Dedication Of A Masonic Hall At Beverly, U.S.A.

DEDICATION OF A MASONIC HALL AT BEVERLY , U . S . A .

AN event of interest to Masons took place on 2 nd May , at Beverly , Massachusetts , and was a complete success . It was the dedication of the new premises of the Liberty Lodge of Freemasons , over which the Brethren have spent 20 , 000 dollars in altering and re-building . It is situate at the corner of

Washington and Cabot Streets , and is five stories high , the third storey being devoted entirely to Masonic purposes . These beautiful and commodious premises were dedicated by the M . W . Grand Master and Grand Officers of Massachusetts , ladies and friends being admitted to the ceremony , which was so adapted as to admit of this being done . The building having been examined

and approved in the prescribed form , prayer was offered , and a portion of Holy Scripture read by the Chaplain , after which the Grand Master , taking a cup of corn , symbolical of nourishment and strength , and pouring ifc upon the floor , dedicated the hall to Freemasonry in the name of the Great Jehovah , the Bethheron quartette

singing—Genius of Masonry descend ; And with thee bring thy spotless train Constant our sacred rights attend While we adore thy peaceful reign .

This was followed by the reading of further selections of scripture , and singing , after which the Grand Master dedicated the Lodge Eoom to Virtue and Universal Benevolence . He then proclaimed the rooms dedicated in ample form , and delivered an address of congratulation to the members of the Lodge .

The Worshipful Master then read the following communi cations : —

" 29 Grosvenor Square , London , W ., 9 th April 1895 . W . M ., Officers , and Brethren , —I trust that on this auspicious occasion of the dedication of a new Masonic Hall a few words of greeting sent across the sea by a Brother who is unable to be present will not be

considered out of place . Your beautiful and costly gift to my Mother Lodge on her centenary , and your especial fraternal kindness to me who was at the time W . M ., encourage me to hope that I shall not be unduly trespassing upon your timo if I offer you a few words of congratulation on one of the most important events of your existence as a Lodge , and I assure you that I

am with you in heart and sentiment while the impressive ceremony is taken part in by you all . As in a large family there are usually two members who are more particularly attached to each other , it surely is only natural that in the Craft two Lodges should be more closely bound together by special ties of brotherly regard , should avail themselves of every opportunity for exchanging

felicitation , and thus maintain and strengthen their mutual affection . I humbly implore the G . A . O . T . U . that He will allow the friendship now existing between the two Lodges to grow day by day , and last through all time . Believe me , yours faithfully and fraternally , LONDESBOROUGH . "

" Beverley , England , 19 th March 1895 . To W . Bro . Woodberry , —Give my very best and hearty good wishes to the W . M ., Officers , and Brethren . May you all be exceedingly happy , and plenty reign in your enlarged , renovated , and beautiful habitation .

Yours very faithfully and fraternally , THOMSON FOLEY P . M ., Constitutional Lodge , 294 . "

Cablegram . " London , England . Master of Liberty Lodge , —Hearty good wishes to Liberty Lodge from their Brother , LONDESBOKOUGH . "

Jtsro . Hidgett then announced to the W . M . that Bro . C . Woodberry was in the reception room to present a communication from Constitutional Lodge , of Beverley , England . A deputation was appointed to escort Bro . Woodberry to the east .

Upon their return to the Lodge Room , Bro . Gallottp bore a beautiful silk embroidered banner of the finest texture . Deputy Grand Master Bro . S . L . Thorndike , a P . M . of Liberty Lodge , was requested to receive the banner in behalf of the Lodge .

Joro . Woodberry addressed the D . G . Master as follows : In behalf of our R . W . Bro . the noble Earl of Londesborough and the W . M ., Wardens , and Brethren of Constitutional Lodge , of Beverley , England , and at their request , I have the honour to present this banner to Liberty Lodge . It is a duplicate of the

banner presented to the Constitutional Lodge to commemorate his Mastership during the centenary year . It is now presented to Liberty Lodge to commemorate the friendship and fraternal relations now existing between the two Lodges . Upon this banner are emblazoned the arms of the ancient borough of

^ eveney , in England , together with the crest ot the seal of the younger Beverly , of New England , and the motto of the House of Londesborough . It is- interesting to observe that a beaver appears as a symbol on both insignia , and to find these blazonries together for the first time in over two centuries , and I am directed by the Earl of Londesborough to call your

Dedication Of A Masonic Hall At Beverly, U.S.A.

attention to this conjunction as the outward sign of a deeper fraternal union . I am also directed by cablegram from Bro . Lane to bear to you messages of fraternal love and good fellowship from your English Brethren , and to

express their sincere congratulations . They rejoice most heartily with you upon this most interesting day of your history , and desire me . to express the hope that the relations now existing between the Freemasons of the two Beverleys may continue for all time .

Bro . Thorndike , in a very eloquent speech , received the banner in behalf of the Lodge . He paid a glowing tribute to the Brethren of Constitutional Lodge , and to the spirit of the fraternity as exemplified by the exchange of the Masonic courtesies between the two countries , and expressed the desire that they might be continued for many years .

During the evening Bro . C . Woodberry announced the receipt of a cablegram from the Constitutional Lodge , this being their regular Lodge night , " Beverley Brethren in East , facing West , drank from loving cup , with Masonic honours , enthusiastically the toast of the two beavers . "

After a most enjoyable function the Brethren and their friends dispersed to their homes , carrying away with them most pleasant recollections of the occasion . — " Beverley Guardian . "

Church Service.

CHURCH SERVICE .

ON the 23 rd inst ., a Masonic service was held in the Parish Church , Antrim , in connection with the local Lodge . Upwards of 150 Brethren from Lame , Crumlin , Ballymena , Randalstown , Oldstone , Lisburn , Templepatrick , and Antrim Lodges assembled at the Masonic Hall , Antrim , and walked in

processional order to the church , says the " Belfast News-Letter . " The attendance of the general public was very large , every available seat in the building being occupied , and a great many were unable to obtain sitting room . The preacher was the

Dean of Down ( Brother Dr . Maguire ) , who took for his text Deuteronomy xv ., 11— " Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy Brother , to thy poor , and to thy needy , in thy land "—and preached an eloquent sermon , which was listened to attentively by tbe large congregation . A collection was taken up in aid of Masonic Charities , and a handsome sum was contributed .

Grand Chapter Scotland.

GRAND CHAPTER SCOTLAND .

Al the Quarterly Communication on the 19 th inst ., in the Freemasons' Hall , Edinburgh , after preliminary business , an abstract of the general accounts for the year ending 20 th February was submitted . It showed that the income had been £ 671 , the expenditure £ 382 , and that the funds now amounted

to £ 6 , 180 . There had been 970 entrants during the year . An abstract of the accounts of the charity fund showed that £ 46 had been given in grants , and that the funds had been increased from £ 656 to £ 889 .

The Chairman congratulated the meeting on the state of the funds , and on the union which had been consummated with the early Grand Chapters . It was intimated that Comp . George Christie did nofc desire

reappointment to the office of Grand Superintendent for Stirlingshire , in respect that he did not approve of a Provincial Grand Master in the Craffc in a Province—as he afc present is—being also Grand Superintendent for Royal Arch Masonry in the same Province .

The thanks of the Supreme Grand Chapter were accorded to Comp . Christie for his past services , and it was remitted to the Chapters of the Province to recommend a successor .

Mark Masonry In Scotland.

MARK MASONRY IN SCOTLAND .

AT a meeting on Tnesday of one of the Glasgow Mark Lodges the toast of the three Grand Lodges was coupled with the name of Bro . James Stevens Past G . O . of the Mark Grand Lodge of England . Bro . Stevens was proud to have his name coupled with this toast . These three Constitutions united , he

said , made a large and strong body . He referred to tho resuscitation of the Mark degree in England over twenty years ago . He took an active part in fche work then , and it was pleasing to him to have the honour now of being associated with the Mark Grand Lodge . He referred to the manner and

character of the Mark work he had witnessed in Scotland , and expressed fche hope that he might , on some more suitable occasion during the three months he would be in Glasgow , have the opportunity of meeting with Brethren in authority to discuss the matter more fully . We speak , said Bro . Stevens , of