Consecration Of The Playgoers' Lodge, No. 2705.

The visitors were—Bros , his Honour Judge F . A . Philbriclc , P . G . W . ; Thos . Fenn , P . G . W . ; H . Sadler , G . Tyler ; W . G . Kentish , P . G . S . B . ; Lennox Browne , P . D . G . D . C . ; Lewis Lazarus , A . G . P . ; H . Harbord , P . M . goi ; J . Sparks , P . P . G . W . Wilts ; F . Cox , W . M . 117 S ; W . I . Ball , I . P . M . 1 S 97 ; H . L . Davis , I . P . M . 25 ; L .

Ferguson , 1997 ; H . Hill , 15 S 0 ; I . A . Soper , 2241 ; A . Baxter , 1 S 97 ; H . Meyer , 820 ; A . Gray , 1632 ; W . Dresden , P . M . 1602 ; T . R . Porter , 1347 ; H . Passmore Edwards , 197 ; J . A . Collings , 16 93 ; Walter Coward , 2000 ; M . Garcia , 2104 ; C . Talbot Rotheran , 907 ; W . Fraser , W . M . 1426 ; H . Pritchard , P . P . G . D . ; W . Westcott , 1 S 27 ; F . W . Stephens , P . M . 1348 ; J . . Jacob , 25 ; A . Husdies , 704 ; W . B . Neville , 1767 ; W . W . Lee , and others .

After the opening of the lodge , the CONSECRATING OFFICER addressed the brethren on the interesting nature of the meeting , and wished the lodge every prosperity . The Chaplain , Bro . Rev . J . STUDHOI . ME BROWNRKJG P . G . Chap ., delivered an eloquent oration on the nature and principles of the Ins-ituuon , after which the ceremony was proceeded with , and the Playgoers Lodge was dedicated and constituted with the inual solemn formalities .

Bro . T . Fenn , P . G . W ., next assumed the chair , and installed Bro . Guy Repton , P . M ., as the first W . Master . The following officers were inves ' ed : Bros . G . Powell , I . P . M . ; G . J . Farrington , S . W . ; W . R . Bennett , J . W . ; J . H . Gaskin , Treas . ; W . Sparks , Sec . ; G . A . P . Schultz , S . D j A . E . Grimshaw , J . D . ; W . F . H . Warner , I . G . ; T . H . Roberts , DC ; Walter Schroder , A . D . C . ; R . Hathaway Jones and G . T . J ' errin , Stwds . ; and T . C . Edmonds , P . M ., Tyler .

Bro . his Honour Judge PHIUIRICK , P . G . W ., replied for " The Grand Officers , " and said it was no mean honour to do so , especially for the first time in the history of a lodge . He was q'lite sure that from the last recruit in their ranks to the veteran of many years' service , the hearts of Masons would always be true to the great principles , and that I hose whs were charged with the adminstration of the Order would always endeavour with a

The Consecrating Officers were elected honorary members , on the proposition of the W . M . The compliment was acknowledged by the GRAND SECRETARY on their behalf . A large number of candidates were proposed for initiation and joining , including the President of the Club , Mr . Carl Henschel , and the lodge was closed . After banquet , the usual toasts were honoured .

single mind to promote its influence and well-being . He coul 1 nit refrain —on the part of the Grand Officers who had attended on that most interesting occasion , and who were indebted to the W . M . and the lodge for the hospitality which had welcomed themfrom saying how fortunate the founders had been in the choice of a title for the lodge . They might have called it the Universal Lodge . He supposed Bro . Edward Terry would confirm him in the

staicment that there were more playgoers than actors , and he could almost see that brother shudder at the contemplation of the other dreadful fact . ' All the world's a stage " and as there were more playgoers than actors , the legitimate conclusion was that they could see themselves acting and criticising the acting of their friends and acquaintance . He saw . therefore , an unlimited field for the lodge , and on the part of the Grand Officers congratulated the founders on the proceedings of the day .

Bro . E . TERRY , P . G . Treas ., also replied . He had learnt from the works of Mr . Wm . Shakespeare that most men and women were merely players , and he was , therefore , glad ( o find at a recent dinner there were 590 Playgoers . It was a great gratification to him . He thought it was a good chance of making himself known to them , and whom h-j did become known to them he hoped familiarity would not breed contempt . He could only echo the words of Bro . Philbrick , that it was a great pleasure to be present to see the foundation of the lodge so firmly eslab'ished .

The W . M . briefly proposed "The Consecrating Officers , " and expressed the gratitude the founders felt to the Grand Secretary , whom he asked to accept a founder ' s jewel as a memorial of the pleasant occasion . Bro . E . LETCHWORTH , G . Sec , said that after the W . M . ' s excellent example ol brevity , he wished in the fewest woids to express iheir thanks

for the kind reception given the toast . they were not all popular and distinguished actors like Bro . Terry , tut they were all enthusiastic playgoers , and it had afforded them the greatest possible plfasure to be privileged to take part in the ceremony . The lodge had been founded under most auspicious circumstances , and they hoped it would have the greatest possible success before it .

Bro . R . C . Sun LOW , P . G . S . B ., also replied . Bro . T . FENN , P . G . W ., said that having had the pleasure ! of installing the W . M ., he had the privilege of proposing "The Health . A ihe Worshipful Master . " The W . M . ' s father and grandfather were his eailiest and staunchest supporters , and the W . M . was one of his most respected friends . The W . M . had an extraordinary MasDnic record , his grandfather having been for many years the Grand Master of Ireland , and it was to the Duke of l . einstcr due that Ait of Parliament which had relieved

Freemasons from the Act of Secret Societies , and he had the thanks of Grand Lodge for that . The W . M . would make his year of office a record o ic , and he would be remembered as one of the most distinguished Masons . The W . M . had been Master of the Bard of Avon Lodge , and had the honour conferred upon him of P . G . S . W . of Middlesex .

the WORSHIPFUL MASTER , in response , said it was the custom fjr playgoers to prepare type-written speeches . That was not , however , what they should do in that lodge . It they felt a thing in their , hearts they ought to try to say it . It might not , perhaps , be in eloquent language prepared for them , but they could try to express their thanks and gratitude . Bro , Fenn had taught him the little Masonry he knew and was his father in

Masonry . Whenever there was any little point he wanted put right , Bro . Fenn , however busy , would always receive him in a kindly manner and put him ri ght . When he was first asked to be W . M . his first question was whether there were plenty of initiates to make it a success . t ' ne number augured well for the lodge and he hoped those who succeeded him would b : similarl y fortunate .

Por " The Visitors , " Bros . SPARKS , P . P . J . G . W . Wills ; H . PRITCIIAKD , P . P . G . Treas . Middx . ; ar . d W . J . BALL , I . P . M . 1897 , returned thanks . "The Officers" were duly honoured before the proceedings closed . L ^ ° ' -J' ^ " Codings was assisted in the musical programme by Miss Johnson , Miss B . Consiantine , B'os . Fred Stephens , H . Linwood , Hamilton , and others .

Consecration Of The Radcliffe Lodge, No. 2701.

CONSECRATION OF THE RADCLIFFE LODGE , No . 2701 .

A new M-. sonic lodge—to be called the Radcliffe Lodge , No . 2701—was consecrated in the Co-operative Hall , Radcliffe , on Wednesday , the 27 h ult . The founders of the lodge are the following members of the Lodge of Faiih , No . . ^ 44 : Bros . T . Lawrenson , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B . ; E . C . Boardman , J . D . ; E . Bake-well , Tyler ; W . Brierley , P . M ., P . P . G . D . ; J . Rigg , P . M . 266 ; H . T . Grundy , P . M . ; W . L . Rothwell , P . M . 2350 ; W . H . Rigby , J . Brad , haw , J . W . Taylor , Sec ; W . Wilson , W . Orrell , J . B . Sharpies , W . Seed , J . C . Hatner , and W . T . Whitehead .

BT > . Col . Le Gendre Starkie , Prov . G . M ., performed the consecration ceremony , being assisted by the Prov . Grand Officers . A large number of brethren were present . The ceremony of consecratioa and dedication , which was of a very im preysive character , was followed by the installation of the W . M ., and-the appointment of the following officers by Bro . W . J . Melling , 2185 , P . G . S . B . :

Bros . T . Lawrenson , W . M ; E . C . Boardman , S . W . ; E . Bakewell , J . W . ; W . Brierley , I . P . M . ; J . C Hamer , Chap . ; W . Seed , Treas . ; W . L . Rothwell , Sec . ; W . Orrell , S . D . ; J . B . Sharpies , J . D . ; H . T . Grundy , D . C . ; J . Bradshaw , Org . ; W . H . Rigby , I . G . ; W . Wilson and W . T . Whitehead , Stewards ; and J . Rigg , Tyler . In the evening a banquet was held at the Boar ' s Head Hotel . The toast list was as follows : " The Queen , " " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales ,

M . W . G . M ., H . R . H . the Princess of Wales , and the rest of the Royal Family ; " "The Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom , M . W . Pro G . M . ; the Right Hon . the Earl Amherst , R . W . Deputy G . M . ; and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past ; " "Colonel Le Gendre N . Starkie , P . G . M . ; Clement R . N . B . Royds , D . P . G . M . ; and the rest of the Prov .

Grand Officers , Present and Past ; " "Bro . T . Lawrenson , the newlyins'alled W . M . ; " " The Masonic Charities ; " " The Installing Master ; " "Success to the New Lodge ; " " The Visiting Brethren ; " " The Officers of the Lodge ; " " The Host and Hostess ; " and " To all Poor and Distressed Masons . "

A musical programme was contributed to by Bros . W . H . Kershaw , S . R . Walk » r , F . S . Styler , W . L . Rothwell , W . Partington , J . Y . Thorpe , and R . Wolstenholme . The lodge room will be at the Boar ' s Head Hotel , special provision for its acco-nmodation having been made by the landlord . The furniture and other requisites were manufactured and supplied by George Kenning and Son , Manchester and London .

Consecration Of The St. Lawrence Council, No. 27, Allied Masonic Degrees.

CONSECRATION OF THE ST . LAWRENCE COUNCIL , No . 27 , ALLIED MASONIC DEGREES .

Pudsey is one of those thriving manufacturing towns of the West Riding of Yorkshire , where 50 or 60 years ago the click of the shuttle of the hand-loo . 11 weaver was a most familiar sound . After the introduction of machinciy , opposition to which was at first mjst strenuous , villages of this class rapidly increased in size and population , and some have since become corpurate towns . Pudsey aspires to that honour , as a petition for a charter has recently been presented .

' 1 he Masonic history of Pudsey commences virtually only so recently as iSSy . but there is an incident in this connection which is interesting , and brielly related is as follows ; In the transactions of the Most Antient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons of the Provincial Grand Lodge for the County of York , on Wednesday , the 23 rd October , 1 S 05 , we find this statement

" A petition was presented from several brethren at Pudsey , in the West Riding of this County , praying for a Warrant of Constitution to assemble at a private room in Pudsey aforesaid ; promising at the same time a strict conformity to the Masonic Rules and Regulations , and praying that the name of such lodi ;<; might be called the Peinbertoii . "

We thus see that almost a century ago an attempt was made to establish a Masonic lodge in Pudsey . This effort failed , for Provincial Grand Lodge , it is recorded , resolved" That the prayer of such petition can not be complied with agreeable to

the existing Act of Parliament , but 11 the petitioning brethren should be fortunale enough to meet with a Dormant Warrant , then this Provincial Grand Lodge will not fail to transmit such latent Document to the Grand Lodge in London , so that their good wishes towards Masonry in forming the I ' cmbt'ttoii by their united efforts may be carried into full effect . "

The discovery of a " Dormant Warrant " was , it appears , not made , for no lodge was established at Pudsey , and the meritorious desire to perpetuate the name of Robert Pemberton Milnes , who , in 1805 , had been appointed by the " Acting" Grand Master , the Earl of Moira , Provincial Grand Master for the County of York , was not fulfilled . Fron 1805 to 18 S 0 is a long interval during which there is no known record ot Masonic impulse or

aspiration in regard to Pudsey . In the latter year , however , an effort was made and ehiefiy through the labours of the late Bro . John Symands ( the first Worshipful Master ) , and Bros . Charles Cromack , J . W . Taylor , John Cromack , Joshua Hill , and a few others , the Saint Lawrence Lodge was founded . This , it may be mentioned in passing , was the last lodge consecrated by the late Provincial Grand Master for West Yorkshire , Bro . Thomas William Tew , and it was at his suggestion that the name " Saint

Lawrence" was fixed upon for the new lodge . Some very interesting details both as to the Saint and the town and neighbourhood were given by Bro . Tew in his address at the consecration , and he , amongst other things , suggested that some day they might add to their Craft lodge a Council of the Order of St , Lawrence . This , it appears , the founders have not forgotten and it has resulted in the establishment on Friday , the 29 th April , of the St . Lawrence Council ol the Allied Degrees , No . 27 , at Pudsey , being the second of i : s kind in the province .

When , some weeks ago , an intimation was received that it was the intention of the Earl of Euston himself to co ne down and consecrate the council , the Pudsey brethren set themselves steadfastly to work to make