Edinburgh Freemasons And The Gordon Highlanders.

to the recent news from the Transvaal , and said the British troops must expect to receive hard knocks , but they would try to give two in return . ( Applause . ) Thc foe they were to meet was a gallant one , and well armed , and against them he could promise that the Gordons would try to do their duty and their best , as they had done in the past . ( Loud applause . ) Capt . DINGWALL also replied . A collection was taken in aid of the Lord Provost ' s fund for the wives aud children of reservists , realising io guineas , —Scotsman .

Consecration Of The Yorick Lodge, No. 2771.

CONSECRATION OF THE YORICK LODGE , No . 2771 .

The consecration of this , at present the youngest , lodge in the Craft , took place at Freemasons' Hall , on Tuesday , the 31 st ult . The Consecrating Officer , Bro . Edward Letchworth , F . S . A ., G . Sec , assisted by Bros . John Strachan Q . C ., G . Reg ., as S . W . ; James Fernandez , Past A . G . D . C , as J . W . ; the Rev . Canon Brownrigg , P . G . Chap ., as Chap . ; Frank

Richardson , P . G . D ., as D . of C . ; and J . M . McLeod , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . LP .., as I . G . The principal ollicers of the new lodge are : Bros . E . R . Bartley Denniss , P . P . G . W . Middx , W . M . designate ; W . S . Penley , P . M . 1319 , S . W . designate ; Alex . W . Watson / 591 , P . G . Std ; Br . Backs , J . W . designate ; Clarence Sounes , Treas . ; and F . Trchawkc Davies , Sec ,

pro / cm . The following is the list of the Founders of the lodge : Bros . Richard Eve , P . G . T . and P . S . G . W . Hampshire ; Henry Neville , P . A . G . D . C ; Thos . A . Bullock , P . G . Std . Br . ; E . R . Bartley Denniss , P . P . G . W Middx . ; H . T . Brickwcll , P . M . ; W . S . Penley , P . M . 1310 ; Alexr .

W . Watson , Prov . G . Std . Br . Bjcks ; Clarence Sounes , F . 'lrehawke Davies , Walter Gay , H . Lawrence Svinburne , E . Lockwood , Frank T . Addynian , Walter Passmore , J . Bannister Howard , Louis Harfield , G . W . Bean-an , J . T . Murray , M . R . Morand , Harold Montague , Arthur Shirley , and Commander C Napier Robinson .

Among the large number of distinguished visitors present were : Bros . R . Loveland-Loveland , Q . C , President Board General Purposes ; Sir J 13 . jWoiicklon ; Archdeacon Sinclair , P . G . Chap . ; Gordon Miller , P . G . D . ; H Courtenay Luck , P . P . G . W . ( Queensland ; Chas . lielton , P . G . D . C ; C . F Matier , P . A . G . D . C ; Imrc Kiralfy , P . A . G . D . C ; J . D . Lanyon , P . D . G . D . C . jas . Stephens , P . D . G . D . C . Bucks ; T . H . Gudiner , P . A . G . D . C ; James Terry ,

P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . B . I . ; J . J . Thomas , P . G . Std . Br . ; Guy Repton , P . P . G . W . Middx ; jas . W . Buq * ess , P . G . T . Bucks ; 4 Ienry Sadler , G . Tyler ; J . Percy Fitzgerald ; li . T . Odellj Thos . Powell ; W . Bonny , P . P . G . W ., Berks ; the representatives of Thc Daily Telegraph , The I-in , and The Referee ; Harry Nicholls ; Walter Dennis ; W . S . Hooper ; W . Sergeant Lee ; Prof . F . W . Driver , M . A ., P . M . 4 . S ; representatives of The Freemasons' Chronicle and Thc Stage ; Meredith Ball ; I . II . Barnes ; and many others .

'I'he Consecrating Officer performed the ceremony in his usual impressive manner , so well known to the brethren , and constituted thc new lodge under the name of the Yorick Lodge , No . 2771 . The installation of the W . M . designate then look place , the Installing Officer being the Grand Secretary , who installed Bro . E . R . Hartley Denniss as the first W . M . of the lodge , who invested Bro . IL T . Brickwcll , P . M ., as l . P . M . The Treasurer was then elected by ballot , Bro . Clarence Sounes being unanimously chosen .

Thc appointment and investiture of officers then took place as follows Bros . W . S . Penley , P . M ., S . W . ; A . W . Watson , P . M ., J . W . ; Clarence Sounes , Treas . ; F . Trchawke Davies , Sec ; Walter Gay , S . D . ; H . Lawrence Swinburne , J . D . ; E . Lockwood , I . G . ; Frank T . Addyman , D . C ; Walter Passmore , Org . ; J . Bannister Howarth , Louis Harfield , G . W . Beamnn , and J . T . Murray , Stewards . The election 01 Tyler took place by show of hands , Bro . R . W . Goddard , P . M ., being chosen , and appointed and invested by the W . M .

The G . SECRETARY then delivered the three addresses ; which never before appeared to us so beautiful and appropriate . The W . M . brought thc lirst item of business before the lodge . He slated that on thc agenda was the election of Committee to frame the by-laws . He said there was no occasion for that ; that the by-laws had been already framed , and submitted to the Grand Secretary , who Jiad sanctioned and approved them ; that they would in due course be brought before the next recular ineetintr of the lodce .

There was a large number of propositions lor initiation and joining members . Thc lodge was closed by the W . M . Thc brethren then adjourned to the Crown Room of Freemasons Tavern , where an excellent banquet was provided . At its conclusion , thc following toasts were proposed and received suitable recognition .

In giving " The Oueen and the Craft , " the W . M . alluded to the present war and the personal interest her Majesty took in its incidents ; remarking that thc reverse we had so lately experienced had increased the sympathy the ( Jucen has for her army and her suffering subjects in South Africa ; that advantage may bs derived from defeat if it causes us to be better prepared auc ! note wary with a foe wc arc to prone to underrate ; that

the lri :, b soldiers taking part in the present campaign have been loyal to the British II ig , and contrast favourably with the discontented rebellious spirit just now so rife in Ireland . " God Save the ( hieen , " was sung with hearty enthusiasm . Thc toast of " Trie M . W . G . M ., H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , " was next

given , followed by " Thc M . W . thc Pro G . M ., Kirl Amherst ; the R . W . the Dip . CM ., the Earl of Warwick ; and thc rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past . " Bros . Sir John Monckton , the Ven . Archdeacon Sinclair , Loveland Lovclind , and Richard Kve were associated with this toast , which was warmly received by the brethren .

Bro . Sir Jnii . v MONCKTON replied on bshalf of the Grand O / lkers in a humorous speech . I le alluded to the skull , ths device of the lodge , saying he had seen many Hamlets , good , bad , and indifferent . He observed that Yorick was represented as a man of infinite wit , who " set thc table in a roar . " Let the brethren remember " that , and take care that mirth and un . ' iiiimily of good feeling should , like salt , season and preserve their lodge . Thc toast of " The Consecrating Ollicers " having been drunk , The GRAND REGISTRAR replied . He also alluded pleasantly to the emblematic skull , lt must not be forgotten that there are different phases

Consecration Of The Yorick Lodge, No. 2771.

of art , as shown in the painter , the musician , and the actor , and that all should be united in the bond of brotherhood . It was the duty of all artists to support the Craft . He could fancy Yorick in a Masonic lodge ; what a useful and entertaining member he would have proved . He also alluded to Yorick ' s love for children ; what a noble supporter he would have bsen of our Masonic schools .

Bro . FERNANDEZ , also spoke . He entertained a justifiable pride in being a Grand Officer , although he was the youngest member of that august body . He used many well expressed phrases as to the present and future prospects of the lodge , and in conclusion he trusted that continuous prosperity might not justify the brethren in saying , " Alas ! poor Yorick . "

The toast of " The W . M . " was given by Bro . R . LOVELAND LOVELAND , President of the Board of General Purposes . He spoke of his personal knowledge of the W . M ., his great worth as a man and a Mason . He spoke of him also as a great actor ; said he opened and carried on a case in court for two whole days , which was settled in chambers afterwards in about five minutes .

The W . M ., replying , said he would rather be kicked than altogether unnoticed . With regard to the case of which Bro . Loveland had spoken , it was a great satisfaction to him , the W . M ., it being decided in his favour . For upwards of two years the idea was entertained of founding lhe present lodge , but circumstances had arisen which prevented the early fulfilment of the idea . He thanked the lodge and the visiting brethren for the hearty welcome they had accorded him .

The W . M . then proposed " 1 he Visitors . " He said the lodge had not , as yet , a Chaplain ; he trusted , ere long , that want would be supplied . He alluded to Bro . Archdeacon Sinclair , the high estimation in which he was held for his learning , the admirable way he discharged his clerical and Masonic duties , and his affability to all . The visitors replied .

Bro . Archdeacon SINCLAIR alluded , in feeling terms , to thc late reverse the British had experienced in South Africa , reminding them that the Lord of Hosts , in his wise and beneficent Providence , overruled all the affairs of men , so that in the end they worked together for good . In an amusing manner he alluded to one of the musical brethren , Bro . Frank Boor He said he felt sure that he was only Boer in name , not so in his nature

He spoke of the beneficent influence of Freemasonry 5 how it knit all men together , of different creeds , nationalities , and phases of thought , into the holy bond of Brotherhood . He spoke of the late Bro . Walter Lacy , and the valuable lessons in elocution he had received from him . Again an allusion was made to the skull—this time in its serious aspect . Masonry embodied loyalty , order , and upright conduct towards others . Bro . LUCK , a Colonial Mason , also sooke .

Bro . GUY REI ' , W . M . 2127 , alluded to the fact that three of the Stewards of the Yorick Lodge were his initiates . Bro . RICHARD EVE , P . G . Treas ., in giving " The Masonic Charities , " said how nobly they were supported by the brethren j that the boys would grow up and support the girls , many of whom , he doubted not , would prove true and loving wives ; that brotherly love should not be confined to class , creed , or colour . He coupled with the toast the name of Bro . McLeod , Sec . R . M . I . B .

Bro . MCLEOD said he was in a difficulty , since Bros . Terry and Hedges were absent . He alluded to the eloquence of Bro . Eve in the sacred cause of Charity . He was sure that at thc three great Masonic Festivals the claims of the Institutions on the support of the brethren would not be forgotten .

lhe W . M . gave " The Officers of the Lodge . " He reminded the brethren of the munificent generosity of Bro . W . S . Penley , S . W . ; the large sums of money he and his family had given to the Charities . He spoke of the Treasurer and Secretary , the latter ( that day was his birthday ) of whom

especially had devoted much time to the interest of the lodge . He spoke of the Deacons , and how St . Paul alluded to the Deacons in the early Christian Church—and the duties incumbent upon them continued in some measure up to the present date—not to be given to wine ( a genial ripple of laughter arose at this remark ) .

The J . W ., Bro . A . W . WATSON , thanked the brethren . Bro . TREHAWK ** DAVIES , Sec , said he had never spent a birthday from home . It was a fact , his wife was writing for him now at home . He said that Hamlet was his favourite play ; it rested with the lodge to determine that the expression " Alas ! poor Yorrick ! " could no longer be consistently used .

1 he 1 REASURER and junior officers also replied . The Tyler ' s toast concluded a brilliant success . During the evening several songs , glees , fvc , were ably rendered by Bros . Frank Boor and Richard Green and Mr . Charles Capper .

Jubilee Guildhall For Cheshire.

JUBILEE GUILDHALL FOR CHESHIRE .

GIFT BY SIR JOHN BRUNNER .

Saturday was an important day in the history of the Cheshire salt town of Winsford , for with due ceremonial , and amid great rejoicing , Sir J . T . Brunner , M . P ., presented to the town a guildhall for the use of the trades , friendly , musical , and all other societies , whose rules are approved by a

popularly-elected management committee . The hall has cost over £ 3000 . The proceedings commenced wilh a procession of friendly and trade societies and public bodies . The streets were bright with decorations , and the day was observed as a general holiday . Sir John Brunner opened the hall with a silver key , which was presented to him by the architect .

Subsequently , at a public meeting , presided over by Mr . E . Hamlctt ( Chairman of the Urban Council ) , Sir John was the recipient of an illuminated address by all the trade and friendly societies , and an emblem of the order from the Boilermakers' and Iron and Steel Ship Builders' Society as an expression of their high esteem for the splendid example he had set to all employers in the direction of an eight hours' day , the granting of a week ' s holiday , and the provision for his workmen's recreation .

In reply , Sir J BRUNNER expressed the hope that every man who had a pride in his society would join in the Institution and claim that which was intended for his use . He referred to the remarkable success of a similar experiment at Runcorn , and showed that the income had increased from a