Consecration Of The Past And Present Lodge, No. 2665.

which they had had that night . It was a matter of great pride to their lodge to be started under such auspicious circumstances . They could not thank the Grand Officers too highly , especially the Grand Secretary and Grand Chaplain . Bro . the Rev . J . S . BROWNRIGG , P . G . C , in response , said the S . W . had

alluded to the herculean labours they all performed . He would not contradict that brother , and when he looked down the table there was not one face he had not seen on the front at Brighton . It was entirely due to Brighton that they had done what they had , and , therefore , it was only a slight measure of return that they welcomed a Brighton lodge in London .

" The Consecrating Officers" was submitted by the W . M . He need not—for it would be superfluous—allude to the impressive and beautiful manner in which the ceremony was carried out . He had especially to thank the Grand Secretary for the great assistance given him ( the W . M . ) and the Secretary , pro tern ., in everything connected with the foundation of the ledge . There would have been several matters to grapple with , but they

were made easy by the Grand Secretary , whom it was a great pleasure to have an excuse to see . They had not much doubt about the warrant , but in such cases you are never sure until it is accomplished , and he had great satisfaction in receiving a communication from Bro . Letchworth stating that the warrant had been granted . They had put their shoulders to the wheel , and had done the best they could . Nothing could have been better done than the consecration . Even a W . M . had his feelings , and if he could only

follow up the success of that night , he should be proud to hand over the gavel to his successor . He thanked Bro . Brownrigg for his able oration , and Bro . Richardson , the able D . C . He was only too delighted when the Grand Secretary adopted his suggestion by asking some of the management of the Boys' School to assist in the ceremony—Bro . Eve , as S . W . ; Bro . Keyser , J . W . ; and their indefatigable Secretary , Bro . McLeod as I . G . To each and all they tendered sincere thanks to the Consecrating Officers , whom they were proud to know were now honorary members .

Bro . E . LETCHWORTH , G . Sec , said that , in view of the charming programme of music , and also the fact that the train for Brighton left shortly afterwards , he would not detain them with more words than were necessary . Were he to respond on his own behalf , his words would have been as brief as his thanks were sincere . He spoke not only for himself , but for those G . Officers who had done him the honour to assist in the recent ceremony . He

had to acknowledge particularly the services of Bro . Brownrigg , whose words he ventured to think must have touched the hearts of all ex-pupils of Brighton Grammar School . He had again to thank Bro . Richardson for the able manner in which he always came forward to conduct those ceremonies , and he had more especially to refer to the fact that he had been supported in the two Wardens' chairs and as I . G . by three brethren intimately connected

with the Institution with which the Worshipful Master is associated . The Boys' School a few years ago did him an honour he should never forget by electing him Treasurer , and therefore it was a peculiar pleasure to him that on that occasion he should be associated with three such distinguished members of that Institution . They one and all most heartily thanked the W . M . for the compliment paid them , and hoped that the lodge inaugurated that day might have before it a career of the greatest possible prosperity .

Bro . R . EVE , P . G . Treas ., also replied , and said he thought he had been holding office that night rather ex-officio , and therefore did not require thanks . He was delighted to be present at the consecration of that lodge . It was a step taken in the right direction and would no doubt have its effect on a number of public schools . The Grand Secretary had rendered great

service to the Order , and he had never found him at fault . Bro . Brownrigg he found doing the consecration and installation within the hour and was a marvel in the Order and a man to be prized . He was delighted to do anything re could to support the W . M . whom he congratulated on the start the lodge had made .

Bro . Colonel FESTER , P . P . G . W ., acting I . P . M ., said that as one of the founders of the Brighton Grammar School and as I . P . M . he had much pleasure in submitting the toast of the evening , " The Worshipful Master . " His first association with the name of Hudson was with the W . M . 's most respected father who was a brother founder of the School . It must , therefore , be a great pleasure to the W . M . to know his father was a founder of that

noble Institution . His first association with the W . M . was not at the opening of the School as he was then too small , but as a small drummer in the corps which he ( Bro . Tester ) had the honour to command . The W . M . did not look then as he did now , which only showed what corn , wine , and oil would do for man . He was glad the W . M . was supported by Bro . Alderman Davey , who was a past Mriyor and a present Director of the School .

When he thought what that School had done in Brighton , the great number of young men who had passed through , not only the Cambridge , but higher Examinations , and that now in every part of the world were to bs found those who had received their education there , it was an honour to be connected with it . The first duty of the W . M . would be to initiate the Head

Master . The founders had taken a great responsibility upon themselves , and if they were careful in carrying oat the principles of the Order , these young brethren would go from one part of the world to another , be Masters of lodges , and do good Masonic wo k . He congratulated the W . M . on the honour which had fallen upon him , and was sure he would do his best to fulfil the principles of Masonry and set an example to others .

Bro . C HUDSON , P . P . G . W ., W . M ., said he was very much indebted to his dear old friend , Col . Tester , for the manner in which he had proposed the toast , and he also thanked the brethren for their reception . It would be unnecessary for him to say a great deal in reply , for they knew he felt a great deal . He considered it a very high honour to be the first W . Master of this lodge . The I . P . M . had alluded to his ( the W . M ' s . ) father who initiated him in the York Lodge , of which

he was W , M ., when only a month over 21 years of age . Since then he had been a founder of two other lodges and gone through the chair . This was the greatest honour he had had conferred upon him , and he felt the lodge would do a great deal of good . He had received a copy of their monthl y magazine from which their lodge was named -the Past " snd Present—and he found many communications from old schoolmates in India , China , Japan , and other parts . All these men were in touch with everything in

the old school , and it was but natural these old boys would revisit as often as possible , join this lodge and return abroad to disseminate Freemasonry and take back pleasant recollections of the old school and the Past and Present Lodge . He could say a great deal more but the Brighton brethren feared they would lose their train . He would do everything in his power to enhance the prosperity of the lodge , and thanked them most sincerely for the manner in which the toast had been received . Bro . Col . Tester had omitted

Consecration Of The Past And Present Lodge, No. 2665.

to say that he ( the W . M . ) was also a Director ot the schojl , and he was the first old boy who had attained that position . " The Visitors" was next given by the WORSHIPFUL MASTER , who expressed the hope that visiting brethren would be present at all meetings of the lodge .

Bro . GEORGE EVERETT , P . G . Treas ., returned thanks , congratulating the Worshipful Master and remarking that the visitors would carry away very pleasing recollections of their visit to that consecration . Bro . FRANK RICHARDSON , P . G . D ., in his response , said he coincided with the Grand Secretary that these class lodges did an enormous amount of good to Masonry , and he hoped that that lodge , started on those lines , would be followed by many more public schools .

Bro . J . T ERRY , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . B . I ., said that when the glamour of the approaching Centenary Festival was passed he hoped the Old People would not be allowed to suffer . Bro . J . M . MCLEOD , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . I . B ., said he appreciated the compliment paid in asking him to assist in the ceremony . He congratulated the lodge on its foundation and on its W . M . He hoped in connection with the Centenary of the Boys' School to form an Old Masonians' Lodge . " The Officers " was next given , and was followed by the Tyler ' s toast .

Bro . H . W . Schartau , P . P . G . Org . Middx ., was in charge of the musical arrangements , and , assisted by Bros . F . Bevan and C Ellison , they left nothing to be desired .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Northumberland.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF NORTHUMBERLAND .

The annual convocation of the above Prov . Grand Chapter was held at the Masonic Hall , Pilgrim-street , on Tuesday afternoon , the 28 th ultimo . There was a large attendance from different parts of the province . Comp . the Right Hon . Sir Matthew White-Ridley , Bart ., M . P ., Grand Superintendent , presided , and was supported by the following officers , viz .: Comps . Wm . Mures Lyon , P . G . H . ; J . Cartwell Ridley , as P . G . J . ; Thomas Purvis , P . G . S . E . ; George Blair , P . G . S . N . ; T . J . Armstrong , P . G . Reg . ; Josiah

Hammond , P . G . P . S . j J . A . Forbes , P . G . S . B . ; M . J . Cohen , P . G . Std . Br . ; G . Spain , P . P . G . H ., P . G . D . C . ; W . F . Carmon , P . P . G . ] ., as P . A . G . D . C ; and Jacob Barker , P . G . Organist . There were also present Comps . John Spearman , P . P . G . H . ; T . Blenkinsop , 1 P . P . G . H . ; R . W . Cummins , P . P . G . H . ; G . F . Charlton , P . P . G . J . ; Henry Gibson , P . P . G . J . ; A . T . Aitchison , P . P . G . S . N . ; G . C . Coates , P . P . G . P . S . ; the Rev . Canon Walker , P . P . G . P . S . ; H . S . Bird , P . P . G . J . ; R . H . Holme , P . G . S . N . Durham ; E . Dunford , P . P . G . S . N . ; James Shaw , M . E . Z . 481 ; W . Charlton , M . E . Z . 659 ; and T . W . Lovibond .

After the Provincial Grand Chapter had been duly opened , the minutes of the last meeting held in Newcastle were taken as read and approved . The report of the Committee and financial statement were presented and were of a highly satisfactory character , and unanimously approved . The roll of chapters was called , and also proved to be of a satisfactory character .

The GRAND SUPERINTENDENT afterwards addressed the companions , and expressed his pleasure at not having to record removals by death during the year , as he had had to do on former occasions . He was glad to hear from the report of the Registrar that there had been an increase in membership during the past year . He urged on Prov . Grand Officers to attend official

visits to different chapters , as this had a tendency to increase interest in Royal Arch Masonry . Comp . George Eugene Macarthy was elected Prov . Grand Treasurer . The Provincial Grand Chapter then proceeded to the appointment of officers . The following were appointed and invested by the Grand Superintendent .

Comp . Rev . Canon Walker ... ... ... Prov . G . H . „ Capt . j . A . Foibes ... ... ... Prov . G . J . „ Thomas Purvis ... ... ... Prov . G . S . E . „ Thomas R . Short ... ... ... Prov . G . S . N . „ G . E . Macarthy ( elected ) ... ... Prov . G . Treas , „ T . J . Armstrong ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ F . F . Schnitger ... ... ... Prov . G . P . S . „ R . G . Salmond ... ... ... Prov . 1 st A . G . S . „ William Charlton ... ... ... Prov . 2 nd A . G . S . ,, Jacob Barker ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ James Shaw ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . ,, George Spain ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ A . L . Miller ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . ,, J . R . Turner ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ J . Usher Simpson ... ... ... Prov . A . G . S . E . * ,, Joshua Curry ... ... ... Prov . G . Janitor . It was decided that the next annual convocation would be held at North

Shields under the banner of the Ogle Chapter . After the close of * the chapter , the brethren adjourned to the refreshment room where a banquet was prepared . The Grand Superintendent presided , and the usual byal and Masonij toasts were duly honoured .

Opening Of A Masonic Hall At Sutton.

OPENING OF A MASONIC HALL AT SUTTON .

The brethren in the town of Sutton have for some considerable time expressed a wish to have a more suitable meeting place for their lodges and chapter , and about two years ago the matter was taken in hand . The result is in every way satisfactory , for Sutton now possesses a convenient and commodious hall , of

which the brethren in the neighbourhood may well feel proud . The new building is conveniently situated near the railway station , and has an excellent approach . On the ground floor is the dining-room , cloak-room , lobby , and firstclass kitchen accommodation . Ascending a wide staircase the hall itself is reached and is a large and lofty room , well suited for Masonic work , with ante-rooms and cloak-room adjoining . '

An informal opening ceremony took place on Friday , the 1 st instant , when the Directors and a few friends dined together on the premises . The Chairman , Bro . W . Pile , P . P . G . Treas ., presided , and was supported by Bro . E . Stribling , Vice-Chairman ; Bros . Hugh Taylor , Tom Leigh , J . Baker , Dendy , Napper , and Geo . Free , Directors ; Bro . Morris Gibson , Solicitor ; Frank