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Article MASONIC ARCHÆOLOGY. Page 1 of 1 Article MASONIC ARCHÆOLOGY. Page 1 of 1 Article CONSECRATION OF THE MARLBOROUGH LODGE, No. 1620. Page 1 of 1 Article CONSECRATION OF THE MARLBOROUGH LODGE, No. 1620. Page 1 of 1 Article Masonic and General Tidings. Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Archæology.
MASONIC ARCH ? OLOGY .
There is a theory of Masonic history which is ure ly German in its origin , though it has a few P porters in Anglo-Saxon Freemasonry . It is , Vi fact , that which Lessing and Nicolai , and ' thers stated , that Freemasonry is " Baconian , " rather , that it is the product of an Hermetic
society , of which Bacon and Ashmole , and others , were members , and that it has nothing to do with the operative guilds . In fact , it brings Masonry out of some Hermetical meetings in the latter part of the 17 th century . Unfortunately for this view , however ingenious , there is no real
evidence , that I am aware of , in favour of it . A good deal is made to hinge on the " Nova Atlantis , " which because it deals allegorically with Solomon ' s Temple , and a brotherhood of sages or p hilosophers , & c , & c , is supposed to be Masonic I have read the Nova Atlantis ; I cannot
discern its Freemasonry . I am not aware , except as a general statement , that there is any actual evidence that Bacon was a member of a Hermetic society , though his studies were very abstruse ; but assuming that there is , I am not aware again that he and Ashmole are ever brought together .
I have read Ashmole ' s diary carefully , and it is very remarkable that his acquaintanceship with Hermeticism begins after that he was made a Freemason at Warrington , October 16 th , 16 4 6 . His acquaintance with Lilly only began on the 2 . 5 th October the same year , and the
first " astrologers " feast which he attended was August ist , 1-548 . He was present at a mathematical feast , it is true , at the White Hart , Old Bailey , probably the forerunner of the othe r , February 14 th , 16 47- He names , no doubt , many known writers on Hermeticism and
Rosicrucianism , and the like , as the two Backhouses Sir John Heydon , Mr . John Booker , the Rev . Mr . Butler , Mr . Lilly , Mr . Moxon , Mr . Saunders , Mr . Vaughan , Rice Evans , Sir Edward Decring , and the then town clerk of London , and probably also Mr . Peter Arnold . Dr . Currer , Lord
Ruthen , Mr . Smith , Mr . Melbourn , Mr . Jonas Moore , Dr . Ardie , Dr . Paget , Sir Robert Murry , and others , whom he names as " ingenious persons " or great chemists , all belonged to the same confraternity . He nowhere gives the full names of those present at the astrologer ' s feast ,
but , with the exception of Sir . John Heydon , his acquaintance with all thc " astrologers" commenced after his reception into Freemasonry . When we mention the meeting in 1682 , March 10 th , it is as something quite distinct from the astrologer ' s meeting . Indeed , in 1682 the
astrologer ' s feast , which had not been held since November and , i 6 j 7 > revived , it is said , by Mr , Moxon . None of the names of those who were present at the lodge in 1682 were in any way mixed up with the Hermetics they were mostly members of the Masons' Company , though
tbe meeting was not the meeting of the Masons ' Company that year , neither was Ashmole a member of the Masons' Company . The theory , therefore , that Freemasonry was a product of Hermeticism at Ashmole ' s time is , in my opinion , utterly untenable . Ashmole knew
nothing of the astrologers' practices when he was made a Freemason in 16 4 6 , and it is quite clear that Ashmole , with his love of the occult and the archieological , sought Freemasonry as an ancient institution then . His record now clearly demonstrates that the lodge
was partly an operative lodge , admitting specukrtive members . So far , I believe , no one has been able to trace out an } thing of Mr . Richard nmket Warden , Mr . James Collier , Mr . Richard Sankey , Henry Littler , John Ellam , and Hugh Brewer , all of whom he specially names .
Probabl y a search in the Register Books of the parish church at Warrington might tell us something about these old and worthy brethren . The Baconian and Ashmolean theory is , it is thereore quite clear , a chimera , based on no evidential authority , and utterly opposed to all the known
c ts ° f the case . That there may have been a onnection between Hermeticism and Freema-° " J ** do not deny , but that Freemasonry emaatea from an Hermetic association in the 17 th entury I certainl y do . The further theory , "" it was political , or in the interest of King lh « 1 * & c " » ° absurd t 0 dilate u P ° n * «** only apparent foundation for it being the
Masonic Archæology.
fact that Ashmole served on the King ' s side in the civil wars . It is , on the contrary , as distinct as anything can be , that Freemasonry and Hermeticism were independent associations then , as I believe they have always been , and , however , perhaps either may have borrowed
from the other , whether ot formulae or mystical teaching , which is a bare possibility , they were always self-existant and entirely different from each other . Historical criticism and evidential accuracy must , in my opinion , utterly disavow and reject the Baconian or Ashmolean theory of Masonic origin and history .
Consecration Of The Marlborough Lodge, No. 1620.
CONSECRATION OF THE MARLBOROUGH LODGE , No . 1620 .
Tuebrook , a pleasant suburb of busy Liverpool , was quite lively on Wednesday week , the 13 th inst ., on the occasion of the consecration of the Marlborough Lodge , No . 1620 , which is started under the most promising auspices . The bells of the neighbouring church of St . John
the Baptist rang out a merry peal at intervals during the day in honour of the specially interesting event , and the suburbanites of Tuebrook were quite in a flutter of excitement at the starting of a Masonic lodge in their midst . The need of a lodge in the neighbourhood has long been realised , and the petition for tbe setting up of the Marlborough was very cordially supported by a large number
of brethren who have been long recognised as a felt power in the Order in this part of West Lancashire . The petitioning brethren are also well known in connection with the Craft , and give a guarantee of the strictly legitimate manner in which the business of the lodge will be carried on . The ceremony of consecration took place at the Derby Hall , Tuebrook . whore the recular meetinsrs will be held
( a place admirably adapted for Masonic purposes ) , and between sixty and seventy brethren were present to witness the impressive and interesting ceremony . These included a goodly sprinkling of Provincial Grand Lodge officers , an excellent muster of Masters and officers , and a fair representation of " full privates . " Amongst the brethren present were Bros . H . S . Alpass , P . G . Sec . ; Dr .
J . Kellett Smith , P . G . Reg . ; T . Armstrong , P . G . Treas . ; R . Wylie , P . P . G . S . D . ; J . R . Goepel , P . P . G . D . C . ; W . Doyle , P . P . J . G . D . ; S . E . Ibbs . P . P . G . S . B . ; J . Skeaf , P . G . O . ; J . Pemberton , P . G . S . ; P . Ball , P . G . Tyler ; T . A . Collinson , P . G . S . ; W . Pughe , P . M . 1182 ; J . E . Jackson , W . M . 667 ; J . Wood , Treas . 1094 , 249 ( "Freemason" ); A . C . Wyli * . J . D . 1264 ; S . Oxton ,
1264 ; Dr . E . M . Sheldon , P . M . 1094 ; Dr . D . D . Costine , J . D . 216 ; W . Brown , 1229 ; R . Leason , Sec . 1 393 ; G . Lunt , C . Tyrer , W . S . Bennett , 1299 ; L . Bagnall , 823 ; W . L . Lunt , P . M . 813 ; W . Woods , P . M . 1182 , W . M . designate of the new lodge ; J . Hayes , P . M . 249 ; J . Boyle ; J . P . Bryan , 1035 ; R - R - Forshaw , jun ., Sec . 1035 ; G . Robertson , 553 ; A , C .
Forshaw , 103 5 ; A . Hodgkins , 241 ; A . Woolrich , Sec . 1356 , Treas . 1609 ; J . C . Robinson , J . W , 249 ; W . P . Jennings , J . D . 249 ; J . T . Aston , J W . 20 * 5 ; ) . ttusfield , 2 : 6 ; K . Dutch , 1393 ; It . II . Evans , " W . M . 292 , P . M . 1393 ; G . J . Jones , 241 ; R . Reader , I . G . 292 ; D . Jones , P . M . 155 ; D . Gandon , 130- *; T . J . Hughes , 216 ; C . Haswell , 203 ; J . Holme , J . D . 1299
S . Millikin , 823 ; G . Turner , P . M . 823 ; H . Hindle , 11 . Jackson , P . M . 1393 ; and others . The position of presiding Consecrating Officer wis assigned to Bro . Dr . J . Kellett Smith , P . G . Registrar , who took the chair at the commencement of thc proceedings , the S . W . ' s chair being occupied by Bro . W . Doyle , P . P . G . J . D ., and the J . W . ' s by Bro . J . Lunt , P . G . D . C . Bro .
Dr . Smith was assisted in a generally impressive ceremony by Bros . II . S . Alpass , P . G . Sec . ; R . Wylie , P . P . G . S . D . ; J . R . Goepel , P . P . G . D . C . ; S . E . Ibbs , P . P . G . S . B . ; T . Armstrong , P . G . Treas . ; Dr . E . M . Sheldon , P . M . 1094 ( acting Chaplain ); R . H . Evans , W . M . 292 ; and others . Bro . J . Skeaf , P . G . O ., presided at the harmonium ; and the exquisitely arranged musical
service for the consecration by the talented P . G . O . was splendidly rendered by Bros . J . Buslield , 216 ; D . Jones , P . M . 1 / 55 ; G . J . Hughes , 216 ; C . Haswell , 203 ; and J . P . Bryon , Org . 1035 . At the conclusion of the consecration ceremony liro . Dr . Smith , P . G . Reg ., immediately proceeded to instal Bro . William Woods , the W . M . designate , in the chair of
K . S ., the presentation for this honour being made by Bros . H . S . Alpafs , P . G . Sec , : and R . Wylie , P . P . G . S . D . The first W . M . of the "Marlborough " subsequently invested the following brethren as the first staff of officers-. —Bros . W . Pughe , S . W . ; G . Lunt , J . W . ; L . Bagnall , Treas . ; H . Hindle , Sec ; S . Millikin , S . D . ; C . Tyrer , J . D . ; R . Leason , I . G . ; J . R . Goepel , P . M .,
P . P . G . D . C , D . C ; and M . Williamson , Tyler . On the motion of the W . M ., seconded by the S . W ., a cordial vote of thanks was ordered to be recorded on the minutes to the presiding Consecrating and Installing Officer ( Bro . Dr . J . K . Smith ) and the other brethren who assisted him in the ceremony , in recognition of the admirable manner in which the work had been done throughout . After upwards of a dozen propositions for ioinins : and initiation
had been made , the business proceedings were successfully brought to a close . The brethren subsequently sat down to a recherche * banquet , provided in the large room by Bro . W . Vines , P . M . 220 and 1299 , of the Canton Hotel , Liverpool , whose catering , as usual , was of the best class . The W . M . ( Bro . W , Woods ) presided at the banquet , sup . ported by the majority of the P . G . Officers who had been present at the consecration and installation . The W . M .
Consecration Of The Marlborough Lodge, No. 1620.
proposed the toast of "The Queen ; " Bro . Dr . Smith , P . G . R ., " The M . W . G . M ., Bro . H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , the Princess of Wales , and the vest of the Royal Family ; " Bro . R . Wylie , P . P . G . S . D ., " The M . W . Pro G . M ., Bro . the Rt . Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon ; " and the W . M ., " The R . W . D . G . M . and P . G . M . W . L ., Bro . the Rt . Hon . Lord Skelmersdale , and the Officers of the P . G .
Lodge , Past and Present , " which was acknowledged by Bro . H . S . Alpass , P . G . Sec . " The Consecrating Officer and Installing Master " was next proposed and most felicitously responded to by Bro . Dr . Smith . "The Worshipful Master" was honoured with much enthusiasm , and "The Officers , "" The Visitors , " and " Poor and
Distressed Masons " were the other toasts on a discreetly short list . Some excellent and appropriate harmony was given by ln % musical brethren already named , and special praise in due to Bro . J . Bus-field , 216 , whose artistic vocalisation elicited the heartiest approbation . Bro . Skeaf , P . G . O ., was at the piano , and again proved " the right man in the right place . "
Masonic And General Tidings.
Masonic and General Tidings .
The regular annual meeting of the Prov . G . Lodge of the Western Division of Lancashire will be held in the Masonic Hall , Hope-street , Liverpool , on Wednesday , the 4 th prox ., at 12 o'clock . Banquet at the'Adelphi Hotel at 4 p . m . The Installation ceremony will be rehearsed by Bro . M . S . Larlham , P . M . 1539 W . M . 1216 , at the
, United Pilgrims Lodge of Instruction , Surrey Masonic Hall , Camberwell , on Friday , the 29 th inst ., at J . 30 p . m . The Kent Dale Lodge of Mark Masters , No . 195 , will be consecrated on Tuesday next , by the V . W . Bro . F . Binckes , assisted by Bro . Col . Whitwell , M . P ., and the V . W . Bro . J . Daniel Moore , 31 . The W . M . designate is Bro . George J . McKay , and the Wardens ,
Bros . Robt . Godfrey and Wm . Cranston . It is now understood that their Royal Hi ghnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales will be the guests of Bro . Colonel Campbell , M . P ., of Blythswood , on the day preceding their visit to Glasgow for the laying of the foundation of the New Post Office with Masonic honours , and that they will remain at Blythswood House overnight ,
driving up to Glasgow the following morning . A hearty welcome will doubtless be accorded them by the inhabitants of Renfrew , and it should not lose in enthusiasm when it is remembered that the Prince has special claims upon them , one of his titles being coupled with the name of that ancient and Royal borough . On and after the 29 th inst ., the meetings of the
Belgrave Lodge of Instruction will be held at the Constitution , Bedford-stieet , Covent Garden . We understand Bro . Pulsford , the well-known and popular Preceptor , will work the fifteen sections on Friday next , the 29 th inst . The special lodge of emergency , a ? announced in our last , was held 0 . 1 Monday last , the 18 th inst ., at the lodge-rooms , Havant , when and where the R . W . Provincial Grand Master at *
Hants and the Isle of Wight , Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., dedicated the new lodge-room . There was a very large attendance of the brethren . A report of the proceedings will appear in our next . It is estimated that the aggregate yearly transactions in oysters in the city of New York is over 10 , 000 , 000 dols .
The Provincial Grand Lodge for the Province of Cheshire was held on Wednesday last , in the Market Hal ' , under the presidency of the Right Hon . thc Lord De Tabley , R . W . Provincial Grand Master . After the business of the lodge had been transacted the brethren of a large number of lodges
walked in procession to St . John ' s Church , where the sermon was preached by the P . G . Chaplain . The volume of the Sacred Law was borne by four Master Masons' sons , opened at the 10 th chapter of Numbers . On leaving the church , the procession , numbering over 200 , proceeded to the banquet , which was served at the Royal George Hotel , Lord de Tabley presiding . A full report will appear in
our next . A GOOD EXAMPLE . —Bro . S . B . Ellis , Hon . Secretary of the Sheffield Masonic Library , has voluntarily procured subscribers for fifty copies of Bro . Emra Holmes ' forthcoming * "Tales , Poems , and Masonic P . iuers . " and
forwarded them to Bro . George Markham Tweddell , of Stokesley . It has been suggested tint if the Secretaries of lodges would generally give a frat .-rii . il hand a thousand subscribers might easily be obtained , and certainly the Craft ought to secure double that number .
P . G . LODGE OF WEST LANCASHIRE . —The privilege of admission , it should have been stated last week , to the forthcoming P . G . L . of West Lancashire in Liverpool will be extended to " all invested officers . " The banquet will be held at the Adelphi Hotel . The Emperor of Austria has conferred the following decorations nnnn the milimrv mpmhers nf His
Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught ' s suite who attended His Royal Highness on the occasion of the recent Austrian manoeuvres . Bro . Major Pickard has received the Cross of a Knight of the Order of Leopold ; Brigadier-General Seymour , the Cross of a Commander of the Francis Joseph Order , together with the Star of the same Order ; and Captain Lee , the Cross of the Francis Joseph Order .
A severe shock of earthquake , lasting thirty seconds , was felt in Sicily on Wednesday week . Theie was considerable panic at Messina , but no lives were lost nor any damage done to the buildings of the city . Some houses are stated to have been damaged at Reggio ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Archæology.
MASONIC ARCH ? OLOGY .
There is a theory of Masonic history which is ure ly German in its origin , though it has a few P porters in Anglo-Saxon Freemasonry . It is , Vi fact , that which Lessing and Nicolai , and ' thers stated , that Freemasonry is " Baconian , " rather , that it is the product of an Hermetic
society , of which Bacon and Ashmole , and others , were members , and that it has nothing to do with the operative guilds . In fact , it brings Masonry out of some Hermetical meetings in the latter part of the 17 th century . Unfortunately for this view , however ingenious , there is no real
evidence , that I am aware of , in favour of it . A good deal is made to hinge on the " Nova Atlantis , " which because it deals allegorically with Solomon ' s Temple , and a brotherhood of sages or p hilosophers , & c , & c , is supposed to be Masonic I have read the Nova Atlantis ; I cannot
discern its Freemasonry . I am not aware , except as a general statement , that there is any actual evidence that Bacon was a member of a Hermetic society , though his studies were very abstruse ; but assuming that there is , I am not aware again that he and Ashmole are ever brought together .
I have read Ashmole ' s diary carefully , and it is very remarkable that his acquaintanceship with Hermeticism begins after that he was made a Freemason at Warrington , October 16 th , 16 4 6 . His acquaintance with Lilly only began on the 2 . 5 th October the same year , and the
first " astrologers " feast which he attended was August ist , 1-548 . He was present at a mathematical feast , it is true , at the White Hart , Old Bailey , probably the forerunner of the othe r , February 14 th , 16 47- He names , no doubt , many known writers on Hermeticism and
Rosicrucianism , and the like , as the two Backhouses Sir John Heydon , Mr . John Booker , the Rev . Mr . Butler , Mr . Lilly , Mr . Moxon , Mr . Saunders , Mr . Vaughan , Rice Evans , Sir Edward Decring , and the then town clerk of London , and probably also Mr . Peter Arnold . Dr . Currer , Lord
Ruthen , Mr . Smith , Mr . Melbourn , Mr . Jonas Moore , Dr . Ardie , Dr . Paget , Sir Robert Murry , and others , whom he names as " ingenious persons " or great chemists , all belonged to the same confraternity . He nowhere gives the full names of those present at the astrologer ' s feast ,
but , with the exception of Sir . John Heydon , his acquaintance with all thc " astrologers" commenced after his reception into Freemasonry . When we mention the meeting in 1682 , March 10 th , it is as something quite distinct from the astrologer ' s meeting . Indeed , in 1682 the
astrologer ' s feast , which had not been held since November and , i 6 j 7 > revived , it is said , by Mr , Moxon . None of the names of those who were present at the lodge in 1682 were in any way mixed up with the Hermetics they were mostly members of the Masons' Company , though
tbe meeting was not the meeting of the Masons ' Company that year , neither was Ashmole a member of the Masons' Company . The theory , therefore , that Freemasonry was a product of Hermeticism at Ashmole ' s time is , in my opinion , utterly untenable . Ashmole knew
nothing of the astrologers' practices when he was made a Freemason in 16 4 6 , and it is quite clear that Ashmole , with his love of the occult and the archieological , sought Freemasonry as an ancient institution then . His record now clearly demonstrates that the lodge
was partly an operative lodge , admitting specukrtive members . So far , I believe , no one has been able to trace out an } thing of Mr . Richard nmket Warden , Mr . James Collier , Mr . Richard Sankey , Henry Littler , John Ellam , and Hugh Brewer , all of whom he specially names .
Probabl y a search in the Register Books of the parish church at Warrington might tell us something about these old and worthy brethren . The Baconian and Ashmolean theory is , it is thereore quite clear , a chimera , based on no evidential authority , and utterly opposed to all the known
c ts ° f the case . That there may have been a onnection between Hermeticism and Freema-° " J ** do not deny , but that Freemasonry emaatea from an Hermetic association in the 17 th entury I certainl y do . The further theory , "" it was political , or in the interest of King lh « 1 * & c " » ° absurd t 0 dilate u P ° n * «** only apparent foundation for it being the
Masonic Archæology.
fact that Ashmole served on the King ' s side in the civil wars . It is , on the contrary , as distinct as anything can be , that Freemasonry and Hermeticism were independent associations then , as I believe they have always been , and , however , perhaps either may have borrowed
from the other , whether ot formulae or mystical teaching , which is a bare possibility , they were always self-existant and entirely different from each other . Historical criticism and evidential accuracy must , in my opinion , utterly disavow and reject the Baconian or Ashmolean theory of Masonic origin and history .
Consecration Of The Marlborough Lodge, No. 1620.
CONSECRATION OF THE MARLBOROUGH LODGE , No . 1620 .
Tuebrook , a pleasant suburb of busy Liverpool , was quite lively on Wednesday week , the 13 th inst ., on the occasion of the consecration of the Marlborough Lodge , No . 1620 , which is started under the most promising auspices . The bells of the neighbouring church of St . John
the Baptist rang out a merry peal at intervals during the day in honour of the specially interesting event , and the suburbanites of Tuebrook were quite in a flutter of excitement at the starting of a Masonic lodge in their midst . The need of a lodge in the neighbourhood has long been realised , and the petition for tbe setting up of the Marlborough was very cordially supported by a large number
of brethren who have been long recognised as a felt power in the Order in this part of West Lancashire . The petitioning brethren are also well known in connection with the Craft , and give a guarantee of the strictly legitimate manner in which the business of the lodge will be carried on . The ceremony of consecration took place at the Derby Hall , Tuebrook . whore the recular meetinsrs will be held
( a place admirably adapted for Masonic purposes ) , and between sixty and seventy brethren were present to witness the impressive and interesting ceremony . These included a goodly sprinkling of Provincial Grand Lodge officers , an excellent muster of Masters and officers , and a fair representation of " full privates . " Amongst the brethren present were Bros . H . S . Alpass , P . G . Sec . ; Dr .
J . Kellett Smith , P . G . Reg . ; T . Armstrong , P . G . Treas . ; R . Wylie , P . P . G . S . D . ; J . R . Goepel , P . P . G . D . C . ; W . Doyle , P . P . J . G . D . ; S . E . Ibbs . P . P . G . S . B . ; J . Skeaf , P . G . O . ; J . Pemberton , P . G . S . ; P . Ball , P . G . Tyler ; T . A . Collinson , P . G . S . ; W . Pughe , P . M . 1182 ; J . E . Jackson , W . M . 667 ; J . Wood , Treas . 1094 , 249 ( "Freemason" ); A . C . Wyli * . J . D . 1264 ; S . Oxton ,
1264 ; Dr . E . M . Sheldon , P . M . 1094 ; Dr . D . D . Costine , J . D . 216 ; W . Brown , 1229 ; R . Leason , Sec . 1 393 ; G . Lunt , C . Tyrer , W . S . Bennett , 1299 ; L . Bagnall , 823 ; W . L . Lunt , P . M . 813 ; W . Woods , P . M . 1182 , W . M . designate of the new lodge ; J . Hayes , P . M . 249 ; J . Boyle ; J . P . Bryan , 1035 ; R - R - Forshaw , jun ., Sec . 1035 ; G . Robertson , 553 ; A , C .
Forshaw , 103 5 ; A . Hodgkins , 241 ; A . Woolrich , Sec . 1356 , Treas . 1609 ; J . C . Robinson , J . W , 249 ; W . P . Jennings , J . D . 249 ; J . T . Aston , J W . 20 * 5 ; ) . ttusfield , 2 : 6 ; K . Dutch , 1393 ; It . II . Evans , " W . M . 292 , P . M . 1393 ; G . J . Jones , 241 ; R . Reader , I . G . 292 ; D . Jones , P . M . 155 ; D . Gandon , 130- *; T . J . Hughes , 216 ; C . Haswell , 203 ; J . Holme , J . D . 1299
S . Millikin , 823 ; G . Turner , P . M . 823 ; H . Hindle , 11 . Jackson , P . M . 1393 ; and others . The position of presiding Consecrating Officer wis assigned to Bro . Dr . J . Kellett Smith , P . G . Registrar , who took the chair at the commencement of thc proceedings , the S . W . ' s chair being occupied by Bro . W . Doyle , P . P . G . J . D ., and the J . W . ' s by Bro . J . Lunt , P . G . D . C . Bro .
Dr . Smith was assisted in a generally impressive ceremony by Bros . II . S . Alpass , P . G . Sec . ; R . Wylie , P . P . G . S . D . ; J . R . Goepel , P . P . G . D . C . ; S . E . Ibbs , P . P . G . S . B . ; T . Armstrong , P . G . Treas . ; Dr . E . M . Sheldon , P . M . 1094 ( acting Chaplain ); R . H . Evans , W . M . 292 ; and others . Bro . J . Skeaf , P . G . O ., presided at the harmonium ; and the exquisitely arranged musical
service for the consecration by the talented P . G . O . was splendidly rendered by Bros . J . Buslield , 216 ; D . Jones , P . M . 1 / 55 ; G . J . Hughes , 216 ; C . Haswell , 203 ; and J . P . Bryon , Org . 1035 . At the conclusion of the consecration ceremony liro . Dr . Smith , P . G . Reg ., immediately proceeded to instal Bro . William Woods , the W . M . designate , in the chair of
K . S ., the presentation for this honour being made by Bros . H . S . Alpafs , P . G . Sec , : and R . Wylie , P . P . G . S . D . The first W . M . of the "Marlborough " subsequently invested the following brethren as the first staff of officers-. —Bros . W . Pughe , S . W . ; G . Lunt , J . W . ; L . Bagnall , Treas . ; H . Hindle , Sec ; S . Millikin , S . D . ; C . Tyrer , J . D . ; R . Leason , I . G . ; J . R . Goepel , P . M .,
P . P . G . D . C , D . C ; and M . Williamson , Tyler . On the motion of the W . M ., seconded by the S . W ., a cordial vote of thanks was ordered to be recorded on the minutes to the presiding Consecrating and Installing Officer ( Bro . Dr . J . K . Smith ) and the other brethren who assisted him in the ceremony , in recognition of the admirable manner in which the work had been done throughout . After upwards of a dozen propositions for ioinins : and initiation
had been made , the business proceedings were successfully brought to a close . The brethren subsequently sat down to a recherche * banquet , provided in the large room by Bro . W . Vines , P . M . 220 and 1299 , of the Canton Hotel , Liverpool , whose catering , as usual , was of the best class . The W . M . ( Bro . W , Woods ) presided at the banquet , sup . ported by the majority of the P . G . Officers who had been present at the consecration and installation . The W . M .
Consecration Of The Marlborough Lodge, No. 1620.
proposed the toast of "The Queen ; " Bro . Dr . Smith , P . G . R ., " The M . W . G . M ., Bro . H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , the Princess of Wales , and the vest of the Royal Family ; " Bro . R . Wylie , P . P . G . S . D ., " The M . W . Pro G . M ., Bro . the Rt . Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon ; " and the W . M ., " The R . W . D . G . M . and P . G . M . W . L ., Bro . the Rt . Hon . Lord Skelmersdale , and the Officers of the P . G .
Lodge , Past and Present , " which was acknowledged by Bro . H . S . Alpass , P . G . Sec . " The Consecrating Officer and Installing Master " was next proposed and most felicitously responded to by Bro . Dr . Smith . "The Worshipful Master" was honoured with much enthusiasm , and "The Officers , "" The Visitors , " and " Poor and
Distressed Masons " were the other toasts on a discreetly short list . Some excellent and appropriate harmony was given by ln % musical brethren already named , and special praise in due to Bro . J . Bus-field , 216 , whose artistic vocalisation elicited the heartiest approbation . Bro . Skeaf , P . G . O ., was at the piano , and again proved " the right man in the right place . "
Masonic And General Tidings.
Masonic and General Tidings .
The regular annual meeting of the Prov . G . Lodge of the Western Division of Lancashire will be held in the Masonic Hall , Hope-street , Liverpool , on Wednesday , the 4 th prox ., at 12 o'clock . Banquet at the'Adelphi Hotel at 4 p . m . The Installation ceremony will be rehearsed by Bro . M . S . Larlham , P . M . 1539 W . M . 1216 , at the
, United Pilgrims Lodge of Instruction , Surrey Masonic Hall , Camberwell , on Friday , the 29 th inst ., at J . 30 p . m . The Kent Dale Lodge of Mark Masters , No . 195 , will be consecrated on Tuesday next , by the V . W . Bro . F . Binckes , assisted by Bro . Col . Whitwell , M . P ., and the V . W . Bro . J . Daniel Moore , 31 . The W . M . designate is Bro . George J . McKay , and the Wardens ,
Bros . Robt . Godfrey and Wm . Cranston . It is now understood that their Royal Hi ghnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales will be the guests of Bro . Colonel Campbell , M . P ., of Blythswood , on the day preceding their visit to Glasgow for the laying of the foundation of the New Post Office with Masonic honours , and that they will remain at Blythswood House overnight ,
driving up to Glasgow the following morning . A hearty welcome will doubtless be accorded them by the inhabitants of Renfrew , and it should not lose in enthusiasm when it is remembered that the Prince has special claims upon them , one of his titles being coupled with the name of that ancient and Royal borough . On and after the 29 th inst ., the meetings of the
Belgrave Lodge of Instruction will be held at the Constitution , Bedford-stieet , Covent Garden . We understand Bro . Pulsford , the well-known and popular Preceptor , will work the fifteen sections on Friday next , the 29 th inst . The special lodge of emergency , a ? announced in our last , was held 0 . 1 Monday last , the 18 th inst ., at the lodge-rooms , Havant , when and where the R . W . Provincial Grand Master at *
Hants and the Isle of Wight , Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., dedicated the new lodge-room . There was a very large attendance of the brethren . A report of the proceedings will appear in our next . It is estimated that the aggregate yearly transactions in oysters in the city of New York is over 10 , 000 , 000 dols .
The Provincial Grand Lodge for the Province of Cheshire was held on Wednesday last , in the Market Hal ' , under the presidency of the Right Hon . thc Lord De Tabley , R . W . Provincial Grand Master . After the business of the lodge had been transacted the brethren of a large number of lodges
walked in procession to St . John ' s Church , where the sermon was preached by the P . G . Chaplain . The volume of the Sacred Law was borne by four Master Masons' sons , opened at the 10 th chapter of Numbers . On leaving the church , the procession , numbering over 200 , proceeded to the banquet , which was served at the Royal George Hotel , Lord de Tabley presiding . A full report will appear in
our next . A GOOD EXAMPLE . —Bro . S . B . Ellis , Hon . Secretary of the Sheffield Masonic Library , has voluntarily procured subscribers for fifty copies of Bro . Emra Holmes ' forthcoming * "Tales , Poems , and Masonic P . iuers . " and
forwarded them to Bro . George Markham Tweddell , of Stokesley . It has been suggested tint if the Secretaries of lodges would generally give a frat .-rii . il hand a thousand subscribers might easily be obtained , and certainly the Craft ought to secure double that number .
P . G . LODGE OF WEST LANCASHIRE . —The privilege of admission , it should have been stated last week , to the forthcoming P . G . L . of West Lancashire in Liverpool will be extended to " all invested officers . " The banquet will be held at the Adelphi Hotel . The Emperor of Austria has conferred the following decorations nnnn the milimrv mpmhers nf His
Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught ' s suite who attended His Royal Highness on the occasion of the recent Austrian manoeuvres . Bro . Major Pickard has received the Cross of a Knight of the Order of Leopold ; Brigadier-General Seymour , the Cross of a Commander of the Francis Joseph Order , together with the Star of the same Order ; and Captain Lee , the Cross of the Francis Joseph Order .
A severe shock of earthquake , lasting thirty seconds , was felt in Sicily on Wednesday week . Theie was considerable panic at Messina , but no lives were lost nor any damage done to the buildings of the city . Some houses are stated to have been damaged at Reggio ,