Consecration Of The Caxton Lodge, No. 1853.

Deputy Grand Master , & c . " to which Bro . C . A . Cottebrune , P . G . P ., replied . The W . M . next read the following letter from the Right Hon . the Lord Mayor : " The Lord Mayor presents his compliments to Bro . T . H . Meredith , W . M . designate of the Caxton Lodge , No . 18 53 , and regrets that a prior engagement hf long standing will prevent him having the

pleasure of attending the ceremonies of consecration and installation of the lodge on Saturday , January 17 th . " Bro . Warner , P . G . S ., also replied to the toast , and stated that he was Grand Steward in 1875 , when H . R . H . thc Prince of Wales was installed . It was a curious circumstance that not only that night but on other occasions when he ( Bro . Warner ) went out H . R . H . took the chair .

It happened to be so when the Prince of Wales took the chair for the Benevolent Institution . Bro . James Terry , in proposing " The Health of the W . M . and Success to the Caxton Lodge , '' said that in the absence of an actual Past Master of the lodge , it was his duty as well as his privilege as Consecrating Officer to take that position , and he did not know that of the 120 lodges ,

which number he had just completed , that he had consecrated he had ever taken in hand the gavel with feelings of greater pleasure to submit for the acceptance of the members the toast of " The W . M . " In Bro . Meredith the brethren had a W . M . who was well calculated to rule over them , not as they had heard it stated " with a rod of iron , " but with the gentle hand of brotherly love and kindly

feeling of fraternal affection to every member of the lodge . He ventured to think that with a Past Master of experience like Bro . Meredith they would in thc course of time—hc had not theslightestdoubt before the W . M . 'sycarof office expired —so be enabled to weld together those who from various lodges formed the Caxto > . Lodge as to be able to say there was no more perfect lodge in thc Craft for working ,

harmonious feeling , and kindly attention by every member to every other member of the Caxton Lodge . In Bro . Meredith they had no untried man . Hc had done good suit and service to the Craft , and was perfectly capable of doing it again . His breast bore token of what he had already done in the Craft , but that was not the only evidence of . the regard that was felt for him , because the

brethren had for him kindly good feeling and fraternal affection that no jewel or outward display ever could show It must be part and p . rc-d of themselves to appreciate , to know , and to understand so excellent and worthy a Mason as Bro . Meredith . 'The Caxton Lodge were fortunate in having him as its first W . M ., aid they were fortunate in having chosen that day for the consecration and installation

meeting , a day which would be a red letter da y in the annals of Freemasonry , seeing that it was only thc third time since and including the Prince of Wales was installed that he had attended Grand Lodge . Thc first occasion was when he was instilled in thc Albert Hall , the second was when his brother-in-law , the Crown Prince of Denmark , attended , and the third was that very evening . He ( Bro . Terry )

did not know whether the Grand Master wanted to pay a compliment to the Caxton Lodge or the Caxton Lodge wanted to pay a compliment to him and , wanted to see him confer on th ; lodge thc distinguished privilege of seeing him in the chair . At all events , it was a happy and fortuitous concourse of circumstances . If any one in future wanted to remember the day thc Caxlon Lodge was

conscented they had merely to say it was the day when Col . Shadwell Clerke was invested as Grand Secretary by the Prince of Wales . The lodge was well-named . Without Caxton England would not be what she was . Without the press , without literature , without the knowledge which she now possessed , where would England be at the present day ? Therefore , he venturned to think as Caxton was

such a great pioneer of knowledge in this country so would the Caxton Ledge be the pioneer of all that was good , and hc hoped that the W . M . might have the gratification in years to come to look back on this as a red letter day in his existence , and thank those brethren who had the honous of asking him to become their first W . M . Bro . Terry concluded by wishing long life and prosperity to tbe

Caxton Lodge and the health of the W . M . The W . M ., in reply , said that if there ever was a difficulty he had in his life it was to speak for himself ; but it was still more difficult for him to speak in response to the high encomiums which had been showered upon him that evening by thc Consecrating Officer . During his career in masonry for 20 years he had endeavoured to

discharge his duties , Circumstances arose among some members of the profession of the press when it was thought that they might have a lodge of their own . He thought there would be difficulties about the W . M . they should have . The brethren insisted that he should fill that office . He then said he should be glad to accept the proffered honour , and he would do his best to carry the

lodge to success . He had had some experience in establishing lodges before , but hc had never found in the whole of his experience in Masonry any lodge making such a degree of progress and with such a prospect of success as this when he first said he would take the initiative in its formation . He found that it really might have been established many yeais before if they had only

thought of it . He did not know some time ago that many of the biethren with whom he was constantly associated in business were Masons . These brethren came and joined . Thc charter for the lodge was granted , and having been granted it was consecrated that evening under very auspicious circumstances . He had received congratulations ou the formation of the lodge , and he honed lhat many

members of the press would come and join it . The prosperity of the lodge would be his main object , and he should do all he could to promote it . The W . M . then stated the course he intended to pursue with regard to the lodge , and concluded by hoping that the honour of the lodge would be untarnished , and that hc might have thc pleasure of sittincr bv his successors for manv vearsto come .

Consecration Of The Caxton Lodge, No. 1853.

offered them the heartiest welcome , and trusted they would come and see the brethren of the Caxton Lodge very often . Bro . Kempster replied . The W . M . next gave " The Health cf the Consecrating Officer , Bro . Terry . " He had known Bro . Terry for a long time , and what he always had been he would now

and always would be . Whenever Bro . Terry undertook the consecration of a lodge he did it well and with thorough satisfaction to all that heard him , with credit to himself and pleasure to the brethren . Bro . Terry replied . It gave him great pleasure , when the W . M . waited on him and asked him to consecrate this lodge . The honour of being the representative of the

Prince of Wales was a great and distinguished one . He had been entrusted b y three successive Grand Masters , the late Earl of Zetland , the Marquis of Ripon , and the Prince of Wales , and had conferred on him the honour of consecrating altogether 120 lodges . With the exception of Bro . Hervey , he thought there was scarcely a brother living who in the short space of time he had been a Mason had had

the honour of consecrating so many lodges . He thought he had had the honour of consecrating more lodges and chapters in England than any one else in the same time ; and when he was asked by Bro . Meredith as a personal friend to consecrate the Caxton Lodge , he felt no hesitancy in consenting to do so . Of the very admirable service of the musical brethren he could not speak too highly , and

by their assistance there had been no break or hitch in thc proceedings . Everything under such circumstances musl go well and smoothly . It had given him great pleasure to usher into existence this Caxton Lodge , and he hoped it might be prosperous and successful , ancl to see it later on distinguished by its support of the charitable institutions of the Order . Although he could nut ask thc brethren in thc

first year ot its existence , before they felt their way , to give him support , he trusted when thc lodge had money at their disposal that they would . Knowing them well , hc thought they would consider to which of thc institutions they should give their support . In such a case he ventured , without attempting to dictate , that they should look favourably on the Benevolent Institution . The boys and girls must be

educated , and there was always for them kindly consideration . But how few of us were there who could say he was a supporter of an old man or old woman who had borne the heat and burden of the day ? Very few , indeed . But he thought there was still a kindly feeling of gratitude in people to their parents , and if any adversity overtook them , and they in their latter days , without any fault of their

own , were reduced in circumstances , they took care to see that they did not want . Bro . Terry then described thc great strides made by the Benevolent Institution in the last seven years , and thanked the brethren who had supported it . Seven years ago it received only £ 5000 in one year , whereas last year the tolal amount was over £ 17 , 000 , more than threefold . He wished the brethren

would go down to the Institution at Croydon , and see some of the good that Freemasonry did . The brethren now round the table ' were in prosperous circumstances , and he begged of them to remember those who were not . He also gave several instances where the Institution was now supporting people who have held most influential positions and lived in affluence . He assured the brethren that

there were plenty of such cases , and it was for the relief of those , among others , that hc solicited the support of the Craft . The W . M . afterwards proposed " The Masonic Charities , " and calltd on Bro . Terry to respond to the toast .

Bro . Terry subsequently responded to this toast also , and rrado a further stirring appeal to the favourable consideration of the brethren . The toast of " The Officers" followed , which was responded to by Bro . Dawson , S . VV . ; after which the Tyler ' s toast was given , and thc brethren separated .

Lodge Of Benevolence.

LODGE OF BENEVOLENCE .

The Lodge of Benevolence met on Wednesday last , when thc President , Bro . J . M . Clabon , P . G . D ., on taking his seat introduced the newly-invested Grand Secretary , Bro . Shadwell Gierke , to the lodge . This being the firsl meeting of the year the . Grand Secretary read the byelaws of the Lodge of Benevolence before commencement

of the business . The brethren first confirmed the grants and recommendations to the Grand Master , made in December , amounting in the whole to £ 515 . There were seventeen new cases on the list , which were relieved by the lodge wilh grants and recommendations amounting in all to £ 330 . Thus , there was one grant of £ 100 ; two of £ 75 ( £ 150 );

two of £ 40 ( £ 80 ); three of £ 30 ( £ <) o ) ; five of £ 20 ( £ 100 ) ; and one of £ 10 . Three cases weie deferred . The President was supported by the two Vice-Presidents , Bro . Joshua Nunn , P . G . S . B ., Senior Vice-President , and Bro . James Brett , P . G . P ., Junirr Vice-President , who occupied the Wardens' chairs . The other brethren present were Bros . J . Constable , P . M . 185 ; J . P . Britten , P . M .

183 ; C . F . Hogard , P . M . ; W . H . Perryman , P . M . ; \ . Rawson , P . D . G . M . China ; H . Garrod , P . M . ; Hyde Pullen , P . G . S . B . ; J . D . Collier , P . M . ; W . Stephens , P . M . ; Jabez Hogg , P . G . D . ; T . Hutton , W . M . 13 ; ] . Southwood , P . M . 1260 ; R . De M . Lawson , P . M . 6 ^ 2 ; I . Shackell , P . M . inv , F . J . Scale , P . M . 1273 ; J . ' H .

Matthews , P . M . 14- ; H . Hill , W . M . 8 ^ : J . T . Hutchinson , W . M . 222 ; J . W . Figg , P . M . 256 ; 11 . W . Gladwell , W . M . 1298 ; Samuel Poynter , P . M . 902 ; T . Edmondston , W . M . 1667 ; C . G . Smith , W . M . 5 8 ; Chas . Davis , P . M . 141 ; H . C . Levander , P . M . 1215 ; 11 . H . Burney , P . M . 6 97 ; T . R . Williams , W . M . 2 57 ; R . J . Murrell , I . P . M . 1776 ; H . A . Lovett , W . M . ' 179 ; and

The New Grand Secretary.

THE NEW GRAND SECRETARY .

The South Wales Daily Telegram , publishes the following : — lt may be of considerable interest to the brethren to learn that Colonel Clerke is well known in Newport and its neighbourhood , inasmuch as he was in command of the 2 ist Royal British Fusilers during the time they were

located at Newport Barracks . He then associated himself very closely with nearly every Degree of Freemasonry in the province . Therefore , when the event became known , the Right Worshinful Grand Alaster , Bro . Colonel Lyne , consulted with his Deputy , and directed that a congratulatory address should be drawn up and sent to him from this province on his appointment to the high and important

position of Grand Secretary of England . This address was duly signed by the Provincial Giand Master and his Deputy , and further-countersigned by Bro . C . Rowe , Provincial Grand Secretary ; and the Provincial Grand Master deputed Bro . W . Watkins , P . M . 1429 , P . P . G . S . of Wks . ( Alon . ) , as bearer of thc address , which was presented on behalf of the province in the Grand Officers' room of the

Grand Lodge . Thc following is thc copy of the address : — " Newport , Mon . " Jan . 17 th , 1 S 80 . " To the Right Worshipful Lieut .-Clonel Shadwell H . Gierke , Grand Secretary of England . Right Worshipful Sir and Brother , —Having seen that His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , and Most Worshipful Grand Master ,

was about to confer upon you the distinguished office of Grand Secretary , we , on behalf of thc Province of Alonmouth , hereby offer you our most sincere and hearty congratulations on this important event ; feeling fully assured that from the nnmerous distinguished and deserving brethren of thc Craft His Royal Highness could not have made a more judicious and acceptable selection , and one

that affords universal satisfaction to our province , of which we are proud to rank you as a member . We trust that you will be long spared to wear the honours connected with that high position , and tbat the time may not be far distant when , in this province , we may have the opportunity of personally congratulating you . " Wc arc , Right Worshipful Sir and Brother , yours

m' s tfratcrnaliy , "C _____ s LVSK , P . G . M . "S . G EOIKII : HOMFRAV , P . D . G . AL , and P . G . A . D . C . of England . " C 11 A 111 . KS R OWE , P . G . Secretary . " The reply of Colonel Gierke was as follows : — ' Freemasons' Hall , London ,

, " January 19 th , 1880 . "Dear Sir and Brother , —Very many thanks for thc most kind and flattering addiess which I have received from your province from the hands of Bro . Watkins . I was quite sure that my old friends in Monmouthshiie wouid be glad to see me selected for thc honourable ,

although arduous , position in which His Royal Highness has placed me , and I beg you will thank them for me , one and all , most heartily , for their wishes , and convey my fraternal regard to all my old friends in jour jurisdiction . Believe mc to be very sincerely yours , " OIIADWF . 1 . 1 . H . Cl . KRKi ; , " Grand Secretary of England . "

Westbourne Lodge Ball.

WESTBOURNE LODGE BALL .

The first ball in connection with the Westbourne Lodge , No . 7 .. 3 > was given on Friday . the 16 th inst ., at the Lord's Hotel , St . John ' s Wood . The company , which was rather spare at the opening of the ball , commenced dancing shortly after nine o ' clock , to thc very excellent band of Bro . Eaton .

The programme consisted of twenty-five dances , which was divided into two parts . The first part comprised : — 1 . Polka . 2 . Quadrille . 3 . Valse . 4 . Lancers . 5 . Schottischc . 6 . Caledonians . 7 . Redowa . 8 . Quadrille , 9 . Valse . 10 . Lancers . 11 . Scholtische . 12 . Caledonians . 13 . Valse and Galop . Supper was then announce . , which , unfortunately , had to be partaken of by the

company in two parties—the assembly having during the evening increased to upwards of 100 . The only toast proposed was that of " The Ladies , " given by the President , Bro . E . J . Allen , the Worshipful Alaster of the lodge , who humorously remarked that on au occa , ion like the present they were especially dear , as they could net possibly get on without them .

The principal attraction of the evening was then resumed , the second part of the programme being as follows : 14 . Quadrille . 15 . Valse . 16 . Lancers . 17 . Polka . 18 . Caledonians . 19 . Redowa . 20 . Quadrille . 21 . Valse . 22 . Lancers . 23 . Schottischc . 24 . Caledonians . 25 . Valse and Galop . A very pleasant evening was spent , credit being due to

the following brethren , who assiduously performed their duties as Stewards : —Bros . E . J . Allen , W . M ., President ; J . Welford , S . W . ; W . Hallett , J . W . ; E . Arrowsmith , J . D . ; R . Patterson , and S . H . Walker , the Hon . Sec . Among the company present we noticed Bro . 'Allen , Mrs . and Miss Allen , Bro . Walker , Miss Walker , and Miss R . Walker , Bro . Murdoch , Bro . Sturt and Mrs . Sturr , Mrs . Fairn , Miss Yates , Bro . R . F . ( jilting , Mrs . and

Miss Bolting , Bro . Goodwin , Bro . VV . Monks , Bro . F . Monks , Bro . T . W . Allen , and Mrs . Allen , Bros . Rawlings , Biorn , Cole , Roebuck , Bro . Eaton and Mrs . Eaton , Air . and Mrs . M . ynard , Mr . W . B . Wirt and Mrs . Witt , Mr . anil Mrs . Wolff , Mr . and Mrs . Price , Mr . and Mrs . Beckham , Mr . and Mrs . Clark , Capt . Mayhew , Miss Fanny Johnson , and Bro . F , A . Kelly ( Freemason ) . Dancing was kept up with gre . t vigour until a late ( or rather early ) hour , but apparently not too late by the