Grand Lodges Next Week.

GRAND LODGES NEXT WEEK .

I HE September Communication of Grand Lodge , if it does not actually inaugurate the Masonic season , at least heralds the advent of general activity , and sounds the keynote for a return to Masonic labour after the summer

recess . The Quarterly Communication , to be held on Wednesday next promises to be of a somewhat tame character—as befits the season—but it will be noteworthy in more than one particular , inasmuch as there are two items on the Agenda

which will bring the new Grand Master into direct touch with his Brethren , the first being a vote of sympathy with His Royal Hignness on the lamented death of his sister the late Empress Frederick , and the second his message in regard to the complaint from the Grand Lodge of Denmark , in

reference to the invasion of its territory by the Grand Lodge of ITamburg . We recently referred to this latter item , and pointed out that the complaint had reached us via the Grand Lodge of New South Wales , but it appears

the authorities of our Grand Lodge had the matter under consideration , and it is only the fact that the protest arrived in this country too late to be dealt with at the last meeting of Grand Lodge that caused what at first appeared to be a delay .

; The withdrawal of the Lodges of Western Australia , consequent on the establishment there of an independent Grand Lodge ; and the cancelling of other Lodges which have ceased to meet will make a considerable addition to the

" blanks' on the Register of the Grand Lodge , but should make it somewhat easier for the Calendar Committee when they start on the task of bringing the official list of meetings which they publish yearly more up to date than it is at present , when probably one in ten of the official announcements are incorrect .

The meeting of Mark Grand JLodge is , as usual , to be held the day before the Craft gathering , and here also there is very little to be done if we exclude the important point in the report of the General Board as to the proper method of addressing a " Deputy Provincial Grand Master in Charge . "

In this connection it seems that a rose by any other name does not smell so sweetly , but why spoil the item by omitting the name of the Brother whose dignity was so touched as to need Grand Lodge legislation ? Truly we worry over trifles and let great matters go unheeded !

New Hall At Okehampton.

NEW HALL AT OKEHAMPTON .

A MASONIC Hall , which has been erected in Station Road , Okehampton , just at the entrance to the town , was dedicated on Monday . Lodge Obedience , No . 1753 , nas

met in a room at the White Hart Hotel ever since its establishment on 26 th August 1878 , twenty-two years ago . For a long time the members had desired a building of their own , and a year or two ago formed a Building Committee for the purpose , consisting of Bros . Charles Futcher , Chas .

Piper , F . Edwards , Rev . T . Ward Brown , W . Pollard , A . V . Amand , and A . R . Bray , whose names are recorded 00 the memorial stone , which was laid just a year ago . The building is in the . Renaissance style , and presents a pleasing exterior . Internally there are robing and retiring rooms ,

and a fine Lodge Room 42 ft by 21 ft . and 20 ft . in height . It has an open-timber roof , stained green , relieved with white ; a pitch-pine dado is around the room , and an " eagle " grate has a handsome overmantel in oak . The architect was Bro . J . Archibald Lucas , of Exeter . The ceremony of dedication was performed b y the Dep . and , Prov , Grand Master in Charge Bro , G , C . Davie .

New Hall At Okehampton.

assisted by Bros . F . B . Westlake acting S . W ., Rev . T . Russell acting J . W ., Rev . 1 . Ward Brown P . G . Chaplain , and J . R . Lord Director of Ceremonies , Bro . F . J . Shapcott P . P . Org . presiding at the organ . Bro . F . Edward Secretary of Lodge Obedience requested the Acting Prov . G . M . to dedicate the building .

At the conclusion of the ceiremony the Worshipful Master of the Lodge Bro . Pollard proposed a vote of thanks to Bro . Davie , and the Prov . Grand Lodge Officers who had assisted him . Bro . Pollard said he trusted that the building dedicated that day would long be a landmark of Freemasonry

in the neighbourhood , and that they would enjoy the privileges of disinterested friendship within that temple for many a year . The I . P . M . Bro . the Rev . T- Ward Brown seconded the motion , and the Acting Prov . G . M ., in reply , said they were most of them present when the foundation stone was

laid last year , and it was a source of gratification to them to see that from the foundation then laid so nice a structure had risen . He trusted that building would be to them the home af friendship and a place where all diversities of opinion were forgotten .

The Worshipful Master then installed his successor Bro . Amand as Master of the Lodge , and he invested his Officers . A banquet was afterwards held at the White Hart Hotel , the new Master Bro . A . Amand presiding . The toast of Grand Lodge was responded to by Bros . Stocker and Westlake .

Bro . Davie , in responding to the toast of the Prov . Grand Master and the Prov . Grand Lodge of Devon , said they were all very glad to come to Okehampton to > put the finishing touch to the work they began a year ago . He congratulated them on the fact that Lodge Obedience was now nob only a

flourishing Lodge , but that it had a handsome and commodious Lodge room of its own . He hoped that room would be a great stimulus and inducement to Freemasonry in the neighbourhood , and he felt that the fact that they had a

room of their own was a guarantee of the stability of any Lodge . The Acting Prov . Grand Master also heartily congratulated the members on the working of the Lodge , and especially the work of Bro . Pollard as Installing Master .

The I . P . M . Bro . Pollard gave the health of the W . M . No one , he said , was more worthy of the honour than Bro . Amand , and he congratulated him on being the first Master installed in their new Lodge room . The W . M ., in reply , said he regarded the day he became

a Freemason as one of the happiest of his life , and that day his happiness was crowned . His heart was with Lodge Obedience , and he was delighted that that little moorland Lodge had not only a Lodge Room of its own , but had the honour of receiving a very distinguished company of Freemasons . ******************

New Hall At Ilfracombe.

NEW HALL AT ILFRACOMBE .

THE Craft in general and the Brethren of Lodge Concord , No . 1351 , in particular may be Congratulated on their new temple , situate in Northfiekl Read . The front , of Bath stone ashlar work , is Classic in design , with the five orders of architecture intermixed . The four main

columns supporting the entablature are of the Tuscan and Doric orders , and the six smaller columns , which flank the doorway and windows , are of Ionic , Corinthian , and Composite orders . In the tympanum of the pediment is carved

the emblem of the square and compass , with date of erection . The Lodge is entered by a lobby with black and tesselated pavement . A large ante-room is inside the front hall , from which the Lodge is entered by two elaborately-decorated doors , whose top panels contain the coats-of-arms of Devon