Consecration Of The Star Lodge Of Mark Master Masons, No, 499.

Reid , T . Grummant , C . Wade , J . Marcham , C . Woodbridge Biggs , H . Harris , E . 1 . Mills , G . Tyler ; and many others . The Grand Officers having entered in procession and a hymn sung , The CONSECRATING OFFICER addressed the brethren on the nature of the meeiing . He said they had met together on an exceedingly solemn and interesting occasion . It was many years since a Mark lodge was consecrated in the old City of London , and he thought that was the first time

a Mark Iodge had been consecrated under the shadow of the old Guildhall . Knowing as he did , the veneration the Corporation of that old City had for the grand tenets of Masonry , it could not fail to make a lasting impression upon the minds of all connected with the ceremony . They had met to consecrate a new lodge in the Mark Degree , to be dedicated to the worship of the Great Overseer of the Universe and the principles of the Order . As on all occasions of Masonic ceremonial they invoked guidance and direction from above , he would first call upon the Grand Chaplain to offer

prayer . The ceremony was then proceeded with , and , an oration having been delivered by the GRAND CHAPLAIN on the principles of the Order , the new lodge was solemnly dedicated and constituted . The Grand Sec . then proceeded to install Bro . Major Woolmer Williams ,

after which the following officers were appointed and invested : Bros . G . S . Elliott , S . W . ; N . Churcher , J . W . ; E . Fox , M . O . ; C . Woodbridge Biggs , S . O . ; T . Grummant , J . O . ; Cowley , Reg . of Mks . ; C . Wade , Sec . ; C . Meirshoff , S . D . ; R . Reed , J . D . ; H . F . Williams , D . C . ; H . Harris , I . G . ; T . Tucker , Stwd . ; and Patrick , Tyler .

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER proposed that a very sincere and hearty vote of thanks should be accorded the Consecrating Officers , to whom they were deeply indebted for the very impressive rendering of the ritual , and that they should be elected honorary members . The proposition was carried by acclamation , and Bro . C . b . MATIER , P . G . W ., returned thanks for the compliment .

A vote of thanks was also passed to Bros . Macfarlane , Money , Wishart , Vicary , and Kipps for their assistance at the preliminary meeting for the advancement of candidates . Other business was transacted , and the Iodge was closed . After banquet , the customary toasts received hearty recognition , " The

Queen and Mark Masonry" and "H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . 5 . M ., " being first honoured . In proposing " The Grand Officers , " the WORSHIPFUL MASTER said it was with a feeling of very great satisfaction that the members welcomed so many Grand Officers that evening . He hoped those Grand Officers would take every opportunity of visiting them again and of witnessing their work .

Bro . Major GORDON MILLER , P . G . Treas ., said it had given them the greatest pleasure to be present . They had heard the distinguished Grand Secretary consecrate lodges before , but he thought that on the present occasion Bro . Matier had excelled himself . It was a good thing to have such an able exponent of the ceremonial . The hi gh officials of Mark Masonry took a great interest in the Order , and there were few occasions in

Grand Mark Lodge when Bros . Lord Euston and Lord Dungarvan were not present . . . , Bro . C . F . MATIER , P . G . W ., G . Sec . ^ then rose , and said that , although the proper form of expression was that they had already heard sufficient of his voice , he flattered himself that the toast he had to propose would be acceptable to all . It wan " The Health of the Worshipful Master . " He was sure they were properly prepared to honour that with the utmost

cordiality . Their W . M . had not been so well known to him personally as his father was . He was not going to flatter the W . M ., but would simply appeal to the members to prepare themselves to support him during the next year , and especially the officers . They would then find their W . M . had discharged his duty , and he would receive their stamp of approval , and they would also find he ruled over a happy , united , prosperous , and successful lodge .

Bro . Major WOOLMER WILLIAMS , W . M ., in reply , said he could hardly sufficiently thank the Consecrating Officer for his very kind remarks . It was true his father knew the Grand Secretary better than he had the privilege of doing , but he hoped to know him more as years went on . Bro . Matier had put before them a hope which was his ( the W . Ms . ) greatest ambitionthat it might be his privilege to rule over a prosperous , happy , and contented

lodge . It was a happy circumstance to find himself surrounded by so many old workers in Freemasonry . There were several round the table who had worked with him in the Craft and Royal Arch for over 25 years , and they were still working together , and he hoped would continue to do so for many years to come . Those brethren knew that whatever he took up he tried to carry out to the best of his ability . This was a beautiful Degree and the

more the brethren who had been advanced that evening saw of it the more they would like it and like to go through the various offices . He thanked the Consecrating Officer for his exceedingly complimentary remarks , and he only hoped that distinguished brother would do them the honour of attending again next year when he would be able to see that his remarks had , to a certain extent , been justified . The next toast he ( the W . M . would propose was " The Consecrating- Officer . " Thev were all

deepl y grateful to him for attending , and he was informed that there was no brother in Matk Masonry who could perform the consecration ceremony with greater dignity and greater expression than Bro . Matier . Those present would not forget the ceremony for many years , for it must have made a deep impression on all . He asked the brethren to drink the health of the Consecrating Officer and those who had assisted him in a most enthusiastic manner .

Bro . C . F . MATIER , P . G . W ., G . Sec , in response , said he did not take all the kindly expressions of the W . M . to himself , but shared them with the Uher Grand Officers who had most kindly and ungrudgingly given their assistance . He had had thc assistance of two good Wardens and a most excellent G . 'Chaplain , who had given them a most charming oration , to which he had listened with implicit attentionThe GDChad acted in

. ... jhat capacity , as he always did , to the best of his ability , and Dr . Stewart Brown had kindly acted as I . G . They had heard of the many good deeds oonc by the Star Craft Lodge and Chapter , and there they had a magnificent field to draw from for this new Mark lodge . There was no reason why they should not maintain the honour of the Star in the three

degrees , and he hoped lhat lodge would prosper and flourish until time 'self should be no more . In the name of those who assisted him , he thanked a 'o . Ki pps , who had helped considerably wilh the music , and contributed S'rally io the success of thc evening . Ihe W . M . next pioposed " The Visitors . " H > J- MACFARLANE , P . M ., in reply , returned sincere thanks . It was very pleasing to see one of his own advancees as the first W . M . of that

Consecration Of The Star Lodge Of Mark Master Masons, No, 499.

lodge , and it had afforded him great pleasure to render assistance that evening . Bros . E . M . MONEY , P . M . ; W . KIPPS , P . M . ; and E . APELT , P . M ., also responded . For "The Advancees" Bros . GRUMMANT and TUCKER replied . "The Officers" having been given , the Tyler's toast conduJed the proceedings .

Bro . W . Kipps , P . P . G . Org . Kent , conducted the musical arrangements , and was assisted by Miss Kathleen Williams , Miss Violet Carter , and Messrs . G . Carter and H . Howland .

Freemasonry And Local Charities.

FREEMASONRY AND LOCAL CHARITIES .

On Thursday , the 22 nd ult ., Bro . Dr . William Cock , of Queen ' s-road , Peckham , S . E ., occupied the chair at the annual dinner of the Peckham and Old Kent-road Pension Society , held at the Holborn Restaurant . He was most ably supported by the estimable President of the Society , Chas . T . Harris , Esq ., F . G . Banbury , Esq ., M . P ., G . R . Higgins , Esq ., Jos . Messent , R . S . Tilling , Esq , Bros . Goddard

Clarke , J . P ., R . Lyon , J . P ., L . C . C , Isaac Dunn , A . H . Dale , Treas ., Revs . F . Werninck , S . H . Kingston , Stevenson , Bicknell , A . D . Jeffrey , and H . R . Finlay , Drs . Esler , Etheridge , and Burgess , and other local influential gentlemen , including many brethren of various lodges in South London to the number of about 270 . The toast of " The Houses of Parliament" having been proposed by Mr . G . R . HIGGINS , and duly responded to by Mr . BANBURY ,

The CHAIRMAN next gave the toast of the evening , viz ., "Success to the Society , " remarking the gratification he felt in having around him so many men to do it honour and permanently benefit it . No words were needed from him to induce those present to give the Society support . The Charity was a noble one and sought to alleviate distress amongst a class of tradesmen whose needs increased as a body with the increase of population . The Society was admirably managed .

Sermons on behalf of it had been preached at St . Marks ( Rev . F . Werninck ) , St . Chrysostom ( Rev . H . E . Bicknell ) , Queen ' s-road Wesleyan Church ( Rev . J . Stevenson ) , Hanover Chapel ( Rev . J . W . Bowman ) , and Clifton Church ( Rev . Allen Jeffery . ) His own appeal in respect of prospective Charity had been wonderfully met , and often in the least likely quarters . The Society entertained only thoroughly deserving cases , and was strictly non-political . He maintained that

the workhouse was not intended for the succour of those who had fallen from better circumstances , and for these unfortunate creatures he stood there that evening a beggar , and the response to his appeal would be found in the subscription list . Mr . RYE . the Collector , then announced the list , which amounted to the grand total of £ 600 , which was the record , and marked an epoch in the history

of this deserving Society . Included in this amount was the munificent sum of 200 guineas subscribed by brethren of various lodges in the district , to mark their appreciation of the splendid services rendered by the Chairman to the cause of Freemasonry in general , but especially to its noble Charitable Institutions , thereby showing that spirit of true benevolence which should be extended to every

deserving person . The Vice-Chairmen were Bros . T . Grummant , R . Lyon , J . P ., L . C . C ., Fred Dunn , C . Goddard Clarke , J . P ., and Messrs . T . Wade , C . Highland , and T . W Tilling . The duties of Stewards were ably discharged by Bros . J . Finch , J Messent , H . C . Reeves , and Messrs . J . Mitchell , J . B . Scale , T . K . Griffin , J . Webb , J . C . Tessier , Sec , and A . Rye . Collector .

Scotland.

Scotland .

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF FORFARSHIRE

The quarterly communication of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held in the hall of Panmure Lodge , No . 299 , Arbroath , on the 27 th ult . Bro . James Berry Prov . G . M ., presided , and there was a good attendance of brethren .

The PROV . GRAND SECRETARY read minutes of special visitations by the Provincial Grand Lodge to two lodges in Dundee which had , it appeared , been found fault with by the Grand Lodge for a breach of Grand Lodge rules . It appeared that these lodges were now , explanations having been given and accepted , admitted to full communion with the Provincial Grand Lodge and Grand Lodge .

In regard to the recall of the charter of Lodge Dunnichen , No . 684 , Letham , it was agreed that no further steps should be taken to secure the recall of the charter .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER explained that the Grand Committee had now agreed by a large majority that the lodges would be allowed to pass candidates from one Degree to another after the expiry of 14 days , in place of 15 days as had formerly been held to be the rule . This would , he had no doubt , be felt to be a great convenience , and he hoped that after the matter had been thoroughly discussed the privilege would be given to the Provincial Grand Master or some other official to grant a dispensation from the new rule as to the expiry of a certain number of days before the passing of candidates from one Degree to another . ( Applause ) .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER intimated that the annual meeting of Prov . Grand Lodge would be held in January next , and as nearly all the office bearers would retire at that time , he hoped there would be a large attendance of brethren , in order that the Prov . Grand Master should be properly supported .

Bro . LINDSAY , Carnoustie , held that a larger representation of the province on Grand Committee should be secured , and he suggested that Bro . the Hon . C . M . Ramsay should be sent to support Bro . Berry . This suggestion was cordially received . The other business was unimportant . The Provincial Grand Lodge was , after the business had been exhausted , closed .

PRINCESS HENRY OF BAiriiNUhKis has taken llic Villa Lbcib at Nice , which het Royal Highness tccupied after the death of Prince Henry , for the season and will arrive with her children early in the month of January .