Laying The Foundation Stone Of The New Victoria Jubilee Schools At Berkhamstead By The Prov. G.M. Of Herts, Bro. T. F. Halsey, M.P.

A large number of the inhabitants accepted invitations to a garden party at the Rectory , and the brethren who had taken pari in the proceedings banqueted together at the King's Arms Hotel , when Bro . Sims , W . M . 504 , took the chair . The banquet was admirably served under the personal supervision of the worthy host , the tables being tastefully decorated with flowers . The usual toasts afterwards received due attention .

In proposing " The Queen and the Craft , the W . M . said the toast always commended itself to Englishmen , and especially to Masons . He would not detain them with long speeches as they had a charming musical programme , and he hoped others would follow his example . The W . M . next gave " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " and said his Rcyal Highness distinguished himself greatly at the Albert Hall . They were all indebted to his Royal Highness for taking such an extraordinary interest in their Craft and would drink his health with all the enthusiasm it deserved .

" The Grand Officers , was heartily proposed , the W . M . remarking that he was proud theie were so many distinguished brethren present . Their presence added a certain amount of lustre to the lodge and the members were always delighted te see them . Bro . F . SUMNER KNYVETT , P . G . D ., responded with pleasure , and than ked the W . M , for the compliment paid the Grand Officers . The connection of the Grand Officers was not limited to this Province , but to London and elsewhere where they worked for the benefit of Freemasonry .

Bro . J . STEPHENS , D . G . D . C , also responded , and said the Grand Officers appreciated the high compliment paid them and would hope to be moie deserving of it in the future . Bro . Rev . A . J OHNSON , P . P . G . Chap ., said the W . M . had done him the honour to ask him to propose the next toast and he was grateful , because , although all the brethren were glad to welcome the Prov . G . M ., still he might claim on this occasion to be especially grateful to him . He ( Bro . Johnson ) had

been the innocent cause of their meeting that day . They could not forget that their Prov . G . M . was bound to them by many years of service in another capacity to which he would now allude , and they knew he was equally good and genial in his love of Masonry . The were conscious that if their Prov . G . M . could be present that day the ceremony would not suffer in his hands . He begged , therefore , on behalf of all present , for his own sake and the cause he represented , to tender respectful and grateful thanks to the Prov . G . M . for his presence . He also wished to take this opportunity of thanking his own lodge for supporting this

movement , and also the brethren who had come from a considerable distance . He thanked the Prov . G . Sec . upon whom had fallen the organisation of the meeting , and was sure Bro . Bullock was already rewarded by the success which had attended his efforts . The object was one to which all could give their support , and he hoped that in years to come they would train in the schools many who would prove worthy Masons . He wished to emphasise their thanks , especially to Bro . Terry , whose presence and assistance on such an occasion was absolutely indispensable . He gave them " The Health of the R . W . Provincial Grand Master . "

Bro . T . F . HALSEY , M . P , Prov . G . M ., thanked them for the kind reception given him . He would place as few moments as possible between the brethren and that musical treat with which they were favoured , ' but he should be ungrateful if he did not say a few words of thanks for the reception given him . With regard to th : object of their meeting , it gave him great pleasure to be able to respond to the request to lay the foundation-stone of these schools . He would cordially echo all the wishes expressed , that when their successors were carrying on this lodge , the schools would provide many recruits for Masonry . They would have no easy task ,

for it would be impossible to improve upon the useful work done by this lodge , and that it had been the case for 50 years . His last visit to the Berkhamstead Lodge was 0 n the celebration of its Jubilee , and it was therefore pleasant to be with them again when they were celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of their Queen . He trusted that all present would take back as pleasant memories as he should , and he took this opportunity of thanking those friends for the material memento he should take back in the trowel presented to him . He hoped ihat for many years they would work together to further the cause they had at heart—that of Freemasonry in Herts and in that town .

Bro . G . E . LAKE , Dep . Prov . G . M ., replying to the toast of " The Provincial Grand Officers , " said they were a body of Masons very distinguished in their way . On their behalf , he begged to express thanks , and also the pleasure it had given th . m to be present . Bro . C . BULLOCK , Prov . G . Sec , said he had been entrusted with an important toast . Theirs was a humble lodge , but there were three points on which they

were properly proud . One was that they never made a mistake in the Masonic ritual ; another was , that they claimed to be second to none in the province in their devotion to the M . W . G . M . and the Craft generally and their affection to the Prov . G . M . ; and the third point , not the least important , was that they would yield to none in their hospitality to the visitors , who honoured them with their presence . He would include with the toast of " The Visitors " that of " The Masonic Charities , " and ask Bro . Terry to respond . Bros . COCKKEM , W . M . 404 ; SMK . YTHMAN , W . M . 990 ; and j . TEKKY , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . B . I ., replied , and the proceedings shortly afterwards were brought to a close .

The excellence of the musical programme given under the direction of Miss Emily Foxcroft deserved all the praise bestowed upon it by the brethren present . Miss Foxcroft was ably supported by Miss Ethel Winn and Bro . A . Strugnell , Herbert Emlyri , and G . T . Miles .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Lebanon Lodge , No . 1326 . 1 lis excellent lodge held its installation meeting on Saturday last , at the Railway Hotel , Feltham , which possesses a beautiful and convenient hall for such meetings . Unfortunately , the Provincial Grand Lodge of Middlesex was being held on the same day at Harrow , which caused the absence of the Provincial and Deputy Provincial Grsnd Masters , and many Provincial Grand Officers , but the proceedings were none the less agreeable , and every tffort was made by the Master , Past Masters , and other

ollicers it the lodge to make a very goodlv showot visitors thoroughly happy at having . 'ccepted invitations to be present . The brethren who attended were Bros ., D . Moss , W . M . j George J . Bailey , S . W . ; H . Russell , J . W . ; I . C . Goslin , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B ., Treas . ; F . Dunstan , P . M ., P . P . A . G . D . C ., ' Sec . ; Cordon Larner , S . D .: Will am J . Burton , J . D . ; W . C . Brooke , D . C . ; Thomas W . Alderman , Org . ; J . Lawrence , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C . ; W . Kite , P . M . ; Charles H . Collett , George Brown , R . T . Adams , James M . Little , H . P . Harris , Charles Burridge , VV . Nash , George Trederran , Thomas Thompson , Joseph Coulthard , Arthur B . Bailev . Thomas VV .

Kingston , and F . Goslin . Visitors : Bros . Thomas F . Noakes , Org . SOi ; John W . Simions , S . D . 193 ; Frank White , 153 ; Charles Winterbon , Org . 2333 ; A . P . Bebrouth , S . W . 781 ; H . Hudson , Stwd . 141 ; W . P . Clark , 1512 ; Walter Tyler , I . P . M . 1707 ; Frederick Stephens , P . M . 134 s ; A . VV . Lecren , P . M . 1320 ; D . S . Ross , 54 S ; Harry Fear , 2202 ; Louis Breeze , 1 G 79 ; II . Massey , P . M . C 19 and 1928 ; William Roots , W . M . 2589 ; and E . H . Dove , P . M . 45 . 13 ro . J . Laurence , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B ., initiated Mr . Arthur Bertram Bailey , after which Bro . D . Moss , W . M . installed Bro . G . T . Bailey as VV . M . for the ensuing 12 months . Bro . D . Moss reteived the collar of I . P . M , Bros . A , Russell was appointed S . W . ; Gordon Larner ,

Craft Masonry.

l . W . ; J . C . Goslin , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B ., Treasurer ; F . Dunstan , P . M ., P . P . A . G . D . C , Sec ; VV . J . Burton , S . D . ; A . J . Holland , J . D . ; L . C Brooke , I . G .: T . VV . Alderman , D . C . ; C . Collett , Org . ; J . Parry , G . Tredeman , and J . Coulthard , Stwds . ; and John Gilbert , Prov . G . Tyler , Tyler . The last brother being in attendance at the Prov . Grand Lodge , Bro . Rawles acted for him . A handsome Past Master ' s jewel and collar were presented to Bro . Moss . At the conclusion of the ceremonies a delightful banquet was provided for the brethren , and the tables were most tastefully arranged .

The evening derived additional success from the introduction of the electric light in illumination lamps in the roof of the hall , and in imitation candles on the tables . During the day a photo of the brethren attending - was taken , and afterwards a photo of the dining-hall with the tables dressed for dinner . When banquet was concluded , the toasts were proposed , and Miss Ada Hunt Smith , Miss Miriam Becket , Bros . Louis Breeze and Fred . VV . Stephens entertained the company with singing , and Mr . G . Melita cave an excellent performance on the cello . The music was under the direction of Bro . T . F . Noakes .

Bro . Bailey , W . M ., in proposing " The Prov . G . M ., the Dep . Prov . G . M ., and the rest of the Prov . G . Officers , Present and Past , " said if Lord Geo . Hamilton , and Bro . Raymond Thrupp had been present the lodge would have been very pleased to see them , and even in their absence he would like to have said something of their merits and their usefulness to the Craft generally , and to the Province of Middlesex in particular but time was on the wing , and the brethren had to catch trains . Bro . J . Laurence , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C , said in the absence of the Prov . and Dep . Prov . G . Masters Lord George Hamilton had a large amount of duty to perform

for the benefit of the State in general , and therefore , when he got a Saturday off he liked to take his ease . That day was one of his days off , and he had a day on at Harrow with the Prov . Grand Lodge . To that was to be attributed the absence of the Grand Officers , who would have acknowledged this toast . On very few occasions were the Prov . G . Officers absent from the installation meetings of the Lebanon Lodge . To-day the reason was a good one . No doubt those who were absent were hard at work for the benefit of all the lodges . The brethren could do something for them . They had a Provincial Charity Committee with which he ( Bro . Lawrence ) had been connected

a considerable time , but last year he had to resign . It might be a labour of love , but there was a certain amount of hard labour attached to it , and without the assistance of the Grand Officers it could not be carried on . He was speaking now to junior members . The seniors were able to take care of themselves . He returned thanks for the Prov . G . Officers . When those brethren had been here they had expressed their appreciation of the working of the lodge , and if they had been present that evening an encomium would have been passed upon the Immediate Past Master for the excellence of his performance in installing his successor .

Bro . D . Moss , I . P . M ., proposed " The W . M . " The brethren would aeree with him that they had seen sufficient of the VV . M . ' s work to justify them in the belief that they had a worker in the chair . Bro . Badey had shown by what little he had had to do that day that he was a Master in working , and , after all , that was the chief thing in Masonry . During his year of ofiice the brethren would have excellent working of the he would have

lodge ; they hoped plenty to do , because they knew he would then be happy . According to the arrangements made by the W . M ., it looked as if the brethren would have a very good time in the Fourth Degree , for he knew something about it . Let them wish he might have a prosperous year of office , good health to enjoy it , and to do his work as well as it invariably always was done in the Lebanon Lodge . He knew the W . M . would have the support of his ollicers .

Bro . Bailev , VV . M ., who on rising to acknowledge the toast was received with loud applause , said he scarcely knew how or in what way to commence thanking Bro . Moss for the terms in which he had proposed the toast , or the brethren for the enthusiasm with which they had accepted the remarks . He , however , thanked the brethren very heartily for placing him in the distinguished position of W . M . He could not sly he had coveted it in any way . Some had got to it step by step and he fully realised the responsibilities he had taken upon himself in accepting the chair . The only hops he had wis that the brethren would be satisfied with such work as he was able to do ; he would do it to the best of his ability . He was of a nervous disposition and he generall y failed ; but still he would strive not to fail .

Bro . T . Laurence , P . M ., next said the W . M . thought that as he ( Bro . Laurence ) performed the initiation ceremony that day it was in the fitness of things that he should propose " The Initiate . " Although brethren were always pleased to see visitors nothing pleased him better than to see initiates , provided they were good men and true . They hoped whenever they admitted any individual to their mysteries , and allowed him to take with them the name of brother that he would prove himself to be a brother in act and deed . Their brother who had been that evening initiated had had the opportunity of finding how nicely they operated in the Fourth Degree . But there was

somethingmore than a Fourth Degree in Masonry to be considered . Without bricks they could not repair a decaying edifice , and all things in life were decaying . When he first joined that lodge as an initiate he thought there were some 120 members in it . His name naturally did not appear . He thought now he was No . 7 . Therefore , the initiate had a better chance of getting into the chair than he ( Bro . Laurence ) had when he was initiated . He ( Bro . Laurence ) might have gone the way of all flesh when that

happened , but he hoped the initiate would not forget his initiation , and not be called upon by any one to buck up . Masonry did not consist principally in performing the ritual , and he would find that out . The brethren offered him that evening a hearty welcome , and they would live in hopes that he would prove a good and true brother . He felt certain they would not be disappointed in their choice . They wished him health and happiness , and that he would get into the chair , and show them what he could do .

Bro . A . B . Bailey , replying , said he hoped as years went on he would prove a brother and a friend , and also a brother and a friend who could buck up . Bro . Bailey , W . M ., in proposing "The I . P . M ., " said Bro . Moss was a jolly good fellow , and they had seen how he had done his work that evening and how he could fulfil the work of Installing Master . lie did it in a way most creditable to him , and it was a most impressive ceremony throughout . Considering the onerousness of his other duties and how little time he had to give to Masonic ritual , it was astonishing hov well he did the work .

Bro . David Moss , I . P . M ., in reply , said he felt deeply indebted to the brethren for the kind way in which they had accepted that toast , and to the W . M . for the very courteous manner in which he had spoken of him . Those flattering words were scarcely true . He certainly had done his best , and he told the brethren when he went into the chair that he would do so ; he could do no more , and what he had done had met with the brethren's appreciation . He had also to thank the brethren for the very handsome jewel they had presented him as well as for the collar and jewel . He said when it was presented that that was not the ordinary course . He had , unfortunately , seen in some

lodges , and he had seen it in this lodge , that the Past Mister ' s jewel seemed to indicate that the brother could leave the lodge . That was a rather hard and distressing way of putting it . He hoped that was not his order , for he should always endeavour to be among the brethren , and when he was among them and saw the good working and the genial way everything was conducted , as it had been lately , he should always feel it a pleasure to be with them . He hoped the W . M . would receive the same support from the ollicers as he had , and as good work . He took that opportunity of thanking his officers for their support ; he felt greatly satisfied with the way in which he had been supported .

Bro . Bailey , W . M ., in proposing "The Visitors , " took the opportunity of thanking Bro . Roots for instructing him in Masonic ritual . Even last night he neglected business to give him a rehearsal of the ritual observed in the investiture of officers . Bros . Roots and Fred Stephens replied , the former observing that it was a great pleasure to him to give instruction , and he hoped the W . M . would place himself under him until he had gone through the chair . Bros . F . Dunstan , Sec , and A . Russell , S . W ., responded to the toast of " The Treasurer , Secretary , and Officers of the Lodge , " after which a special toast was given for the musical professionals , and the Tyler's toast having been honoured , the bretnren departed for their respective destinations .

ON THE IITH INST ., the members of the Prince Edwin Lodge , Bury Bridge , had their annual outing , the place selected being Skipton for Gargrave . The party numbered 23 , and were under the conductorship of the W . M . of the lodge , Bro . Mitchell . They left by the 5 . 5 S a . m . train , and arrived in Bury in the evening about half-past 10 o ' clock , after spending a very enjoyable day . They drove to Gisburn , where they sang the National Anthem in the churchyard . The catering was done in a very satisfactory manner by Mr , Cope , landlord of the Swan Hotel , Gargrave .