Installation Meeting Of The Drury Lane Lodge, No. 2127.

been inside attending his duties . If it fell to his lot ever to occupy the honourable position of the chair he should thank the W . M . very much for having started him that evening on the lowest rung of the ladder . He was in the forecastle now , but hoped to be on the bridge some day . The Tyler's toast then closed the proceedings , during which Bro . J . Morley acted as Toastmaster .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Devonshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF DEVONSHIRE .

COMMITTEE OF PETITIONS . The annual meeting of the Committee of Petitions of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Devonshire was held on the 29 th ult ., at Exeter , and was attended by Bros . W . G . Rogers , D . Prov . G . M ., who presided ; J . Stacker , 39 ; R . Pengelly , 70 ; M . Emdon , 10 S ; W . L . Cocks , 106 ; S . Jones , 112 ; F . G . Knight , 156 ; Rev . Dr . Lemon , 18 9 ; H . Welch , 202 ; W . Browning , 223 ; J . Brewer , 251 ;

G . Merrifield , 282 ; F . C . Frost , 303 ; W . W . Madge , 372 ; Rev . F . King and W . Locke , 444 ; M . Whittle , 797 ; J . W . Swann , 847 ; E . Aitken-Davies , 1099 ; J . B . Crabb , 1125 ; W . Vicary , 1138 ; G . Evans , 1181 ; W . Powell , 1205 ; J . J . Leonard , 1212 ; J . R . Lord , 1247 ; E . T . Fulford , 1 254 ; F . Sanders , 1284 ; J . Templeton , 1332 ; Jno . Lane , 1402 ; C . A . Nicholson , 1847 ; R . Hambly and J . Griffin , 2025 ; S . Jew , 2258 ; Major G . C . Davie , and J . B . Gover .

The SECRETARY reported that since the last meeting there had been two elections at the London Institutions , one for boys , the other for girls . The girl candidate of the province was elected . Of the number of votes received from the province in October last there were 570 for boys , 329 for girls , against the previous votes of 594 for boys , 347 for girls .

The London representative , Rev . W . WHITTLEY , 156 , reported that he did not see how he could take up the case of the brother of Lodge No . 202 , Devonport , a candidate for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution next May , unless it was the pleasure of the Committee that he should incur a very great debt in votes . In October last he received from the province 594 boys' votes and 346 girls ' votes ; total , 940 . The girl candidate adopted by Devon was the last of the

successful candidates , and she was elected with 3563 votes . Towards that number he polled 2531 . From those take the 940 received from the province , and there was a debt of 1591- Those he had borrowed . Supposing the province should send him in April next 594 boys' and 346 girls' votes , and in May next , as in last May , 559 men ' s and 6 97 women ' s votes , those would make 2196 . After repaying the debt of 1591 he would have but 605 votes left for their brother of Devonport . Last May the lowest successful brother polled 2315 votes , and he was afraid that

it would take quite 3000 votes to carry a man next May . If so , and they elected their candidate , it would leave the province in debt 2394 votes . If that was accomplished , and suppose the province sent votes in October , 1891 , and May and October , 1892 , at the same rate it had been sending that would make 4081 votes . When from these he had paid the debt incurred on the election of their present candidate , there would only remain 1 S 8 7 votes in hand , so they would not be able to appoint another candidate until October , 1893 .

Bro . GOVER said this statement was worth the attention of the Committee , but Bro . Whittley was evidently taking a pessimist view . At least 800 to 900 votes would be coming in from outside their province in the interim . It was the duty of the province to endeavour to carry their Devonport brother at the election in

May , whatever number of votes they mig ht have to run in debt . It was ultimately resolved that the representative should be instructed to . successfully return the candidate by all possible means , however much it might involve the province , the members in the province at the same time to be earnestly desired to co-operate , as no doubt there would be keen competition .

Four petitions for relief were considered , all from widows , one each from Lodges St . John the Baptist , No . 39 , Exeter ; Loyal , No . 251 , Barnstaple ; St . George , No . 112 , Exeter ; and one from Harmony , No . 156 , Plymouth , in which Dundas , No . 1255 , of Plymouth , and Bedford , No . 282 , of Tavistock , joined . Five pounds each were voted to the petitioners , and the two last mentioned to be further considered at the next meeting . Bros . W . G . Rogers , Rev . W . Whittley , and J . B . Gover were re-elected the Chairman , London representative , and Secretary of the Committee respectively .

Consecration Of The Sewell Mark Lodge, No. 421.

CONSECRATION OF THE SEWELL MARK LODGE , No . 421 .

This new Mark lodge was consecrated by Bro . Col . F . R . Sewell , P . M . 229 , P . P . S . G . W ., D . P . G . M ., under most favourable auspices , at Egremont , Province of Cumberland and Westmorland , on Thursday , the 29 th ult ., and a worthy compliment was paid to the Consecrating Officer by the new lodge being named the Sewell , the choice being the unanimous wish of the founders and petitioners .

Since the 7 th October , 1881 , the day our worthy D . P . G . M . was invested as successor to the much respected late Bro . Col . Whitwell , no brother has done more in this province to merit the esteem of the Craft , and all Masonic ceremonies appear with an ease and grace under his mallet , and we have every confidence this lodge will do honour to Mark Masonry and the name .

The other brethren deputed to assist in the ceremony of consecration were Bros . J . Nicholson , P . M . 15 ! , P . G . D . of Eng . ; P . de E . Collin , P . M . 151 , P . G . D . of Eng . ; Rev . Jas . Anderson , P . M . 213 , P . S . G . W . ; J . C . Thompson , P . M . 282 ] P . J . G . W . ; Rev . G . B . Armes , S . W . 216 , P . G . Chap . ; Jas . Gardiner , P . M . 151 , P . G . Steward of Eng ., P . G . Sec ; Geo . Dalrymple , P . M . 216 , P . A . G . D . C . of Engl - and D . H . Cook , Org . 213 , P . G . Org .

The officers designate were Bros . James Stout , P . G . Std . Br ., W . M . ; James Lowery , S . W . ; and J . Kitchin , J . W . There were besides nearly 50 brethren present . The brethren were marshalled by the Acting D . C . and proceeded to the lodge

room where a lodge was opened by Bro . Col . Sewell , D . P . G . M ., and ten candidates were balloted for and accepted . Nine being in attendance , they were advanced to the honourable Degree of M . M . M . by Bro . B . Craig , P . M . 216 , P . P . G . M . O . in an able manner .

The founders of the new lodge were then arranged in order b y the D . C . and the CONSECRATING OFFICER addressed them at length on the nature of the meeting , also the great obligations they were about to take regarding the future of the new lodge , and said he was hi ghly pleased when he first learned that the brethren of Egremont had decided to petition for a warrant from Grand Mark Lodge , but there was one unexpected honour they had conferred upon him in giving it the

Consecration Of The Sewell Mark Lodge, No. 421.

name of " Sewell " which he felt very proud of , and he had no doubt in the time to come that lodge would be an important addition to the Province of Cumber , land and Westmorland . Bro . GARDINER , P . G . Sec , then read the warrant , and delivered it up to the Consecrating Officer , and the officers were unanimously approved of , also the petitioners , and the brethren listened with marked attention to a long and eloquent oration by Bro . Rev . G . B . ARMES , S . W . 216 , P . G . Chap ., on the moral teachings of Mark Masonry .

During the singing of the anthem , the pedestal was uncovered , and the following brethren carried the elements of consecration : Bros . Collin , corn ; Anderson , wine ; Thompson , oil ; and Craig , salt , which were duly applied by Bro . Colonel Sewell , and the lodge was dedicated and consecrated to Mark Masonry . Bro . } . Stout , W . M . designate , was then presented to Bro . J . Gardiner to receive

the benefit of installation , and invested the following as his officers : Bros . Bryce Craig , l . P . M . ; J . Lowery , S . W . ; John Kitchin , J . W . ; J . Nelson , M . O . ; W . Irving , S . O . ; J . Parker , J . O . ; Rev . G . B . Armes , Chap . ; H . Hartley , Treas . ; T . McLeod , R . of M . ; W . Bosward , Sec ; T . Miller , S . D . ; J . C . Hellon , J . D . ; E . K . Bouch , I . G . ; and S . Braithwaite , Tyler .

Bro . CRAIG delivered the customary addresses in his usual able manner ; and the following , on the motion of the W . M ., seconded by the S . W ., were unanimously elected honorary members of the lodge : Bros . Col . Sewell , P . de E . Collin , Rev . James Anderson , J . Gardiner , J . C . Thompson , and Geo . Dalrymple . Bro . Col . SEWELL returned thanks for the honour , and then said those beautiful

ceremonies of consecration , & c , were now ended , and it gave him much pleasure to ask the newly-installed Master , Bro . Stout , and his officers and members of that new lodge to accept from him a lodge banner as a token of his regard for their future welfare , and , as said before , he had no opinions but one—that it would be one of the most successful in the province .

Bro . STOUT , W . M ., said on behalf of himself and the members of the Sewell Lodge , No . 421 , it gave him great pleasure to thank Bro . Col . Sewell for such a handsome banner , and it would be kept with every care , and he now had to ask the D . P . G . M . to accept as a present from the members of the new lodge a founder ' s jewel , designed from the "Sewell's" armorial bearings , viz .: a circle , with four roses , and in the centre a white bee on a black ground ; motto— " ( In labore quiesj . Founder , Sewell Lodge M . M . M ., No . 421 . " For style and beauty of workmanship it was much admired .

Bro . Col . SEWELL thanked the members for the jewel , and expressed himself as much pleased with it . Several new members were proposed , and with "Hearty good wishes" from Lodges Nos . 60 , 151 , 195 , 213 , 216 , 229 , and 282 , the lodge was closed . The brethren adjourned to the Red Lion Hotel , where a capital banquet was served , and a most pleasant evening spent . The jewel was manufactured by Bro . George Kenning .

Consecration Of The Nene Mark Lodge, No. 427, At Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire.

CONSECRATION OF THE NENE MARK LODGE , No . 427 , AT SUTTON BRIDGE , LINCOLNSHIRE .

During the reign of the present highly popular Prov . Grand Master Mark Masonry has made great strides in the Province of Lincolnshire , and on Monday , the 26 th ult ., a new lodge was constituted and consecrated at the south-east corner of the province . The petitioners were Bros . Jack Sutcliffe , Anderson , Bates ,

Henry Edward Cousans , George Smith Woodwark , John William Shepherd , George Carrick , Charles E . Ward , William Robert Millns , Joseph Edward Townsend , and John Richard Clarke . Bros . Geo . Smith Woodwark , Charles E . Ward , and Wm . R . Millns being named by the M . W . Grand Master as W . M ., and S . and J . Wardens in warrant dated 18 th December .

A dispensation having been granted by the Prov . Grand Master , the lodge was opened by Bro . C . F . Liversidge , W . M . 172 , P . P . G . W ., as W . M . ; W . W . Copeland , P . M . 1 S 8 , P . P . J . G . W ., as l . P . M . ; G . S . Woodwark , W . M . designate , as S . W . ; W . R . Millns , J . W . ; J . W . Shepherd , M . O . ; J . E . Townsend , S . O . ; George Carrick , J . O . ; W . W . Mortimer , S . W . 117 , as S . D . ; Charles E . Ward ,

11 7 , as Reg . of Marks ; and the following brethren were advanced : Bros . M . Cox , W . Pattrick , R . H . Aldham , J . S . B . Glasier , J . G . Dunlop , and D . Oliver . Bros . Jack Sutcliffe , _ P . G . M . ; Anderson Bates , P . G . M . ; C . F . Matier , P . G . W ., Grand Sec ; R . Berridge , P . G . W ., G . D . C . ; J . A . Robinson , P . J . G . W . ; and W . R . F . Morton , P . G . Sec , were received .

Bro . C . F . Matier took the chair of A ., and appointed Bros . J . Sutcliffe , Prov . G . M ., as Chaplain ; Anderson Bates , D . P . G . M ., as S . W . ; J . A . Robinson , Prov . J . G . W ., as J . W . ; R . Berridge , P . G . W ., G . D . C , as D . C . ; and Ben T . Adlard , Organist , and performed the ceremony of consecrating the lodge and installing the W . M ., Bro . G . S . Woodwark , in his usual impressive manner . The Treasurer and Tyler were then elected , and the W . M . invested the officers , a Committee being formed to prepare by-laws .

The W . M . then proposed , the S . W . seconded , and it was unanimously agreed , that the honorary membership of the lodge be offered to Bros . C . F . Matier and R . Berridge , Past Grand Wardens , as a slight recognition of the honour they had conferred upon the lodge by coming down to consecrate it , also to Bros . Jack Sutcliffe , P . G . M . ; A . Bates , D . P . G . M . ; and H . E . Cousans , P . G . D . England , who had assisted in the formation of the lodge by becoming founders .

I he four first-named brethren very gracefully returned thanks , and accepted the compliment , and the Secretary was ordered to write Bro . Cousans , who was not present , having been detained at the last moment . A P . M . of Lodge 809 was then proposed for advancement in April , and " Hearty good wishes" having been given , lodge was closed , and the brethren proceeded to partake of an excellent banquet , provided by the host , Bro . J . RClarke .

After the usual loyal toasts had been honoured , the WORSHIPFUL MASTER , in a few well chosen words , proposed " The G . M . and the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " also " The Consecrating Officers , Bros . Matier and Berridge , " pointing out that the thanks of the lodge were especiall y due to the Consecrating Officers for the labours they had so successfully performed that day , and coupled with the toast the name of Bro . C . F . Matier , P . G . W ., G . Sec , whose name was received with honours .

Bro . MATIER responded in a very graceful manner for the Grand Officers , the representatives of light and leading , reminding brethren of the illness of the D . G . M ., Bro . Lord Euston , and expressed the hope that the G . O . O . T . U . would restore him to health , and , in conclusion , proposed "The Health of the W . M . " . "The P . G . M ., the D . P . G . M ., and the Prov . Grand Officers , Present and Past , " was proposed by the WORSHIPFUL MASTER , and responded to in a happy vein by the P . G . M ., Bro . J SUTCLIFFE , after which the usual toasts were disposed of , and the brethren separated .

In response to " 1 he Mark Benevolent Fund , " Bro . BERRIDGE made an appM ' i and £ 1 16 s . 3 d . was collected . The furniture and jewels were manufactured b y Bro . George Kenning .