The New Porch Of Swanscombe Church.

The W . M . having proved the stone by the Mallet , Trowel and Square , the Wardens by the Level and Plumb Rule , it was pronounced well laid , the Deacons presented the Ewers containing the wine and oil to the W . M ., which

were poured out conformably to Ancient Custom . The Chaplain then offered a prayer and pronounced the Benediction , the proceedings being closed with the following Hymn : —

Praise to Thee , O ! Master—Builder , Maker of the Earth and Skies , Praise to Thee , in whom Thy Temple , Fitly framed , together lies

Praise to Thee , Eternal Spirit ; Binding all their lives in one , Till our earthly praise be ended And the eternal Song begun . Amen .

The ceremony being concluded the Worsh ' pful Master addressed a few remarks full of deep feeling and congratulation to the Rector on the restoration of the Church . He expressed a hope that around its Altar an ever increasing throng

of worshippers would assemble to sing praises to God whom they had that day delighted to honour with their work . He hoped that love , and peace , and harmony would continue to prompt all who were engaged in carrying on the

work in the Church . The work for which they had assembled that day had given them all great p leasure , and in the name of the Brethren of the Erasmus Wilson Lodge , he bade him an affectionate farewell .

The Rector ( who seemed highly gratified ) briefly acknowledged the kindness of the W . M . and Brethren of the Erasmus Wilson Lodge in undertaking the work they had brought to such a happy conclusion that day .

A photograph of the members of the lodge was then taken by Messrs . Watkins and Haigh , of 213 , Regent-street , London . The brethren and visitors , accompanied by the ladies , then repaired to the marquee in the

Rectory grounds , where luncheon was served b y Mr . Wingrove , of the Pier Hotel , Greenhithe the brethren afterwards returning to Greenhithe to close the lodge .

The stone bore the following inscription : — " This stone was laid and the Porch rebuilt , 1874 , by the brethren of the Erasmus Wilson Lod ge of Freemasons , No . 1464 , as a tribute of affection to their First Master , Erasmus Wilson , F . R . S . "

The mallet used in laying the stone was kindly lent for the occasion b y the Lodge of Antiquity , and was the one given to Sir Christopher Wren by Charles the Second , having been used by his Majesty on the occasion of his laying the foundation stone of St . Paul ' s

Cathedral , London . A silver trowel was presented to the presiding Master , on which was engraved the following : — " Presented to Professor Erasmus Wilson , F . R . S ., First Master of the Erasmus Wilson Lodge ofFreemasons , No . 146 4 * by the brethren

of the lodge , on the occasion of his laying the Memorial Stone in the Porch of Swanscombe Church , Kent , Saturday , August 29 th , 1874 . " Previous to the stone being lowered to its final resting place , a bottle was placed underneath it , containing the following mementoes ,

selected by Bro . W . Russell , of Gravesend : — specimens of each coin of the current year ; the day ' s " Times j" "Greenhithe Magazine ;" scroll of vellum , on which was inscribed the particulars relative to the laying ofthe foundation stone : and a list of the brethren of the Erasmus

Wilson Lodge who assisted at the ceremony . The erection of the Porch , as well as the restoration of the church , is being carried out under the direction of Bro . Jabez Bignell , architect , who presented to Erasmus Wilson , on the laying of the stone , a beautiful perspective of the New Porch .

The arrangements for carrying out the ceremony were entrusted to Bro . F . C . W . Brandt , Treasurer , and Bro . A . Keep , Hon . Sec . of the lodge whose efforts were most successful , and whose services will long be remembered with gratitude , not only by the brethren of their lod ge , but by all who were present and shared in the benefit of their labours .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Somerset.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SOMERSET .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Somerset , on visit to Lodges Nos . 41 , $ 3 , and 379 * was ne ^ in Bath , on the 4 th inst . The brethren assembled at the Freemasons' Hall , Old Orchard-street , at noon , and transacted the business of the meeting . The

following is a list of the officers appointed : — P . G . S . W ., Bro . Leiutenant-General H . E . Doherty , P . M . S 3 and W . M . ^ 03 ; P . G . J . W ., C . E . Davis , P . M . 379 ; P . G . Chaplain , Shackleton , J . W . 437 ; P . G . Chaplain , Mules , W . M . 1197 ; P . G . Treasurer , E . T . Bayne , P . M .

53 ; P . G . R ., J . B . Colthurst , P . M . 437 •P . G . Secretary , R . C . Else , P . M . 291 •P . G . S . D ., Carey , P . M . 41 •P . G . J . D ., J . B . Milborne , P . M . 32- ;; P . G . S . Works , J . A . Bright , P . M . 772 ; P . G . D . Cer ., G . Rugg , P . M . 914 ; Assist , do . J . H . Holloway , P . M . 446 ; P . G . S . B ., J . S

Cottrell , P . M . 285 ; P . G . S . W . Drayton , P . M 446 ; P . G . P . H . Leaker , P . M . 906 ; Assist , do . B . Cox , P . M . 1222 ; P . G . Tyler , Woodward , 291 ; Assist , do ., R . Carter , 653 ; P . G . S .. Samuel Dyer , 261 •Pitt , 53 ; Colonel England , 53 G . Faulkner , 41 ; and Clark , 41 .

At the conclusion ofthe business , the brethren repaired to the Assembly Rooms , where they partook of dinner , which was supplied by Messrs . Fortt and Son . A numerous company of brethren was present . The Earl of Carnarvon , R . W . P . G . M ., presided ,

and was supported , amongst others , by Captain Bridges , V . W . D . P . G . M . ; the Rev . W . Shackleton P . G . C . ; Bros , the Rev . M . J . S . Mules , P . G . C , C . Hutton Gregory ( of London ) , P . G ., Lieut .-General Doherty , P . G . S . W ., C . E . Davis , P . G . J . W . ; J . D . Colthurst , P . G . R . ; E . T . Payne , P . G . Treasurer ; R . C Else , P . G .

Secretary ; R . Carey , P . G . S . D . ; J . D . Milborn , P . G . J . D . ; J . R . Rugg , P . G . S . Works ; Major Vaughan Jenkins , P . M . ; J . V . Cottrell , P . G . S . B . ; D . Bright , P . G . D . C . ; H . Leaker , P . G . P . ; B . Cox , P . G . A . P . ; G . Help , P . M . 53 ; Major Preston , W . M . 41 ; E . E . Phillips , W . M . 379 ; F . Binckes , P . G . S . ; John Rubie , P . P . G . J . W . ; R . D . Commans , P . P . G . R . W . ; T . Wilton ,

P . P . G . J . W . ; T . P . Ashley , P . P . G . J . W . ; C . W . Oliver , P . P . G . J . W . ; W . Smith , P . P . J . D . ; Herniman , P . P . G . S . W . ; J . F . Inskip , P . P . G . J . W . ; J . Heame , W . M . ; A . E . Bailey , P . M . ; E . Down , W . M .-J . P . Estridge , F . R . Prideaux , P . G . Secretary , W . Hodges , P . G . D . C , & c , & c . Letters apologising for not being present were

received from Bro . Earl Methuen , Bros . Goldney ( Chippenham ) , the Rev . C . R . Davy , D . Bush , W . W . Beach , and many others . At the conclusion of the meal , the noble Chairman proposed the toasts of " The Queen and Craft , " and " H . RH . Prince of Wales ,

K . G ., P . G . M . of England . " The Right Hon . Lord Carnarvon said that he found himself for the first time in great difficulty in proposing the toast of the " Grand Master of England , " as there was no Grand Master at present in existence . All the brethren had no

doubt heard that the Marquis of Ripon had tendered bis resignation as the M . W . Grand Master of England on Wednesday last , and that resignation had been accepted . He greatly regretted the fact of that resignation , but he thought it was not for the Grand Lodge or any

other body of Masons to inquire into the resignation which Lord Ripon had thought fit to specify , but whilst regretting so unusual a course , which he believed to be so unusual as to be unprecedented in the annals of Masonry ; yet . extraordinary as the present state of affairs is , he

believed that whatever powers existed and whatever functions had to be performed , they all devolved upon him . But whilst those functions continued to exist he was glad to say that although there existed no Grand Master of England there was a past Grand Master , in the person of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , than

whom no one had taken a more lively interest in Masonry . He had therefore undertaken to convey to H . R . H . the desire of the members of the Grand Lodge that he should entertain their request to assume those powers which now devolved upon him . It would be for his Royal Highness to exercise his own discretion ; but it

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Somerset.

was a duty as agreeable to himself as he felt it was consonant with the w ishes of the whole Craft , whether in London or in the country , that his Royal Highness should be requested to assume the duties .

General Doherty then gave the toasts of " The R . W . D . Grand Master ol England , the Earl of Carnarvon , a-ad the rest of the Grand Officers , past and present , " and " The R . W . P . G . M . of Somerset , the Earl of Carnarvon . " The toast was received with due Masonic honours .

The healths of "The V . W . D . P . G . M . of Somerset , Captain H . Bridges , and the rest of the P . G . Officers , past and present , " and " The Visiting Brethren , '' were both proposed by Earl Carnarvon , and duly acknowledged . The Earl Carnarvon then vacated the chair , having to

leave the city , and , in the absence of D . C . D ., Bro . General Doherty took the chair . Bro . Binckes ( of London ) acknowledged the toast of "The Masonic Charities . " The other toasts were "The W . M ' s ., Wardens , and Brethren of the Bath Lodges , Nos . 41 , 33 , and 379 , " " The W . M ' s ., Wardens , and Brethren of the other

Lodges in the Province , " " The Stewards , " " The Secretary , " and finally " The Tyler ' s Toast . " The whole of the arrangements were entrusted to the following gentlemen on behalf of the three Bath lodges : —J . W . Preston , W . M . ; T . Wilton , P . P . G . J . W . ; J . Rubie , P . P . G . J . W . ; R . Carey , P . M . ; George Helps , W . M . ; R . D . Commans ,

P . P . G . S . W . ; J . M . Shum , P . P . G . S . W . ; H . E . Doherty , P . P . S . G . D . ; C . Phillips , W . M . ; C . E . Davis , P . M . •H . Gore , S . W . ; and H . C Hopkins .

Consecration Of St. Eleth Lodge (No. 1488) At Amlwch.

CONSECRATION OF ST . ELETH LODGE ( No . 1488 ) AT AMLWCH .

It will be gratifying to the Masonic Fraternity at home and abroad , to find that the tenets and piinciples of the Craft are so rapidly extending , and that the number of lodges , and the members of those lodges , continue steadily to increase . We record , with much pleasure , the opening of

a new lodge in a somewhat remote corner of the Island of Anglesey . This forms the third in the county , of which its scattered population numbers less than 60 , 000 . It had been announced by circular and otherwise that the R . W . Bro . Sir Watkin Williams Wynne , Bart ., M . P ., P . G . M .,

would inaugurate and consecrate a Masonic Lodge at Amlwch , to be called " The Saint Eleth , No . 1488 , " on Thursday , the third day of September , 1874 . In the warrant obtained from the Grand Lodge of London , the following names appear , Bros . R . T . Philips , W . M .

Designate ; B . Roose , S . W . Designate ; H . Hills , J . W . Designate . Every possible preparation had been made for the auspicious event , and the weather , which was beautiful and bright , seemed to conspire with all other contingencies in making the day joyous and happy . A

number of Masons , and a crowd of non-Masons were watting , with considerable anxiety , the arrival of the two o ' clock train , by which the R . W . P . G . M . and other distinguished brethren were to come . It came at last . The Provincial Grand Officers , and a goodly number of the

brethren , proceeded forthwith to the Castle Hotel , where the lodge is to be held . In due time the Consecrating Officer , Bro . Dr . Goldsborough , took the chair , appointed S . and J . W . ' s pro . tem ., and opened the lodge in the three degrees .

After preliminary arrangements the R . W P . G . Master and P . G . Officers having entered , Sir Watkin opened the Provincial Grand Lodge , and the beautiful and impressive ceremony of consecration was proceeded with in a most solemn and effective manner . It was enlivened by music ,

consisting of a voluntary , Ps . cxxxiu . ( St . Stephen ' s ) , a number of suitable responses , and an anthem , prior to installation and investment of W . M . and officers , Bro . Thomas , of Bangor , ably presiding at the harmonium . The R . W . P . G . M . having closed the Provincial

Grand Lodge , the following brethren were by unanimous consent installed to preside over the destiny of the newly-opened Lodge St . Eleth , No . 1488 . —Bros . R . T . Phillips . S . W . 1113 , J- - 755 . at - W . M . 1488 ; B . Roose , J . D . 1113 , and S . W . 14 88 j Charles H . Hills , I . G .