Consecration Of The Charity Mark Lodge, No. 430.

US , P . P . S . G . W . ; J . C . Gray , 115 ; C . D . Eaton , 115 ; B . Gibbons , 40 S , Prov . G . D . C ; W . T . Smith , 174 ; D . C . Lloyd Owen , S . W . Howe , Prov . G . Chap . ; Walter Glover , Sec . 115 , Prov . G . S . ; E . B . Podmore , S . D . Howe , P . G . S . of W . ; T . J . Graham , R . ofM . 4 oS ; P . GaUimore , S . W . 115 , P . A . G . S . ; H . Jennings , P . G . Stwd . ; and others .

The petitioners were Bros . Edward Mallard ( W . M . designate ) , Thomas Rowbotham , I . G . 115 ( S . W . designate ) , Tom Houghton , S . O . 174 ( J . W . designate ) , Walter Waters , J . O . 174 ( M . O . designate ) , all Past Masters of the Charity Craft Lodge , No . 155 1 ; the other founders present being Bros . Sir James Sawyer , John A . Dexter , Rev . W . H . Poulton , M . A ., John Jones , William Perry , Charles P . Perry , T . J . Thursfield , Henry Penn , J . M . Harley , J . W . Phillips , J . G . Bennett , f . H . Pearce , Frederick Garratt , H . S . Bailey , H . Mavell , and J . P . Tav .

The lodge having been opened , and a hymn sung , the PRO GRAND MASTER , as Consecrating Officer , addressing the brethren , said they had met that day to perform a ceremony that was always an interesting one , because it showed thc progress the Mark Degree was making . He felt highly honoured as Provincial Grand Master at being present to perform the ceremony , and he congratulated the brethren of the Charity Craft Lodge in bringing their proceedings to such a successful climax .

The CONSECRATING OFFICER then called upon thc Grand Chaplain for prayer . The founders having signified their approval of the selection of W . M . and the officers named in the warrant , an excellent oration on the principles of the Order was delivered by Bro . W . K . RYLAND BEDFORD , P . G . C , ancl P . P . G . M . of the former joint Provinces of Warwick and Stafford .

The ceremony was then proceeded with , and concluded in proper Masonic form ancl in a very able and impressive manner , the musical portions being rendered by Bros . W . T . Belcher , Mus . Doc , P . M . 115 , P . G . Org ., and R . 0 . Wills , Org . 174 , Prov . G . Org .

Bro . the Marquess of Hertford at the conclusion of the consecration ceremony then vacated thc chair in favour of Bro . C . F . Matier , G . Secretary , who installed the W . M . designate , Bro . Edward Mallard , in thc most impressive , masterly , and truly Masonic form , and in strict accordance with the rites and ceremonies of the Order .

I he W . M . then invested as his officers for the ensuing year the following brethren and founders r Bros . Arthur Horrocks , P . M . 115 , P . P . G . M . O ., as acting I . P . M . ; Thomas Rowbotham , as S . W . ; Tom Houghton , as J . W . ; Walter Walters , as M . O . ; Sir James Sawyer , as S . O . ; John A .

Dexter , as J . O . ; Rev . W . H . Poulton , M . A ., as Chap . ; Chas . P . Perry , as Sec . ; T . J . Thursfield , as S . D . ; Henry Penn , as J . D . ; J . M . Harley , as D . C ; John Jones , as R . of M . ; J . W . Phillips , as Org . ; J . G . Bennett , as I . G . ; T . II . Pearce and Frederick Garratt , as Stwds . ; ' and A . H . Dallcy , as Tyler .

Ihe lodge having been duly formed , thc WORSHIPFUL MASTER then announced that thc noble Marquess had condescendingly consented to be proposed for election as a Past Master of thc lodge , ancl that he therefore had very great pleasure in proposing him as a Past Master .

This proposition was seconded b y Bro . THOMAS ROWBOTHAM , S . W ., and carried unanimously and with acclamation . Thc W . M . then presented thc newly-elected Past Master with a very handsome Past Master ' s jewel , bearing the noble brother ' s coat-of-arms in coloured enamel , ancl also bearing on thc reverse of the beautifully-chased square the following inscription : " Presented to the Most Noble and Most Worshipful Brother thc Marquess of Hertford by thc Officers and Brethren

of the Mark Lodge of Charity as a mark of respectful esteem ancl fraternal regard . —9 th July , 1 S 91 , " ancl in doing so expressed a hope that thc Pro G . M . of England would never regret having condescended to accept thc office ancl Degree of first Past Master , ancl the hope of himself and all the officers ancl brethren of the new lodge that he would long live to wear it with pride ancl pleasure .

' 1 he noble brother then expressed himself as very pleased with thc honoui and distinction conferred upon him , ancl further expressed a fervent hope on his part that thc members of thc new lodge would never regret his joining the lodge , and intimating at thc same time his determination to promote the interests of vvhat he mi ght designate his lodge in any and every way he could .

Thc Deputy Prov . Grand Master of Warwickshire , Bro . T . H . SMITH , P . G . W ., then presented the four petitioners , Bros . Edward Mallard , Thos . Rowbotham , Tom Houghton , and Walter Waters , with very handsomelydesigned founders' jewels , bearing upon the ribbon a portion of the arms of the noble Marquess ( by special permission ) , intimating at the same time his earnest desire for the future welfare of the new lodge , ancl exhorting them to maintain the dignity of the lodge ancl the ancient and honourable traditions of the advanced Degree of Alark Master Masons .

The W . M ., on behalf of himself ancl his three brethren , returned thanks .

Bro . William Perry was then duly elected Treasurer of the lodge , and the W . M . vacated thc chair to the P . G . M ., who ' opened the Provincial Grand Lodge . After thc routine business on the Provincial Grand circular was gone through , thc P . G . M . invested his officers for thc ensuing year , ancl to mark his appreciation of thc efforts of the ncvvly-installcd Master of thc Charity Lodge and his brethren , conferred offices of distinction upon the W . M . ancl his five principal officers .

' 1 he Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed , and the Provincial Grand Master and the Present ancl Past Provincial Grand Officers retired in

procession . The Master of thc Charily 1 . odgc then resumed the chair , and after some formal business closed the Charity ' Mark Masters Lodge for thc first time . At thc banquet which followed , and which was presided over by the noble Marquess ( the D . P . G . M . having retired through ill-health ) , supported by the Master of the

new Charitv Lodge , Bro . the Rev . Thomas W . K . R . Bedford , P . P . G . M . Warwick and Stafford ; Bro . C . F . Matier , Grand Secretary ; and the Officers Present and Past of the Grand Lod" -e of England and thc Provincial Grand Lodges of Warwick ancl Stafford , the officers and brethren of the new lodge being all present .

After the noble MAR-WESS had proposed the usual ancl indispensable toasts of "Thc Queen , " "The Prince of Wales , " as Grand Mark Master of England , ancl " The Officers Present and Past of the Grand Mark Lodge , " thc newly-installed M VSTER of thc Charitv Lodge proposed " The Health of

the Prov . Grand Master , " and explained in detail the efforts vvhich had been made by himself and his brother officers , and the success with which such efforts had been attended , announcing that the whole of the paraphernalia , jewels , working tools , books , & c , had been presented by the officers of thc lodge , enabling him to commence his year of office with a clean sheet .

Consecration Of The Charity Mark Lodge, No. 430.

Thc PROV GRAND MASTER , in responding , expressed his very great pleasure in having to consecrate a new lodge within his province , eulogised the conduct of the W . M . and his officers , ancl congratulated them upon the success which had crowned their efforts , and expressed a hope that thc good example would be followed by other Craft lodges in the province .

Bro . the Rev . W . H . POULTON , M . A ., the newly-invested Prov . Grand Chaplain , in proposing "The Healths of thc Prov . Grand Officers , Present and Past , " thanked the Prov . G . M . for his unexpected preferment , complimented the noble Marquess upon the most exemplary and impressive manner in which he had performed the sublime ceremony of consecration

and exhorted the brethren to emulate their chief , the Pro Grand Master and Prov . Grand Master . The toast was most eloquently responded to by the PRO GRAND MASTER . The noble MARQUESS proposed " The Health of the Newly-installed W . M ., " which was received by the brethren present in the most enthusiastic

manner . The WORSHIPFUL MASTER responded in graceful terms , promising not to rest satisfied until he had made the new Charity Mark Lodge the premier lodge of the province , ancl jocularly remarking that if the existing lodges did not make greater speed he would overtake them in numbers , and he hoped in Masonic zeal , during his year of office . He also thanked the

brethren of the existing lodges for the assistance and advice tendered to him ancl his brethren of the Charity Lodge , for the generous and pecuniary aid , which had enabled him to complete the work which had been inaugurated lhat day under such happy auspices , and which had brought about them the happy congratulations from such distinguished Masons which they had received .

Bro . Sir J AMES SAWYER , S . O ., proposed " The Health of thc Installing Master , Bro . C . F . Matier , Grand Secretary , " describing him as one of the most able exponents of Mark ritual , laws , and ceremonies , and coupled with the toast "Success to the Mark Benevolent Fund and the Mark Charitable Institutions , " and strongly impressed upon the brethren of the Charity

Mark Lodge the necessity of supporting * such Institutions to the utmost of their power and ability , and earnestly and eloquently exhorted them to do so , announcing that he and the W . M . and several other of the brethren intended being present at the Mark Benevolent Fund Festival on the 22 nd inst ., or , at any rate , acting as Stewards , ancl thus promoting the interests of thc deserving Charities .

Thc Installing Master , Bro . C . F . MATIER , responded , and in glowingterms eulogised the Charitable Institutions with which he is so familiar , ancl explained in detail their objects and achievements , ancl earnestly impressed upon all present the desirableness of supporting such Institutions which had done so much good in thc Order , and also fully explained in detail thc working management thereof , and set forth in detail thc enormous benefits that had accrued to thc Order therefrom .

The pleasures of the evening were largely augmented by the excellent songs ably and pleasingly rendered by Bros . Walter Glover , P . G . Steward , Charles P . Perry , ancl other brethren , thc instrumental music bein >* contributed by thc present and Past Prov . Grand Organists , Bros . Walter Waters ancl R . O . Wills , who gave evidence of their musical skill and ability by a most difficult but exquisitely rendered duct on the pianoforte .

The W . M . toasted the officers , and the Tyler ' s toast closed one of thc most successful and enjoyable gatherings of Mark Master Masons ever held in the province .

Grand Royal Arch Chapter Of Ireland.

GRAND ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER OF IRELAND .

On Jul )* 16 th , a special convocation of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Ireland was held in the Freemasons' Hall , Molesworth-street , for the purpose of installing his Grace the Duke of Abercorn , Grand Master of Ireland , as Grand King of thc Grand Royal Arch Chapter , in room of Judge Townsend ,

resigned . There was a very large attendance of Royal Arch Masons . The proceedings were of a very interesting ancl impressive description . Comp . Judge Townsend , the outgoing Grand King , presided , and was supported by all the Grand Officers , wearing evening dress and the insignia of their several offices .

The incoming Grand King having been announced in due form , Comp . Judge TOWNSEND expressed the pleasure it gave hin to install their Grand Master into the office which he had himself held for many , many years . He hoped his Grace would occupy the high office for many

years in health and prosperity , for he was aware that his Grace entered upon his new duties with the hearty goodwill of all thc members of the Order . He had now great pleasure in handing him the sceptre as the emblem of his authority in the highest position of the Royal Arch Order in Ireland , and in investing him with the insignia of Grand King .

His GRACE having been installed , vvas saluted according to ancient custom . He expressed his high appreciation of the great honour that had been conferred upon him . It was greatly enhanced by the way in which his

honoured ancl highly esteemed friend , the Past Grand King , had spoken of him . It would , he assured them , be his great object to fulfil the duties 01 his new ofiice in a manner in some degree approaching the efficiency with which their late Grand King had discharged them .

Thc GRAND KING then announced that he had appointed Comp . John Fox Goodman as his Deputy , and expressed regret that , owing to illness , Comp . Goodman was not present to be installed . Comp . R . W . SHEKLETON , Q-C , ex-Deputy Grand King , proposed _ a

vote of thanks to Judge lownsend for the highly satisfactory manner m which he had discharged his duties as Grand King during a period extending- over many years . The motion was passed with acclamation .

Comp . Judge TOWNSEND , in reply , thanked thc companions with whom he had acted for so many years . Their association had been of the happiest character , ll vvas gratifying that thc Royal Arch Order was now one of great magnitude ancl inlluence . It was only owing to advancing years that he had

been obliged to retire from the office , which he had held with the greatest pleasure to himself ; and he was glad to know he had filled it also witn satisfaction to thc members of that great Order . Tlic convocation was then closed in the usual manner .