Consecration Of The Furnival Lodge, No. 2558, At Sheffield.

apologies from Bro . Wm . Harrop , P . M . 290 , Chairman of the Chanty Committee ,- Bro . W . F . Smithson , P . M . tool , P . G . D ., ex-Chairman ; and Bro . the Ven . Archdeacon Doune , M . A ., Vicar of Wakefield , Prov . G . Chap ., were announced .

After a feeling reference to the loss sustained by the province through the death of Bro . T . Bateman Fox , P . M . 208 , P . P . G . W ., late Chairman of the Charity Committee , and an expression of gratitude for the countenance and support on the part of the many brethren present , Bro . Charles Stokes closed the lodge .

A banquet , at which over 100 were present , followed , and was served in Bro . Robert Turner's best style . Bro . Charles Stokes , the newly-appointed W . M ., presided , and was supported by the Prov . Grand Master , the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , past and present officers of Prov . Grand Lodge , the Worshipful Masters of the seven older local lodges , and many officers and brethren .

The usual loyal and Masonic toasts naving been given from the chair , and honoured in ancient style , The CHAIRMAN proposed " The Health of the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master , and the Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge Presentand Past . " He said that Bro . Jackson accepted the post with hesitancy , but he had so filled it that already it would be difficult to supply his place . He had visited Sheffield three or four times since his appointment , and the oftener he came the more welcome would he be .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER was most cordially greeted on rising to respond . Having warmly thanked the brethren for their kind reception of him , and expressed his regret at being obliged to leave them early , he said there were no better or more loyal citizens than Masons in the whole of the wide world . He urged the brethren to cultivate a spirit of peace and harmony in every lodge , and trusted that each individual brother would feel a personal responsibility in maintaining the best of fraternal relations , and

THE WORSHIPFUL MASTER . that nothing he might do or leave undone would have any tendency save to promote good fellowship and concord throughout the province of West Yorkshire . Passing on to propose the toast of ' The W . M . of the Furnival Lodge , " the Prov . Grand Master said they had been engaged in an interesting ceremony , without which it would be impossible for Masonry to extend

its boundaries , because there was a limit to the number of members who could effectively and with advantage belong to a lodge . But wider and wider was l he horizon covered by Masonry opening out , and to still further extend it that day had been to him personally a great pleasure and privilege . Sheffield stood hig h in the world . As regarded her manufactures she stood in her own chaiacteristics second to none . She had established her reputation , and

though many attempts had bsen made to deprive her of it , they had always failed . She had a reputation also for her hospitality , and hc could himself bear testimony how well it was deserved , for no one knew better than himself the real warmth and genuine friendliness of a Sheffield welcome which was especially distinguished for its earnestness and reality . Next week Sheffield would have an opportunity of welcoming one who had come from afar . Let

them try to appreciate , if they could , the feelings of him who for the first time saw that Western civilisation , to which they were accustomed every day . Siill , he thought it well that the Shahzada should come to England in order that he might fee for himself something of the power and energy which had shown its force throughout the world . It was well too , that he should

come to Sheffield lo see the evidences of thc manufacturing power and skill which had made the cily what she was , for he believed that Sheffield was a type of England , and ol the United Kingdom . The new life born that day they could not hope would be free from vicissitudes , but he trusted that it would be so engrained with the principles of Freemasonry as ever to display them to the best advantage .

The W ORSHIPFUL MASTER suitably responded , stating that the Furnival Lodge had the best wishes of all the seven sister lodges in the town . " The Health of the Installing Master , " was heartily drunk , on the proposition of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro . HKNRY SMITH .

Consecration Of The Furnival Lodge, No. 2558, At Sheffield.

Bro . H . T . E . HOLMES , P . P . G . D . C , in responding , mentioned t * - * at it was 21 years since he was initiated ; that 14 years ago he hid the pleasure , when in the chair of Wentworth Lodge , of initiating Bro . Stokes , their Worshipful Master , and seven years ago he himself was appointed first Worshipful Master of the St . Leonard's Lodge , on the occasion of its consecration .

The toast of "The Sister Lodges , " proposed by Bro . G . H . HUTCHINSON , S . W ., was acknowledged by Bros . E . DICKINSON , W . E . GREY , J . Don WORTH , W . TYZACK , H . A . BROOK , J . J : PARKER , and J . J ACKMAN , the respective Worshipful Masters of the Sheffield lodges . Other toasts followed , and the speeches were agreeably in'erspersed with songs and instrumental selections by Bros . W . Gadsby , W . Foxnn , T . E .

Barker , R . C . Honey , H . A . Brook , C Stokes , M . Miner , and A . I *" . Dru-y , Bro . J . W . Phillips , presiding at the piano , accompanying with his usual taste , and playing a striking composition of his own with much acceptance . From the auspicious and otherwise favourable circumstances of its inception , from the fact that a new lodge was certainly needed , and from the

character and position of those brethren who , as founders , have made themselves responsible for its good government and well-being , we prophecy that the Furnival Lodge , like its immediate predecessor , the White Rose of York , will establish an undoubted raison d ' etre , will maintain the high character of our Order , and will in all respects fulfil the duties which it has undertaken , and we wish it God-speed upon its noble mission .

Consecration Of The Ixion Chapter, No. 2501.

CONSECRATION OF THE IXION CHAPTER , No . 2501 .

On Saturday , the 15 th instant , Comp . F . A . Philbrick , Q . C , G . Reg ., Grand Superintendent of Essex , visited Buckhurst Hill for the purpose of consecrating a chapter to be attached to the Ixion Lodge , No . 2501 . This lodge was only consecrated in April last year , but it has prospered to such an extent that the members who were Royal Arch Masons felt justified in applying for a warrant to form and hold a chapter , and the prayer of their petition was granted .

The founders number 27 , and most of them attended at the Roebuck Hotel on Saturday list , together with several visitors . The Grand Superintendent was assisted in the ceremony of consecration by Comps . A . C . Durrant , Prov . G . H ., as H . ; F . A . White , P . P . G . J ., as J . ; Thos . J . Railing , P . G . S . B ., Prov . G . S . E ., as S . E . ; A . S . B . Sparling , Prov . G . S . N ., as S . N . ; and Albert Lucking , P . A . G . D . C , Prov . G . D . C , as D . C .

The ceremony was faultlessly performed , all the Consecrating Officers from the G-and S iperintendcnt downwards fulfilling their parts in a most able way . At the commencement of the proceedings thc GRAND SUPERINTENDENT mentioned that this new chapter would bring up the number of those under his rule to 12 , \ vh > h befell wisa very satisfactory state of things , as when he had the honour of bting appointed Grand Superintendent there were only lour in the province .

At the conclusion of the consecration ceremony the Principals designate weie installed by Comp . William Shurmur , P . P G . J ., in his well-known able manner as ii"d' ; i : Comps . H . Ffrench B'oinhead , P . Z . 1365 , as M . E Z . ; George J . Peall , J . Syo as H . ; and Augustus F . Lay , P . ; -.. 22 , as J . The olficeisiif the chapter were invested as fjllows : Comps . J . R . Carter , P . S . 201 , S . E . ; W . Gower , P . S . 2374 S . N . ; Bisil Stewart . ' . P . Z . 554 , Treis . ; W . J . Barnes , S . N . 1623 , P . s . ; W . Lucas , ist A . S . ; Chas .

R . Cutler , 2 nd A . S . ; Morley and Saunders . Stwds . ; and David Legg , P . Z ., Janitor . A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Comp . Philbrick , Grand'Superintendent , and the other Consecrating Officers for their services , and they were unanimously elected honorary members of the clnpter , and Comp . Basil Stewart was elected to represent the companions at the forthcoming Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . The companions afterwards dined together at the Roebuck H otel , an elegant dinner being well served by the host , Comp . Smith .

Masonry's Great Aim And Use.

MASONRY'S GREAT AIM AND USE .

ORATION HY BRO . WILLIAM L . BURIHCK , M . D . AT THU LAYING OF TUB CORNER STONE or THE NEW MASONIC BUILDING AT BOULDKH , COLORADO , MARCH OTH , 1 S 95 . An immemorial custom , common to . ill races and to all ages , decrees that it is fitting , at gatheringsof public interest or of wide-spreading social importance , to give voice to the sentiments that inspire or underlie the observance of the occasion .

As far back as we can trace into antiquity , whether we examine into the practices of barbarous tribes or of civilized communities , we find that at thc celebration of both solemn and festive memorials , it is not only common but also highly important for instruction , that meet answer be given to the question , " What mean Ye by this

Service . " It is not , however , due to mere custom alone , it is not merely to perpetuate a meaningless rite , lhat one by your invitation speaks here this day , but because you deeply realize and feel that this hour carries with it many a lesson of duty and of trust , some of which , at this time , cannot , in justice , be left unsaid .

What thoughts of dignity and of grandeur should thrill our breasts as we gather here , to-day ! My brothers , you are walking in the footsteps that the most venerable antiquity has trod , for of all existing fraternal organisations known to man that of Freemasonry is the oldest and most

widely known to fame . The origin of this brotherhood is lost in the obscure , mythological recesses of the past , but the principles which underlie our Order are eternal . It is not a vain conceit which prompts Masonry to date its birth with its chosen era of " A . L . "—Anno Lucis—in the year of light—