Consecration Of The Egerton Lodge, No. 2216, At Swinton, Near Manchester.

The imposing consecration ceremony was then proceeded with and the lodge dedicated , the ceremony concluding with solemn prayer and the chanting of " Glory be to God on high . " Subsequently , on the retirement of all brethren below the rank of Installed Masters , Bro . J . Chadderton ( who is already a P . M . of the Bridgewater Lodge at Eccles ) was inducted into the chair of K . S . by Bro . Goodacre with due rite and ceremony .

On the re-admission of all M . M . s ' , Bro . Chadderton was proclaimed W . M . of the Egerton Lodge , No . 2216 , and duly saluted in the customary manner . The following brethren were invested officers for the ensuing year by the W . M ., and addressed by the Installing Master ( Bro Goodacre ) : Bros . W . Ramsden , S . W . ; A . P . Graves , J . W . ; R . Wardle , Sec ; S . J . Hampson , S . D . ; R . J . Hampson , J . D . ; J . E . Edwards , I . G . Bro . J . M . Graves was elected Treasurer , and Bro . Hyde , Ty ler .

Bro . GOODACRE finally addressed the W . M . and Wardens , andconcluded the installation ceremony with prayer . At the usual time for such business , seven gentlemen were proposed as candidates for initiation , and duly seconded . After "Hearty good wishes" had been expressed _ from Grand and Provincial Grand Lodges , the lodge was closed .

Most of the brethren afterwards assembled at the Bull Hotel , where a banquet had been prepared for them by Mr . and Mrs . Knight , and which gave entire satisfaction . It seemed thoroughly apparent that the host and hostess had exhausted their resources , to give the brethren a good dinner and make everyone feel happy and comfortable , and they were completely successful . After dinner the usual toasts were proposed and responded to .

ero . WILLIAMS , P . M ., 1814 , P . P . G . Swd . Br ., proposed " Ihe Health of the W . M . " in felicitous terms , wishing him every success in his new undertaking , and that the iodge would flourish and prosper . The toast was heartily drank , and The WORSHIPFUL MASTER in reply , said he was very pleased to see so many brethren supporting him on such an auspicious occasion as the

consecration of a new lodge . The sole object he , in conjunction with the rest of the promoters , had in founding a lodge in Svvinton was for the convenience of several gentlemen who wished to join the Craft , and who resided in , or near , the locality where the lodge would be held . Bro . Chadderton , continuing , said he was very pleased to hear from some of the members of a neighbouring lodge that he could count on their assistance , if required ,

during his year of office . He thought such an assurance of help exhibited a true Masonic spirit , and he felt ' grateful for their proffered assistance . With such help and hearty co-operation he had no fears for the future prosperity of the lodge , and trusted at the end of 12 months to see thelodge free from debt , and in a position to give something to the Masonic Charities .

Bro . VV . H . DUTTON , P . P . G . D . C . Cheshire , proposed "The Health of the Installing Master , Bro . William Goodacre , " who , he said , did everything well he undertook , and whose work it was at all times a pleasure to witness . The toast was heartily drank by all present .

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER proposed " Prosperity to the Victoria Lodge , No . 1345 , Eccles , " several of whose members he was glad to see around the table . Bros . CORNER , MATHER , OLLERENSHAW , ROWLANDS , and EDWARDS responded .

Other toasts , including "The Newly-invested Officers , "The Visiting Brethren , " and "The Masonic Charities , " were proposed and responded to , and an exceedingly pleasant evening was spent . The lodge was furnished by Bro . George Kenning , London .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Hants And The Isle Of Wight.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF HANTS AND THE ISLE OF WIGHT .

On Monday , the 24 th ult-, a special meeting of the above province was held at the Victoria Rooms , Portland-place , Southampton , under the presidency of the R . W . Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Prov . G . M ., when there vvere also present—Bros . J . E . Le Feuvre , J . P ., P . G . D . of Eng ., D . P . G . M . ; T . Williams , P . S . G . W . ; G . F . W . Mortimer , P . J . G . W . ; Revs . E . Nepean and J . C . Wilton , Prov . G . Chaps . ;

R . J . Rastrick , Prov . G . Treas . ; E . Goble , P . G . Swd . Br . Eng ., Prov . G . Sec . ; W . Berry , P . A . G . D . C . ; Rev . G . N . Palmer , 6 9 S , P . G . C . of Eng ., P . P . G . C ; G . Wyatt , 151 ; H . Cawte , 342 , and H . Lashmore , P . P . S . G . Wardens ; A . Edington , P . D . S . G . W . Bombay ; T . W . Faulkner , P . P . J . G . W . ; G . M . Watts , 151 ; C . S . Ward , 6 94 ; and A . G . Barker , 6 94 , P . P . G . Chaplains ; T . J . Payne , 150 ; W . B . Rogers , 195 ; J- Dew , 6 94 ; G . F . Lancaster , 1990 ; and A . R . Holbrook , P . P . G . Registrars ; R . Broughton-Smith and T . Chapman , 551 , P . P . S . G . Deacons ; A . Barfield , 35 ; G .

Pack , 175 ; W . Furber , 394 ; G . Lear and A . Portsmouth , of 694 ; C . W . A . Jellicoe , 785 ; R . R . L . Rosoman , 1461 , and H . W . Townsend , 1903 , P . P . J . G . Deacons ; T . Giles , 35 ; T . Stopher , 76 ; G . J . Tilling , 394 ; and W . B . Edgeler , 928 , P . P . G . S . of W . 's ; J . Adames , 359 ; H . Coles , 359 ; S . Dore , 319 ; S . Scott , 394 ; J . Gieve , J . P ., 106 9 ; J . S . Pearce , 1780 ; and H . P . Arthur , 35 , P . P . G . D . of Cs ; J . Robertson , 130 ; W . Bowyer , 394 ; and T . R . Lavinton , 1373 P . P . A . G . D . of Cs ; G . Douglas ,

, I 35 t , P . P . G . Swd . Br . ; G . Orley , 1341 , P . D . G . Swd . Br . Hong Kong and South China ; MV . Farrance , 132 , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; J . Hall , 903 ; J . Jackson , 1428 ; and W . Dart , 2074 , P . P . G . Pursuivants ; A . J . Firth and H . Pigeon , jun ., 1 S 69 , P . P . G . Organists ; G . L . Stobbs , 175 ; W . H . Jacob , 76 ; J . Harvey , 195 ; W . G . P . Gilbert , 257 ; ] . C . Burbage , 319 ; J . T . Dos * ell , 76 ; F . Sanders , 342 ; R . J . Turney , 342 ; C . Cox

394 ; J . Patstone , 359 ; A . Scott , 551 ; H . J . Thatcher , 694 ; T . Francis , 804 ; E . gayler , 928 ; E . Pratt , 1428 ; D . O . Hobbs , 1461 ; and F . Cooper , 1884 , P . P . G . Stewards ; J . Exell , 487 , and R , Eames , 309 , Prov . G . Tylers ; H . H . Wheeler , P . M . ; F . Rutland , S . W . ; j . Leftwich , J . W . ; T . Taylor , l . G . ; and H . C . Damant , of 35 ; J . Marks , P . M ., and E . Sharland , S . D ., of 76 ; R . W . Lees , W . M . ; S . Myer , P -M . ; T . Dartnell , P . M . ; D . W . B . Taylor , J . D . ; H . Abraham , Stwd . ; G . S . C pxwell , H . W . Stratton , E . Whittam , E . Rae , and VV . Vare , Tyler , of 130 ; H . Van Marie

, W . M . ; A . W . Ward , P . M . ; G . H . Rolls , J . D . ; J . Webber , S . W . ; H . Rose , and G . Etheridge , of 132 ; G . R . King , W . M . ; j . Golden , P . M . ; J . G . Garnham , P -M . ; and A . Millidge , S . D ., of 151 ; J . Shemmonds , W . M . ; H . Durrant , P . M . ; D - W . Preston , P . M . ; C . T . Mills , I . P . M . ; W . F . Drayett , and H . W . Woods , of J 95 ; G . Carter , Tyler 257 ; J . W . Gieve , P . M ., and M . H . Blanchard , jun ., of 309 ; n - Mee , W . M . ; and G . J . Gould , I . P . M ., of 319 ; P . H . Emanuel , 2068 ; W . Beuttell , W . M . ; Dr . C . Knott , P . M . ; and VV . Glazebrook , I . G ., of 342 : and others .

The lodge having been opened , and during a processional march on the or gan , a procession of Past and Present Provincial Officers entered the Ijjdge , and was received with Masonic honours , when the P . G . Sec , Bro . £ Goble , called the roll of the lodges in the province , after which the Prov . «• Chaplain offered up a prayer . fhe PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER explained the object of the meeting , and said that during the present year among all the classes who were ready

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Hants And The Isle Of Wight.

to show their loyalty by commemorating her Majesty ' s Jubilee none had been more read y to do so than the Freemasons of England —( cheers)—and specially did they prove this when they assembled together at the Albert Hall to greet their Grand Master and to profess their attachment to the person of his illustrious mother . Many of the brethren now before him were no doubt present at that great meeting in London , and saw the large

number of Freemasons who assembled together for the one purpose of proving their loyalty . It was a very happy occasion indeed ; and it showed that the Freemasons were amongst the foremost of her Majesty ' s subjects to come forward to give effect tothe loyalty which they professed . The Grand Master thought he would mark the occasion by offering rank to a certain number of brethren who , from various causes , had not before had it

conferred upon them ; and of the collars thus placed at his disposal a certain number were given to the Metropolis and a certain number to the provinces , according to their size and importance . These honours were conferred in order to mark the auspicious year through which we were passing , but as so very few collars could be distributed , it was also thought desirable . that power should be given to Provincial Grand Masters to confer the honour of

Past Grand rank upon a certain number of brethren in their respective provinces . It must happen in large provinces that many brethren would not attain that rank to which their Masonic services entitled them , and he was happy that an occasion was now presented to him of partially rectifying this . ( Hear . ) It was , of course , impossible that every Mason could obtain Provincial Rank , for if it were possible no great distinction would attach to

the honour , but it should be the aim and object of anyone charged with the government of a province to recognise as fairly as possible the Masonic ability of the brethren and the services rendered by them . ( Hear . ) It might at first appear that the number of collars to be given away was large , yet when they came to be distributed over a large province they were not sa many after all . The best way of dealing with the matter , as it occurred to

him , was to divide the province into districts of four lodges—there were 48 lodges at the time this arrangement was made—and then to select from one lodge out of the four a member to receive Provincial Rank . He did not know that any better system could have been devised , though , of course , every system was open to some objection . He need not say that the settlement of the . matter had caused a considerable amount of trouble ; he and those who had acted with him had given much attention to it , and had tried

their utmost to confer the rank as fairly as they possibly could do , and he hoped those brethren who did not receive it would consider that at all events he and others had endeavoured fairly to carry out the duty entrusted to them . He had come to the task with that belief , and he hoped that the selections made would meet with their calm and approving judgment . ( Applause . ) The P . G . M . then conferred the Jubilee Provincial Honours as follows , the brethren being warmly applauded as they ascended the dais to be invested with their respective collars ;—

Bro . W . Stopher , P . M . 76 ... ... ... P . P . S . G . W . „ T Francis , P . M . 804 ... ... ... P . P . J . G . W . „ Sidney Myer , P . M . 130 ... ... ... P . P . S . G . D . „ j . Golden , P . M . 151 ... ... ... P . P . J . G . D . „ A . Scott , P . M . 551 ... ... ... P . P . J . G . D . „ A . Algar , P . M . 1780 ... ... ... P . P . G . D . C .

„ J . W . Lodwidge , P . M . 6 94 ... ... P . P . G . D . C . „ W . L . Coulson , P . M . 723 ... ... P . P . G . S . of W , „ Dr . C . Knott , P . M . 342 ... ... ... P . P . G . Reg . „ C . G . Adames , P . M . 1776 ... ... P . P . J . G . D . „ C . T . Miles , P . M . 195 ... ... ... P . P . G . S . of W , „ W . F . Burrell , P . M . 1705 ... ... P . P . G . Reg .

The Prov . Grand Secretary , Bro . E . GOBLE , said it was with regret he had to announce the death of their esteemed Bro . Major Hooper , a Past Prov . Grand Warden of the Province . Bro . Hooper , by his will , had bequeathed the sum of £ 200 to the Prov . Grand Master and his successors to be devoted to charitable purposes connected with the province .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER referred to the late brother as an old and energetic Mason and a valuable and esteemed brother , and he felt sure they all appreciated his kindness in leaving such a handsome sum to the province . The last occasion he saw him was at a lodge , when he thought it was hardly safe in his then condition of health to attend , but it was represented to him that so firm was his desire to be present that it would have

affected him more to remain away than did the fatigue of the effort to be present . From his own knowledge he could say that no one took a more warm or active interest in Masonry than Bro . Major Hooper did , and he was sorry he had passed away . His kindness of heart was proved by the fact that he had left a handsome bequest to Provincial Grand Lodge . ( Hear , hear . ) He proposed that the brethren express their sense of the loss they

had sustained , and accord a vote of condolence to his widow . ( Hear , hear . ) The DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER seconded the motion , and said the bequest to Provincial Grand Lodge was not the only one of the same character which Bro . Hooper has made , as he had alsojjeft ^ 200 tojthe Southampton Lodge . The motion was put to the Iodge and carried in silence .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER thanked the brethren for their large attend * ance that day , and congratulated them on the success which was attending Masonry in that province , and expressed a hope that many of those present would attend the festival to be presently held of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Masonic Benevolent and Educational Association . The Prov . Grand Lodge was then closed in due form .

Hants And Isle Of Wight Educational And Benevolent Institution.

HANTS AND ISLE OF WIGHT EDUCATIONAL AND BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

Thanks to the untiring energy of Bro . G . F . Lancaster ( the originator of the Institution ) and several other brethren , this noble Institution is now started on a good foundation . It is formed with the object of supplementing the work of the three great Masonic Charities . The officers of the

Institution are : Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Prov . G . M ., Chairman ; Bro . J . E . Le Feuvre , P . G . D ., D . P . G . M ., Vice-Patron ; Bro . C . W . A . Jellicoe , P . M ., P . P . G . D ., Treasurer ; Bro . Edgar Goble , P . G . S . B ., P . G . Sec , Honorary Solicitor ; and Bro . Richard Eve , G . Treas ., P . P . G . W ., President of the Board of Stewards . On Monday , the 24 th ult ., the first annual festival was held at the Southwestern Hotel , Southampton , after the Provincial Grand Lodge meeting ,