Entertainment By Bro. Septimus Croft, W.M., Of The Members Of The Aldersgate Lodge, No. 1657, And Their Ladies.

Bro . WM . R . BRUNSKILI . BRISCOE proposed the toast of "The Ladies . " Bro . SAMUEL WHITE proposed the toast of "The Host and Hostess . " In addition to the party that travelled from London , the host and hostess entertained many visitors from the neighbourhood , among them being Bio . H . C . Heard , a foremost Mason in the Province of Hertfordshire ., and Mrs . Heard , who are the immediate neighbours of Bro . Croft , and were very Lr ";) d jn explaining

to those to whom this part of the county might have been ne-. / , ihe beauties and history of the surrounding country . Mrs . Croft , too , and all the members of the family left nothing undone to ensure the pleasure of the guests , while during the afternoon and evening the splendid band of the Royal Engineers—by the kind permission of Major-General T . Fraser , C . B ., C . M . G . —played a choice selection of music in splendid fashion .

The party returned to town by the io p . m . train , after spending a day which will always hold a foremost rank among the red-letter days in the Aldersgate Lodge records . The visitors , as we have said , numbered about 50 , and included—Bro . E . Anderton , Mrs . and the Misses Anderton ; Bro . W . R . Brunskili Briscoe ; Bro . Thomas Briggs and Mrs . Briges ; Bro . H . N . Bennett and Mrs . Bennett ; Bro .

C . R . R . Hopper ; Bro . Arthur B . Hudson and Miss Hudson ; Bro . George Kenning , Mrs . and Miss Kenning ; Bro . John Larkin , Mrs . Larkin and the Misses Larkin ; Bro . J . Gordon Langton and Mrs . Langton ; Bro . George Rawlinson , Mrs . and the Misses Rawlinson , Mr . Paget ; Bro , James Shotter and Mrs . Shotter ; Bro . Rupert Smyth and Mrs . Smyth ; Bro . Samuel White , Mrs . White , Mr . Charles White and Mrs . Cox ; Bro . H . C . Heard and Mrs . Heard ; Bro . G . L . Wingate and Mrs . Wingate ; Bros . H . O . F . Butcher and Charles Richardson .

Our Portrait Gallery.

Our portrait Gallery .

BRO . F . C . VAN DUZER , whose installation as W . M . of the Columbia Lodge , No . 2397 , on Monday last , appears in another column , was initiated in 1888 in the Canterbury Lodge , No . 1635 , in which he now holds office . Bro . Van Duzer , in addition to being a founder of the Columbia Lodge , was also one of the founders of the Canterbury Royal Arch Chapter . He is also a Mark Mason , Knight Templar , Knight of Malta , & c . Under Bro . Van Duzer's reign a successful year for the Columbia Lodge is confidently expected .

Ladies' Summer Outing Of The Philbrick And Brixton Lodges, Nos. 2255 And 1949.

LADIES' SUMMER OUTING OF THE PHILBRICK AND BRIXTON LODGES , Nos . 2255 AND 1949 .

The Worshipful Masters of these two lodges united them together in a ladies' summer outing on Thursday , the nth instant . The following ladies and gentlemen responded to the invitation : Bro . G . J . Daunton , W . M ., Mrs . Daunton , Mrs . T . Daunton , and Mr . J . W . Daunton ; Mrs . J . H . Tachnsdorf ; Bro . Jas . Terry , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . B . L , Mrs ., and Miss Terry ; Bro . A . R . Chamber , layne , P . P . G . Reg . Essex , Mrs ., and the Misses Chamberlayne ; Bro . H . J .

Bridgman and Mrs . Bridgman ; Bro . T . Winter and Mrs . Winter ; Bro . C Patten and Miss Patten ; Bro . H . Rattle , Mrs ., and Miss Rattle ; Bro . T . Hawkins and MissHuckle ; Bro . J . Milroy , Mrs . Milroy , and Miss Foden ; Mrs . Stuart , Miss Alexander , Miss Robinson , and Mr . and Mrs . Tyndall ; Bro . R . Poore , P . P . G . D . C . Middx ., and Mrs . Poore ; Bro . H . Baldwin , P . P . G . Std . Br . Middx ., and Mrs . Baldwin ; Bro . Stanley and Mrs . Stanley ; Mrs . C . W .

Sax , Mrs . E . F . Gye , Mrs . Dakin , Bro . A . J . Brook , Mrs . Brook , and neice ; Bro . S . A . Gould and Mrs . Gould ; Bro . A . Collins , Bro . Dr . T . H . Underhill , and Mr . and Mrs . Baker . The meeting place was Waterloo Station at 9 . 45 . The party proceeded to Reading in reserved carriages , and , on arrival there , were conducted to Caversham

Lock , where the steam launch , Duke of York , was in waiting , a substantial luncheon already set on board . By the time this was disposed of Sonning Lock was passed and a most enjoyable trip to Windsor was made under favourable weather conditions . The heavy rains of the previous days had had the effect of making everything look at its best . A very nice little incident occurred on the way at Bou ' ter ' s Lock , when Bro , J , Terry , who , through business engagements .

Ladies' Summer Outing Of The Philbrick And Brixton Lodges, Nos. 2255 And 1949.

was unible to start with the party , was waiting them here . As soon as he was recognised he was greeted with such clapping of hands that the natives who happened to be nigh were perfectly astonished . On leaving the launch , many of the company expressed their gratification to Mrs . Trotman ( the lady who is running this launch tor the season ) for the excellent manner in which she had provided for their comforts .

The next part of the programme was a banquet , which was arranged for at the Castle Hotel , Windsor . Old Father Time here asserted himself very severel y . The viands did credit to the host , but had to be hurried and the speeches curtailed . After handing round to the ladies a souvenir , The W . M . proposed the first toast , " The Queen and the Craft and the rest of the Royal Family , " which was accorded musical honours by the band , which had accompanied the party throughout the day .

Bro . J AMES TERRY proposed the toast of 'The W . M . " in eulogistic terms , interspersed with racy anecdotes , which greatly pleased the company . The W . M . immediately responded , and was vociferously received . He apologised for his inability to respond in a manner befitting the eloquent terms and compliments with which Bro . Terry had proposed the toast , and although he might be wanting in terms of expression , he was none the less appreciative of the honour and kindness bestowed upon him by all present .

Bro . A . R . CHAMBERLAYNE proposed " The Ladies and other Visitors . " Bro . H . BALDWIN replied for this toast , and , in doing so , enlarged on his ideas of the " new woman . " It was then thought desirable to get ready for the train journey to London , and a pleasant day's outing was practically at an end which might be briefly described in two words , as a " perfect success . "

Consecration Of The Wyreside Lodge, No. 2605, At Garstang.

CONSECRATION OF THE WYRESIDE LODGE , No . 2605 , AT GARSTANG .

The numerous Masonic lodges in the Province of West Lancashire was increased on the 19 th inst . by the consecration of the Wyreside Lodge , No . 2605 , on the register of the Grand Lodge of England , at Garstang , where there was a large and influential gathering of the leaders of the Fraternity . The imposing ceremony , which took place at the Town Hall , was controlled and carried out by Bro . W . Goodacre , P . G . Std . Br . Eng ., Prov . G . Sec . of

West Lancashire , assisted by Bros . T , W . Rice , P . S . G . W ., acting S . W . ; J . M'Carthy , P . P . D . G . R ., acting J . W . j W . Bowden , P . G . R . ; T . Vernon , P . G . D . C ; T . R . Jolly , P . P . G . Treas . ; T . H . Leeson , P . G . Chap . ; and W . Broughton , acting I . G . There were also present Bros . P . Armstrong , P . S . G . D . ; J . Forrester , P . G . Sid . Br . Eng ., Sec ; W . B . Sweetman ,

P . J . G . D . ; J . Milne , P . G . S . of W . ; S . T . B . Bradswaw , P . G . Chap . ; H , Gardner , P . G . S . B . ; W . VV . Ellon , P . G . D . C . ; J . G . Christian , P . P . G . S , of W . ; W . Bond , P . P . G . D . C . ; J . Wray , P . G . Sid . Br . ; W . Backhouse , P . P . G . R . ; T . Bee , W . M . 314 ; E . Tajlor , W . M . 703 ; J . Masters , W . M . 343 ; and C . R . Hardman , W . M . 2340 .

There were present nearly 100 brethren from various parts of the province , all of whom appreciated the very impressive manner in which the ceremony was carried out under Bro . Goodacre ' s supervision . He subsequently installed Bro . J . Williamson-Wearing , P . P . SG . D ., as the fits : Worshipful Master of the lodge . The other appointments and investments

included Bros . C . H . Garnett , P . P . S . G . W ., as S . W . ; J . Harrison , J . W . ; Rev . R . Titley-Gardner , Chap . ; J . Hartley , P . M ., Treas . and D . C . ; J . Allen Parkinson , Org . ; Alfred Kinjr , P . M ., Sec ; Tittert-m , S . D . ; A . BIsckhurst , J . D . ; Evan Jemson , I . G . ; E . Hunlington and J . Smith , Stwds . ; and J . J . Hankin , Tyler .

At the conclusion of the installation proceedings , Bro . GOODACRE , P . G . Sec , said it afforded him the greatest pleasure , acting on behalf of the Provincial Grand Master , Bro . the Earl of Lathom , to invest Bro . Philip Armstrong , P . M . 724 , P . G . S ., with the collar of the P . G . Senior Deaconship in the place of a brother who had recently died .

Annual Picnic Of The White Rose Of York Lodge, No. 2491.

ANNUAL PICNIC OF THE WHITE ROSE OF YORK LODGE , No . 2491 .

Masonic dances and Masonic picnics have done much in the way of dispelling the once very prevalent notion that Masons in their enjoyments and pleasures are selfish . Refreshment very fitly , if not necessarily , follows labour , and , as the tyled door prevents the admission of cowans and intruders to our lodges , so it properly fellows that they cannot be permitted at " the festive board . " Up to now , women , Masonically speaking , are profane , and as such inadmissible to our mysteries , and , notwithstanding the doctrines which the advocates of the equality of the sexes are daily propounding , we are

of opinion that this prohibition was wisely ordained . We are equally confid ; nt th it it will continue , and that no New Woman so-called , however " rational " her costume , will succeed in passing our portals . But because the Mason driws the line at the door of his lodge , it does not follow that he is selfish or ungallant . His loyalty to the sex and his admiration of the fair are proverbial , and have been perpetuated in " story and in song" from the very rise and commencement of Masonic literature . He , therefore , loses no opportunity of contributing to the enjoyment and happiness of his womankind .

Acting on this excellent principle , the White Rose of York Lodge , No . 2491 , Sheffield , was no sooner established , than its founders commenced at once to inquire how they could associate the ladies of their community with the successful institution they hid so happily formed . A Masonic dance in the winter and a picnic in the summer seemed suitable methods of accomplishing this very desirable object , and no v the two institutions have become as much a part of the Masonic routine of the year as the annual installation . Commenced by Bro . John Hunt , the first W . M ., they were continued with

equal energy and advantage by his successor , Bro . Joseph Jackman , and have this year been carried out with , if possible , even greater enthusiasm by the present popular occupant of the chair of K . S ., Bro ^ Darles F . Brindley . On Friday last " a gay and festive party , " filling three saloon carriages and comprising about 60 ladies and brethren , left the smoke and the grime of gloomy Sheffield in search of the lovely scenery and the pure atmosphere of the Derbyshire hills ani

dales . An express train gives but few chancel of viewing the picturesque , and deep cuttings and frequent tunnels cannot be called interesting . A glimpse of that very curious landmark in the d stance , the twisted spire ot Chesterfield , was obtained however , and shortly afterwards leaving the main line at Ambergate the train safely arrived at Matlock . A long array of open landaus , each with a pair of horses , here awaited the visitors , and after a brief stay at the Royal Hotel the cavalcade , comprising 13 carriages , set out for Dovedale . This was a drive of some 16 miles through richly-