The Eastern Division Of South Africa.

THE EASTERN DIVISION OF SOUTH AFRICA .

Freemasonry in this Division of South Africa , which was formed into a separate District , with Bro . CHARLES J . EGAN , M . D ., as District Grand Master , in 18 77 , has made very satisfactory proo-ress under the auspices of that brother , thc published

proceedings—of which we have been favoured with a copy—at the regular Quarterly Communication on the 14 th September last , furnishing evidences of prosperity , which must be exceedingl y gratifying not only to the District Grand Master himself ,

but als * o to the lodges and brethren over whom he has presided so ably during the last 21 ycars . The number of lodges on the roll has been " reduced from 29 to 27 , by the incorporation of the Memorial Lodge , No . 1800 , with the British Kaffrarian

Lodge , No . 853 , King William ' s Town , and thc transfer of the Unity Lodge , No . 21 S 1 , Knysna , to the Western Division ; but , notwithstanding this , there has been a slig ht increase in the number of brethren on the roll of subscribing members . The

several statements of account that were presented ancl adopted will be found equally gratifying , there being balances to the good , at the close of the accounts . , of nearly £ 757 on the Benevolent Fund ; £ 774 on the Reserve Fund ; and £ 312 on the General

Fund—these together constituting a total of assets amounting to £ 1843 . This progress in the case of the Benevolent Fund is the more encouraging from the fact that it was only started as

rccentlv as two years ago , and yet the annual contributions from the lodges amount to as much as £ 233 . It must also be mentioned that the Special Benevolent Fund , which was organised in connection with the O UEEN ' S Diamond Jubilee , has reached a

total of rather more than £ 525 , and , there is every reason to believe lhat it would have attained to still greater proportions , had it not been for the many other calls that were made upon thc brethren about the same time . As regards thc Masonic Education

Fund , the accounts show a total of receipts , including the balance brought forward from the previous account , amounting to close upon £ 1771 , while the expenditure—consisting of Education Fees , sundry small accounts , and transfcis to

Endowment Fund , & c , reached £ 444 , thc balance on the 3 ist August last being , £ 1357 . The number of children for whom fees were paid during the year was 39 , and the number at present on thc Fund is 26 ; and wc note with pleasure that Bro . A . E . AUSTIN ,

Dep . Dist . G . Master , in moving the adoption of the 1 reasurer ' s Accounts , urged very strongly upon thc brethren the desirability of extending thc usefulness of the Fund by in some way helping the pupils when they had left school . As the Dep . Dist . G . M .

pointed out " these children are the orphans of Brethren , and surely , if Masonic vows are worth anything , they should inspire rill true Brethren lo do something more than is at present being done to fit the little ones for their light in the battle

of life . The prosperity , or otherwise , the morality of thc man or woman , depend so much upon the surroundings of the individual in youth , and it was quite time that thc Craft in this Division should lake some specific step to protect

thc children from evil influence after they have left school , " and hc added , " the Craft , under the banner of the R . W . D . G . M . of the Eastern Division of South Africa , is strong enough to do this . " We fully agree with the opinions so ably set forth by the

Dep . Dist . G . Master , and endorse thc hope expressed by him that , when the time for holding thc next annual communication comes round , it will be found that some scheme has been devised and will be submitted for acceptance to the Dist . G .

Lodge by which effect can be given to these views . We trust , also , that in future years we may have the privilege of recording that the Craft has made slill further progress in the Division of South Africa .

Consecration Of The Streatham Lodge, No. 2729.

CONSECRATION OF THE STREATHAM LODGE , No . 2729 .

To the roll of Freemasonry has been added yet another lodge , in that of the Streatham Lodge , No . 2729 , which was consecrated by Bro . Edward Letchworth , G . Sec , on Wednesday , the ifith inst ., at the Town Hall ,

Streatham . The large body of Masons residing at Streatham and its immediate neighbourhood , was the raison d ' etre for this nevv addition to the Craft lodges . The brethren , visitors , and petitioners , assembled at 5 p . m ., when the consecration was conducted by the Grand Secretary , who was

Consecration Of The Streatham Lodge, No. 2729.

assisted by Bros . Sir J . B . Monckton , P . S . G . W ., as S . W . ; Col . Sir Terence O'Brien , K . C . M . G ., P . G . D ., as J . W . ; Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg , M . A ., P . G . Chap ., as Chap . ; Frank Richardson , P . G . D ., as G . D . C . ; and Wm . Lake , A . G . Sec , as I . G . The following founders were present : Bros . Horace B . Marshall , P . M . 1777 , P . G . W . Middx . ; Charles Cheers Wakefield , 1013 ; William Henry

Wheeler , 469 ; Arthur Johnson , 2369 ; Henry Holloway , 1365 ; Henry Daniel Blake , P . M . 813 ; John Henry Champness , P . M . 18 ; John Henry Liie , 1745 ; John Morrish , 237 ; Harry Swindon Lee , P . M . 1563 ; and Walter Haddon , P . M . 2024 . Visitors : Bros . R . Greenwood , P . M . 1641 ; Geo . Clark , jun ., P . M . 1777 ; Jas . S . Holliday , P . M . 1777 , P . P . A . G . D . C . Middx . ; Prof . F . W . Driver , M . A ., P . M . 45 ; Turle Lee

, 2264 ; Walter Coward , 2000 ; Herbert Emlyn , 134 ; John Sandbrook , 1929 ; H G . Edwards , 186 ; , W . C . Graham , P . P . G . D . Middx . ; W . B . Ninnis , P . G . Std . Br . ; G . Richards , Dist . G . M . Transvaal ; H . F . E . Pistorius , P . D . G . M . Transvaal ; W . A . L . Pearce , 1323 ; W . G . Lacy , 1767 and 2512 ; W . J . Middleton , 1563 ; A . Ritchie , W . M . 173 ; H . Massey , P . M . 1629 and 1928 ; Hy . Sadler , G . Tyler ; and F . G . Day , 2500 .

The ceremony was ably and impressively carried out by the distinguished brethren above- mentioued . The CHAPLAIN strongly urged upon the brethren of the new lodge that Freemasonry was not a matter to be entered upon lightly and without sound judgment , and that it behoved all Masons to be shining members of the Craft , bright examples to the outer world , to be estimated for their good works , and thereby reflect the glory of the G . A . O . T . U .

The musical portion of the service was ably conducted by Bro . Turle Lee , assisted by the talented artists , Bros . Walter Coward , Herbert Emlyn , and John Sandbrook . The lodge having been duly consecrated , the Grand Secretary then installed the W . M . designate , Bro . Horace Brooks Marshall , M . A ., D . I .., J . P ., who appointed the following brethren as his officers for the ensuing year : Bros . C . C . Wakefield , F . R . G . S ., as S . W . ; W . H . Wheeler , J . W . ;

H . T . Lee , P . M ., I . P . M . ; J . H . Champness , F . S . A ., Treas . ; Arthur Johnson , Sec . ; H . D . Blake , S . D . ; W . Holloway , J . D . ; J . H . Liie , C . C , D . C ; W . Haddon , l . G . ; J . Morrish , Steward ; and H . Mallett , P . M ., Tyler .

The W . M . was saluted by the Board of Installed Masters , which was afterwards closed . When the brethren were readmitted , the W . M . was saluted in the Three Degrees . The three addresses were beautifully rendered by the Grand Secretary . A Committee was elected to frame the by-laws of the lodge .

A motion was proposed , seconded , and carried unanimously , thit the hearty thanks of the lodge be given to the Grand Secretary and Grand Officers who assisted at the consecration , and that the same be recorded in the minutes . They were also invited to become hon . members , an honour which the Grand Secretary , on behalf of his colleagues and himself , accepted . The lodge was then closed .

After a well-served banquet , the following toasts were given : " The Queen and the Craft ; " "The M . W . G . M ., H . R . H . the Prince of Wales ; " ' •The M . W . Pro . G . M ., the Earljof Lathom ; R . W . Dep . G . M ., the Earl Amherst ; and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past . " This toast was coupled with the names of Bros . G . Richards , District G . M . of the Transvaal , and H . F . F . Pistorius , P . D . G . M . Transvaal .

Bro . RICHARDS , speaking on behalf of Bro . Pistorius and himself , said that Freemasonry was not canfined to the Mother Country but was diffused throughout the vast Empire of our Empress Queen ; that the mystic invisible bond of the Craft united brethren of all colours , sorts , and conditions , rich and poor , into one indissoluble brotherhood , actuated by the same feelings and intentions ; that Freemasonry was universally spr ead over the habitable globe , beloved by its adherents , and was respected even by its enemies .

1 hese sentiments were warmly applauded by the brethren . The toast of " The Consecrating Ollicers " followed . The W . M . enlarged on the important duties which devolved on the Grand Secretary , who was ever ready to consecrate a new lodge—as he had done for an unbroken succession of many years . He , as W . M . of the Streatham Lodge , felt himself to be personally indebted to the Grand

Secretary for his kind services . He , also , on behalf of himself and the lodge , tendered thanks to the Grand Officers for the assistance they had rendered , and , furthermore , he presented to each of the Consecrating Officers , as a souvenir of their visit , a silver cigarette case with a suitable inscription , which he handed to the recipients , from himself and the perous brethren .

In reply , the GRAND SECRETARY thanked the W . M . and the brethren of the lodge , on his own account and that of his colleagues , for the handsome present each had received , he said it was a labour of love with him to promote and assist at the birth of a new band of brothers , that it vvas , indeed , a special pleasure to him to instal in the chair the son of the late Grand Treasurer , and that he heartily wished the lodge a bright and prosfuture .

" The Health of the W . M . " was proposed by Bro . Sir J . B . MONCKTON , P . G . W . He delivered a glowing eulogium on the Masonic virtues and the admirable and munificent assistance given by the W . M . to the Charitable Institutions of the Craft . The WoRsiiii'iuL MASTER replied in a few felicitous sentences . He

was visibly affected when he alluded to the noble work performed by his father in the cause of Charity . He said his dear , good father had set him a glorious example , which it behoved him to follow , that the intererts of the Craft would ever be dear to him , and that he trusted his future deeds would confirm his present words . " The Visitors " received a hearty welcome .

Iiro . RITCHIE , in responding , said he was at first asked to be a founder . On declining , he was asked to attend as a guest , and he came in that capacity . Bro . GREENWOOD also replied .

In giving " The Ollicers of the Lodge , " the WOKSIIIITI ' MASTER . spoke of his personal acquaintance with several of them , alluding especially to the Secretary . He coupled with the toasts the names of the S . W . and Secretary . Bros . WAKEFIELD and J OHNSON responded . The Tyler ' s toast brought the evening to a close . The toasts were interspersed with songs and duets under the direction of Bro . Turle Lee .