Provincial Grand Lodge Of Surrey.

Bro . FREDK . WEST , D . P . G . M ., seconded the proposition , and mentioned that it was his lot some time ago to install Bro . Price into the chair of the East Surrey Lodge of Concord , that brother having previously occupied the chair in the same lodge nearly 50 years previously . Bro . Dr . STRONG having endorsed the remarks made , the resolution was adopted , and the address was formally presented to Bro . Price .

Bro . GEO . PRICK , P . P . G . Treas ., expressed his great thanks . It was 3 6 years ago since he was first elected Provincial Grand Treasurer , and had been elected from time to time without break during that long period . He had always felt it a great honour to hold the position , and the duties had always been a labour of love . He did not retire without some regret , but he was S 3 years of age , and that they would consider a sufficient reason . He had the consolation of knowing by the vote passed that he retained the confidence and good wishes and esteem of the brethren .

Bro . J . D . LANGTON , P . P . G . W ., proposed several additions to the Provincial Grand By-laws for the purpose of organising and concentrating the voting strength of the province at the elections of the Masonic Institutions , and of managing the Charity Fund . He said there was a Charity Committee meeting in the province , but without the authority of Provincial

Grand Lodge and without by-laws . At the recent meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Middlesex a similar resolution was unanimously adopted , and Surrey was one of the few provinces without such a Committee to concentrate the votes . Such Committees had worked well in other provinces , conferred great benefit , and helped forward deserving cases .

The SECONDER of the motion said there was no desire to interfere with the liberty of the subject , but to invite fraternal co-operation . There frequently happened loss of power , and by co-operation deserving cases would be helped forward . The proposition was carried unanimously , and the PROV . G . M . said that a Provincial Grand Calendar had been prepared with great care by the Provincial Grand Secretary , and was now read } ' for the brethren , price is . 6 d . each .

Provincial Grand Lodge was then duly closed , after which a banquet was held , which was followed by the customary toasts . Bro . Dr . STRONG responded for " The Grand Officers , " and said he was but an initiate in Grand Office , and whatever he had to do he hoped he should carry out efficiently . It had been a rule that the Grand Officers should occupy important positions in Masonry before they attained that office . They were , however , not content with occupying that position , but

went on improving in Masonry . Bro . C . BELTON , P . A . G . D . C , said he had been asked to propose " The Health of the R . W . P . G . M . " on the spur of the moment , and they would , therefore , receive his remarks with the heartiness with which they were uttered . He had the honour of knowing the Prov . Grand Master some time before he was appointed to that office , and from every quarter he heard nothing but the most flattering encomiums passed upon him . He hardl y thought it necessary in this Prov . Grand Lodge to say more , and he would therefore give the toast with every feeling of enthusiasm .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER thanked the brethren very heartily for the extremely kind way in which they had drank his health . He had been in charge of this province for a year , and he did not think Masonry had gone back , but thought they were going on very well . There was one new lod ge in the year , which showed great promise . Surrey was a very pleasant province to rule over , for the brethren were all true-hearted Masons , and the

rule was therefore rendered a very easy one . He thanked all the brethren of the lodges which he had been able to visit for the extremely kind reception given him , and hc thanked the brethren for their kind reception that day . He thought this had been a very successful meeting in every way . He thanked them most heartily , and hoped they should have many such pleasant gatherings in the future .

" The Deputy Prov , Grand Master and the Prov . Grand Officers , Present and Past , " was next given by the PROV . GRAND MASTER , who said that Bro . West had been known to the brethren for a long time , and too much could not be said of his services to Masonry , and this province in particular . The Prov . Grand Officers had done their duty in the past , and hc was sure the present officers would fulfil their expectations in the future in

the same manner . Bro . FRED . WEST , D . P . G . M ., said he knew of no assembl y in which it was more pleasant to respond to a toast than a Masonic lodge , and it was still more pleasant in a Provincial Grand Lodge where there was so much unanimity and good feeling as there was in Surrey . The Prov . Grand Officers , one and all , thanked the Prov . Grand Master for proposing the

toast , and the brethren for receiving it . Speaking individually , he had known of nothing but good feeling , kindness , and everything that was Masonic since thc time he became officially connected with the province . That had been a great help , and had enabled him to carry out the duties which were so suddenly cast upon him , and which he hoped he had performed satisfactorily . He took this—the first opportunity of meeting the brethren

in Prov . Grand Lodge to express to all those who not long ago testified to him in such a substantial way their appreciation of his services to this province . That appreciation was expressed in a way hc should never forget , and in a way which would encourage him in the future to give his best services to the province as long as he was able to continue them . He hoped the good feeling would continue to bc extended to all thc Prov . Grand Officers .

Bro . LE FEUVRE , D . P . G . M . Hants and the Isle of Wi ght , responded for "The Visitors , " and said the name of Col . Money was well-known , not only in Surrey , but in the Metropolis and everywhere , and since his appointment he had been one of the most regular attendants at Prov . Grand Lodge and Prov . Grand Chapter among the provincial rulers . The name of Bro . West also stood pre-eminent amongst Deputy Provincial

Grand Masters , he having had to rule over this large province during the interregnum before the appointment of Col . Money as Prov . G . M . With regard to the resolution of Bro . Langton forming a Charity Committee , thc Province of Hants would be sorry for thc step , forthe result would no doubt be that the voles in Surrey would bc collected together , instead of ,

perhaps , a portion being given to the province which lie represented . He , however , congratulated Surrey on the step it had taken . A similar course had been adopted by Hants for 10 years and had been found to be very useful and profitable , lie thanked the brefhren on behalf of thc visitors for the kind reception given them .

"The Entertaining Lodges" was next submitted by the PROV . GRAND MASTER , who said the arrangements made for their comfort had been very successful , and special thanks were due to Bros . Sebastian Mart , P . P . G . D . ; Dr . Gibbs , Broreton , Gray , Pearce , and Hod g kin ,

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Surrey.

Bro . J . HODGKIN , Prov . G . Stwd ., replied , after which " The Prov . Grand Treasurer and Prov . Grand Secretary" was duly honoured . Bro . Dr . Gmns , Prov . G . Treas ., said that coming after an old Mason he felt diffident in undertaking the duties , but would endeavour to follow in the steps of Bro . Price .

Bro . CHAS . GREENWOOD , Prov , G . Sec , said that the work of the Secretary of Surrey was extreme )) ' onerous , but the weight had been lifted from his shoulders—and honour to whom honour was due—by the appointment of an assistant , Bro . Latham , whom he personally thanked for the valuable work he had done .

The Tyler ' s toast closed the proceedings . The excellent arrangements made by the entertaining lodges resulted in a successful gathering . The musical programme , which was of a most enjoyable nature , was contributed by Bros . G . May , Harper , Kearton Gawthrop , Brereton , and Sebastian Hart , P . P . S . G . D .

Consecration Of The Hampden Lodge, No. 2427.

CONSECRATION OF THE HAMPDEN LODGE , No . 2427 .

The large roll of Metropolitan lodges was further increased on Monday , the 18 th inst ., by the consecration of the Hampden Lodge , No . 2427 , at Hampden House , St . Pancras . A Masonic temple had been especiall y prepared for the future home of this new lod ge , which for elegance of desi gn and suitability will hold its own with any in the Metropolis . The

Consecrating Officer was Bro . Edward Letchworth , Grand Secretary , and his assistants were Bros . Sir Reginald Hanson , Bart ., LLD ., P . G . W " ., as S . W Major-General J . Crossland Hay , C . B ., S . G . D ., as J . W . ; Rev . j ! Studholme Brownrigg , Deputy Prov . G . M . Bucks , P . G . Chap ., as Chap . ; Frank Richardson , P . G . D ., as D . C ; and Sir John B . Monckton , P . G . W ., as I . G .

Ihe following brethren are founders of the lodge : Alex . Adamson , E . T , Beale , P . M . ; W . J . Beatty , C . Challen , P . M . ; Lord Carrington , P . G . M . Bucks ; J . H . Collingridgo , P . M . ; R . D . Cummings , P . M . ; [ . Percy Fitzgerald , P . M . ; Thos . Eccleston Gibb , P . M . ; H . W . Higgins , P . M . Washington E . Haycock , P . M . ; R . A . Jamieson , S . W . ; E . Y . Jolliffe , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W . Middx . ; W . Lawrence , J . D . ; H . L . W . Lawson , Arthur L . Marlow , Alfred A . Millward , Thomas Moss , M . Titford , and G . Zendcqui .

The CONSECRATING OITICER having appointed his officers pro tern ., and opened the lodge , addressed the brethren as follows : We are met together to-day on an occasion of great Masonic interest—for the purpose of constituting and consecrating a new lodge , and of adding one more to the long roll of lodges on the register of the Grand Lodge of England . I need not on this occasion discuss the question whether the large number

of lodges which during recent years has been added to our register is a subject for unmixed satisfaction , but I may say this , that his Royal Highness the M . W . G . M . entertains a very strong opinion that the time has arrived when no new lodges shall be warranted unless it can be shown beyond all doubt that they will be of great advantage to our Order . I can assure you that every petition presented to his Royal Hi ghness is strictly scrutinised , and it is not until he is satisfied that the establishment of a lodge will

advance the interests of the Order that he sanctions the granting of thc warrant . The petition presented by the founders of this lodge has undergone that examination , and I most heartil y congratulate them on thc success which has resulted from their efforts . I trust this lodge may have before it a career of great usefulness and unbroken prosperity , and I am sure that under the able management of the first officers—more particularly thc Worshi pful Master designate—it cannot fail to occupy a very high position among the lodges within the Metropolis .

The officers named in the warrant were approved by the founders , and the following excellent oration was delivered by Bro . Rev . J . S . BROWNRIGG , P . G . Chaplain-.

—The foundation , under special and peculiar circumstances , of your new lodge is an assurance that there is no movement connected with either moral or social advancement in which our Craft cannot bear its share , provided always that we are not committed to any departure from our strict neutrality in religious and political matters . It is of this neutrality that I would specially speak this evening —a neutrality by which our Craft has in this country been saved from becoming ,

as it has become elsewhere , a positive evil to society , and has been enabled to teach men that the strongest convictions in religion and politics are not incompatible with brotherly love and truth . The most thoughtful men are becoming every day more anxious about the rash and unscrupulous methods of attack which men of all parties and opinions are now-a-days not ashamed to use against those who differ from them . It is very easy to see the weak points and inconsistencies of our

opponents . It is very hard to realise that ignorance and falsehood and hishonour are not confined to any class of society or any shade of opinion . Hence comes the growing evil . The special danger of the moment to all controversialists onall possible subjects that they construct almost every argument not upon the sound basis of its own inherent righteousness , but upon that most rotten of all foundations . The imputation to their adversaries of all that is most base and dishonourable . Am I

exaggerating if I say that during the past fortnight—a few great men—and a great many little men on both sides of political opinion have said things which have not strengthened their own arguments , and which have certainly been unfair and untruthful representations of the motives by which their opponents have been guided . Admidst them all , the din and clamour of an excited

atmosphere , let us remember that our Craft is neutral in all party ships , and endeavour inside the walls of her lodges to persuade men to lay aside for a few hours the odious habit of seeking to advance any particular on which there is a strong feeling by personal invective . Our Craft asks no man to yield in his conviction of what is true and best for his country or his reli gion , but he bids him avoid all that is little and ignoble in his dealings with the man whose convictions are different from his own .

The anthem " Behold , how good and joyful a thing it is , " was sung , and the lodge was dedicated and constituted . Bro . T . Eccleston Gibb , P . M ., VV . M . designate , was then installed into thc chair by thc Grand Secretary , and the following officers were appointed : Bros . James Percy Fitzgerald , P . M ., acting I . P . M . ; Robert D . Cumminf , ' *" - P . M ., S . W . ; Wm . Lawrence , J . W . ; ICY . Jolliffe , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W ' - Middx ., Treas . ; T . Moss , Sec . ; A . A . Millward , S . D . ; J . II . Collingridge , P . M ., J . D . ; Charles ChallenD . C ; and Arthur L . MarlowI . G .

, , On the motion of the WORSHIPFUL MASTER , a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the Consecrating Officer and Ins assistants , and all the Grain ' Officers present were unanimously elected honorary members . Letters of regret for non-attendance were read from Bros . Lord Carrington , J . Derb y Allcroft , P . G . Treas ., and many others . . The lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to a banquet served in the theatre . The usual toasts subsequentl y received hearty recogniti 011 '