Music In The Lodge.

arc aware , says nothing upon the subject ot music ; or with the unwritten law , which , for obvious reasons , is silent in like manner . We prefer lo offer no opinion upon this point . We are merely

slating a fact which , whether its legality is recognised or not , is very generally known among the brethren , namely , that the introduction of solemn and appropriate music into our lodge ceremonial has found favour with a numerous section of the

Craft , while every year we lind a tendency on the part of lodges to give prominence during our after-dinner proceedings to music rather thau to oratory . And hence it is that nowadays there is a larger number of professional brethren than at any time

previously , who arc both able and willing to give their services at our meetings and by so doing add largely to the p leasure , of those present . This , as we have said , may or may not bc in accordance with thc law or established usage , but there can bc no doubt

it is a great boon tothe Masonic public , nor do we suppose there arc many brethren who , having once heard the Schartau Glee Singers , the Cynthia Quartette , the Mcister Glee Singers , or other organised body of musical brethren , will care to see a revival on

the same scale as a few years since of the old-fashioned afterdinner oratory . We must have speeches , it is true , but in mercy to those who are called upon to listen to them , let them be short ;

where we can have music , let there bc plenty of it and of a highclass , whether those who minister to our p leasure in this respect bc professional or amateur musicians .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Shropshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SHROPSHIRE .

A meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Shropshire was held by Bro . Sir Ollley Wakeman , Bart ., P . G . M ., at the Agricultural Hall , Bridgnorth , on Thursday , the 25 th ult . The Provincial Grand Lodge having been opened in due form , the P . G . M . and the D . P . G . M ., Bro . R . G . Venables , P . A . G . D . C , were saluted . Bros . W . H . Spaull , P . A . G . D . C , and Capt . G . Williams-Freeman , P . G . W . Egypt , were also saluted .

The minutes of the Provincial Grand Lodge , held at Whitchurch on 31 st

July , 1894 , were read and confirmed . The roll of lodges and the names of the Provincial Grand Officers were read , * the total number of members present was 65 , two lodges being unrepresented . The statement of accounts of the Provincial Grand Lodge—which had

been previously circulated—showed a balance in the bank of £ 53 15 s . The accounts were adopted , and Bro . J . H . Cooksey was unanimously re-elected Prov . G . Treasurer . The P . G . M . then appointed and invested his officers for the ensuing year as follows . *

Hro . W . L . Southwell , 262 , 1621 ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ W . Adams , 117 , 2311 ... ... Prov . J . G . W . » ? * £ £ e * : , ! ( re-a PP ° inted ) - I Prov . G . Chaplains . „ Rev . H . K . Southwell , 1621 ... ... ) v „ J . H . Cooksey , 1621 ( re-elected ) ... Prov . G . Treas . .. I . E . Woolstein , 1120 ... ... Prov . G . Reg .

„ W . H . Spaull , 1124 ( re-appointed ) ... Prov . G . Sec . „ S . H . Valentine , 611 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ T . Free , 1575 ••••¦••••Prov . J . G . D . „ S . C . Southam , 2 f ) 2 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of \ V . „ W . Baxter , 117 , 2311 ... ... Prov . G . D . C „ A . J oyce , 2311 ... ... ¦••Prov . A . G . D . C „ W . H . Packer , 1120 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . " J ; , ^ ., V - " •' } Prov . G . Std . Bra . „ VV . Caldwell , 601 ... ... ... S .. \ V . C Reynolds , 1124 ( re-appointed ) ... Prov . G . Org .

„ W . Martin , 143 2 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ A . C . Minshall , 2131 ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ A . Graham , 262 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . „ H . F . Newman , 117 ... ... •- •1 „ A . Lacey , Cm ... ... ¦¦¦ 1 „ T . Owen , 1432 ... ... *** I Prov . G . Stewards . „ J . Ashmore , 1 S 9 O ... ... ... „ A . Minshall , 2131 ... ... ... 1 „ B . Jones , 2311 ... ... ¦¦ ¦ ] ,, H . Goodall , 1621 ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . The DEI'U PROV . GUANO MASTKR reported the continued success of

the Provincial Calendar ; of 300 copies printed for 1895 , only seven remained undisposed of ; the profit made was £ 1 19 s . ( id ., leaving a balance in hand of . £ 4 4 s . fid . On the proposition of the PROV . GRAND MASTKR , a hearty vote of thanks was given to the Committee for their labours .

The Disi'i'TV PROV . GRAND MASTER also rsported upon the work of the lodges in the province , from which it appeared that the number of subscribing members was 34 S ; there had been , in 1894 , 17 initiations and five joining members . . .... The ninth annual report of the Shropshire Masonic Charitable

Association was read showing that , in 189 . 1 , two ladies and six brethren had acted as Stewards tothe three London Institutions , the amount obtained being / A * 1 ns . making a total in the nine years Shropshire had been a separate province , of £ 2998 5 s . yd . remitted to these lnsiitutions . For the Provincial Fund a further sum of £ 52 i . Ss . had also been collected in 18 94 . The PROV . GRA . VD M ASTER intimated that in every future application for a dispensation lo wear M isonic clothing al a ball , or elsewhere , he should

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Shropshire.

require a guarantee of 10 guineas , such sum to be devoted to purposes o { Masonic Charity . Bro . W . H . Si'Aur . r , was unanimously nominated for election on ( he Bo . ird of Management of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . The Provincial Grand Lodge having been closed , thebrethren adjourned to a luncheon at the Crown and Raven Holel .

The usual Masonic toasts were duly honoured , the PROV . GRAND MASTER , in response to that of his health , expressing the pleasure it always gave him to . preside at a meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge ; he was much gratified at seeing so many brethren present , he considered it a good attendance having regard to the difficulties of railway communication between the several towns in the province .

Consecration Of The Stoke Newington Lodge, No. 2552.

CONSECRATION OF THE STOKE NEWINGTON LODGE , No . 2552 .

On Monday , the 22 nd ult ., a new lodge with the above title was consecrated at the Assembly Rooms , Defoe-road , Stoke Newington . The founders numbered 17 , and are Bro , * . Lieut .-Col . C . H . Nevill . P . M . ; W . H . Hargrave , Frank Chapman , Chas . Coram , William S . Wright , H . E . Moore , L . D . S ., C . J . Pond Jones , J . Sheffield , Vic or J . Wright , C . Varley , S . Armfield , R . S . Gushing ^ J . G . Manton , R . M . Jones , F . Tyler , Wm ,

Hicklin , and G . Webb . Among the visitors were Bros . Alex . Corrie , 2119 , D . G . T . of Queensland ; H . Sadler , P . M . 2148 ; F . Varley , P . M . i 26 r >; J . P . ParkeTs , P . M , 1538 ; T . Easterbrook , W . M . 1216 ; Albert Mathams , W . M . 548 ; W , T . Imbrey , 2372 ; A . Smith , 857 ; Arthur A . Kelly , 1228 ; C . F . Cox , 2045 ; F . C . Roper Barker , 1641 , * H . Hetley , 30 ; H . Wand , 23741 E . W . Rollings , 1695 ; A . O Grosvenor , 2045 ; and H . A . Wright , 30 .

The lodge was formally opened by Bro . E . Lelchworth , P . G . D ., G . Sec , who was assisted by Bros . F . Ernest Pocock , M . D ., D . G . D . C , as S . W . ; C . F . Matier , P . G . Std . Br ., as J . W . ; the Rev . R . J . Simpson , P . G C , as Chaplain ; Frank Richardson , P . G . D ., as D . C . ; and Major G . H . Newington Bridges , as I . G .

The Consecrating Officer opened the lodge in the Second and Third Degrees , and , by virtue of his power , resumed to the Second Degree , and the opening hymn " Hail , Eternal I " was then sung by ihe brethren . The Consecrating Officer addressed those present in most appropriate and felicitous terms on the nature of the meeting , and the P . G . Chap , offered prayer . The brethren of the lodge having been arranged and

presented to the Consecrating Officer , the D . C . read the warrant , and the petitioners having signified their approval of the officers named in the warrant , the P . G . Chap , delivered an oration on the subject of Freemasonry . The lodge being dedicated and duly constituted , the W . M . designate , Bro . Lieut .-Col . Chas . Henry Nevill , V . D ., P . M ., was presented to Bro . Letchworth , who in the most impressive manner installed him into the chair of K . S . as first Master of the Stoke Newington Lodge .

The W . M . having been duly proclaimed , appointed and invested his officers as follows : Bros . W . H . Hargrave , P . M ., S . W . j Frank Chapman , J . W . ; Chas . Coram , Treas . ; Willi im S . VVright , W . M . 30 , Sec . ; H . G . Moore , L . D . S ., S . D . ; C . J . Pond Jones , J . D . ; Jas . Sheffield , I . G . ; Victor J . Wright , D . C ; and Chas . Varley and S . Armfield , Stewards .

At the close of the installation ceremony a vote of thanks to the Consecrating Officers was passed , together with the honorary membership of the lodge . Four propositions were given in for initiation and three for joining members , after which the lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to the banqueting room , where an excellent repast was served .

After the repast , the W . M . gave the usual loyal and Masonic toasts in p leasant terms , and which were heartily responded to . Bro . FRANK RICHARDSON , P . G . D ., responded for " The Grand Officers . " Bro . Lieut .-Col . C H . NEVILLE , V . D ., W . M ., in proposing "The

Consecrating Officers , " with which he coupled the name of Bro . E . Letchworth , G . Sec , snid llvet every brother who witnessed the ceremonies that evening mutt have ; bien delighted with the manner in which they were performeel , and he felt sure that the brethren of the lodge would agree with him in saying that a warm tribute of praise was due to the Consecrating Ollicers for the splendid working of the ceremonies that day .

Bro . LETCHWORTH , in acknowledging the loast , said the brethren were to be congratulated ' on securing the warrant so expeditiously , ard he felt that one and all of the founders had the interest of the lodge at heart , and that it might be a great success was the earnest wish of ihe Consecrating Officers . He then proposed " The Health of the W . M . " Bro . Lieut .-Colonel NEVILL , W . M ., in responding , said he had the interest and welfare of the lodge thoroughly at heart , and having contented to bc its first W . M . he should try his best to make it a thoroug h

success . Bro . ALEX . COKRIK , D . G . T . of Queensland , responded for " The Visitors , " and expressed the great pleasure it gave him to be present at the consecration .

The WoRsiiiiTiiL MASTER , in proposing the toastof "The Officers / said that the foundation of the lodge was due to Bro . Chapman , J . W ., ^ had worked ir . defatigably towards its establishment , and who had i ' prosperity thoroughly at heart . Bro . CIIAI'M AN suitably responded .

The Tyler ' s loast ended a most enjoyable evening an I a sirc : cs £ fu ' meeting . The pleasures of the evening , both at the consecration and at tt , e b . inqueting table , were greatly enhanced by the mus c ; . l arrange *""' *''' under the : direction of Bro . Kelly , ably assisted by Miss Clements , H * Coram , and several orher brethren , whose musical renderings were niuc' ' appreciated .