Provincial Grand Lodge Of North Wales (Western Division).

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF NORTH WALES ( WESTERN DIVISION ) .

On Wednesday , the 23 rd ult ., the annual meeting of the Prov . Grand Lodge of North AVales ( AVestern Division ) , vvas held at Neyland , vvhen the Prov . Grand Master , Bro . Lord Kensington , dedicated the new Masonic Hall at that place . This nesv hall has been erected at a cost of ^ 400 on land belonging to Sir Charles Philipps , of Picton Castle , and will fill a want long felt by the brethren in that town . The building is situated on

the main road leading from Neyland to Llanstadvvell , and if the exterior of the structure is not of an imposing appearance , the internal arrangements and decorations are all that can be desired , and reflect the greatest credit upon those charged vvith the duty of seeing the work efficiently carried out . The attendance of brethren from all the lodges in the province vvas large ,

and there was also a considerable gathering of Past and Present Officers of Prov . Grand Lodge , there being altogether about 130 brethren present . The Prov . Grand Master vvas accompanied b y his Deput }' , Bro . AV . Lyte Stradling , and the Provincial Grand Lodge having been opened , the brethren being in their respective stations , the opening hymn , " Hail , Eternal , by whose aid , " was sung .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER then addressed the Provincial Grand Lodge explaining the objects for vvhich they had met , the necessity that existed for the erection of the building , and the effect it vvas likely to have upon the future of Masonry in the district . The ceremony of consecration vvas then proceeded vvith , the introductory

prayer being given by the P . G . Chaplain , Bro . the Rev . Stesvart Pattison , P . M . 290 . The anthem followed " Behold how good and joyful a thing it is for brethren to dsvell together in unity . " This , as well as the other musical parts of the ceremony , vvas capitally rendered by a choir under the direction of Bro . T . Hancock , vvith orchestral accompaniment .

The Prov . Grand Master , with the other assisting brethren , then proceeded round the lodge , and having dedicated the same , the Prov . Grand Chaplain offered the dedicatory prayer . Bro . the Rev . G . Huntington , P . P . G . C , then delivered an address on Masonry . The anthem , " I have surely-built Thee an house to dsvell in , " vvas then given , and a final benediction from the chair brought the ceremony to a close .

The usual business in connection vvith the annual Prov . Grand Lodge vvas then proceeded vvith , the roll call of the lodges being responded to by the brethren .

The minutes of the last Prov . Grand Lodge were read and confirmed , and the Grand Treasurer ' s account for the year received and passed . Bro . Dr . Hearder vvas re-elected Grand Treasurer for the ensuing year ,

after which the Prov . Grand Master invested his officers as follows : Bro . F . E . Remfry , 1177 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . AV . „ S . B . Sketch , 990 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . Stewart Pattison , 000 ... ... " fn / - / -v . „ Rev . W . Ll . Rees , 476 j Prov . G . Chaps . „ Geo . J . Hearder , 476 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ R . D . Gilbertson , 1748 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ John James , 464 ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ John Prosser , 464 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ D . Williams Rees , 671 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ Charles Jones , 476 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of AV . „ R . G . Smith , 1072 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ John Leech , 1177 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ Richard Thomas , 2001 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ David Thomas , 366 ... ... ... " rn n C . J a „ W . Milne , 378 j Prov . G . Std . Brs . „ D . D . Mayo , 990 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ J . Ll . Thomas , 671 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ Thomas Rogers , 464 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . ,, J . F . Hancock , 990 ... ... ... "" I „ O . L . Roberts , 1072 ... ... ... | „ G . H . Way , 378 ... ... ... !» Prov . G . Stwds . „ Richard Miller , 1748 ... ... ... I ,, E . J . Biddlecombe , 366 ... ... ... J „ G . Bowen , 464 ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler

The report of Prov . Grand Lodge Committee , held at Carmarthen , on the 12 th October , was read and adopted , and a sum of 20 guineas voted to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls for 1892-3 , the lodge adopting two girls as candidates by the province for election to that Institution . Bro . Aaron Stone , P . M . 671 , was unanimously re-elected Charity Commissioner for the ensuing year , and a hearty vote of thanks vvas awarded him for past services .

Prov . Grand Lodge vvas then closed , and the brethren afterwards sat down to a banquet at the Great Western Hotel .

Consecration Of The Gracedieu Lodge, No. 2428, At Coalville.

CONSECRATION OF THE GRACEDIEU LODGE , No . 2428 , AT COALVILLE .

Closely following upon the recent consecration of the Lodge of Research , No . 2429 , in the Province of Leicestershire ancl Rutland , the brethren vvere called together to witness the establishment of still another addition to the roll of Leicestershire lodges , this time at the mining and manufacturing

centre of Coalville . The new lodge—Gracedieu—takes its name from the Abbey formerly existing in the neig hbourhood , thc interesting ruins of which building still remain , and the brethren have adopted , at the heading of their very artistic summons , a pleasing view of the chief portion remaining of that building .

For the purposes of their meetings an exceedingly commodious and convenient Masonic Hall has been erected , immediately adjoining the Railsvay Hotel , and there on the 16 th ult . thebrethren assembled from all quarters in goodly numbers to witness the ceremony of consecration . The P . G . M ., Bro . the Right Hon . the Earl Ferrers , having been pleased to consent to undertake the ceremony , attended vvith his Provincial Grand Officers , vvho had been specially summoned for thc purpose of the meeting .

I he lodge vvas opened vvith the necessary formalities , and after the petition 'ind warrant had been read , and the approval of the founders given to the officers named to preside over them , the senior Prov . Grand Chaplain , Bro . tlie Rev . IL AV . FITCH , M . A ., delivered the following oration : •¦ •igrit Worshipful Sir , Worshipful Master , and Brethren , —It can hardly fail to be ; i matter of sincere satisfaction to the members of our Brotherhood that the grosvth and development of our ancient Craft is so marked in this province at the present time . Indeed , it is but three sveeks to-day since the Lodge of Research was con-

Consecration Of The Gracedieu Lodge, No. 2428, At Coalville.

secrated . and nosv sve are commanded to assemble again to witness the solemn consecration of the Lodge of Gracedieu . And since every man svho is in earnest about any good object cannot but svish it extended as svirlely as possible , so sve . as loyal membf-rs of this province , believing that the more our Order is extended the better it svill be for Society , may surely accept the omen contained in this beautiful name , and find in Gracedieu the expression of our thanks to God . For the very name reminds us of one great essential part of Freemasonry , belief

in the Fatherhood of God , whom sve addrdss in one ot our solemn prayers" Almighty Father , Architect and Ruler of the Universe . " Masonry , as we svell know , is a system of morality , but it is unlike the old philosophical system of the Greeks . Masonry occupies itself svith the study and pursuit of moral and social virtues , but does not engage in speculation or the nature and origin of things . The very first verse of the V . of the S . L ., ever in its place in every Masonic lodge , is enough to set the Mason's mind at rest . " In the beginning God created the svorld , " and sve worship him as T . G . A . O . T . U . No lodge is opened but his name

is invoked , and svhen lodge is closed His name receives our thanks . Trusting in that name , the candidate approaches his ideal , for svhere it is invoked we trust no danger can ensue . The sense of God's Fatherhood give the Mason courage in his hour of trial , but it also teaches him caution . He is never to forget that wherever sve are or svhatever we do may be doing the G . A . O . T . U . is vvith us , and his Allseeing eye observes us , and , therefore , surely the Mason should have a nervous and trembling anxiety to do his duty according to his rank and condition . No matter svhat the object of a life ,

Great things or small , the making thrive a shop , Or seeing that an Empire take no harm . I have read , brethren , of an operative Mason , an ancient Greek sculptor , who was carving an image in a lofty niche of a great temple , where but half of it could possibly be seen , and vvhen one who watched him asked why he took such pains to finish it , he replied— " The Gods see behind and before . " Such is the spirit Masonrj would have us apply to our morals , and to courage and

caution add fidelity . Indeed , there is no moral or social virtue the exercise of which is not demanded by us of our Masonic obligation . But upon this doctrine of the Fatherhood of God rests another great Masonic principle—the brotherhood of man . It follows among Masons as a logical necessity , and therefore it is our time-honoured custom to greet one another by the name of Brother . Masonry teaches us to bear one another ' s burdens . Who can forget in how strange and striking a manner the chiefesr . virtue svas inculcated at his initiation f And at a

Masonic meal svhen sve ask God to bless our food sve pray that He may not be unmindful of the wants of others . Time would fail me svere I to soeak at length of the vast systematic and discriminate Charity which his sprung from our great reality of Brotherhood . Even men who viesv us svith disfavour have been forced to admit that sve are the greatest ch iritable organisation in the world . Our Order is like a city on a hill , it cannot be hid . Its deeds are knosvn and read of all men . But there is one more principle of Masonry svhich 1 svould briefly mention , i . e .

obedience to lasvful auihonty . Ihe Mason is taught never to countenance any act tending to subvert society . He must pay due obedience to the law- * of the land in svhich he may reside , and never forget his allegiance to the Sovereign of his native country . He ought therefore to Be a peace-loving , orderly citizen . The building of King Solomon ' s Temple should be a type of his life . For there all the stones svere known in the quar . ies , all the timoers prepired far away in the Forest of Lebanon , then carried on floats to Joppa , and noiselessly adjusted on the

Hill of Sion , so that in the preparation of that wounderous building—No hammer fell , no ponderous axes rung , Like some tall palm , the mystic labric sprung . So is it with the temple that Masons ought to build within themselves . In quietness and confidence should be their strength , till God prepares their path to

His Eternal lemple . For in the noble svords of our lately dead poet—Self revirence , self knowledge , i-elf control , 1 hese three alone lead life to sovereign power . \' et not for posver , posver of herself Would come unasked for , but tn live by lasv , Acting the lasv sve live by svithout fear ,

And because right is right to follosv right , Were svisdom in the scorn of consequence . Therefore , brethren , the great principle of the Fatherhood of God tends to make them charitable , and obedience to authority renders them peaceable . And in thesetimes , when the very existence of God is denied by thousands uf the frail creatures of his providence , wnen there is an evil tendency aoroad to disobey

law , because it is lavs ' , is it not svell that the grand old principles svhich I have so feebly set before you should be venerated more and more amongst us . Let us therefore , brethren , yield to God our hearty thanks for this flowing tide of Freemasonry that is breaking in amongst us . May the Gracedieu Lodge , consecrated to-day in this place , accrue to the benefit of mankind and the honour of God ' s holy name . May He endue its ollicers with svisdum , and all its members with the spirit of His holy fear , and cement and adorn it with every moral and social

virtue . After the oration , vvhich was listened to vvith much interest and attention , the Prov . Grand Master proceeded in a masterly manner to constitute and consecrate the new lodge . The musical portion of the ceremony , which added greatly to the success of the day ' s proceedings , vvas most ably conducted by Bro . T . B . Laxton , P . P . G . O ., Prov . S . G . D .

By direction of the Prov . Grand Master , Bro . S . S . Partridge , Deputy Prov . Grand Master , then took the chair , and installed as lirst W . AI . Bro . the Hon . Paulyn Francis Cuthbert Rawdon Hastings , I . P . M , 779 , vvho appointed and invested the following as his officers : Bros . W . A . Musson , P . P . J . G . W ., S . W . ; R . Porter-Keates , J . VV . ; G . Bullen , P . P . A . G . D . C .

lreas . ; J . Wootton , Sec . ; J . Turner , 6 . D . ; J . Colley Burkitt , AI . D ., J . D . ; G . D . Orchard , VV . M . 779 , D . C ; G . Ormsby Burkitt , M . D ., i . G . ; L . Houghton , M . D ., Steward ; and E . Louch , Tyler . The proceedings of the day terminated vvith a banquet excellentl y provided by Mr . Sheffield , the worthy host ot the Railsvay Hotel .

Consecration Of The Pentalpha Chapter, No. 974 Bradford.

CONSECRATION OF THE PENTALPHA CHAPTER , No . 974 BRADFORD .

Ihe consecration of this chapter took place at the Masonic Hall , Darleystreet , Bradford , on Tuesday , tlie 25 th October , sviien there svere present—Comps . Edsvard Lctchsvorth , P . Z . 2 , Grand ••jcribe E . ol England , as girand Superintendent ; T . VV . Embleton , P . Z . 1513 , Prov . G . H . ; Win , Hy . Jessop , P . Z . 521 , Prov . G . J . j Henry Smitn , P . Z . 302 , Prov . G . S . li . ; Jonn Wm . Bdlme , P . Z . 61 , Prov . G . ti . N . ; H . Oxley , P . Z . 495 . as Prov . G . Treas . ; Isaac Kaberry , P . Z . 495 . Prov . G . Reg . ; John Seed , P . Z . 44 8 , Pros * . G . P . Soj . ; and many others .

The Principals pro tent , and other Principals , Present and Past , entered and opened the chapter . Apjlogies for absence were read from Uie lollosving : Comps . Fred . Cleeves , P . Z . 904 , P . P . G . Reg . ; Gjorge Altnorp , P . Z . 600 , P . P . G . S . ; C Crabtree , P . Z . Ooo , P . P . G . P . S . ; B . Brougiuon , P . Z . 302 , P . P . G . J . ; Ensor Drury , P . Z . 139 , P . P . G . H . ; tne Rev . T . C . Smyth , D . D ., P . Z . 2069 , P . P . G . H . ; VV . H . Brittain , J . P ., P . Z . 139 ; John Cass , P . Z . 302 ; and W . J . Waugh ,