Consecration Of The Zodiac Lodge, No. 2615.

H . l'ldgebri-rht , 1441 ; S . Haddow , 169 ; C . Tapham , S 30 ; ] . Mahoy , 351 ; F . C . Pearce , 133 ; J . R . Tijou , 2549 ; F . S . Colmer , 2291 ; E . Byford , 212 ; W . Langman , W ? Stonier . S 60 ; C . Jolly , W . M . 21 S 4 , P . M . and Sec . 1472 ; and otl . ers . The banquet was partaken of at the Denmark Hotel , adjoining the schools , the future locale of the lodge , and was , even , though the room was

rather crowded , an exemplar of what the proprietor can , and , no doubt , will do in the future , and the banquet having been satisfactorily discussed , and grace sung , the WORSHIPFUL MASTER gave the usual loyal and Grand Lodge toasts , which were hrartily received and responded to . He spoke of her Most Gracious Majesty ' s long and glorious reign , of her being Patron of the several Masonic Charities , and of her desire for the continued prosperity of the Order .

The toast of "H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , Grand Master of the Order , " was given next , and the WORSHIPFUL MASTER , in putting it , said his Royal Highness had endeared himself to all Freemasons by the unceasing interest he took in all their concerns , as also in the welfare of " all sorts and conditions of men . "

The toast of " The Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Lathom " followed , and then that of " The Deputy Grand Master , Earl Amherst , and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past . " The WORSHIPFUL MASTER said he wished he had the power of speech necessary to do sufficient honour to ( he toast , and to speak of the splendid work done for Masonry by the distinguished brethren included in the toast . As it was impossible their Grand Master could always attend to the communications of Grand Lodge ,

their Pro Grand Master was £ I ways ready to do the work , and was , in fact , the right hand of their Grand Master , while the courtesy of their new D . G . M ., Earl Amherst , and his large and long experience as the ruler of a neighbouring province made him a worthy successor to their late esteemed D . G . M . That night they were honoured by the presence of Bros . Letchwoilh , Terry , the Ven . Stevens , Bolton , Tijou , Richardson , and Sadler . He coupled the toast with the name of Bro . Bolton , and called upon them to drink the toast with enthusiasm .

Bro . BOLTON briefly responded , saying that he was rather surprised at being called upon to respond for the tcast , and could only say that that evening they had seen some of the work the Grand Officers were called upon to perform . He hoped that at the end of their year of office the present Grand Officers would be enabled to render a good account of their stewardships .

The WoRsiui'Fui . MASTER then gave the toast of " The Consecrating Officers . " He said the distinguished brethren who had that day SD grandly performed the ceremony of consecration were the objects of his toast , and , as they were anxious to get to town , his remarks must necessarily be brief . The founders of the lodge were proud , and felt themselves greatly honoured at having such eminent Masons among them , and of having them to do the important work of the consecration of their lodge . As a young Mason , he

hardly knew how to express his thanks to Bro . Letchworth not only for his splendid performance of such a grand and impressive ceremony as that he had accomplished that day , while the eloquent oration of Bro . the Venerable Archdeacon Stevens would , he felt sure , not be in vain or easily forgotten ; his words would be thought of and remembered by the brethren of the Zodiac Lodge , as the guide of their conduct both within and without the lodge . He , in the name of the lodge , thanked the Consecrating Officers , and called upon Bro . Stevens to respond to the toast .

Bro . STEVENS , in response , said he felt the great responsibility that attended him in returning thanks for the toast , so cordially received by the brethren . He thought they must all have felt the dignity and impressiveness with which Bro . Letchworth had conducted the ceremony of consecration , and that to that good brother they owed a debt of gratitude not easily paid . Bros . Bolton and Tijou knew more about Grand Lodge than he did ,

and would have responded better than he could have done . They had done their part of the ceremony admirably . He could assure them that the Consecrating Officers did not look upon the work as a mere , matter of form , but rather as a work that would be for the benefit of Masonry , and especially in that portion of the Province of Essex in which it had that day been established .

Bro . STEVENS then proposed the toast of " Success to the Zodiac Lodge , and the Health of its W . M . " They had met that day to launch the good ship " Zodiac , " and set her fairly afloat on the ocean of Freemasonry . He had been at the launch of a ship , and just at the moment when everything was ready there was a deep amount of feeling and concern in the hearts of everyone present at that launch ; would she spring from her slips and glide without a hitch into her element , or would she stick fast and

remain immovable ? Some such feeling must rise in the minds of all those who were , as they were , interested in the future of a newly-constituted lodge like the Zodiac Lodge ; but he , for one , felt sure that it would go on and prosper , and he wished it " God-speed " on its journey . He spoke highly erf the manner in which Bro . Curtis , tficir W . M ., had invested his officers snd opened his reign , and was confident that under his care the destinies of the lodge were safe and firmly founded .

Bro . CURTIS , who was received with cheers , said he hardly knew how to respond to the toast , and felt sure that if they were in his position they would feel how impossible it was to find words sufficient to thank them for their great kindness in the reception of his name . His career in Masonry during the past 10 years had not been an idle one , but he certainly never expected to be the Master , especially the first Master , of such a lodge as

the one consecrated that day . 1 he origin of the lodge came about through their having held an instruction meeting at that house , and then some one suggested '' why not have a lodge of instruction " ? Why not ! Weil , they obtained the consent cf the Ixicn Lodge to hold a lodge of instruction under its warrant . The lodge turned out to be a well-attended and successful one , and then the question arose , " why not have a regular lodge " ? Well

Why not" 1 hey went to work and secured the services of Bro . Bromhead , their esteemed I . P . M ., who promised to get the petition signed by the West Ham Abbey Lodge , if possible ; however , he would try to do so , and he did get it signed . Then it was said they would have a difficulty to get a petition accepted at Grand Lodge for a lodge to be held at an h itc-I . They , however , tried that point , and , as the result showed , that point had

been overcome , and their lodge that day received its warrant and had been duly consecrated , dedicated , and firmly established on the roll of the Grand Lor ' ge of England . Their < xcellent Bro . W . Ives , their J . VV ., had , throughout the whole of the woik been most indefatigable in securing the success of the lodge , and to his untiring energy he attributed the splendid result that had been accomplished that day . Bro . Ives had given up part of his holiday , and had worked like a slave all that week in carrying out the

Consecration Of The Zodiac Lodge, No. 2615.

arrangements for the consecration . He was proud of his mother lod gethe Henley , No . 1472 —where he had passed many happy hours , but was prouder of the position he , through their kindness , held that day , as the first Master of the Zodiac Lodge . Bros . J OLLY , SAVAGE , GOWER , and others responded for " The Visitors . "

Bro . BROMHEAD responded for "The Officers , " as did Bros . COWELL , IVES , and others . Bro . A . T . IVES responded for " The Charities , " and the Tyler ' s toast concluded the proceedings . The musical arrangements were entrusted to Bro . W . Latter , P . G . Org ., who was assisted by Bros . H . Dutton , A . Fryer , H . Stubbs , and R . Mills .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Middlesex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF MIDDLESEX .

The 22 nd convocation of the Prov . Grand Chapter of Middlesex was held at the Greyhound Hotel , Hampton Court , on Saturday , the 4 th inst . In the unavoidable absence of Comp . Lord George Hamilton , M . P ., Grand Supt ., the principal chair was filled by Comp . Raymond H . Tbrupp , P . G . S . B ., who was supported by Comps . Colonei Hugh M . Gordon , as Prov .

G . H . ; Douglas Gordon , J . P ., Prov . G . J . ; Howard H . Room , P . A . G . D . G . ; A . Blenkarn , Prov . G . Treasurer ; W . H . Lee , Prov . G . S . E . ; Burcham Cooper , Prov . G . D . C . ; H . Wharton Wells , P . P . G . Org . ; W . G . Kentish ; J . berguson ; George R . Langley , P . P . G . Treasurer ; H . Higgins , P . P . G . D . C ; R . Poore , P . P . G . D . C . ; J . W . Hinton , Mus .

Doc ; Dr . J . G . Garson , P . P . G . J . ; G . A . Berkeley , P . Z . ; R . W . Forge , P . P . G . P . S . ; S . Richardson , H . 1293 ; J . M . Small , 1691 ; E . Leonard , 1691 ; C . Venning Burgess ; General Astley Terry ; W . H . Mansfield , 1549 ; H . Barton , J . 946 ; C . Fruen , M . E . Z . 1293 ; J . Bott , 1326 ; Dr . W . Cock , P . Z . ; A . Weller , J . 1423 ; J . P . Taylor , S . N . 1548 ; H . James , 946 ; Major Clifford Probyn , and others .

The Prov . Grand Chapter was opened and the minutes of the previous meeting read and confirmed . Comp . RAYMOND H . TIIRUPP then announced that the Grand Superintendent had asked him to express his regret that an important ] Cabinet Council meeting had prevented his attending Prov . G . Chapter .

1 he Audit report was received and adopted . Comp . THRUPP announced that he had been re-appointed Prov . G . H ., and Comp . Maj . Clifford Probyn was obligated and invested as Prov . G . J . On the proposition of Comp . GEO . R . LANGLEY , P . P . G . Treas ., Comp . A . Blenkarn was re-elected Prov . G . Treasurer .

The following officers were invested : Comp . W . H . Lee ... ... ... Prov . G . S . E . „ Venning Burgess ... ... ... Prov . G . S . N . ,, A . Blenkarn ( re-elected ) ... ... Prov . G . Treas . ,, E . Smith ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg .

„ Mansfield ... - ... ... Prov . G . P . S . ,, C . Fruen ... ... ... ... Prov . G . 1 st A . S . „ Leversedge ... ... ... Prov . G . 2 nd A . S . „ J . Bott ... ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ Wells ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . .. I . Barton ... ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . J . Barton ... ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C .

„ „ Plaford ... ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ J . Hinton , Mus . Doc . ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ J . Gilbert ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Janitor . The Audit Committee was appointed , and the Prov . Grand Chapter was closed .

A banquet was afterwards held , at which the usual toasts were honoured . In proposing " The Grand Officers , " the ACTING G . SUPERINTENDENT said they had two Grand Officers with them that night , one of whom—Comp . H . H . Room—was better known as the Prov . G . Secretary of Middlesex . They were both good specimens of the Grand Officers and had fully deserved their honours .

Comp . Col . HUGH M . GORDON , in response , said that was the first occasion upon which he had been present in the capacity of a Grand Officer . With regard to the toast , he was perfectly certain that the Grand Officers performed their duties with the very greatest ability . For some 20 years he had looked forward to attaining the honour of Grand office , and regarded

it also as an honour conferred upon the Province of Middlesex . That province recently supported their . Grand Superintendent at the Benevolent Festival in such a wonderful manner , that it was doubtless thought that some member from Middlesex should have Grand office conferred upon him . Under those circumstances , he felt it was the province that had enabled him to receive such an honour .

In giving " The Health of-the Grand Superintendent and the Prov . G . Officers , " Comp . TIIRUPP said he had already expressed his regret that Comp . Lord George Hamilton , M . P ., was not present , and they would all recollect the great strain there was on his time , especially in connection with the subject of India—for he was trying to do the best he could for India and his country . Although he was absent , they wished their Grand

Superintendent well , and sincerely hoped that would b 2 the last occasion he would notgive the Prov . Grand Chapter the pleasure of hiscampany , for he was a really good Mason , and had the great principle of their Order-Charity—at heart . They hoped that for many years Lord Gsorge Hamilton would be spared to reign over them . Trie Prov . Grand Officers were those who had done good suit and service in the chapters lor the benefit of Royal Arch Masonry .

Comp . Major CLIFFORD PROBYN , Prov . G . J ., said he was deeply grateful for the great compliment that had been bestowed upan him by the Grand Superintendent , auJ felt it was not only a compliment to himself but also to the Bard of Avon Chapter , of which he wa-s a marnb : r . He trusted that when his jcar of office expired he should still receive the

appreciation they had been good enough to express . Comp . HOWARD H . ROOM , P . A . G . D . C , responded for " The Visitors , " and thanked Comp . Thrupp lor the II dtering terms in which he had alluded to him . He was almost ashamed to be a visitor but he already belonged to three chapters and had as much Masonic work on hand as he could manage-