Consecration Of The Lodge Of Verity, No. 2739.

The majority of ihose present were members of the Stock Exchange , ard we veie happy in witnessing the great cordiality that was manifest en all sides , and we can bear witness to the hospitality of the founders . The founders of the lodge were Bros . Harry William Birks , John T . Bridgewaler , F . P . Colliver , Richard Davies , T . I . Detmar , John Dives , J .

Renton Dunlop , P . M ., P . G . S . ; Michael Grehe , Edwin B . Holloway , P . M . ; Ralph Langton , Norman Morice , Henry Neville , P . M ., A . G . D . C . ; Albert G . Neville . Charles James Powell , P . M . ; F . W . Prior , P . M . ; Horace Quare , P . M . ; Walter Ramsey , Alfred Lewis Reynolds , P . M . ; Edward Roehrich , Percy Stanfeld Smith , P . M . ; Arthur Edmund Stearns , P . M . ; and Arthur Woodburne Stearns , P . M .

A selection of music was given under the direction of Bro . Hetbert Schartau , P . M ., P . P . G . Org . Middx ., assisted by Miss Lucie Johnstone , Bros . T . G . Detmar and Richard Davies , and the Schartau Part Singers . — Violin soloist , Mi ^ s Zeia Mason . Amcng the presents made to the lodge at the outset of its career is an old Bible of the year 1610 , in which has been inserted an engraving , which

represents a Lodge of Masons , and in the background of which is represented , as on a frame or screen , one of the early Engraved Lists of Lodges , in which the Lodges numbered consecutively from 1 to 129 inclusive are shown , with the signs distinctive of the houses at which they held their meetings . In the centre of the top portion cf the frame is inscribsd a

coat-of-arms , with the motto—Jay bonne cause—on the usual scroll , and beneath it is a portrait of Sir Richard Steele . The title of the engraving , as given at foot , is " Les Free-Massons , " and from the fact of Steele ' s portrait being introduced , we are inclined to associate it with the 1735 List in Picart ' s great work on " Ceremonies et Coutumes Ri'ligienses . " But in a matter of this kind we should like to have the opinion of Bro . W . I . Hughan .

Consecration Of The Maid A Vale Lodge, No. 2743.

CONSECRATION OF THE MAID A VALE LODGE , No . 2743 .

The Maida Vale Lodge , No . 2743 , was consecrated at the Crown Hotel , Aberdeen-place , Maida Vale , N . W ., on Monday , the 13 th instant , in the

presf nee of a large number of brethren . The new lodge starts under very favourable auspices , having a body of founders numbering 37 , whilst the first W . M ; , Bro . Henry Trask , P . P . G . S . of W . Herts , is a brother with considerable Masonic experience .

The Consecrating Officer—Bro . E . Letchworth , P . G . D ., G . Sec . —was assisted by Bros . James Terry , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . B . L , as S . W . ; J . J . Thomas , P . G . S . B ., as J . W . ; Rev . J . Sludholme Brownrigg , M . A ., P . G . Chap ., as Chap . ; Frank Richardson , P . G . D ., as D . C ; and W . J . Mason , P . P . G . D . Surrey , Vice-President Board of General Purposes , as I . G .

Tl e following is a complete list of the founders : Bros . H . Trask , P . M ., P . P . G . S . of W . Herts ; E . L . Berry , P . M ., P . P . G . D . Surrey ; W . J . Straiton , P . M . 753 , 2150 ; H . J . Thomas , P . M . 733 ; W . Parsons , P . M . 753 ; J . L . Goldstein , S . W . 2263 ; W . M . Wilson , S . W . 2202 ; W . Yeo , F . Freke Palmer , G . Stwd . ; G . D . Mogford , P . M . 2362 ; H . Denham

Wall , Douglas Redfearn , W . M . 753 ; G . Andrews , R . Townsend , P . M . ; T . G . Forster , P . M . if > oS ; F . Crocker , T . Bawlis , Olto Schiiler , T . B . Harpham , E . W . Miller , W . J . Alabaster , J . T . Matthews , J . J . Johnson , R . J . T . Ward , T . Grove , F . Hennig , C . J . Carter , C . H . Worley , A . Nicholl , J . Mansfield , S . W . Page , D . Rodrigues , J . E . Cole , A . A . Webber , T . W . Muzzell , A . H . Thomson , and G . Butcher .

The visitors were Bros . J . Stephens , P . D . G . D . C . i P . Craig , 2372 ; T . F . Strutt , S . W . 2664 ; J . Owston , 1158 ; R . Middlchurst , P . M . 2372 ; W . E . Boyles , 749 ; E . Davies , 1158 ; U . j . Campbell , W . M . 2698 ; C . Coleman , P . M . 1425 ; J . Copper , 2409 ; T . W . Mogford , P . M . 2362 ; J . H . Griffin , I . P . M . ; W . Fisher , S . D . ; H . C . Parsons , 2206 ; J . Hawkins , Horace Reynolds , 2182 ; Robert Milliken , P . M . 282 ( I . C . ); H . Wharton Wells

Prov . G . Org . Middx ; L . S . Genesc , P . M ., Sec . 2265 ; R . H . Walker , S . D . 435 ; W . West , J . W . 172 ; A . J . Ward , T . A . Markland , 144 ; W . Miller , 758 ; T . Powell , J . W . 2182 j R . Burleton , P . M . 868 ; J . Hands , W . H . G . Rudderforth , E . A . Collins , J . M . Klempner , W . M . 2721 ; W . M . Young , M . D . 81 ; H . Sadler . G . Tyler ; J . Pratt , P . M . 1 744 ; B . R . Thomas , Geo . Wood , E . Phillips , P . M . 171 ; O . H . Abrams , 511 ; W . W . Lee , P . P . G . D . ; and

others . The lodge having been opened , the CONSECRATING OFFICER , addressing the brethren , said : We are met together this afternoon on an occasion of considerable interest and one which I am sure the founders of this lodge wil look back to in years to come with great pleasure . We are here for the

purpose of starting into existence a new lodge , and I feel sure I am only expressing the feelings of all present when I express a hope that this lodge may have before it a very successful future , that it may accomplish all those objects the founders have in view , and that it may advance in every way the best interests of our Order .

The founders signified their final approval of the officers named in the warrant , and an excellent oration having been delivered by Bro . Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg , Chaplain , the new lodge was dedicated and constituted with the usual solemn and impressive formalities . Bro . Henry Trask , P . P . G . S . of W . Herts , was duly installed as the fir't W . M . by the Grand Secretary , and invested the following officers Bros . E . L . Berry , P . M ., P . P . G . D . Surrey , acting I . P . M , ; W . J .

Straiton , P . M ., S . W . ; H . J . Thomas , P . M ., J . W . ; W . Parsons , P . M ., Treas . ; J . L . Goldslein , S . W . 2265 , Sec ; W . M . Wilson , S . W . 2202 , S . D . ; W . Yeo , J . D . ; F . Freke Palmer , G . Stwd ., I . G . ; G . D . Mogford , P . M ., D . C ; M . Denham Wall , Org . ; Douglas Redfearn , W . M . 7 : 53 , Geo . Andrews , and R . Townsend , P . M ., Stwds . ; and Weeks , Tyler , On the proposition of Bro . E . L . BERRY , acting I . P . M ., the Consecrating Officers were unanimously elected lion , members of the lodge , and were each presented with a handsome tantalus suitably inscribed .

Bro . Rev . J . S . BROWNRHJO , P . G . Chap ., in acknowledging the gift , said the Consecrating Officers had frequently been the recipients of useful pre ents , but he did not think they had ever been presented with anything so practically useful . Five candidates were proposed as initiates and two brethren as joining members , after which the lodge was closed .

Consecration Of The Maid A Vale Lodge, No. 2743.

The banquet which followed was well served , and in conjunction with the other arrangements made for the comfort of the brethren , reflected the greatest credit upon the worthy host , Bro . Frank Crocker , who was heartily congratulated accordingly . The usual toasts followed , " The Queen and the Craft" and " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " being first honoured .

In proposing " The Grand Officers" the W . M . expressed his regret that Bros . Letchworth , Brownrigg , and Richardson had been obliged to leave . As Bro . Terry was present he would couple with this toast " The Masonic Institutions . " The last amount collected for the Benevolent Institution was ^ iS , 5 Co , but there were 123 candidates and but 27 vacancies . Bro . Terry invested him as S . D . in the James Terry Lodre , and afterwards

installed him as W . M . of that lodge . Bro . J AMES STEPHENS , P . D . G . D . C , in response , said that as his superior officers had been compelled to leave , he had been called upon to respond . Referring to the recent appointments , he said that Earl Amherst was one of the oldest Masons they had , and was the reigning sovereign of one of the largest Provinces , where he had reigned for something like 40

years . Earl Amherst was eminently fitted for the post for he never found the labour too much but was always anxious to do his work , and travelled all over the Province to do it . Those who saw the masterly manner in which Earl Amherst set to work when the gavel was handed to him in Grand Lodge , and wiped off the business , must have thought he was the

right man in the right place . In the E ^ trl of Warwick , the Dep . G . M ., they had a very keen Mason , who travelled hundreds of miles to attend installations . The G . Officers present included Bro . Terry , who had served the Benevolent Institution for 30 years ; Bro . Thomas , ever to the front with hard work ; and Bro . Mason , Vice President of the Board of General Purposes , who were all good samples of G . Officers , and imbued

THE WORSHIPFUL MASTER . with one grand idea—to further the best interests of the Craft . He was delighted to witness the readiness with which warrants for new lodges were now granted . The Masonry of to-day was not the Masonry of 10 years ago , for the late Grand Secretary was very scrupulous . He was pleased that the present Grand Secretary went with the times , and realised that as

lodges increased in number they continued to achieve importance , and gave many brethren an opportunity of getting collars they could not obtain in their mother lodges . All the lodges the Grand Secretary had consecrated had been going on successfully , so that he had no cause to regret the consecration of any one . He hoped this lodge would not prove an exception , but succeed , not only financially , but also in quality .

Bro . J AMES TERRY , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . B . L , said that contrary to expectations the Benevolent Institution Festival had proved a greater success than was anticipated . Last year they received a poor total , but he hoped the success which had attended them this year would bs repeated when the Girls' School Festival took place . He could only thank those round the table who were Stewards , and assisted to ensure the success .

The W . M . next proposed " The Consecrating Officers , " and said the brethren had witnessed a Masonic treat that evening , and they were thankful to the Grand Officers for their rendering of the ceremony , the remembrance of which would be with them for many years to come . Bro . J . J . THOMAS , P . G . S . B ., in reply , said that brethren finding a necessity for a lodge in a particular district always found the Grand

Secretary coming to their assistance . The Grand Secretary was certainly the right man in the right place , always courteous to those seeking advice , and sending away his visitors delighted . He ( Bro . Thomas ) was personally delighted to lend his assistance upon that occasion , and hoped the lodge would prosper . He congratulated the W . M . on being again installed , for they knew him as an active Freemason , and had listened to his working in

his mother lodge . Bro . W . J . MASON , Vice-President Board of General Purposes , also replied . He said that everything came to those who waited ; for a few weeks ago he little thought to be a Consecrating Officer . It was now eight years since he first entered the Board of General Purposes , and this was his second year as Vice-President .

Bro . E . L . BERRY , P . P . G . D . Surrey , acting I . P . M ., proposed " The Health of the W . M ., " and said he had expected that the Grand Secretary would have been present to propose this toast . He believed the W . M . was