Reviews.

Reviews .

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Ireland.

Ireland .

LURGAN MASONIC HALL

THE DEDICATION CEREMONY . SPEECH BY THE D UKE OF ABERCORN . The new Masonic Hall , which has been erected in Lurgan to meet the requirements of the Order there , was dedicated on the and instant by his Grace the Duke of Abercorn , Grand Master of Ireland , and Officers of the Grand Lodge . Great interest was manifested in the proceedings , many of the brethren having at great inconvenience to themselves journeyed long distances in order to be present

at the ceremony , and to show their sympathy with the Craft in this prosperous locality . The undertaking was entered upon about a year ago , and within that short time has been brought to a successful completion , for which result the brethren of Lurgan are deserving of the heartiest congratulations . The Hall is situated in Windsor-avenue—a very central and convenient position . It is built of red brick , with terra-cotta dressings , and presents a very ornate appearance , an octagonal tower forming an attractive feature . The arrangements are

admirably suited to the purposes of Freemasonry , there being ample provision in the way of lodge-rooms , dining-rooms , and ante-rooms . All these , with the exception of the dining-room , which is situated on the ground floor , are approached by a staircase in the tower , and are both commodious and well furnished . The lodge-rooms occupy a space of 40 feet by 28 feet , and possess all the advantages of perfect equipment . Their ventilation is well looked after , and the heating is all that could be desired . The dining-room , on the ground floor , is equal in dimensions to the lodge-rooms , and to it are attached a service-room and

kitchen . The entrance-hall is a striking portion of the building . It is octagonal and well lighted , while the floor is tiled with tessellated pavement , in which Masonic symbols enter largely into the design . The ground area of the entire structure is 70 feet of frontage , with a rereward extension of 120 feet . The site was purchased from the Lurgan Real Property Company , and is , therefore , now owned by the representatives of the three lodges—Nos . 24 , 134 , and 151 , which in future will meet in the new hall . The builder was Mr . Thomas M'Millan , Belfast , and the architect Mr . Godfrey W . Ferguson , Belfast , upon whose skill the edifice , as now completed , reflects the highest credit .

The dedication ceremony was conducted at hig h noon in the principal lodge room by the Most Worshipful the Grand Master the Duke of Abercorn , K . G ., and other officers of the Grand Lodge . The following were present at the proceedings : Bros . Viscount Templetown , G . S . W ., P . G . M . ; the Lord Bishop of Down and Connor and Dromore ; R . Keating Clay , G . T . ; William Spence , G . S . W . j R . M . Lowry , G . S . C . ; W . M . Battersby , P . S . G . D . ; Dr . W . Chetwode Crawley , P . G . D ., G . S . Instr . ; R . J . Hilton , P . D . G . M . Antrim j W . Rankin , P . G . Sec . Antrim ; H . Dunbar M'Master , P . S . G . W . ; James Malcolm , D . L .,

P . P . S . G . W . ; Edward Reynolds , 24 ; R . A . Waddell , 24 ; George Livingstone , 77 ; G . F . Ewart , P . M . 223 , P . G . Treas . ; George K . Lawless , P . M . 409 ; W . K . Muila , 55 , P . P . S . G . W . ; R . W . Lepper , W . M . 223 ; T . A . Finch , 47 , P . S . G . D .: j . F . Dunwoody , 55 , P . S . G . W . ; M . Holden , D . D ., P . M . 219 , P . G . C . j T . W . Hanna , W . M . ss ; M . E . Knight , P . M . 223 , P . S . G . W . ; John Irwin , 794 , P . J . G . W . ; W . Lyons , 384 , P . P . S . G . W . ; J . H . Glendinning , Sec . 134 ; and others . Bro . W . J . Hughan , P . S . G . D ., specially invited , was unable to attend .

The company was afterwards entertained by the" members of Lodges Nos . 24 , 134 , and 151 , in the dining room , where a sumptuous luncheon was served in recherche style by Messrs . Thompson and Son , Belfast . Ample justice having been done to the good things provided , Viscount TEMPLETOWN , who presided , said there was a toast which all Freemasons loved to give , and the honour devolved upon him of proposing it . He knew it needed no recommendation from him to that company of the brethren ; it was that of " The Queen and the Craft . " The sentiment having been duly honoured ,

The CHAIRMAN next proposed " The Officers of the Grand Lodge of Ireland , with which he coupled the name of their Worshipful Grand Master , the Duke of Abercorn . ( Applause . ) He said their thanks were due to their brethren of Lurgan who were good enough to entertain them . They felt it a very great honour to come and perform the ceremony which had taken place in the earlier portion of the day , and in another part of the building . He referred to the dedication of their new Masonic Hall for the purposes of Masonryand they hoped that

, brotherly love would long continue to abide among the Craft there . They knew very well that the duties of his Grace were such in his position of Grand Master that it was not possible for him to attend every function as he might wish to do , but , at the same time , they must carefully remember that whenever an urgent eall came to him he responded to it and came amongst them to give them encouragement and enlightenmentand to show them their onward path of duty .

, He would not further stand between them and their Grand Master , and so he would only say they tendered to him their deepest thanks for his presence , and they hoped before long to see him in Lurgan again . ( Hear , hear , and applause . ) They had to regret that Sir James Creed Meredith , the Dep . G . Master of Ireland , was not with them owing to ' an illness , from which they trusted he would soon recover .

The toast was warmly received , the brethren standing and singing heartily fr or he ' s a jolly good lellow . "

Ireland.

Bro . the Duke of A BERCORN , who met with a most cordial reception , said it was unfortunate that owing to the train arrangements he had to leave early , but he thought several of them were similarly circumstanced . However , he was glad of having the opportunity before going away of thanking them lor the cordial way in which they had received the health of the Grand Master and other Officeis cf the Grand Lodge of Ireland . To him personally it was a matter of great pleasure , although a duty , to come amongst them that day and help to dedicate

the hall , which they had , regardless of expense , erected in the town of Lurgan . He felt also certain that other members of the Grand Lodge who had come to assist them so ably in the most interesting ceremony of that morning were no less gratified with their visit to the north . The brethren of Lurgan would allow him to congratulate them upon their new hall . It seemed to have been built in a good and historic style ; they had all the recent improvements connected with Masonry , and everything also which tended to illuminate a building of that kind ,

but they had as well the historic Masonry of 3000 years ago , which would do its work in that new building . He did not know whether on that occasion it devolved upon him to say much regarding Masonry in this country , but he was able to inform them it was in a most flourishing condition . They were receiving from time to time large bodies of additional members , and gratifying support was being extended towards an object which all good Masons had at heart—viz ., that of providing funds for the two Masonic Schools , one for girls and the other for boys .

He ventured to say that there was no society of any kind in the United Kingdom possessed schools in which the children under its care were better educated , and at a smaller cost , than in those schools . ( Loud applause . ) The management of them was excellent , as they were under the supervision of some of the very best men in Dublin and some of the most energetic of their Masonic brethren . They had a concert last week in Derry on behalf of the schools , and it was so successful that they had realised £ 80 to ^ 100 net . There would be a concert in Belfast during

the month of January next , and he hoped when it took place the brethren would influence their friends to give it their hearty support . It must be a matter of great satisfaction that those who enjoyed the good things of this world should be able to contribute to the various organisations and associations towards rendering happier the lives of those children who , through no cause of their own , had lost parents . The cases brought before the governors of the' Institution were sometimes most pitiable , and he thought it was a grand thing that they should be

able to educate 106 girls and about 80 boys in those splendid establishments . ( Applause . ) Masonry outwardly was good , but he thought that inwardly it was far better . The way they helped those in distress was worthy of all consideration . He had only once more to thank them on behalf of the Grand Ofiicers for the way they had received them . It was a great pleasure to come among the brethren

of Lurgan and make their acquaintance . He congratulated them on the strides they were making with the Order , and he especially congratulated the chiefs of the Order in that town . He hoped that the dedication that day , and the luncheon which now followed it , would not come to an early conclusion , but would be the means of raising the Masonic body in the estimation not only of Masons , but also in the estimation of all outside the ranks . ( Applause . )

The Duke of Abercorn , Viscount Templetown , and a number of others having left the hall in order to catch their train , the chair , vacated by the Viscount , was taken by Bro . Sydney Jackson , Dep . Prov . Grand Master .

Bro . R . KEATING CLAY , Dublin , Grand Treas ., in proposing "The Health of Bro . Jackson , said he believed it would be received with acclamation . They all knew that Bro . Jackson was a good and tried Mason , who had served under two or three Grand Masters . He was sure Bro . Jackson would be pleased to see all the lodges in Lurgan band together in that handsome new hall and utilising it in

the interests of the Craft . It appeared to him only as yesterday since he and his colleagues had laid the foundation-stone of the building , and it looked as if it had been raised by fairy hands . He would close by applying the words of an anonymous author to Bro . Jackson : " In the future may his happiness be as deep as the sea and his heart as light as its foam . "

The toast was received in the most enthusiastic manner . The Chairman ( Bro . J ACKSON ) , in acknowledging the sentiment , expressed the pleasure it was to him to meet them all there that day in connection with the dedication of a new Masonic Hall in Lurgan . He trusted that the example they were setting would be followed throughout the province . He thanked them very heartily for the way they had received his name , and especially did he thank their Dublin brethren , whom they were glad to have amongst them .

Bro . CRAWLEY said he had great pleasure in proposing a toast which he was certain would be well received . But belore doing so he might say they would remember he had had the honour , in conjunction with the Grand Treasurer , of being present in the town of Lurgan , at the Masonic function when the foundation-stones of that hall were laid . He had been so impressed on that

occasion with their cordiality arid hospitality that he had invited himself back—( laughter)—and he was so pleased with the reception accorded him that day that he hoped to have the privilege of meeting them again at no far future date . Bro . Crawley then proposed "The Health of Bros . Thomas Faloon , 24 ; James Malcolm , 134 ; and J . A . Thompson , 151 , " all of whom he thought deserved well the esteem of their brethren .

The sentiment was heartily received . Bro . THOMAS FALOON regretted that the number of his Iodge ( 24 ) was so low down on the calendar on that occasion , for he would have preferred some other member to have spoken before him . However , he thanked Bro . Crawley very warmly for the eloquent manner in which he had proposed the health of the

members of the three lodges . When invited to come down and assist in the dedication ceremony , the officers of Grand Lodge responded so heartily that he felt the ho iour was on the other side . In Lurgan they had endeavoured to work together harmoniously for the benefit of the Order , and he thought they had in some measure succeeded in doing it .

Bro . J AMES MALCOLM . D . L ., on behalt of Lodge 134 , returned their most sincere thanks for the very hearty manner in which the Grand Officers , through Bro . Crawley , expressed their appreciation at that little hospitality . The return for it was vcry much greater , and he hoped that the result of their meeting that day would be another impetus to the brethren . It was gratifying to the members of the Craft in Lurgan , and it must be to the architect also , that the building met

with the approval of the officers of the Grand Lodge . The hall would be a credit to the town . ' ( Applause . ) He then paid a fitting tribute to the assistance rendered to the Order by the Duke of Abercorn , whose wise counsel and read y experience were so often required . They were all sorry that the Deputy Grand Master—Sir James Creed Meredith—was unable to be present on account of illness , and they hoped he would soon be restored to perfect health .

Bro . J . A . THOMPSON , for the members of Lodge 151 , in a few well-chosen words , returned thanks . The proceedings then terminated . THE IOTH ANNIVERSARY of the Mansfield Houss University Settlemen t Ginning

, Town , E ., will be held on Wednesday , the 14 th instant , at 3 . 15 , in the Memorial Hall , Farringdon-street . Chairman , Principal Fairbairn , D . D ., of Mansfield College , Oxford . Speakers : Mrs . Craigie ( John Oliver Hjbbss ) , Aid . W . H . Dickinson ( Chairman ot L . C . C ) , and Rev . R . F . Horton , D . D . ; and at S p . m . in Public Hall , Canning Town , E . Chairman , Mr . Justice Cozens-Hirdy . Speakers : Lord Coleridge . Q . C , and the Dean ofjEly ( Dr . CW . Stubbs ) . ..., _ , h