Consecration Of The Earl Of Mornington Chapter, No. 2000.

M . E . Z . could not possibly be wrong , he should ask thc companions to look at him and say if it was possible that he could be the Senior Grand Officer present . In responding for the honoured names in thc toast he would assure the companions how much they owed to them . Only in the past few days they had seen one of the Grand Principals taking a journey from thc extreme South-West into the' North in order to discharge a

Masonic function which fell to his lot owing to the illness of the Earl of Lathom --an illness which they trusted would soon pass away . He was satisfied no Craft or body had ever been better served by those who held high rank than had been the Grand Chapter by the Grand Principals . On behalf of the other Grand Officers he begged to return sincere and hearty thanks for their kind appreciation of their position . Thc Grand Officers

had a right to refer with pride to the circumstances of that day and the part several distinguished companions had taken in the consecration of this chapter , and they expressed sincere and hearty wishes for the success of that Institution which they had been privileged to be present at the inauguration that day . They hoped the Earl of . Mornington Chapter might in due time earn for itself as well deserved a reputation for Masonic wor k and Masonic spirit as the Earl of Mornington Lodge .

" The Consecrating and Installing Officer " was next submitted by the M . E . Z ., who , on behalf of the founders and of the two lodges of which he was a Past Master , returned thanks to the companions included in the toast for their kindness . He thanked Comp . Letchworth for installing him into the chair —a ceremony which some did not witness—but which was a very

impressive one . He also thanked Comps . Major-General Crossland Hay and the Rev . J . S . Brownrigg for their Masonic work . He believed the latter companion was associated with the foundation of the Earl of Mornington Lodge . Comp . Mead acted as S . W ., a task not an eas } ' one , for it was constantly sustained , and without Comp . Richardson acting as D . C . none of the companions would have found their places .

Comp . E . LETCHWORTH , G . S . E ., in returning thanks for the compliment paid the Consecrating Officers , tendered their warmest thanks for the kind reception given thc toast proposed in very kindly terms by the M . E . Z . It had afforded them the greatest pleasure to bc present and assist in launching into existence this new chapter . He was most happy in being associated with companions who had rendered him the greatest possible

assistance , and one Principal had rendered two of the installation ceremonies . It had afforded them as much pleasure to assist as it had afforded him to attend , and one and all wished the chapter ever ) - possible success—a success worthy of the Iodge to which it was attached , and of which his particular old friend , Bro . Lavies , was a founder . It was a great pleasure to feel that that name was revered in that chapter , and that they had a

representative in his eldest son . He would propose the next toast— " lhe Health of the Three Principals , " whom tticy had installed into the chairs that night . He most heartily congratulated thc members on having as their Principals three companions so well able to guide the work through the first and most critical year of the chapter ' s existence . Comp . Pollard was

wellknown to them all , and was not only a Past Master of the Earl of Mornington Lodge , but also Past Mastcr of the Parthenon Lodge ; from which they had hopes of being recruited . Comp . Rose was also well-known , and he had already referred to the fact that Comp . Lavies was a son of a founder of the Earl of Mornington Lodge .

Comp . J . POLLARD , M . E . Z ., m response , assured them that thc Three Principals would try to do their duly to the chapter and make il a strong one . He was sure bc expressed thc regret of all that Comp . Stewart was not able to bc present through illness . They felt his absence , and hoped he would soon be restored to health and act as their Scribe E ., he having kindly consented to do so as the number of founders wassmall . They hoped

lo extend Royal Arch Masonry in the lodges to which they belonged , and would do their best for that object . He would next propose the toast of hosp itality . When he looked at thc list of guests he was delighted to see they had given them such ; t splendid start off . He would ask Comp . Lyell tc respond , as he had already called npon thc Grand Officers . They hoped to

see the guests many times more in thc future meetings of thc chapter , and hoped to see the number equalled on every occasion ; Comp . F . II . LYELL , 5 , said he was unexpectedly called upon to reply , and felt the honour conferred upon on the part of thc chapter he reprepresentcd . He thanked them for thc kind way thc toast had been proposed .

Comp . D . URUUIIART , P . S ., replied for "Thc Officers , " and said they were artuatcd with a sincere desire to do everything to promote the welfare and interest of the chapter in which they had such great pleasure in being allowed to assist in the foundation . He trusted the work would be equal to any work done in London under thc xgis of thc Grand Chapter . The Janitor ' s toast then terminated the proceedings . Comps . H . R . Rose , IL , and \ V . L . Barrett rendered excellent service in connection with the musical arrangements .

Freemasonry In Hertfordshire.

FREEMASONRY IN HERTFORDSHIRE .

HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN HERTFORDSHIRE . By G . BI . I 7 . ARD AnnoTT , W . M . No . 1385 , Barnet . London : George Kenning , ( 893 . [ Octavo , 468 pages ] . This is a remarkable volume , and one of thc most industrious compila-• lions I have ever read in connection with the Craft ; for although there is almost literally nothing to say about the lodges in the Province of " Little

Herts " prior to 1829 , the gifted author , Bro . Abbott , has contrived to write a book of over 400 pages , exclusively devoted to thc county , masonically , and has obtained an extraordinary number of particulars , many of a most interesting character , which render the attractive volume indispensable lo all Hertfordshire brethren who desire lo know the history of their own Province .

I he illustrations arc a gratifying feature not often met with , for all the Provincial Grand Masters are dul y " porlraited " from 1797 to the present lini " , and full details arc afforded of their Masonic career , many , 1 venture

Freemasonry In Hertfordshire.

to state , being wholly unknown to the brethren now belonging to the lod ges - and , therefore , all the more welcome and valuable . So thoroughly has the author done his part , that it is not , it seems to me , possible for anyone else . to add a page to its contents , the history being exhaustive , reliable , and thoroughly well done .

The first Prov . G . M . was Bro . William Forssteen , who was appointed in 1797 , and continued to 1803 . He had " no work to do , " however , as respects lodges in the province , for there were none , but his career , as sketched by Bro . Abbott , proves he was a very zealous and most useful Craftsman

and resigned his high position in 1803 , that he might be invested as J . G . W . of the Grand Lodge . He was a very active supporter of the "Girls ' School" ( now the R . M . I . G . ) , Treasurer for some years , Trustee , and the Chairman of the ninth Festival , 24 th April , 1797 , in the place of Lord Moira , who was unable to attend .

The second Prov . G . M . was Bro . George Daniel Harvey , whose patent was dated nth May , 1803 , and , like his predecessor , was connected with thc " Shakespear Lodge , " now No . 99 , but it was not until 1 S 29 that any of the existing lodges were started . In that year No . 403 , Hertford , and No . 404 , Watford , were formed . On his resignation he was succeeded by

the third Prov . G . M ., the second Marquis of Salisbury , which was in 18 31 ; who was an initiate of No . 403 , 6 th October , 1839 , and as the historian states , was the brother needed to ensure the success of Masonry in thc province . This distinguished nobleman was installed as Grand

Superintendent in 1835 , and was appointed Deputy Grand Master of England in 1840 , becoming thereby the Grand H . of the Grand Chapter ; but four years later his resignation was announced , much to the regret of all the brethren .

Bro . William Stuart , M . P ., succeeded as the fourth Prov . G . M . in 1841 , and likewise as Grand Superintendent , being also an initiate of No . 404 , Watford . In 18 33 he was invested as S . G . W . of England , and from i 860 was a conspicuous Masonic ruler as Grand Master of the Knights Templars ,

in succession to Colonel Kemeys-Tynte . He was the eldest son of William Stuart , Archbishop of Armagh , Primate of Ireland , and his eldest son , P . S . G . W . of England , is still one of the subscribing members of thc Hertford Lodge .

The present esteemed Prov . G . M ., Bro . I . K Halsey ,. M . P ., is thc fifth who has held that proud position , and much to the satisfaction of the Brotherhood , is still their trusted Chief . He joined the Watford Lodge from No . 357 , Oxford , in 1835 ; in 1875 becoming the Grand Superintendent . There are now 21 lodges in the province , so that Freemasonry has been

exceedingly prosperous in Herts of late , testifying to the popularity of thc Prov . Grand Master , and to the hold the principles of the Craft has on its members . Each of these lodges have their histories fully given by Bro .

Abbott , from the senior , the Hertford , No . 403 , to the lively junior , the James Terry , No . 2372 . Then again , Royal Arch Masonry , with seven chapters , thc oldest and youngest with titles as thc two lodges , will be found fully represented , as well as Mark Masonry and the Knights Templars .

There were three lodges domiciled in the county during the last century , vi / ., one of- the year 1739 , another of the year 1767 , and the third of A . D . 177 C ; but they all ceased to work before the' expiration of that century , Bro . Abbott has managed to get hold of a few particulars of these extinct lodges , but much cannot be said about them , as the records arc missing .

The appendix is a valuable compilation , and cannot fail to be much appreciated by the local Craft . Thc volume is dedicated to thc Provincial Grand Master by the author , a compliment , I feel assured , that esteemed brother will value , and his many friends will bc pleased to sec his portrait has been selected as the frontispiece to the history .

Although thc volume is so bulky and attractively got up , it is published at only half-a-guinea per copy , and thc limited edition should so ' o . V be exhausted . - ' - W . iJ . HUGHAN .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Gloucestershire And Herefordshire .'

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE AND HEREFORDSHIRE . '

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Mark Lodge was held at thc Masonic Hall , Cheltenham , on Tuesday , the 13 th inst ., thc Prov . G . M ., Bro . R . V . Vassar-Smith , presiding . The officers of Provincial Grand Lodge were appointed as follows : Bro . O . Shellard , P . M . 243 ... ... ... D . P . G . M . „ T . G . Chance , P . M . 243 ... ... Prov . S . G . W . ,, S . Moss , W . M . 10 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W .

„ S . W . Hadingham , P . M . 340 ... ... Prov . G . M . O . „ W . Merrick , P . M . 218 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . O . „ T . R . Oakley , W . M . 340 ... ... Prov . G . J . O-„ C . E . L . Austin , 10 ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap-„ Balcomb , P . M ., P . P . G . W . ... ... Prov . G . Treas .

„ L VV . Henley , Sec . 439 ... ... Prov . G . Reg-„ U . Norman , P . M . 10 , P . G . D . ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ W . Margrett . W . M . 243 ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ S . J . King , 218 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D .

„ W . Parlby , 243 ... ... ... Prov . G . L ol » „ R . W . Felton , P . M ., P . P . G . W ., P . G . Slwd .... Prov . G . D . of C ,, W . Renwick , 439 ... ... .., Prov . G . S . B .

„ F . 11 . Rea , S . D . 10 ... ... .., Prov . G . Std . w-„ Caldicott , P . M . 247 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . O . „ W . B . Wood , 439 ... ... ... Prov . G . I . G . On thc proposal of Bro . SHELLARD , seconded by Bro . the BKROX »¦ ]< . EKRIERES , it was resolved to submit the name of Bro . VASSAR-S * " ' the nomination of the province to H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , Gr ; l " Master , for a second term of office as Prov . G . M .