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Upon the support which the scheme is likely to meet with in foreign jurisdictions , it would be premature to speculate , though it bodes well for the success of the movement both on the continent and in the United States that such representative Masons as the Deputy Grand Master and Grand Secretary of the Netherlands , the Provincial Grand Master of Mecklenburg ,

and the Grand Master and Grand Treasurer of Pennsylvania , are already on the roll of contributors . We are also glad to find that the claims of Bro . GOULD , as the author of a general History of Freemasonry , are deemed worthy of recognition by leading brethren of the Ancient and Accepted Rite , of which he is not a member . Bros . ALBERT PIKE , the venerable

Sovereign Grand Commander of the Supreme Council , 33 ° , Southern Jurisdiction , U . S . A ., and PIERRE TBMPRLS , of the Supreme Council , 33 , of Belgium , have , we learn , joined the Committee — of which it may be mentioned , the Lieutenant Grand Commander and Grand Secretary General of the Supreme Council , 33 , for England and Wales—Bros . Capt . N . » G . PHILIPS and HUGH DAVID SANDEMAN—are also members ,

WE gather from the report of the proceedings which took Lodge of ' place at the regular communication of the District G . Lodge Northern China . o [ Northern china at the Masonic Hall , Shanghai , on the 7 U 1 January last , that very satisfactory progress has been made during the past year by this section of the English Craft in foreign parts . There

appears to have been a slight increase in the membership , while , as regards the pecuniary position of the D . G . Lodge , the Dist . G . Treasurer was able to report that the year , which had begun with a balance outstanding against D . G . Lodge to the extent of 73 taels , concluded with a balance in its favour of 104 taels . The Dist . G . M ., in the address he subsequently

delivered , referred to this change as being most gratifying , ascribing the chief merit in having brought it about to Bro . CORNELIUS THORNE , Past Dist . G . Master , who had materially assisted them in their early days as a Dist . G . Lodge , and did not desire to be reimbursed . The Dist . G . Master

had the further satisfaction of being able to report favourably of the manner in which the several private lodges in the district were fulfilling their duties , and he expressed the hope that now Dist . G . Lodge had set itself straight pecuniarily , its career in the future would be one of unbroken prosperity . To this hope we most cordially utter a fervent " So mote it be ! "

Masonic Facts Versus Fictions.

MASONIC FACTS VERSUS FICTIONS .

BY H . SADLER . j I deeply regret the want of "time , " and the absence of "desire , '' which precludes Bro . Lane ' s replying at length to my "discursive communication " of last week , and I have reason to-know that my regret is shared by many ether readers of the Freemason , who , in common with myself

consider his contributions to Masonic literature as quite the reverse of inflictions . I will , however , confess to being a little disappointed with his latest effort . To my thinking , it has fallen short of his usual standard ; indeed , had his name not been appended , I should never have credited him with the authorship ; The weather , or the season , may have had some

influence on its production , for if I were asked to write its epitaph , I am of opinion that I should consider " It came in like a lion and went out like a lamb , " as bting most appropriate . There is a certain amount of sel ' - confidence—an assumption of actual knowledge—in the title as well as in the body of the first instalment of "Masonic Facts , not Fictions , "

which seemed to give promise of new light on the history of our Order . It is but natural , therefore , that I should have experienced a little anxiety as to the fate of my non-secession theory ; however , the result has shown that my fears were groundless , and I can now breathe frce ' y again until we have another " Daniel come to

judgment , " for my critic offers not an atom of evidence in support of his own views nor a word of argument in opposition to mine . It seems to me that , in order to cover his retreat from an untenable position , he quietly ignore - his former positive assertions , and coolly calls on me to produce a particular kind of evidence which he knows perfectly well has no existence

and which I have never even insinuated would be forthcoming ; nor do I consider that such evidence is at all necessary to establish my case . It rests with my opponent to complete his self-imposed task by proving that I am wrong , and showing that he is thereby justified in perpetuating what 1 maintain is an unfounded stigma on an important section of our Order . At

present all the evidence appears to be on my side , and when Bro . Lane can find " time " to discuss that evidence , or produce real and not imaginary " facts " in opposition thereto , I shall be quite at his service ; but , until then , I must reluctantl y beg to decline further controversy with him on this most interesting subject .

Consecration Of The Euston Lodge, No. 2283.

CONSECRATION OF THE EUSTON LODGE , No . 2283 .

A new lodge , bearing the name of the popular Prov . Grand Master of Norths and Hunts , was consecrated at St . Neots on the 12 th ult .

Considerable interest was evinced in the event , it being the first lodge consecrated in the province since the appointment of the Earl of Euston as Prov . G . Master in 188 7 .

The consecration ceremony took place in the lodge room , at the New Inn , Lord Euston being the Consecrating Officer , and the proceedings were carried out with great ability by the Consecrating Officer and his assistants . Bro , J , G . Green was installed W . M ., and Bros . J . Sibley and W .

Consecration Of The Euston Lodge, No. 2283.

Pentelow , S . and J . Wardens respectively—the Secretary being Bro . A . B . Brackenbury . The founders of the lodge are Bros . j . G . Green , J . Sibley , W . Pentelow , A . B . Brackenbury , Sec , VV . H . Day , R . Moulton , F . J . Maddison , J . Slinn , G . Taylor , and VV . Wade .

A banquet was held at the Public Rooms , at which about 90 brethren rom vaiious parts of the country were present . The VV . M ., Bro . J . G . Green , occupied the chair , supported by Lord Euston . The room had been decorated with flags , and the table presented an exceedingly pretty appear , ance . Bro . T . Plum provided an excellent dinner .

During the evening , the items of a somewhat extensive toast list , including the usual loyal and Fraternal toasts , were honoured with enthusiasm , and songs were given by Bros . J . Wood , Ingram , Hodgson , Scale , Margetts , and Wooldridge .

Consecration Of The Euston Lodge Of Mark Master Masons, No. 399-

CONSECRATION OF THE EUSTON LODGE OF MARK MASTER MASONS , No . 399-

A valuable addition vvas made to the increasing roll of Mark lodges by the consecration , on Monday , the 8 th inst ., of the Euston Lodge , No . 399 , which took place at the Criterion , Piccadilly . The lodge takes its name from the distinguished Bro . the Earl of Euston , who is one of the founders , and is composed of brethren hailing from the Studholme Craft Lodge , No . 1501 .

The ceremony of consecration was performed by Bro . the Most Hon . the Marquess of Hertford , Deputy Grand Master of the Order , assisted by Bros . J . C . Parkinson , P . G . W ., as S . W . ; Col . Shadwell H . Gierke , P . G . W-, as J . W . ; Rev . A . W . Oxford , as Chap . ; C . F . Matier , P . G . W ., as R . of M . ; R . Berridge , P . G . M . O ., as D . C ; and C . H . Driver , G . M . O ., as I . G .

The following brethren were also present : — Bros . Major A . B . Cook , Sir Lionel Darell , Bart ., W . M . designate ; Edgar Baylis , S . W . designate ; S . Hamilion Carturight , J . W . designate ; Earl of Euston , Sir Reginald Hanson , F . Mead , K . Darell , H . G . Gilmour , A . Sasson , A . Cooper , Gen . Sim , J . Baird , Lord Dungarvan , Gilmour-Gordon , and T . Wetherall . Visitors : Bros . A . M . Broadley , P . D . G . M . Malta ; S . G . Kirchhuffer , P . G . O . ; Lieut .-Gin . C . VV .

Randolph , G . S . O . ; V . Richardson , G . Reg . ; F . A . Philbiick , Q . C , P . G . Reg . j Augustus Harris , Capt . N . G . Philips , P . G . W . ; butler Wilkins , P . M . 24 ; and W . W . Ue . Lodge was formally opened , and the following brethren were impressively advanced by Bro . the Earl of Euston : Bros . Sir Reginald Hanson , F . Mead , E . Darell , R . G . Gilmour , A . Sasson , A . Cooper , W . C . Sim , G . Baird , Lord Dungarvan , C . Gordon , and T . Wetherall .

The Grand Officers entered in procession , and the DEP . G . MASTER , having assumed the chair , appointed his officers pro tern ., and addressed the brethren on the nature of the meeting . He said they were assembled for the purpose of constituting and consecrating a new lodge to be named after their most illustrious brother—the Earl of Euston . He had received

the commands of H . R . H . the M . W . G . M . M . toperform the necessary ceremony , and he would therefore call on the brethren who signed the petition to appear before him and ask the G . D . C . to state their wishes and the proceedings they had taken in respect of the lodge . The G . D . of C . read the petition and warrant , and the founders signified their approval of the officers named therein .

Bro . Rev . A . VV . OXFORD then delivered the following oration on the principles of the Order , after which an anthem was sung , and the lodge was solemly dedicated and constituted :

VVe are met here this evening to consecrate ane -r lodge of Mark Master Masons . We have once again been taught the great Masonic lessons—Do justice , love mercy , practise Charity . We have once again been taught that the great tij which binds us is our need of each other , that from the common life alone come victory and strength . The key-ttone , which we all wear , remind- us of this solemn obligation of mutual service , the obligation to add to the comfort and light and joy of our brethren . These are the foundation truths of all Masonry . But the Mark Degree goss farther , and

bids us consider the reward of our work , as symbolised by the wa » -es paid to the Craftsmen . It impresses on us the fact that our service will never fail of its reward , We sometimes fear that ic may do so . We fear that , if we act up to the Masonic standard , showing true Chaiity to all , giving way to all , bearing our brother ' s burden , content to take the lowest seat , forbearing , courteous , considerate—we fear that we shall be passed over without reward , perhaps even without gratitude . There is no need

for fear . The reward may seem long in coming , but it comes at last . For the one thing which makes a man great , which clothes him with power , and wins for him the love and respect of his brethren , is service toothers . And even if our labour does seem to fail of its reward , and the brethien reject our work , and heive it over among the rubbish , nevertheless , it is not lost . As the beautiful lecture of this Degree says , " God seeth not as man seeth ; and while in honest endeavour to frame our conduct by the p lans

laid down for our guidance , interpreting them to the best of our ability by the imperfect light vouchsafed us , we may be misjudged and misunderstood by our erring fellowmortals , we may yet confidently place our reliance there , and look for our reward from Him who is as mertilul as He is unerring . " One word more . The motto of our brother who gives his name to this lodge is ' Kt decus et pretium recti , " the ornament and reward of virtue . Here we learn what out true , our b ; tt reward is . Viitue is its o . vn ornament , its own true reward . As Macbeth

says—I he service and the loyalty I owe , In doing it , pays itself . Or , as the great Roman Emperor , Marcus Aurelius , puis it , "What more dost thou want , when thou hast done a man a service ? art thou not content that tho-. t hast done something conformable to thy nature , and dost thou seek to be paid for it ? just as if the eye demanded a recompense for seeingor ihe feet for walking . " "Etdecus et

, pretium recti , " our labour its own ornament , its own reward . In our higher a *"' happier moods I think we all have visions of this truth . We never are , we never can be , paid for our best , save in the simple doing of it . Our finest devotion is never recompensed with high office , with gold or tangible reward , lt never can be . We give ourselves , and find thereby our larger life .

Bro . C . F . Matier , P . G . W ., took the chair , and installed Bro . Sir Lionel Darell , Bart ., as the VV . Master for the ensuing year . The following officers were appointed and invested : Bros . Edgar Baylis , S . W . ; S . Hamilton Cartivright , J . W . ; Sir Reginald Hanson , M . O . ; F . Mead , S . O . ; Alfred Cooper , J . O . ^ Earl of Euston , Treas . ; K . Darell , R . of M . i Major A . B . Cook , Sec . ; C . Gordon , S . D . ; Lord Dungarvan , J . D . ; " . Baird , D . C ; Gen . Sim , I . G . ; and T . Wetherall and Sasson , Stwds . The election of Tyler was deferred .