Consecration Of The Eastern Star Chapter, No. 95.

more deserving of the honour . Comp . Collier also returned thanks ; he was very pleased to assist in the ceremonies of that day , more especially as Comp . Hill occupied the chair of First Principal . He had known him many years and had always found him a good friend and ready at all times to instruct young Masons in their duties .

The toast of " The Visitors " was next given ; and the M . E . Z . said that the chapter if small at present was very select . They were glad to receive visitors , and he trusted they would carry away with them the feeling that Masonry was not only a name , but a glorious principle . He hoped to have the privilege of meeting them again around that social board . He coupled with'that toast the names of Comps . W . Lake , Seymour Smith , and F . H . Cozens . Comp . LAKE responded on behalf of himself and the other visitors .

The toast of " The Press " was next proposed in very graceful terms by the M . E . Z ., who alluded to the great and varied services rendered by the Press to the State and society . Comp . LAKE responded on behalf of the Freemason , remarking on the difficulties surrounding the management- of a Masonic newspaper , which had so to order its ways that , while avoiding undue publicity on the one hand , it must so conform to modern requirements as to keep the Craft fully acquainted with all Masonic doings .

The next toast was that of " The Two First Principals—H . and J . " They were both , the M . E . Z . said , worthy and good Masons . Comp . Goode he had been working with in Masonry for eighteen years . Comp . Ruff , too , was a most ardent worker . He had passed the chair in the Craft , and from the great ability he had displayed in the lodge he felt sure he would do

credit to thc Eastern Star Chapter . Comp . GooDE in replying said that it vvas a happy moment for him to be placed in that chair . He had looked forward to it for many years , and was pleased to be associated with Comp . Hill in the formation of the chapter . Comp . Ruff , too , had taken the greatest interest in it , and not a little of the credit was due to him .

Comp . RUFI 1 also returned thanks , remarking that although he vvas proud of being placed in the position of one of the Principals , he vvas far prouder in finding the Eastern Chapter an accomplished fact . At present there were onl y three members of the Eastern Star Lodge attached , and without outside help it could not have been started . However there were sixteen propositions that evening , and now that the ball was set rolling , he believed

success was certain . It had been for some time a matter of surprise that no chapter had been attached to the Eastern Star Lodge , but directly Comp . Hill said he would take the Z ., and Comp . Goode the II ., he felt the chapter was as good as established . Comps . Brooks and Fish had also been untiring in their efforts to promote it . The M . E . Z . then gave " The Health of the Officers . " Comp . Fish , he said , was a young Mason , but he possessed great ability and energy . Comp .

Davies , P . S ., was an old friend and neighbour , and Comp . Ticklea worthy and hard-working Mason . Comp . Batting was one of the petitioners , and , from the prominent position he held in many lodges and chapters , he felt sure would prove an honour to the Eastern Star . Comp . FISH , in reply , said he had the prosperity of the Eastern Star at heart , and would do all he could to support the other officers . Hc was sure it would be no fault of theirs if the chapter was not a success .

Comps . DAVIES and BATTING also replied , the former remarking thathe came forward very readily to assist in its formation , and wilh Comp . Hill at thc helm it must be a success . Comp . Batting said he had not at first intended to become a member , although a petitioner , but he was vcry glad 10 add some little to its success , and had taken office with much pleasure . The Janitor's toast brought a very pleasant evening to a close . The musical arrangements were under the direction of Comp . Seymour Smith , assisted by Comp . F . H . Cozens and H . Ashton .

Freemasonry In Spain.

FREEMASONRY IN SPAIN .

BRO . IT . ECROYD . Continued from p . 184 of No . 633 . In our last article upon " Fremasonry in Spain " we notified to our British brethren the nearly approaching installation of a successor to our distinguished Bro . His Excellency Praxedes Mateo Sagasta , vvho , being now Prime Minister of His Majcst } ' Don Alfonso XII ., is compelled to relinquish the Grand Mastership and Sovereign Grand Commandcrship of the Gran Orientc de Espaiia .

We have now further to announce that this important event duly took place at the Freemasons' Hall , in Madrid , on the afternoon of the ioth of May , in the presence of a numerous gathering of the elite oi the Spanish Masonic world . On this auspicious occasion , the Grand Master elect , Bro . His Excellency Don Antonio Romero Ortiz , Ex-Minister of State , Deputy to the Cortes ,

and , under the present Ministry , Governor of the Bank of Spain , was formally and solemnly invested with the insignia of his office , and delegated by the immediately retiring Grand Master to rule over the destinies of our Frecmasonic brethren in Spain in Bro . Past Master Sagasta ' s stead . The proceedings lost somewhat of eclat owing to the regretful absence

of Bro . Grand Master Sngasta , whose high official duties most unfortunately precluded him from personally installinghis successor . He delegated his powers to Bro . His Excellency Don Tclesforo Montejo-Robledo , Ex-Minister of State , Knight Grand Cross of Charles III ., & c , who most efficiently represented his chief on this occasion .

Grand Lodge was summoned for five o ' clock p . m ., and very shortly afterwards the proceedings commenced in due form . The Grand Secretary , Bro . Juan Utor-Fernandez , communicated the fact that Bro . Sagasta had delegated his powers to Bro . Montejo-Robledo , and then read the formal Balaustre issued to that brother , authorising him to assume the Grand mallet , and preside over the proceedings of the day . Bro . Montejo-Robledo thereupon took his place in the East , and immediately appointed a commission of seven members of Grand Lodge , giving them instructions to go in search of the Grand Master elect , and ,

when found , conduct him within the portals of Grand Lodge to ihe East , in due form . The commission withdrew , and presently returned with the distinguished brother , whom ihcy accompanied to the Grand Pedestal , passing on their way under the accustomed Arch of Steel . Then came the solemn ceremony of obligating the Grand Master elect , which was gone through in ancient form .

1 he announcement from the chair of the names of the Grand Ofliccrs who have been nominated to succeed those who retire , then followed . Wc

Freemasonry In Spain.

give the list in the incomplete state in which it vvas communicated to the brethren present , as follows : — Most III . Bro . His Excellence Don Praxedes Mateo Sagasta , Prime Minister of Spain - - R . W . Past G . M . Very 111 . Bro . Manuel Llano-Persi - - - V . W . Deputy G . M . 111 . Bro . Juan Antonio Cabrera . . . Grand Orator .

„ „ Juan Utor-Fernandez ... Grand Sec . General . „ „ Laureano G . Campoamor - - - Grand Chancellor . „ „ Gregorio Cuevas-Sancho - - - Grand Treas . General . „ > , . Justo Jimenez .... Grand Hospitalario . „ ,, Julian de Ia Regnera - G . M . of C . „ „ Manuel Prado - Grand Principal Expert .

•>¦•Rogello Garza - Grand Junior Expert . „ „ Gillabert --- -- Grand Inner Guard . The names of the Grand Officers elect having been duly proclaimed , the Delegate Grand Master , Bro . Montejo-Robledo , " resumed the Grand mallet" ( as our Spanish brethren would say ) , having the Grand Master elect seated on his right hand , and the Deputy Grand Master elect on his

left . The Delegate Grand Master then proceeded to address the brethren present , and he passed in review the progress which Freemasonry in Spain , under the potent guidance of the Gran Oriente de Espafia , had made during the five eventful years of Bro . Grand Master Sagasta ' s rule . He clearly demonstrated that this progress was a thoroughly healthy growth , and most marked and well sustained . No less than one hundred and sixty regularly

working Craft lodges are now enrolled under the Banner of thc Grand Orient , and many of the lodges number more than one hundred working brethren . He spoke of the great services rendered to the Craft in Spain by the retiring Grand Master , who has been so ably supported by the indefatigable Grand Secretary , Bro . Juan Utor-Fernandez , and by other members of Grand Lodge . He referred ( as a matter of course ) to thc great political

changes which have so recently occurred in Spain , and expressed his great satisfaction that Freemasons are now able to practise their riles under the protection of the law . It is for our brethren in the Peninsula to justify the confidence which the present government places in them , and we hope , and believe , that they will carefully abstain from the slightest abuse of their Masonic privileges , and hold aloof from political partisanship , in any shape or form .

Bro . Montejo-Robledo proceeded to congratulate thc Grand Orient of Spain on the fact that official recognition has now been fully and formally accorded to them by the Grand Lodge of Italy , the Grand Orient of France , and the Grand Orients of Mexico , Brazil , Buenos Ayres , Uruguay , & c , whose representatives were then sitting in the midst . "I myself , " continued our illustrious brother , " have the distinguished honour of representing the

Grand Orient of brance , whose insignia I wear with pride . He informed his brethren that at the present moment petitions for official recognition at their hands have been received in Madrid from certain newly-constituted Masonic Grand Orients in Eastern Europe ; whilst their relations with the most important centres of Masonic power in Germany are now most cordial . He stated that he has good grounds for the belief that they will presently

receive formal recognition at the hands of their Anglo-Saxon brethren of the United Kingdom , and of the United States of North America . He alluded to the highly satisfactory progress which orthodox Freemasonry is now making in the Island of Cuba , where , until very recently , our brethren were in the hands of rival claimants lo thc governing power . I 3 ut now ( said Bro . Montejo-Robledo ) the dissensions instigated by the so-called " Heads "

of spurious Orients , are things of the past , and no less than forty-nine activel y working symbolic lodges recognise , at the present moment , the Grand Orient of Spain as the sole Masonic authority in Cuba . After Bro . Montejo-Robledo had concluded his most interesting and able discourse he withdrew from the Grand Master's throne , which vvas then immediately taken possession cf officially by the Grand Master elect—the Grand Officers having previously assumed their respective duties .

Then came a short inaugural address from Bro . Grand Master Ortiz , who in eloquent and feeling terms expressed his profound appreciation of the high and distinguished honour conferred upon him by those who had designated him for the Grand Master's chair , in succession to his illustrious predecessor—Bro . Sagasta . Bro . Ortiz assured his brethren present that although it would be impossible for him to rival his immediate predecessor ,

yet it would be his constant endeavour , by the aid of the G . A . O . I . U ., to maintain the Grand Orient in its present highly satisfactory state ,- and he will doubtless dedicate and devote those talents vvith which the Great Architect has blessed him to further the interests of our Order . He assured those present that it was his heartfelt desire to draw still closer together those

fraternal relations which should always exist between the brethren of all countries , and more especially between the Grand Councils and Grand Lodges of the entire world ; and he will , wc are sure , support his Spanish brethren in their very laudable endeavours to obtain //*// and formal recognition from the Grand Lodge of England . After Grand Master Bro . Antonio Romero Ortiz had resumed his Grand

mallet , the Deputy Grand Master , Bro . Llano-Persi , spoke at considerable length . He commenced by returning his thanks for the confidence reposed in him , and he promised to do all that in him laid to forward the true interests of' our Order in general , and those of the Gran Orientc de Espaiia in particular . He recalled very especially to the remembrance of his brethren those notable days when thc re-organizer of Craft Freemasonry in Spain ,

Bro . Manuel Ruiz Zorrilla , was at their head . He declared that he himself would always take as his example , and acknowledge as his Masterjn the Craft , that dignified and accomplished Chief , to whom Spanish Freemasonry really owed so much of its present prosperity and development . No orthodox centre of Masonic authority now exists in Spain ( no legitimate source of Masonic light ) except of the re-constructed Grand Orient , presided over

until the year 1874 by Bro . Grand Master Manuel Ruiz Zorrilla , whose only legitimate successor is Bro . Grand Master Antonio Romero Ortiz , who had that day been solemnly invested vvith supreme command , and who had , only a few minutes before , assumed the Grand mallet . Speaking of the qualifications of Bro . Romero Ortiz for the Grand

Master ' s chair , Bro . Llano-Persi assured the brethren of Spain that Bro . Ortiz's "brilliant antecedents , distinguished accomplishments , and honourable titles , not only pointed him out as one of whom his country was justly proud , but lhat they werc an assured guarantee that he would most notably promote the best interests of the Grand Orient whose porvenir he had that day taken in charge . "

Bro . Llano-Persi pointed out how Freemasonry exerted an undoubted and most beneficent inlluence , not only upon those who are ranged under its banners , but , through them , on thecntirc world at large . " Itsaimandonly object is toamclioratc thc condition of the human race , and combat superstition , ignor-