Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Berks And Oxon.

Grand Master , the beautiful teachings of Mark Masonry would always exercise an influence for good . He had felt much pleasure in attending on this occasion , and his pleasure had been much enhanced by meeting Bro . Farr , who in a distant part of the world advanced him to this degree . He congratulated the province on having for their Secretary such an energetic Mason as Bro . Pulley , and also in having Bro . Farr as their Senior Grand Warden . ( Cheers . ) In conclusion he proposed " The Health of the Provincial Grand Master . " ( Cheers . )

The DEPUTY P ROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER suitably responded , and prop . osed " The Health of the Provincial Grand Officers , " coupling with the toast the name of the Provincial Grand Treasurer , whom he thanked most heartily for the very hospitable manner in which he had entertained the brethren . ( Cheers . )

Bro . T RENDELL feelingly replied , expressing the pleasure he had derived from their visit , and his hope that they might be spared to meet at The Abbey on some future occasion . ( Cheers . ) Bro . BROADLEY proposed " The Health of the W . M . and Brethren of the Abbey Lodge , " for whom Bro . J . T . MORLAND returned thanks .

Bro . F ' gave " Success to the Mark Benevolent Fund , " and Bro . BINCKES responded in eloquent terms , and mentioned that the Provincial Grand Master ( Lord Jersey ) hoped to be able to preside at the festival to be held in aid of the Mark Benevolent Fund next year . ( Cheers . ) He was much delighted with the progress made in this province , and characterised this as a magnificent meeting .

" The Health of the Visitors , " coupled with Bro . Chandler ' s name , was then dwirtk , and the company rose soon afterwards . Several of the brethren contributed greatly lo the pleasure of the party by their excellent vocal performances .

Consecration Of The Cholmondeley Lodge, No. 1908.

CONSECRATION OF THE CHOLMONDELEY LODGE , No . 1908 .

The addition of a new lodge to the popular Province of Cheshire , which is so well governed by Bro . the Right Hon . Lord dc Tabley , P . G . M ., was an event which was celebrated with more than ordinary enthusiasm and eclat on Saturday last . The scene of the ceremony was the Commercial Hotel , Frodsham , charmingly situated in the neighbourhood of the Overton Hills , which have frequently been the shrine of p icnics by members of the Fraternity . The title of the new Masonic combination is the Cholmondeley

Lodge , No . 1908 on the register of the United Grand Lodge of England ; and the chief celebrant in the important ceremonial of the pleasant and profitable afternoon was Bro . the Hon . Wilbraham Egerton , M . P ., R . W . D . P . G . M . of Cheshire , who was specially appointed by Bro . Lord de Tabley to act P . G . M . on the occasion . The new lodge has been started under the most favourable auspices , and the large and imposing gathering on Saturday last—which was the most influential and thoroughly representative which has been seen for a long time—gave vitality and interest to its inauguration .

Bro . the Hon . Wilbraham Egerton , R . W . D . P . G . M ., acting P . G . M ., was in attendance at the fixed hour , and he was supported by a very iarge array of Provincial Grand Officers . The consecration took place in the well-appointed lodge room at the Commercial Hotel ( handsomely furnished by Bro . Kenning ); and amongst those present , according to the Tyler's book , were Bros . W . D . Finney , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C . Lancashire ; E .

Smith , P . P . D . C . North Wales and Shropshire ; Rev . W . Spencer Stanhope , Grand Chaplain ; H . Holbrook , P . P . G . S . of W . Cheshire , P . D . G . M . British Columbia ; J . H . Hollaway , P . G . Tyler ; Rev . R . Hodgson , P . G . Chaplain ; H . Finch , P . G . D . C . ; A . S . Collins , S . W . 1375 ; H . Collins , P . P . G . D . ; H . Jackson , P . M ., P . G . P . ; Horatio Lloyd , P . P . G . W . Cheshire , Past G . D . Eng . ; John Bowes , P . M .,

P . P . G . J . W . ; T . M . Lockwood , P . M . 425 , P . P . G . S . of W . ; J . K . Digges , P . G . A . D . of C , P . M . 6 73 and 75 S ; G . Moss , S . W . 75 S , P . G . S . ; F . Dickson , P . M ., P . P . G . J . W . ; E . Wood , P . M ., P . P . G . S . W ., 1124 ; F . K . Stevenson , P . P . G . S . B ., 537 ; Stanhope Bull , P . G . S . of W . ; James White , l . P . M . 13 S 4 ; J . B . Mackenzie , l . P . M . 1 C 09 ; J . Hockin , P . M

673 and 1505 ; W . T . May , P . M . 673 and 1393 ; John Yapp , 594 ; T . T . Radford , 721 ; J . D . Wainwright , 11 S 2 ; T . Wilkinson , P . M . 1126 ; Robt . Statter , 32 ; W . Booth , S . W . 104 ; G . Balfe , 104 ; H . F . Lloyd , W . M . 721 ; G . F . Heywood , 1357 ; F . Field , 1576 ; G . F . Adams , 721 ; D . Baynes , 425 ; M . Jones , 721 ; T . Brown , S 23 ; J . Binson , 721 ; S . W . Ramsden , S . D . 425 ; and J . C . Robinson , P . M . 249 ( Freemason ) .

The assembly took place in the lodge room about two o'clock , and shortly after that hour an especial P . G . Lodge was opened by Bro . the Hon . Wilbraham Egerton , D . P . G . M ., assisted by the chief P . G . Officers present . During the ceremony , which was of a , i impressive nature and most admirably performed , an oration was delivered by the Rev . R . HODGSON , P . G . Chaplain . He said : Right Worshipful Acting Prov . Grand

Master—It is generally usual on these occasions to give a detailed account of the rise and spread of Masonry . I think I need not take up our time with recounting a history so well known to all the brethren . Suffice it to say that our origin is lost in antiquity , not that we owe very much to that nationality , many ol whose members are at the present suffering so cruelly in a neighbouring country . Many of the Mosaic customs , much of the ritual of the

lemple , is still practised in all our lodges . The consecration of a new lodge is no unimportant matter . What does it mean ? That a number of old , and we presume zealous Masons , are anxious to spread their tenets and enrol new members to ' olio v in their place in our ancient Brotherhood . It means that they are so convinced of the benefits of the Craft , that they heartily desire to communicate its blessings and advantages toothers . It means that they

have the well-being of their fellow creatures so at heart as to be willing to undergo great expense and much mental and bodil y labour in order to impart to them the moral , religious , and temporal benefits that Masonry so undoubtedly confers . 1 trust and pray that this Cholmondeley Lodge may prove a great success , and that it may nobly fulfil all the purposes for which it is to be consecrated to T . G . A . O . T . U . to-day . Here are to be inculcated

the purest principles of piety and virtue ; here the knowledge of the mystic art is to be extended ; here all social virtues are to becultivated ; here universal beneficence and charity are to be shown forth . From this lodge all envious , uncharitable , unforgiving tempers and feelings are to be banished ; here no controversy , political or religious , must ever be engaged in ; and I ----,,. I - " & , ~ , w ,-. ^ .. j ^ ^ . ^ . . . . , . »¦¦«

"ere , above all , are lobe exhibited in their fulness , brotherly love , relief , and truth . I trust , then , these great principles of our Order will never be lost bight of . May all the brethren seek the graccof T . G . A . O . T . U . to carry L ,. ° . ut- ^ our conduct to Him let us be reverent , obedient ; in one word , filial j in our behaviour on to another let us ever be courteous and loving ,

Consecration Of The Cholmondeley Lodge, No. 1908.

knowing no difference of rank or wealth ; let us hide each other's faults and bear with each other's infirmities , and be brethren in heart and reality as well as in name . And then what shall I say as to relief ? It is a difficult , almost a dangerous subject to touch . Truth compels me to say that many lodges , otherwise sound and good , fail in this important matter . Would that brethren would remember that whilst s-ood fellowship and the

eniovment of those things which our Great Architect has given us so lavishly are things highly to be prized , yet , after all , if Masonry means anything , if there is any reality in its glorious ritual , the one thing needful in Masonry , the one thing far above all others , is charity , or relief . May this new lodge now about to be consecrated be conspicuous for this . A little while ago I read of a lodge in which £ 155 were spent in eating and drinking and £ 4 . 4 s . on Surel

charity . y this ought not so to be . Let it ever be remembered that lodges , as well as individual members of lodges , ought to support all our noble Charities . One of our local institutions—a most useful one indeedthe Cheshire Institution for the Education of the Children of Distressed Masons , has just issued its annual report , in which the Secretary has to state : " Heretofore they have always had a surplus of receipts over

expenditure , but this year the contrary is the case . " I trust this , as well as the great London Charities , and a local Fund of Benevolence , will be at ohce started and generously supported by the brethren of the Cholmondeley Lodge . Lastly , may we all of us show ourselves , such true men and good that the charges brought against our Craft by a certain archbishop of late , as being fosterers of revolution , nihilism , and all that is bad . mm he . nLiinlv rpfnrprl

by our peaceable , law-abiding , loving conduct and behaviour . In every relation of life , not only amongst our own brethren , though specially amongst them , but in the world at large , may Masons set such a noble example of every moral and social virtue that those words of Bro . Scolt may be found increasinrrlv true when he said . " Masonrv does not h .-ivr > tn HpnpnH

on its great men of the past , nor with its connection with religious reformations lo justify its existence . Neither does it rely upon its great antiquity for its future success . It possesses the inherent princi ple that will command respect . It needs no apologist . Its acts of kindness and deeds of benevolence have spoken to the ages and to all the nations of the earth . "

The musical portion of the consecration was performed by a choir under the direction of Bro . H . Collier , P . G . O ., who presided at the harmonium .

At the close of this part of the afternoon ' s proceedings , the ceremony of installation of W . M . and officers of the new lodge was conducted b y Bro . Councillor Birch , of Manchester , whose working was remarkably effective . Bro . Joseph Kertland Digges , P . G . A . D . C , was installed the first W . M . of the Cholmondeley Lodge , No . 100 S ; and he subseauentlv invested the

following as his officers : Bros . J . Salmon , I . P . M ., and Master of Ccrs . ; George H . Danby , S . W . and Secretary ; John J . Yapp , J . W ., and Treasurer ; Henry E . Heywood , S . D . ; Matthew Rodgers , jun ., J . D . ( by proxy ); John R . Lamb , I . G . ; and D . Baynes was unanimously elected Tyler .

Votes of thanks were passed , and ordered to be recorded , to Bro . the Hon . Wilbraham Egerton for his services as the acting P . G . M . that afternfion , and also Bro . Councillor Birch , for the admirable manner in which he had performed the installation ceremony . " Hearty good wishes " were given to the W . M . from the representatives of about twenty lodges in East and West Lancashire and Cheshire ;

and after several initiation propositions had been made , the business portion of the proceedings were brought to a close . The majority of the brethren subsequently banqueted at the Town-hall , under the presidency of the W . M . Bro . J . K . Digges , who was supported by the P . G . lodge officers already named . The banquet was provided by Bro . Baker , of Chester . After the toast of " The Queen , " given by the

W . M ., Bro . Horatio Lloyd proposed the toast of "The M . W . G . M and the Princess of Wales and the rest of the Royal Family . " In doing so , Bro . Lloyd said they had never possessed a Grand Master who had so endeared himself to the brethren as the Prince of Wales ; but in connection with his approaching visit to Liverpool , he ( Bro . Lloyd ) trusted that no Masonic demonstration such as that which had been suggested by one or two

correspondents in the newspapers would be carried out , as the Prince ' s time was so limited . Besides , he ( Bro . Lloyd ) thought the less they made a parade of Masonry the better for the Order . ( Hear , hear . ) Bro . J . Salmon proposed " The Pro . G . M . the Earl of Carnarvon , the D . G . M . the Earl of Lathom , and the Officers of Grand Lodge , Past and Present , " which was acknowledged by Bro . H . Lloyd , Past G . D . The S . W ., Bro . Danby gave "The Health of Bro . Lord de Tabley , P . G . M ., " which was cordially

received ; and Bro . W . T . May , P . M . 673 , in proposing "The Health of Bro . the Hon . Wilbraham Egerton , M . P ., D . P . G . M ., " also spoke of the undesirability of any Masonic demonstration in connection with the Royal visit to Liverpool . The D . P . G . M ., in acknowledging the toast , said he was glad to find so many P . G . Officers present that afternoon , and hoped the new lodge would enjoy a prosperous existence . " The Worshipful Master , " proposed by the D . P . G . M ., and other toasts followed , and the brethren separated at an early hour .

Masonic History And Historians.

MASONIC HISTORY AND HISTORIANS .

BY MASONIC STUDENT . One of the most interesting questions connected with the history of the Operative " Guilds , " as far as Masonic archaeology is concerned , is the point where Speculative and Operative Masonry , so to say , intersect . You can if you like cut the Gordian knot by saying , as some like to do , that 1717 FYeemasonry is but an adaptation of earlier operative terminology and

legends , and there really is no other connection between the Freemasons of 1717 and the Operative Guilds . But weak and untenable as is that theory per se on every ground of historical evidence , it is rendered still more weak and still more untenable by recent discoveries at Warrington , thanks to the researches of a rising young Masonic student , by which it is clear that the greater part of those who received Elias Ashmole were not Operative Masons of the Craft of Masonry , as has been generally held , but , like ourselves ,

" Speculative and Free and Accepted Masons , " to use familiar words . If so—and there seems to be no doubt of the fact—we have Speculative Masonry in England in 16 4 6 , again in 1682 , and the statements of Anderson , which some have deemed unhistorical , that the movement of 1717 was a " revival , " not an " initial step , " receive full countenance and support . Hence it becomes a most important " factor" in the history of Freemasonry—What is the connection of the Guilds with Freemasonry , and vice versa ? Do they form two independent bodies , or only one ?