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IAL-. « J * > . v ^^¦^^ J ^ J ^ j fe ^ l ^ JJJJJ ^ J ^ AJ ^^ < xxm g^^^^^^^^P SATURDAY , 31 ST JULY 1897 .

Ceremony In Herts.

CEREMONY IN HERTS .

IN delightful weather , the foundation-stone of the Victoria National School was laid at Berkhamsted , on the 13 th inst ., with imposing Masonic ceremonial , upon the excellent site in Prince Edward Street which Mrs . Lionel Lucas so generously

presented to the Eector and Churchwardens . The proceedings were graced by the presence of many ladies , while about a hundred Masons joined in the procession , the ceremony of the stone-laying being performed by the M . P . for the division , Bro . T . ~ F . Halsey Prov . Grand Master of Hertfordshire .

A special Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the Masonic Hall , whence the Brethren proceeded in Masonic dress to the site , where the Chaplain ( Bev . S . Clarke ) offered up prayer , and the Hector , addressing the Provincial Grand Master , requested him to lay the foundation-stone .

Addressing the Brethren , the Provincial Grand Master said it afforded him very great pleasure to be able to respond to the Rector ' s call to lay the foundation-stone of these new schools at Berkhamsted . He thought it would be the subject of much satisfaction for all time in that Her Majesty ' s Jubilee had been celebrated in such a fitting and commemorative manner , as on

that occasion . It was indeed a fitting and lasting memorial of the Queen ' s sixty years of beneficial reign , a reign conspicuous for enormous intellectual progress , that schools should be founded in which the youth of the day should be educated to know their duty to Queen and country . Speaking with some knowledge of the locality , he could say that the people of

Berkhamsted had good reason for congratulating themselves upon the great progress which had been made during the past sixty years . Berkhamsted had ever been loyal , and a striking proof of its loyalty had been shown in a recent publication of a Texas paper , which contained reports of the celebration of British subjects , and in which he noticed that one of the most

eloquent speeches made had been delivered by a former resident of Berkhamsted , Mr . Chas . Timson . Berkhamsted had well borne its share in the recent jubilations , and was trying to bear its share in the progress the nation was making throughout the world . He hoped the local progress might be accelerated by the schools , the foundation stone of which he was about to lay , and

that future students would carry with them from that corner of the nation to the . uttermost parts of the earth that exemplary loyalty and excellence of living which all others might advantageously copy . It was in that hope he attended to respond to the call of their Eector , to lay the foundation stone of the schools , which were to be built on that site .

•The Provincial Grand Secretary then read the following inscription on the stone : —

" Victoria National Schools . This stone was laid by T . P . HALSEY , ESQ ., M . P ., B . W . Prov . Grand Master of Hertfordshire , ; . 13 th July 1897 , of the 61 st year of the reign of Queen Victoria . "

The Provincial Grand Treasurer then deposited the phials containing the customary coins , and a parchment , in the cavity prepared for them . On the parchment were the following words :

" These Schools were built to commemorate the sixty years' reign of Queen Victoria , and for the instruction of children in the definite principles of the Church of England , and this corner stone was laid with Masonic ceremonial on the 13 th day of July , in the year of our Lord 1897 , and the ' 61 st year of the said reign , by Thomas F . Halsey , Esq ., the Et . Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master of Hertfordshire , and for twenty-two years Member of Parliament for this Division of the county . ABTHUR JOHNSON , M . A ., Bector of Berkhamsted St . Peters .

AUGUSTUS P . BIBCH , M . A ., Bector of Northchurch . EDWIN J . PEABSON , J . P ., and THOMAS PENNY , Churchwardens , Berkhamsted St . Peters . JOHN ASHBY ,

Churchwarden , Northchurch . THOMAS PETEBS , Master of the Boys' School , CHAS . H . BEW ,

Architect . " On the silver trowel , presented to the Member , appeared the words ; : —

Ceremony In Herts.

Presented to THOMAS P . HALSEY , ESQ ., M . P ., as a memento of the 13 th July 1897 . The Victoria National Schools , Berkhamsted St . Peters .

The stone having been adjusted by the Provincial Grand Master , the cornucopia containing the corn , and the ewers with the wine and oil were next handed him , the corn being strewn and the oil poured over the stone with the usual ceremonies , and after other observances the procession was reformed and returned to the Masonic Hall .

Cheers were given for Mrs . Lionel Lucas , and subsequently about sixty of the Brethren sat down to a banquet prepared by Host Hibbert , at the King ' s Arms Hotel . In proposing the health of the Provincial Grand Master the Bector accorded him the hearty thanks of himself and parishioners for his kindness in attending that afternoon to lay the foundation stone of their new Schools .

The Provincial Grand Master suitably responded , and again assured the Brethren that it had afforded him real pleasure to be able to attend . — " Hemel Hempstead Gazette . "

Durham Charity.

DURHAM CHARITY .

THE general meeting of the Charities Committee of the Province of Durham was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Durham , for the election of the Officers and other business . The following were re-elected : —Chairman , Bro . Thomas Coulson , South Shields ; Vice-Chairman , Bro . C . S . Lane , West Hartlepool ; Treasurer , Colonel Bowlandson , Durham ; Secretary ,

Bro . John Robinson , Darlington ; Auditors , Bro . F . H . Bennett ? , West Hartlepool , and Bro . B . S . Beckwith , Darlington . The Finance Committee were also elected , and a number of petitions

were considered . A proposal from the Committee appointed by the last Provincial Grand Lodge to name the Benevolent Fund , recently established , the Hudson Benevolent Fund , in recognition of the services of Bro . Robert Hudson Prov . G . Sec , was adopted

Norfolk.

NORFOLK .

AFIER the meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge , held on the 22 nd inst ., at Yarmouth , as reported elsewhere in this issue , a banquet , served in Bro . J . W . Nightingale ' s best style , was held in the Minor Hall of the Royal Aquarium . Bro . Hamon le Strange presided , and was supported by most of the Brethren who had attended the earlier functions of the day .

Bro . MoLeod , the Secretary of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , was present , and made a strong appeal on behalf of the Institution he represents . It is hoped by means of the Centenary celebration , and by increased subscriptions from the Provinces , to

largely extend the splendid work carried on by the Institution . Before the company separated the Yarmouth Brethren were cordially thanked by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master for the excellent arrangements they had made for the comfort of those attending Grand Lodge .

The Masonic Life-Boat.

THE MASONIC LIFE-BOAT .

rriHB Quarterly Journal of the Royal National Life-Boat I Institution , dated for August , records a service by the " Albert Edward " stationed at Clacton , and one of the two Lifeboats presented to the Institution by the United Grand Lodge of England , in commemoration of the safe return from India of the

Most Worshipful Grand Master H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , which was launched in answer to signals of distress , and helped to assist the brigantine " Patho , " which had run on to thesandd . There was half a gale blowing at the time , from the N . E ., accompanied by a heavy sea , snow and thick weather . '

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

" A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

A SAD fatality occurred on Friday , 23 rd , when Mr . William S . Morgan , brother of the founder of the FEBEMASON ' CHBONICI / B , met with an accident at East Finchley Station , that resulted in his death from shock folio wing severe injuries a couple of hours later . The deceased gentleman was not a member of our Order , but was well known to many of those who worked

together in connection with the earlier issues of this paper , while in his own particular Circle he was regarded with the greatest respect and esteem , being of a most amiable and benevolent

disposition . His sad ending not only came as a great shock to his many friends , but has created a blank in many quarters which it will be impossible to fill . The funeral took place on Thursday , at Highgate cemetery .