Consecration Of The Muswell Hill Lodge, No. 2728.

Robins , P . C . Walker , Ed . Richardson , and W . Bean . Visitors : Bros . H . Sadler , G . Tyler ; A . Stuart , 134 ; W . II . Wheeler , H . T . Gurner , l . P . M . 204 S ; T . F . Borgen , 2048 ; E . G . Southcott , 2048 ; A . C . Dove , 2580 ; J . R . Hill , 157 ; G . G . Forster , S . W . 124 ; J . Rumsey , 117 S ; B . J . W . Lone , P . M . ; ' E . H . Wilcox , Benjn . Carter , T . Hewett , 16 S 1 ; H . Hill , P . M . 1305 ; H . T .

Desch , 204 S ; W . J . Brake , J . D . 1460 ; B . H . Springett , 16 S 1 ; H . T . CulHford , 1563 ; H . Eaton , 1539 ; W . Lewis , 1366 ; W . H . Frampton , 2048 ; J . Bruton , P . M . 2006 ; A . Kelly , J . W . 12 SS ; H . Turner , 2580 ; J . P . Pointer , P . M . 1613 ; E . Holland , P . M . 1703 ; W . Parks , 1708 ; M . Johnson , 1580 ; W . H . Crawshaw , 2521 ; C . W . Matthews , 2271 ; W . W . Lee , P . M . ; and others .

Lodge was opened in the Three Degrees , the dispensation read , and a hymn sung . The CONSECRATING OFFICER , then addressing thebrethren , said they had . met for the purpose of undertaking the interesting ceremony of consecration

of a new lodge and its dedication to God ' s service . The Muswell Hill Lodge was started for the convenience more particularly of brethren residing in that district and all present would wish that it would have before it a career of prosperity and accomplish all those special objects the founders have in view .

The ceremony was proceeded with , and an oration having been delivered by the Chaplain , the lodge was solemnly consecrated . Bro . H . W . Parker was installed as the first W . M . and invested the following officers : Bros . J . Purton , P . M ., acting l . P . M . ; James H . Wilson ,

S . W .: Alfred L . Sargood , J . W . ; C . L . Hrauda , P . M ., Treas . ; W . H . Pocklington . P . M ., Sec ; G . H . Butterworth , S . D . ; W . D . Ovens , J . D . ; J . W . Ryder , I . G . ; G . G . Honour , D . C . ; F , Partington , P . M ., and D . Lorimer , Stwds . ; W . Syckelmoore , P . M ., Org . ; and T . C . Edmonds , P . M ., Tyler .

The Consecrating Officers were unanimously elected honorary members of the lodge , a compliment for which the GRAND SECRETARY returned thanks . The arrangements which had previously been made for holding the Iodge at the Green Man , Muswell Hill , having recently fallen through owing to a change of proprietorship , notice of motion was given to hold an emergency meeting at the Frascati Restaurant to settle the future meeting place of the lodge .

Propositions were received for initiation , after which the lodge was closed . An excellent banquet was well served under the personal supervision of Bro . Kella . The usual toasts followed .

The W . M . briefly proposed " The Oueen and the Craft" and " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M . " ~ In giving * ' The Grand Officers , " the W . M . alluded briefly to the death of the late Pro G . M . Bro , F . RICHARDSON , P . G . D ., in reply , said that from his small acquaintance with the late Pro G . M . he could say his death was a loss that could not be easily replaced , because not only was he a great Mason and a great

gentleman , but he was one of the most polished gentlemen in Europe . In the Grand Officers they had the right men in the ri ght place , and , as far as the Past Grand Officers were concerned , they were only too pleased to do some work , and esteemed it a great pleasure and a great honour to be called upon to assist in the consecration of a lodge , because they liked to show that , although they wore the distinguished purple , they had not forgotten the work they learnt when they wore the blue .

" The Consecrating Officers" was given by the W . M ., who said they all admired the splendid way in which the Grand Secretary had performed the consecration ceremony . It had never been his pleasure to meet the Grand Secretary until the formation of that Iodge . He always imagined the Grand Secretary to be a very austere gentleman , only to be approached in a

particular way , | but when he was ushered into his presence he was taken back by the very kind manner in which Bro . Letchworth received him . With regard to the other Grand Officers , Bro . Stephens was one of his oldest friends in Freemasonry , and had treated him with the greatest kindness in giving advice and counsel . He was quite sure that his want of knowledge of Bros . Richardson and Martin was his great loss .

Bro . E . LETCHWORTH , G . Secretary , in response , said he should be ungenerous were he to attempt to inflict anything in the nature of a speech , but he desired to thank them on behalf of those associated with him in the ceremony for the kind words in which the VV . M . had been pleased to propose the toast . The Grand Officers had many duties to perform , but he had no hesitation in saying there was no more agreeable 'duty than that of

assisting in starting into existence a new lodge , and that pleasure was increased when it started , as it did that night , under the very able rule of their W . M ., and gave prospect of a successful career . He tendered his best thanks to the Grand Officers for their valuable assistance . He regretted the absence of the brother ( Bro . Stiles ) who was to have undertaken the duties of S . W ., especially as the cause was sudden illness . He sincerely

trusted that illness was not serious , and that on the morrow they might be reassured . That place was taken by Bro . Stephens at a moment ' s notice , and he had also to thank Bro . Martin for undertaking the office of J . W . They knew how grateful he must be to Bro . Richardson for his services . He always felt with Bro . Richardson at his right hand that everything would go smoothly , and the ceremony be a success . He would next propose the toast of the evening— " The Health of the VV . M . "—whom he had

had the great pleasure of installing into the chair of the lodge that night . The success of a new lodge depended to a very great extent upon the brother who , during the first and most critical period of its existence , filled the chair of W . M ., and he most heartily congratulated the members on having as their first W . M . one so able to guide them as Bro . Parker . They had had a specimen of his work , and he could also refer them to the members of the Henry Levander Lodge . He asked the brethren to join in drinking the health of the W . M ., and wish him a most successful year of office .

Bro . H . W . PARKER , W . M ., P . P . G . S . B . Middx ., said he was afraid the Grand Secretary had paid him more compliments than he was entitled to . That he should ever be the W . M of a new lodge was beyond his wildest ambition . The lodge had a very small beginning . A few brethren of his mother lodge wanting a little instruction , he consented to act as coach , and they all met at Bro . Wilson ' s house . As they numbered over 20 , they

thought they were strong enough to form a new lodge in the neighbourhood . He was asked ( 0 be the first W . M ., but he hesitated a great deal , as he was already a member of two lodges ; but they were unanimous , and he consented . They were all determined to make it a success . They wanted a harmonious lodge , and they did not want the predominating influence of any one brother , however good he mi ght be . They had seen this in several

Consecration Of The Muswell Hill Lodge, No. 2728.

lodges , and it was to the detriment of the Iodge , and did not add to the happiness and comfort of the brethren . It would be their ambition to bear always in mind the grand principles of the Order , and whilst they continued to act up to those principles their lodge would prosper and become a centre for good .

For "The Visitors" the following brethren responded : Bros . WHEELER , W . M . ; CULLIFORD , W . M . ; SKELLOM , W . M . ; GURNER , P . M . ; BROOKS , POINTER , P . M . ; and SMART . "The Hon . Membsrs" was given by the W . M ., who especiall y thanked Bro . Stephens for his kind loan of furniture and other assistance given in the formation of the Iodge .

Bro . J . STEPHENS , P . D . G . D . C , returned thanks , and said hebelievedhe had done his duty in assisting this Iodge . The W . M . was well beloved in Masonry and in the commercial world , and the Iodge was to be congratulated on its first Master . " The Officers" and the Tyler ' s toast closed the proceedings .

In the musical programme the following artistes assisted : Miss Amy Sargent , Miss Lilian Close , and Bios . W . H . Wheeler , W . Syckelmoore , P . M . ; and Pocklington , P . M .

Board Of Benevolence.

BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE .

The last meeting of the Board of Benevolence for the year 1 S 9 8 was held on Wednesday evening at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . James Henry Matthews , President , occupied the President ' s chair ; Bro . D . D . Mercer , P . G . P ., S . V . P ., that of Senior Vice-President ; and Bro . Henry Garrod , J . V . P ., for the first time since his election , took his seat in the capacity of Junior Vice-President . The other brethren present were the Grand Secretary ( Bro . E .

Letchworth ) , the Assistant Grand Secretary ( Bro . W . Lake ) , Bros . W . Dodd , G . S . Recknell , Henry Sadler , Grand Tyler ; George B . Chapman , William Fisher , C . H . Stone , C . J . R . Tijou , E . W . Nightingale , W . Kipps . W . Martin , Lieut .-Col . Clifford Probyn , G . T ., C . Pulman , S . H . Goldschmidt , John Ellinger , James Stephens , P . D . G . D . C . ; F . W . Hancock , W . Wills , John H . Womer , A .

W . Duret , Joseph Corbett , W . H . Mann , H . Dangerfield , H . Massey , C . T . Milnes , C . H . Perryman , Richard Poore , R . Gillard , Henry A . Tobias , F . Dunn , C , VV . Rayner , J . Corey , C . J . Harland , R . W . Ker , H . A . P . George , William Carey , E . Strauss , Robert Steele , Henry Lyner , Henry Petley , George R , Langley , George W . Beste , Charles Kempton , Arthur J . Cannon , James Hill , A . Daren , and H . Machin .

The brethren first confirmed recommendations to the Grand Master made at the November meeting to the extent of . £ 455 ; they then proceeded with the new list , on which there were the names of 30 candidates . These were qualified to come on the Fund of Benevolence through lodges in the London district , and at Umballa , Great Torrington , Shepton Malle t , Whitehaven , Norwich , Brighton , Beaminster , Burton-upon-Trent , Bungay , Grand Lodge of Ireland , Torquay ,

Aylesbury , Jersey , Tynemouth , and Stockton . Two of the petitions were deferred and four dismissed . The remainder were awarded a total of ^ 615 . One case was recommended to Grand Lodge for £ 100 , and two were recommended for £ 50 each i two were recemmended to the Grand Master for £ 40 each , and four for , £ 30 each . Several grants were made of £ 20 each ; one for . ^ 15 ; five for £ 10 each ; and three for , £ 5 each .

Ladies' Banquet Of The Albion Lodge, No. 9.

LADIES' BANQUET OF THE ALBION LODGE , No . 9 .

The members of the ancient Albion Lodge , No . 9 , according to their usual custom , entertained the ladies at a banquet at the Holborn Restaurant on the 13 th instant .. It is almost needless to say that the function was a great success , and

with Bros . W . L . Harvey , P . M ., Sec , and Friend , P . M ., Treas ., to make the necessary arrangements , ar . d with such a popular W . M . as Bro . Cain , a pleasant and enjoyable evening was a foregone conclusion . There was a goodly contingent of companions present from the Albion Chapter , headed by the M . E . Z ,, Comp . Wickenden .

The guests were welcomed on arrival by Bro . and Mrs . H . F . Cain , and after formal introductions and a pleasant chat , adjourned to the banquet room , where a recherche repast was provided . After dessert each lady was presented with a handsome cut-glass bottle of scent , which formed a charming souvenir of the occasion . A few toasts were given , the stereotyped list , however , being carefully avoided .

The W . M . ( styled the Chairman on the handsome programme ) , after briefly giving "The Queen and the rest of the Royal Family , " proposed "The Ladies and Visitors . " Having expressed his pleasure at the task , he said the brethren were indebted for the presence of the ladies to charm and grace the assembly . It was only occasionally that they , poor men and Masons , were permitted the company and softening influence of the fair sex , and that evening was one of those occasions . From the " hear , hears , " and the happy faces around him , he

concluded that the brethren all adored the ladies , and they would , therefore , agree with him that it was to the ladies they owed the enjoyment they were deriving from the festival that evening . To the ladies generally he offered a hearty welcome , and thanked them for the honour and pleasure of their company . The length of the programme would preclude him from calling upon all the visitors , but he would ask Bro . Cooks , P . M ., to respond lor the brethren ; Dr . Podmore for the lay visitors ; and Bro . Booth for the ladies .

Bro . BOOTH , replying for the ladies , owned to a certain amount of embarrassment . The VV . M . had done the ladies an injustice by calling upon a mere apprentice to respond . The ladies had enjoyed themselves , and had a slightly better opinion of Masonry than ladies usually had . He hoped these entertainments would be as frequent as was consistent with the proper discharge of their duties as Masons . The ladies looked forward to meeting the brethren again on a future occasion .

Bros . COOKS , P . M ., and Dr . PODMCRE also replied . Bro . W . L . HAKVEV , P . M ., Sec , next gave the very comprehensive toast , " Freemasonry . " Having , he said , met under the banner of Freemasonry , some of the ladies would like to know what Freemasonry was . He would tell them it was founded on the purest principles that a man could possibly possess . It was a

Freemason who expressed the sentiment , " Behold , how good and joyful a thing it is , brethren , to dwell together in unity . " To admire relief and good works was one of the fundamental elements of Freemasonry . He had heard severe criticisms sometimes of the disposition of their Charity , but they possessed one Institution which succoured those who had borne the heat and burJen of the day . He was pleased to tell them that Bro . Francis , the W . M . elect , would represent the Albion