1878.

Grand Lodge by the National Life Boat Institution . The following lodges and chapters were consecrated in March , Sunbury Lod ge , 1733 , and Trinity Lodge , _ i 734 , Francis Burdett Chapter , 1 , 503 , Way Side Chapter , 1604 , by Comp . General Brownrigg . The following consecrations

nlso took place , St . Cuthbert ' s Preceptory , Darlington , Knights Templar , by E . G . S . P . Lt .-Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , and of the Leoderns . Chapter , Rose Croix , by 111 . Bro . Capt . N . G . Philips . H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught received the 30 , and was afterwards installed in

the Studholme Chapter as M . W . S . The Provincial Grand Priory of Northumberland was opened , and V . E . C . J . Bannister , installed as P . G . P . Anew Encampment at Bury , " Edmund Plantagenet Preceptory " was also opened . During March a purse of money was presented

to Bro . Binckes as Secretary , by the Committee of the Boys' School Dinner Club . The Lodge of Antiquity , No . 2 , held its meeting , H . R . H . Prince Leopold being W . M ., H . R . H . appointed Bro . Woodford , P . G . C , his deputy , who was duly installed . A P . M ' s jewel was presented to Bro . Phil .

brick , Q . C ., and a brilliant gathering assembled . Bro . Terry received a presentation of ^ 50 . very deservedly , from the General Committee of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . The Poplar Board of Guardians distinguished themselves in this month by refusing their hall to a

Masonic lodge . At the monthly meeting of the Lodge of Benevolence a grant of sS 160 , made at a former meeting , was confirmed , and a further sum of , £ 415 voted to distressed claimants . At the Cambridge local examination , twenty-five candidates were entered from the Royal Institution for Boys , and twenty-four passed .

APRIL . —April beheld the Grand Festival at Freemasons' Hall , at which H . R . H . the Grand Master presided . Bro . H . R . H . the Crown Prince of Denmark was also present . The usual appointments of Grand Officers took place . The Prov . Grand Lodge

of West Yorkshire met at Leeds , under Sir H . Edwards , Bart ., Prov . G . M ., when a vote of condolence was passed to the widow and family of our lamented Bro . Bentley Shaw , a most worthy and genial brother , whoso services to Freemasonry had been great , and a movement

set on foot to obtain a presentation in the Girls ' School , named the " Bentley Shaw Scholarship , " and to cost ^ iojo . The Inhabitants' Lodge , Gibraltar , No . 153 , obtained a Centenary Warrant . In April Sir Edward Lechmere , Bart ., M . P ., was appointed Prov . G . M . of

Worcestershire , in place of Bro . A . H . Royds . The Masons at Manchester arranged and carried out a very successful concert in aid » f the E . Lancashire Systematic Masonic Educational and Benevolent Institution . The Grand Chapter of Cornwall also met this month , under the able

presidency of the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , Provincial Grand Superintendent . The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Priory of Devon , under the Rev . J . Huyshe , ( a good old Mason ) , also took place . A presentation took place to Bro . John Dennis , of Lodge 907 ,

of a valuable tea service and a walnut cabinet . At the monthly meeting of the lodge of Benevolence £ 435 was voted . At the Quarterl y Court of the Girls' School the lamented death of Bro . R . W . Little , its valuable Secretary , after a long

and painful illness , was announced , amid the sympathy of all present . The Lodge of Saint John , 1736 , was consecrated at Halifax , and the Dobie Chapter , 889 , was consecrated by General Brownrigg , the oration being delivered by Bro . Arnold , G . C .

MAY . —In May the Quarterly Convocation of Supreme Grand Chapter took place , when warrants for 13 new chapters were granted . May also witnessed various meetings of Provincial Grand Lodges , such as that of Cambridgshire at Wisbech , of Westmorland and Cumberland at Penrith , of Provincial Grand Lodge of

Staffordshire at Stafford , of East Lancashire at Bury . We also had in that month the meeting of Prov . Grand Chapter of Lancashire at Preston , presided over by Lord Skelmersdale . The Quarterl y Communication of the Grand Lodge of Scotland took place , when resolutions similar in effect to those of the Grand Lodge of . England were

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unanimously passed in reference to the Grand Orient of France . The presentation of a testi monial to Bro . Muggeridge of a purse containing , 00 sovereigns took p lace this month , and the veteran was greeted with much applause , when he feelingly replied to Bro . Meyer . ' s speech .

The 90 th Anniversary of the Royal Masonic institution for Girls took place this month , Bro . the Earl of Carnarvon presiding , ^ 8 , 600 were announced by the acting Secretary , Bro . Hedges . At the monthly meeting of the Lodge of Benevolence - £ 440 were granted . The following

lodges were consecrated in May , Montgomcrie Lodge , 174 1 , at Diss , Royal Savoy Lodge , 1744 , and Farringdon Lodge , 1743 , in the Metropolis We are rejoiced to note the increase of Royal Arch Masonry . During the merry month of May , we have also to notice the opening of a new

Masonic Hall at the Star and Garter , Kew . Bro . W . H . Smyth of Elkington Hall , Louth , was appointed Provincial Grand Master of Lincolnshire , and the Duke of St . Alban ' s transferred to Nottinghamshire . The first active work of the Albert Edward Life Boat took place at the Gunfleet Sands , where nine lives were saved .

J . —In June a very fitting presentation of a silver salver and service of plate was made to Bro . Strong , for valuable services as honorary surgeon to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . During this month , the Provincial Grand Lodges of Leicestershire and Rutland ,

and of Middlesex , held their meetings . The annual Grand Mark Lodge met at Norwich , Lord Skelmersdale having been previously appointed its Grand Master . A grand Masonic fete was held in Dublin , at the annual festival , and a distribution of prizes

to the children of the Masonic Orphan Schools . The Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge was holden in this month , the Earl of Carnarvon presiding , when a vote of congratulation to our illustrious brother the Emperor of Germany was passed by acclamation , in respect of his

recent happy escape from a two-fold shameful attempt at assassination . The indignation and loyalty of the English Grand Lodge heartily sympathized with indignant and loyal Germany . Canon Farrar distributed the prizes , won at the

Cambridge local examination , to the boys of the Masonic School , Wood Green . The Lodge of Perseverance was consecrated in London during June , at the Imperial Hotel , Holborn , by Bro . John Hervey , before a numerous attendance of brethren .

J . —July witnessed the annual summer fete of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , at the school , Wcod Green . Lord Sufneld presided , and ably distributed the prizes to ready recipients . In Belfast , some interesting Masonic services were held at St . George ' s Parish Church ,

in aid of the Masonic Charities of Belfast and Dublin . The anniversary festival of the Boys ' School took p lace during this month also , at the Alexandra Palace , under the illustrious presidency of Bro . H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught , and in the presence of a numerous gathering of

ladies and brethren , whose subscriptions were announced to the amount of ^ 10 , 000 . The Provincial Grand Lodges of Berks , and Kent and Surrey , and Suffolk , assembled during this month . The annual festival of the Mark Benevolent Fund took place at the Alexandra Palace ,

under Lord Skelmersdale , who deprecated in his speech too many like appeals . It seemed to many , that coming so soon after the Boys' School festival , a sort of untimely appeal and unhealthy pressure was thus developed . Bro . Hedges was elected in July Secretary of the Girls' School ,

after a very severe struggle , by a decisive majority , showing that merit , not patronage , may justly be said to be the principles of our good old Craft . If the old adage be true , " pal mam qu meruit ferat , " Bro . Hedges had earned his legitimate promotion fairly , honourably , and distinctly . The District Grand Lodge of Tasmania

in this month held its first communication at Hobart Town . The presentation to Bro . Hughan of a purse of twenty-five guineas , given by the Lodge of St . Martin , in recognition of his services on behalf of the Charities , took place at Liskeard . The presentation of a claret cup and fifty guineas was made by some admirers of

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Bro . Jolly , an old friend and reporter to the Freemason . The American Masonic Knights Templar landed in Ireland , and were very hospitably received , as well as at York and Sheffield . In July the Ogmore Lodge , 1 752 , was consecrated at Bridgend , and the Chaucer Chapter ,

1540 , consecrated in London . On July 3 tst , a very complimentary dinner was given by Bro . Kenning , at Freemasons' Hall , to the American Masons visiting England . Bro . Kenning , as proprietor of the most successful and most widelv

diffused Masonic paper in the world , felt that he was bound as a patriot and a Freemason , to uphold the character of hospitality for his country and his Order . He , accordingly , issued invitations to all the American Masons , forming the

company of Bro . C . E . Meyer , and he also invited a large number of English Masons to meet their American brethren . Nothing could exceed the cordiality and contentment , the satisfaction and success of the evening . A more happy idea was never more thoroughly carried out , and

it has left imperishable " souvenirs " in a mutual regard which time will never efface . A very interesting account of it has been printed by Bro . Kenning , for presentation only , and which serves as a fitting record of a pleasant gathering and international fraternal unity and good will .

AUGUST . —In August the Provincial Grand Lodges of Worcestershire , Cornwall , Hertford , and North Yorkshire , held their meetings . In this month the Grand Master of the recently formed Grand Lodge of Quebec issued a proclamation

against the Grand Lodge of Scotland : Our opinion has never varied . Neither side is quite right in the controversy , but we are bound to say , that in our opinion , the " onus * ' of everything

lies on the Grand Lodge of Quebec , which , from the very " inception " of these fulminatory bulls and diatribes was absolutely wrong , as wrong in fact as wrong can be , on every ground of Masonic law and Masonic precedent .

_ SETTHMBER . —September witnessed the disciplinary action of Giand Lodge exercised against a brother of high standing , who had unfortunately forgotten his Masonic duty and allowed the Scrutineers' returns to be tampered with . Grand Lodge acted with great dignity and discretion . Let us trust no similar scandal will

again occur in English Masonry . The Provincial Grand Lodges of Somersetshire , Cumberland and Westmorland , of Cheshire , of Dorsetshire , of Nottinghamshire , and of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight held their meetings . The

presentation 01 a testimonial to Bro . Captain Colville took place at Bodmin , and the London Chaiity Masonic Association , much needed to help the more friendless London candidates , amid much meaningless and personal opposition ,

was formed . The American brethren departed homeward again , greatly pleased with their English reception . Two new Masonic Halls were opened in this month—a hall at Shipley , West Yorkshire , by Lord Carnarvon , Pro G . M ., and a hall at Chacewater , Cornwall . The

following lodges were consecrated in this month Eldon Lodge , 17 , 55 , at Portishead ; Leopold Lodge , 1760 , at Scarborough ; Eleanor Cross Lodge , 17 6 4 , at Northampton . The Kensington Lodge , 1767 , was also consecrated this month . The Herefordshire Masonic Charity Association was formed in September .

OCTOBER . ~ -In October the Provincial Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire , North and East Yorkshire , Sussex , Northumberland , and Durham held their meetings . The Quarterly Courts for the elections of the Boys' and Girls' Schools

took place , resulting in the election of four girls out of twenty-nine candidates in the latter , and thirteen boys out of sixty-three candidates in the former case . The polling was unprecedentedly severe , and seems

to point to severe struggles in elections " yet t be . " The foundation stone of St . Luke ' Church , Southport , was laid with Masonic ceremonial . The following lodges were consecrated

in October : Trinity Lodge , 1765 ; Pimlico Lodge , 1772 ; Royal Hanover Lodge , 1777 ; St . Leonard ' s Lodge , 1766 ; Lodge of Progress , 1768 ; and Vale of Whitehaven Lodge , 1770 . St . Thomas ' s Chapter , 14 a ; and Mid-Surrey