Consecration Of The Clarence And Avondale Lodge, No. 2411.

called upon to travel east , west , north , and south to do duty for the good of the Craft . The Earl of Lathom was a . most worth y Pro Grand Master , and succeeded one of the best friends that any Mason could have . Bro . Rev . OLIVER GRACE , Grand Chaplain , in response , said he felt in

a very delicate position in being called upon to reply , but he also felt the kindness which prompted his name being coupled to the toast . He was quite sure that those who had attended Grand Lodge had been struck with the wonderful way in whicli the two noble brethren included in the toast performed the work . He was convinced that one and all of the Grand Officers

had at heart the benefit of Masonry generally and of the lodges , and the brethren had had an instance of the way in which the Grand Secretary could perform his duties . He returned cordial thanks for the reception given the toast . Bro . Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE , G . Sec , said it was his privilege to propose a very important toast . It was the health of the worthy and

excellent brother under whose chairmanship they had been sitting that day , and who had the proud position of being the first Worshi pful Master of the Clarence and Avondale Lodge . It was always a high and great distinction for any brother to be selected as the first Worshipful Master of a new lodge , because he did not succeed to it by seniority , but by the voice of the founders as being the best and most suitable Master for the position . He thought they

ought to congratulate Bro . Basil Stewart , W . M ., upon the honourable office to which he had been selected . The VV . M . had already done good suit and service in the Craft , and had presided over an excellent and wellknown lodge in London , and was now very energetic and very active in carrying on the work of instruction not very far from their place of meeting that evening . A brother who had taken such an active part in Masonry

as Bro . Stewart had done , and who was a local resident in their midst , was a very fit and proper person to be selected as the first Master . Those who knew the W . M . assured him ( the Grand Secretary ) that he would most certainly fulfil the responsibilities with which he had been entrusted , and he was quite ready to accept that belief . He therefore considered the lodge was fortunate in having such a Master , and he asked those present to join in

congratulating Bro . Stewart on his proud position , in wishing all success and prosperity to the lodge during its existence , and in hoping that the Worship ful Master of that lodge would have a very happy , prosperous , and successful year of office . Bro . BASIL STEWART , P . M . 127 S , W . M ., thanked the Grand Secretary for the kind way in which his health had been proposed , and the brethren

for their hearty reception of the toast . All he could say was that ever since he joined Freemasonry 13 years ago he had endeavoured to do his duty and be a good man and true , and he thought that up to the present time he had kept to that , and trusted he ever should . They could not have long speeches that evening ^ as many had a long way to go , and he would therefore be as brief as possible , and thank them for the kind way the toast had been proposed and received .

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER then said the next toast was that of " The Consecrating Officers and his Assistants . " They must all have been impressed with the manner in which the Grand Secretary performed the ceremony of consecration and with the beauty of the ceremony . Pie could only say it had been a very great treat for him , as he had never before heard the consecration ceremony rendered , and he had no doubt the other brethren had also enjoyed it very much .

Bro . Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE , Grand Sec , in his colleagues' name as well as his own , thanked the W . M . very much for the kind way in which he had proposed the toast . He did not propose to speak at any length , but he would be ungrateful if he did not recognise the trul y fraternal greetinggiven them . He knew he was speaking their feelings as well as his own when he said it was a great pleasure to them to come to that part of London to take

part in the ceremony and re-establish Masonry in the old Masonic home of Leytonstone . It was greatly to be regretted that the lodges went away , but he hoped Masonry was again flowing to that part and that the place would once again become the head-quarters of Masonry for the district . He was fortunate in being supported by distinguished members of the Order—Bros .

Grace , Belton , Clowes , Richardson , and Terry—and with their able assistance he was glad to be able to carry out the ceremony , and he trusted to the satisfaction of the brethren . He thanked them again and could onl y assure them of their best wishes for the future prosperity of the lodge they had joined in consecrating .

_ Bro . W . H . LEE , P . P . G . D . Middx ., replied for " The Visitors , " and said he rose in response to the call of the W . M . to respond to the toast , and on their behalf he thanked the W . M . and founders of the Clarence and Avondale Lodge for the very kind and cordial reception given the toast , and for the very kindly manner in which they had been entertained . He congratulated the founders on the great success attending- the proceedings of

that day , and was sure he was speaking for all the visitors when he said it had been a scource of great pleasure and gratification to them to have the opportunity and privilege of witnessing the beautiful ceremony of consecration performed by the Grand Secretary so ably . The visitors could only wish the lodge inaugurated under such good auspices God-speed , and that the founders mi ght work in love and harmony in promoting and

promul gating the genuine principles of the Craft to the advantage of Freemasonry and to the credit of their lodge . They thanked the founders most heartil y and sincerel y for the cordial reception given them , and wished the W . M . a very happy year of office and the lodge every success and prosperity . Bros . MOLONEY , W . D . CHURCH , P . M ., HOLLAND , and several others also responded , after which " The Masonic Institutions " and other toasts

were duly honoured , the proceedings terminating with the T yler ' s toast . I he numerous presents to the lodge included collars and jewels and wands from Bro . Tompson , candlesticks , & c , from Bro . Clarke , cushion and Bible Irom Bro . Holliday , and working tools from the W . M . I he lodge was furnished by Bro . George Kenning .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Cheshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF CHESHIRE .

\ v ^ anmia ' meeting of this Prov . Grand Mark Lod ge was held at the V \ arren Bulkeley Arms Hotel , Stockport , on Thursday , the Sth inst . The proceedings were commenced by the opening of the Benevolent Lodo-e No . " 7 , by Bro . W . Booth , P . P . S . G . O ., W . M ., \ vho was assisted by Bros . C . Armuage , P . P . G . Std . Br ., S . W . ; W . Cartwright , P . J . G . W ., as J W . ; W . Ramsden , as M . O . ; J . Cooksonas S . O . ; and H . Lomasas JO

, , .. Bro . the Ri ght Hon . Lord Egerton of Tatton , Prov . Grand Master , and tne Prov . Grand Officers , Present and Past , then entered the lodge , and were received with the customary salute . The Prov . Grand Lod ge having

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Cheshire.

been opened by Bro . Lord Egerton of Tatton , the roll of lodges and the roll of Prov . Grand Officers were called , and all were found to be represented . The minutes of the Prov . Grand Mark Lodge held at Chester in October , 1890 , were read and confirmed , and the Prov . Grand Treasurer , Bro . F . K . STEVENSON , submitted his statement of accounts , showing a balance in hand of £ 25 . Bro . Stevenson was re-elected Prov . Grand Treasurer , and Bros . Atkinson and P . Duff Auditors for the ensuing year .

His lordship then appointed and invested his officers for the ensuing year as follows : Bro . Hon . Alan de Tatton Egerton , M . P . ... D . P . G . M . „ Col . S . W . Wilkinson ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ John Ashton ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W .

,, Rev . J . W . Newell-Tanner ... ... Prov . G . Chap . ,, F . K . Stevenson ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . ,, W . Ramsden ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . .. R . Newhouse ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec .

„ John Morris ... ... ... Prov . G . M . O . „ P . Duff ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . O . .. F . S . Moore ... ... ... ... Prov . T . G . O . F . S . Moore ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . O .

„ „ J . Mantle ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ John Woolley ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . .. " A . Atkinson ... ... ... Prov . G . D . of C

„ J . W . White ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . of C ,, James Cookson ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . ,, James Worsnup ... ... ... Prov . G . L of W . „ J . G . Hallwood ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br .

,, H . Lomas ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . ,, James S . Warren ... ... •••7 r > n c . A > n - \ it n •r Prov . G . Stwds . ,, 1 \ M . Cairns ... ... ... ) His LORDSHIP afterwards addressed the Provincial Grand Lodge , and begged to offer to his brethren connected with the Mark Degree his best wishes on meeting" in the good old town of Stockport . He was pleased to hear that the Stockport lodge ( Benevolent , No . 67 ) , which had been

resuscitated lately , was in a prosperous condition . Proceeding , his lordship said he thought the Provincial Grand Lodge would be doing right in proposing a contribution to the Benevolent Fund of the Grand Mark Lodge . Grand Lodge in London , he was pleased to say , was in a very flourishing state . They had now quarterly instead of half-yearly meetings , and had recently acquired a splendid building in which to hold their assemblies . Lord Egerton thanked the Prov . Grand Officers for their attendance and support , and hoped that the suggestion thrown out with regard to the contribution from the province would be adopted .

The brethren unanimously resolved to vote ten guineas to the Mark Benevolent Fund , and Birkenhead was selected as the next place of meeting for Provincial Grand Mark Lodge . At the banquet which subsequently followed , the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given . " The Health of Lord Egerton " and that of his lordship ' s brother , " The Hon . Alan de Tatton Egerton , " who had been appointed D . P . G . M ., were received with great enthusiasm .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Northumberland And Durham.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF NORTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM .

The annual meetingof the above Provincial Grand Mark Lodge was held on the 6 th inst . in the Freemasons' Hall , Stockton-on-Tees , the P . G . M ., Bro . Rev . Canon Tristram , D . D ., F . R . S ., in the chair . He was supported by Bros . R . B . Reed , P . G . Std . Br . England , D . P . G . M . ; E . L . Marrett , P . P . G . C . ; T Bell , P . S . G . W . ; A . S . Fowler , P . P . J . G . W . ; W . M . Lyon , P . G . M . O . ; G . Porteous , P . S . G . O . ; W . F . Carmon , P . P . S . G . O . ; W . Mayson , P . G . Reg . of Marks ; J . S . B . Bell , P . G . Treasurer ; C . B . Ford , P . G . Secretary ; and many others .

The report of the Committee of General Purposes was read by the Prov . Grand Secretary , Bro . C B . FORD . Its adoption was moved by Bro . R . B . REED , D . P . G . M ., seconded by Bro . C . S . LANE , P . P . S . G . W ., and adopted . The Prov . G . M ., Bro . Rev . Canon TRISTRAM , then addressed the brethren , and congratulated them upon the state of Mark Masonry throughout the province . He appreciated their reference to himself , and

referred to several matters of Masonic detail . Though not an official visit , he announced that the Deputy Grand Master , Bro . the Earl of Euston , would visit the Tristram Lodge at Newcastle on the 15 th December , when they would be pleased to see a large attendance of brethren . He afterwards intimated that the Provincial Grand Lodge would meet next year at Sunderland , upon the invitation of the Union Lodge , No . 124 , 01 which Bro . B . Singleton is the present W . M .

Bro . J . S . B . Bell was re-elected Prov . Grand Treasurer for the ensuing year , on the motion of Bro . G . PORTEOUS , P . S . G . O ., seconded by Bro . C . H . BACKHOUSE , W . M . 250 . The P . G . M . then invested Bro . R . B . Reed as Deputy P . G . M . on reappointing him for the ensuing year . He invested the following brethren as Provincial Grand Officers for the year :

Bro . C H . Backhouse ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ W . F . Carmon ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ G . F . Allan ... ... ... Prov . G . M . O . „ R . Weddell ... ... ... Prov . S . G . O . „ R . S . Benson ... ... ... Prov . J . G . O . " Jev- Pri R fnde" ( re-appointed ) ] Prov . G . Chaps . ,, Kev . J . J . Brown ... ... ... ) l » } ' . }¦ l ' P ¦¦¦ ••'" '" jProv . Rs . of Marks . ,, 1 . Purvis ... ... ... ... j „ J . S . B . Bell ... Prov . G . Treas . C B . Ford I ' re-annninf prD ... Prov . G . See .

,, R . Singleton ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ C H . Sutcliffe ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ Seymour Bell ... ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C „ R . Wilson ... ... Prov . G . L of W . „ J . Barker ( re-appointed ) ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ J . Rose ... ... ... ... Prov . G . I . G . ,, M . Armstrong ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ C . Allen ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . ,, J . Curry ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . The Provincial Grand Lodge was afterwards closed .

Subsequently a banquet was held , presided over by Bro . Canon Tristram , P . G . M ., and was supported by Bros . R . B . Reed , Addison Potter , John Strachan , and C S . Lane , whilst Bro . T . Bell officiated as vice-chairman .