Consecration Of The National Artillery Lodge, No. 2578.

factor , it is a power of the future which no one can lose sight of . I am not only proud f ° the reason of being an Englishman and being associated with English soldiers , but I am also proud in this , that I , a Royal gunner , should hold this position among the citizjn gunners of the land . I am naturally g lad to think that this National Artillery Lodge his a high and

grand Masonic future before it . I would fain prophesy that it will be among the most powerful Masonic factors , as lodges go , in the Kingdompowerful for many ihings . I look upon Masonry and the philosophy of Masonry as a very great and high thing . It draws men together under its wings , it unites with a philosophy imbued with everything that is hig h ,

everything that is moral , everything that is noble . I look , m fact , upon the philosophy of Mason ry as only next to Christianity in bringing men together , that cements hearts together and interests together , and makes them one common whole , and as a whole for the good of humanity

as a whole . We have with our other principles of Freemasonry the principle of Charity , and what greater , what more ennobling principle can there be than that which encourages us to assist sickness and weaknessthe cultivation of hig h deeds , and some of the noblest deeds , for the benelit of our common humanity ?

Bro . Lieut .-Col . RITCHIE , W . M ., next proposed " The Consecrating Officer , " and said he might almost give the toast without a word , but he felt perhaps he would be somewhat wanting in respect if he did . All he could say was that that night it must have been a delight to the lodge to have the solemn and impressive ceremony of consecration performed in the

manner it had been . He was a great believer in consecrations , [ or the reason that following the ceremony of consecration it called forth some of their purest thoughts and feelings , and he could not help feeling that in the consecration of a lodge every brother who was present was again consecrating himself to the cause of Masonry . The ceremony itself was highly

impressive , and one that must speak a great lesson to their hearis . He thought that no brethren could be present at the consecration ceremony without going away a better man and a belter Mason , because they were dedicating themselves afresh to their Masonic career . He proposed the health of Bro . Letchworth , G . Sec , a most popular brother in the Order .

Bro . E . LETCHWORTH , G . Sec , in reply , said he had often remarked at consecrations that among the many duties connected with the office he had the honour to hold , there was not one which gave him greater pleasure than that of assisting , as he had assisted that evening , in starting a new lodge , and he was sure he was expressing the feelings of all who had assisted him

when he said he wished the National Artillery Lodge a career of the greatest possible prosperity . Bros . Gen . HALE WORTHAM , Col . KEYSER , and Col . HANSARD replied to the toast of " The Visitors . " Bro . Col . HANSARD said he was expressing the feelings of all members

of the Ubique Lodge present when he said he welcomed into Masonry this lodge of representatives of the Militia Artillery of the United Kingdom , and he congratulated it on having such a W . M . The Ubique started as a very small lodge ; it had now 170 members in 15 years . He only hoped that in the same number of years the National Artillery Lodge might have , as he

was sure it would have , under the presidency of Col . Ritchie , its first Master and Chief Founder , even a greater strength than the Ubique . It had a larger field to recruit from . In these critical times they ought to have no difficulty in getting militia and volunteers to come together and stand shoulder to shoulder . The time might not be far distant . A few days ago

it was not suspected that they might be called upon . Thank God , the great heart of England spoke out and showed it was not afraid . As long as they stuck together , all wearing her Majesty ' s uniform need not be afraid if- they had to stand against the whole world . They did it a hundred years

ago , and they could do it again . In Masonry they got to know one another , to know each other ' s strength , and each other ' s weakness , and they made allowance for them . Masonry taught them their duties , and especially their duty as Englishmen to protect themselves , their country and their empire .

Bros . Col . HOZIEB and Capt . JAMES replied to the toast of " The Treasurer and Secretary , " and Bros , Capt . WESTON , S . W ., and Major VANE-STOW , J . W ., to that of "The Officers . " The Tyler ' s toast closed the proceedings .

In the course of the evening , the W . M . informed the brethren that there had been presented to the lodge a Charity-box , and that it was in the form of a mortar—a very appropriate form for gunners—and that the first charge of that mortar was £ 4 7 s . 6 d .

Masonic Treat To Poor People.

MASONIC TREAT TO POOR PEOPLE .

The meat tea and entertainment inaugurated in 188 S by the officers and th \/ - ° ' the St' KeW Lodge ' I 222 > was repeated on New Vear ' s Eve in s M ° ria Ha " ' " ° 3 S ° ° E the aged and dcserving P ° or of Westonsuper-Mare , to whom invitations had been extended , put in an appearance . The Popularity of this festival is well maintained , and the reputation of the brethren he

mystic tie " for deeds of charity is as great as ever . The tea , a most untitul and excellent one , was provided by Bro . E . G . Huntley , and it gave by R p . 1011 , The ubles and platform were adorned with lamps kindly lent cont / b ' 1 Tu ' MesSrS - Leaver and Fox - and Messrs . Bryant , and foliage plants nlau \ 1 , y Mr Russe 11 - During the tea a capital selection of music was Played b y the Grosvenor Quintette Band

. P ^ rrett M u / WerepreS ' ° Verby lhe followin « , adics ' Mrs . Webb , Mrs . W . E Hare Mr Mr ' E Perrett ' J > Mrs - Bar < 7 . Mrs . Morris , Mrs . Collings , Mrs Mrs bre M 8 t ° ' ' Woo , er > Mrs - Ca P . « - G . H . Perrett , Mrs . Butt , y , Mrs . Cooper , Mrs . GIossop , Mrs . Taylor , Mrs . Franklin , Mrs . Black-

Masonic Treat To Poor People.

more , Mrs . T . Cox , Mrs . Cogle , Mrs . Pearse , Mrs . Lawrence , Mrs . Curtis , Mrs . Parsons , Mrs . Millard , Mrs . Clothier , and Misses Dart , Baker , Hyndman , James , Frampton , and Harvey . The brethren , attired in evening dress and wearing jewels representing the various offices they have filled , and for which a dispensation was obtained , officiated as waiters . Grace before and after the meal was said by the Rev . E . J . Morris .

After the tables had been cleared , a capital entertainment was given , the first part consisting of songs and gigelira solos , the second part being a minstrel performance . Part one was as follows-. Song , "Round goes the wheel , " Bro . R . J . Dart ; song , " Darby and Joan , " Mrs . Morris ; song , " When the heart is young , " Miss Frampton ; song , " New Year's Eve , " Bro . H . F . Taylor ( encored ) ; gigelira solo , Bro . Sellick ( encored ); sonsj , "The dear home-land , " Mrs .

Lawrence ; song , " The miller and the maid , " Madame Eva Neate ( encored ) . The accompanists were Mr . H . JefTeries , Mrs . Barry , Madame Eva Neate , Mrs . Taylor , and Bro . Franklin . The minstrel performance was quite a new departure and was arranged by Bro . Franklin . The chorus comprised about 20 men ' s voices and several boys . The programme , which was as follows , went swimmingly and without a hitch , and the old folk were very delighted : Overtures , Bro . A ,

Franklin ; song , " The old folks at home , " Bro . Thomas ( encored ) ; comic song , "The niggardly nigger , " Mr . W . J . Spencer ; ballad , "Sweet chiming bells , " The Boys ; song , " Poor old Joe , " Mr . Sparkes ; comic song , " The laughing nigger , " Bro . Carter ; song , " Close the shutters , Willie's dead , " Bro . Wilde ; banjo song , "The old man on the Common , " Mr . W . J . Spencer ( encored ); song , "Carrie Lee , " Bro . Sellick ; song , " The golden stairs , " Bro . H . F . Taylor ; boot dance , Mr . Cook ( encored ) .

During the interval , Bro . WEBB , as the W . M . of the lodge , extended a hearty welcome to all the guests , and said he was sure the y would agree with him in the opinion that that was one of the most popular gatherings of the kind held in Weston-super-Mare . He wished all present on his own behalf , as well as on behalf of the members of St . Kew Lodge , a most prosperous and happy New Year . In looking back at the previous year ' s gathering and remembering some

who were then present , they could not fail to notice that several familiar faces were not to be seen amongst them that evening . Several had been called to rest , and among others they would not fail to miss was the genial face of one who had always been with them on previous years j one who was constantly going in and out amongst them , healing the sick , and speaking a cheery word to the sorrowful . He referred to the late Dr . G . E . Alford . Many of those present that evening

must have thought of Mrs . Alford in her bereavement , and he knew they all deeply sympathised with her . Alluding to the distribution of the tickets for the tea , Bro . Webb said they had experienced a good deal of difficulty this year , the demand had been so great , and some of the applicants had sent in their names as early as last November . Of course , they could not accommodate all the old and deserving poor of Weston in that hall , but they had done their best to distribute

the tickets fairly all over the town—and in many cases they had only got abused for their pains . Because a person had attended the previous teas it was no reason why he or she should look upon it as a right to attend all the teas that were to follow—in fact , if persons had been to several of the teas , he thought that was a very good reason why their names should , at least in some cases , be omitted for a

year in order that fresh people might have the chance to take their place . However , the brethren had done their best in distributing the tickets , and the practice of varying the list of invitations seemed to him to be a commendable one . The ladies who had presided at the tables had discharged the duty as a labour of love , but he was sure the guests would all unite with him in heartily thanking them for their services .

Soon after the entertainment commenced pipes and tobacco were served to the men who smoked , and beer and non-alcholic liquors to both sexes , according to their tastes . At the close of the entertainment the usual supply of hot temperance punch was handed round , and the guests had an altogether delightful evening . At 10 o ' clock the brethren went on the platform and sang " Auld Lang Syne " in the conventional manner , and the company , after some hearty cheering , quietly dispersed .

The very efficient manner in which everything was arranged and carried out , spoke well for the administrative abilities of the Committee , Viz . , Bros . Webb , Blackmore , Cooper , Perrett , Thomas , Sellick , and Dart .

A New Masonic Lodge For Glasgow.

A NEW MASONIC LODGE FOR GLASGOW .

BRO . SIR CHARLES DALRYMPLE , BART ., INSTALLING MASTER . The erection of a new lodge is alwaysaneventof importance and interest in Masonic circles , and on the 7 th inst ., special importance was attached to the consecration of the Blythswood Lodge , No . 817 , from the elaborate preparations made for the ceremony and for the housing of the new lodge . Prior

to the meeting of the Prov . Grand Lodge to consecrate the new lodge and the hall , Bro . Sir John Maxwell , Bart ., M . P ., W . M . elect , entertained about 60 brethren , in the Bath Hotel , at dinner . Bro . Sir John presided , and on his rig ht and left were Bros . Sir Charles Dalrymple , Bart , M . P . ; John

Graham of Broadstone ; the Revs . Dr . W . W . Tulloch and Dr . John Watt ; D . Murray Lyon , David Reid , James Boyd , C . Murray Stewart , Major Allan , J . Guthrie Smith , and Major R . Barclay Shaw ; while the Wardenselect , Bros . Peter R . MacArthur and James MacLay , were croupiers .

After dinner , which did credit to Bro . Sir John ' s hospitality , " Her Majesty the Queen " was toasted with three ringing cheers . Two minutes allowed for coffee and cigars , and then all were on the move , and the company driven in cabs to the Masonic Hall , at 22 , ( 1 , Great Western-road . Here a large number of brethren , who were specially invited to the consecration ,

had already assembled , and were seated at prettily-decorated and wellfurnished tables . Many were the remarks of admiration expressed on the decorations of the lodge room , which , by the way , were executed under the

charge of Bro . W . Brown . No time was lost in gathering , as the Provincial Officers filed in . Bro . John Graham of Broadstone , Prov . G . M ., previous to opening the Prov . Grand Lodge , acknowledged the presence of Bro . Sir Charles Dalrymple , G . M . of Scotland , and requested him to preside .