Anniversary Of The Opening Of Masons' Hall Tavern.

ANNIVERSARY OF THE OPENING OF MASONS' HALL TAVERN .

On Friday week a banquet of the choicest description was given by the gentlemen who frequent Bro . Gosden ' s , Masons' Hall Tavern , Basinghallstreet , to celebrate the close of the first year of his proprietorship of this restaurant , and to express their entire gratification at the way in which all their

tabernal wants are attended to . Nearly fifty gentlemen sat down to the repast , which fully sustained the high character which Bro . Gosden earned while he was manager at Freemasons ' Tavern . A great number of those who were present were brethren of the Masonic Order , but there

were many others who did not belong to the Fraternity . Among the company , who were presided over by our Bro . Raynham W . Stewart , we observed Messrs . F . Binckes , S . Rosenthal , W . Roebuck , W . Paas , D . M . Dewar , A . Macnamara , Joseph Armstrong , J . A . Farnfield , Councillor Thomas

Beard , Dudley Rolls , Kenyon Wilson , Councillor Dearsley , Lemaitre , G . Allen , Morton , W . Jones , H . Keene , and J . Roughan , H . M . Customs , Comptroller of Accounts Office , London Docks . The dinner was served a la Russc , a style which was always Bro . Gosden ' s peculiar forte , and which

served to display his admirable taste in the arrangement of fruit and flowers . The primary vice-chair was occupied by Bro . F . Binckes , and the secondary by Mr . Keene . At the conclusion of the dinner , The Chairman proposed the usual loyal toasts

and after the drinking ot these , gave " The Army , Navy , Militia , and Volunteers , " who , he said , whatever might happen to their native country , would always be found ready to defend our coasts . Bro . J . A . Farnfield , as a member of the volunteer force , responded . The doings of the army and

navy were so well chronicled in English history that the few words he might utter would not enhance the estimation in which they were held by all . The volunteers and the militia were as yet an untried army , but he was sure that if , which he trusted God would avert , it should be necessarv

for them to take the field , they would be found ready to do so . Bro . Binckes proposed " The City of London , " which , he said , occupied a position second to none throughout the universe . He was much delighted to find that among thc company around him were

gentlemen intimately associated with the corporation by holding important offices in it . Two nights ago he took part in a cclebration ( the annual festival of thc Masonic Boys' School ) , at which a great many of the members of the House of Commons assisted , and it was a pleasing thing to find that

Freemasonry was so distributed that scarcely any body of gentlemen could sit down together without some among them being Freemasons . It was a common answer one received , when asking tlie question what business any person was , that he was " something in thc City . " To himself he had a

notion that it was of importance to be " something in the City ; " but he had still further a notion that it was ot higher importance to be " somebody in the City , " and he apprehended that any one charged with duties such as those which fell to members of the Common Council , held an iirportant position ,

as they were chosen by their fellow-citizensfor their social status and intellectual merits . He would specially mention , in connection with this subject , the names of Mr . Councillor Dearsley and Mr . Councillor Thomas Beard , wishing to thc Corporation of the City of London all the success that could

possibly attend thc administration of those affairs which were entrusted to the City . He felt utterly powerless to do that justice to thc toast which it deserved . It had occupied the attention ofthe most eminent statesmen of this country whenever they had been received as visitors on Lord Mayor's Day ,

and whenever this toast was given it had taxed the powers of the greatest orators in the land how sufficiently to state their obligations to the City of London . Amid " the wreck of empires and thc crash of worlds " thc Corporation still held . ts own , and he hoped would continue to hold its own for

many years to come . He would not go into the question of what reforms were necessary , but he would say that the Corporation of the City of London had earned for itself in thc past a niche in history that wc should never forget ourselves or that would never be forgotten by our successors , even

if we were spared—and he hoped we should not be spared—to see that lamentable period when the enlightened New Zcalandcr should sit on the broken arch of London Bridge and sketch the ruins of St . Paul ' s . He trusted that the meed of approbation to which the City was entitled would never be

withheld by any assembly thvtt was gathered together either for convivial or other purp ises . The changes that tookplaceinthisever-changing world were valued by those who were at the same time conservative and progressive . The City of London had undergone many changes . Those who had clung to their ancient privileges and were desirous of maintaining

Anniversary Of The Opening Of Masons' Hall Tavern.

them , were desirous also to do their duty to their constituents , and at the same time to show that they were prepared to march with a progressive age . That was the true spirit of Conservatism ( he was not speaking politically ) by which this great Corporation of the City of London was actuated ,

and he would wind up his remarks with the great motto of that city , Domine dirige nos , feeling assured that as long as they acknowledged that powerful direction they never could go wrong . Mr . Councillor Dearsley assured the company the Corporation endeavoured to do their duty to

their constituents . Men of good character only could be elected , and the Corporation consequently maintained a high position . He hoped it always would ; and with regard to the defences of the country , which had occupied its attention in times past , the same would be done again if the assistance

of the City was required . Mr . Councillor Thomas Beard appreciated the honour which had been conferred on him and his colleague . But to go to the more immediate business of the evening , the support of Bro Gosden , as he was now located in the City , and had become a

citizen , he ( Mr . Beard ) trusted that the same encouragement which was extended to him west of Temple Bar would follow him eastward of it . The Chairman next gave " The Health of Mr . Gosden . " In honesty and sincerity he would say he had never sat down to a better banquet in his

life than that he had just partaken of . Nothing could excel it ; for in addition to the capital dishes put before them , they were served up in the quickand-hot style which was the great secret of serving a dinner . Every one , he was happy to say , was well satisfied . They were all good judges of what

a dinner should be , but he had not heard a single complaint . It was a bold thing of Mr . Gosden to leave his West-end connection and try catering for the public in the City , but he relied on his friends following him , and his reliance was proved to be well founded . He had taken a place which had

been long shut up , but as a young man , with plenty of spirit and energy , he did not despair of succeeding . His name was sufficient to secure support , and already a large number of Masonic bodies had taken up their quarters with him . One of the proofs of his success was his having taken to

himself a wife . He ( the Chairman ) would therefore ask the company to drink " Health , happiness , and success to Mr . ancl Mrs . Gosden . " Might they not only have opened this place , but might it be a source of maintenance to them and to those who it was to be hoped would succeed them in the shape of

children ; and as an old married man , he ( the Chairman ) would add , night thc lady . Mr . Gosden had taken to himself be such a partner that he would never want another . ( Cheers . ) Bro . Gosden , in reply , said he thought it better not to have an opening dinner when he first came

into the City , because he preferred seeing how the concern answered before he met his friends at the banquet table . Now that it had proved successful , however , he did not hestitate to meet them : and it appeared that he had given such great satisfaction at Freemasons' Tavern and other places that

those who supported him there were now his most ardent supporters in his new home . He had done his best for tlie company who employed him as their manager at Freemasons' Tavern , and he would , if lie possibly could , do better even than that where he now was . After being in companies for fifteen

years he would not have been able to be in business for himself had he not had thc support ofthe many kind friends he saw around him , and whom he heartily thanked for their encouragement . As had been remarked by the chairman , he had lately taken one of the greatest steps in life—that of getting

married , and he believed thc young lady he had selected would prove a thorough helpmate to him in business . ( Hear , hear . ) She would be a great assistance in achieving thc success at which he aimed , and he trusted that success would be celebrated on many future anniversaries with the same

eclat as the first anniversary hacl been celebrated that evening . Bro . Binckes proposed " Thc Chairman , " an officer at all public gatherings , who should have great geniality , a certain amount of bonhomie , a desire to maintain o'dcr , and at the same time not

be too strict nor two relaxing , fact , talent , courtesy , and a sense ofthe importance of thc position of a chairman were wanted , and in their friend Bro . Raynham W . Stewart , they had a man who combined those var ' ntis and varying qualities . A warm , personal friend of his own , though not alwavs

agreeing on certain points , he did not wish to portray him as a perfect man . There were none such in the room . While he ( Bro . Binckes ) loved those who strove after perfection , In was one of those who detested perfection , for he never came across

men or women who thought themselves perfection who were not thc most disagreeable creatures on earth . With our poor humanity , liable to temptation , imbued with weaknesses , we were all of us more or less striving to do the best we could in the

Anniversary Of The Opening Of Masons' Hall Tavern.

various positions we occupied , and yet falling far short of the standard of perfection to which we wished to attain . Therefore we should extend the largest amount of indulgent consideration when we treated of a man as a chairman . Bro . Stewart was eminently qualified for such a position . He was a

good , honest , staunch , sincere friend ; he had come forward to do all he could toassistthesuccess of Mr . Gosden ' s first anniversary banquet , and the large company gathered round him showed the estimation in which he was held . The Chairman having replied , the " Health of

the Vice-Chairman" was proposed , and responded to by Mr . Keene , and the company shortly afterwards separated . The music provided was very superior , and the singing of Miss Fraser , Mr . Osborne , Mr . Cooper , and Mr . G . Allen , gave more than ordinary satisfaction .

Red Cross Of Constantine.

RED CROSS OF CONSTANTINE .

CONSECRATION OF THE "BYZANTINE " CONCLAVE , No . 44 , AT LEICESTER . Arrangements having been made for the opening of a Conclave of the Red Cross Order , in the Province of Leicestershire and Rutland , Thursday , the 2 nd inst , was appointed for the

performance of the ceremony at the Freemasons ' Hall , Leicester . Sir Kt . J . Daniel Moore , M . D ., Intendant General for Lancashire ( a native of Leicester ) , was the consecrating officer , assisted by Sir Kts . Phillips and Kennedy , of the Rose of Sharon Conclave , Birmingham , and James

Mason Moore , of Derby . The Conclave having been opened with the usual formalities , the following brethren were installed as Knights Companions of the Order , viz .: William Kelly , R . W . Prov . G . M ., Leicestershire and Rutland ; Rev . W . Langley , P . P . G .

S . W . ; Geo . Toller , jun ., Prov . G . Sec . ; Rev . Dr . Havcroft , P . G . Chap . ; Leonard Alfred Clarke , P . P ' . G . S . W . Henry Deane , P . P . G . Registrar ; SamuelS . Partridge , Prov . G . Registrar ; William Sculthorpe , P . G . Steward ; John Clarke Duncombe , S . W . 1265 ; and Charles Bembridge ,

P . G . Tyler ; after which the historical oration was delivered by Sir Kt . Phillips . Sir Kt . Dr . Moore , as M . P . S ., then proceeded to consecrate the chapter in solemn form , after which he delivered an oration illustrative of

Freemasonry in general and the Red Cross of Rome and Constantine in particular . A College of Viceroys was then opened , and Sir Kt . Kelly , and subsequently Sir Kts . Langley and Toller , were admitted to the Priestl y Order .

A Senate ef Sovereigns was then formed , when Sir Kt . Kelly was enthroned as Sovereign of the Conclave , and on his nomination the honorary rank of Past Sovereign was conferred on Sir Kts . Langley , V . E ., and Toller . Sir Kt . Kelly was then proclaimed and

saluted as Intendant General for Leicestershire and Rutland , after which he invested thefolloiving as the officers of the Conclave : Sir Kts . Langley , Viceroy ; Toller , Senior G eneral ; Clarke , Junior General ; Dr . Haycroft , High Prelate ; Sculthorpe ( elected ) , Treasurer ; Partridge ,

Recorder ; Duncombe , Standard Bearer ; Deane , Herald ; Bembridge , Sentinel . The by-laws of the Conclave having been adopted , the Rig ht Hon . Earl Ferrers , W . M ., No . 779 , and P . G . J . W ., and 19 other brethren , were proposed as candidates for installation . Sir Kt . Little , Grand Recorder of the Order , and

Sir Kt . Moore , Intendant General for Lancashire , were elected honorary members ; and a cordial vote of thanks was proposed to Sir Kts . Phillips , Kennedy , and J . Mason Moore for the valuable services rendered by them in constituting the Conclave , which promises , to be a highly successful one .

This Order possesses more than ordinaryinterest to the Fraternity in thc Province , from the fact that the first Lord Rancliffe , P . G . M . for Leicestershire , was its Grand Master in the last century , and Bro . Hyppolito Joseph Da Costa , P . G . M . for Rutlandshire , was subsequently its

Grand Chancellor under H . R . H . the Duke of Sussex . Tlie tunic has been adopted by the Conclave as the appropriate clothing of this Knightly Order . On the conclusion of the business , the visiting Sir Knig hts were entertained at a banquet b y the members of the Conclave .