Dedication And Re-Opening Of The Masonic Hall, Dublin.

the ceremony , during which solemn music was continued , excepting only the intervals of dedication . The first procession was then made around the lodge . When the Grand Master arrived at the East the music was silent , and thc Grand Chaplain offered up the iledication prayer . The response was then chaunted .

. The hall was then dedicated to Freemasonry , the Grantl Chaplain strewing corn and pouring wine and oil , according to ancient custom . Grantl Chaplain then gave the invocation , and thc response was chaunted . The grand honours were then given , anil the Grand Master resumed his seat , when an anthem was sung .

The Grand Matter saitl : Brethren , I cannot refrain from addressing to you a vcry few words to say how much and what heartfelt pleasure it has given me to meet the brethren again here to-day , and to be able to take part in the interesting ceremony > ve have just performed , 1 pray that the good providence and blessing of the Great Architect of the Universe may rest upon our institution , and

may sanctify all our endeavours for that universal brotherhood and charity to all men , which are the aim and aspiration of all true and accepted Masons . ( Applause ) . The Deputy Grand Master before closing Granel Lodge saitl : I have a pleasing duty ; we meet here for the first time as a Grand Lodge in a ioom of which the Irish Masons may well be proud , the paintings and the

decorations being the work of Irish artists . ( Applause ) . The paintings are the gift of Bro . Henry Gibson , brother of the artist and designer of the elccorations . ( Applause ) . The carpet , a facsimile of that used at the Installation of the Prince of Wales as Grand Master of England , was presented by Bro . Lewis , of Huddersfield . ( Applause ) . These observations are a prelude to my pleasing task , I

think we should be wanting in our duty to your grace as head of the Order if we did not return you our most grateful thanks for peiforming the ceremonial . As your deputy I can safely say that you have been unable to come among us as often as you would wish , but your

heart has been always with us , anil you have been most willing on every occasion to assist in promoting the welfare of the Order . ( Applause ) . The Grand Master and several of the distinguished brethren were afterwards entertained at dinner by thc Masonic Glee Union .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Leicestershire And Rutland.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND .

The winter half-yearly communication of this Provincial Grand Lodge was held at Freemasons' Hall , Leicester , on Wednesday , the 28 th of November last , under the auspices of the Commercial Lotlge , No . 1391 , the chair being taken by thc R . W . P . G . M ., the Earl Ferrers , who was

supported by R . W . Bro . W . Kelly , P . P . G . M . ; W . Bros . Rev . W . Langley , as D . P . G . M . ; S . S . Partritlge , Prov . S . G . W . ; W . B . Smith , Prov . G . Treas . ; G . Toller , jun ., Grand Sword Bearer , Prov . G . Sec ; antl most of the other Prov . Grand Officers . The business of the lodge was of thc ordinary routine character .

For the office of Prov . Grand Treasurer , Bro . F . A . Wykes , W . M . 523 , P . P . G . Org ., was unanimously elected , in succession to Bro . W . Beaumont Smith , who had for many years past ably discharged the tluties of that post , but on whom the P . G . M . was about to confer a higher appointment . The statement of thc Treasurer ' s account , which showed

that the province was 111 a gootl financial position , was duly passed . The Provincial Grand Master then appointed and invested the officers for the ensuing year , as follows : — W . Beaumont Smith , P . M . 523 Prov . G . S . W . W . Hardy , jun ., P . M . 126 5 Prov . G . J . W . Rev . F . H . Richardson , icfio Prov . G . Chap .

T . A . Wykes , W . M . 523 Prov . G . Treas . C . S . Preston , W . M . 50 Prov . G . Reg . S . S . Partridge , P . M . 523 Prov . G . Sec . G . Clifton , P . M . 1391 ; Prov . G . S . D . H . Blood , jun . P . M . 779 Prov . G . J . D . T . Cooke , P . M . 100 7 Prov . G . S . of W J . B . Hall , P . M . 1391 Prov G . D . C .

S . Cleaver , 279 Prov . G . A . D . C G . T . Willan , W . M . 1130 Prov . G . S . B . W . Vial , W . M . 1007 Prov . G . Org . M . H . Lewin , P . M . 1330 Prov . G . Purs .

E . R . Cust , 1330 Prov . G . A . Purs . J . Jessop , 279 Prov . G . St . B , J . Farnelale , 279 ; T . R . Pickering , S 23 i J- Webb , 779 ; R . L . Gibson , 1007 ; S . W . Black , 1130 ; and F . Pochin , 1265 Prov . G . Stewds

C . Bcmbndge and T . Dunn Prov . G . Tylers . In pursuance of a recommendation of the Provincial Charity Committee , it was resolved that the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls should be the charity to receive the special support of the province during the ensuing year , and Bro . S . S . Partridge , who last year serveil as Steward for the Boys' Institution , was appointed to

represent thc Prov . Grand Lotlge at the next festival of the Girls' School . The W . M . of St . Peter ' s Lotlge invited the R . W . P . G . M ., to hold the next summer half-yearly meeting of Prov . Grantl Lotlge at Market Harborough , untler the banner of his lodge ( No . 1330 ) , an invitation which his lordship was pleased to announce his intention to

accept . Several letters of apology for absence having been read , the Prov . Grand Lotlge was closed in elue form , and the proceedings terminated with a banquet , at which W . Bro . Clement Stretton , P . P . G . W . ( Mayor of Leicester ) , presided , in the absence of the R . W . P . G . M ., who vvas unable to remain .

Consecration Of The Kaiser-Ihind Lodge, No. 1724.

CONSECRATION OF THE KAISER-IHIND LODGE , No . 1724 .

This newly formed lodge was consecrated on Thursday , the 29 th ult ., with all solemnity , at the Regent Masonic Hall , Cafe Royal , Regent-street . The lodge has been established in order to supply a want which has long been felt , namely the association together in Masonry of officers

of the army and mimbers of other professions who have been connected with Indian affairs . The lodge meetings will be held on the first Thursdays in May , July , September , and October , and it opens under circumstances which cannot fail to ensure prosperity . The consecration ceremony was ably performed by Bro . J . Hervey , Grand Secretary , who was assisted by Bros , the Rev . A . F . A .

Woodford , P . G . C . -, H . G . Buss , Assist . G . S . ; and several other G . L . Officers Present and Past . Amongst those present were Bros . Capt . H . Burton , W . M . designate ; Major Blake , S . W . designate ; R . W . Fyer , J . W . designate ; T . Fenn , P . G . D . ; J . Robinson , A . G . D . C . ,- Dr . Ramsey , Al . Mclntyre , G . R . ; A . W . Hall , P . P . S . G . W . Surrey ; T . W . Whitmarsh , P . M . uso ; E .

March , P . M . Grand Stewards' Lodge ; J . Hawes , 143 , P . G . C . Middx . ; Sir C . Bright , W . M . 1691 ; E . B . Webb , 259 ; Mortimer . 617 ; Capt . Prait , S . C Dibdin ( Sec . pro . tem . ); Lieut . Col . E . H . Vincent , Capt . C . H . Sampson , S . H . d'Avigdon , E . B . Bright , 780 ; Nassau Lees , 259 ; J . Wilkinson , 1248 ; W . O . Goldsmith , 15- { I ( Frcemaion ); C . B . Payne , G . Tyler ; C . T . Speight , * Prov , G . Tyler

S urrey ; and others . The brethren having entered the lodge room in procession , the Grand Secretary assumed the chair , and had as his S . W . Bro . T . Fenn , P . G . D ., and as his J . W ., Bro . F . Robinson , A . G . D . C ; Bro . H . Buss , Asst . Grand Secretary , acting as D . C . The lodge having been opened in the Three Degrees , the following address was delivered by the

Grand Secretary : — It is hardly necessary for me to say for what purpose we are assembled here this evening . We are assembled to consecrate this new lodge , and to bring it into existence . I think in doing so we may congratulate ourselves on the good way in which in England our M isonie lodges go on . They progress at a great rate , and

sometimes , I think , at almost too fast a rate ; but still while they progress as they now are doing here , and while they are composed of such gentlemen as we now see around us , I must say I do not think thai then they can progress too swiftly . ( Applause . ) The danger is in what 1 should call the second-rate lodges—the fear that a great many come into our assemblies simply for what they can get

out of it . Wc are , as you know , in this country very highly patronised ; we have the Heir Apparent to the Crown at our head ( applause ) , who always takes the greatest interest in what goes on in Masonry . His Royal Highness is always fully alive to the interest of Freemasonry , and whenever I have the honour of seeing him he always expresses himself as regards the Craft in a manner to show that he knows what he is about ; that he is

able to give an opinion upon any point which may come before him , antl that he is not one who will allow himself to be unduly dictated to . ( Applause . ) In our Pro Grand Master we have also another brother who stanels very high , not only in Masonry , but in every position in life , and he manages to find time , notwithstanding war with the Kaffirs , the annexation of thc Tiansvaal , antl the various other difficulties he is surrounded with in thc

administration of the colonics of the country , hc finds time—I say , to devote to Masonry a great deal of attention , and he is always ready to elo all he is called upon to do in the discharge of his duties as Pro G . M . You will feel then that it is a great privilege we enjoy in this country to have two such men at our head . ( Applause . ) We are not , I rejoice to say , at the present moment in the position of

our friends across the Channel . We are not setting up a new itlea of Masonry , we are not following thc example of those who are , I am afraid , laying the axe at the root of thc tree . I believe that unless a man believes in the Great Architect of the Universe we had better be without him in our ranks , and I am satisfied that those who arc around rae in this room would not allow

him to enter . ( Applause . ) What the result of the action of the Grand Orient will be I am afraitl to say—indeed it is impossible ti foresee—but 1 very much fear that it will lead to a great deal of schism . I am glad to see that we adhere to our old formula . ( Applause . ) We do not wish to throw new light on Freemasonry in this ninetrenth century , but we go on in our old track , and we find and have

proved that it is a prosperous one . ( Applause . ) Worshipful Master designate , I might , I think , now venture to give you a little advice in . the conduct of your lodge . It occurs in the conduct of a lodge that a great deal depends upon the W . M . On many occasions 1 have mentioned the necessity of performing the ceremonies in a manner that should command the attention and the sympathy of

the camiidate who presents himself for initiation . I believe a great many candidates come into lodges and afterwards croak at the Craft , because they have been initiated in a slovenly manner , and because they are not impressed , and do not feel satisfied with what occurred . As to thc officers of the lodge , unless they work well and harmoniously together , and in unison with the Master , it is impossible

that matters can progress satisfactorily . If any one officer is not equal to thc post he has undertaken to fulfil , hc is simply like a fiddle out of tune in an orchestra , and the whole effect is marred . ( Applause . ) I tlo hope , W . M ., that you and your officers will think it worth while , as you thought

it worth while to obtain a warrant , to work up in such a manner as not only to command the sympathy of the Craft in general , but to show those who are initiated that they have come into a society where the ruling powers take great care to do that which is right , and not only that , but what is necessary to impress the candidate wilh

Consecration Of The Kaiser-Ihind Lodge, No. 1724.

a proper feeling of what is taking place around him . ( Applause . ) I fear I am travelling a little out of the record in giving this advice , but as an old Mason , as one who has worked hard in the Craft , and as one who since he first enterctl a lodge has the feeling that he had done his duty , I am sure you will extend your indulgence . ( A pplause . ) I do not say that it is necessary the I . G . should

be able to take the S . W . ' s post , but the officers ought at any rate to make themselves masters of the offices they have undertaken to fulfil . One thing I would impress is to be punctual in attendance , because if any officer is away when the lotlge is opened the Master cannot get on efficiently with the work , and is placed in a great difficulty . I am afraid you will think I am detaining you too long ,

but I have the interest cf the Craft much at heart , and Masonry much at heart , and my very able friend at thc ether end , who is one of the best Masons in England , will join with mc in saying that if my advice is adopted it is one of the best things which can happen in the interest of the lodge . ( Applause . ) The opening prayer having been impressively rendered

by Bro . A . F . A . Woodford , P . G . C , the petition and warrant were reatl , anel the ceremony of const . cration was then very ably performed , in thc course of which the following oration was delivered by Bro . A . K . A . Woodford V . W . Presiding Officer , Wardens , antl Brethren , —! have so often hatl thc pleasure of addressing my brethren of late , and of assisting you , V . W . Sir ( always the most

pleasant of duties , believe me ) , that I almost feel as if some slight apology was necessary for another appearance on my part , for another Oration . And ytt , Sir , when I received from our esteemed Bro . Dr . ; Ramsey the flattering invitation to act as your Chaplain em this interesting occasion , more than one constraining motive led me to accept what I felt to be , I assure you , both a privilege and a

pleasure . In the first place , like a distinguished general of our army , and an equally elistinguished dignitary of our Order , I for one rejoice to think that the officers of the English army are associating themselves so much with our Masonic Order . I feel sure that I am only expressing the feelings of the Craft when I say , that the more we sec of them in our lodges the better we shall be pleased , and I

venture to think that they will be able to find in Freemasonry much to interest them , and much to gratify and edify intellectual minds and cultivated understandings . I am also , like all patriotic Englishmen , I make bold to say ( Freemasons though are we , we are sti'l ever patriots ) , always interested in all thatconcerns British India—thatfaroff portion of our mighty empire . And not only like some

probably now present , do I remember that India is the resting place of a dear relative of my own , who found there a soldier ' s grave , but I look always with heartfelt sympathy on all that concerns the piestige of our name , anil thc benificent sway of our " Kaiser-i-Hind "over those teeming millions . Calling to mind the history of India from the famous victory of Clive , to the last avenging

effort of Lonl Clyde , I think we shall all agree that time can give out no nobler annals , than those which attest the heroism and devotion of thc Anglo-Saxon race on the sun-burnt plains of Hindostan . But I turn , Sir , from this fascinating topic to the more immediate object of our assembly . And if , as I observed at the outset , I am glad to be permitted to be

present , to avow my sympathy with the promoters of this special lotlge under so good a name , I am also pleased to be privileged at the consecration of another offshoot of our great and goodly Masonic Tree as an old Mason now , to call the attention of my brethren , ( my younger brethren especially ) , to a few thoughts—to a few considerations , which may not be without meaning or

value for our present auspicious commencement of the young life of a fresh lotlge on our now wondtrfully increasing roll . The only difficulty others as well as myself feci on such occasions as this , is Jiow | to vary somewhat our addresses . Excellent as is the teaching of Masonry , true as arc its precepts , anil charming as are its sympathies , it is vcry difficult to avoid repelition , anel not to incur

the charge of amiable sameness . If , then , I leave our "first principles" for the nonce , and go a little out of the beaten track on this specific occasion , I trust that you will parelon my effort to say something worthy of your inauguration ceremony , and if I turn for a moment from what is , howevcr admirable , though only theoretical , to what is absolutely practical and before our eyes , so to say , at this

very moment . To day , Sir , as you have pertinently observed , when we are peacefully anel fraternally employed celebrating our mystic rites , consecrating a new lodge according to ancient form and under religious sanction , Freemasonry , as a system perse , is violenty attacked from two quarters at once , fiom two opposite points of thc compass . There are those who condemn Freemasonry , for instance ,

openly and loudly , with all the paraphernalia , too , of med ' ueval intolerance , because it allows persons of various relig ions to range under its kintlly banner , antl to assemble together within its expansive fold . They anathe - matize it officially , they sneer at it unofficirily , they assail it with the open diatribe and the Jesuitical inuendo . because it humbly endeavours with gentleness and

generosity to mitigate the sorrows of humanity , to pour into its ever open wounds the wine and oil of Masonic sympathy and Masonic aid . It is this peculiar union of Christian and non-Christian , the Hebrew , the Hindoo , the Parsee , and the Mahommedan , feir humanitarian benificence , antl humaniurian good-will , which serves to help to point the bitter taunt , to justify the angry

accusation , nnd to account for the " invincible ignorance" of petulant accusers of their brethren . In the first Reman Catholic Bull of Clement XII , against Freemasons in 173 8 , Ficemasonry was openly condemned " ex Cathedra Petri , why ? but because it allowed persons , " cujuscumquc rcligionis et sccttc homines , " lo assemble themselves together , qua Freemasons ; and that Sir , which was a grave charge against us then , 140 years ago , is still , as you