Consecration Of The Beneventa Lodge, No. 2380.

d the impressive ceremony of that afternoon could not fail to be pleased at ness v gro . Wilkins and his officers had performed the duties of that day . The toast met with a grand reception . R B UTLER-W ILKINS thanked the brethren , and said the pleasing ceremony c ii it ' day , and the fact that a new lodge had been started , had well repaid them

, r nnv time or trouble they expended . TheP - GRA : VD MASTER next submitted "TheW . M . and Officers of the pventa Lodge , No . 2380 . " In the course of his remarks , his lordship said he osed prosperity , success , happiness , unanimity , and concord to the lodge . ¦ rhev had appointed an excellent Worshipful Master in Bro . Billingham , as he had 1 ! rl great experience and was well up to his work , and knew how to manage and rn a lodge . He hoped the members vvould support him in every way . ^ ° The toast was well received .

Bro . B ILLINGHAM thanked the brethren for the manner in vvhich they had reived the toast , and for their presence on that occasion , vvhich vvas an auspicious not only for the brethren , but also for the town of Daventry . He spoke of t ] ' efforts he had made to bring about a lodge in Daventry , and said he thought r-very town should possess a lodge of Freemasons . He was glad to have been ,, niedium of bringing about the consecration of the Beneventa lodge , with

Rro Whitford and others , and vvas exceedingly pleased that the lodge vvas now an . ' mp lished fact . Bro . Billingham alluded to the manner in vvhich the name of the lodge was arrived at , and said Beneventa vvas the name of an old Roman station on Borough Hill , and one which had some authority behind it , which was different from the case of the name of Daventry , about the origin of vvhich there was some dispute . He concluded by remarking now that the lodge was formed he had every confidence in its success .

Bro . F . W ILLOUGHBY also replied to the toast . He said it was with the greatest pleasure he did what he could to bring about the formation of the lodge , and he hoped they as officers would fully carry out the principles vvhich had been so thoroug hly instilled into them that afternoon . Bro . Dr . AV . T . KNIGHT gave " The Masonic Charities . " He spoke of the •jrand princip les of the Order , and of the great benefit received from their

Charities svhich he vvas glad to say were so well supported in that province . He also spoke of the pleasure it gave him to see the lodge started , and expressed the hope that it had a most successful future before it . The P ROVINCIAL GRAND M ASTER replied to the toast . He had , he said , done all he could to support the Charities . They vvere admirably managed and upheld , and he had taken personal interest in seeing them carried out , and was

exceedingly pleased at what he had seen . He alluded to the manner in vvhich the Boys ' and Girls' Schools were managed , and said the children received an excellent education . There were 300 girls in their School , and they vvere receiving an excellent education , a fact which must be very gratifying to the brethren at large . Bro . BILLINGHAM next gave "The W . M . ' s and Brethren of the other Lodges in the Province , " and Bro . F . WILLOUGHBY submitted " The Visiting Brethren , " to

which Bro . PRETTY replied . The concluding toastwas that of the Tyler ' s , which was given by Bro . ROBINSON , " To all poor and distressed Masons . " The sum of £ 2 3 s . 6 d . was collected for the Charities . During the evening several excellent songs were sung , Bro . J . Birch presiding at the piano .

Consecration Of The Godson Lodge, No. 2385, At Oldbury.

CONSECRATION OF THE GODSON LODGE , No . 2385 , AT OLDBURY .

A nesv Craft lodge vvas consecrated at Oldbury on the nth instant . The new lodge is called the Godson Lodge , out of compliment to the popular Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Worcestershire ( Bro . A . F . Godson , M . P . ) . Its meetings will be held in a well-appointed room at the Talbot Hotel , in the centre of the town of Oldbury , and present appearances indicate that in the immediate future the

Godson Lodge will develope into one of the most successful and expert lodges , even in the Province of Worcestershire , where the workings of the Craft have so long held a degree of excellence which is seldom attained . The inception of the movement for the founding of a Masonic lodge in Oldbury dites back about two years , when a number of brethren resident in Oldbury , but belonging to several

neighbouring lodges , met , and the question of the advisability of founding a lodge in the town was discussed . For various reasons the movement seemed to hang fire for a short time , but about 12 months ago the matter was again brought up , and troin then to now the lead in the matter has been taken by Bro . Alfred Thompson , who vvas installed the first Master of the Godson Lodge . In his efforts

Bro . Thompson has been ably seconded by Bro . G . F . Old , a young and enthusiastic brother , who was appointed first Secretary of the lodge . The names of others , such as Bros . William Waldron , Abraham Green , and Enoch Wood , vvho have rendered splendid service to the promoters , and whose names "e found amongst the list of founders of the lodge , mi ght be mentioned in this k- ' i- ' ^ s P ' al mention where so many excellencies , both of character and ability , have to be dealt with would be invidious . Formal application for

perussion to apply to the Grand Lodge of England for a warrant for the proposed lod ge was made to Sir Edmund A . H . Lechmere at his Provincial Grand Lodge elcl at Worcester in October last . The permission vvas readily forthcoming , and e ne cessary formalities having been complied with , the ceremony of consecration was iued for the nth instant .

1 he day ' s proceedings commenced at half an hour past noon , when a Craft oti ge was opened in the Public Schools , Talbot-street . The lodge was opened nuer the banner of the Harmonic Lodge , No . 252 , Dudley , the mother lodge of e province , the officers of which occupied the respective chairs , viz .: Bros . Thos .

an Tn ' W M ' E' J' Ch ?* mbers , S W- W - Hanson , J . W . ; James Jones , S . D . ; Uuncan J . Shedden , acting J . D . After the lodge had been opened , so that the antVp ' **** Grand Master and the Ofl-cers ° Provincial Grand Lodge , both Present enl a * | cou'd * - •*received and honoured according to their rank , these officers ci tne lod ge . The Provincial Grand Lodge having been opened in the the * d - f ° ' Provincial Grand Master inquired of the W . M . designate , and iv ^ . * eS ' , ^ nate ' * Ders ° f the Godson Lodge , who were seated before him , in what P-uticular he could serve them . UL

of hi ^ 0 RSH ! 1 T M ASTER D ESIGNATE replied that it was the respectful prayer ; ,, ., l tnose who supported him that the Provincial Grand Master would , Wa ' le ° r Ce W ' th the warrant granted by his Royal Highness the Prince of lod- * r S ' - Master of England , proceed to consecrate and institute a regular , fi I Under the title nf the ( MiH « nn T . nrlm . in thai tr , \ vr , of DMI-innr wl , oroiir , nn

Wa rrant p *) . - " ' - ' ER called upon the Prov . Grand Secretary to read the n ° rninat H . v * £ inquired if the remaining brethren approved of the brethren a "irmat m the warrant as tne office-holders of the lodge , and having received an -r'i — re Plyt the consecration ceremnnv was mmmertred .

l yer a ^ T' , p rand Cha P , ain , Bro . the Rev . WILLIAM J DOWN , offered up IlQ ly Ln !?Was followed by the intonation of the Sanctus , "Holy , Holy , Glorv rJTT ^? d A 1 mighty , heaven and earth are full of the majesty of Thy glory . The ! ° Lord '" ter ms bv th ^' " orat ' followed , and svas delivered in eloquent and striking V the PROV . GRAND CHAPLAIN . In the course of his oration the Rev .

Consecration Of The Godson Lodge, No. 2385, At Oldbury.

brother said that it vvas well upon such an occasion to call the attention of the assembled brethren to one or two of the features of their ancient Order . It had been well said that " Freemasonry had been of old , " and that was without doubt true , for they found its antiquity co-existent with the early ages of man . Masonry had been found almost wherever man vvas found , and whilst Masonry on the one hand had done much to mould and build up

the characters of men and of nations , yet he believed it was a fact that the passing events of the world's history had had little or no influence upon the leading tenets and princi ples of the Order . As they reviewed its history through the ages that are passed—through the empirics of the ancients , with their mystic societies vvhich have risen and fallen , through all their dynasties come and gone ; their men of renown who wielded the sceptre and reigned for awhile and

afterwards passed away from the arena of life , whilst Masonry still remained , lived , flourished , and spread ; and that they were proud of its vast history , grand and sublime , marked vvith many a noble deed of philanthropy . Freemasonry then , he said , studied in the light of its historic past , seemed to be the cradle in which many of the world ' s chosen ones in physical , intellectual , and moral science and progress had been nurtured .

At the conclusion of the Chaplain s oration , the consecration anthem was sung , and the Provincial Grand Master , supported by the Provincial Grand Chaplain and the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , performed the usual ceremony of consecration , and after an ode had been chanted , the ceremony of installing the W . M . designate , and subsequently the subordinate officers of the lodge , was proceeded with . The Provincial Grand Master deputed this ceremony to the Provincial Grand Secretary , who performed it with all the impressiveness the ceremony lends itself to .

The W . M . having been duly installed , the following vvere appointed as officers of the lodge : Bros . W . Waldron , P . M ., S . W . ; Enoch Wood , J . W . ; H . Manley , S . D . ; J . B . Buttery , J . D . ; and Abraham Green , D . C . The remaining officers being elective , their election was deferred until the next regular lodge meeting . The proceedings concluded with a grand banquet held in the Public Hall , over

vvhich the Worshipful Master presided . He was supported by several of the officers of Provincial Grand Lodge . The usual Masonic toasts were honoured , and the proceedings vvere pleasantly interspersed with a choice selection of music . The whole of the lodge collars and jewels vvere presented to the lodge by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master . The lodge was furnished by Bro . George Kenning .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Cambridgeshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF CAMBRIDGESHIRE .

A meeting of this Provincial Grand Chapter was held ( under the banner of the Euclid Chapter ) at the Lion Hotel , Cambridge , on Wednesday , the 4 th instant . Present : Comps . Lieut .-Col . R . Townley Caldwell , Grand Superintendent ; E . H . Jennings , Prov . G . H . ; E . Armitage , Prov . GJ . ; Andrew H . Moyes , P . Prov . G . H . ; J . Bell , T . King , 0 . Papworth , J . Fuller , W . Purchas , C . Geldard , T .

Nichols , W . H . Jarrold , G . Cole , G . W . Whitehead , Drover , J . R . Green , F . O . Carr , J . Sheldrick , Foster , F . Piggott , J . V . Pryor , J . E . L . Whitehead , W . H . Francis , W . P . Spalding , J . F . Symonds , James Catling , W . B . Vaus , and others . The Prov . Grand Chapter having been opened , the minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed .

The Treasurer ' s accounts , presented b y Comp . T . Nichols , vvere shown to be in a satisfactory state . The annual report of the Cambridgeshire Masonic Charity Association was presented , and it was resolved to give ^ 10 ios . to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , to go through the local Association .

Upon the election of Treasurer , there was a conversation as to the possibility of one companion holding two offices in the chapter ; but the Grand Superintendent vvas not called upon to give a ruling , owing to there being only one candidate duly nominated , viz ., Comp . G . MacCallum , who was elected . The Grand Superintendent then appointed and invested his officers as follows : —

Comp . C . Geldard , 859 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . H . „ T . Nichols , 88 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . J . „ W . H . Jarrold , 88 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . E . „ G . Cole , 441 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . S . N . „ G . MacCallum , 88 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ G . W . Whitehead , 809 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ J . R . Green , 859 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . S . .. I . V . Prvor . 88 ... ... ... ... Prov . ist A . G . S .

„ J . Sheldrick , 441 ... ... ... ... Prov . 2 nd A . G . S . „ J . E . L . Whitehead , 441 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ Frank Piggott , 88 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br , „ J . F . Symonds , 441 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ F . O . Carr , 859 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ C . H . Ellis , 88 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Janitor A number of new jewels had been presented to the Prov . Grand Chapter by

the Grand Superintendent to make the set complete , and he was heartily thanked for his liberal present . A suitable acknowledgment vvas made from the first chair to the Principals and companions of Euclid Chapter for the loan of their furniture and appointments for that occasion . The Prov . Grand Chapter was then closed , and the companions subsequently sat down to banquet . The GRAND SUPERINTENDENT complimented the several chapters upon the excellence of their work .

The Cryptic Rite.

THE CRYPTIC RITE .

A meeting ofthe Grand Council vvas held at Mark Masons' Ha ' . l , Great Queenstreet , W . C , on Thursday , the 5 th inst ., under the presidency of M . III . Comp . the Earl of Euston , Grand Master . There vvere also present Comps . Frank Richardson , Dep . G . M . ; Col . A . B . Cook ; R . Berridge , G . Treas . ; C . F . Matier , G . Recorder ; Augustus Harris , G . D . of C . ; Dr . E . M . Lott , G . C . of Gd . ; H . E . Cousans and E .

M . Money , G . Stwds . ; W . Vincent , P . G . D . C ; H . Saunders ; A . F . Godson , M . P ., P . D . G . M . ; Rev . T . W . Lemon , D . D ., P . G . Chap . ; R . Voisey , P . G . Stwd . ; Viscount Dungarvan ; G . Marsden , P . G . D . C ; Belgrave Ninnis ; Gordon Miller ; F . Mead ; J . E . Dawson ; R . J . Emmerson , P . G . C . ; H . C . Heard , and W . W . Lee .

The Grand Council having been formally opened , the minutes were read and confirmed . The GRAND RECORDEK then read a report of the progress of the Cryptic Rite , showing that 25 certificates had been issued , making a total of 521 companions registered . Thanks were declared to be especially due to Comp . Frank Richardson for his invaluable services during his term of office as Deputy Grand Master . The report , together with the Grand Treasurer ' s account , showing a balance in hand of , £ 53 18 s . 2 d ., was received and adopted . On the motion of Comp . A . WILLIAMS , seconded by Comp . Col . COOK , Comp . R , BERRIDGE was re-elected as Grand Treasurer , and suitably returned thanks .