Ancient And Accepted Rite.

III . Bro . Charles James Banister , 33 ; III . Bro . Fredk . A . Philbrick , Q . C ., 32 ; 111 . Bro . Rev . C . W . Spencer Stanhope , 32 ; E . and P . Bro . E . Cuzner , E . and P . Bro . George Herald Browne , and others . The vice-chair was filled by III . Bro . William Clarke Deeley , 30 . The loyal toast of "Her Most Gracious Majesty the Oueen " was ably proposed by the M . W . S ., and duly

honoured by the brethren , the National Anthem being rendered by Bro . Edward Cuzner , Organist , assisted by the brethren . " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , Duke of Chester , Grand Patron of the Order , " was duly proposed and honoured . The M . W . S . proposed , in suitable terms , "The Health of the Supreme Council , 33 ° , " which was responded to by 111 . Bro . Hugh D . Sandeman , 33 ° , in a most excellent and

truly Masonic speech , promising to visit them again before very long , for he was anxious to make the acquaintance of the brethren in the various districts , with whom he was often in correspondence , wishing every prosperity to the chapter . 111 . Bros . Royds , 33 ° , and Banister , 33 ° , were obliged to leave early to take trains for home . Other toasts were duly proposed and , responded to , and a truly happy evening was spent .

Cryptic Masonry.

Cryptic Masonry .

GRAND MASTER'S COUNCIL ( No . 1 ) . — This old and influential council met at Red Lion-square , Holborn , on the 28 th ult . Among those present were Bros . G . Graveley , T . I . M . ; T . Poore , as P . D . M . ; Loveland , D . M . ; T . C . Walls , R . P . P . D . G . M ., Recorder ; H . J . Lardner , C . of Gds . ; R . B . Bryant , Marshal ; H . H . Shirley , M . A ., Warder ; Roy , Inner Sentinel ; Major

G . Lambert , R . P . P . D . G . M . ; Baron de Ferrieres , R . P . P . G . I . M . ; C . F . Matier , G . Recorder ( Hon . Member ); T . Clark , Gregory , Tomson , D . P . Cama , J . K . Cama , and others . The minutes of the previous council having been read and confirmed , the ballot was taken on behalf of Bro . W . Hale-Hilton , R . A . and M . M . M ., and it proving to be unanimous , he was duly admitted , received , and greeted

as a M . E . M ., R . M ., S . M ., and S . E . M . Bro . H . J . Lardner , in the absence of Bro . Major Dunbar , acted as P . C . of Wks ., and most impressively performed the work . Letters pleading inability to attend were received from Bros . Major Dunbar , Captain Anderson , G . Powell , McDowall , George Kenning , and many others . The council was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to the Holborn Restaurant to dine . A few toasts were given , and a most enjoyable evening was spent .

Scotland.

Scotland .

SILVER WEDDING CELEBRATION . On the occasion of the 25 th anniversary of their marriage , Bro . and Mrs . Vernon , of Bowmont House , Kelso , invited the brethren of Kelso Lodge , No . 58 , and a number of friends , to tea in the Roxburghe Hall on the 24 th ult . Bro . Vernon being deservedly held in high esteem by the members of the lodge on account of the valuable services

he has rendered to Masonry in Kelso , a large number of the brethren responded to the invitation , and altogether a goodly company assembled to do honour to their worthy host and hostess . After tea , the brethren embraced the opportunity of presenting Bro . Vernon with a very handsome and massive French clock , of chaste design , in token of their regard for him . The case is of black marble , relieved with sections

of inlaid variegated marble and gold tracery . A silver plate , bearing the following inscription , is inserted in the base : " Presented by the brethren of Lodge Kelso , No . 5 S , to Bro . W . Fred Vernon , P . M ., in commemoration of his silver wedding , and as a token of their appreciation of his services to Freemasonry . Kelso , 24 th September , 1888 . " Bro . Archibald Steel , one of the Past Masters of the

lodge , in making the presentation , said—The duty which has been entrusted to me is an interesting one , and the occasion is no less so . A quarter of a century forms a large portion of most lives , but twenty-five years of married life—of domestic happiness , of joys and sorrows , mutually shared and borne—represents a period which adds to the sunny days of youth , carries man and wife to arespectable

age . Some time ago it was mooted that Bro . Vernon and his much esteemed partner in life would at this time celebrate their silver wedding , and it was deemed , by the brethren of this ancient lodge of Freemasons , a peculiarly suitable opportunity of affording the worthy couple an evidence of the esteem and regard in which they are held , and of publicly recognising the many obligations we are

under to Bro . Vernon . He has for many years been known throughout the country as an enthusiastic Mason , and one who has the happy knack of rendering his enthusiasm contagious . Apart from the general Masonic work , he has , with the utmost acceptance , and in a manner which lias elicited the strongest admiration , filled various offices •of the highest honour and responsibility in the lodge ; while

tfor many years the fruits of his graceful muse have added Infinitely to the harmony of our festive and social gatherings . I may safely say that it is not every lodge which has its own bard , and the few that are so happily situated as to possess one cannot boast of a more versatile genius than our own "Poet Laureate . " Nor has his facile pen been confined to rhyme . Bro . Vernon has

honoured our lodge by becoming its historian ; and by writing a valuable history of Masonry in Kelso , he has done much to excite a keen interest in the mystic Craft and to bind its members more firmly in the endearing ties of brotherhood . Few men possess a kinder heart , a more obliging nature , or warmer human sympathies than does Bro . Vernon . First in every

Charitable movement , he works with zeal and energy for the publicgood , and for Masonry apart . He is a model citizen-, an accomplished man of letters , and , in short , an honour to any community . Upon his social qualities it would ill become me to dilate in the presence of many who

know him so well . Suffice it for me to say that he is the soul of any social company he enters . Mrs . Vernon , like every model wife , has been less known to the outer world than her husband , but her genuine qualities of head and heart are well known to those who are privileged to enjoy her friendship . She has always been ready to further the

Scotland.

objects Bro . Vernon has had at heart , and the interest and active part she has taken in many of our social gatherings entitles her to our grateful thanks . The Vicar of Wakefield said "he was " even of opinion that the | honest man who married and brought up a large family did more than he who continued single and only talked of population . " Bro . and Mrs . Vernon are a couple

according to Goldsmith ' s own heart . They have given not a few "hostages to fortune , " and now have the satisfaction of seeing their numerous family growing up around them to reward them with filial tenderness and devotion for the many past years of care , trial , and solicitude , tempered by parental hope and affection . One of the daughters , as you are aware , was lately married and

settled in life ; and , if it ba the will of the " All-seeing Eye , " some of those now present may yet witness a jubilee —a golden wedding and another silver wedding at the same time 25 years hence . Perhaps I am anticipating , but the ivish is father to the thought . Bro . and Mrs . Vernon have our warmest wishes on this auspicious occasion , and let us hope that as they grow older they may have in age

what they have enjoyed in youthful years , " honour , love , obedience , troops of friends . " Bro . and Mrs . Vernon , in the name of the brethren of the lodge , I have the honour and pleasure of presenting you with this timepiece , and , while asking your acceptance of the gift , I would express a fervent hope that you both might be spared to enjoy many years of health and happiness .

Bro . VERNON , in returning thanks for the gift , said : After the very flattering remarks made by Bro . Steel , I feel perfectly overwhelmed and quite ashamed to stand up and acknowledge myself as the happy individual whom he has so eulogised , and I feel that language is inadequate to express my sentiments at the present moment . I am certainly much obliged to Bro . Steel for his good intentions , but 1 am afraid that he has laid on the butter so thick that I shall be

bilious for a week or two to come . T he very handsome present I see before me is really one of which 1 was not deserving . I certainly did not anticipate such a gift , and when the affair was mooted to me I disclaimed my title to it , but matters had already gone so far that they were left to take their course . On my own part , and also on behalf of Mrs . Vernon , I thank you all heartily for your generous

gift . The little I have done for Masonry has been done " con amore , " and 1 have always had a good backer in my better half . When one come to think of a period of 25 years there is alwaysa feeling of sadness in the retrospect . Looking back is perhaps more sad than looking forward , and therefore I will not dwell on the past . We have lived and loved together through those 25 years , and I hope that our golden

wedding , if we should be spared to see it , may be as happy as our silver one . I trust to see you all here again in 1913 at the celebration of our golden wedding . I have only again to thank you for your handsome present , and I trust that , although I am wearing into the sere and yellow leaf , I may continue to merit and enjoy that which Bro . Steel said had hitherto followed me , and which should

always accompany old age , "love , honour , obedience , troops of friends . " It is a poor heart that never rejoices , and I am glad to see so many smiling faces around me tonight . Without detaining you further , I ask you to clear the floor and "trip it on the light fantastic toe . " Mrs . Vernon also in a word expressed her thanks for the gift , saying that she would always look upon its

bestowal as a mark of honour to her husband and herself . Bro . A . Steel led off the dance with Mrs . Vernon , Bro . Vernon taking up Mrs . Steel , fifty couples standing up for the opening . The remainder of the night was spent in dancing , which was kept up with great spirit until the small hours of the

morning . Excellent music was supplied by ladies and gentlemen of the party . Songs were also sung at intervals , and altogether the night passed off most pleasantly . Among the other numerous presents received by Bro and Mrs . Vernon on the occasion of their silver wedding is a splendid silver salver , the gift of the Kelso Amateur Dramatic Society .

Queensland.

Queensland .

CONSECRATION OF THE MOUNT MORGAN LODGE ( S . C . ) . The opening of the Mount Morgan Lodge ( S . C . ) , which took place at the Oddfellows' Hall , Mount Morgan , on the 4 th August , was an event that had been looked forward to with a great degree of interest by local members of the Craft . Interest was heightened in it by the fact that the lodge was to be consecrated by Bro . J . G . W . Barnes ,

R . W , Deputy District Grand Master , assisted by Bro . G . F . Skiller , W . M . 455 , and Bro . J . P . V . Larsen , W . M . 680 . In fact , fully forty travelled from town to be present . Shortly after six o ' clock in the evening , Bro . Barnes opened the District Grand Lodge in the Oddfellows' Hall , which had been suitably decorated for the occasion . There were sixty-four brethren present , including Bros . D . Kilpatrick , W . M . 6 77 ( S . C . ) , and G . Potts , sen ., W . M . 932

( E . C . ) . The Grand Lodge was then duly constituted according to ancient custom , and the consecration ceremony proceeded with . The reading of the petition and dispensation and installation of the W . M ., Bro . J . Spiers , followed successively . The Master then duly installed his officers , whose names

follow : Bros . T . Comes , D . M . ; Kilpatrick , S . M . ; C . Kolling , W . S . W . ; J . H . Gowdie , W . J . W . ; J . Wesley Hall , Treas . ; T . Wightman , Sec ; R . Hood , S . D . ; A . Lodge , J . D . ; J . Hickman , Org . ; W . Millar , l . G . ; and D . Stewart , Tyler . The ceremonies lasted until half-past eight o ' clock , when the lodge was closed .

The brethren then adjourned to Monckton ' s Hotel , and sat down to a sumptuous dinner that had been served up by Mr . W . Monckton , the proprietor . Over 70 attended . The dinner was one of the best it has been our fortune to sample in these parts . It was served in excellent styleevery dish was well cooked , and the waiting was excellent .

In fact , all admitted there was nothing wanting and unanimously complimented the provider . Bro . Spiers , W . M ., presided . Beside him were the Consecrating Officer , Bro . Barnes ; Bros . Skiller and Larsen ; the Masters of the Rockhampton lodges , and brethren representing the English , Scotch , and Irish Constitutions . The viands having been amply sampled , the CHAIRMAN

Queensland.

gave the toast of "The Queen and the Craft , " which was honoured Masonically and musically . AH joined in singinothe National Anthem . 8 Bro . BARNES proposed "His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , Patron of Scottish Freemasonry . " He remarked that though the Prince of Wales was Grand Master of English Freemasonry , he was a most hearty supporter and Patron of Scottish Freemasonry , and had evinced the

greatest interest in its welfare . Only the other day the Prince was present at a grand gathering at the Albert Hall in London , at which the collection in aid of a Charity amounted to no less than £ 50 , 600 . Chorus : " God Bless the Prince of Wales . " Bro . W . KASCH , P . M ., in proposing "The Grand Master Mason of Scotland , Bro . Sir A . C . Campbell Bart said

., " a great deal of the prosperity of Scottish Freemasonry was due to Sir Archibald Campbell . Not only was that the case in the old country , but also in Australia , and even in Queensland . Instrumental trio : " The Blue Bells of Scotland . " Bro . KILPATRICK proposed the toast of "The District Grand Lodge of Queensland ( S . C . ) , " coupling with it the

name of Bro . Barnes . All Masons knew what the Craft generally owed to Bro . Sir Archibald Campbell , but in Queensland it owed quite as much to the energy and enthusiasm of Bro . Barnes . The R . W . D . G . M ., Bro . the Hon . John Douglas , had always been an enthusiastic Mason ; but his absence in New Guinea had prevented him from taking such an active interest in it of late as he

had hitherto done . In Bro . Barnes , however , he had had a . most able representative , one who had conducted the business of the lodge in a manner creditable alike to himself and his superior . There were now 13 Scottish lodges in Queensland , and he hoped the day was not far distant when the three Constitutions would be united in one Grand Lodge , as in New South Wales and South Australia , and

as was being done in Victoria . Bro . BARNES responded . He returned the thanks of the Grand Lodge for the kindly manner in which the toast had been received . It had always been a great pleasure to him to act for Bro . the Hon . John Douglas , and he felt sure that had that brother been present that night he would have been pleased to see such a number assembled . He ( Bro .

Barnes ) only remembered seeing one larger gathering of Masons in Queensland . That was nine years ago , and was at the joint installation banquet in Brisbane after the installation of the officers of the various metropolitan lodges . There were 350 present in the hall , and 310 sat down to supper . The formation of a Grand Lodge of Queensland was an idea he greatly favoured , and he felt

sure that fully four-fifths of the Masons in Queensland were agreeable to it . In concluding , he wishedlhe Mount Morgan Lodge success . Bro . KOLLING , W . S . W ., gave "The E . C . and I . C . of Queensland , " and in doing so said he hoped some day to see a Grand Lodge of Oueensland . Bro . G . POTTS ( ETC . ) and Bro . CRAWFORD ( l . C . )

responded . The former expressed a hope that the day was not far distant when the three Constitutions would be " rolled into one . " The CHAIRMAN , in proposing " The Consecrating Officer , " highly eulogised Bro . Barnes , and trusted officers of the Grand Lodge would more frequently visit the distant lodges than they had done in the past . Five years

ago , when the Douglas Lodge was formed , there were five Scotch lodges in the colony ; now there were thirteen . So there had been an increase of over one a year . With other brethren , he hoped ere long to see a Grand Lodge of Queensland . bro . BARNES briefly responded . Bro . POTTS gave the next toast— " Royal Arch Masonry

of Queensland , coupled with the name of the S . P . of the Grand Chapter , Bro . Barnes ; " and the brother named replied . The following toasts were also honoured : "The Newly-Installed Officers , " proposed by Bro . T . W . PERSON , and responded by Bros . SPIERS , KOLLING , HALL , and CORNES ; "The Visiting Brethren , " proposed by Bro .

GOWDIE , and acknowledged by Bros . POTTS , WAKEFIELL , WILLIAMS , and J ACKMAN ; and "All Poor and Distressed Masons , " proposed by Bro . C SNOW . Bro . HALL , in speaking for the officers of the Mount Morgan Lodge , said that if they could not make the lodge stand out like Mount Morgan itself did , it would not be their fault .

Bro . Jackman , who had acted as Organist at the consecration ceremony , presided at the piano at the banquet , and , aided by Bro . Graham on the violin , helped to enliven the proceedings . He also sang a solo . Bros . Kilpatrick , Hall , Hickman , and Dawson also contributed solos ; Bro . Gowdie recited " The Corsair ; " and the sociality was brought to a close by singing " Auld Lang Syne . "

The visitors to the Mount left there yesterday , and reached town again in good time in the evening . They had a most enjoyable trip—marred only by the dusty state of the roads , and a trifling accident resulting from a bullock dray colliding with one of the buggies on the up journey . They were well received by the brethren at Mount Morgan , and it would be impossible to conceive a more ausp icious occasion and harmonious opening for a new lodge . It has 30 members .

China.

China .

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR . SINGAPORE—Star in the East Preceptory ( No . 85 ) . —This preceptory , after being in abeyance since 30 th July , 1 S 74 , "as formally resuscitated on Saturday * the 24 th August , by Sir Knight F . H . Gottlieb , 32 , assisted by Sir Knights J . D . Vaughan , J . P . Joaquim , G . Thompson , and R . O . Norris . Seven companions were installed as K . T . and eip-ht as K . M . ThP R . P .. Sir Knieht F . "

Gottlieb , appointed and invested the following as officers ot the preceptory : Sir Knights J . P . Joaquim , Prelate ; J Thompson , Constable ; J . T . Leask , Marshal ; J- H ' Stuart , Recorder ; E . A . Thomson , Treasurer ; «!•*;' Jennings , Sub-Marshal ; G . A . Derrick , Captain of we Lines ; S . R , Robinson and A . C . Peterson , Heralds ; ana R . O . Norris , Equerry .

The German Training Sauadron has been ordered to the Pirseus to take part ' in the proposed cei bration of the 25 th anniversary of the accession 01 «* ' ¦ George to the throne of Greece .