Provincial Grand Lodge Of Kent.

be taken from us . He has been my trusted and effective Privy Councillor for 22 years , and now I hope he will moderate his Masonic zeal , in the hope that he may be spared for many years to come to give us the benefit of his ripe experience and great Masonic knowledge . The success of this province has been due in no small measure to the wise counsel he Ins given ITIP . I hope the G . A . O . T . U . may spare him for many years to come to stand at or near my right hand . ( Prolonged applause . )

Bro . J . SMITH EASTES , D . P . G . M ., then responded in a speech broken with emotion , in the course of which he said : The Prov . Grand Master has alluded to my very serious illness . I am glad to be hereto thank the brethren one and all for the great feeling and sympathy shown to me and my family during that most trying time . It was the greatest comfort and support to me and did me good . I thank you from my heart , and any service I can render I shall only be too glad to perform so long as God shall be pleased to spare me . ( Loud cheers . )

During the banquet Mr . Godfrey ' s orchestral band p layed a choice selection of music , and the afier proceedings were considerably enlivened with a programme of vocal music , under the direction of Bros . E . ] . Wood and James Kift , assisled by the following artistes : Miss Florence Venning , Miss May Pinner , and Bros . Trueman , Arthur Strugnell , and E . J . Wood .

Opening Of A Masonic Hall At Minehead.

OPENING OF A MASONIC HALL AT MINEHEAD .

DEDICATION CEREMONY BY BRO . VISCOUNT DUNGARVAN , P . G . M . SOMERSET . On Thursday , the iSth inst ., a special Provincial Grand Lodge was held under the banner of the Exmoor Lodge , No . 2390 , with the object of dedicating to the purposes of Freemasonry a handsome hall which has just been erected in Bank-road , Minehead . It is only iust over five years ago that Freemasonry was

introduced into Minehead , the Exmoor Lodge having been founded on May 26 th , 1891 , and that it should be able in so short a period to acquire a building of its own speaks volumes for the progress it has made and for the enterprise of its members . The meetings have hitherto been held at the Public Hall , but special inducements having been held out by Mr . Ponsford , acting on behalf of G . F . Luttrell , Esq ., who kindly offered a freehold site in a capital position on almost nominal terms , it was felt that the opportunity should not be allowed to pass .

After some discussion , therefore , it was decided to form a company under the title of the Minehead Masonic Hall Co ., Ltd ., with a capital of , £ 1000 in 200 shares of . £ 5 each , the first directors being Bros . H . Cox , S . W . ( Chairman ) ; J . Herbert Davis , J . W . ; J . S . Haddon , P . P . S . G . W . ; G . Hayward , Treas . ; R . Hole , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; G . H . Kite , W . M . ; and W . Ludlow , P . P . G . Steward ; with Bro . H . Owen Brown as Secretary . A considerable amount of professional work in connection with the scheme has been carried out free of charge , so that a good deal of expense has been saved . Conspicuous in this matter should be

mentioned Bro . F . W . Roberts , architect , of Taunton , Provincial Grand Superintendent of Works , and P . M . of the lodge , whose services have been honorary , and who has taken an immense amount of trouble in carrying out the wishes of the directors , to whom he has given the utmost satisfaction . The Worshipful

Master , Bro . Kite , undertook all the legal work in the formation of the company free of charge , and also by his advice and help has contributed in no small degree to the success of the scheme ; and it should also be mentioned that Bro . J . R . Davis , J . D ., prepared the deed of conveyance from Mr , Luttrell to the company without remuneration .

As has previously been stated , the new building is in Bank-road , a street now being formed running from The Parade towards Alcombe . The front elevation has a rich and p leasing appearance , designed in the Renaissance style of architecture , with chaste classic detail in Doulting stone , the general facing being of red sandMor . e obtained from Mr . LuHrell ' s quarries at Alcombe . The top of the centre bay is formed into a moulded pediment with a stag ( about half

full-size ) carved in a most effective manner , together with the other carving , by Mr . Gilts , sculptor , of Wellington . On a ribbon under the stag are the words " Exmoor Lodge , No . 23 QO , " and there are carved slags in the frieze on either side of the cential bay . " Exmoor Masonic Mall , " in raised letters on stone frieze , comes over the ground floor windows . The building is entered through a lobby with embossed glass in the sash-door especially designed by the architect , in which the various Masonic designs have been introduced . The entrance-hall is

Opening Of A Masonic Hall At Minehead.

nine feet wide , with a pattern-tiled floor . Opening off this and on the same level is the larger robing room , 20 feet squarr . there also being a smaller robing room 12 feet six inches by 11 feet , with sepaia e entrance , for the use of Provincial Grand Lodge officers when attending the bdge . There are also provided the necessary lavatory conveniences , which are nicely shut off from the principal rooms . Leading from the entrance hall to the first floor landing is an open pitchpine staircase , at the top of which a Tyler ' s room has been arranged for , through

which the lodge-room is reached , although another door is provided direct from the staircase landing , to be used in case of emergency . The lodge-room is 30 feet by 20 feet and 16 feet high , making a well-proportioned room , and it is lighted with three separate transomed and mullion lights . The ceiling is divided into panels with moulded ribs and large quadrant cove sweeping down and on to a moulded and dentil cornice carried round the room . An arched recess , 16 feet by four feet , for organ , Secretary's table , & c , has been arranged over the staircase , and this materially adds to the size of the lodge-room . The panelled ceiling ,

cornice , and other decorative features have been artistically treated and picked out in effective tints by the contractor from instruction given by the architect . The architect has not had quite a free hand as regards money , and it is somewhat surprising to find that so much has been done with so modest a sum as ; £ Soo . The contractor is Mr . John Burgess , of Minehead , who has carried out the work in a highly satisfactory manner . Should Masonry continue to prosper in Minehead sufficient land has been secured to enable a larger lodge-room to be built at the back of the present hall .

The proceedings on Thursday commenced with Divine service ( open to the public ) in St . Andrew ' s Church at 1 p . m . There was a large congregation , consisting not only of members of the Craft , but the public at large , who took much interest in the proceedings , there being present , amongst others , Bro . the Right Hon . Viscount Dungarvan , Prov . G . M ., Bro . R . C . Else , Dep . Prov . G . M ., and G . F . Luttrell , Esq ., and Mrs . Luttrell , of Dunster Castle . The service , which was a special one , and short in form , was choral , the choir consisting of local brethren , assisted by some from Taunton , and the Organist being Bro . A . Ham ,

Mus . Doc , Organist of the lodge . The service commenced with the singing of the Hundredth Psalm ( metrical version ) , and the prayers were intoned by Bro . the Rev . H . O . Powell-Jones , Mus . Bac , rector of Combe Florey . A special psalm was chanted to a setting by Monk . The vicar of Minehead , the Rev . A . H . F . Luttrell , read the special lesson , which was taken from I . Kings , iii ., 5 to 16 . The anthem , " Behold , how good and joyful a thing it is " ( Dr . Clark Whitfield ) , was next sung , a bass solo being taken by Bro . J . H . Davis , and a duet by Bros . J . R . Davis and G . Hayward .

The sermon , a most appropriate one , was preached by Bro . the Rev . E . A SANOFORD , Prov . G . Chap ., and curate of Henbury , near Bristol , who took as his text Ephesians iii ., 17 , " Rooted and grounded in love . "

After the sermon , the hymn , " O Worship the King , was sung while the offertory , which was in aid of the funds of the Minehead and Dunster Cottage Hospital , was taken , and the service concluded with the benediction , pronounced by the Rev . A . H . F , LUTTRELL . The offertory amounted to £ 6 as . 6 d . At the close of the service , Dr . Ham played as a voluntary the " Masonic March , " by Creger .

The brethren then repaired to the new hall , which had been beautifully fitted up and decorated for the occasion . In the entrance-hall and robing-rooms , on the staircase , and in the lodge-room , some splendid flowers and plants , which had been kindly lent'by H . A . Bosanquet , Esq ., of Clanville , had been tastefully arranged , and the lodge-room itself was very artistically draped . Provincial Grand Lodge was at once opened in due form , the Prov . G . M ., Bro . Lord Dungarvan , being in the chair , supported by his Deputy , Bro . R . C . Else , and the Wardens' chairs being occupied by Bro . W . T . Baker , P . S . G . W ., and Bro . B . Whitby , P . J . G . W .

The other Present Prov . Grand Officers in their places were Bros . Rev . E . A . Sandford , P . G . Chap . ; S . J . Sellick , P . G . Reg . ; E . Fry Wade , P . P . J . G . W ., P . G . Sec . ; C . J . Hill , P . S . G . D . ; F . W . Roberts , P . G . S . of W . ; A . E . Bui nett , P . G . D . of C ; W . H . Wake , P . A . G . D . of C . ; A . H . Stringfellow , P . G . S . B . ; C . S . Payn , P . G . Std . Br . ; A . E . Norrington , P . A . G . Purst . ; A . J . Salter , P . G . Tyler ; and S . Bigwood , P . A . G . Tyler .

The Past Prov . Grand Lodge Officers were Bros . F . T . Elworthy , P . P . G . S . W . ; J . S . Haddon , P . P . G . S . W . ; G . Saunders , jun ., P . P . J . G . W . ; R . P . Flyod , P . P . G . Reg . ; Rev . C . G . Anderson , P . P . G . Chap . ; W . Bidgood , P . P . G . D . ofC ; J . G . Vile , P . P . G . D . of C ; J . Gay Price , P . PIG . Std . Br . ; T . Flyod Norris , P . P . G . S . of W . ; R . Hole , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; J . Bryant , P . P . J . G . D . ; C . P . Chappie , P . P . A . G . Purst . ; F . W . Hesse , P . P . G . O . ; and a large number of brethren representing lodges in the province .

Before proceeding with the dedication , The PROV . GRAND MASTER said the Provincial Grand Lodge had assembled that day for the purpose of performing one of those Masonic ceremonies which was most interesting among the ceremonies of the Craft . He was perfectly certain that he was only expressing the feeling of the visitors who had come there that day when he congratulated the members of the Exmoor Lodge upon the success of their efforts . To him it was a matter of great pleasure to come there ,

because it was only some five years ago that he had the pleasure of coming to Minehead to consecrate the Exmoor Lodge . Masonry had increased , and was increasing , in the Province of Somerset , and he might fairly say that the Exmoor Lodge was an example of it . He wished to personally congratulatethe members of the lodge , because he knew full well that they must have taken a very great deal of trouble in order to build a hall'Jike that , and also he knew full well that many of the brethren had devoted a great deal of their time , as well as a great deal of their skill , to that work .

The P . G . CHAPLAIN then offered the introductory prayer , after which the anthem , " Behold , how pleasant and how good , " was sung , and he next delivered an oration on Masonic work in our island , and especially in the time of Alfred the Great .

Another anthem , " Praise God in His holiness , " was sung , and the PROV . G . SECRETARY gave an address , in which he congratulated the lodge on the progress it had made . The hon . architect , Bro . F . W . ROBERTS , P . G . S . of W ., next handed to the Prov . Grand Master the plans of the completed structure , remarking that the work had been carried out in a thoroughly satisfactory manner by a Minehead builder .

The P . G . M ., in reply , said he was certain that the architect had expended great skill in the work of erecting such a handsome building , and-he would hand the plans to the W . M . of the lodge . The interesting ceremony of dedication was then proceeded with , the Deputy Prov . Grand Master and the Prov . Senior and Junior Grand Wardens bearing the

emblems of consecration , the P . G . M . first strewing corn , the emblem of p lenty , and dedicating the hall to Masonry . Next wine , the emblem of joy and happ iness , was poured out , and the hall was dedicated to virtue . Lastly , the P . G . M , sprinkled oil , the emblem of unity , and dedicated the hall to universal benevo . lence , each act being followed by a musical response .

The P . G . CIIAI ' LAIN then performed the ceremony of censing , and offered the dedicatory prayer . Alms were collected during the singing of an anthem— " The spacious firmament on high "—and they amounted to . £ 3 . On the proposition of Bro . KITE , W . M ., it was deciled that the sum should be handed to the Minehead Parochial Schools .