Consecration Of The Earl Of Zetland Chapter, No. 1364.

who was privileged to propose the next toast , but he must congratulate the chapter on having to be presided over during the first year of its existence by so genial and kind a companion as Comp . Lay . He was pleased to find present some members of the Enfield Chapter , a chapter which he had the honour of assisting in establishing some years ago .

Comp . E . J . ANNING , C . C , acting l . P . Z ., proposed "The M . E . Z ., " and said he was especially glad to be in that position . He had had the honour of knowing Comp . Lay for nearly 25 years , and during that period he believed he had always had the privilege of enjoying his friendship . Bath of them had run together in the mother lodge from which emanated that chapter , and inasmuch as that lodge had attained its 26 th year it was in the

fitness of things it should have its own chapter . The M . E . Z . had been a v . ry hardworking and zealous Mason during the whole time he had known him in Freemasonry ; no one had been more zealous in endeavouring to promote the foundation of a chapter in connection with the lodge ; he had really been the principal one in that movement , and the result was what they

had had that night . All connected with the Earl of Zetland Lodge could only hope that that chapter might have a flourishing existence . It had begun well ; there was no reason it should not go on well . Those among its founders , and those proposed for exaltation would give it all the prestige which a Royal Arch chapter ought to have .

Comp . A . F . LAY , M . E . Z ., in responding to the toast , thanked Comp . Letchworth for his observations regarding him , which he duly appreciated , and Comp . Anning also for what he had said . Comp . Anning and himself were initiated in the mother lodge , and they had worked together . He thank * , d Comp . Anning and the other companions for placing him in his present proud position . He certainly would give his best attention to

making the chapter the success he believed it would be . A few words now would not be amiss concerning what led to the formation of the chapter . It was conceived one lodge night when he and Comp . Chamberlain were returning home . He ventured to mention to Comp . Chamberlain the large accession of new blood they had had to the lodge , and he thought it was a good nucleus for forming a chapter . Comp . Chamberlain agreed with him ,

and said it would be a grand opportunity for some of the young members . Before they separated they agreed that they would formulate a petition for a charter . After that they proceeded to work , and they did it innocently , with fear and trembling in case of a rebuke from high quarters . But on making inquiries , they found their fears in that respect were groundless , and the authoriiies endorsed the idea that every lodge should have a chapter of its

own . The result had been shown that evening ; the chapter had been consecrated ; they had iS candidates , who had sought them out , and had filled up their proposal forms and handed them without influence in the Earl of Zetland Lodge or out of it . They were men of good social standing and position who would be a credit to Royal Arch Masonry and to the Earl of Zetland Chapter . He thanked the companions . That chapter would be

a great success . Comp . A . F . LAY , M . E . Z ., in toasting " The H . and J ., " said he had the honour and pleasure of initiating Comp . Chamberlain in the Earl of Zetland Lodge in 1890 ; he was a shining light there , and , of course , a P . M . of the lodge ; he was also J . in the Mount Zion Chapter . Comp .

Cross , J ., was senior P . M . of the Tyssen-Amherst Lodge , its Secretary , Preceptor of the Lodge of Instruction , and Treasurer of the Association . It was impossible to imagine or conceive the labour Comp . Cross went through ; he was always quite at home , but he was never cross . With two such excellent colleagues , he would be well supported during his year of office .

Comp , CHAMBERLAIN , H ., after acknowledging the genial remarks of Comp . Lay , said he thanked Comp . Fenn for the very kind and fraternal manner in which he had placed him in the chair of H . It was the first time he had been in that chair . The way Comp . Fenn did it he should never forget . He hoped the chapter would have plenty of work . The officers were fully prepared for it , and the more work was given them the more they would like it .

Comp . CROSS , J ., said that was hardly the occasion for trespassing on the time and attention of the companions with a long speech or anything savouring of verbosity . He appreciated the honour the founders had conferred on him in placing him in the chair of J . of the chapter . He appreciated it the more because he was a colleague of the M . E . Z . They had worked together many years in Craft Masonry and also as colleagues ,

and he hoped the concord and harmony which had attended them in office so long would attend them in the chapter , He knew it would not be the fault of the . M . E . Z . if it was not so * , and it would not be his , Comp . Lay had referred to his ( Comp . Cross ) humble exertions in connection with the promotion of that chapter , but Comp . Lay had been the mainspring of the success tl ey had had that evening . It was not a fortnight ago in the room

they were now occupying , that the M . E . Z . was addressing the members of t ^ e Earl of Zetland Lodge in reference to the new chapter , and he described himself as the father—the Earl of Zetland Lodge as their mother , himself as their baby . It would be his ( Comp . Cross ) to be the nurse . The baby promised to be a credit to its father and mother and to the attentions of the nurse . Next February they proposed to have it short-coated ,

and if the candidates came up they would see sturdy limbs and health for so newly-born a child . He would liken the Consecrating Officers to the medical gentlemen so necessary at a birth . He would like to add his meed of appreciation of the admirable and splendid services and say how eloquently and efficiently they had performed their duties . He felt a little of the glory refL cted on his own shoulders , since he was the P . Z . of another

chapter of which the M . E . Z . was the first founder and first M . E Z . Indeed among the foundeis of the chapter were members of the Enfield Chapter . He was of op nion that , although , their first duty would always be to their mother chapter , yet the Earl of Zetland Chapter would never be neglected at their hands . Two of the candidates he asked to join the Enfield Chapter ,

but when they found the present chapter was to meet on a Saturday they assented . He would like to say one word of tribute to the unanimity , concord , goodwill and fraternal feeling which had animated the founders throughout the whole of their association in the foundation of that chapter . Long might it continue , and might the friendship they had thus formed be cemented into a long , lasting , and Masonic friendship !

Comp . C . J . R . Tuou , in responding to thetoastof "The Visitors , "said that meeting was an exceptional one , for companions were there who knew each other in other places , and the coming together that night brought back many rerriniscences . It had been to him an evening of exceptional pleasure . They had the pleasure of being in the presence of a new Grand Warden of England , Comp . T . Fenn , who with Comp . R . Grey , the previous Wednesday in Grand Lodge had the rank of P . G . W . conferred upon him . That night

Consecration Of The Earl Of Zetland Chapter, No. 1364.

he could not help congratulating Comp . Fenn on his youthful feeling—he did not say it with any idea of flattery—but Comp . Fenn looked better since he had resigned than he did during the anxious time he occupied office ; he looked five years younger . He ( Comp . Tijou ) was present as one of the gueitsof the M . E . Z . He congratulated Comp . Lay upon the companions he had around him ; he was a practical worker ; there was no gas in him ; he was a steady-going business man .

Comp . BROMHEAD also replied , and said in the course of his remarks that that chapter would be one of the most successful chapters in the " Province " of London . Comp . Lay was a perfect worker , and had carried his duties out in other chapters in a way which did credit to them . Thetoastof " The Officers" having been given and responded to , the Janitor ' s toast closed the proceedings .

Consecration Of The New Brighton Lodge, No. 2619.

CONSECRATION OF THE NEW BRIGHTON LODGE , No . 2619 .

Freemasonry has already a firm foothold in Cheshire , and the consecration on the afternoon of the 2 nd instant of the above lodge at the Assembl y Rooms , situated in the popular Cheshire riverside resort—New Brightonadded greatly to " the strength and importance of the Craft in the Wirral peninsula . There was a gathering of about 70 brethren , the principals of the Order present

being—Bros . T . E . Mason , P . P . G . Treas . ; H . Jackson , P . J . G . W . ; T . Wood , P . S . G . D . ; W . Goodacre , P . G . S . B . England , P . G . Sec . West Lancashire ; L . Ellis , P . P . S . G . D . ; J . B . Marks , P . P . J . G . D . ; G . R . Ford , P . S . G . D . ; J . S . Jolly , P . P . G . S . ; J . Armstrong , P . P . G . S . of W . ; W . F . Robinson , P . A . G . D . C . ; Theo . Fennell , P . G . S . ofW . ; J . Lewis , P . P . A . G . D . C . ; J . Clayton , P . P . S . G . W . ; A . Huxley , P . G . Treas . ; Sam Watson , Sec . 1 505 ; John Morris , Treas . 2375 ; andj . Lewis , Org . 1182 . ;

The Consecrating Officer was Bro . Sir Horatio Lloyd , Deputy Prov , Grand Master , and he was assisted in the impressive and important function by Bros . Col . C . S . Dean , P . S . G . W . ; H . Jackson , P . J . G . W . ; the Rev . C . Chetwynd Atkinson and the Rev . Robert Edward , P . G . Chaplains j R . Newhonse , D . G . S . B . England , P . G . Sec . ; and H . Gordon Small , P . G , D . of C .

In the course of the ceremony , an oration on the nature and principles of the Order was delivered by the PROV . G . CHAP ., and the musical portion of the proceedings was effectively furnished by Bros . D . J . Davies , G . Green , F . Tuson , W . Sweetman , R . Mountfield , and J . T . Hindle , P . G . O ., who efficiently superintended the choral arrangements .

After the new lodge had been constituted most impressively by the Dep . Prov . G . M ., the chair was taken by Bro . J . B . Sparks , P . P . G . D ., who in stalled Bro . Lieut .-Col . Charles Stewart Dean , C . C , P . S . G . W ., as the first Worshipful Master of the New Brighton Lodge . The newly-installed W . M . invested the following officers : Bros . J . C . Robinson , acting I . P . M . ; J . Quilliam Roby , S . W . ; Simon Jude , C . C ,

P . M . 241 , J . W . ; T . Price , Sec . ; J . E . Talbot , P . M . 2327 , S . D . ; J . T . Gibson , J . D . ; J . C . Robinson , P . M . 249 , P . P . A . G . D . C West Lancashire , D . C ; W . A . Short , I . G . ; R . Mountfield , Org . ; L . Langford , Stwd . ; and W . J . Doran , Tyler . Numerous propositions for joining and initiation were made . The brethren subsequently adjourned to banquet , which was served in

first-class style at the Victoria Hotel . In the course of the alter proceedings the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed and cordially responded to , speeches of great Masonic interest being delivered by Bro . Sir Horatio Lloyd ( who has been connected with the Craft for 44 years ) , the Worshipful Master , the S . W ., J . W ., and others . A programme of prominent excellence was given by the brethren who took part in the musical portion of thc consecration ceremony .

Order Of The Secret Monitor.

ORDER OF THE SECRET MONITOR .

WINTER CONVOCATION OF GRAND COUNCIL . The annual winter meeting of this Grand Council was held at Freemasons' Tavern , Great Queen-street , W . C , on Friday , the 4 th inst ., and was attended by Bros , the Baron de Ferrieres , P . G . T . ; Jap heth Tickle ,

C . C , P . G . T . ; J . J . Thomas , P . G . V . ; J . J . Pakes , P . G . V . ; W . RShutt , P . G . B . B . ; W . Hancock , P . C . C . ; J . F . Guy , G . W . Capel , and others . As this is a meeting lor business only , none but members and officers of Grand Council are invited .

Grand Council was opened in ample form , Bro . Baron de Ferrieres , P . G . T , being in the chair . The minutes of the summer meeting of the Grand Council were read and confirmed . Letters , and telegrams , and messages were read from the G . S . R-, the Earl of Warwick ; Bros . Dr .

Zacharie , P . G . S . R . ; His Honour Judge Philbrick , D . R . O . ; Richard Eve , G . T . ; W . G . Lemon , P . G . T . ; Sir Thos . Wright , G . C . ; A . F . Lamette , P . G . V . ; Maj . Penrose Dunbar , P . G . V . ; J . Marshall ( of Manchester ) , G . V . ; Buckley Carr , G . Gdr ; and ssveral other brethren . The report of the Grand Treasurer and Auditors , showing a balance or

£ 93 3 s . 1 id ., after an exceptionally heavy year of expenditure , was - mously adopted , and the Grand Treasurer was congratulated on a balance of some ; £ i 6 above that of the previous year . A hearty vote of thanks to the Auditors , Bros . Pakes and Guy , was duly passed and recorded . The GRAND RECORDER reported the issue of 12 C certificates during the

year , which , with those unissued for the new Conclave , No . 29 , and for Conclave No . 1 , would make about 200 during the year . He mentioned that the conclaves in Penang and Singapore were in anything but flourishing condition , and was directed to obtain information and repjrt again . Ihe revised Book of Constitutions was ordered to be sent ( in proof ) to all con-