Consecration Of The Elliot Lodge (No. 1567).

ness engagement . I can only wish Bro . Mason a prosperous year of office , with fraternal regards . I am , very faithfully , E . G . Holbrook , P . M ., and Sec . 309 . To the Installing Master , Elliot Lodge , 156 / - " In pursuance of th-duty which devolved upon him , he ( Bro . Little ) hacl now to

present the W . M . with a testimony of the estimation in which he was held by his mother lodgo , and , addressing himself to Masons , he was perfectly convinced that no better testimony to his worth could be presented . Thirteen or fourteen years ago the brethren knew him as a young

Mason , when he had not the experience he had now ; but now he vvas a Masonof ripeexperit-nce , and it was with great pleasure he announced to the W . M . that he had to present the following testimonial : — " At a meeting of the Lodge ol Harmony , 300 held at Fareham , Hants , on

Thursday , Oct . 7 th , iS" 5 , it was unanimously resolved , on the motion of Bro . Edmonds , seconded by Bro . Whale , S . W ., that an address of congratulation be sent from this lodge to Bro . John Mason , one of its oldest subscribing members , on the occasion of his installation as W . M .

ofthe Elliot Lodge , 1567 . — Edward George Holbrook , P . M . and Sec , 309 . " ( Cheers ) . ( This testimonial vvas handsomely written on vellum , ancl framed nnd glazed . ) Bro . Little concluded by wishing Bro . Mason long life ancl prosperity , and coupled with this , " Success

to the lodge . " The W . M ., in acknowledging the compliment , said it was with feelings of great gratification that he rose to respond to this toast . It was but a very short time ago that hehad almost given up all thoughts of even aspiring to the office of Master . He had belonged to

Masonry many years , and had had so many disappointments , though belonging and sticking to many lodges , that he hid resolved almost to be a lay member . He had to thank many brethren present for his advancement , and he also thanked the company for drinking his he : ilt ! i . He could

not express the gratification he felt , or his warm thanks for the cordial greeting he had met with , and for the testimonial from his mother lodge . He hoped this would be handed down from generation to generation iu his family . He had the honour to date Freemasonry in his family for

three generations , and he trusted that not only three but thirty generations would be able to call this day blessed . It had given him a fresh stimulus in Masonry , and nothing that he could now do would be considered too much . He should ahvays consider it his uniform duty to act

as a true and faithful husband to Masonry , also a true and / aithful son ; and he should consider himself a husband to this new lodge . ( A voice—Father . ) Father , they might say , but he had not yet any children iu the lodge , this being but the wedding day . ( Laughter . ) His

mother lodge , to which he had belonged for such a number of years , that he was now the third oldest in the lodge books , ho must ever consider as his mother lodge . To that mother he owed due allegiance . lie did not say it boastingly , that he did not clo as some

young Masons did , if they saw a chance of getting into office , left their old mother ; but he stuck to her , and if she wanted any assistance he was ready to give it . He could now go down and assist the brethren in their ceremonies ; and he would have an opportunity then of thanking the

brethren for this testimonial . Speaking of the Elliot Lodge , however , he must look to that ; that was his own vineyard ; and in F . ltham they must work . It was not a very lively place in winter ; but summer was the time they intended to hold the lodge , and the brethren instead ol

stopping in town could go to Feltham and enjoy some beautiful scenery . ( Cheers . ) The W . M . next gave "The Consecrating and Installing Officer . " To this toast Bro . Little responded , but he wonld not dissociate himself from the brethren who had assisted him . They could not

forget that they had inaugurated a new lodge , aud when they looked back on the past they could not help thinking what Middlesex Masonry was fourteen or fifteen years ago . At that time he was himself initiated in Middlesex , and there

were then but three lodges- in the Province . They were like Mahomet ' s coinn , they were not in London , and though in Middlesex , it was not a Province , and they had no Provincial Grand Master . At present there were _ i lodges in

Consecration Of The Elliot Lodge (No. 1567).

Middlesex , which was now a Province , and there was a petition before the Grand Master for a 22 nd lodge . Middlesex would then be one of the first Provinces in the kingdom . Numericall y the Province could not compete with Provinces like Yorkshire and Lancashire , but it was gigantic nevertheless , and it was a strong supporter of the charities .

In the course of the evening "The Prov . G . Masters' and Grand Officers' Health " was proposed arid drunk , and Col . Burdett replied , stating how much he was pleased with this province , and what excellent officers hi had . He was astonished to find that so good and able a

brother as the W . M . had not before this occupied the W . M . chair , although In had been a long time member of a lodge , in consequence of having moved with the world . A similar circumstance happened to him ( Colonel Burdett . ) He vvas about the world ; soldiers were seldom

at one place more than a year or two . He , however , took on one occasion advantage of an opportunity offered him of being Master of a lodge , and afterwards he was placed in a hi gher position . So it was with the W . M . Having

attained that position , he was entitled to hope for a higher . Not only had he deserved the brethren ' s estimation , but he ( Col . Burdett ) found from his working that evening , that he thoroughly deserved the position he held . He had also instituted a Lodge of Instruction . ( Cheeis . )

Bro . Little announced that the VV . M . had offered himself as the first Steward of the lodge for the Girls' School . ( Applause . ) In returning thanks for " The Visitors , " Bro . Tudor Trevor said : Worshipful Master , Hindu Worshipful Provincial Grand Master ,

Worshipful Sirs , and Brethren of Lodge Elliot , —I shall not attempt to respond for that great body of visiting brethren present this evening , whose names are far better known to fame than that of a foreign and humble Mason like myself , but before I return thanks for the honour you have done

the Grand Lodge of-Hindostan , which hails under the banner of Scotland , allow me , as the Worshipful Master of a lodge under the English Constitution , to acknowledge the deep obligation you , Worshipful Sir , and brethren of Lodge Elliott have laid me under , not only for the profuse

hospitality I have had the good fortune to receive at your hands this evening , but also for the most unexpected and gratif ying opportunity you have afforded me of making the acquaintance , for the first time , of so many brethren illustrious in the Craft , and , notably , of a brother , the fame of

whose name is simply world-wide . I mean Bro . John Hervey , the Grand Secretary , for it is almost the first name in the Craft the newlyinitiated Mason learns to revere , since he finds it inscribed in the copy of the Constitutions presented to him on first admission into our ancient

brotherhood . Referring also , for a moment , to another matter relating to the English Constitution , let mc say , both as an encouragement to young Masons , and in allusion to the remarks made by the W . M . on his attainment this evening of a distinction he has aspired

to ior so many years , that I have at this moment the proud honour of being the W . M . of the lodge in which I first saw ei ght , onlv a ittle more than three years ago . It may further interest you , Worshipful Sir , to know that Masonry flourishes to a 'Teat extent in our

Indian empire , and particularl y in Bombay , where I think we have at least fourteen different Masonie bodies meeting regularly in the English Masonic Hall . Addressing myself now to the compliment you have paid the Grand Lodge of all Hindostan , in which I have

the high honour of holding the post of Grand Bible Bearer , it may not be kno . vn to the brethren present that it was only constituted as an independent Grand Lodge , under a warrant from the Grand Lodge of Scotland , in ' the early part of the present year , having existed previously only as a Provincial Grand Lodge . Much then as I

pnze the Grand honours I hold under Scotland , 1 cannot fotget , and it gives tne especial pleasure on the present occasion , when I havejfor the first time witnessed either the consecration of a lodge or the installation of a VV . M ., to remember that 1 am the W . M . of an English lodge . I thank you again , Worshipful Sir and brethren of Lodge Elliot , for the honour you have done me this eve-

Consecration Of The Elliot Lodge (No. 1567).

ning as a visiting brother , and for connecting my name with the Grand Lodge of Scottish Freemasonry in all India . The W . M . in proposing , "The Health of the

Officers , " took occasion to remark that having the assistance of suitable officers as he had ( both his Wardens being P . M . ' s ) , he saw no reason wh y the Elliot Lodge should not in a short time stand A 1 in the province .

The S . W . replied in a very neat speech on behalf of himself and the other officers , assuring the W . M . that nothing should be wanting on their parts to ensure success . After the Tyler ' s toast the brethren separated , having spent a most pleasant evening , and those

brethren who came from town returned in a saloon specially provided by the L . & S . W . lly . Co ., through the kindness of Mr Scott . The music of the evening was performed by Brother Knight Smith , assisted by Brother Cantle . The lodge was furnished b y Bro . George Kenning .

Consecration Of The Albert Edward Lodge , No.1560, At Leicester.

CONSECRATION OF THE ALBERT EDWARD LODGE , No . 1560 , AT LEICESTER .

The annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge was held on Tuesday , the pth inst ., at the Freemasons' Hall , Halford-street , Leicester

when a large number of the Craft assembled at one o ' clock . Amongst those present were the Provincial Grand Master , the Earl Ferrers , Bros . Kelly , Past Prov . G . M . j Rev . W . Langley , P . P .

S . G . W ., wfio acted as deputy Prov . G . M . ; W , Beaumont Smith , P . P . S . G . W ., as P . S . G . W . ; Deane , P . P . J . G . W ., as P . J . G . W . ; S . S . Partridge , P . G . Secretary ; M . McAllister , Prov .

G . S . D . ; J . B . Hall , P . G . A . D . C ; J . T . Thorp , P . G . A . D . C . ; C . S . Preston , P . G . S . B . ; T . A . Wykes , P . G . Org . j R . A . Barber , P . G . P . ; C . E . Stretton , P . G . A . P . j T Worthington , A . Sargeant and R . Dalgleish , Stewards ; G . Toller , C . Morris , and T . W . Clarke , P . P . S . G . W . ' s ; Clement Stretton , P . P . J . G . W . ; Revds . W . H .

Robinson , J . F . Halford , and F . S . Cuyler , P . P . G . Chaplains ; and a large number of other Past Provincial Grand Officers and brethren of the several lodges in the province . Amongst the visitors was Bro . J . Terry , Sec , Iloyal Masonic Benevolent Institution . The Grand Lodge

having been opened , the role of lodges and of Prov . Grand officers were called over and the minutes of the last general meeting read and confirmed . A very favourable report from the Committee of General Purposes , as to the satisfactory state of the Treasurer ' s accounts , the

flourishing condition of Masonry in the province , and the increased interest shewn by the brethren in the Masonic Charities , was submitted and by unanimous resolution adopted . The several recommendations contained in the report , as to

the stated meetings of the Leicester Masonic Hall Committee , the appointment of a Charity-Steward , the selection of a charity to 02 supported by the province during the ensuing yea . and other matters , were ordered to be carried out .

Some other business having been disposed of , the constitution and dedication of the Alber : Edward Lodge , No . 1560 , was proceeded with ; the Prov . Grand Master ( who had been selected as the first W . M . ) vacating his chair in favour of Bro , W . Kelly , P . P . G . M ., the consecrating officer .

The ceremony of consecration was performed by the P . P . G . M . in the most able and impressive manner , and elicted the warmest expressions of approval from the brethren present . Bro . Kelly was ably supported by the other Prov . G . Officers , and the musical arrangements were admirably conducted and carried out bv the Prov . G . Org ., Bro . F . A . Wykes .

A very eloquent and masterly oration was delivered by the Senior Grand Chaplain , Bro . the Rev . J . H . Smith . Bro Kellv then installed the P . G . M . as first

W . M . ofthe new lodge , and the officers having been appointed and installed , amongst whom we may mention Bros . Canon Burfield , S . W . ; Dr . Hunt , J . W . ; C . Stretton , Treas . ; Rev . W . Langley , Sec . ; J . G . F . Richardson , Asst . Sec ;