The Consecration Of The Grafton Lodge Of M.M.M.. No. 415.

Rose-shaded candles shed a gentle glow on the glittering silver and snow-white napery , and lit up the genial faces surrounding the board . Happiness reigned supreme , and as dainty followed dainty and the sparkling crystal glittered with the wine , then quip and crank they flew from lip to lip and

brought attendant laughter in their train . I hen the cool breezes of the summer night ever ancl anon passed in and out as if to take their part in all the jollity and fun , flickering the candles in their path and casting queer shadows on the

smiling guests . Speech followed speech , and toast tripped over toast , till someone whispered , " Now , my friends , goodbye " ; and then we trooped away , some North , some South , some East , some West , till all were gone . WANDERER .

Consecration Of The Victoria Lodge, No. 2360, At Southport.

CONSECRATION OF THE VICTORIA LODGE , No . 2360 , AT SOUTHPORT .

The consecration of the above lodge took place on Monday , the 7 th inst ., at Freemasons' Hall , Bank Buildings . The ceremony was a most interesting one , consequently there was a very large assembly of influential brethren . Amongst those present were : Bros . E . H . Cookson , P . S . G . W . ; J . D . Belles Adams , S . W . ; R . Foot , J . W . ; J . Kirby Turner , P . M ., P . G . Chap ., * W . Goodacre , P . G . S . B ., P . G . S . ; John C . Robinson ,

P . A . G . D . C ; Geo . A . Harradon , I . P . M . 231 O ; Ralph Betley , Prov . A . G . Sec ; loseph Kilby , P . M ., W . M . ; C . T . Porter , D . D ., LL . D ., S . VV . ; A . B . Buttrick , J . W . ; T . Whitehead , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C , Treas . ; W . F . Scarlett , Sec ; John Hyde , S . D . ; J . McKennell , J . D . ; J . F . Roberts , P . P . G . D . C , D . C . ; Ormerod , Org . ; Frank Oliver , I . G . ; Geo . Rockliffe , Tyler ; J . H . Sillitoe , P . G . S . B . England , P . P . G . W .

East Lancashire ; R . H . Johnson , P . P . G . O . ; S . Robinson , P . P . S . G . D . ; Mark Newsome , P . P . S . G . D . ; G . Phillips , P . P . G . O . ; Warwick Wood , P . P . G . S . B . ; John Wainwright , P . P . G . D . C . ; Chas . R . Austin , P . P . S . G . D . ; R . Sharrock , W . M . 1313 ; T . E . Chambers , P . M . 131 . **; S . Boyce , P . M . 1313 ; Jas . Hesketh , P . M . 1070 ; Wm . Watson , J . M . Dewhurst , Sydney J . Fane , and Fred Wood , all of 2360 ; Hy . H . W . Kay , 1313 ; and John Hanson , 1634 .

The ceremony of consecration was performed by Bro . E . H . Cookson , Prov . S . G . W ., who was assisted in the performance of the duty by Bro . J . D . Belles Adams , W . M . 680 , S . W . ; Robert Foot , P . P . G . Treas ., J . W . ; Rev . J . Kirby Turner , P . M ., P . G . Chap . ; W . Goodacre , P . G . S . B ., P . G . Sec ; John C . Robinson , P . A . G . D . C , D . C ; Geo . A . Harradan , P . M . 3216 ; and Ralph Betley , P . A . G . Sec .

The brethren assembled in the magnificent lodge room , and the lodge was opened in the Three Degrees . The PRESIDING OFFICER then addressed the brethren in regard to the object or which they had met together , after which the Chaplain , by his direction , offered up praver .

The DIRECTOR OF CEREMONIES then addressedjthe Consecrating Officer , and by his direction , arranged the founders of the new lodge in order , and the P . A . G . Sec . read the petition and the warrant which had been granted by the M . W . G . M . authorising the formation of the Victoria Lodge , No . 2360 , in answer to the prayer of the petition and designating Bros . Joseph Kilby , P . M ., W . M . ; Rev . C . T . Porter , S . W .: and A . B . Buttrick , [ . W .

The CONSECKATING OFFICER enquired of the brethren ranged before him whether they approved of the officers named in the warrant , and the brethren having signified their approval in Masonic form , the Chaplain , at the request of the Presiding Officer , gave an oration . The ceremony was brought to a close by the Patriarchial Benediction .

The chair was taken by Bro . W . Goodacre , P . G . S . B ., as Installing Master . The lodge was resumed in the Second Degree . Bro . J . Kilby , W . M . designate , vvas then presented to the Installing Master by Bro . J . C . Robinson , P . P . A . G . D . C , and duly installed first W . M . of the lodge , and in that capacity was proclaimed and saluted in the Three Degrees .

The working tools were presented in each Degree by Bro . R . Betley , Prov . A , G . Secretary . The Worshipful Master invested his officers , and were addressed also b y Bro . BETLEY .

The INSTALLING MASTER presented the W . M . with the warrant and Book of Constitutions , and also gave the addresses to the W . M ., Wardens , and brethren . The Worshipful Master was appointed Charity Representative . Bro . T . Whitston , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C , was elected Treasurer .

All other business being at an end , the lodge was closed . Subsequently the brethren with the guests dined together in the dining room adjoining the lodge room , the banquet being provided by Bro . George Rockliffe and his good lady , who we most heartily congratulate upon the great success of the occasion .

The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and responded to in a most enthusiastic way . The lodge vvas furnished by Bro . George Kenning .

Consecration Of The St. Nicholas Mark Lodge, No. 413, At Harwich.

CONSECRATION OF THE ST . NICHOLAS MARK LODGE , No . 413 , AT HARWICH .

On Saturday , the 28 th ult , a new Mark lodge was added to the roll of lodges in the Province of East Anglia ( which comprises the counties of Essex , Suffolk , Norfolk , and Cambridgeshire ) , to meet at the Great Eastern Hotel , Harwich , and to be called the St . Nicholas Lodge , and numbered 413 on the roll of the Grand Mark Lodge . The Provincial Grand Mark Master , Lord Henniker , had promised to consecrate the lodge , but at the last moment , owing to indisposition , telegraphed

his regret at his inability to be present . The popular Deputy Grand Mark Master , Bro . the Rev . Charles J . Martyn , vvas also unable to attend . The consecration ceremony was undertaken by Bro . C . Fitzgerald Matier , Grand Mark Secretary , and most ably he carried out the duties . The proceedings of the day commenced at noon , when , by special dispensation , a Mark lodge was held for the purpose of advancing the following members of Star in the East Craft Lodge , No . 650 : Bros . John Flenry Vaux , William Groom ,

Harry George Everard , John Robert Watson , Martin Luther Sanders , Robert Pattie , Harold Gurney , R . Barlow , William Moore , George Grimsey , and Edwin Stephen Gunn . The ceremony of advancement was performed b y Bro . C . F . Matier , assisted by the following officers : Bros . James Terry , P . G . S . B . as S . W . ; J . J . C . Turner , Prov . G . Org ., as J . W . ; T . J . Ralling , P . M . 145 , P . G . D . England , P . P . G . O ., as M . O . ; J . T . Bailey , P . M . 145 , P . P . G . R ., as S . O . ; G . A . Eustace , P . M . 145 , P . P . G . S . B ., as J . O . ; R . Berridge , G . D . C . England , and Richard Clowes , P . M . 145 , P . P . G . M . O ., as Deacons ; and Ashdown as I . G .

After a brief adjournment , the brethren re-assembled for the consecration , which , as has already been said , vvas most ably performed by the Grand Mark Secretary , assisted b y the following officers : Bros . A . H . Moyes , P . S . G . W ., as S . W . ; Geo . Cooper , P . G . O . England , as J . W . ; the Rev . E . H . Crate , P . M . 145 , P . G . C . England , as Chaplain ; N . Tracy , P . G . D . England , as Secretary ; R . Berridge , G . D . C England , as D . C . ; and Abel , P . G . S . B . England , as I . G .

Consecration Of The St. Nicholas Mark Lodge, No. 413, At Harwich.

Bro . M AIT E R , before commencing the ceremony , said , although , as the chief executive officer of the Order , he had always the greatest pleasure in undertaking duties of that sort , still on that occasion he could not help expressing his extreme regret and sorrow that he should have been called upon to take the chair in consequence of the absence through illness of Lord Henniker , Prov . G . M . He had seen a

letter from his lordship , in which he stated that he vvas suffering from an acute throat disease , which had come on almost at a moment ' s notice , and his physican told him that if he took a journey or exerted himself in any way , he would render himself exceedingly liable to a severe attack of quinsy . Under those circumstances he was sure they would join with him in expressing regret at his lordship ' s absence .

A very appropriate address on the nature and princip les of the Order vvas given by the acting Chaplain , Bro . the Rev . E . H . CRATE . The reverend brother remarked that whether in the Craft , Mark , or the Royal Arch , the nature and principles of the Order were one and the same , only becoming more expanded and unfolded the hi gher they climbed on the Masonic ladder , and the more they made themselves acquainted with the various Degrees of Freemasonry and the peculiar secrets restricted to each .

At the close of the consecration ceremony Bro . Matier installed Bro . Richard Clowes as the first W . M . of the lodge . Bro . Clowes afterwards invested his officers for the year as follows : Bros . J . T . Bailey , P . M . 145 , P . P . G . R ., acting I . P . M . ; A . J . H . Ward , S . W . ; W . Murray , J . W . ; G . T . Helsdon , M . O . ; J . H . Vaux , S . O . ; H . G . Everard , J . O . ; Wm . Groom , Treas . ; M . L . Sanders , Sec ; S . W . Parker , Reg . ; H . Gurney , S . D . ; J . R . Watson , J . D . ; R . Pattie , D . of C ; C . R . Salter , Org . ; W . T . Beaumont , I . G . ; W . Dallimore and J . Smith , Stwds . ; and Robert Barlow , Tyler .

On the proposition of the WORSHIPFUL MASTER , votes of thanks were accorded to Bro . Matier and the whole of the brethren who took part in the advancement and consecration ceremonies , and they were all elected honorary members of the new lodge . A vote of thanks vvas also g iven to Bros . Beaumont and Smith for presenting to the lodge the Overseers' pedestals , which were very handsome , and , as the W . M . suggested , vvill doubtless be all the more valued because they were made by the brethren themselves .

Letters expressing regret at their inability to attend were read from Bros . Lord Euston , Lord Dungarvan , the Lord Mayor , Sir J . B . Monckton , Sir Francis Boileau , Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , F . A . Philbrick , Q . C , Lieut .-Col . A . B . Cook , Frank Richardson , E . Letchworth , Lieut . Giles , R . N ., Alfred Welch , A . H . Bowles , W . C . Gilles , W . Sowman , Lennox Browne , J . P . Lewin , and others .

After the ceremony , the brethren adjourned to the large coffee room of the Great Eastern Hotel , where a very elegant banquet vvas served in faultless style by the manager , Mr . King . The W . M . proposed the usual loyal and Masonic toasts . He commented upon the fact that there were no less than nine Grand and Past Grand Officers present ,

ancl coupled with the toast of " The Grand Officers " the name of Bro . Berridge . Bro . BERRIDGE , in response , said it had given the Grand Officers great pleasure to assist Bro . Matier in the consecration of the St . Nicholas Lodge , which he hoped would soon become one of the best working lodges on the roll of the Grand Mark Lodge of England .

Bro . I " RACY , responding to the toast of " The Prov . Grand Officers , " said he was glad to find that the Province of East Anglia vvas participating in the growth and general prosperity of the Mark Degree . When he was first appointed P . G . Secretary there were seven lodges in the province ; now there were n . He felt sure that the Degree had so much vitality and so much necessity for life in it that it was bound to go on and prosper .

lhe W . M ., in proposing " The Health of the Consecrating Officer , ' said when Bro . Matier promised to come down to the St . Nicholas Lodge it vvas for the purpose of advancing the brethren who wished to join , and for no other purpose . It was at very short notice he undertook to perform the consecration , and he vvas sure they were deeply grateful to him for the masterly manner in which he had performed the ceremony .

Bro . MATIER , in response , recalled the circumstances that East Anglia took a very prominent part in the advancement of the Prince of Wales . Bros . George Cooper and Railing acted as Grand Deacons , and Bro . Crate as Grand Chaplain . He ( Bro . Matier ) vvas J . G . W ., and Bro . Berridge vvas G . D . C , and the present meeting was like a re-union of thebrethren who took part in that memorable ceremony . Bro . Matier then proposed " The Health of the Worshipful Master and Brethren of

St . Nicholas Lodge , " and referring to Bro . Clowes' earnest work in Freemasonry , and especially to his love and attachment to the Mark Degree , mentioned that only a month ago Bro . Clowes was installed W . M . of a Mark lodge in Sussex . Bro . CLOWES briefly responded , and then proposed " The Health of the Newly Advanced Brethren , " for whom the Mayor of Harwich ( Bro . J . H . VAUX ) responded .

The other toasts proposed from the chair were " The Visitors , " for whom Bro J . J . C . TURNER responded , and " The Officers , " for whom the S . W . ( Bro . A . J . H WARD ) replied . The proceedings terminated with the Tyler ' s toast .

Among the brethren present on the occasion , besides those already mentioned , were Bros . V . P . Freeman , P . J . G . W . Sussex ; H . J . Wright , P . M . 70 , P . P . A . G . Sec . ; G . F . Smith , P . P . G . Org . Surrey ; F . C Atkinson , S . O . 70 ; Percy Clowes , Royal Connaught Lodge ; R . W . Goddard , acting G . Tyler ; Arthur Wright , T yler 145 ; R . Gould , Tyler 70 ; and others .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Derbyshire And Rutland.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF LEICESTERSHIRE , NORTHAMPTONSHIRE , DERBYSHIRE AND RUTLAND .

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held at Leicester , on the 3 rd inst ., Bro . W . Kelly presiding , supported by the D . P . G . M ., Bro . Cox , and a large attendance of brethren . The reports given by the W . M . ' s of the 10 lodges in the province showed steady progress .

The P . G . Registrar s report gave an increase during the year of 17 members . The P . G . MASTER , in his annual address , referred to the fact that a warrant had been granted for a new lodge at Alfreton , Derbyshire , making the sixth lodge in that county since 1879 . Bro . Kelly also alluded in a few touching words to the lamented death of Bro . the Earl of Carnarvon .

The report of the Committee of General Purposes referred with great regret to the loss the province was about to sustain b y the removal of Bro . Miles J . Walker , who since 1886 has filled the office of P . G . Secretary with marked efficiency . On the motion of the D . P . G . M ., Bro . Cox , seconded by Bro . W OODIWISS , P . P . S . G . W ., a suitable address vvas ordered to be drawn up , and presented to Bro . Walker , and a sum of 10 guineas vvas voted to the Testimonial Fund . A sum of five guineas vvas voted to the Benevolent Fund .

The P . G . M . accepted the invitation of the Northampton brethren to hold thc Provincial Grand Lodge next year in their new hall . The P . G . Officers for the ensuing year were then appointed and invested by the P . G . M ., Bro . Miles J . Walker being invested as P . S . G . W ., in the place of Bro . Woodiwiss ( ex-Mayor of Derby ) . The usual banquet was then held .