Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Essex.

Bro . Rev . Canon Ouennell , J . W . 377 ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ W . S . Wright , I . P . M . 205 ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ Thos . J . Railing , P . G D . Fog ., P . M . and Sec . 145 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ W . Scott Macdonald , W . M . 467 ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ J . M . Murphy , W . M . 205 ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ Robt . Cook , J . W . 342 ... ... ... Prov . G . I . of Wks „ R . Clowes , P . J . G . 6 . Kng ., P . M . 413 ... Prov . G . D . C . „ J . G . Mackenzie , W . M . 342 ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ G . M . IC . Hamilton , S . W . 205 ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ J . E . Pegram , P . M . 342 ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ VV . G . Putlick , Org . 46 7 ... ... Prov . G . Org . ,, R . Haward Ives , P . M . 145 ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ Martin Bleick , S . W . 461 ... ... Prov . G . I . G . ,, Arlhur Wright , Tyler 145 ... ... Prov . G . Tjler . „ A . S . B . Sparling . M . O . 145 ... ... } p p s , „ John E . Cheese , S . O . 145 .. j Prov . G . btwds .

Votes of thanks were then passed to Lord Euston and the Grand Officers who had assisted in the ceremony of the d ly , and to the Constantine Lodge for their excellent arrangements . About 50 brethren afterwards dined together at the Cup ; Hotel , under the presidency of the Earl of Warwick , an excellent repast being well served by Mr . and Mrs . Woodward . During dinner the string band of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment performed a selection of choice music , which was much appreciated .

An interesting feature of the day ' s proceedings was the presentation to Bro . T . j . Railing , the first Grand Secretary ot the new province , with the undress clothing and jewel of a Past Grand Deacon of England . The presentation was made bv Bro . R . CLOWES , who explained that himself and a few friends of Bro . Railing desired his acceptance of these gifts , with their sincerest wishes for his welfare , and the hope that he might long be spared to wear them . Bro . RALLING feelingly acknowledged the presentation .

It should be added that a liberal supply of flags for the decoration of the lodge room was lent by Bro . Fieldgate , of Brightlingsea ; while Mr . Lewis , of East Hill House Gardens , supplied some handsome plants , which added greatly to the adornment of the room . The collars and jewels were manufactured by George Kenning and Son ,

Consecration Of The Old York Council Allied Degrees And The L0id1s Conclave Red Cross Of Rome And Constantine.

CONSECRATION OF THE OLD YORK COUNCIL ALLIED DEGREES AND THE L 0 ID 1 S CONCLAVE RED CROSS OF ROME AND CONSTANTINE .

VISIT OF THE EARL OF EUSTON TO WEST YORKSHIRE . Following upon the firm hold which the Mark Degree has taken in West Yorkshire , must be observed the extraordinary rise of those Degrees which are more or less closely connected with it . These , we may note in passing , are variously characterised . By some they are somewhat contemptuously described as " side " degrees and meet with bare acknowledgment ; otheis admitting their beauty and usefulness do not hesitate to speak of

them as the " higher " degrees and throw into the working of the ceremonies associated with them , a zeal and an enthusiasm which some Royal Arch chapters might usefully emulate . And yet in no sense are they rivals to the Royal Arch Degree as some very erroneously say ; for in most cases admission to the Degrees can only be obtained by chapter Masons . It may , therefore , be stated with confidence that the majority of those brethren who have joined these higher Degrees are Royal Arch Masons , and that

whatever may be the reasan which admittedly impedes the satisfactory progress of the Royal Arch , it is not , as it has rashly been said , to be attributed to the undoubted success which has attended the Mark and its allied associations . In West Yorkshire the Mark Degree is , as we have shown , firmly planted , and that province now possesses also three Royal Ark Mariners lodges , three councils of the Allied Degrees and two conclaves of the Red Cross of Rome and Constantine . In addition to this it has 10 Kni ght Templar preceptories and four Rose Croix chapters .

OLD YORK COUNCIL , NO . 29 . Interest in Masonic matters has prevailed in Bradford for a consid erable period , there being evidence to show that before the formation of the Grand Lodge of England \ n 1717 , a Masonic Lodge existed in that town . Its Maik lodge , which was originally worked in connection with the Centenary Lodge ot Hope , now 302 , joined the Mark Province of West Yorkshire

after a year or two ' s hesitation and claims the proud title of "Time immemorial . " This old Mark lodge is in a most Iburishing and vigorous condition and has recently attached to itself an equally promising lodge of Royal Ark Mariners . O . i Friday , the 26 : h ult ., it still further extended its borders by founding the Old York Council of the Allied Degrees . Of course , advance of this kind implies that amongst the Bradford Masons , as

amongst all societies , there are enthusiasts ; those who take the initiative and inspire their followers with their zeal and earnestness . Conspicuous amongst these pioneers in Freemasonry are Bros . J . L . Atherton and Charles Crabtree , and it is chielly , we believe , at the suggestion ol these well-known and distinguished brethren that the Old York Council , No . 211

his originated . Al ways ready lo promote proper Masonic enterprise , Bros C . Letch Mason , Prov . G . Master , and John Barker , D .-puty P . ov . G , Master of the Mark Degree , were easily induced to join in the venture and they , wiih Bros . Atherton , Crabtree , G . Whitaker , Walter Whitley , and R , A . Pull in , constituted themselves founders of the council .

A dispensation was obtained to admit brethren to the va-ious Degrees previous 10 the conse . ration , and when it is mentioned that there were iS candidates from the Old York Lodge , Bradford ; seven from Fearnley , 58 Halifax ; two from Truth , 137 Huddersfield ; and one from Copley , in Leeds ; enough wi'l have been said to show that the Old York has undoubtedly established its raisou d etre .

The very arduous task of putting the new men ( most of whom were present ) through the six different Degrees was valiantly undertaken by Bro . William Vincent , G . D . of C , assisted by Bro . R . J . Voisey . This was finally accomplished , to that with the joining members , of whom there were seven , there was a goodly contingent of brethren , who were thus able to witness the ceremony of consecration . The Rt . Hon . the Eail of Erston , M . W . Grand Master of the Order , Was invited to come down for the purpose , and with his usual kindness and

Consecration Of The Old York Council Allied Degrees And The L0id1s Conclave Red Cross Of Rome And Constantine.

courtesy , he consented . Lord Euston , it will be remembered , undertook to consecrate the St . Laurence Council , Pudsey , in the early part of last year , but being at the time confined to his bed , he was obliged to depute the work to Bro . Matier , P . Dep . G . Master , G . Secretary . Particulars of this

successful function appeared in our columns at the time , and though the Pudsey brethren were naturally disappointed at Lord Euston's absence , they were able with their message of sympathy to a . sure him that Bro . Matier , aided " by Bro . Belton , had most successfully made up for his lordship's absence .

On the present occasion the M . W . Grand Master attended in person , and was accompanied by Bros . Charles Belton , Dep . G . Master ; C . F . Matier . P . Dep . G . Master , G . Sec ; Wm . Vincent , G . D . of C ; and R . J . Voisey , P . A . G . D . of C . With these brethren were Bros , the Rev . C . E . L . Wright , M . A ., P . M ., P . G . Chap . ; Dr . C . S . Brewer ; and J . W . Monckman , J . P ., J . G . W .

A council was opened by the M . W . Grand Master , Bro . Monckman taking the Senior Warden ' s chair , and Bro . Voisey that of the Junior Warden . Bro . C . | E . L . Wright acted as Chaplain , and Bro . Vincent most ably discharged the duties of Director of Ceremonies . In addition to the brethren already named there were present Bros . E . Foulds , C . W . Hudson , T . M . Lawson , Geo . Martin , Thomas Norfolk , Joseph Smith ,

James Tilley , S . Whiteley , P . Alderson , Wm . Gaukroger , J . P ., Richard Hodgson , H . S . Holdsworth , Geo . Hoyle , W . S . Milligan , Robert Potter , Walker Dyson , Richard Gill , R . J . Smith , L . Crossley , Herbert Holland , Wm . Woodiwiss , W . Wagstaffe , and W . E . Smithies . The visitors included Bros . Chas . Cromack , W . M . St . Laurence Council , and Joseph Matthewman , 27 , Prov . G . Sec . for the Mark Degree .

The ceremony was most carefully and reverently conducted by the M . W Grand Master , assisted by the CHAPLAIN ' , who , during the proceedings , delivered the following oration :

It is customary at the consecration of a new lodge , or council , or chapter in Masonry for the Chaplain to deliver an oration on the nature and principles of the Order , and in this , the Allied Degrees , there is an almost embarrassing choice of subjects , for it is not only one Decree , but several that are under the ; egis of the Grand Council . The Grand Council of the Allied Degrees was formed to secure the union of several bodies , many of which had worked from

time immemorial , and which were scattered over the country without any supreme head . But it is not a very old body , for , as you know , the council that we are to consecrate to-day is only No . 29 on the list , and , in addition , there are seven time immemorial ones . I am glad to see that three of your founders come from my own Yorkshire council , the Ebor at York , which ranks as C . among the time immemorial ones . But though the Grand Council has no ancient lineage to

boast of , it has done extremely useful work , anil has been very active , especially in the last few years . Since our present Grand Master was elected to the chair in 18 S 8 no less than nine new councils have been consecrated , a fact which speaks volumes for itself , and two additional Degrees have been b ; ought under its jurisdiction , the Secret Monitor , and the Grand Tyler of King Solomon . The first of the original four Degrees , that of St . Laurence the Martyr was originally of

great importance to our operative brethren when travelling about . As the lecture informs you , we know it to have existed for 150 years , principally in Lancashire and Yorkshire , and I imagine that to be the reason why so many of the time immemorial councils are to be found in the north of England . The Knight of Constantinople teaches us the equality of all men , the Red Cross of Babylon the great importance of truth , and the Grand High Priest the purity and

uprightness of life as well as the duty of being always ready to perform the sacred offices of Charity and mercy . This latter Degree can only be conferred upon an Installed Principal of the Royal Arch , and in America only upon an installed First Principal . Tl e Grand Tiler of King Solomon points out to us the necessity of silence and secresy , and , while warning us against judging people only by appearances , teaches us to put the best

construction and not the worst on their acticns , and always be ready to acknowledge our mistakes . And , lastly , the Secret Monitor , as its very name implies , shows us that we should always be ready to give or receive friendly advice , without taking offence , from those who are qualified to offer it . In founding this council , then you express your belief and assent to these moral maxims , and you wish to teach them to others . Any one of them might almost form an oration in itself . How

much , for instance , might be said on " the equality of all men , " for , though all men are equal in the sight of God , there must , of course , be numerous restrictions to the doctrine in other respects . Or , again , how important it is for us to remember that we should never say anything about anyone that we do not know to be absolutely true . What a lot of harm is frequently done by repeating about

things people which have little or no foundation in fact . All of this and much else is taught to us symbolically , and sometimes very definitely , in the mysteries of our ritual . But especially is Ihe almighty force and high importance of truth inculcated upon us in one of the most beautiful of these Degrees . In conclusion , then , let me just give you three thoughts derived from this subject , 1 st . Be true to yourselves . Shakespeare

says—To thine own self be true . And it must follow , as the night the day , Thou can ' st not then be false to any man . " Set a high standard before you , whether in your public , your p ' rivate , or your Masonic life . Live up to your principles , and be ready to give up all , if need be , fcr the truth ' s sake . Then , secondly , be true to your neighbours—in wordin act

, , and manner—and especially to your brethren , being ready to assist those in distress , showing kindness and sympathy to all , living in union and harmony , and endeavouring to carry out all your Masonic duties , not only in the letter but in the spirit . And , lastly , be true to God . To Him alone can you look for comfort and assistance in any trouble or distress . How earnestly we acknowledge our need

of Him in our corporate capacity when consecrating lodges or councils , the deeply religious nature of the ceremony in which we are now engaged most clearly defines , and so we must each of us do individually . We must live up to the light that we have , and pray earnestly for more light . We must be earnest seekers after the truth for the truth ' s sake .

Magna est Veritas ct pravnlebit " At the completion of the ceremony Bro . C . F . MATIER installed Bro . C . Letch Mason as first W . M . of the Old York Council . After the election of Bro . Crabtree as Treasurer , Bro . Mason appointed and invested his officers as follows : Bros . John Barker , S . W . ; J . L . Atherton , J . W . ; C . Crabtree , Treas . ; C . W . Hudson , Sec . ; II . S . Holdsworth , S . D . ; R . Hodgson , J . D . ; T . Norfolk , I . G . ; G . Whitaker , Chap . ; R . A . Puilan , D . of C . ; S . Whiteley , Org . ; and Geo . Martin and E . Foulds , Stewards .

Previous to closing the council , Bro . C . LETCH MASON , W . M ., moved a cordial vote of thanks to the M . VV . G . Master for his attendance that day to consecrate the council . In this he included , of course , the other Grand Officers , all of whom , he proposed , should be asked to become honorary members . This was warmly seconded by the S . W ., Bro . BARKER , and most heartily received and assented to .