Consecration Of The St. Aldhelm's Lodge, No. 2559.

Atkins , P . M ., P . P . S . G . of W . Norths and Hunts ; Thomas , P . M . 1239 , 195 , P . P . S G . D . West Yorks ; McNicoll , W . M . 137 ; Knight , W . M . 417 ; F . A . K Hounsell , W . M . 1146 ; Francis W . M . 2158 ; A . C . Kemble , S . W . 2539 ; M . C . C Burke , W . M . 406 ( I . C ) , J . W . 2359 ; Cridland , P . M . 2158 , Treas . 2559 ; Archi bald H . Yateman , Sec . 2559 ; * F . H . Cottam , S . D . 2559 ; Oakley , J . D . 2559

Hitchcock ; Miles , P . M . 2158 , P . P . G . S . of W . ; Merson , P . M . ; J . G . Shepherd , C . Pearce , S . W . 2208 ; Barrow ; Sandell , S . W . 215 S ; Mapp , Whiting , J . White , A . Gates , T . Gomer , G . D . Taylor , Tufnn , Eaton , Turle , Montagu J . Raymond , Hosker , Grossutt , Scratchley , Collins , J . Raymond , G . Cole , T . K . Harris , McNeill , G . A . Mate , and W . W . Lee , P . M . 1 S 97 .

Lodge was opened after the Prov . Grand Officers had entered in procession , and the PROV . GRAND MASTER very briefly stated the object of the meeting . The founders signified their approval of the officers named in the warrant , after which an oration was delivered by the PROV . G . CHAP . The ceremony proceeded with the usual impressive formalities , and the new lodge was solemnly dedicated and constituted .

Bro . C . Carter , Prov . G . D . of C , then proceeded to install the W . M . designate , Bro . Major W . Watts , Prov . S . G . W ., and the following officers were afterwards invested : Bros . C Carter , Prov . G . D . C , acting I . P . M . ; A . C . Kemble . S . W .: M . C C . Burke . P . M .. I . W .: F . H . Cridland .

P . M ., Treas . ; R . Patey , P . P . G . Reg ., Chap . ; H . A . Lawton , P . P . S . G . D ., D . C . ; A . H . Yeatman , Sec . ; F . Hew Cottam , S . D . ; F . F . Oakley , J . D . ; T . Gill Bennet , I . G . , * and Beamish , Tyler . The PROV . GRAND MASTER then tendered " Hearty good wishes " from

the province upon that occasion . It was a great source of congratulation to feel they had another lodge in the province . Some people said and thought that the number of 13 was an unlucky number , but up to the present time they had found in Dorset that the number had been a very lucky one , and they only hoped that 14 would also be as lucky . It afforded him very great p leasure to send up a recommendation to the M . W . G . M . to ask for a charter , and more so on account of the Worship ful Master who he knew

would be in the chair . He was present at the initiation of Bro . Major Watts , and had watched his career in the province with the greatest pleasure and satisfaction . Bro . Watts had perfected that career by the work that day of bringing into the province another lodge . He was certain that the corn , oil , and wine sprinkled on the present occasion had not been in vain , but that all those great qualities represented by them would be carried out to the satisfaction of all in the province . After the transaction of formal business , the lodge was closed .

Abanquet was subsequently held at Bourne Hall Hotel , where theW . M . presided . , The usual loyal toasts were given by the W ORSHIPFUL MASTER and heartily honoured . "The M . W . Pro . G . M ., the Earl of Lathom ; the R . W . Dep . G . M ., the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe ; and the rest of the Grand Oflicers , Present and Past" was proposed by Bro . KEMBLE , S . W .

Bro . the Rev . MORTIMER HEATH , P . G . Chap ., in reply , expressed his regret at being the sole representative of that body present . * The toast always met with the greatest appreciation , and rightly so , because an Institution like theirs must have an executive head , and a great deal must depend not only on the ability , but on the loyalty and good will of some of those over whom they exercised jurisdiction . The Grand Officers did all

in their power to make the lodges work steadily and smoothly , and if anything went wrong it was not their fault . He always looked upon it as one great day of pleasure in his Masonic career , when it pleased the M . W . G . M . to number him amongst the officers of Grand Lodge . Personally , and on behalf of the real body , he thanked the brethren for the honour conferred upon them .

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER next submitted " The R . W . Prov . G . M .. " and expressed his regret that there would be no response to the toast . He was certain , however , that it must have been something compulsory to have prevented the Prov . Grand Master being present at the banquet . The

founders of the new lodge were gratified that it was consecrated by the right man—the Prov . Grand Master—and he thanked the brethren for supporting them in such large numbers . Bro . M . C . C . BURKE , P . M ., J . W ., proposed " The Prov . Grand Officers

Bro . J . H . BOWEN , Prov . G . R ., responding , said that was his maiden speech as a Prov . Grand Ofiicer , and it was a peculiar thing that he should have to reply first in the Province of Hants . He thought that Bournemouth might fairly claim to have given birth to Branksome , a child which , in the golden future , would rival Bournemouth , and possibly surpass it . Dorset

was grateful to Hantsfor giving them such an excellent child . The first installed Master of the St . Aldhelm ' s Lodge was so well known , that they were certain he was the first of a long line who would rule in Branksome over one of the best lodges in the province . They wished prosperity in every way to Branksome , and also , in a sisterly manner , to the Province of Hants .

Bros . PARKINSON , P . P . J . G . W . ; LAWTON , and HABGOOD also replied . Bro . Rev . MORTIMER HEATH , P . G . Chap ., in proposing "The Health of the W . M ., " said they mig ht view their VV . M . in two aspects , and in both Bro . Watts would come out in shining colours . It had been his privilege to be personally acquainted with the W . M . for some years , he had

met him in society and in the lodge , and on all occasions Bro . Watts had shown he was a round peg in a round hole . The W . M . had gone through a course of Masonry at Blandford , where under his rule the lodge flourished exceedingly owing to his efforts , and that would be a fair guarantee for the work he had before him in that new lodge . In their W . M . they would find the centre of harmony , and the St . Aldhelm's Lodge , which the Province of

Dorset was to be congratulated upon , would flourish , and he ( the W . M . ) be an object lesson to the officers working with him and the Worshipful Masters succeeding him . They would all be greatly surprised if , at the next installation meeting , when Bro . Watts' health would be given as I . P . M ., they did not find he had thoroughly fulfilled the promise he had shown bv his past work . In conclusion , he hoped the officers would support the W . M ., and ensure that success which they all looked forward to in the annals of the St .

Aldhelm ' s Lodge . Bro . Major W . WATTS , Prov . S . G . W ., W . M ., responded , and said he had made a great mistake in having a humorous song before his speech , because his remarks would necessarily fall flat . He wished , however , to thank Bro . the Rev . Heath for the very handsome way in which he had proposed his health , and tbe brethren for the hearty reception given it . In a man ' s lifetime there were occasions when he made no pretension to say what he would like to , and that was such an occasion . _ He was sorry ths . t any discussion had arisen regarding the province to which the lodge should

Consecration Of The St. Aldhelm's Lodge, No. 2559.

belong . It was a bona fide . Dorset lodge , and he said so in the presence of many Hants brethren , and was sure they would not blame him for saying so . Hants was a large province with many lodges , and well worked , and Dorset was a small province , and in that corner of it in which Branksome was situated , where could there be a place better suited for the formation oi a new lodge ? He was quite certain that it was the wish of every founder

that it should be a purely Dorset lodge . They went some distance out so that there should never be any question as to which province the lodge belonged to , and the brethren of Bournemouth would do what they could to help the lodge and the Province of Dorset . It was the wish of all the founders that good feeling should always exist between the two provinces , and if anything stimulated that feeling it should be the close connection with that

lodge . Indeed , he looked to the good working and good Masonry of Bournemouth to grea : ly assist their success in Branksome . As regards another lodge at Poole , they also hoped the best of feeling would prevail between them , for their greatest regret would be to interfere with it in any way . It had always been his great ambition to be instrumental in raising a new lodge , and the founders had worked well in order that Masonry might

flourish , especially in their lodge . ForhimseJf , he was in a difficult position to reply . He should like to say he was deeply indebted for the words that fell from the lips of the Prov . Grand Master respecting himself . and he thanked that distinguished brother in his absence . He felt himself a hi ghly honoured man , because he doubted if any man could say what the Prov . Grand Master had said about him—that he was present at his initiation and first installation , and again at his second installation that day . If there was one

thing that would help the success of that lodge it was the oflicers , for if ever a band of oflicers had Masonry at heart it was the 10 he had invested . There was one thing that added considerably to the ceremony that day , and that was the music . As the W . M ., he should be sorry to sit down without thanking those brethren from Poole and VVimbjrne who had rendered them su : h excellent service , and whenever they might be short of music , hc should take this opportunity as asking them lo visit again . He begged once again to thank them for the hearty reception given the toast .

Bro . C . CARTER , P . G . D . C , in giving " The Masonic Charities , " referred to the fact that the VV . M . had consented to serve as Steward on behalf of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , which was represented that day by Bro . J . Mason , who gave them such an excellent speech at the Prov . Grand Lodge meeting on the previous day .

Bro . J . MASON , P . P . S . G . D . Middx ., representing the R . M . B . I ., said it was difficult to make two speeches to the same brethren , for most of them were at the Prov . Grand Lodge meeting . The proposer of the toast had told the brethren of the three Institutions , and said all he ( Bro . Mason ) should say . He had already told them the needs of the Benevolent Institution , and that they paid nearly ^ 16 , 500 a year for annuities to help those

who could not help themselves , and he was , therefore , glad that one of the old branches of the province ( Bro . Budden ) had proposed that the Charitybox should ;; o round again . The idea was more than " budding "—it had " sprouted " already . He hoped to have congratulated Bro . Dugdale on the work done at Prov . Grand Lodge , and was giad to find that 20 guineas was coming to the Old People ' s Institution this year , because he knew the great

necessity before them . There was a large list of candidates , and unless the brethren gave them an amount beyond anything they had received for three years , it would be impossible to take on anything like the number they would wish to . He asked every brother to give something this year . They said they took the Old Book as a guide to their faith ; but how much faith had

they in it ? for he spoke straight to those who did not do as much as they ought . The brethren had seven annuitants on the funds , and , although he was not saying they should give the Institution as much as was paid , yet when £ 245 was paid regularly , they expected a little piece of it back every year . He was glad to take back such an honoured name as that of Bro . Watts as Steward for the next Festival .

" Ihe Sister Lodges and Visitors was proposed by the W . M ., and acknowledged by the WORSHIPFUL MASTERS of the Weymouth , Wareham , Dorchester , Swanage , and Boscombe Lodges , and several other visiting brethren .

" I he Officers was submitted by Bro . PARKINSON , and replied to by the S . W ., J . VV ., TREASURER , and SECRETARY . The final toast given by the VV . M . was that of" The Installing Master , " to which Bro . CARTER , P . G . D . C , replied in suitable terms . The Tyler ' s toast then brought the proceedings lo a close .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WEST YORKSHIRE .

'Ihe half-yearly meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was holden in the Town Hall , Dewsbury , on Wednesday , the 16 th ult ., under the banner of Three Grand Principles Lodge , No . 208 , when there were present—Bros , the Right Hon . William Lawies Jackson , M . P ., P . M . 289 , P . P . G . W ., I'rov . G . M . ; Henry Smith , P . M . 387 , P . G . D . Eng ., Deputy Prov . G . M . ; Chas . Letch

Mason , Prov . S . G . W . ; Robt . Illingworth Critcliley , j P ., P . P . J . G . W ., as Pruv . J . G . W . ; Edward Armitage , J . P ., Benj . Broughton , Col . Joseph Hanley , D . L ., Col . J . Day , William Harrop , and Richard Jessop , P . P . G . Ws . ; Rev . Jas . Geo , Williams , P . P . G . Chap ., as Prov . G . Chap . ; Rev . Wm . Wilkinson , Piov . G . Chap . ; Rev . Canon H . Lowther Clarke , P . P . G . Chap . ; Major Geo . Bolton , Prov . G . Treas . ; Jas . Hy . Gration , John Gibbs , Wm . Fisher Tasker , and Tlios .

Richards , P . P . G . Treasurers ; John C . Malcolm , P . P . G . Re-., as Prov . G . Re ; , ' . ; Aulay Macaulay and Thos . Brayshaw , P . P . G . Regs . ; Capt . H . G . E . Green , Prov . G . Sec ; Reuben Williamson , P . P . S . G . D ., as Prov . S . G . D . ; Walker Dyson and Herbert Nixon , Prov . S . G . Ds . ; Geo . lly . Robinson , Fredk . C . Robinson , and Fountain Read , Prov . J . G . Ds . ; . Saml . H . Stocks , Joseph Lowenthal , C . T . Rhodes , Win . Chas . Lupton , George Marshall . Wm . VVroe , Jno . Read Dore , Fred Rand , John Win . Balme , Albert Walker , Win . Hy . Bradford , and

Jno . Taylor Simpson , P . P . G . Ds . ; William Dickie , Prov . G . S . of W . ; Geo . W . Hawksley and John Barker , P . P . G . Ss . of VV . ; Geo . Paul Sunderland , Prov . G . D . C ; Joseph Hartley , Dep . Prov . G . D . C ; J . VV . Monckman , P . P . A . G . D . C , as Prov . A . G . D . C ; Hy . Jackson Sutherst and Godfrey Woodhead , Prov . A . G . D . Cs . ; H . S . Holdsworth , Thomas Pickles , Edmund Lord , John Dyson , Win . Fitton , VV . R . Thompson , VV . D . Quarmby , Thomas Norfolk , Win . Hy . Dawson , Howgate Holroyd , and John Dawson , P . P . G . D . Cs . ; Herbert Columbine , I'rov . G . S . B . ; Asa Fawthrop , Prov . G . Std . Br . ; William Haigh , P . P . G . Std . Br ., as