfalls of rain . This , however , did nofc act as a deterrent , or quench the ardour of those Brethren who had

made up their minds to be present , and long before the hour announced , a goodly company had assembled , which soon swelled into a proportion that filled the large and handsome Lodge Room . Bro . A . H . Duffin P . M . Newall 1134 Prov . G . Dir . of Ceremonies had marshalled the Brethren , who were afterwards seated according to Masonic rules of priority .

The Provincial Officers were in strong evidence , and of course took prominent positions ; a conspicuous place being also assigned to the ten Pounders , who were Bros . William Baker Akerman P . M . 317 Worshipful Master designate , Thomas Plumpton 317 Senior Warden designate , William Charlton , J . P .,

317 Junior Warden designate , Charles Henry Arnold P . M . 645 acting I . P . M ., William Alderley Boyer 317 Treasurer , A . C . K . Smith 317 Secretary , F . Laurence Lane 1009 Senior Deacon , Ed . Ad . Eason 645 Junior Deacon , Alfred Blades Smith 645 Inner Guard , and Wm . Edward Davies 1403 Steward .

Bro . Sillitoe , upon his assumption of fche principal chair , appointed the following Officers pro . tem .: —Brothers Arthur Myddleton 645 Prov . S . G ; Deacon as S . W ., Dr . Thos . D . Foreman 210 Prov . S . G . D . as J . W ., the Revs . J . Kelty aud J . Thomas

Challenor Prov . Grand Chaplains , John Chadwick P . G . Swd . Br , England Prov . Grand Secretary , A . H . Duffin Prov . G . D . C , Thos . Wolstenholme Prov . Grand Organist , and Councillor Wm . Oilier Prov . Grand Pursuivant .

The hymn " Hail Eternal , by whose aid , " having been sung , the presiding Officer addressed the Brethren on the motive of the meeting , this being followed by a prayer from the Prov . Grand Chaplain .

Bro . R . T . Sutcliffe 1064 Prov . Grand Registrar read the Petition and Warrant granted by the Grand Master , the Founders in the meantime having been ranged prominently before the Consecrating Officer , and questioned as to their approval or otherwise of the Officers mentioned in the Warrant .

Bro . Rev . John Kelty Prov . Grand Chaplain delivered an Oration upon the nature and principles of the Institution . Bro . Sillitoe next dedicated and duly constituted the Lodge , which was afterwards lowered to the second degree , Brother Akerman W . M . designate being presented by the Prov . G . D . C ,

and installed by Bro . Sillitoe as first Worshipful Master . He was then proclaimed and saluted in the various degrees , and the Working Tools were presented and explained to him , after which

having accepted the government of the Lodge now committed to his care , he invested his various Officers whose names have been previously indicated . Bro . Boyer ( Treasurer ) was elected Charity Eepresentative ,

The Manchester Lodge.

and Bros . Col . Starkie Prov . Grand Master , and J . H . Sillitoe were elected honorary members . The Installing Master then presented to the new W . M . the Warrant , Book of Constitutions and other property of the Lodge , and also addressed the principal Officers and the Brethren generally .

We have no desire to render any undue praise to Brother Sillitoe for the way in which his work was accomp lished preferring at this juncture to allow the Worshipful Master himself to accentuate the observation with which we commenced our report . Previous to closing the Lodge , Bro . Akerman W . M

reverted to the absence of Bro . Starkie P . G . M ., adding that he could not allow the occasion to pass without remarking upon the admirable way in which Bro . Sillitoe performed the ceremonies of consecration and installation , for he was sure thafc all who witnessed them could not fail to be deeply impressed by the

perfect and efficient manner in which they were rendered . He desired to propose a hearty vote of thanks to him and to the other Officers who had so ably assisted him . This was seconded by Bro . Plumpton S . W . and on being put to the meeting , wag enthusiastically carried .

The Lodge was then closed and the major portion of the Brethren adjourned to the Dining Room of the Hall , where a splendid banquet had been provided under the supervision of Bro . Allan Phillips . We may here state those who sat down to the banquet were

the guests of the Founders , each of whom wore a special jewel , which was universally admired . The design , in gold and enamel , is a replica of the coat-of-arms of the City of Manchester , which is emblazoned upon the front , the circulette in the centre bearing

the name and number of the Lodge , which replaces the wellknown legend " Concilio et labore . " An elegant bar is fixed on the top of the ribbon , with the word " Founder " worked in . The whole may be considered an artistic piece of workmanship . Loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed and regularly honoured .

Ixion Chapter.

IXION CHAPTER .

nnHE consecration of this Chapter by the Grand Superinten-JL dent of the Province Comp . F . A . Philbrick , Q . C , took place at the Masonic Hall attached to the Roebuck Hotel , Buckhurst Hill , on Saturday , 15 th inst .

The Direction of the Ceremonies on the occasion was in the hands of the Provincial Grand D . C . Comp . A . Lucking , as the necessary formalities antecedent to the consecration had been in those of the P . G . Scribe E . Comp . T . J . Railing .

The Grand Superintendent was also assisted by Comps . A . C Durrant H ., Francis White J ., and A . S . B . Sparling Scribe N .

There were twenty-seven founders , including Comps . H . F J . Wilson , G . Graveley , H . E . Herman , W . J . Barnes , the Rev Dr . Dunbar , N . Fortescue , and G . H . Beament .

The ceremony of installing the Principals was performed in excellent style by Comp . William Shurmur , the first Principals being H . Ffrench Bromhead M . E . Z ., G . T . Peall H ., and A . F . Lay J .

The M . E . Z . afterwards invested his Officers , including Comps . J . R . Carter Scribe E ., and Basil Stewart Treasurer . Subsequently an excellent banquet was served to fifty Companions , the toasts being interspersed with songs and music .

The Founder ' s jewel was a tasteful device of the arms of the first M . E . Z ., in enamel , with the mitre of J . in gold on the ribbon . — " Stratford Express . "

Eastbourne Mark Lodge.

EASTBOURNE MARK LODGE .

THE Consecration of the Eastbourne Lodge , No . 484 , of Mark Master Masons took place at the Queen ' s Hotel , Eastbourne , on Saturday , the ceremony being , by desire of the Prov . G . M . H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught , performed by Bro ,

the Right Hon . Earl Euston Pro G . M ., who was assisted by Grand and Prov . Grand Officers . Previous to the ceremony the Brethren lunched together under the presidency of Bro . Alderman W . E . Morrison G . O . and Prov . S . G . W . the W . M .-designate .

The usual Mark toasts were honoured . Tbe Brethren afterwards adjourned to the Lodge Room , where the ceremony of consecration was impressively performed by Lord Euston , and the installation ceremony by Dean Currie D . P . G . M . The W . M . invested the Officers for the year .

The names were proposed of several Brethren desirous of joining the Lodge , the inauguration of which was attended with every augury of success .

The Royal Masonic Institution for Girls has registered " Machio London" as the abbreviated School address for telegrams .