After-Dinner Speaking.

AFTER-DINNER SPEAKING .

A great authority—we are not quite sure it may not have been the late Earl of BKU ' ONSVIEI . I>—once defined the art of after-dinner speaking as ihe art of saying nothing in a pleasant way . The truth of the definition may be readily admitted , but its applicability to the bulk of the after-dinner speeches we are called upon as Masons to listen to every time we attend a

lodge meeting is a point on which we must decline to offer any direct opinion . In the first place , it would be an act of discourtesy to criticise what in most cases was never intended for criticism ; and in the second place , if it were not discourteous , it would be exceedingly ill-advised . We should bring about our ears such a hornet ' s nest of criticisms that none would be rash

enough to describe our later days as peaceful . livery one would suddenly turn critic , if only that he might have the opportunity of saying unutlerable things about the bold bad man , who had dared to say that Masonic afterdinner oratory was—we mean , who had ventured to suggest that the speeches which were delivered in the course of the evening were—exactly so ; our

meaning will be gathered from the remarks we offer . We have already admitted the truth of the definition as laid down by the authority referred to , but its full force will not be wholl y appreciated if we fail to bear in mind the time and circumstances under which this kind of speech is delivered . When a lodge and its guests have dined together more

ur less sumptuously , ancient usage or established custom—we are not prepared to say which of these is responsible for the arrangement—ordains thai some among both the hosts and the guests shall deliver and the rest listen to a series of speeches in which certain set toasts—which are as immutable in character as ever were the laws of the Medes and Persians—¦

are proposed and acknowledged . But these toasts have been honoured at all the lodge meetings—and they must be many thousands in numberwhich have been held in this country , at all events during the greater part of the last two centuries . Thus it will be difficult to bring home to us the charge of presumption or that we have in any way abused the privileges we

enjoy as Speculative Masons , if we venture to suggest that it will be difficult , if not absolutely impossible , to say anything in connection with any one of these toasts which has not been said on man ) ' previous occasions . Again , the time when these speeches are delivered is just when the delicacies and dainties we have partaken of are about to undergo that beautiful process of

assimilation which is known in the vulgar tongue as digestion . Lastly , as Englishmen—who have been irreverentl y but not inappropriately described as animals that dine—we have a right to expect that the period which follows immediatel y after dinner shall be sacred from all interruptions , by the ordinary cares and anxieties of life . Thus , whether we have regard to the

antiquity of our toasts , which renders it impossible to say anything new about them ; the work in which the organs of digestion are engaged when the toasts ¦ '"c honoured ; the prescriptive right of all Englishmen who have had the good rense and good fortune to dine well , to his after-dinner siesta ; or the many other reasons which mi ght easily be furnished , if space permitted , there

is every reason why the very true definition we have quoted as to the art of after-dinner speaking being the art of saying nothing in a pleasant way , Miould be religiously adhered to in Masonic circles . But what a marvellous idea it is which not a few among our Masonic ! ier-dinnef orators appear to have formed of the " nothing "

mtended by Lord BBACOXSFIKLD when he delivered himself—if it was he who uttered it—of his memorable dictum * His " nothing" was nothing more serious than a few light jettx d ' esprit readily uttered and to the point ; a happy compliment , a playful retort . But the " nothing" of many a Masonic alter-dinner speaker , will sometimes fill a column of this journal , and though

"tn you have read it carefully through , you may be unable to discover "othmg in il—b y which , of course , we mean nothing more serious than the / ' » v it ' esprit , the happy compliments , and so forth we have just mentioned —we are sorel y afraid there is in truth more in it than meets the eye of the ° ccasonial reader ; more , if we may be permitted to say so , which is calculated

make the process of assimilation a little less beautiful than Nature enjoins , ' to render the siesta less absolutely free from care ami worry than it is 1 -xpected to be . We freely allow that the " nothing " we have in our minds 'I this moment is brought under our notice by the fraternal orator in the most P easant manner he is able to command . His style of delivery may be a

' jerky at times ; occasionally , he abandons the main line of his arguwitn ll ' i and in . lrocluces a few side issucs wh'cl' have little or nothing to do sn-K SUb J , lc is s P ' 'l , < ing' upon . But in no case is his manner of Tealung otherwise than pleasant ; and the only fault we can conscientiously iho ""' /^ ° - Masomc orat 01 ' when engaged in giving voice to ihc beautiful ughts which inspire him , is that his idea of the " nothing " which it is his a « y to say is . too formidable .

Consecration Of The Wirral Lodge, No. 2496, At Birkenhead.

CONSECRATION OF THE WIRRAL LODGE , No . 2496 , AT BIRKENHEAD .

The consecration of the above lodge took place on Thursday , the 8 th inst ., in the Claughton Music Hall , Birkenhead . The growth of the Order on the Cheshire side of the Mersey has been very rapid of late , and the necessity for further extension has been' felt for some time . The brethren snbmitting their names to the Grand Lodge as founders of the new lodge were as follows : Bros . Thomas Shaw , P . M . G 05 , 157 6 ; Thomas E . Tomlinson , P . M . 1013 ;

James Gamlin , P . M . 605 , P . P . J . G . D . ; James T . Thompson , P . M . 4 . 77 P . G . Reg . ; A . E . Coveney , P . M . 605 ; P . Duff . P . M . 605 ; C . N , Stewart , P . M . 2375 ; George Proudman , J . VV . 1013 ; James Woodcock , 12 S 9 ; Richard Powell , Siwd . 605 ; Joseph S . Mackintosh , 1013 ; A . H . Rigmaiden , ' . 393 1 ' James Smith , 605 ; A . Rutherford , 605 ; John Sampson , 537 ; and Thomas Adam , fio . ^ .

The consecrating ceremony was performed by Bro . Sir Horatio Lloyd D . P . G . M ., assisted by the following Provincial ' Grand Lodge Officers : Bros G . H . Brown , P . P . G . D . C ., acting Deputy Grand Master ; Wni . Whiston P . S . G . W . ; A . G . Cumming , PJ . G . W . ; Rev . C . Chctwynd Atkinson , P . G Chap . ; Richard Newhouse , P . G . Sec . ; James Clarke , P . J . G . D . ; James T Thompson , P . G . R . ; J . Armstrong , P . G . S . of W . ; T . Wood , P . G . S . B . ;

Herbert Ellis , P . G . Org . ; Dr . Napier , P . G . P . ; James Salmon , P . P . S . G . W . Joseph Sillitoc , P . P . G . D . ; J . G . Adams , P . P . G . S . D . ; J . Clayton P . P . J . G . W . ; James Cookson , P . P . G . T . ; James Gamlin , P . P . J . G . D . Peter Blackburne , P . G . T . ; T . C . Thorburn , P . J . G . W . ; J . R . Si mm " , P . P . G Treas . ; John C . Robinson , P . P . A . G . D . C . West Lancashire ; T . Drink water , P . P . G . R . Cheshire ; and I . illey Ellis , P . P . S . G . D .

Among the visitors present were : Bros . Rev . A . Hamilton Ivmg , W . M . 2375 ; I- Simpson , W . M . 2132 ; ' G . W . Makin , W . M . 1276 ; John Fraser , W . M . 605 ; J . W . Evans , W . M . 157 C ; Peter Davies , W . M . 12 S 9 ; Joseph Scarratt , W . M . 477 ; John Taylor , I . P . M . 1126 ; John Watt ; I . P . M . 605 ; Robert Robinson , I . P . M . 477 ; J . Clarke , P . M . 1576 ; and T . Walker , P . M . 1126 .

An impressive oration on the principles of the Order , which we hope to find room tor in a future issue , was delivered by the P . G . Chaplain , anil the music incidental to the ceremony was furnished by the biethrcn of the Combermere Lodge , under the direction of Bro , Herbert Ellis , the P . G . Organist , Bro . H . G . Small , Prow G . D . C . acting as D . of C . in a most efficient manner .

The dedication and constitution of the lodge having been completed , Bro . Thomas Shaw was installed as the first Worshipful Master by Bro . G . H . Brown , P . Prow G . D . C . Having been duly installed , the newly-elected W . M . invested his officers for the ensuing year as follows : Bros . Thomas E .

Tomlinson , P . M ., S . W . ; James Gamlin , P . M ., P . P . J . G . D ., J . W . ; P . Duff , P . M ., I . P . M . ; J . T . Thompson , P . M ., P . G . Reg ., Treas . ; Richard Powell , Sec . ; A . E . Coveney , P . M ., D . C . ; George Proudman , S . D . ; A . H . Rigmaiden , J . D . ; James Woodcock , I . G . ; C . N . Stewart , J ' . M ., and lohn Sansom , Stwds . ; and James S . Macintosh , Charity Representative .

Afterwards the installation banquet was held , the proceedings being diversified with toasts and musical items . The lodge was furnished by Bro . George Kenning .

Aire And Calder Lodge, No. 458, Castleford.

AIRE AND CALDER LODGE , No . 458 , CASTLEFORD .

PRESENTATION OF A PHOTOGRAI ' II OF THE WARRANT WHICH WAS DESTROYED IS THE DISASTROUS EIRE OF 23 TII J AXfARY , iSoj . The following address was delivered on the occasion by Bro . W . M WATSON , P . M ., ' & c :

Worshipful Master , Officers , and Brethren , —F have the honour to visit you this evening , by request of our distinguished and respected brother , the Right Worship ful Thomas William Tew , as his representative , for the purpose indicated on your lodge summons .

It is a matter of profound regret to all of us , that his continued ill-health , and that alone , prevents his attending on this interesting and auspicious occasion , and if not here in person , yet he is with us in spirit , for his heart and soul aru filled with the desire to aJvance the welfare of your lodge , and of every lodge in the good old Craft .

Feelings of the deepest sympathy animated the brethren within your province , and far beyond it , on the occasion of that deplorable calamity which fell upon the Aire and Calder Lodge , No . 45 S , nearly three years ago—I mean the ( ire—and Bro . 'few ' s strong exp-essions of condolence must have

been received by you with emotions of gratitude , coming as they did from him , not only as your Provincial Grand Master , but as from a true and welltried friend , who had—and has never ceased to have—your prosperity and happiness at heart .