Science Gossip Conversazione.

John J . Plummer , M . A ., astronomer to Colonel Tomline , also gave lecturettes on the " Cometary System , " which were highly appreciated . The Committee of Management were Mr . W . Vick ( Chairman ) , London-road ; Dr . Drummond ( Hon . Treasurer ) , Silent-street ; Mr . H . Miller , jun . ( Hon . Secretary ) , Old

Butter-market ; Mr . W . Budden , St . Clement ' s ; Mr . B . Edwards , Carr-street ; Mr . D . F . Goddard , Lower Brook-street ; Mr . A . Harwood , Belstead Hall ; Mr . F . W . Mason , Stoke Hill ; Mr . E . Packard , jun ., Bramford ; Mr . H . Powles , Norwich-road ; and Mr . J . E . Taylor , the Museum .

Dedication Of A New Masonic Hall At Derby.

DEDICATION OF A NEW MASONIC HALL AT DERBY .

On ] Thursday , 26 th November , the consecration and dedication of the Derbyshire Masonic Hall , situated in Gower-street , Derby , was performed by the Most Noble and Right Worshpiful Brother , the Marquis of Hartington , M . P ., Provincial Grand Master of Derbyshire , assisted

by Bros . H . C . Okeover , D . P . G . M ., and G . J-W . of England , C . R . Colvile , P . P . D . G . M ., the Rev . A . A . Bagshawe , M . A ., P . G . S . W ., and P . P . G . Chaplain , and a numerous body of present and past grand officers . The banqueting-room , on the ground-floor , is

45 hy 30 ft ., in front of which are committee and retiring rooms , and at the back kitchens and Tyler ' s residence . The entrance hall is paved with encaustic tiles masonicall y designed . A handsome stone staircase leads to the upper hall , which the Masons of Derby and Derbyshire may

well be proud of . It was much admired by all . The size is 58 ft . by 30 ft ., and 20 ft . hi gh . The ceiling is partly circular , divided into enriched bays , and ventilated by perforated ornaments all round the cornices , and ribs which spring from Corinthian pilasters . At the end is an

ornamental niche for the organ or throne . The exterior is of Hollington or red Mansfield stone , very neatly executed , and we may say the entire building reflects credit upon all parties connected in its erection . Mr . G . H . Sheffield , of Derby , is the architect , and Mr . George Woodiwiss

the builder . The cost of the work , exclusive of land , will be about sBifico . There was a very large attendance of members of the Craft , some 200 being present , including visitors from other provinces . The brethren assembled in the lower room of the

hall at one o ' clock , and then proceeded to the lodge room in procession . The procession was headed by the visiting brethren from other provinces , then the members of Craft lod ges in the province ( juniors first ) , and then the past and present officers and members of the Provincial

Grand Lodge . The ceremony , a most solemn and impressive one , was then proceeded with , Bro . the Rev . M . H . Middleton , Provincial Grand Chaplain , offering up the consecration prayer . At the conclusion , the P . G . M . declared the hall duly consecrated and dedicated , according to ancient form , and after an oration from

the Past Provincial Grand Chaplain on Masonry , thc anthem commencing "The Glorious Majesty ofthe Lord our God be upon us " was sung . Bro . G . Allen presided at the organ . The P . G . M- then held his annual Provincial Grand Lodge . The minutes of the last Grand Lodge were read and confirmed , and the Worshipful Masters of the Craft Lod ges presented

their annual written reports . The reports of the Masonic Hall Committee , and the Charity Committee , were also presented . Bro- T . Cox , P . P . G . S . W-, was re-elected Treasurer . The Provincial Grand Master then proceeded to appoint and invest his Provincial Grand Officers as follows : —

W . Jessop Prov . G . S . W .. F . Iliffe Prov . G . J . W . Rev . J . W Maltb y Prov . G . Chaplain Barrowby p rov . G . R . T . Cox Prov . G . T . W . H . Marsden Prov . G . S . F . Turner Prov . G . S . D . p atkin Prov . G . J . D . H . Burn Prov . G . S . of W . W . Dawson .... Prov . G . D . of C ,

Dedication Of A New Masonic Hall At Derby.

Warner Prov . G . A . D . of C Slack Prov . G . Org . Loverock Prov . G . S . B . W . J . Gothard Prov . G . Purst . J . Taylor Prov . G . Std . B . T . Slinn Prov . G . Tyler .

The following brethren were appointed Prov , Grand Stewards : —Tyrian Lodge , W . C . Watson , and S . J . Robinson ; Arboretum Lodge , , J . Baldock and VV . Kni ght ; Hartington Lodge-W . Heathcote and T . Gadsby . Amongst those present were Bros , the

Marquis of Hartington , M . P ., H . C . Okeover , C . R . Colvile , Rev . A . A . Bagshawe , J . Smith , R . Darwin , F . Binckes ( Secretary Boys' School , London ) , J . Crossley , Capt . Arkwri ght , M . P ., Sir John Alley ne , Fitzherbert Wri ght , Thos . Cox , W . H . Marsden , —Calder , J . L . Gibbons ,

J . Allen , G . Staley , J . Pymm , H . Carson , W . C . Watson ; F . J . Robinson , T . Merry , J . Bowmer , T . Horsley , S . Foulds , W . M . Hewitt , S . Rowbottom , G . Graham , J . Barrowby , J . T . Wright , E . Grindwill , J . Taylor . W . Smith , F . Turner , C . Adams , J . Pegg , F . Campion , W . Naylor , W .

Garrard , J . Kinder , C . Parkins , R . Eastwood , T . Roe , jun ., —Warner , J . Worsnop , F . Hogg , S . Stone , T . R . Gee , W . H . Burton , —Farnsworth , H . Turner , T . Hall , R . Waite , G . H . Sheffield , Rev . W . J . M . Ellison , Rev . M . H . Middleton , and betweeen one and two hundred visitors .

The banquet was held at four o ' clock in the afternoon , at the St . James ' s Hall . Bro . the Marquis of Hartington , M . P ., presided , and over ioo brethren sat down to dinner . Miss Golz , manageress of the St . James ' s Hotel , provided an admirable repast .

On the removal of the cloth , and after the hall had been closely tyled , the following toasts were to be proposed and responded to : — " The Queen and The Craft ; " the M . W . G . M . of England , Bro . H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , the Princess of , ' Wales and the rest of the Royal

Family ; " "The R . W . G . D . M- of England , Bro theEarl of Carnarvon ,, and the G . OrHcers present and past ; " "the R . W . the Prov . G . M . of Derbyshire , Bro . the Marquis of Hartington ; " " the R . W . the D . P . G . M . of Derbvshire , Bro . Okeover ; " "The R . W . the P . D . P . G . M . of Derbyshire , Bro . Colvile : " "The Officers of the P . G .

Lodge of Derbyshire , present and past " " Success to the Derbyshire Masonic Hall ; " "The Trustees of the Masonic Hall ; " "The Architect , Bro . Sheffield , P . P . G . S . of W „ and Bro . G . Woodiwiss , the Builder ; " "TheVisiting Brethren ; " " The W . M . ' s of the Derby Lodges , " "The W . M . ' s of the other Lodges in the Province . "

Prescot Masonic Hall.

PRESCOT MASONIC HALL .

The first annual meeting of the Prescoc Masonic Hall Company , Limited , was held a few days ago at the King ' s Arms Hotel , Prescot , near Liverpool . Bro . J . T . Hall , of Prescot Hall , Chairman of the Company , presided , and there were also present , Bros . DennettFoggJ .

Fow-, , ler , sen . ; W . Tyrer , J . Kitchen , J . Fowler , jun . ; R . D , Simpson . Bro . John Vaughan , the Secretary , read the report for the past year , from which is appeared that the progress of the Company had been most satisfactory since its formation .

It was registered in December last , and the object it had in view being generally approved , a large number of the shares were speedily taken up . _ The primary object of the company was to provide improved accommodation for the

Masonic brethren meeting in Prescot , where the old Lodge of Loyalty ( 86 ) , the Royal Arch Chapter , and Encampment of Knight Templars include many members not only from amongst the residents of Prescot , but from Liverpool , Widnes , St . Helens , and other places in the surrounding

neighbourhood . A piece of land was purchased in Derby-street , and on this a handsome new building is fast approaching completion by the contractor , Mr . J . Preston , of Wigan . The principal portion of the ground floor front will be let to Parr ' s Banking Company , St . Helens ,

for the establishment of a branch of their bank in Prescot , and in addition to providing excellent and ample accommodation for the Masonic gatherings , the company have consented to erect a handsome subscription billiard room on a portion of their surplus land at the back of the hall ,

Prescot Masonic Hall.

the tender for the erection of which has also been let to Mr . Preston . Owing to this extension of their original scheme , the directors recommended that the capital of the company should be increased from skizoo to s £ zooo by the issue of additional shares , and this was unanimously

agreed to . The retiring directors were Bros . j . r . Hall , T . Dennett , and S . Morris . Bros . Hall and Dennett were unanimously re-elected , but Dr . Morris being unable to attend in consequence of his professional duties , Bro . John Kitchen , of

St . Helens , was elected in his stead . The report of the directors was unanimousl y adopted , and after the transaction of some formal business the proceedings closed with the usual compliment to the chairman .

Masonic Concert In Liverpool.

MASONIC CONCERT IN LIVERPOOL .

On Saturday evening last the first of a series of five subscription concerts was given in the large banqueting hall of the New Masonic Hall , Liverpool , the special object of which is to assist in raising funds for the erection of an organ in the lodge room of the new b'lilding . The

Liverpool Masonic Hall is acknowledged to be one of the best and most convenient in the provinces , and the effort to supply an instrument so useful and necessary in Masonic ceremonials is one which ought to be crowned w ith the most complete success . These concerts have been

organised with the view of supplying theall-important instrument and although the first of the series was not so well attended as could have been desired , no doubt in consequence of the shocking weather , there is good reason to hope that those which are to follow will be exceedingly

successful . The artistes were Mrs . Billinie Porter ( who proved herself a thoroughly efficient vocalist ) , Mrs . Skeaf ( who secured more than one encore ) , Miss Frances Armstrong ( a rising young vocalist ) , Bro . H . C . Harrison ( whose tenor voice did full justice to his two songs ) ,

Bro . 1 . J . Hughes ( who never fails U > deli ght , as he did on this occasion ) , and Bro . T . Armstrong , ( whose fine , telling voice was heard to great advantage in one of " Jack" Hatton ' s songs ) . The concert was one of the most interesting which we have heard for a long time .

Bro . J . Skeaf , P . G . O ., presided as accompanist at the new grand pianoforte , supplied by Messrs . Kirkman and Sons , London , and a first hearing of the instrument satisfied everyone . The accompaniments were played with the greatest taste , and Bro . Skeaf also added to th .- interest

of the concert by playing wilh the iin .-st effect his own fantasias , " The Fisherman " and " The Chimes . " All the artistes generously gave their services . The refreshments for the ' ' greenroom " were most kindly provided by Bro . \ V . Vines , P . M . 1299 ,

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Leicestershire And Rutland.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND .

The annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge was held at Hinckley , on Wednesday , the 25 th ult ., tinder the auspices of the Knights of Malta Lodge , No . 50 . The lodge was held in St . George ' s Hall , a

newly erected and very convenient building for the purpose , and which had been most tastefull y decorated with banners and appropriate mottos , under the supervision of Bro . T . Tippetts , thc W . M ., and the brethren of No . -jo .

The Craft Lodge having been opened in the three degrees , the R . W . Prov . G . Master , the Right Hon . the Earl Ferrers , and his officers entered and were received with the customary honours .

Prior to the opening of the Provincial Grand Lodge the R . W . P . G . M . took the chair of the Craft Lodge , and very efficiently performed the ceremony of installing Bro . Tippetts , who had been re-elected to the office of W . M . for a

second year . Provincial Grand Lodge was then opened in due form and the Roll of Lodges was called , every lodge in the province being represented except the Vale of Catmos , No . 126- ; , Oakham . . , Amongst those present , in addition to the