The First Ladies Banquet Of The Selwyn Chapter, No. 1901.

over 50 years , with his dear wife , and still their love was as great for each other and unchanged . He did not think he had made an enemy , and the friends he had made he trusted would be lasting for many years to come . The toast of "The H . and J . " was given in excellent terms by the M . E . Z ., and duly responded to by Comp . STONE , H ., M . E . Z . elect , thanking the companions for the great honour done him , and pledging to do his utmost for the chapter and emulate their excellent M . E . Z . Comp . E . GAUNTLETT , I . P . Z ., acting J ., also suitably replied .

The toast of their worthy " Comp . Pow , Proprietor , " was duly honoured and replied to most forcibly by him ; giving the greater amount of praise to Mrs . Pow , who had been most indefatigable in her exertions to make the meeting a success , The company included Comp . J . Lightfoot and Mrs . Lightfoot ; Comp , C . H . Stone and Mrs . Stone ; Comp . Gauntlett , Mrs . Gauntlett , and Mrs . Barrow ; Comp . T . Grummant and Mrs . Grummant ; Comps . Hook and Morgan ; Comp Frazer and Mrs . Frazer ; Comp . Wills and Mrs . Wills , and Mrs . Eagle ; Comp

Beecroft and Mrs . Beecroft ; Comps . Skates and May ; Comp . J . C . Skates a-id Mrs . Skates ; Comp . Mills and Mrs . Mills ; Comp . Dr . Thomas and Miss Thomas ; Comps . Gray and Snell ; Comp . Shelvey and Mrs . Shelvey ; Comp . Cornford and Friend ; Comp . Barton ; Comp . Turner and Mrs . Turner ; Comp . Aggleton and Mrs . Aggleton ; Comp . Ford and Miss Ford : Comp . Dr . Adams and Mrs . Adams ; Comps . J . Evans and Stephens ; Madame Lovenez and Mr . Lovenez ; Comps . Bentley and Pow ; Miss Motterway and Mr . Mottley .

An excellent programme of music was arranged under the direction of Comp . Jonah Evans , Organist . The artistes were Madame Lovenez and Miss Motterway , both of whom were rapturously encored , also Comps . Hook , Arthur Bentley , Fred . Stephens , and Jonah Evans rendered excellent service ; as also Comp . T . Grummant in a Nauti-Horti Yarn ( recitation . ) The accompanyist was Mr . A . G . Motley , who ably presided . The menus , & c , were very much admired and were the gilt of Comp . E . Gauntlett , I . P . Z . The Tyler ' s toast closed a most eventful night .

Consecration Of The Piccadilly Lodge,

CONSECRATION OF THE PICCADILLY LODGE ,

No . 2550 . The Piccadilly Lodge , No . 2550 , was consecrated at the Cafe Monico , Regent-street , W ., on Monday , the 8 th inst ., by Bro . E . Letchworth , G . Secretary , in the piesence of a goodly number of founders and visitors . The new venture is an offshoot of the Eccleston Lodge , and , with a strong body of founders , officered by several Past Masters of experience , should have as successful a career as the parent lodge .

The Grand Secretary was assisted in the ceremony by Bros . Ralph Clutton , P . G . D ., as S . W . ; H . A . Hunt , P . G . S . of W ., as J . W . ; Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg , P . G . C ., as Chap . ; Frank Richardson , P . G . D ., as D . C ; and W . M . Bywater , P . G . S . B ., as I . G . The founders present included Bros . F . Arnold , P . M ., W . M . designate ; W . F . Bates , P . M ., S . W . designate ; J . Russell , P . M ., J . W . designate ;

A . J . Bignold , P . M . ; C . Arnold , A . W . Beckham , W . C . Clark , T . B . Tipton , J . Leigh , A . A . Jordan , T . Parry , R . Bearcroft , J . Strange , G . J . Charlton , J . Hicks , C . P . Wyatt , H . Norman , and E . Glover . Visitors : Bros . H . Sadler , Grand Tyler ; F . Larncr , W . M . 2054 ; K . W . Browning , J . D . 2455 ; J . Wade , 860 ; L . W . Bride , P . M . ; W . Havdon , W . M . 2395 ; G . B . Spier , 1 S 91 ; W . J . Norman , 1 ( 12 4 ; F .

Penn , 13 S 1 ; Burgess Perry , 2 S ; H . J . Chapman , 19 64 ; J . B . Sackviiie Evans , 1818 ; W . R . Ingram- ; L . H . Price , P . P . G . D . C . Surrey ; J . Grist , P . M . 1624 ; J . W . Mash , P . M . 73 ; H . Massey , P . M . 1928 ; E . Corrington , 12 S 7 ; G . P . Pointer , 1613 ; J . L . G . Pugh , W . M . 255 ; W . Gibbs , 1716 ; C . A . Anderson , W . M . 7 S 1 ; J . B . Taverner , 1 364 ;

R . C . Mayor , 1 C 24 ; G . E . Saunders , 1928 ; J . H . Wood , P . M . 145 ; G . } . Smith , P . M . 1623 ; W . Salt , 889 ; F . Buxton , 1891 ; F . R . Kinkee , " 1316 ; W . G . Churcher , 2464 ; N . Goldstein , P . M . 1572 ; W . Hoggins , P . M . 1 S 91 ; J . Stait ; R . B . Bradley , 1694 ; J . Dickinson , 1 ( 194 ; R , Rae ; E . Belhomme ; T . Coulthard , 1624 ; H . S . Thomas , 1962 ; Dr . Bickle , P . M . 14 , South Australia ; W . W . Lee , W . M . 1897 ; and others .

Lodge was opened in the Three Degrees , and the CONSECRATING OFFICER addressing the brethren on the object of the meeting , said it could not fail to enlist the sympathy and evoke the good wishes of all who had at heart the interests of the Order . They had met for a very solemn purposeto consecrate a new lodge and dedicate it to the services of the Almighty . He was expressing the wishes of all present in hoping that the lodge might have before it a career of great prosperity , and worthy in every respect of the 1 oc ? ge of which it was an offshoot .

The founders signfied their approval of the officers named in the warrant , and an interesting oration having been delivered by the Chaplain , Bro . Rev . ] . S udholme Brownrigg , the Piccadilly Lodge was duly consecrated and dedicated in solemn form . The Grand Secretary installed Bro . F . Arnold , P . M ., as the first Master ,

nnd the following officers were invested : Bros . A . J . Bignold , P . M ., acting I . P . M . ; W . F . Bates , P . M ., S . W .: J . Russell , P . M ., J . W . ; C . Arnold , Treas . ; A . W . Beckham , Sec . ; W . C . Clark , S . D . ; T . B . Tipton , J . D . ; J . Leigh , Org . ; A . A . Jordan , I . G . ; T . Parry , D . D . ; R . Bearcroft , A . D . C . ; J . Strange and G . J . Charlton , Stwds . ; and Evenden , P . M ., Tyler .

The Consecrating Officers were unanimously elected honorary members , and a cordial vote of thanks was passed for the impressive manner in which the ceremony had been conducted . The GRAND SEIRKTARV acknowledged the compliment , and several propositions for initiation and joining were received before the lodge was closed . A choice banquet was served in the Egyptian Room , and was followed by the usual loyal and Masonic toasts .

"The Queen and the Craft" and " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " having been honoured , " The W . M . proposed " The Grand Officers , " and said that never had there been a better disci p lined or better officered army than the vast army of Masons that existed at the present day . That army had had a great deal to do in promoting the peace of Europe they enjoyed at the present

time . Tne more that Freemasonry was spread the more united would men become , for they acknowledged neither creed nor race , and but one brotherhood . Their one object was the welfare of their fellow creatures—and they were attaining that object by supporting the old men and women and children , which must have a beneficial effect upon society in general . He coupled with the toast the name of Bro . Hunt , who was the first Master of the mother lodge—the Eccleston .

Bro . H . A . ' HUNT , P . G . S . of W ., in response , said the Grand Officers had arduous duties to perform , and he had no hesitation in saying they performed them to the entire satisfaction of the Craft . There was no greater

Consecration Of The Piccadilly Lodge,

pleasure for them than to be present at such a ceremony as th ° y had witnessed that day , and they trusted the new lodge would bring a great deal of credit on the Craft , and satisfaction and p leasure to the member ; . He felt it a great compliment to have his name coupled with the toast , for as the first Master of the Eccleston Lodge he seemed to be associated with this

Piccadilly Lodge . He was an extremely young Mason—only six months old—when he was by warrant appointed W . M . of the Eccleston Lodge which had grown not only in numbers but in efficiency until it was in such a condition that it was not expedient it should be enlarged . It had done most excellent work in the lodge and in Charitable contributions it was second to none in London . He looked forward with satisfaction to the

future of this Piccadilly Lodge , which would supply a want for many who now wished to join a lodge of that kind . He could not impress upon them too strongly that circumspection was necessary ; many men wished to jiin Freemasonry for what they could get from its benefits . It was the brethren ' s task to assist those who had been overtaken by misfortune , but they must see that amongst those they admitted there wereno impostors . On behalf of the Grand Officers he thanked them most heartily for the reception given them and which he bad always experienced in the Eccleston Lodge .

The WoRsnii'Fi'L MASTER next proposed " The Consecrating Officers , " and said that those who had not previously witnessed the consecration ceremony , and indeed those who had , must have been impressed with its solemnity . It was certainly one of the most beautiful and solemn in Freemasonry , especially when rendered as they had seen it that evening . He would ask the brethren to heartily drink the toast , coupling with it the name of the Grand Secretary .

Bro . E . LUTCHWORTII , Grand Sec , said that , as the unworthy mouthpiece of the Consecrating Officers , he returned thanks for the kind reception given the toast , so kindly proposed in far too flattering terms by the W . M . He could assure them it had afforded one and all the greatest possible pleasure to be present and assist in launching into existence that new lodge . He much regretted that Bro . Brownrigg , to whom they all listened with a

great deal of p leasure , was compelled to leave , and he equally regretted that Bro . Richardson , to whom he was always deeply indebted for the admirable manner in which he performed the duties of D . C , was obliged to leave for Scotland on Masonic business . It was a satisfaction to feel he was supported by such good Masons as Bros . Clutton and Hunt . They had also Bro . Bywater , a host in himself , and Bro . Sadler , in whom he recognised

a most respected colleague . They wished that lodge a future of great prosperity , and ventured to believe that prosperity would be attained when he looked round and saw the brethren by whom it would be supported . He would propose the next toast , and ask them to join in drinking " The Health of the W . M ., " whom it had been his privilege to install into the chair of that lodge . He most heartily congratulated the members of the

Piccadilly Lodge on having selected as the first Master one so able to undertake the management during this most critical period of its existence as Bro . Arnold . They knew how well Bro . Arnold discharged his duties as W . M . of the Eccleston Lodge , after being a member for many years . They would all join in wishing the W . M . a most prosperous and pleasant year of office .

Bro . F . ARNOLD , W . M ., in reply , said he felt at a loss to know how to thank the Grand Secretary for the cordial way in which he had proposed the toast , and the brethren for their reception of it . He thoroughly appreciated the honour conferred upon him in selecting him to be the first Master of that lodge . He would always do his utmost and work hard to make the lodge a success . Judging from the number of propositions received , it

would be a great success , and would be one of the most popular in London , and subscribe handsomely to the Institutions . He intended representing his mother lodge at the next Festival for the Girls' School , and had already over ^ 400 on his list . As this lodge had selected him to be the first Master , he hoped they would select him to be the first to represent the lodge . He had a very successful year as Master of the Eccleston Lodge , with 18

initiates , and , as they were [ practically limited to 100 , they were prevented from taking any more candidates . Many more were anxious to join , and the thought struck some of the brethren to found a new lodge . At his first interview with the Grand Secretary he met with little ^ encouragement , but was delighted when he ultimately received an intimation that the warrant was granted . He had no doubt the new lodge had a great future

before it . Bros . Dr . BICKLE , P . M . 14 ( South Australia ); J . H . PRICE , P . P . G . D . of C . Surrey , HAVDON , and COULTARD , P . M ., replied for "The Visitors , " and " The Officers " having been honoured , the Tyler ' s toast concluded the proceedings .

Bro . F . R . Kinkee presided over the musical arrangements , and was assisted by Bros . Walter Churcher , H . Lewis Thomas , Wilfred Stracey , Sackviiie Evans , and Bob Rae . l

St. Paul's Gathedral And Freemasonry.

ST . PAUL'S GATHEDRAL AND FREEMASONRY .

ENGLISH FREEMASONS AND THE ADORNMENT OF ST . PAUL'S CATHEDRAL . To the Editor of the "Pall Mall Caselte . " Sir , —May I briefly outline an idea which has been formulated with regard to a contribution from the Freemasons of England towards the fund for decorating the great metropolitan Cathedral . I need not here dilate upon the architectural

merits of "the finest Protestant Cathedral in the world , " with a grand interior left in its cold nakedness for two centuries , and which led Dean Millman , in response to a letter addressed to him in 1858 by the Bishop ot London regarding the decoration of the church , to use the following eloquent words : " I should wish to see such decorations introduced into St . Paul ' s as may give some sp lendour while they would not disturb the solemnity or the exquisitely harmonious simp licity native

of the edifice ; some colour to enliven and gladden the eye , from foreign or marbles , the most permanent safe modes of embellishing the building exposed to the atmosphere of London . I would see the dome , instead of brooding like : a dead weight over the area below , expanding and elevating the soul towards heaven ; 1 would see the adornment carried out in rich and harmonious ( and as far as possible from gaudy ) style , in unison with our simple form ol worship . "

Since that date various attempts have been made to deal with the decoration , and during the last few years some progress has been made which has led the present Dean and Chapter to renewed and hearty attempts to carry the great work forward to completion . Towauls this most worthy end they are appea . mg to the public for support , and I have every confidence that when the subject is duly brought before the Freemasons of England they will show in the usual practical form their sympathy with the Dean ' s efforts , and their recognition of the peculiar connection they themselves have with the masterpieces of Sir Christopher Wren .