The New Board Of General Purposes.

careful whom they elect to serve on the new Board ot General Purposes . We have on former occasions drawn attention to the marked insignificance of some of those who from time to time have solicited , and successfully solicited , the suffrages of the

electors in order to obtain places on our Boards of General Purposes and for Colonial matters . It is notorious that some of these have won their election only by a process of touting for votes , which , to put it in the mildest language that is possible under

the circumstances , is in every way discreditable to Masonry . These- are generally men of the " porochial" order of mind , insignificant people , who are incapable of formulating any but the narrowest and pettiest opinions about even the most

insignificant things . Such men , of course , derive a consequence which cannot , in the nature of things , pertain to them otherwise than from the positions they thus succeed in obtaining , but the brethren we desire to see elected are men of broad and generous

views , with some knowledge of business , and a sense of refinement derived from contact with other men of a like mental calibre , brethren who will reflect honour upon the electors as well as receive it from them . There is no inherent weakness in

the constitution of our Boards ; on the contrary , as far as we can see everything in reason has been done to ensure that they shall be representative of all that is best and most worthy in Grand

Lodge . The weakness comes in when the Bumbles , and little Pedlingtons , and Jacks-in-Office are elected . But if Grand Lodge will take care to elect only good men and true of the character we have described , then have we no misgivings as to what will result from the new arrangement .

Freemasonry In Hertfordshire.

FREEMASONRY IN HERTFORDSHIRE

It will have been seen from the report we published last week of the proceedings at the recent annual meeting at St . Albans of the Prov . Grand Lodge of Hertfordshire that Freemasonry has fared prosperously during the past 12 months . The

Returns at the several Festivals of the year show how well the Province has maintained ils position as a loyal supporter of our Institutions , while the reports of the Prov . Grand Treasurer and of Bro . C . E . KEYSER , as Hon . Sec . of the Hertfordshire

Masonic Charity Association , bear equally conclusive testimony to the soundness of its financial position and the strength of its voting power in connection with the Charities . We quite agree , however , with "A Hertfordshire Past Master" in what he says

in the letter we publish elsewhere respecting the omission of all reference , at the recent Provincial meeting , lo the lengthened services which Bro . T . F . HALSEY , M . P ., has rendered to Freemasonry in the county during the 21 years he has presided over

it as Prov . Grand Master . His appointment dates from the resignation of his predecessor—the late Bro . WILLIAM STUART —in the early days of 18 73 , but he was not installed in office till April , 1 X 74 , and what little he may have had the opportunity

of doing in the interval forms no part oi his services as Prow Grand Master . What those services have been are briefly but accurately described in our correspondent ' s letter . In the 2 ] years of his Prov . Grand Mastership as many as 14 lodges have

been placed on the roll , and of these Bro . HALSEY has personally consecrated all but one . In Royal Arch Masonry the two chapters then in existence have been augmented in number to seven , or , if we include the Broxbourne Chapter , No . 2353 ,

New Barnet , for which a warrant has been granted , but which has not ye : been consecrated , to eight chapters , while in the Mark Degree , the whole of the private lodges and the Prov . Grand Mark Lodge have been established since Bro . HALSEY

entered upon his duties as Craft Prov . Grand Master in the spring of ( 8 74 . But we need not repeat the whole of what our correspondent has set forth in his letter . It is enough that what he states is correct in all its details . It is also

bevond question that this progress is in great measure due to the ability and kindness which Bro . HALSEY has invariably exhibited in the discharge of his duties , and we fully agree with our Correspondent that the present time— --when he has just completed

his 21 years of service—is most opportune for a proper and fraternal recognition of those services . Lvcryone—even those who differed with him—was delighted when his 21 years ' service as one of the representatives ol the County in the House

Freemasonry In Hertfordshire.

of Commons , was . fittingly recognised at the recent banquet in his honour at Watford ; and we are convinced there is not a Hertfordshire Mason who will not most full y and most cordiall y agree with us that the time has arrived when services of such magnitude as Bro . HALSEY has rendered in his triple capacit y

of Prov . G . Master , G . Superintendent , and Prov . . G . Mark Master , should be generously and appropriately commemorated . We trust , ere long , that we shall be in a position to announce that it is in contemplation , or better still , that steps have actually been taken , to tender to Bro . HALSEY such a recognition in the manner which may bv him be deemed most appropriate .

Consecration Of The St. Nicholas Lodge, No. 2586, At Scarborouge.

CONSECRATION OF THE ST . NICHOLAS LODGE , No . 2586 , AT SCARBOROUGE .

There was a large attendance of the Craft at the Masonic Club , on Monday , the and instant , when this new lodge was consecrated by Bro . the Marquis of Zetland , R . W . Provincial Grand Master of N . and E . Yorkshire . His Lordship arrived at two o ' clock , and at once proceeded to the Masonic Club , where some 40 Prov . Grand Officers and about 120 brethren had assembled to witness the ceremony . The Consecrating Officer was assisted in

his work b y Bro . J . Todd , G . Std . Br ., Prov . G . T . ; and Bro . M . C . Peck , P . G . Std . Br ., Prov . G . Sec . They were afterwards made honorary members of the new lodge . Immediately after the ceremony had been performed , the Prov . G . Master was under the necessity of leaving , but Bro . Todd took the chair and installed the W . Master , Bro . G . W . Tindall , P . M . 643 , who immediately invested his I . P . M ., Bro . E . Harland , and

afterwards appointed his officers and invested them as follows : Bro . G . Ball , S . W . ; R . Forster , J . W . ; W . S . Meek , Chap . ; J . Knaggs , D . C ; C . H . Dodsworth , Sec ; J . H . Delday , S . D . ; G . H . Elgar , J . D . ; and J . Wildon , I . G . ; C . E . Bradley was elected Treasurer , and C . Travess , Tyler . The following founders of the new lodge and others were present : Bros . E . Harland , P . M . 643 , P . P . G . A . G . D . C . j G . W . Tindall , 760 , P . M

643 ; J . Knaggs , P . M . 760 , P . P . A . G . D . C ; W . S . Meek , P . M . 643 ; G . Ball , 200 ; P . Vernon , 1248 ; R . Forster , 200 ; C . E . Bradley , I . P . M . 1760 ; ] . II . Delday , 200 ; Lawson Pickard , J . D . 643 ; E . H . Cowlishaw , 200 ; G . H . Elgar , 200 ; W . Wildon , 200 ; and J . Caleb Fetch , 1248 . Amongst those also present were Bros . J . McFaden , P . M . 643 , P . P . A . G . P . ; R . Dobson , P . M . and Treasurer 643 , P . P . D . G . D . C ; the Rev . E . Fox-Thomas ,

J . W . 312 , P . P . G . Chap . ; G . Leigh , P . M . 2134 , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; the Rev . C E L . Wright , P . M . 236 , Prov . G . Chap . ; W . Storey , P . M . 1611 , P . G . S . B . ; Thomp son Foley , P . M . 294 , P . P . G . S . of W . ; R . Beevers , P . M . 27 , P . P . G ., S . of W . H . C . Clarke , P . M . 734 , P . P . J . G . D . ; W . H . Smythe , P . P . G . M . Lincolnshire ; J . VV Tindall , P . M . 1605 , P . G . J . D . ; E . H . Hackers , P . M . 1760 . P . P . G . D . C ; L . E Stephenson , P . M . 250 , P . S . G . D . ; J . G . Wallis , P . M . 1511 , P . A . G . D . C ; R

Hamper , P . M . 1760 , P . P . G . P . ; F . W . Wardell , P . M . 734 , P . P . J . G . D . ; W . S . Robson . P . M . 643 , P . P . G . D . C ; George H . Anderton , P . M . 630 , P . P . J . G . W . ; J . B . Redfearne , 2494 and 1511 , P . A . G . Sec ; the Rev . E . A . B . Pitman , 660 , P . P . G . C . ; J . E . Lupton , 17 60 , P . G . Std . Br . ; G . 11 . Walshaw , 200 , ' P . P . G . D . C . ; R . Y . Powley , 200 , P . P . A . G . D . C : G . Chambers , 1760 , P . P . G . P . ; J . W . Woodall , P . G . Trea < . ; the Rev . J . F . ( Iriffiths . 1848 , P . G . Chap . ; G . E . Martin , 1248 , P . P . G . D . C ; J . M . Forbes , 2 ^ 6 , P . P . J . G . W . ; Henry Watson , 10 4 , P . A . G . P . ;

V . Fowler , 643 . P . P . G . D . C ; Hy . Hill , 1248 , P . P . G . O . ; and P . Gaskell , 1 5 , Prov . GO ., who officiated at the consecration ceremony . The following Installed Musters wer « present in addition 10 tnose already namid : Bros . C H . Fletcher , 1248 ; H . Chapman , 1248 ; J . Hagyard , 124 K ; ' {' . H . Dunn , 17 60 ; Major Wil-iin , 734 ; G . Rennard , 734 ; H . Bostuck , 1587 ; M . J . . Martinson , 57 ; J . Wanlrss , 2 ou : R . . McBean , 643 ; C Travess , 200 ; F . Goodricke , 200 ; R . W . Leadbeater , 200 : and J . F . Seals , 200 .

The proceedings at the club terminated about five o clock , and the brethren then adjourned to tne Royal Hotel , wnere a banquet was held . The Worship ful Master of the St . Nicholas Lodge , Bro . G . W . I indall , P . M . 643 piesidt-d , and over 5 ) brethren were present . the u ^ ual loyal and Masonic toasts were duly rtonoired , the new lodge being launc . ied upon its caret r , under the most favourable auspices , and amid the hearty good wishes of all who had the good fortune to bs present on the occasion .

The Proposed Changes In The Constitutions.

THE PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE CONSTITUTIONS .

The . Quarterly Communication of December , 1895 , will be notable for the decision of Grand Lodge to abolish the Colonial Board , and to return to the olil system of keeping all Colonial as well as all home lodges under the control and supervision of the Board of General Purposes . Whether the change will be for good or evil remains to be seen ; but , from the discussion in Grand Lodge , it certainly looks as if the proposed alterations in the laws had not received the

consideration that changes of such a character require and should receive . When the Grand Registrar and the President of the Board of General Purposes differed as to the meaning of their proposed rule —the one holding that the six brethren to retire were dibble for re-election , and the other that they were ineligible — . t > hardly to be wondered at that the suggestion was made , and strongly backed up , that the matter should be referred back to the Board for reconsideration , and : t

seems a great pity it was not insisted on in the form of a motion . However , this was not done , and the new scheme will , therefore , become law , > J j is confirmed , at the Quarterly Communication in March . The object of tni > paper is to draw attention to the matter , in order that brethren may consider before March whether it would not be advisable to non-conlirm all the proposed alterations , and retcr the matter back to the Board to reconsider , and to bring "P

a more satisfactory scheme in June—or leave the law as it ends . The first question is as to the necessity and advisability of doing away witn the Colonial Board and substituting a Colonial Committee of the Board of General