Aldersgate Lodge, No. 1657.

The W . M ., in cordial terms , next gave "The Visitors , coupling with the toast the names of Bro . Sir VV . MacCormack , Bro . Rev . Dobbin , P . P . G . Chap ., the Clergyman of the Parish he ( the W . M . ) left to come to London , and his twin brother the Mayor of Nottingham , Bro . Sir W . MACCORMACK said if he were able to sing , which he was not , he would quote the words so worthily rendered by Bro . Kift :

" And if with the Lord Mayor or with Aldersgate Lodge we re asked to dine , Well , I think perhaps we'll not decline in Eighteen-eighty-nine , " and no brother present would disagree with that sentiment . He had only to thank the W . M . and members on behalf of himself and visitors present for the kind manner in which they had been received .

Bro . Rev . DOBBIN , P . P . G . Chap . Notts , expressed the pleasure it had g iven him to be present at the installation of his friend the W . M ., having known him for nearly a score of years . They in the Midlands were proud the VV . M . had attained his present position in the City of London . He had come up specially from Nottingham to honour the W . M ., who , for ei ght years was a parishioner of his .

Bro . RENALS , Mayor of Nottingham , also responded and returned thanks for the repast provided , not only for their bodies _ but for their minds , in the speeches and beautiful music provided . The WORSHH ^' M ASTER then said he had to propose "The Health of the I . P . M ., " and assured the brethren that no member of the lodge vvas

esteemed more than Bro . Anderton . They knew the I . P . M . 's kind and genial manner , and also knew that he had deservedly gained their esteem . Bro . Anderton , I . P . M ., had been W . M . for two years , and as he ( the W . M . ) was responsible for the second year , he owed him many thanks for taking the position . The brethren vvould all agree in praising the splendid

manner in which the I . P . M . had performed the work of the lodge and the great knowledge he had displayed in the ritual . He trusted that when his year of office was over , he should receive from the members as sincere a verdict of thanks as they owed the I . P . M . and gave him most ungrudgingly . Bro . ANDERTON , I . P . M ., having returned thanks for the kind proposit ion

and reception of the toast , said it was gratifying to him to find that after occupying the chair of W . M . for two years he vvas able to retire with an assurance from the members that he had well , and he hoped faithfully , discharged his duty . He could only hope that , in confiding to the keeping of the W . M . the honour , reputation , and usefulness of the lodge , they would

be as carefully held and as zealously guarded as by his predecessors . By virtue of those splendid talents the W . M . possessed , he would no doubt govern and conduct the lodge with far greater ability than he ( the I . P . M . ) could ; but , if he only experienced the same pleasure and satisfaction in doing his work as he had , he ventured to predict that the year of office

would be looked back upon with pride and satisfaction to the end of his days . His thanks were due to the P . M . ' s for their assistance and counsel , given him whenever required , and to the officers for their willing co-operation at all times in carrying out the work , and , lastly , to the brethren generally for the uniform kindness and forbearance with which he was at all limes received .

'" The Past Masters was next given , the W . M . regretting the absence of Bro . Froom , P . M ., through domestic affliction , and eulogising ihe services rendered by the P . M . ' s to the lodge . Bros . SAMUEL WHITE , P . M ., and E . Y . J OLLIFFE , P . M ., P . P . G . W . Middlesex , Sec , having responded ,

" The Officers was given , and appropriately replied to by Bros . HUDSON , S . W ., and WEBB , J . VV . The Tyler ' s toast then closed one of the most successful installation meetings held by this lodge .

An excellent programme of music was arranged and admirably executed , under the direction of Bro . J . Kift , assisted by Madame Isabel George , Miss Emily Himing , Mr . Dyved Lewys , and Bro . Franklin Clive .

Consecration Of The Danum Mark Lodge, No, 398, At Doncaster.

CONSECRATION OF THE DANUM MARK LODGE , No , 398 , AT DONCASTER .

There was a goodly number of Mark Masons present at Doncaster , West Yorkshire , on the 29 th ult ., on the occasion of the consecration of the above lodge . Among those present

were—Bros . C . Letch Mason , Prov . G . M . ; Jack Sutcliff , Prov . G . M . Lincolnshire ; C , J . Matier , P . G . W ., Secretary of the Mark Benevolent Fund ; Robert Berridge , P . G , M -O ., G . D . C .,- W . Cook , P . G . M . O ., P . G . Sec ; A . Bdtes , Deputy P . G . M . Lincolnshire ; J . Unvvin , P . S . G . W . ; H . France , P . S . G . W . ; J . H . Gration , P . J . G . W . ; H . £ Cousans , P . S . G . W . Lincolnshire ; the Rev . J . H . Evans , P . G . C ; Thos . Howden , P . J . G . D . ; I . A . Thornton , P . G . M . O . ; E . 1 . Massie . P . S . G . O .: C . 1 . Schott , P . G .

| twd . ; E . Billington , P . P . G . Stwd . ; J . P . Hewitt , W . M . 53 ; J . J . Green , W . M . 58 , "• G . S . B . ; Hanson , V . G . S . Deardon , and H . A . Brook , of 53 *; W . Langbridge , 7 ' , * Connor and H . Oxley , cf no ; T . Rogers , 127 ; Wormack , M . Frampton , A - Potius , S . Barrand , m ; and ihe founders—Bros . Wm . Delanoy , H . T . Bellerby , J . il . Pawson , F . Webb , C . H . Woodhouse , C . Goldthorpe , F . J . Forth , and W . R . F . Lukis .

The lodge was duly opened by the Prov . Grand Master , Bro . C LETCH , MASON who briefly staled the object of the meeting , and called upon the Grand Director of Ceremonies , Bro . Robert Berridge , P . G . M . O ., to read

cne petition and warrant . 1 he founders being arranged in proper order , the PROV . G . MASTER Enquired if they as £ ented to the officers named in the warrant , which was dul y given .

¦ the PROV . GRAND MASTER then delivered a short address on the symohsm of the various Degrees of Freemasonry and the connection running throughout the same . He called the attention of the brethren to the tr uths "culcated therein , and the important lessons to be learnt therefrom . In on clusion , he dwelt upon the special teaching of the Mark Degree , and

rongl y urged upon the brethren to let their work be thorough , not such as to P ease and win the applause of their fellow men , but such as would stand e test of the Great Overseer of the Universe , as fitted to form part of that U'ldingnot made with hands , but eternal in the heavens , so that when ernit y should burst upon them in all its glory and beauty , they might exclai m with the old Craftsman of old , " Thanks be to God , I have my reward . " ^ he ceremony of consecration was then proceeded with , the Provincial

Consecration Of The Danum Mark Lodge, No, 398, At Doncaster.

Grand Master being ably assisted by the Provincial Grand Master of Lincolnshire , the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Lincolnshire , and the Assistant Grand Secretary , Bro . Maiier , the elements of consecration being respectively carried by these brethren . The vessels of consecration were those belonging to Grand Lodge , and were kindly lent by the General Board .

The Grand Director of Ceremonies , Bro . Robert Berridge , P . G . M . O ., most kindly consented to act as Director of Ceremonies , and it was to his able assistance that the ceremony of consecration was so carefully and beautifully carried out . At the special request of the Prov . Grand Master , the Worshipful Master of Danum Lodge , Bro . William Delanoy , was installed by Bro . C . F . Matier , P . G . W . Bro . Delanoy then invested his officers for the year .

Apologies for non-attendance of Bro . the Rev . T . C . Smyth , D . D ., Dep . Prov . G . Master , owing to severe illness , and from other brethren , were tendered .

On the motion of the PROV . G . MASTER , a most hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the Grand Officers for their attendance and kind services , and also for obtaining the use oi the Grand Lodge consecrating vessels , which was acknowledged by them . The PROV . GRAND MASTER stated that since the annual meeting of

Provincial Grand Lodge , in October last , they had lost their Provincial Junior Grand Warden , and he had pleasure in appointing the first Master of the Danum Lodge , Bro . Wm . Delanoy , as Junior Warden of the province for the ensuing year , and also presented him with his patent of appointment .

Bro . DELANOY briefly acknowledged the most unexpected honour conferred upon him , and said he took it as a compliment to the lodge . Several brethren were proposed as joining members , and also for advancement . The lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to a sumptuous banquet at Brown ' s Hotel .

After the cloth was drawn , the usual and Masonic toasts were given , and the brethren separated , after having spent a most happy and enjoyable alternoon and evening .

Hungry For Social Enjoyment.

HUNGRY FOR SOCIAL ENJOYMENT .

It is a great mistake to suppose that Freemasons are gourmands , devoted to the pleasures of the table . It is true they hunger and thirst like other men , but only because appetile is a universal malady . Nevertheless , the feast that is merel y filling has no special charms tor the average Freemason . It is what follows the feast which gives zest to a Craft banquet , since that is its Masonic charm . This is one of the cases in which the alter

piece is better than the play . The " knife and fork degree" would be a vain thing , were it not succeeded by what might be styled the " tongue degree . " Loosen the tongues ot Freemasons , cause them 10 break forth into singing , speaking , and story-telling , and then you have Masonic enjoyment par excellence . The ordinary tongue may be an unruly member , out the tongue of tne Freemason , which has learned to obey the voice ot tne Gavel , is all that could be desired . It is liquid with music , flexible with

story , and eloquent with speech . Some of the old English had a tenure denominated Gavelkind" ( give all ihe kin ) , whereby land , contrary to the law of primogeniture , descended from a father to all of his sons in equal proportions . Freemasons have a law of " Gavelkind " of their own . All who have learned to obey the Gavel share in tne enjoyments of the Crait , and know what to do and what not to do , wnen to do it and how to do it . The gavel is an emblem of authority , and the tongue is quick to obey it , for the gavel is kind , even when it is most authoritative .

Once acknowledge the truth that Freemasons are fond of the banquet because they hunger after social enjoyment , and you strike the key-note of the melody ot refreshment . The refreshment which refreshes is the refreshment that commences after the knife and tork are laid down . The stomach , if it lacked satisfaction before , has now been satisfied , and the

mind and heart are craving food for their wants , and are in the truest receptive state . The lower nature has been lulled to rest , and the higher nature is in full play . Let it play . Let wit scintillate , humour prevail , song and jest alternate with recitation and story , and there will be tuneful melody in the air of the banquet hall , harmonising vvith that in the hearts of the brethren .

At Masonic refreshment Freemasons recognise in the fullest sense what completeness , and at the same time what contrasts there are in Masonry . The distance from labour to refreshment , from sobriety to levity , measured from one temper of mind to the other , is a long one , but Freemasons place both in juxtaposition , so that that they may pass almost imperceptibly from the one to the other . This was wise . He that has laboured is enuiled to

be refreshed , both in body and mind , and Freemasons know no feasting which is merely material . Just as the menial and moral accompany the physical in ihe lodge room , so the mental and social accompany the material in the banquet hall . But labour must precede relreshment , and it must ba actual , not imaginary , or else the refreshment should be imaginary also . But who

" Can cloy the hungry edge of appetite By bare imagination of a feast ?" No more can a lodge live upon imaginary work . One thing is certain . There are no " riotous feeders " in Freemasonry . The Gavel is ever belore their eyes . We have witnessed stormy scenes at profane banquets , but never at Masonic ones , where the discipline is perfect

There , there is amusement that amuses , a measure of abandon matched with a measure of conscious responsibility to observe the properties of the occasion , There is complete social and fraternal unity . The company is as one man—vvhat pleases one pleases all . All are happy , because all are finding their hunger for social enjoyment satisfied . The language which

Lord Bacon applied to the profane cannot be brought against breemasons . He said : " We love to see a well-worn apron ; but then let it be soiled with the marks of honest work , and not merely stained with wine and meat , that have fostered inglorious ease . " The Freemasons' apron is never stained b y dissipation . It is for labour , not relreshment , and relreshment is for rational enjoyment , not for revelry or excess . —Keystone .

BERKELEY HOTEL ( late St . James s ) , 1 , Berkeley-street and 77 , Piccadilly , London , W . First class accommodation for residents , with a Restaurant newlyattached for hi g h class luncheons and dinners , at fixed prices and < i U carte * —C . DIETTE , Manager . — [ ADVT . J