Consecration Of The London County Council Lodge, No. 2603.

Bro . Sir G . HARRIS , S . W ., seconded the proposition , and the W . M ., before putting the resolution , which was carried nem . con ., said he desired to add his testimony and gratitude for the able manner in which the work was done by the G . Secretary , assisted by brethren so closely allied with the counties of London and Middlesex . The GRAND SECRETARY briefly acknowledged the compliment , and

The SECRETARY expressed the regret of Bros . Littler and Sir J . B . Monck ton that they had been obliged to leave . On the motion of the J . W ., the W . M . was nominated to serve as Steward for the lodge on behalf of the R . M . I , for Boys . The Iodge was then closed . A banquet followed in the laig : hall of Freemasons' Tavern , at thc conclusion of which the VV . M . proposed " The Oueen and the Craft . "

In giving the next toast , the W . M . said they owed a debt of gratitude lo the M . W . G . M . for consenting to preside over thc destinies of the Craft . They would all drink the loast , not only wilh that cordiality with which all I < reemasons received it , but with additional enthusiasm , as his Royal

Hig hness had given them the opportunity of meeting for the first time and of being consecrated as a London County Council Lodge , which , he might venture to predict , would be second to none in that great metropolis . He gave them the toast of " H . R . H ., the M . W . G . M . ; the Pro G . M ., Deputy G . M ., and Grand Officers , Present and Past . "

Bro . Sir F . SEAGER HUNT , M . P ., S . G . D ., said he rose with great diffidence to reply , as there were so many Grand Officers present who had done more for Freemasonry than himself . The Grand Officers took an interest in the Order , and the consecration of that lodge had created an amount of enthusiasm amongst them which spoke well for the future of the lodge . The Grand Officers , whilst continuing their interest in

Freemasonry , would watch with anxious eye the growth of that lodge , which , if it maintained the high standard of excellence it at present possessed in the quality and learning of its officers would grow in the estimation of the Masonic world . The Grand Officers would ever be ready to hear of its success , and if at any time they could help the members to ensure that success , their services would always be at the disposal of the lodge ,

Bro . Sir W . T . MARRIOTT , Q . C , M . P ., said he felt highly honoured in being asked to propose the toast of " The Consecrating Officers . " To those of the brethren who had the advantage of being present at the consecration , it would be useless for him to describe how ably and admirably the work was done , and to those who had the misfortune not to be present , when he mentioned that the work was done by Bro . Letchworth ,

assisted by Bros . Sir J . Monckton , Littler , Rev . C J . Martyn , Rev . J . S . Brownrigg , and Fenn , they would know the work must have been done as all present would say it had been done . The Consecrating Officers would feel pleasure in the way the brethren would receive the toast , and it would bc an additional one to them to know they had consecrated so important a lodge as that connected with the London County Council . Like

many other citizens of London he had watched the doings of the London County Council , and if he were asked to say what he thought of it , he should say its characteristics were entirely Masonic . Brotherly love , a great self-abnegation , a desire to touch nobody else ' s property , and to be free in giving away their own ; a love of water and baths greater than that of alcoholic drinks , and also a preference for labour rather than refreshment—those were Masonic virtues , and had hitherto

belonged to the London County Council . Hc could only express a hope lhat those characteristics which had distinguished the Council in the past , would also distinguish them in the future , and that the London County Council Lodge , like all Masonic lodges , would be a meeting of brethren gathered together for the good of their fellow subj cts , and no selfish interest of their own . Hc would couple the toast wilh the name of one who had done so much for Masonrv—the Grand Smrrt . irv .

Bro . E . LETCHWORTH , G . Secretary , said he was sure they would sympathise with him in his embarrasment at being called upon to discharge a duty which all had hoped would have been fulfilled by the Pro Grand Master . He was justified in saying , on behalf of the Grand Officers , that it had given them all the greatest pleasure to assist in starling into existence

a lodge lormed under such very happy auspices , and which , they felt sure , was , destined to occupy a most important position amongst thc lod ges of the Metropolis . He ventured to congratulate the lodge on having so distinguished a Mason as the noble lord in the chair at their head during Hie Iirst and most important vear of its existence .

Bro . the EARL OF J ERSEY , Prov . G . M . Oxon , proposed " The Health of tne W . Master , " and said the breihren present came from all parts of the country—some of them connected with County Councils , and they looked upon the London County Council as being thc greatest in the population

over which it ruled , the greatest in power , and the greatest in a Masonic tense , in the fact that it had started that lodge . They hoped the influence ol thelod ge would be great in Ihe silent but powerful effect it would have over the every-day affairs of life . Bro . Brownrigg had expressed , in a very terse manner , what must be the prevailing feeling amonirst all present . He

trusted the echo of those words would bc found alike in the lodge and Council rooms , for there was nothing which could more soften the natural piltemices of public life than the increased opportunities of meeting together m private and social gatherings . That lodge would do much in that way , aim he should like to > ee that which he had described as thc irrealcst Counlv

council always upholding the proud position lo which it was ' entitled . They R - ' id been singularl y fortunate in the first W . . Master , who was one of those nien whom to know was to like and admiie , who never shrank from public < july , and was ever found in social and fiaternal iifcrcours . * . He asked ll * m lo drink success to the London County Council Lodge , and especial Access to the first W . Master . Bio . the I-: i . I of ONSLOW , G . C . M . G , l'rov . G . M . Surrey , W . Master ,

tl . f i S ex P rcssecl h | s gratitude—which would be shared by all Jr . . 'ouiiders— to those brethren who were members of County Councils joining tlle » " area who had come lo witness the start of their lod ^ e . It as a great satisfaclion that the toast had been proposed by r , distinguished ember of the Middlesex Count y Council and he saw ' also biethren present M"eseiitmg the City cf London , all of whom had shown irocd w ll LO thc

mi " it . •nt - v C CUMcil b Y ll , fci ' " presence that thy . lie thought they •' civ . " ' lt '" starling a Masonic lodge in connection with n great iivn " , ' ltative P ulj ! ic assembly such as the London County Councl , they had di ' vi ' d r a "CW dc P ai'lurt ' - ll w ; ls » llL' ° 'fi t't . the li st lime that a body , ( our ¦ ir ° ° PP ' tamps and cairying on across the Hoar of the diffe mbera vi K orcus P V warfare—had agreed to sink all party broth " ] ' lnd mcCt aroul , d a Masonic lodge with all those attributes of merl y affection which characterised Masons . He ventured to think it

Consecration Of The London County Council Lodge, No. 2603.

was a happy augury in the public affairs of England . It had often been remarked by foreign critics of parliamentary and municipal institutions that whilst they opposed each other across the floor of the House , five minutes afterwards ihey were engaged in friendly social intercourse . Hc recalled an instance of two friends who were contesting the same constituency on opposite sides and started their canvass of the elections in the same carriage . The electors could

not possibly understand such a proceeding , and they were obliged to occupy separate carriages . They had often heard from the chair of the London County Council that the procedure and the standing orders of the Council might well be adopted with great advantage in the House of Commons , and he would venture to suggest in the presence of distinguished members of the House of Commons , whether the example set by thc London County Council in the formation of a Masonic lodge might not possibly act with some advantage to

the House of Commons . There was nothing more likely to oil the wheels of progress . He should look forward to the meetings of their Iodge which had been conceived in the fertile brain of their J . W ., Bro . Nathan Robinson , whom he ventured to differ from on all subjects in the Council , and which had been carried into effect with the cordial co-operation of members of both parties as no mean factor in the conduct of the public business of the people of London .

Bro . N . ROBINSON , P . M ., J . W ., in giving "The Visitors , " said that however they might differ in the Council , they all united in the greatest possible respect for the Earl of Onslow . Bros . Admiral MARKHAM , D . G . M . Malta , and Maj .-Gen . LAWRIE , M . P ., P . G . M . Nova Scotia , acknowledged the toast .

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER next proposed "The Oflicers , " and said he owed a very deep debt of gratitude to them—gratitude in the expectation of favours to come . Hc had said something of what had been done by the J . W ., but he wished to expresss his most hearty thanks lo the Secretary , Bro . White , P . M ., who had worked most indefatigably to promote the Iodge and in arranging for lheir comfort .

Bro . Sir G . D . HARRIS , P . G . D ., S . W ., in reply , said that , with the exception of thc I . G ., all the officers were Past Masters , some of them having passed the chair three times , and the W . M . might rest assured of their able support during the year . Bro . E . WHITE , P . M ., Sec , said it would be affectation to suggest that

there had not been a great deal of work thrown on his shoulders , but he had been amply rewarded in the success of the meeting . He desired to acknowledge the great assistance received from thc Grand Secretary , and was delighted to find the lodge inaugurated under such splendid auspices . The Tyler ' s toast closed the proceedings .

The Schartau Part Singers—Bros . H . W . Schartau , J . Bartlett , A . Appleby , and W . Bradford—carried out the musical items , both in the ceremonial and at the banquet table , in their customary artistic style , which gave unbounded satisfaction to all present .

The British Natural-Premium Provident Association.

THE BRITISH NATURAL-PREMIUM PROVIDENT ASSOCIATION .

The fourth annual report of this Association , from the first clause to the last , is a statement of remarkable progress in every detail , and to such an extent , indeed , that many kindred institutions would have been highly gratified with similar results , after 10 years' hard plodding . From its inception , the British Natural-Premium has been singularly fortunate , for the admirable programme conceived and formulated by the founder , Mr . VV . II . Hayward , met with public

approval and acclamation at once , which is a great thing to say in these days of hyper-cynicism , mistrust , and negation . Without any substantia ] argument in support of the hypothesis , there were those who insisted upon it that a material reduction in premium rates was incompatible with safe insurance , unmindful of the consideration that it is just as possible to effect an economy before the event as

after , for the bonuses of some establishments are , after all , only an equivalent to the saving which is to be effected at the start . This circumstance must have influenced , in some degree , Mr . Hayward's study of the formula which he was about lo produce , and which has since proved exceedingly practicable and efficient . Such is the conclusion at which one must arrive after a perusal of the last report , which speaks for itself .

Thc policies written dining the year amounted to ^ 786 , 085 ; gross actual receipts , X 37 , 16 4 iSs . 7 d . ; premiums and interest on investments , £ 24 , 077 13 s . iod . It may be as well to state that , for tlie convenience of policy-holders ; life assurance premiums are payable bi-monthly in advance , payments also being received by the Association to meet any period up to a year , and applied in satisfaction of accruing bi-monthly premiums as they become due .

On December 31 st the investments and cash in the hands of the trustees on behalf of the policy holders were £ 3 6 , ioj 7 s . 7 < J ., independently of the £ 20 , 000 statutory deposit and the guaranteed Lite Fund . Death claims amounted to . £ 11 , 6 94 18 s . 5 d ., which had been disbursed out of the Life Assurance Trust Fund , and claims amounting to £ yoS 8 s . in the Tontine Investment Department were discharged . The report shows a distinct growth uf the funds ,

notwithstanding that the rates of premium are fully 45 per cent , less than those charged ordinarily by contemporary establishments . A prominent characteristic of the working economy ot the Association is the complete security wilh which policyholders' premiums are invested . These go to a Trust Fund and are so securely held that not one shilling may be withdrawn , and , as tbe Chairman ( Mr . A . Beckett Terrell ) put it , if tbare were no policy-holders to take it ( the Life

Assurance Fund ) , still the Association could never claim those funds , because the trust deeds were so absolutely clear and positive that those funds must be held upon trust for policy-holders and policy-holders alone , the Chairman adding that this was the most purely mutual otlice in the world . With regard to the expenditure provided for out of the expenses fund , the entrance fees and contributions

amounted to . 611 , 730 against . £ 10 , 524 last year . The Trustees held in invested funds £ 32 , 137 , notwithstanding that £ 11 , 6 94 were paid in claims under policies . Last year ' s Life Assurance Fund , stood at _ £ 2 i , 6 o __ i , an increase of £ n , ot > 0 , which refers to the policy-holders' Life Fund . The Tontine Investment Fund was raised from . £ 2420 to £ 3930 . Total invested funds at end of year £ 36 , 101 .

4 THE CKKKMONV of laying thc foundation-stone of the Nunhead Public Library tuult place on Saturday last , tlie slone being laid by Uro . J . Passmore Edwards , the dunui ol the money required to erect it . Previously Iiro . lid vards was received at the Vestry mil , Caina = rwcll , by the Chiinnin and mini Jers , by wiura hj wis conducted to the site ul the buildim ' , in Cordon-road , Nuihcail Green . There was a very large attendance , and an illuminated address > vas pre ___ . _ ited to IL'o . lid . vardi , acknowledging his munificence , and by him briully , but appropriately , acknowledged .